The Shillong Times

Abhijat Marathi, an OTT platform dedicated to Marathi content, was officially unveiled at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival 2026, marking a significant moment for Marathi entertainment and regional storytelling on the global stage. The launch was led by Kedar Narahar Joshi, Founder and Owner of Abhijat Marathi, in the presence of celebrated Marathi entertainment personalities []

Bollywood actors Kriti Sanon, Shahid Kapoor and Rashmika Mandanna during the song launch of the upcoming film Cocktail 2, in Mumbai, on Sunday. (PTI)

Hollywood actor Keanu Reeves will voice the title character in Hidari, a Japanese stop-motion action feature directed by Masashi Kawamura. The film was announced at Cannes and expands on Kawamuras 2023 proof-of-concept short of the same name, which gained attention for its unique visual style and storytelling approach. The story is inspired by the legend []

Actor Soni Razdan has slammed social media trolls targeting daughter Alia Bhatts Cannes Film Festival outing, saying the hate reveals something about society. Bhatt attended the festival and walked the red carpet as Indias global ambassador for LOreal Paris for the second consecutive year. A video post claims that the photographers did not know the []

JERUSALEM, May 18: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump discussed the possibility of renewed military action against Iran during a phone call, according to Israeli media reports cited by Kan TV. A senior Israeli official said the United States could potentially join Israel in coordinated strikes if hostilities with Iran resume. []

Ankara, May 18: The Israeli military intercepted several boats belonging to the Global Sumud Flotilla off the coast of Cyprus on Monday, preventing activists from attempting to breach Israels naval blockade of Gaza. More than 50 vessels had departed from Marmaris, Turkiye, in what organisers described as the final stage of a mission aimed at []

Islamabad, May 18: Pakistan on Monday strongly condemned the drone attack on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the United Arab Emirates. A drone strike on Sunday caused a fire outside the inner perimeter region of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi. So far, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack. Pakistan []

Rotterdam, May 18: The cruise ship MV Hondius docked in Rotterdam on Monday for disinfection after a deadly hantavirus outbreak during its voyage. The vessel arrived carrying 25 crew members and two medical personnel after all passengers had already disembarked in the Canary Islands and entered quarantine in more than 20 countries. Crew members aboard []

KYIV, May 18: Russia launched a large overnight drone and missile assault on Ukraine, striking eight regions, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday. Officials reported more than two dozen civilians injured, including three children, with the central region and city of Dnipro suffering the heaviest impact. The attack involved 524 drones and 22 ballistic and []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | VIRAT KOHLI BECOMES FIRST INDIAN WITH 10 T20 TONS MATCH TODAY RAJASTHAN ROYALS VS LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS AT 7:30 PM New Delhi, May 18: Delhi Capitals head coach Hemang Badani praised senior pacer Australian quick Mitchell Starc for his influence on younger players after the team kept its IPL play-off []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | VIRAT KOHLI BECOMES FIRST INDIAN WITH 10 T20 TONS MATCH TODAY RAJASTHAN ROYALS VS LUCKNOW SUPER GIANTS AT 7:30 PM New Delhi, May 18: Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal has dismissed speculation surrounding the possibility of the playoffs of the 2026 edition being held behind closed doors or []

Guwahati, May 18: Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrahs workload management will be debated alongside the match fitness of Rohit Sharma when the national selectors pick Indias squads for next months one-off Test and three ODIs against Afghanistan, here on Tuesday. There is a short turnaround between the IPL and the one off Test which begins in []

New Delhi, May 18: The BCCI is not a public authority under the Right to Information Act, thus it is not liable to answer any queries under the transparency law, the Central Information Commission held on Monday, overturning its own 2018 order in this regard. Information Commissioner PR Ramesh said that the Board of Control []

Sylhet, May 18: Mushfiqur Rahim hit a record-breaking century as Bangladesh set Pakistan a daunting 437 runs for victory in the second Test on Monday. Rahim struck a superb 137 off 233, smashing 12 fours and one six to help Bangladesh post 390 in the second innings. Litton Das, followed his first-innings 126 with an []

Lahore, May 18: Pakistan mens hockey team captain Ammad Shakeel Butt is ready to take on arch-rivals India in the upcoming FIH Pro League and the 2026 Hockey World Cup in Belgium and The Netherlands. Acknowledging that the Indian hockey team is a tough opponent, Butt said Pakistan is prepared this time to give a []

SHILLONG: Dao dipet Meghalaya adokni pilak biaprangon, petrol, diesel aro songa chanani LPG-rangko chuonga gita manengkua ine dingtang dingtang Oil company-rang parakatenba, manderangko kenjagokjachina didiataha. Oil Industry, Meghalaya-ni State Level Coordinator aro Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Shillong Area Manager (LPG-Sales)-ni parakatani gitade, dao dipet adokni pilak biaprangon, Public Sector Oil Marketing Company-rang, petrol (MS), diesel []

Delhi High Court to study WFI selection policy before order New Delhi, May 18: The Delhi High Court on Monday said it would examine the Wrestling Federation of Indias (WFI) selection policy before passing any order on wrestler Vinesh Phogats plea seeking a fair opportunity to make a comeback to competitive wrestling. The matter came []

