The Shillong Times

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, []

Moscow, May 16: Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on a two-day trip to Beijing next week, the Kremlin said Saturday. The announcement comes less than 24 hours after US President Donald Trump finished his own state visit to China, where he also met Xi to discuss trade and the []

Tel Aviv, May 16: An Israeli airstrike in Gaza killed the leader of Hamas military wing, one of the last surviving architects of the October 7, 2023 attacks that triggered the war in Gaza, the Israeli military said Saturday. Izz al-Din al-Haddad was killed on Friday, Israels army said. Al-Haddads killing comes as the ceasefire []

Islamabad, May 16: Pakistans Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday held talks with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran on bilateral ties and regional developments amidst Islamabads mediation efforts to end the US-Iran conflict, according to a media report. Pakistan hosted the talks between the US and Iran last month but they failed to bridge the []

Prime Minister Narendra Modi observes a performance during a community programme, in The Hague, Netherlands. (PTI)

Dhaka, May 16: Bangladeshs ruling BNP on Saturday said the countrys relations with India will depend on a new Ganges Water Sharing Treaty as it sought immediate talks with New Delhi for an agreement in line with Dhakas expectations and needs. The Indo-Bangladesh Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, signed in 1996, is due to expire in []

Washington, May 16: US and Nigerian forces killed a leader of the Islamic State group in Nigeria in a mission carried out Friday, US President Donald Trump said. Trump announced the joint operation in Africas most populous country in a late-night social media post. He said Abu Bakr al-Mainuki was second-in-command of the Islamic State []

DENVER, May 16: Colorado Governor Jared Polis on Friday commuted the sentence of election conspiracy theorist Tina Peters following pressure from President Donald Trump, the latest instance of the president using his powers to reward those who echoed his baseless claims of mass fraud as the cause of his 2020 loss. Trump has championed the []

Netherlands hands back Chola dynasty copper plates to India The Hague, May 16: The Netherlands on Saturday handed back 11th-century Chola dynasty copper plates to India, in an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten, signifying the strengthening of ties between the two countries. PM Modi, who arrived in []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | CONNOLLY BECAME YOUNGEST OVERSEAS IPL CENTURION WITH 107* VS SRH MATCH TODAY RCB VS PBKS AT 3:30 PM | DC VS RR AT 7:30 PM Punjab Kings Shashank Singh fields the ball during a practice session in Dharamshala, on Saturday. (PTI)

Huma Qureshi made a striking appearance at the ongoing Cannes Film Festival, turning heads in a traditional Banarasi saree that celebrated Indian craftsmanship on a global stage. The 39-year-old actor shared a series of photographs on Instagram, showcasing herself in a muted plum-hued saree featuring intricate gold zari work. She completed the look with gold []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | CONNOLLY BECAME YOUNGEST OVERSEAS IPL CENTURION WITH 107* VS SRH MATCH TODAY RCB VS PBKS AT 3:30 PM | DC VS RR AT 7:30 PM Royal Challengers Bengaluru would look to exploit vulnerabilities of a profligate Punjab Kings bowling line up to seal a play-off berth in the Indian Premier []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | CONNOLLY BECAME YOUNGEST OVERSEAS IPL CENTURION WITH 107* VS SRH MATCH TODAY RCB VS PBKS AT 3:30 PM | DC VS RR AT 7:30 PM Lucknow, May 16: Cricketer-turned-commentator Ravi Shastri reckons Chennai Super Kings would have learnt some hard lessons from their seven-wicket defeat to Lucknow Super Giants but []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | CONNOLLY BECAME YOUNGEST OVERSEAS IPL CENTURION WITH 107* VS SRH MATCH TODAY RCB VS PBKS AT 3:30 PM | DC VS RR AT 7:30 PM New Delhi, May 16: Delhi Capitals assistant coach Ian Bell on Saturday admitted that batting inconsistency has thwarted his sides campaign in IPL 2026, and []

Early this week, Iranian state-linked media floated a plan to charge the operators of undersea internet cables in the Strait of Hormuz for access to what they say is Irans offshore territory. The suggestion comes after Iranian warnings that several important cables in the strait were a vulnerable point for economies in the Middle East. []

The Tatmawdaw the military government in Myanmar has reportedly expanded a ban on menstrual products from being transported in the country across key routes, as part of the ongoing civil war in the country. This targeting of sanitary pads appears to be an extension of the militarys so-called Four Cuts strategy, which seeks []

INDIAN PREMIER LEAGUE | CONNOLLY BECAME YOUNGEST OVERSEAS IPL CENTURION WITH 107* VS SRH MATCH TODAY RCB VS PBKS AT 3:30 PM | DC VS RR AT 7:30 PM New Delhi, May 16: Vaibhav Sooryavanshis audacious strokeplay will come up against seam-and-swing master Mitchell Starc as Rajasthan Royals and Delhi Capitals lock horns in []

