The Shillong Times

It was perhaps a surprising private overture from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to Sen. Bernie Sanders. The meeting between the two had come just after the Vermont senator announced a plan for the public to take a 50 per cent ownership stake in artificial intelligence companies such as OpenAI, using their stock to create a []

Imagine you have used a generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool such as ChatGPT to tidy up notes you took while in a meeting. Your colleague comments on how clear they are. You dont disclose it was the AI that made the notes clear and not you. Now consider a different scenario. You are at your []

In the past year alone, at least 13 independent bookshops have closed in Australia. Some have operated for decades. Perths Boffins Books recently announced it would close after 37 years, citing rising costs and shifting CBD dynamics. In February, Thesaurus Booksellers in the Melbourne suburb of Brighton closed after nearly 50 years, citing rising rent []

Cast: Varun Dhawan, Mrunal Thakur, Pooja Hegde, Maniesh Paul, Jimmy Sheirgill, Chunky Panday Director: David Dhawanj Stars: ****.5 (4.5 stars) Some films are designed to make you think. Others are designed to make you laugh till your cheeks hurt. Hai Jawani Toh Ishq Hona Hai, directed by David Dhawan, proudly belongs to the latter category. []

Pop superstar Taylor Swift and NFL star Travis Kelce are reportedly set to marry at New York Citys iconic Madison Square Garden, according to multiple sources cited by Page Six. The venue, known as the home of the NBAs New York Knicks, the NHLs New York Rangers and some of the worlds biggest concerts, is []

Responding to the backlash over Janhvi Kapoors objectification in his rural sports drama Peddi, featuring actor Ram Charan in the lead, the films director Buchi Babu Sana on Saturday tendered an apology and said that after reviewing the feedback, they had decided to make changes to the concerned portions in the film. The rural sports []

Mullanpur, June 6: KL Rahuls poise and Shubman Gills panache produced contrasting centuries as Indias formidable batting line-up posted 368 for three in their bid to out-bat Afghanistan on the opening day of the one-off Test, here Saturday. Rahul (100 off 165 balls) showed the value of defence while skipper Gill (103 batting off 143 []

St Petersburg, June 6: Residents of St Petersburg were told not to leave their homes after a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russias second-largest city Saturday morning, underscoring Kyivs growing ability to hit deep inside Russia. The attack came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin refused an offer to meet his Ukrainian counterpart. St []

Margao, June 6: India clinched the SAFF Womens Championships football title for the sixth time and first after seven years with a dominant 3-1 win over Bangladesh in the summit clash here on Saturday. Pyari Xaxa (42nd), Sanfida Nongrum (46th) and Lynda Kom Serto (82nd) scored the goals for India, while Ritu Porna Chakma (45+2) []

Mullanpur, June 6: The selection committee has asked Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill to prioritise red-ball and 50-over cricket through the 2027 ODI World Cup cycle, despite a fine 2026 IPL, so that he remains fresh for big assignments ahead. On Saturday, T20 squads were announced for the UK Tour and Asian Games and []

Oslo, June 6: R Praggnanandhaa etched his name in the history books as he became the first Indian to win the prestigious Norway Chess title with a final-round victory over Germanys Vincent Keymer here, capping off a brilliant campaign in style. Praggnanandhaa, who began the final round in second place with 15 points on Friday, []

Kakamigahara (japan), June 6: Ashish Purti struck a fine hat-trick as a dominant India defeated hosts Japan 4-1 in the final to lift the mens Under-18 Asia Cup title here on Friday. Purti scored in the 2nd, 28th and 34th minutes while captain Ketan Kushwaha (30th) also found the back of the net as India []

LONDON, June 6: Rain frustrated Englands charge to victory against New Zealand in their Test series opener at a damp Lords on Saturday. Fast bowler Ollie Robinson took the only two wickets in the 9.4 overs of play allowed to tea and New Zealand was reduced to 55-5 in its second innings in an unlikely []

New Delhi, June 6: World No. 1 Minakshi and seasoned campaigner Deepak will spearhead Indias challenge at the World Boxing Cup 2026 (Stage 2), scheduled to take place in Guiyang, China, from June 15 to 21. This is a second-string Indian team comprising boxers who finished as runners-up in the Commonwealth Games and Asian Games []

MONACO, June 6: Kimi Antonelli took pole position for Formula 1s Monaco Grand Prix by just 0.043 of a second, holding off a challenge from Ferrari and Red Bull to maintain Mercedes dominance Saturday. Antonelli saved his best for last to beat Max Verstappen of Red Bull and ensure Mercedes upheld qualifying on pole for []

New Delhi, June 6: Cricketer Bhupen Lalwani, weightlifter Ajith Narayana, who had won two bronzes in the recent Asian Championships in Gandhinagar, and wrestler Sahil Jaglan, who took part in Asian Games trials a few days ago, were among several athletes handed provisional suspension by the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA) for failing dope tests. Womens []

