The Shillong Times

From left, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, Jamie Campbell Bower and Noah Schnapp, cast members in the Netflix series Stranger Things, pose together at an FYC event for the show recently. (PTI)

Washington, May 23: US President Donald Trump is seriously considering launching fresh strikes against Iran if last-minute negotiations do not result in a peace deal, US media outlet Axios reported on Friday. It said that Trump met with a senior national security team in the morning to discuss the war on Iran even as Pakistan []

Moscow, May 23: Tehran took a swipe at US President Donald Trump by circulating a trending video of an albino buffalo from Bangladesh that bears a striking resemblance to him. Amid the ongoing friction between Washington and Tehran, Iran asserted that the animal had gone off its food after being likened to the American politician. []

Review of nuclear nonproliferation treaty United Nations, May 23: A four-week United Nations conference reviewing the treaty to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons ended Friday without agreement because of what experts said was a dispute between the United States and Iran over Irans nuclear programme. Vietnams UN Ambassador Do Hung Viet, who chaired the []

Washington, May 23: Ivanka Trump, daughter of US President Donald Trump, was allegedly targetted by a terrorist trained by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), determined to avenge the killing of General Qasem Soleimani, eliminated by the United States in a raid in Baghdad in January 2020. The New York Post reported that the 32-year-old []

Dhaka, May 23: The United Nations International Childrens Emergency Fund (UNICEF) expressed grave concern over the recent surge in brutal violence against children reported across Bangladesh, including the rape and killing of girls and boys in places meant to ensure their safety. Stressing that brutality against children must stop, Rana Flowers, UNICEF Representative in Bangladesh, []

Dhaka, May 23: Exiled Bangladeshi author and human rights activist Taslima Nasreen has written to Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, expressing grave concern over escalating attacks on Hindus in the country. She called on the PM to ensure the safety of minorities, uphold freedom of expression, and take a firm stand against fanaticism and mob []

Pope Leo XIV arrives in Calipari Square in Acerra, near Naples, Italy on Saturday. (PTI)

New Delhi, May 23: Aryaveer Dewan led Indias fine show, reaching the boys under-19 final at the 33rd Asian Junior Individual Squash Championships in Panzhihua, China, on Saturday. Aryaveer defeated Malaysian top seed Nickhileswar Moganasundharam in four games in the semifinals, and will meet either Md Alnasafan (KSA) or Jonghyeok Lee (Kor) for the crown. []

New Delhi, May 23: Gold prices rose 0.19 per cent during the week over persistent geopolitical uncertainty and sharp movements in crude prices. On Friday, MCX gold June futures dipped 0.06 per cent while MCX silver May futures lost 0.09 per cent. Currently, gold futures stood at Rs 1,58,588, while silver futures stood at Rs []

Bucharest, May 23: Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa ended his campaign with an easy draw against Anish Giri while Vincent Keymer crushed Jorden Van Foreest to clinch the Super Chess Classic title here on Saturday. Getting into the final round in joint lead with Fabiano Caruana of United States on five points, Keymer had an excellent chance []

New Delhi, May 23: The cumulative petrol and diesel revision of just under Rs 5 a litre in three days this month is the smallest material upward movement of any major economy outside the directly subsidising Gulf producers, and the states that tax fuel most heavily are governed by the political opposition, according to data. []

Montreal, May 23: George Russell took the pole for the sprint race Saturday at the Canadian Grand Prix, with Mercedes teammate and Formula 1 points leader Kimi Antonelli second on the starting grid. Russell, set to defend his Montreal title Sunday, had a fast lap of 1 minute, 12.965 seconds in qualifying for the first []

Ahmedabad, May 23: Sports complexes that are slated to host key events like aquatics and athletics during the 2030 Commonwealth Games here are well on course to be ready by 2029, local organisers said on Saturday. The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (SVP) Sports Enclave here and the Gujarat Police Academy at Karai, near Gandhinagar, are going []

New Delhi, May 23: The countrys exports have recorded healthy growth during the first three weeks of May, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Saturday. He also said that while the world is going through a turmoil, India is relentlessly rising on global stage as it is recording health growth in exports and []

New Delhi, May 23: Agreements signed between India and the United Arab Emirates during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visits deepen strategiceconomic partnership across energy storage, longterm fuel supplies, defence cooperation and artificial intelligence, a report said. The report from India Narrative said the agreement builds Indias energy resilience, maritime security, digital ecosystems, and emerging artificial []

New Delhi, May 23: India and Boeing on Saturday held discussions on strengthening cooperation in aviation and aerospace manufacturing, focusing on opportunities in maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), skilling, supply chain development, innovation and expanding Indias role as a global manufacturing and engineering hub under the Make in India initiative. Taking to the social media []

