School assembly guide [13 August 2024]: Thought for the Day, news headlines and anchoring script

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras has retained its top position in the National Institute Ranking Framework for 2024 for the sixth consecutive year, while the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru has been named the best university for the ninth consecutive year, as reported by the Ministry of Education.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has warned state departments to avoid allowing any development activities in eco-sensitive zones, according to an official statement on Monday. During a meeting held last week following the devastating Wayanad landslides that claimed over 200 lives, Sawant, who chairs the Goa disaster management committee, urged departments to protect sensitive areas to prevent similar disasters. The chief minister advised officials against permitting development in hilly and sloping regions.
The Kerala Bank, formed through the consolidation of district cooperative banks in the state, declared on Monday that it will waive loans for individuals affected by the severe landslides in Wayanad on July 30. In response to the disaster in the mountainous district, the bank’s management has resolved to write off loans for borrowers who have passed away and had loans from its Chooralmala branch, as well as those who have lost their homes and properties that were used as collateral, according to an official statement.
The Kerala General Education Department has taken a groundbreaking initiative by integrating modules into the ICT textbooks for Classes 5 and 7 to help students identify fake news on online platforms and perform fact-checking, as reported by a senior official on Monday. This move was implemented in Kerala even before the UK launched its similar program, he noted.
The Indian REITs Association stated on Monday that the claims made by the US-based short seller Hindenburg Research, which suggest that the REIT framework established by the markets regulator Sebi favours a select group, are “baseless and misleading.” The association praised Sebi and its leadership for creating a “robust regulatory environment” that includes thorough periodic reporting, mandatory independent valuations, and stringent governance standards. These measures are intended to improve transparency and safeguard investor interests, the association added. This response follows Hindenburg’s report on Saturday, which alleged that recent amendments to Sebi’s REIT Regulations 2014 were intended to benefit a particular multinational financial conglomerate. In response, Sebi noted that the REIT Regulations 2014 have been amended periodically.
Delhi Police has significantly enhanced security measures by deploying over 300 traffic police officers, more than 10,000 police personnel, and 700 AI-based facial recognition cameras across the national capital in preparation for Independence Day celebrations. Additional police teams and paramilitary forces have been stationed at key locations, including IGI Airport, railway stations, bus stands, malls, and markets.