SHILLONG: Sonibar-o Shillong-ni dingtang dingtang biaprango gari bol briko waal soaha uarangoni gari bolsade police department-ni onga. The incidents were reported from Kenchs Trace, Lumdiengjri, Mawlai Phudmuri aro Nongmensong-ni Dongkamon-o ia aselrang ongaha ine koborna uiataha. Ia chadrapani kamrangko uigijgipa manderang sona nanga ine chanchipako East Khasi Hills-ni Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem aganaha. Kenchs []

MADRID, June 5: The Netherlands will start as favourites to emerge from a competitive Group F at the World Cup, but Japan, Sweden and Tunisia all have realistic hopes of progressing. THE NETHERLANDS The team: Ronald Koemans side is built around goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, defender Virgil van Dijk and midfielder Frenkie de Jong, while Memphis []

TURA: GHADC-ni District Council Judiciary-ni ningo Distirct Council Court-na Judicial Officer dake Judge-ko tarake songchina All Garo Hills Advocates Union (AGHAU) dabbiangaha jedakode advocate-rang aro manderangni gisepgriko dingtang dingtang chagronggipa nengnikanirangko namatna mangen. GHADC-ni CEM-na molmolani lekkako onanio union janapataha, Judge aro Judicial officer-rangni dongsimjanichi raiko mana senge dongenggipa jemangni mamlarang Court-o dongchipenggiparangna raiko mana []

SHILLONG: Bangladesh asongni skotong Dhaka-o Khasi jatoni asongna dakgrikgipa matgrik U Tirot Sing-ni mangkrongko nosto kae galgipako taripilchina Bangladesh High Commissioner baksa Meghalaya sorkari agangrikna jaku deaha. 2024 bilsio Bangladesh asongni Dhaka-o Indira G andhi Cultural Centre (IGCC)-o napaha aro U Tirot Sing-na onkange gisik rana tarigipako nosto kae galaha, uko songsul asongo niam ritini []

BEIJING, June 6: Group G of the 2026 FIFA World Cup features Belgium, Iran, Egypt and New Zealand, with experienced stars Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Mehdi Taremi, Mohamed Salah and Chris Wood leading their respective nations. Belgium, ranked ninth in the world, are favourites to top the group, while Iran (20th), Egypt (29th) and []

It may seem like its impossible to find a car park on the street. As a recent Grattan Institute report makes clear, Australia actually has an oversupply of parking, both on streets and in parking lots. Across five of the state capitals, most postcodes have more on-street spaces than there are registered cars. Thats great []

Researchers at Dartmouth found that octopuses can learn to use mirrors to locate food hidden behind them, a skill previously seen only in vertebrates like mammals and birds. After training, the animals correctly identified the foods location about 73% of the time, showing they could use a mirror as a tool rather than simply reacting []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, June 6: Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma has defended the near-total paralysis of Shillongs arterial roads during Union Home Minister Amit Shahs visit, citing unavoidable security protocols for a high-powered VVIP guest list while offering no concrete solutions for the citys recurring traffic nightmares. Responding to public anger over Thursdays citywide []

From Our Correspondent TURA, June 6: Citing a slow poison threat from chemically treated produce and livestock arriving from Assam, the Achik State Peoples Front (ASPF) has demanded that the Meghalaya government stop all food imports at the border until they are certified safe by state-run laboratories. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Conrad []

Tourists purchase vegetables near Shillong Peak in the city on Saturday. (UB)

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, June 6: Meghalaya has officially drawn a line on the states VIP culture, enforcing a strict new no official, no board rule that forbids government nameplates from being displayed on vehicles unless the dignitary is physically sitting inside. The Display of Name Boards on Motor Vehicles Regulations, 2026, which took effect []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, June 6: In a brazen challenge to the states security apparatus, coordinated arson attacks rocked four different localities of Shillong in the early hours of Saturday, targeting police, health service, and private vehicles in what appears to be a calculated attempt to disrupt the citys fragile peace. The synchronised strikes, occurring []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, June 6: Chasing the ghost of a desecrated legacy, the Meghalaya government has formally petitioned the new Bangladesh regime to restore the memorial of Khasi legend U Tirot Sing Syiem, months after it was razed to the ground by rioters in Dhaka. The bust, located at the entrance of the Indira []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, June 6: The Khasi Students Union (KSU) has presented the state government with a 20-point ultimatum, conditioning future infrastructure projects like railways on the immediate implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) and demanding a radical purge of non-indigenous Scheduled Tribes from the states constitutional benefits. In a memorandum handed to []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, June 6: The parents at the centre of the recent admission dispute involving St. Edmunds School have expressed gratitude to the schools management and tendered an apology for any inconvenience or reputational harm caused during the controversy, stating that the matter has been resolved amicably. In a joint statement issued on []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, June 6: Amid the widespread observance of World Environment Day across Meghalaya, Voice of the People Party (VPP) leader Batskhem Myrboh on Saturday questioned the effectiveness of symbolic green campaigns, arguing that environmental degradation cannot be addressed through slogans, rallies, and ceremonial tree plantations alone. In a social media post that []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, June 6: Jiva Cares organised a free sapling distribution drive at the Old Assembly Bus Stand here on Friday to mark World Environment Day and encourage community participation in environmental conservation. According to a statement here, more than 800 fruit-bearing and ornamental saplings were distributed among the public, including Jacaranda, Erythrina, []

