The Shillong Times

Phulbari, April 21: Imagine a household so big that it has a total of 176 voters and another household in the same village apparently has two different communities living under the same roof. Now imagine another household, which in 2005 showed a total of only 4 voters but in just two decades, the same household []

GUWAHATI, April 21: The Assam BJP is gearing for a statewide agitation on Thursday against Congress alleged anti-women stance, with party workers mobilising themselves at the district, mandal and booth levels. To effectively implement the protest programme, Mahila Akrosh, the state BJP has entrusted special responsibilities to 26 leaders, including Member of Parliament from Guwahati, []

Ampati, April 21: The South West Garo Hills Police have secured convictions in two separate cases after successful investigation and trial, reinforcing their commitment to ensuring justice and maintaining law and order in the district. In the first case, registered as Ampati Police Station Case No. 78(11)2024 under Section 305 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | PBKS FIRST TEAM TO WIN THEIR OPENING SIX MATCHES IN IPL MATCH TODAY SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS DELHI CAPITALS AT 7:30 PM Ahmedabad, April 20: Tilak Varma played a knock for the ages as his maiden IPL century turned the corner for Mumbai Indians with the five-time champions crushing Gujarat Titans []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | PBKS FIRST TEAM TO WIN THEIR OPENING SIX MATCHES IN IPL MATCH TODAY SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS DELHI CAPITALS AT 7:30 PM Karachi, April 20: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has imposed a one-year PSL ban on Sri Lankas captain Dasun Shanaka. Shanaka, after initially being named in the Pakistan Super []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | PBKS FIRST TEAM TO WIN THEIR OPENING SIX MATCHES IN IPL MATCH TODAY SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS DELHI CAPITALS AT 7:30 PM Hyderabad, April 20: Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani has confirmed that skipper Axar Patel is fit and available for selection ahead of their IPL clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad, []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | PBKS FIRST TEAM TO WIN THEIR OPENING SIX MATCHES IN IPL MATCH TODAY SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS DELHI CAPITALS AT 7:30 PM New Delhi, April 20: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fast bowler Rasikh Salam Dar said his ultimate ambition is to represent India across formats, and is open to representing the []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | PBKS FIRST TEAM TO WIN THEIR OPENING SIX MATCHES IN IPL MATCH TODAY SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS DELHI CAPITALS AT 7:30 PM Kolkata, April 20: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) assistant coach Shane Watson praised young pacer Kartik Tyagi for his ability to deliver against the best batters in the world, saying []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | PBKS FIRST TEAM TO WIN THEIR OPENING SIX MATCHES IN IPL MATCH TODAY SUNRISERS HYDERABAD VS DELHI CAPITALS AT 7:30 PM New Delhi, April 20: Punjab Kings well-rounded bowling attack has emerged as a defining force in their IPL 2026 campaign, drawing high praise from former South Africa captain Faf []

By Our Reporter Shillong, April 20: Gorkha Pathshala School and RB AnupChand Hindi Secondary School registered convincing victories in the Inter-School Under-18 Cricket Tournament 2026, organised by the Shillong Cricket Association, with both matches turning into largely one-sided affairs. Gorkha Pathshala School thrashed Little Angels School by 10 wickets after a disciplined bowling display. Opting []

By Our Reporter Shillong, April 20: Nongkseh SSCC rocketed to a humongous 13-0 victory against Umkaber SCC in Group A of the 5th Meghalaya State League at the SSA Stadium here on Monday. It was a day of consolidation for the five Shillong-based clubs who were involved as each registered comfortable victories to go to []

From Our Special Correspondent GUWAHATI, April 20: Assam Cricket Association (ACA) on Monday condoled the passing of Badal Thakur, one of the pioneering figures of Assam cricket and a distinguished former first-class cricketer. With his demise on Sunday evening, Assam cricket has lost one of its most respected torchbearers, whose contributions played a significant role []

From Our Correspondent Khliehriat, April 20: In a quiet but significant build-up to the much-anticipated District Level Inter-School Athletics Meet 2026, the Office of the District Sports Officer (DSO), East Jaintia Hills, on Sunday carried out an extensive screening and document verification drive for student-athletes across the district. Held at the Indoor Stadium in Dkhiah []

By Our Reporter The acclaimed Khasi feature film Ha Lyngkha Bneng The Elysian Field has earned international recognition with its official selection at the New York Indian Film Festival 2026, where it will have its United States premiere from May 29 to 31. Directed by Pradip Kurbah, the film has also been nominated in []

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the long-standing cultural and historical ties between India and South Korea during talks with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung on his maiden state visit to India. He referred to the legendary story of Princess Suriratna of Ayodhya, also known as Queen Heo Hwang-ok, and King Kim Suro of the ancient []

Scottish DJ Calvin Harris wrapped up his debut India tour with a high-energy finale in Delhi-NCR on Sunday night, completing a three-city run that also included Bengaluru and Mumbai. The concert drew massive crowds and marked a major moment for Indias expanding live entertainment industry. Harris delivered a powerful electronic dance music set packed with []