SHILLONG: Adok sorkarini Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS)-ko Ayushman Bharat scheme baksa chaprimate, ia scheme-ni mangniko baridapatahaoba ia scheme-na biming segatani komikuenga ine adokni Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla, suk onggijaniko parakataha. Iani bidingo kobor ratimgipa manderang baksa agangrikengon, MHIS-ni ningo hospital-rango sanna bananirangko rana gita bilsiprakon gong lak 5-ona kingking bariatahaoba, adoko ia scheme-ko rana []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 18: Senior BJP leader and MLA AL Hek on Monday said the Assam-Meghalaya interstate boundary dispute is being addressed through sustained negotiations between the two state governments, even as he said that the India-Bangladesh border fencing is the need of the hour considering growing security concerns. At a time when []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 18: Senior BJP leader and MLA AL Hek on Monday said that local technical expertise and a traditional understanding of river systems are essential for protecting the Wah Umkhrah and its tributaries. Speaking on the rivers condition, Hek argued that local knowledge is more effective than relying solely on external []

From Our Correspondent BAGHMARA, May 18: A resident of South Garo Hills, Jhonprizebirth Sangma, has petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleging gross irregularities and nepotism in the recruitment process conducted by the District Selection Committee (DSC). The complaint specifically names South Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner and DSC Chairman, Sumit Kumar Singh, for allegedly overseeing the []

By Our Special Correspondent SHILLONG, May 18: Samanong village, located hardly 18 kilometres from the West Jaintia Hills district headquarter of Jowai, is home to Samanong Non-Government Lower Primary School, established in 1971. The old school building adjacent to the new one is a dilapidated wreck. The Jaintia Hills Autonomous District Council built a new []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 18: Amid a spike in motorcycle thefts in East Khasi Hills, Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem has urged two-wheeler owners to install GPS trackers and avoid parking in unsecured public spaces. Syiem noted that thefts are being reported almost every week, prompting the district police to intensify surveillance and checkpoints, []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 18: The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) on Monday petitioned the Directorate of Higher and Technical Education, alleging a violation of the Meghalaya State Reservation Policy in the recruitment for government-sanctioned posts at Womens College Shillong. HYC education secretary Enlang Sawian told reporters that data obtained through the Right to Information []

Shillong, May 18: Meghalaya Chief Minister, Conrad K. Sangma, on Monday announced the postponement of the Meghalaya Teacher Eligibility Test (MTET), which was earlier scheduled to be held on May 29, following appeals from teachers engaged in multiple national duties, including Census and SIR-related assignments. Addressing a public programme in Damas in North Garo Hills []

Biplab Kr Dey Baghmara, May 18: A resident of South Garo Hills, Jhonprizebirth Sangma has written to Prime Minister, Narendra Modi alleging gross violation of DSC rules as well as arbitrary appointment of job aspirants affiliated to a particular political party by the deputy commissioner of the district, Sumit Singh, despite these candidates not passing []

Guwahati, May 18: Amid concerns over rising prices of essential commodities in the state, the Assam government on Monday reviewed the price monitoring mechanism and announced stringent measures aimed at maintaining market stability. Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the price monitoring mechanism for essential commodities and directed officials to take strict steps to []

Journalist-turned-actor Saurabh Dwivedi is faced with significant social media criticism following his acting debut in the recently released Saif Ali Khan-starrer Kartavya. Whilst the crime drama has garnered positive reviews for its gritty storytelling, Dwivedis performance has drawn heavy fire from viewers. Social media users on X mocked Dwivedis dialogue delivery and expressions, with some []

The restored 4K restoration of late filmmaker John Abrahams cult Malayalam film Amma Ariyan was screened at the Cannes Film Festival on Sunday. It was attended by the films lead actor, Joy Mathew, and editor Bina Paul, along with others. The Film Heritage Foundation (FHF), which played a major role in the restoration of this []

Ayushmann Khurrana-starrer Pati Patni Aur Woh Do has earned over Rs 10 crore at the domestic box office. The film is directed by Mudassar Aziz and released in theatres on Friday. It also features Sara Ali Khan, Rakul Preet Singh, and Wamiqa Gabbi, and is produced by T-Series. The makers shared the box office numbers []

Bollywood actress Sonakshi Sinha, who is gearing up for the release of her streaming movie System, does not agree with the opinion that cinema should be used solely as a medium for bringing about social change. The actress spoke to IANS, along with veteran actress Jyothika, during the promotions of the film in Mumbai. When []

Kathmandu, May 17: Thousands of landless squatters on Sunday organised a massive rally in Lumbini province in southern Nepal to protest the governments ongoing eviction drive that they claim has displaced millions of people across the country, including in Kathmandu. Nepal, especially the capital, has witnessed a series of protests by the people displaced during []

Islamabad, May 17: The Pakistan Army on Sunday criticised Indian Army Chief Gen Upendra Dwivedis recent remarks, while urging New Delhi to learn to co-exist peacefully. Gen Dwivedi on Saturday said that if Pakistan continues to harbour terrorists and operate against India, then they have to decide whether they want to be part of geography []

