Pioneer in short
Chandigarh: schools get bomb threats
At least 26 schools in Chandigarh received bomb threat emails on Wednesday, triggering large-scale evacuations and extensive security checks across the city. Police later confirmed that no explosive or suspicious material was found at any of the locations. Chandigarh Senior Superintendent of Police Kanwardeep Kaur said bomb threat emails were reported by 26 schools, following which alerts were issued to control room 112. Local police teams, bomb disposal squads, fire brigades and ambulances were immediately rushed to the affected campuses. The emails, sent from a Gmail account, are being investigated by the Chandigarh Police cyber team. An FIR has been registered at Sector 17 Police Station. Schools that did not receive the threats remained open. Several Government and private schools in sectors 25, 19, 45, 16 and other areas were affected. Students and staff were evacuated, security was tightened, and students en route to schools were sent back home. Police said additional deployment will be ensured in and around all schools from Thursday as a precaution. The administration urged people to remain calm, report any threats immediately, and avoid rumours.
US, Iran Exchange Warnings, Threats
Iranian officials engaged regional actors on Wednesday amid fears of a possible US military strike, as the country’s currency fell to a record low and nationwide protests continue after a violent crackdown. Saudi Arabia and the UAE pledged not to allow their airspace for attacks on Iran, even as the US moved the USS Abraham Lincoln and missile destroyers into the region. President Donald Trump warned of severe consequences if Iran did not negotiate on nuclear issues, while Tehran said it was ready for dialogue but would defend itself if provoked. The protests, sparked by a collapsing rial, have left at least 6,221 people dead and more than 42,300 arrested, according to rights groups.
States fail SC stray dog orders
The Supreme Court on Wednesday expressed concern over state Governments’ non-compliance with its orders to increase sterilisation and control of stray dogs, saying many States were “building castles in the air.” A bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N V Anjaria criticised vague affidavits and lack of concrete action. Senior advocate Gaurav Agrawal, appointed amicus curiae, highlighted deficiencies in States’ animal birth control (ABC) programmes, fencing of institutional areas, and removal of stray animals from roads and highways. For instance, Bihar reported sterilisation of 20,648 dogs across 34 centres, but no daily capacity or period was specified, falling short of the estimated six lakh stray dogs in the State. The court also noted alarming stray dog bite statistics from Assam: 1.66 lakh bites in 2024 and 20,900 in January 2025 alone.
