Building Collapse in Delhi Leaves Many Feared Trapped

A 12-year-old boy from Panskura, Paschim Medinipur district, died after allegedly consuming pesticide following public humiliation by a shopkeeper over a stolen packet of chips. Krishendu Das, a class 7 student, reportedly took the chips after failing to find shopkeeper Subhankar Dikshit, who was absent when he attempted to purchase them. Upon Dikshit's return, he reportedly slapped Das and made him do sit-ups in front of onlookers, according to police statements and a complaint from the boy's family. Later, in distress, Krishendu returned home and locked himself in his room. His mother and neighbors eventually broke down the door, finding him unconscious with pesticide nearby and a note claiming his innocence. "Maa, I am not a thief," he wrote. The boy was rushed to Tamluk Hospital but did not survive. In the wake of the incident, the shopkeeper, a civic volunteer associated with Bengal Police, has reportedly gone into hiding. The case has ignited discussions around mental health and child welfare in India.

Devender Sharma, a convicted serial killer known as 'Doctor Death', was arrested in Rajasthan after evading parole for over eight months, according to Delhi Police. Sharma, 67, was apprehended at an ashram in Dausa, where he posed as a priest under a false identity. He was serving multiple life sentences and had gained notoriety for disposing of his victims' bodies in crocodile-infested waters in Uttar Pradesh. Sharma's criminal history includes involvement in illegal kidney transplants and the murders of taxi and truck drivers between 2002 and 2004. Officials stated he had jumped parole in August 2023 while serving a life sentence at Tihar Jail and had evaded capture until his recent arrest. Deputy Commissioner of Police Aditya Gautam noted Sharma's extensive criminal background, indicating he was linked to over 50 murders. Sharma previously absconded from parole in 2020, only to be captured months later. His arrest follows a six-month investigation by law enforcement across several Indian cities.

A new study published in *Nature* has raised alarms about the accelerating melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, suggesting that they may already be past a point where their retreat cannot be stopped. According to scientists, even if global warming is limited to the 1.5-degree Celsius target set by world leaders, ice loss may continue unabated. The research, which combines satellite data, climate models, and paleoclimate records, indicates that warming levels of around 1.2 degrees Celsius could trigger unstoppable ice sheet disintegration, with projections suggesting temperatures may reach up to 2.9 degrees Celsius by 2100 if emissions persist. Chris Stokes, a glaciologist and co-author of the study, warned that current melting rates, which have quadrupled since the 1990s, result in approximately 370 billion tons of ice loss annually, significantly contributing to rising sea levels. With around 230 million people living less than one meter above sea level, the potential for multi-foot sea level rise could necessitate mass relocations. The researchers stress the importance of aiming to limit warming as much as possible to mitigate future risks.