Jerusalem, May 17: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday claimed that it has eliminated the Hamas operations headquarters Commander who advanced terror plots against Israeli forces. IDF forces in the Southern Command eliminated Bahaa Baroud yesterday, a commander in the operations headquarters of the Hamas terror organisation, the IDF said on social media platform []

Washington, May 17: Concerns are growing in Taiwan after President Donald Trump indicated that future US arms sales to Taipei could become part of broader negotiations with China following his summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. Taiwans representative to the US, Alexander Yui, warned on Sunday on CBS News that Taiwan needed continued []

New York, May 17: Recent outbreaks of hantavirus and norovirus on cruise ships are making headlines, but theyre unlikely to dim the growing popularity of vacation cruises, according to industry representatives and travel experts. In fact, many within the industry still expect a record number of people worldwide to take cruises this year despite three []

Colombo, May 17: SriLankan Airlines has accused several Indian employees based in its Chennai office of misappropriating funds worth Rs 22 million. In a statement issued on Saturday, the Sri Lankan flag carrier said that the fraud was carried out by altering invoices, payment details and signatures. With regard to the misappropriation of funds at []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | GUJARAT TITANS SAI SUDHARSAN FASTEST TO 3,000 IPL RUNS MATCH TODAY CHENNAI SUPER KINGS VS SUNRISERS HYDERABAD AT 7:30 PM Dharamsala, May 17: Royal Challengers Bengaluru held their nerve and survived a late onslaught to edge out Punjab Kings by 23 runs to become the first team to secure an []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | GUJARAT TITANS SAI SUDHARSAN FASTEST TO 3,000 IPL RUNS MATCH TODAY CHENNAI SUPER KINGS VS SUNRISERS HYDERABAD AT 7:30 PM New Delhi, May 17: Mitchell Starc produced a game-changing four-wicket haul to halt Rajasthan Royals charge before Delhi Capitals completed a crucial five-wicket win to keep their IPL play-offs hopes []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: Meghalaya may not rank among states with high crime rates, but NCRB data for 2024 has revealed concerns over the states low charge-sheeting and conviction rates despite thousands of cases being registered during the year. According to reports the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Meghalaya registered 3,986 IPC/BNS cases []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla on Sunday expressed concern over the states failure to achieve full registration under the Meghalaya Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS) despite the expanded benefits now available through its convergence with the Ayushman Bharat scheme. Speaking on the sidelines of a programme here, Shylla said it was []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: Meghalaya is attempting to dismantle the culture of classroom silence in rural schools as the state-backed SPARK initiativenow expanded to 10 districtsreplaces rigid school rules with student-led promises to boost employability and confidence for over 6,500 students. For Havilah Challam, a Class 10 student of Jowai Public School in []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: Thousands gathered in Sohra on Saturday to witness the traditional cremation of the preserved remains of Iartimai Syiem, the former Syiemsad of Hima Sohra, nearly 32 years after her passing. The ceremony was organised by the Syiem family, led by the current Syiemsad, Costlymai Syiem, and former Deputy Syiem []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: Four major Baptist organisations, including the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) and the Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF), have jointly appealed to the United Naga Council (UNC) and Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) for the immediate and unconditional release of hostages in Manipur. In a statement issued Sunday, the organisationswhich also []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: The eight-day Aqua Adventure Regatta 2026, organised by the 12 Assam NCC Battalion, concluded at Umiam Lake on Saturday. The camp, which began on May 9, brought together 100 NCC cadets from various institutes. During the event, participants trained in sailing, boat pulling and watermanship, alongside team-building and leadership []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: Tura MDC and state BJP vice-president Bernard N Marak on Sunday alleged duplication and irregularities in several projects funded under the Agreed Text for Settlement (ATS). The claims follow inspections conducted by the Centre Level Monitoring Committee in Garo Hills this week. Marak noted discrepancies in the museum project []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: Beyond the vintage suits and polished engines, Health Minister Wailadmiki Shylla and medical experts issued a grim warning in Shillong this Sunday: Meghalayas culture of silence around mens mental health and rising HIV rates is a public health emergency that cannot be masked by pageantry. Speaking at the Distinguished []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 17: A World Bank delegation visited Sohra on Saturday to review the progress of key healthcare and adolescent welfare initiatives under the Meghalaya Health Project and the Meghalaya Multisectoral Project for Adolescent Wellbeing, Empowerment and Resilience (MPOWER). The team visited the Sohra Community Health Centre (CHC) to assess its transition []

Washington, May 16: Recent comments by US President Donald Trump that arms sales to Taiwan are a very good negotiating chip in the United States dealings with China are heightening anxieties on the island democracy that Beijing claims as its own. Trump made the comment in a Fox News interview with Bret Baier that aired []

Washington, May 16: US President Donald Trump returned from a visit to China, describing his discussions with President Xi Jinping as a meeting of leaders of two great countries. Trump landed at the Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on the outskirts of the US capital on Friday evening, claiming to have struck important trade deals, []