Back in 2005, US economist Fred Bergsten coined the term Group of 2 or G2, proposing a stronger partnership between what are now the worlds two largest economies the United States and China. In the aftermath of the global financial crisis a few years later, economic cooperation between these two countries briefly seemed to []

Dhaka, May 16: Bangladeshs ruling BNP on Saturday said the countrys relations with India will depend on a new Ganges Water Sharing Treaty as it sought talks for an agreement in line with Dhakas expectations and needs. The Indo-Bangladesh Ganges Water Sharing Treaty, signed in 1996, is due to expire in December. We want to []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 16: The Federation of Khasi Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) has urged the state government to take immediate steps to address the growing challenges faced by pig and poultry farmers across Meghalaya. In a memorandum submitted to Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Minister Sanbor Shullai on Friday, FKJGP president Dundee Cliff []

By Our Reporter SHILLONG, May 16: Former Phulbari legislator SG Esmatur Mominin, whose surrender in Ri-Bhoi last month ended a high-profile police search, was granted bail by a Tura court on Friday. The release comes with strict conditions regarding his alleged role in the law and order disturbances that broke out ahead of the GHADC []

Through a journey of purpose, award-winning Rikadeisuk Suting redefines care in Meghalaya, reports Esha Chaudhuri On most days at Supercare Hospital, Rikadeisuk Suting (31) moves quietly through hospital corridors, reviewing protocols, tracking patient safety indicators and ensuring nurses have the support they need to deliver care. However, behind the calm composure of a Quality Nurse []

Students participate in a science fair programme, organised by Agastya International Foundation at Shishu Mandir Secondary School, Laban, on Friday. During the programme, around 30 students presented a total of 25 science models on various topics.

Bicycling has been promoted in India to reduce emissions and improve public health, but a new study reveals gaps in policy, implementation and gender equity.Researchers recommend talking to cyclists to learn how they navigate the roads, and what their needs and concerns are, in order to create stronger policies. Mongabay India correspondentAisiri Aminreports In 2025, []

By Our Reporter Meghalaya-based rapper and songwriter Rebel has unveiled her latest hip-hop single Praying Mantis, a track dissecting deception, power, and strategic intent through dense metaphors and incisive philosophical wordplay. The audio of the single debuted on May 7, with the official music video released on Thursday across digital platforms. According to the artist, []

SHILLONG, May 15: Teachers and employees of deficit schools and colleges on Friday criticised the National Peoples Party-led MDA government for allegedly failing to strictly comply with the directives of the High Court of Meghalaya. They also slammed the state government for confusing and contradictory orders regarding the implementation of the Meghalaya Non-Government Schools and []

From CK Nayak NEW DELHI, May 15: Meghalayas economy has doubled over the last five years and the hill state has become one of the consistently fastest growing states in the country, Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma announced on Friday. Capital investment has increased four times compared to what it was from 2018, Conrad said []

SHILLONG, May 15: With more than 68 per cent of Meghalayas voters already mapped with the 2005 electoral roll, the Election Department has stepped up preparations for the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise that will begin across the state from June 20. Chief Electoral Officer B.D.R. Tiwari on Friday said around 16.14 lakh electors out []

SHILLONG, May 15: In a landmark achievement for womens health in Meghalaya, the first-ever thermal ablation procedure for treating HPV-related cervical pre-cancer was successfully performed at a government health facility on Wednesday. The procedure was conducted at the DAE Cancer Wing of Civil Hospital, Shillong, by a dedicated team from the Meghalaya Mission Cancer Prevention []

The Delhi High Court has allowed the OTT release of Dhurandhar 2 featuring the remix Rang De Lal (Oye Oye), rejecting a plea by Trimurti Films to block its streaming over alleged copyright violation of the song Tirchi Topiwale from Tridev (1989). Justice Tushar Rao Gedela ruled that since the film had already been released []

WILLIAMNAGAR, May 15: East Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner RP Marak has ordered an inquiry into a contractor constructing the Darugre-Chisobibra road following allegations of illegal stone extraction and severe environmental damage. The probe follows complaints lodged by Leader of the Opposition Mukul Sangma, who alleged that the firm engaged by NHIDCL deviated from the approved []

SHILLONG, May 15: The first phase of Census 2027 operations in Meghalaya will commence from Saturday (May 16) with the launch of the House Listing and Housing Census (HLO) field operations across the state. The exercise will continue till June 14, covering all 12 districts through a fully digital mode of data collection. Biswajit Pegu, []