Shillong

The Regional Artificial Intelligence (AI) Impact Conference 2025, a flagship regional event leading up to the India AI Impact Summit in February 2026, was held at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on Wednesday.Virtually addressing conference, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnav said, “During this conference in Shillong, the focus will be on people, planet and progress, which are the three pillars, the three sutras of the AI impact summit.” Vaishnav spoke on the central government’s mission to develop AI in the country. “As a part of this mission, we have allocated Rs 10,300 crore over the past five years. We have created a common computing facility for everybody to get access to AI resources and more than 38,000 Graphics Processing Unit (GP...

National People’s Party (NPP) president Conrad K. Sangma on Tuesday said the party was prepared for the political and law-and-order challenges confronting Manipur, describing the current crisis in the state, governed by the administration under President’s Rule, as an opportunity for organisational growth. “There will always be challenges, but at the same time, challenges mean opportunities also,” Sangma told mediapersons after felicitating newly appointed Manipur State President Dr. Lorho S. Pfoze at the NPP office in Shillong. Along with Pfoze, newly appointed legislative party leader Rameshwar M. Singh, Chief Whip Loken Singh and working presidents Janghemlung Panmei and Noorul Hasan were also felicitated. The NPP chief expressed confidence that under Pfoze’s leadership, the party w...

In a major development for heritage conservation in Meghalaya, the High Court has ordered status quo on the proposed demolition of the historic Circuit House in Laban, Shillong—also known as Bidhan Bhavan or Roy Villa—until further orders. The decision comes after a strong citizen-led campaign spearheaded by Malabika Bisharad, a Shillong resident originally from Behala, Kolkata, who has been actively raising concerns over the state government’s plan to raze the structure for a concrete expansion project. Earlier this month, the High Court registered a public interest litigation (PIL) based on a letter addressed to Chief Justice Soumen Sen. The letter described the Circuit House as a heritage site of immense historical importance. On Thursday, the matter came up for hearing before a Divisi...

MWire Labs, a technology startup based in Shillong, has announced the release of NE-BERT, an AI model built specifically for the languages of Northeast India. The new model supports nine languages: Khasi, Garo, Pnar, Assamese, Manipuri (Meitei), Mizo, Nyishi, Kokborok, and Nagamese. Unlike global Al models which primarily focus on English or Hindi, NE-BERT is designed to help digital tools and apps understand the unique languages of the Northeast.

The U Soso Tham Auditorium roared to life as acclaimed actor Vinay Pathak delivered a gripping performance in a play inspired by Shakespeare’s King Lear at the Shillong Literary Festival. Directed by the visionary Rajat Kapoor, the production blended tragedy, dark humour, and contemporary drama into a spellbinding theatrical storm. Pathak’s portrayal of the tormented monarch unraveling under the weight of betrayal held the audience captive from the first moment. Kapoor’s signature minimalist direction gave the classic tale a fresh heartbeat, turning Shakespeare’s centuries-old tragedy into a modern emotional spectacle. The crowd rose in a standing ovation as the curtains fell, marking the performance as one of the festival’s most electrifying highlights. In just one evening, Shillon...

Shillong was shaken on the evening of 17 November 2025, when a horrifying incident unfolded near Gate-2 of North Eastern Hill University (NEHU). At around 7:00 PM, two young students from the Chemistry Department — Daritngen Pohdukhei and Stephanie Shadap— were violently struck by an overspeeding vehicle, leaving the campus community in disbelief and fear. Both students were rushed to Nazareth Hospital, where they remain in critical condition, battling severe injuries. Speaking to the media with visible distress, Lenin Kwong Thao, a family representative of Daritngen, described the gravity of the situation: He further revealed that the incident has already been reported to the police, but the family is anxiously waiting for concrete action. The shocking accident has triggered outrag...

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly conducted an inspection of four major health facilities in Shillong on Monday to review the on-ground implementation of the Megha Health Insurance Scheme (MHIS). The inspection team visited Civil Hospital Shillong, Ganesh Das Hospital, the North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), and Super Care Hospital. During the visit, the Committee engaged with hospital authorities and MHIS personnel to assess administrative processes, beneficiary experiences, and systemic challenges impacting the effective delivery of the scheme. Inspection Team- Smti. Miani D. Shira, MLA & Chairperson, Public Accounts Committee, Dr. Celestine Lyngdoh, MLA & Member, Shri Brightstarwel...

In an inspiring display of discipline, determination, and family support, Hamiwell Marwein from Mawlai Mawroh, Shillong on Nov 9 has successfully completed the prestigious IRONMAN 70.3 Goa Triathlon - one of the world's most demanding endurance events. His achievement was the result of a year of focused training, balancing professional and personal responsibilities with unwavering purpose. Guided and motivated by Colonel Jangvir Lamba, a serving Indian Army officer and experienced Ironman triathlete, Hamiwell prepared for the 1.9 km open-water swim, 90 km cycling leg, and 21.1 km run-all completed consecutively within strict time limits.Training amidst Shillong's challenging hills and unpredictable weather, Hamiwell embodied the resilience and quiet strength for which the Northeast is ...

Iran secured a commanding 3-0 victory over Nepal to win the Women’s Tri-Nation International Tournament at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, putting on a show of attacking football that kept fans on the edge of their seats. The first half saw both sides create chances but fail to convert, with Iran controlling possession and Nepal pressing when possible. Iran’s Sara Didar broke the deadlock just four minutes into the second half, followed quickly by Zahra Ghanbari’s precise set-piece strike in the 52nd minute. Shabnam Behesht capped the match with a brilliant left-footed goal, sealing Iran’s dominant performance. Nepal, led by captain Sabitra Bhandari, had opportunities but struggled to penetrate Iran’s defence, ultimately finishing the tournament without a win. The result confirmed Iran as...

Nepal and IR Iran’s women’s football teams will meet on October 24 in a decisive clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Polo Ground, Shillong, as part of the Women’s Tri-Nation International Tournament. Nepal head coach Nabin Neupane said his squad is fully prepared and determined to claim all three points. Having previously visited Shillong, Neupane acknowledged the strength of both India and Iran but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform consistently throughout the match. “I believe the players are ready to give their best for the entire 90 minutes,” Neupane stated during the pre-match press conference. Iran’s head coach, Marziyeh Jafaribaravati, described Nepal as a formidable opponent and predicted an entertaining encounter. She added that her side has been addre...