The Shillong Times News

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revised its long-standing guidance about vaccines and autism. The guidance once stated clearly and correctly that the evidence shows no link between vaccines and the development of autism. Now it claims studies supporting a link (between vaccines and autism) have been ignored by health []

Though China and Japan are experienced in dealing with diplomatic crises, relations between the two neighbours appear to have reached a new low. And this time, their conflict may not be easily resolved. Whats behind the latest crisis and whats driving the escalation? The current round of tensions was triggered by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae []

This week, US President Donald Trump approved previously banned exports of Nvidias powerful H200 artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China. In return, the US government will receive 25 per cent of the sales revenue, in what has become a hallmark of this administration to take a sales cut of a private companys revenues. The H200 []

India take on confident Proteas in 3rd T20I today with series tied at 1-1 DharamsHala, Dec 13: The countdown to save his place in the playing XI begins for a beleaguered Shubman Gill, who is likely to get three matches against South Africa to prove his worth before the Indian team management switches to a []

SHILLONG: Meghalaya-o Jal Jeevan Mission-ni contractor-rang uamangni mana nangnigipa kror 700 tangkako sorkarini watako nichake dongengon adoko scheme-ko ragatanioba chusokgipa ongjaenga. JJM -ni dashboard-o mesokani gita, adokni ge 6,46,304 nokdangrang chi pipeko mana nangachim indiba ia scheme-ko ragatani adita bilsirang ongomangba 5,37,402 (83.15%) nokdangrangsan chiko mankuenga. Meghalaya-o ia scheme-ko ragataniko niatgenchimode dashboard-ni gita, Meghalaya-ni dam []

SHILLONG: Garo Hills-o chongipa jatrangna gesa Minority Regional Council-ko bikote onchina dabienganiko Achik Conscious Holistically Integrated Krima (ACHIK) rakgen jegalaha, aro iako songe ongenchimode ia Achik manderangni constitutional rights ba bil-rengsiko pea gaakgen ine aganaha. Regional council-ko songchina uamangni dee rabaaniara, Indian Constitution-ni Sixth Schedule-ko jegala gaakenga, je bilkon Garo Hills-o songdonggipa Achik tribal jatrangna, []

In a rare and star-studded moment, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan met football legend Lionel Messi on Saturday in Kolkata, marking one of the most-awaited encounters during the GOAT India Tour 2025. The Argentine superstar, who is in the city as part of his pan-India tour, was present at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan (Salt []

Peter Greene, best known for his roles in Pulp Fiction and The Mask, has passed away. He was 60. The actor was found dead in his Lower East Side apartment in New York City on Friday, December 12, his manager Gregg Edwards confirmed in a statement. Greenes cause of death has not been disclosed yet. []

Kareena Kapoor Khan at an event, in Vikhroli in Mumbai, on Friday. (PTI)

Bollywood couple Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal spoke in favour of social media ban for kids in India, following the footsteps of Australia. During a panel discussion, which took place in MET (Mumbai Education Trust) College, Mumbai, Sonakshi and Zaheer were asked to comment on Australias social media ban for people aged under 16. Reacting []

Japanese filmmaker Akio Fujimotos Lost Land the first feature film shot entirely in the Rohingya language has bagged the Best Film Award at the Red Sea International Film Festival this year. The Rohingya refugee drama took home the top prize, the Golden Yusr for best film, along with a cash prize of USD []

TURA: Tura-ni Danakgre Akingo donggipa aarangko adok sorkari, akangdrana jotton kaenga ine Tura-ni MDC aro BJP-ni state vice president Bernard N Marak parakatenba, ia aani lekkarangko Tura GHADC constituency-ni ningo donggipa dingtang dingtang gittimni manderangna sualaniko dontongchina dabiangaha. Iani bidingo West Garo Hills ajani Deputy Commissioner-na badi kae sedoatengon, Tura GHADC constituency-ni ningo donggipa dam []

Actor Ibrahim Ali Khan during the Mini X Esquire India event in Mumbai, on Friday. (PTI)

New Delhi, Dec 13: Nifty 50 and Nifty Midcap 150 emerged as best-performing indices in November, with a growth of 1.87 per cent and 1.59 per cent, respectively, a report said on Saturday. Meanwhile, Nifty 50 outperformed with a return of 7.27 per cent, 5.87 per cent, and 8.59 per cent over the last 3 []

From Our Correspondent TURA, Dec 13: Eight localities in Tura town, comprising 754 households, were overwhelmed with tears of joy on Friday as they were finally awarded periodic lease documents for the land they had been living on for years. These families have long resided on encroached government land, facing uncertainty and difficulties. The documents []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 13: Winter Tales 2025 concluded on Saturday, drawing the curtain on a three-day showcase that brought together artisans, entrepreneurs and emerging brands, while spotlighting creativity rooted in craftsmanship, innovation and community engagement. The annual event saw strong visitor participation, with displays of handcrafted works spanning pottery, cane and bamboo, textiles []

Sylvanus Lamare delves into Khasi history at a session organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 13: Noted scholar and translator Sylvanus Lamare on Saturday shared rich insights into the evolution of Khasi literature, language, and history during an interactive session held under the Ka Umpohliew series, organised by the Prabha Khaitan []

