School assembly guide [12 August 2024]: Thought for the Day, news headlines and anchoring script

Pakistan’s top civil and military leaders pledged to uphold the rights and religious freedoms of minorities, calling on all parts of society to foster interfaith harmony, love, tolerance, brotherhood, and unity on Sunday. In 2009, Pakistan established August 11 as National Minorities Day to commemorate the historic speech by the country’s founder, MA Jinnah, who on August 11, 1947, assured the protection of minority rights. President Asif Ali Zardari stated in his message that minorities in Pakistan have been guaranteed all political, economic, and social rights under the Constitution, as reported by state-run Radio Pakistan.
On Sunday, Bangladesh’s interim government issued a strict warning to media organisations, threatening to shut them down if they publish or broadcast false or misleading information, as part of an effort to combat misinformation. “A nation falters when the media does not uphold the truth,” said Brigadier General (retd) M Sakhawat Hossain, Home Affairs Adviser to the interim government, during a visit to injured policemen at Rajarbagh Central Police Hospital. Hossain warned that media outlets would face closure if they disseminated misleading news, according to the Dhaka Tribune. He criticised the media for failing to present the truth, stating, “A country deteriorates when the media does not report honestly,” and suggested that accurate reporting could have prevented the current issues with the police. Hossain also noted that the media often overlooks the truth, lacks meaningful discussions on talk shows, and fails to provide precise information. Additionally, Nahid Islam, adviser for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, announced that action would be taken against officials responsible for the internet shutdown during recent student protests.
Authorities in Uganda’s capital, Kampala report that at least eight people have died following a collapse at the Kiteezi landfill. The incident, which occurred late Friday, also left at least 14 others injured. The landfill, a major waste disposal site for Kampala, saw the collapse that resulted in the deaths of two children. The death toll is expected to increase as rescue teams continue to search through the debris for additional victims.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday highlighted the Maldives as a crucial partner for India in the Indian Ocean region, expressing the desire to evolve their cooperation into a modern partnership. His comments were made during a ceremony where he, alongside Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer, attended the handover of the Addu Reclamation and Shore Protection Project and the inauguration of the 4-lane Detour Link road project, both funded by the Indian government through a Line of Credit from EXIM Bank.
On Saturday, thousands of members from Bangladesh’s Hindu minority community held large-scale protests in the capital, Dhaka, and the port city of Chattogram, continuing their demonstrations for a second day. They are demanding protection amid widespread vandalism, which has included attacks on temples, homes, and businesses. Protesters are calling for special tribunals to expedite the trials of those who target minorities, a 10 per cent allocation of parliamentary seats for minorities, and the creation of a minority protection law. Their rally in Shahbagh, Dhaka, caused traffic disruptions for over three hours. In a show of solidarity, thousands of Muslim protesters, including students, joined the Hindu demonstrators. The unrest and violence have intensified following the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India earlier in the week. Since the turmoil began, several Hindu temples, homes, and businesses have been destroyed, and at least two Hindu leaders linked to Hasina’s Awami League party have been killed.