Europe is wasting huge amounts of food while millions of people globally experience hunger. Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East have squeezed supply chains. The cost of living crisis has pushed many families to the edge. Without strengthening environmental sustainability, supply chain resilience and household affordability, food security risks will increase significantly. Yet households []

Rice feeds more than half the world. From terraced paddies in Southeast Asia to irrigated fields in China and India, it underpins daily meals for billions of people. But the same flooded soils that help rice thrive also create ideal conditions for microbes that release climate-warming gases. In a new study, our team of environment []

Consuming large amounts of junk food early in life may cause lasting changes in the brain, even if a person later adopts a healthier diet. Scientists discovered that diets high in fat and sugar altered eating habits and affected brain regions responsible for controlling appetite. However, some beneficial gut bacteria and prebiotic fibres showed potential []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 23: Khasi and Garo languages have been formally included in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Scheme of Studies, thus paving the way for affiliated schools to offer them as optional third-language subjects from the 2026-27 academic session. The updated language list uploaded on the CBSE OASIS portal places []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 23: The North-Eastern Hill University Teachers Association (NEHUTA) has warned students to avoid the fourth year of the new Four-Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUP), advising them to stick to the traditional system due to the universitys failure to establish a clear transition to postgraduate studies. NEHUTA president Lakhon Kma told reporters []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 23: The Meghalaya Power Generation Corporation Limited (MePGCL) has invited tenders for the construction of the Riangdo Small Hydro Project, estimated to cost Rs 13.84 crore. The proposed 6 MW project will consist of two units of 3 MW each. While the initiative was originally conceived as a 3 MW []

By Patrick P. Sawian Shillong proudly calls itself the Rock Capital of India, a title repeated with such unwavering confidence that outsiders might expect the city to have produced the musical equivalent of Pink Floyd, Miles Davis, and Hans Zimmer fused into one terrifyingly gifted Khasi superhuman. Instead, the world mostly received caf acoustic covers, []

By Christina K Sangma In the heart of the Animal Kingdom, nestled between golden tulip fields and cobblestone streets, stood the cozy town of Furtown. It was a place where animals lived just like humans. Foxes ran bakeries, rabbits worked in bookstores, and owls taught at universities. Among them lived a cheerful golden dog named []

Behind every statistic is a lit screen, a coded name, and a marriage that stopped being enough. As extramarital dating apps quietly cross four million users in India with women leading thesurge welookat what the numbers really say about loneliness, desire, and the secret life of the modern Indian marriage. At 11:47 pm, []

Deepayan Sarkar Sudhakar Dewan Mona Lyngdoh Aaron Warjri Makhanlal Kainth

Ampati, May 23: The office of the Block Development Officer, Rerapara C&RD Block, under the State Rural Employment Society Block Implementing Division (SRES-BID), Community & Rural Development Department, Government of Meghalaya, will conduct an IEC Campaign and Beneficiary Saturation Programme under the nationwide initiative Jan Bhagidaari Sabse Door, Sabse Pehle from May 25 []

Tura, May 23: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma today attended the centenary celebration of Tura Natya Samity, one of the oldest and most respected cultural institutions in the region, held at the Samity premises in Lower Babupara, Tura, marking a historic milestone in its 100-year journey of promoting art, culture, theatre, and social harmony. []

New Delhi, May 22: Sweety Kujur was on Friday named captain of the 18-member Indian womens U-18 squad for the Asia Cup hockey tournament to be held in Kakamigahara, Japan from May 29-June 6. The squad features a five-member forward line led by Kujur, alongside Nousheen Naz, Priyanka Minz, Sandeepa Kumari and Nancy Saroha. The []

Helsingborg (Sweden), May 22: NATO allies and defence officials have expressed confusion and concern after US President Donald Trump announced he would send 5,000 additional US troops to Poland, shortly after ordering the withdrawal of a similar number of troops from Europe. The conflicting signals have left allies uncertain about the direction of US military []

TEL AVIV, May 22: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that talks with Iran had made slight progress, though he cautioned against overstatement and stressed that negotiations were still ongoing with no clear outcome yet. His comments came amid growing uncertainty over whether a diplomatic agreement will be reached or if renewed conflict []

ISLAMABAD, May 22: Pakistan Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir has travelled to Tehran for high-level discussions as regional diplomatic efforts intensify to end the ongoing US-Iran conflict, according to security sources. His visit comes amid a broader push by Pakistan to mediate between Washington and Tehran and follows renewed talks involving Pakistans Interior Minister []

DHAKA/NEW DELHI, May 22: Bangladeshs Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said the government wants former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to return to the country through legal procedures, after she recently expressed hope of coming back very soon despite facing a death sentence in absentia. Ahmed said there was no legal barrier to her return if she []