From Our Correspondent MAWKYRWAT, Dec 13: The proposed transfer of senior officers from South West Khasi Hills has drawn objections from two pressure groups, the Khasi Students Union (KSU) Mawkyrwat Circle and the Hynniewtrep Achik National Movement (HANM) South West Khasi Hills District, which have warned that the move will halt critical development in the []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 13: Renowned musician and cultural icon Lou Majaw was honoured with the Shyntor Excellence Award for Lifetime Contribution to Music and Cultural Heritage at the Shyntor Excellence Award ceremony held at Shyntor Bulia village in Ri-Bhoi district. The award ceremony formed a key highlight of the three-day Shyntor Festival 2025, []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, Dec 13: Women in Meghalaya are leading the way in waste management, setting a benchmark by achieving notable success in waste segregation. The Lainehskhem Self-Help Group (SHG), popularly called Merry Maidens of Shillong, has been an inspiration in this regard. It has evolved into an organisation that effectively runs a Waste []

SHILLONG, Dec 12: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma on Friday paid a visit to the Shillong Medical College campus at the old Pasteur Institute in Lawmali and interacted with the first MBBS batch of the College. He called their entry into the institution a historic moment for Meghalayas medical education sector and hoped that they []

Probe under way into Rs 1,575-cr investment fraud run through a website operated from Shillong under the banner of Pearlvine International between 2018 and March 2023 SHILLONG, Dec 12: The Enforcement Directorate (ED), Shillong Sub-Zonal Office, has provisionally attached assets worth Rs 17.91 crore in connection with a large-scale investment fraud run through the website []

GUWAHATI, Dec 12: The Special Investigation Team, probing the death of Zubeen Garg, charged four accusedthe singers secretary Siddhartha Sharma, festival organiser Shyamkanu Mahanta, and band members, Shekhar Jyoti Goswami and Amritprava Mahantawith murder in the charge sheet filed in a court here on Friday.

Winter Tales: Day 2 SHILLONG, Dec 12: The second day of Meghalayas sixth edition of the community-led annual festival Winter Tales on Friday transformed the iconic Wards Lake into a convergence of sustainability, storytelling, and intellectual exchange. Building on the opening days momentum, Fridays agenda broadened the festivals exploration of this years theme Nurture, with []

SHILLONG, Dec 12: In an age when artificial intelligence is rewriting the rules of image-making, iconic photographer Pablo Bartholomew came to Shillong with a quiet reminder: the deepest photographs are still born from lived memory, stubborn solitude, and time spent with people the world prefers to forget. Speaking to The Shillong Times on the sidelines []

SHILLONG, Dec 12: Meghalayas renowned conservationist Betsida CH Marak was awarded the Green Guru Award at the 13th Balipara Foundation Awards, held on December 11 in Guwahati, in recognition of her tireless work to protect the western hoolock gibbon and promote community-led environmental stewardship in the Garo Hills. The 13th edition of the awards celebrated []

NEW DELHI, Dec 12: Legendary rock band Def Leppard is all set to perform in Shillong on March 25 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Polo Grounds). The band will then perform in Mumbai on March 27, 2026, at Jio World Garden and Bengaluru on March 29, 2026, at NICE Grounds. Excited about their tour, Joe []

SHILLONG, Dec 12: Frost has arrived in the outskirts of Shillong, marking an early onset of the severe winter season as mercury dips across the region. Lyngkien village, located behind the Sacred Grove of Mawphlang, has reported heavy frost, with meadows and open spaces blanketed white in the early mornings. Locals say the frost started []

Dhaka, Dec 12: Bangladeshs Awami League party rejected the election schedule announced by the countrys Election Commission (EC), arguing that free and fair polls cannot be ensured under the Muhammad Yunus-led interim government. The remarks came after the EC on Thursday evening declared that the countrys 13th national parliamentary election, along with the July Charter []

People cook their breakfast as they take refuge after fleeing from their home following fighting between Thailand and Cambodia over territorial claims, at Wat Chroy Neangouns Buddhist pagoda in Siem Reap province, Cambodia on Friday. (PTI)

Superstar Salman Khan is currently in Saudi Arabia for the fifth edition of the ongoing Red Sea Film Festival. On Thursday, he participated in an interactive session, where he reflected on his cinematic journey. The Dabangg star also walked down the red carpet of the Awards ceremony. And guess what? He bumped into global star []

U-19 Asia Cup Dubai, Dec 12: Vaibhav Suryavanshi was at his imperious best while smashing a 171 off 95 balls, powering India to a mammoth 234-run win over hosts UAE in the inaugural match of the U-19 Asia Cup here on Friday. The 14-year-old from Samastipur, Bihar, unleashed a stunning display of batting, hitting 14 []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Dec 12: The stage is set for a high-stakes showdown as Nongkseh and Shillong Lajong prepare to battle for the SSA Champions Cup 2025 title on Saturday, with both teams carrying unbeaten records into the much-anticipated final at the SSA Stadium. Kick-off is scheduled for 4:30pm. The two sides, who have []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Dec 12: The Meghalaya Yogasana Sports Association is set to conduct the 5th State Level Yogasana Sports Judges Training Programme 2025-26 from December 13 to 16 in a hybrid format, combining both online and offline sessions. The inaugural ceremony will be held at Tikrikilla Government College in West Garo Hills from []