Mumbai, April 20: The rupee pared its initial gains and settled with a loss of 25 paise at 93.16 against the US dollar on Monday, after fresh tension in West Asia led to an increased demand for the American currency and kept crude prices steady. Forex traders said the local currency remained under pressure due []

Mumbai, April 20: Benchmark indices Sensex and Nifty closed almost unchanged in a volatile session on Monday as investors turned cautious amid mounting geopolitical headwinds and rising crude oil prices. The 30-share BSE Sensex closed marginally up 26.76 points or 0.03 per cent at 78,520.30. During the day, it hit a high of 78,942.45 and []

Police officers stand guard at a checkpoint to ensure security ahead of the second round of negotiations between the US and Iran, in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Monday. (PTI)

ISLAMABAD, April 20: Pakistan is moving ahead with preparations for a new round of talks between the United States and Iran, even as escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz cast doubt on whether the negotiations will take place. The talks are scheduled just days before a fragile ceasefire is set to expire, adding urgency []

BRUSSELS, April 20: More than 60 countries gathered in Brussels for talks with Palestinian representatives focused on stability, security, and long-term peace in Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. The meeting comes as global attention remains fixed on broader Middle East crises, particularly in Iran and Lebanon, but signals the European Unions renewed effort to []

BEIJING, April 20: Xi Jinping called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to ensure normal global shipping, emphasizing that it should function as an international waterway. Speaking during a phone call with Mohammed bin Salman, Xi said keeping the route open serves the shared interests of regional nations and the wider international community. []

Islamabad, April 20: Ishaq Dar spoke by telephone on Monday with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, urging continued dialogue and diplomatic engagement amid uncertainty over the next round of USIran talks. According to Pakistans Foreign Office, Dar stressed the importance of early and sustained negotiations to resolve pending issues and reduce rising regional tensions. He []

TOKYO, April 20: Japan issued an advisory on Monday for its northern coastal regions after a powerful offshore earthquake raised the possibility of a slightly increased risk of a larger mega-quake. The alert followed a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that struck off the coast of northern Japan near the Chishima trough. The warning was jointly issued []

VIENNA, April 20: Several Central European countries have recalled HiPP baby food after rat poison was found in some jars. The contaminated 190-gram carrot and potato baby food, sold mainly at SPAR supermarkets in Austria, tested positive for poison in Austria, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic. Austrias health ministry warned parents and childcare centres to []

KYIV, April 20: A gunman wielding an automatic weapon killed six people and barricaded himself inside a supermarket with hostages in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Saturday, before he was shot and killed by police, authorities said. At least 14 people were wounded and taken to hospital. The 58-year-old attacker was not named by police, []

By K C Monnappa India is the worlds largest democracy, yet only about 14 percent of its Lok Sabha members are women. In a country where women constitute nearly half the population, cast roughly half the votes, and increasingly lead households, businesses, and even defence missions, this number is not merely a statistic. It is []

By H Srikanth When the US and Israel bombed and killed the top-brass leaders in Iran, everyone thought that was the end of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Based on the experience of Iraq, Syria, and Libya, many assumed that there would be a puppet regime in Iran that would dismantle the nuclear program and []

With their dazzling blooms, orchids are among the most famous and collected flowering plants on Earth. But orchids are not just beautiful and rare. They can also provide clues into the broader health of global ecosystems. From the outside, ecosystems can look healthy while species reproduction rates are quietly collapsing, due to a decline in []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 20: BJP national secretary in-charge for Meghalaya, Anil K Antony, on Monday said the party is set to emerge as a significantly stronger force in Meghalaya ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections, citing its growth across the Northeast. Addressing a press conference, Antony noted that while the BJP had no []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 20: In a significant policy reversal, the Meghalaya government has decided to completely remove Lumpongdeng Island from the proposed Umiam Luxury Resort and Spa project, following sustained agitation by the Green-Tech Foundation and concerns raised by local stakeholders. The decision was taken after a delegation from Synjuk Ki Rangbah Shnong []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 20: The Green-Tech Foundation, Meghalaya, called off its 12-day indefinite hunger strike at Malki Ground on Monday evening after receiving official communication from the state government confirming that Lumpongdeng Island has been excluded from the proposed luxury resort and spa project. Foundation secretary general Ritre Lyngdoh announced the decision before []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 20: Voice of the People Party (VPP) president, Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit, on Monday formally announced an eight-point charter of demands targeting the National Peoples Party (NPP)-led Meghalaya Democratic Alliance (MDA) Government, raising concerns over governance, employment, land rights, and environmental protection. At the forefront of the demands is the immediate []

State unit distances itself from Heks ticket offer to former Chief Secretary DP Wahlang By Our Reporter SHILLONG, April 20: The BJP in Meghalaya appears internally divided over the strategy for the upcoming Shillong Parliamentary bye-election, after senior MLA A.L. Hek publicly suggested offering the party ticket to former Chief Secretary D.P. Wahlang, who has []

