TUESDAY 17 DECEMBER 2024 www.thestatesman.com X.com/thestatesmanltd. Fb/thestatesman1875 INDIA’S NATIONAL NEWSPAPER SINCE 1818 Pages 16 |` 5.00|LC KOLKATA | NEW DELHI | SILIGURI | BHUBANESWAR ‘COMMUNAL RIOTS HAVE DROPPED DRASTICALLY IN UP SINCE 2017’ STALIN SLAMS BJP OVER ONE NATION ONE POLL P6 SENSEX 81,748.57 q384.55 WEATHER Mainly clear sky. Shallow fog in the morning. Maximum and Minimum Temperature most likely to be around 25˚C and 15˚C respectively. RAINFALL: 0.0 mm RELATIVE HUMIDITY Max. 94% Min. 48% P5 NIFTY 24,668.25 q100.05 ` vs $ 84.88 SUN RISES 06:09 hrs MOON RISES 17:49 hrs SUN SETS 16:55 hrs MOON SETS 07:30 hrs New Moon on 31 December THUMBNAILS STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 DECEMBER World Chess Champion D Gukesh besides his parents during a press conference after winning the FIDE World Chess Championship in Chennai on Monday. n ANI 12 Indian nationals killed due to carbon monoxide poisoning in Georgia: At least 12 Indian nationals were found dead at a restaurant due to carbon monoxide poisoning in Georgia, according to the Indian mission in the capital Tbilisi. The bodies were discovered on the second floor of a building housing an Indian food restaurant at a ski resort. “Mission has just learned about the death of 12 Indian nationals in Gudauri, Georgia. Deepest condolences to the bereaved families. Mission is in touch with the local authorities to get details of the Indian nationals who lost their lives. All possible assistance will be given," said the Indian embassy in Georgia while offering condolences. Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs said in a statement that no signs of injuries or signs of violence were detected in an initial inspection. While the Indian mission said all the 12 victims were Indian, Georgia's ministry said 11 were foreigners while one victim was its citizen. GOLD 79,215.00 Sri Lanka's President Disanayake, who is in India on his first visit after elections, said the cooperation with India will flourish under his govt Min: 13.8˚C (-2.3) S ri Lanka's new President Anura Kumara Disanayake on Monday assured India that the island nation will not allow its territory to be used in any manner inimical to the security of India as well as towards regional stability, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared that the two neighbouring countries have decided to explore the possibility of concluding a framework agreement on defence cooperation. ''The two nations have also agreed on cooperation in hydrography. We believe that the Colombo Security Conclave is an important platform for regional peace, security and development. Under this, cooperation will be enhanced on topics like maritime security, counter-terror- ism, cyber-security, fight against smuggling and organised crime, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief,'' Mr Modi said at a joint press conference with Mr Dissanayake after wide-ranging talks between the two leaders. Mr Dissanayake, who is in India on his first visit abroad after a landslide victory in the elections in the island nation in November, said the cooperation with India will certainly flourish under his leadership. PM Modi said India has so far provided $ 5 billion in line of credit and grant assistance to Sri Lanka. ''We have cooperation in all 25 districts of Sri Lanka and the selection of our projects is always based on the development priorities of the partner countries,'' he added. Taking India-Sri lanka development cooperation forward, he said India has decided that grant assistance will be given for the rehabilitation of the signalling system of the Maho-Anuradhapura railway section and Kankesanthurai Port. Under education cooperation, from next year, monthly scholarships will be given to 200 students in the universities of Jaffna and Eastern Province. In the next five years, 1500 civil servants of Sri Lanka will be trained in India. Along with housing, renewable energy and infrastructure, India will also cooperate for the development of agriculture, dairy and fisheries in Sri Lanka. India will also participate in the unique digital identity project in Sri Lanka, the PM said. A joint statement issued at the end of the talks said the PM assured the Lankan leader India's the island nation occupies INDIA IN TROUBLE AFTER ANOTHER BATTING COLLAPSE P10 ‘Won’t allow Lanka to be used against India’ TEMPERATURE Max: 24.6˚C (-2.4) CENTRAL AMERICA BRACES FOR AN INFLUX OF VULNERABLE MIGRANTS India's ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and ‘SAGAR’ vision. He also reiterated India’s consistent support to the country in times of need and in its quest for economic recovery and stability, and prosperity for its people. The two leaders instructed officials to finalise discussions on the bilateral MoU on Debt Restructuring. They agreed that a strategic shift from debtdriven models towards investment-led partnerships across different sectors would ensure a more sustainable path to economic recovery, development and prosperity in Sri Lanka. The two leaders appreciated that the India-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement (ISFTA) has enhanced the trade partnership between the two countries, while acknowledging that there is immense potential for further expanding the trade ties. They agreed to continue discussions on the Economic & Technological Cooperation Agreement. As natural partners, both leaders underscored the common challenges faced by the two countries in the Indian Ocean Region and reaffirmed their commitment to work together in countering traditional and non-traditional threats as well as to ensure a free, open, safe and secure Indian Ocean Region. P16 SILVER 92,500 BRENT CRUDE (IN $) 73.99 Bengal ranks first in animal protein production in country: Report STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE KOLKATA, 16 DECEMBER Bengal has become the country's highest animal protein producer overtaking Uttar Pradesh, said report published by the Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee in her X-handle wrote: "Delighted to know that Bengal has become India's highest animal protein producer, overtaking even the large state of Uttar Pradesh. The GoI has acknowledged that and lauded Bengal in public domain. As per GoI's just published Animal Husbandry Statistics 2024, Bengal is now the country's highest producer of meat, contributing 12.62 per cent of the national output. In milk production, West Bengal has recorded the highest annual growth rate in the country i.e. 9.76 per cent against the national average of 3.78 per cent. In the poultry sector, our annual growth rate in egg production is 18.07 per cent as against the national average of 3.18 per cent. All these achievements are testaments to our innovative policies and programmes and indicate the robust strength of our farmers and producers." After coming to power in 2011, Miss Banerjee took special initiative to increase the animal protein production in the state. In the rural belt goatery and poultry havebeensetup.Thefarmers were given chicken, ducks and the officers of the animal welfare development department gave them training and rearranged the diet of the animals. Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain passes away at 73 STATESMAN NEWS SERVICE NEW DELHI, 16 DECEMBER Tabla maestro and Padma Vibhushan Zakir Hussain passed away late last night at the age of 73 in San Francisco from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, an official statement from his family said on Monday. Hussain was a four-time Grammy award winner and has received the Padma Vibhushan, India's second-highest civilian award. Through his performances, he transformed the tabla into a globally loved solo instrument. He is survived by his wife, Antonia Minnecola, his daughters Anisa Qureshi and her family, Isabella Qureshi and her family, his brothers Taufiq and Fazal Qureshi, and his sister Khurshid Aulia. The artist's family said in the statement, "His prolific work as a teacher, mentor and educator has left an indelible mark on countless musicians. He hoped to inspire the next generation to go further. He leaves behind an unparalleled legacy as a cultural ambassador and one of the greatest musicians of all time. "The family requests privacy at this time," it added. Born in Mumbai in 1951, Hussain began training under his father Ustad Allarakha Khan, a tabla maestro himself. He had described growing up in an "atmosphere of music 24 hours a day". By age seven, he was performing in concerts alongside his father. Condolence messages have poured in from across the country and abroad when the news broke.