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Record-breaking heat in Asia has led to the closure of schools, highlighting the threat climate change poses to education. With temperatures rising faster in Asia than the global average, heatwaves, heavy rains, flooding, wildfires, and air pollution are impacting schooling. Children like Mohua Akter Nur in Bangladesh are suffering in sweltering conditions, with schools ill-equipped to handle the effects of climate change. The poorest communities are hit hardest, as school closures can lead to child labor, marriage, and trafficking. While some countries are investing in infrastructure to protect education, addressing the root cause of climate change is crucial. Experts urge governments to take action to safeguard children's education in the face of the climate crisis. 
Saudi forces have reportedly been instructed to use lethal force to clear land for Neom, a $500 billion smart city project forming part of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Vision 2030. The BBC spoke to a former intelligence officer who claimed he was ordered to evict villagers for The Line, a section of Neom, resulting in one person being shot dead for protesting. The Line is envisioned as a car-free city, only 2.4 kilometers of which is projected to be completed by 2030. Satellite data revealed the demolition of three villages inhabited by the Huwaitat tribe, labeled as "rebels" by the government. Neom, spanning 26,500 square kilometers along the Aqaba Gulf and Red Sea, is set to be 33 times the size of New York and feature palaces worth up to $400 million each, according to the Wall Street Journal. The Saudi government and Neom management have declined to comment on the allegations.
Indian-American philanthropist Ramesh Bhutada has generously donated $1 million to the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) during a recent gala in Houston, committing to support Hindu causes in the US over the next four years. Additionally, participants at the event raised an impressive $450,000. Bhutada had previously donated $1 million to the Florida-based Hindu University of America, emphasizing the importance of education based on Hindu philosophy. Tech entrepreneur Sundar Iyer shared his concerns about allegations of caste-based discrimination, highlighting the potential impact on the Indian and Hindu communities in the US. HAF executive director Suhag Shukla and Iyer emphasized the need for vigilance against such scenarios, urging the community to stay united.
Apple is facing backlash over a controversial ad for the new iPad Pro, which shows a hydraulic press crushing objects associated with human creativity, like a record player and trumpet, into a sleek tablet. The ad, titled "Crush," has been criticized on social media for being tone-deaf, especially during a time when the creative community is concerned about the impact of generative AI. Actor Hugh Grant and other users expressed disappointment over the destruction of creative artifacts in the ad, set to Sonny and Cher's "All I ever need is you." Some critics compared the ad to Apple's iconic 1984 commercial, accusing the tech giant of becoming the very dystopian future it once rebelled against. Apple has not yet responded to the criticism, as concerns grow over the use of AI models without permission from artists and publishers.
Former US President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed plans to deploy "assassination squads" of US special forces into Mexico to target drug cartel leaders if he is re-elected. Trump proposed the use of "tougher killers" from the American military to combat Mexico's drug cartels, drawing inspiration from the killing of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. He suggested creating a "kill list of drug lords" to be targeted by US special forces. Trump's proposal has garnered some support from Republican lawmakers and think tanks, with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis making a similar pledge. However, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has strongly opposed the idea, calling it an intrusion on Mexico's sovereignty. Trump has not disclosed specifics of his plan, including the number of squads to be sent or the level of cooperation with the Mexican government.