Guwahati, April 20: Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah on Monday appealed for public cooperation and heightened vigilance as several parts of Guwahati continued to grapple with severe waterlogging following intense overnight rainfall. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, the minister said that heavy and unexpected rainfall from Sunday evening to late night led to widespread []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | AJINKYA RAHANE HAS THE MOST IPL DUCKS AS AN OPENER (12) MATCH TODAY GUJARAT TITANS VS MUMBAI INDIANS AT 7:30 PM Mullanpur, April 19: Priyansh Arya, one of the countrys most talked about T20 batting talent alongside Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, smashed his way to a magnificent 93 as Punjab Kings clinically []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | AJINKYA RAHANE HAS THE MOST IPL DUCKS AS AN OPENER (12) Kolkata, April 19: Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana has finally arrived in the city to join Kolkata Knight Riders, giving a much-needed boost to the side that is currently languishing at the bottom of the IPL table. The franchise confirmed []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | AJINKYA RAHANE HAS THE MOST IPL DUCKS AS AN OPENER (12) Hyderabad, April 19: Chennai Super Kings have been dealt a major blow with young batter Ayush Mhatre sustaining a hamstring tear which looks pretty bad during their IPL match against Sunrisers Hyderabad here. The 18-year-old, who came in as an []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | AJINKYA RAHANE HAS THE MOST IPL DUCKS AS AN OPENER (12) New Delhi, April 19: Pace great Dale Steyn on Sunday reckoned the victory over Chennai Super Kings could be a turning point for Sunrisers Hyderabad, propelling them into the top four of the IPL standings. SRH are in good form []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | AJINKYA RAHANE HAS THE MOST IPL DUCKS AS AN OPENER (12) Ahmedabad, April 19: An embattled Mumbai Indians side will be desperate to arrest its slide when it takes on a confident Gujarat Titans outfit, which is eager to extend its winning run, in the Indian Premier League here on Monday. []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | AJINKYA RAHANE HAS THE MOST IPL DUCKS AS AN OPENER (12) Karachi, April 19: The Pakistan Cricket Board admitted that no contract was ever sent to Blessing Muzarabani to play in the PSL but insisted that a firm verbal agreement was reached with the Zimbabwe pacer and he had breached the []

London, April 19: There are weekends in football that pass quietly, and then there are those that leave a lingering echo long after the final whistle. This was firmly the latter. Across England, the Premier League delivered a gripping spectacletitle contenders trading blows, European hopefuls clinging to ambition, and relegation-threatened sides fighting for survival. Haaland []

By Our Reporeter Shillong, April 19: The Shillong Sports Association (SSA) on Sunday condoled the untimely demise of its member, Dister M. Marbaniang, terming his passing a significant loss to the sporting fraternity in Meghalaya. A condolence meeting was held at the SSA Stadium, First Ground, Polo, under the leadership of SSA president Banteidor Lyngdoh, []

From Our Special Correspondent GUWAHATI, April 19: Assams Nikshita Konwar continued the states strong run in womens boxing, clinching gold at the 8th Mens and Womens National Youth Boxing Championship that concluded at Sonapur here on Sunday. Competing in the Under-19 category at the Don Bosco University Hall, Nikshita edged past Haryanas Vanshika 3-2 in []

Milan, April 19: Napoli was jeered off the field after it lost 2-0 at home to Lazio a result that saw Inter Milan take a huge step toward winning the Serie A title next week. Matteo Cancellieri and Toma Basic scored for Lazio, which could have won by a greater margin on Saturday had []

Margao, April 19: Gerard Artigas and Thomyo L. Shimray struck a goal each in the second half as Rajasthan United FC came from behind to beat Dempo SC 2-1 in Indian Football League here on Sunday. Marcus Joseph netted for Dempo SC. The result moved Rajasthan United to third in the standings with 17 points []

Seville, April 19: Real Sociedad beat Atletico Madrid on penalties to win the Copa del Rey title, giving American coach Pellegrino Matarazzo his first career title after he moved to Spain this season. After the game finished 2-2 following extra time, Sociedad goalkeeper Unai Marrero saved shots by Alexander Sorloth and Julian Alvarez and Pablo []

Paris, April 19: Marseilles players are out of excuses and running out of time to secure direct qualification for next seasons Champions League. Saturdays 2-0 loss at Lorient was a third defeat in four league games and it left outgoing sporting director Medhi Benatia fuming. He resigned following former coach Roberto De Zerbis departure, before []

Sadhvi Satish Sail of Goa was crowned Femina Miss India World 2026, a statement said. Sail, who will now represent the country at the 75th Miss World pageant, bagged the title from among 30 participants from across the country at a star-studded event in Bhubaneswar on Saturday night. Rajnandini Pawar from Maharashtra was crowned Femina []