Breaking News Live Updates, May 21: Several prominent schools in Chandigarh receive bomb threat

In all schools, classes till std 5 will remain completely suspended. Classes for std 6 to std 8 to go on only till 10.30 am. Order to remain in effect from 22nd to 26th May.

Walmart reported increased profits Thursday as it capitalized on affordability concerns at a time of soaring gasoline prices, but shares fell sharply on disappointment over the retailer's sales forecast.

The company pointed to strong growth in e-commerce following hefty technology investments, but cautioned that an even more prolonged shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Middle East war could send retail prices higher.

"I think it's possible that if fuel prices persist at this level, you may see some upward pressure on average retail prices," Chief Financial Officer John David Rainey said on a conference call with analysts.

TMC posted on X, "Our leaders Nayna Bandyopadhyay, Kunal Ghosh and Madan Mitra, along with our dedicated workers strongly protested against the Bengal BJP-led “bulldozer government” and its anti-people actions. OUR DEMAND: NO EVICTION WITHOUT REHABILITATION. Before demolishing homes and uprooting families, authorities MUST ENSURE proper rehabilitation, alternative housing and dignity for every affected person. People are not disposable. Their lives, livelihoods and futures matter."

Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital has reported another heatstroke case amid soaring temperatures in the national capital.
A 50-year-old man was admitted on Thursday morning after being brought in unconscious by police with an extremely high body temperature.

According to the hospital, doctors immediately placed him on ventilator support and initiated ice-cold water immersion cooling.

Hospital officials said the patient remains in critical condition, while details about his identity and medical history are yet to be confirmed due to the absence of any attendant.

This comes after a 24-year-old man, who was travelling by train, was rushed to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in an unconscious state on Thursday.

The patient was immediately admitted to the hospital's emergency care facility, where a dedicated heatwave clinic initiated intensive life-saving treatment protocols to stabilise his condition and reduce dangerously elevated internal body temperature.

Report any suspicious activity or person indulging in it to helpline number 139 to check anti-social elements targeting railways, the ministry said.

Several prominent schools in Chandigarh have received bomb threat emails this morning. Authorities are investigating the matter.

The health condition of a Thai princess who has been hospitalised for more than three years has deteriorated, the palace said Thursday.

Princess Bajrakitiyabha Mahidol, the king's eldest daughter, fell ill during a military dog training session in December 2022 and has remained in hospital since.

She suffered from a severe blood infection and her lung and kidney functions were being supported by medical devices and medication, the palace previously said.

The Bureau of the Royal Household said in a statement on Thursday that the princess had developed an abdominal infection from inflammation of the large intestine and was experiencing "unstable vital signs, low blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and abnormal blood coagulation".

The palace added that Bajrakitiyabha was still relying on medical equipment to support her lung and kidney functions, as well as medication.

"Her condition has continued to deteriorate," it said, adding that the infection had become "uncontrollable and affected other organs".

Tributes to former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji on his death anniversary.

Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Lok Sabha LoP and Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, her daughter Miraya Vadra, and son Raihan Vadra pay homage to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his 35th death anniversary at Vir Bhumi.

Punjab Police arrested three alleged key operatives linked to drug trafficking networks in Ferozepur district and recovered 10.125 kg of heroin, 2 kg of methamphetamine, and a weapon, a senior official said.

In two separate operations, police arrested the accused identified as Om alias Omi (23), a resident of Leli Wala village in Ferozepur, and Aniket Kumar (22) and Sumit (23), both residents of Shanti Nagar in Ferozepur.

Police also seized a motorcycle used by the accused during the operations.

Preliminary investigations suggest the involvement of an organised drug supply chain in both cases. Officials said teams are working to trace backward and forward linkages to identify the source, destination, and other members of the network.

PM Modi departed for India after concluding his five-nation tour, which included visits to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Italy. During the final leg of the trip in Italy, the two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to a special strategic partnership following talks between PM Modi and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

In a post on X, PM Modi said his visit to Italy was “very productive” and noted that discussions with Prime Minister Meloni covered a wide range of sectors. He added that the upgrade in bilateral ties would provide new momentum to cooperation between the two countries in the coming years. He also thanked the Italian leadership and people for their friendship.

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post that India-Italy relations are “going from strength to strength,” adding that the visit concluded successfully with significant outcomes and renewed momentum in the partnership.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, is preparing to file for a stock market listing in the coming days, possibly as early as Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the matter. The company, recently valued at $852 billion in a funding round, is reportedly working with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on a draft prospectus that it plans to submit confidentially to regulators, with a potential public listing as early as September.

The report also said that Elon Musk’s SpaceX is expected to file IPO-related documents this week ahead of a possible June offering, setting the stage for what could be a major year for public listings in 2026. AI firm Anthropic is also expected to pursue a stock market debut.

In a major nationwide operation targeting a “ghost SIM” network used to facilitate organised cyber fraud, the Hyderabad City Police Cyber Crime Police Station has arrested 66 individuals and seized hundreds of fraudulent mobile connections. The accused are linked to 76 cybercrime cases across India involving fraudulent transactions worth Rs 101.87 crore.

According to an official statement, “Operation Octopus 3.0” was launched to dismantle infrastructure that enables anonymity for cybercriminals. The investigation led to the identification of 1,194 ghost SIMs connected to cases registered at the Cyber Crime Police Station.

Eighteen specialised teams were deployed across 13 states over seven days, resulting in the seizure of 544 SIM cards in Hyderabad alone, including 432 sealed SIMs that were reportedly ready for use in cybercrime activities.

The operation spanned Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, and Punjab. Of those arrested, 44 were ghost SIM holders, 20 were point-of-sale agents or telecom promoters, and two were suppliers of ghost SIMs.

PM Modi received the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Agricola Medal at a ceremony held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, in recognition of India’s contributions to agriculture, food security, and rural development. The medal was presented by FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu at the UN agency’s headquarters.

In a post on X, the prime minister said he was honoured to receive the award and dedicated it to India’s “Annadatas,” calling it a reflection of the country’s strong focus on food security and sustainable development. He added that the recognition represents the efforts of farmers, livestock rearers, fisheries workers, agricultural scientists, and innovators, and highlights India’s commitment to human welfare and sustainable growth.

The United States indicted former Cuban president Raúl Castro, charging him over the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft flown by anti-Castro pilots. The indictment, unsealed in a Florida federal court, accuses him of murder, conspiracy to kill Americans, and destruction of aircraft.

Washington also urged Cubans to pursue a “new path,” fueling speculation that President Donald Trump may be considering efforts to remove the Cuban government.

Trump had previously cited a US indictment as justification for military action in Venezuela that led to the removal of Nicolás Maduro, a close ally of Havana.