KYIV, May 22: Hundreds of Ukrainians marched in Kyiv on Friday, calling on the government to veto Bill No. 13646, which deals with the legal status of missing persons. Families of missing soldiers say the proposed legislation could allow courts to declare their loved ones legally dead before their fate has been confirmed, intensifying fears []

TURA: Garo Hills Deficit School Teachers and Employees Association (GHDSTEA), Deficit schools aro colleges-ni CPF pension scheme-ni bidingo golmal ongenganiko tarake nirokatchina dabie Chief Minister Conrad Sangma-ko gronge memorandum-ko ongaha. May 22 tarik Sukrobar salo ongipa memo-o deficit teacher-rang, sorkarini ragatna miksongenggipa Meghalaya Non Government Schools and Colleges Centralized Provident Fund Scheme, 2023-ko rachakna tik []

Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, who has been away from the silver screen for quite some time, was seen jetting off to the ongoing edition of the Cannes Film Festival. The actress was accompanied by her daughter Aaradhya Bachchan as the two twinned in black. The mother-daughter duo posed for the paparazzi before they walked []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 22: The public hearing on the proposed limestone mining project of Shree Cement Limited at Lum Syrman under Elaka Nongkhlieh in East Jaintia Hills district was called off on Friday following violent protests which led to a complete breakdown of law and order at the venue. The hearing, organised by []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 22: The Election Commission of India on Friday announced the schedule for the biennial elections to 24 Rajya Sabha seats from ten states including the lone seat from Meghalaya. According to the ECI, the notification will be issued on June 1 and the polling will be held on June 18 []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 22: The Meghalaya High Court on Friday took up a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by North Shillong MLA Adelbert Nongrum, questioning the application of the States Job Reservation Policy for allocating quota seats in higher professional courses. The Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 22: The Meghalaya State Commission for Women (MSCW) has summoned four present and former officials of the Meghalaya Cricket Association (MCA) over alleged failure to act on complaints of sexual harassment lodged by members of the state Under-23 womens cricket team. The commission has directed MCA honorary secretary Rayonald Kharkamni, []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 22: The Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) on Saturday announced the results of the SSLC Supplementary Examination 2026, with 90.16% of the students clearing the exam. Out of 5,615 students who appeared in the supplementary examination held from May 1 to May 8, 5,063 students passed the exams. With []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 22: The United Democratic Party (UDP) has signalled its intention to contest the upcoming Shillong Lok Sabha by-election independently, with a final decision on its candidate expected within the next two days. This will set the stage for a multi-cornered contest for the yet-to-be-announced polls among VPPs Batskhem Myrboh, NPPs []

Guwahati, May 22: The All-Bodo Students Union (ABSU) has sought a permanent solution regarding the shortage of Bodo medium textbooks in schools across 12 districts of the state. In a memorandum submitted to the Kokrajhar district commissioner, the students union sought immediate intervention of Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in addressing the issue of []

Guwahati, May 22: A flyover named after Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder, Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee, connecting Cycle Factory junction to Lal Ganesh Bazar here, was inaugurated by Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday evening. This flyover will reduce the travel time from Pragjyotishpur Medical College to NH 27 drastically and decongest one of []

By Our Reporter Shillong, May 21: Nangkiew Irat SC recharged their interest in the 5th Meghalaya State League with a stunning 3-1 victory over Langsning FC at the SSA Stadium here this evening. Wallamsuk Nongkhlaw (25P) had Nangkiew Irat ahead through a penalty but substitute Kyrmenskhem Mukhim (42) headed Langsning back on level terms before []

Kolkata, May 21: East Bengal FC were crowned champions of the Indian Super League for the very first time here on Thursday, ending a 22-year-old title drought in the countrys top-tier competition and quenching their passionate fans yearning for silverware after a thrilling five-horse race to the top prize. East Bengal, one of the countrys []

By Our Reporter Shillong, May 21: The Meghalaya Roller Skating Association has announced the selection of young skater Prisha from Kendriya Vidyalaya Upper Shillong to represent Meghalaya at the 11th Ranking Open National Speed Skating Championship 2026 in Noida. The championship is scheduled to be held from May 21 to 24, where Prisha will compete []

Berlin, May 21: Veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer has been coaxed out of retirement for the World Cup by Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann. The 40-year-old Neuer retired after the 2024 European Championship but was included in Nagelsmanns 26-man squad for the upcoming tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States. His inclusion is a blow to []

Rio de Janeiro, May 21: Neymar has suffered a new injury scare less than a month before Brazils opening match of the FIFA World Cup against Morocco The 34-year-old Santos star missed his teams home Copa Sudamericana match against San Lorenzo on Wednesday due to a calf injury, though the Brazilian club sought to allay []