St Petersburg, June 5: Russian President Vladimir Putin has said Moscow is ready to reach a peaceful agreement with Ukraine based on understandings discussed with US President Donald Trump during their meeting in Anchorage last year, provided Kyiv is willing to make compromises. Speaking to international news agencies, including PTI, Putin said Russia had accepted []

Contrary to popular beliefs, artificial intelligence could double its electricity consumption by 2030 to about 3 per cent of the worlds power use and produce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the United Kingdom, a report has said. The report from the United Nations also warned that AI could deplete more water for cooling than the []

Oslo, June 5: Indian Grandmaster R Praggnanandhaa has put himself firmly in contention for the Norway Chess title after a commanding classical victory over compatriot D Gukesh moved him to within half a point of leader Wesley So of the USA, setting up an intriguing final round battle here. Praggnanandhaa piled more misery on Gukesh, []

You need only glance at the headlines these days to know that the current state of international relations is dangerous. From Washingtons retreat from multilateral commitments to Moscows aggressive ethno-nationalism, the defining feature of world affairs is not simply cold strategic calculation but something closer to anxiety. To explain this search for certainty in a []

Monaco, June 5: Its Kimi Antonellis Formula 1 title to lose, or so his Mercedes teammate George Russell says. At the Monaco Grand Prix this week, for once they might both lose. The 19-year-old Antonelli has won four races in a row for a vast 43-point lead and, between him and Russell, Mercedes has won []

Dehradun, June 5: Aiming to pick the Indian squad for the Asian Games, the National Rifle Association of India (NRAI) will conduct selection trials 4 for Group A shooters in rifle and pistol events from Jun 6-10 at the Trishul Shooting Range at Maharana Pratap Sports College here. The squad for the ISSF World Cup []

Shillong, June 5: Nongkseh SSCC concluded their sensational maiden campaign in the Meghalaya State League with victory in the final against Langsning FC in an electrifying last match of MSL 5 at the SSA Stadium here tonight in front of a sold-out crowd. Nongkseh delivered arguably their best performance of the entire season as they []

Mexico City, June 5: Five-time champions Brazil headline Group C of the 2026 FIFA World Cup as they chase a record-extending sixth title, while Morocco seek to build on their historic run in Qatar and Scotland and Haiti return to the global stage after lengthy absences. Brazil Brazil arrive in North America after a turbulent []

Berlin, June 5: Four-time champions Germany will look to put the disappointments of the 2018 and 2022 World Cups behind them in Group E, where Ecuador, Cote dIvoire and debutants Curacao will all be aiming to spring a surprise. Germany Germany heads into the tournament under Julian Nagelsmann seeking a return to former glory after []

TURA: Garo Hills-o saksa kitap serakgipa Dilip R Marak-ni Love at First Sight ingipa kitapko Sukrobar salo, Achik Literature Society (ALS)-ni Secretary Dr Crystal Cornelious D Marak-ni jakchi, kitap senokgipani noko oprake onangaha. Ia kitapko oprakanio, dingtang dingtang skigiparang, kitap segiparang, kitap senokgipani ripengskarang aro Nengminja baksana Rema Maharini membor-rangba dongpae bak raangaha. Ia kitapko []

Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut planted a sapling in Bhubaneswar on World Environment Day as part of the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam campaign. The BJP MP expressed happiness at participating in the initiative, which encourages people to plant trees in honour of their mothers and promote environmental conservation. During her visit to Odisha, Kangana also met []

TURA: June 1 tarikoni 30 tarikona Khet Bachao Abhiyan campaign-ko ongatengani gimin Sukrobar salo, West Garo Hills aro South Garo Hills ajani Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK), training program-ko ongatangan baksana World Environment Day-koba manijolangaha. Ia program-ko West Garo Hills ajani KVK, Aminda Rangsagre songo ogatangaha aro ia program-o soil health management baksana gama geanirango samrango []

By Maitphang Syiem As you begin to read, imagine a Class 6 student named Bahduh. Every morning, he walks past a newly tarred road to reach school. Bahduh sits at his desk present and accounted for in the register. But although Bahduh is in Class 6 he cannot reliably read a paragraph from his class []

GUWAHATI, June 5: Two orphaned Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) cubs, rescued from Dissoi Reserved Forest in Jorhat in February last year, have been released in Dehing Patkai National Park, marking an important milestone in Assams wildlife conservation journey. Official sources on Friday said that the cubs, estimated to be between four and six weeks []

GUWAHATI, June 5: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted the likelihood of thunderstorm and lightning, with heavy to very heavy rain and gusty winds, in the coming two to three days at isolated places in Guwahati city, along with districts across Assam. The weather pattern suggests that thunderstorm and lightning with few spells []

Ri-Bhoi, June 5: Marking World Environment Day 2026, the University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM), in collaboration with the Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) and the Forests & Environment Department, Government of Meghalaya, organised a plantation drive and an awareness programme on environmental sustainability at the USTM campus on Friday. A significant highlight []