By Our Reporter Shillong, Dec 12: The Meghalaya State School Chess Championship 2025, organised by the Meghalaya Chess Association (MCA) and sponsored by the Directorate of Sports & Youth Affairs, Government of Meghalaya, concluded on Wednesday at the Gymnasium-cum-Indoor Sports Hall, Polo. The two-day event, held on December 9 and 10, saw an impressive turnout, []

WILLIAMNAGAR: East Garo Hills ajani Williamnagar-o gital dake taridapgipa Soil Lake Eco-Tourism Project-ko Sukrobar salo, adokni Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, kulie onangaha aro ia project-ko kulie onanio, adokni Soil & Water Conservation Minister Marcuise N Marak baksana dingtang dingtang official-rangba bak raangaha. Ia Soil Lake-ko Nengsang River Valley Project (RVP)-ni ningo gital dake taridapaha []

TURA: West Garo Hills ajani Demdema C&RD Block ningo donggipa mitam village employment council (VEC)-rango, niam gri job card mangiparang batroroenga ine West Garo Hills Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ni general secretary Peterjob A Sangma parakatenba, iani bidingo sandirokatchina, Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan-na sedoataha. Iani bidingo adita salrangna skangsan, Confederation of Meghalaya Social []

SHILLONG: Shillong songjinmani Old Pasteur Institute-o gital kuligipa Shillong Medical College-ona Sukrobar salo, adokni Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma reangenba, ia college-ni skanggipa batch-o poraienggipa chatro chatrirang aro ia college-o kam kaenggipa manderangko grongeaha. Shillong Medical College-ni chatro chatrirangko aro kam kagiparangko grongeanio adokni Chief Minister baksana Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla aro Health department-ni official-rangba []

TURA: Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma-ni chang 153-gipa siani salko Sukrobar salo, Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma Memorial Association, East Garo Hills ajani Chisobibra-o donggipa Togan Park-o gisik rae manidilangaha aro ia manianio, adokni Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma, adokni PHE Minister Marcuise N Marak, dingtang dingtang official-rang aro jolo songdongenggipa manderangba bak raangtokaha. Ia salko gisik []

Shillong, Dec 12: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today announced that the story of Pa Togan Nengminja Sangma will be properly scripted for plays and dramas to be used in schools and colleges. This initiative aims to encourage the younger generation to connect with the stories of their forefathers. He expressed delight that []

Dhaka, Dec 11: Bangladesh will hold the general elections on February 12, its first since the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government in a violent student-led protest in August 2024. Voting will take place on February 12, 2026, from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin said in []

Agencies warn of rising LeT-JeM activity next door DHAKA, Dec 11: Indian intelligence agencies have uncovered what they believe to be a major ISI-backed terror mobilisation centered in Bangladesh, raising alarms about a potentially significant strike being prepared against India. According to officials, a group of operatives from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has []

BANGKOK, Dec 11: A military airstrike in Myanmar destroyed a hospital in Mrauk-U township, Rakhine state, killing 34 patients and staff and injuring around 80 others, local rescue workers and media report. The hospital, a vital healthcare facility in a region where most hospitals have closed due to ongoing conflict, is in an area controlled []

Islamabad, Dec 11: The United States has approved the sale of advanced technology and support for F-16 fighter jets valued at USD 686 million to Pakistan. The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), in a letter sent to Congress on Monday, gave the approval. The package includes Link-16 systems, cryptographic equipment, avionics updates, training, and []

KATHMANDU, Dec 11: Former Nepal Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli has asserted that ongoing efforts by both domestic and international forces to weaken or eliminate Nepals communist parties will not succeed. Speaking at a media interaction ahead of the Communist Party of NepalUnified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) 11th General Convention, Oli argued that similar attempts in Nepals []

WASHINGTON, Dec 11: Mexicos Congress has approved a bill imposing higher tariffs on imports from India, China, Brazil, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates, and other nations with which it lacks free trade agreements (FTAs). The measure, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, was passed by the Senate after []

Deir al-Balah, Dec 11: A winter storm swept through Gaza, flooding tent camps and highlighting the territorys dire humanitarian crisis. Thousands of Palestinians displaced by the Israel-Hamas war faced waterlogged shelters, leaking tents, and unsanitary conditions, with over 2,500 distress calls reported since the storm began. Children, the elderly, and sick residents were particularly affected. []

Mumbai, Dec 11: The rupee plunged 38 paise to close at an all-time low of 90.32 against the US dollar on Thursday amid uncertainty over the India-US trade deal. Traders said the rupee is expected to trade with a negative bias as the delay in the trade deal between India and US may continue to []

Mumbai, Dec 11: The US should sign the free trade agreement with India if Washington is happy with what has been offered by New Delhi, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. Goyal welcomed the Trump administrations views on Indias offer, but refrained from giving a deadline for the signing of the long-awaited []