19112020-TT-01.qxd 11/18/2020 10:59 PM Page 1 13 chandigarh | gurugram | jalandhar | bathinda | vol.140 no.320 | 12 pages | ~5.00 | regd.no.chd/0006/2018-2020 established in 1881  haryana BRITAIN TO BAN PETROL CARS BY 2030 WORLD /thetribunechd MARKETS SCALE NEW PEAKS, SENSEX CLOSES ABOVE 44K FIRST TIME BUSINESS THOSE UNHAPPY WITH CONG CAN LEAVE: ADHIR BACK PAGE /thetribunechd www.tribuneindia.com thursday, november 19,2020 Paramilitary doctors rushed to Delhi Heated lodgings for addl ALL-PARTY MEET ON COVID TODAY WEDDING GUESTS CAPPED AT 50 An all-party meeting on Thursday will discuss strategy for management and containment of Covid in Delhi The Delhi Disaster Mgmt Authority has capped the number of guests at marriage functions at 50 instead of 200 earlier Tribune News Service COUNT 89,12,907 TOTAL RECOVERED DEATHS Lakshmi Vilas Bank deposits secure: RBI MUMBAI: TN Manoharan, the RBI-appointed administrator of Lakshmi Vilas Bank, on Wednesday said depositors’ money was safe and expressed confidence of completing the lender’s merger with DBS Bank India within the deadline set by the regulator. A moratorium was imposed on the bank on Tuesday. PTI Code violation: Centre indicts Sudarshan TV NEW DELHI: The Centre has indicted Sudarshan TV for violation of programme code and cautioned it for telecasting ‘UPSC Jihad’ which was "offensive" and "not in good taste” but allowed the channel to telecast remaining episodes of the controversial programme after suitable modification and moderation. TNS Fund crunch: Punjabi University VC quits PATIALA: Punjabi University Vice Chancellor Dr BS Ghuman resigned from his post on Wednesday. The development was confirmed by Secretary, Higher Education, Rahul Bhandari. Dr Ghuman was given an extension only two months ago. Sources said the university was facing a severe financial crunch. TNS In MP, ‘gau cabinet’ to protect cows BHOPAL: The BJP government in MP has decided to set up a “gau cabinet” for the protection and promotion of cows, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced on Wednesday. Six departments would execute the decisions of the “gau cabinet” in a coordinated manner, he said. PTI Kangana, her sister summoned again MUMBAI: The police on Wednes- day summoned actor Kangana Ranaut and her sister for the third time to record their statements on November 23 and 24 for allegedly promoting enmity between two communities. PTI RECOVERED 83,35,109 FRESH FATALITIES 474 TOTAL DEATHS 1,30,993 WORLD 5,61,17,594 3,91,05,330 13,46,750 PFIZER COMPLETES PH 3 TRIALS, EFFICACY 95% Rlys to provide coaches with 800 addl isolation beds IN BRIEF Delhi Deputy CM Sisodia says there is no plan to impose a lockdown, but curbs at marketplaces may be re-imposed COVID-19CASES INDIA New Delhi, November 18 To curb the rising Covid cases in the national Capital, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has rushed 45 doctors and 160 paramedics from the Central Armed Police Forces to take charge of the DRDO-run hospital near Delhi airport. The MHA has also roped in the Railways to provide coaches with 800 additional isolation beds at Shakurbasti station. The developments took place following a high-level review meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on November 15. He had directed the CAPFs and other Central agencies to initiate steps to contain NO PLAN TO IMPOSE LOCKDOWN HEALTH WORKERS AT A TESTING CAMP IN DELHI. MANAS RANJAN BHUI ❝ US pharma major Pfizer and its German collaborator BioNTech announced the completion of Phase 3 vaccine trials, claiming 95 per cent efficacy. The firms said primary efficacy analysis showed the shots were 95% effective. BACK PAGE Despite such a huge surge in Covid cases, doctors in Delhi hospitals have managed the situation well. Arvind Kejriwal, DELHI CM the Covid spread. MHA officials said the DRDO would add another 250 ICU beds to its facility. The MHA has also consti- tuted 10 multi-disciplinary teams to visit more than 100 private hospitals in the city to assess bed utilisation and testing capacity. MHA officials said a house-to-house survey was expected to begin by the weekend and completed by November 25. Indian vaccine has shown ‘least side-effects’ Rohtak, November 18 India is going to be amongst the pioneering nations of the world with the development of its indigenous Covid vaccine Covaxin in the near future. Indian Covid-19 vaccine is unique as it has shown minimum side-effects. PhaseIIItrialsofCovaxin begin at Rohtak today This was stated by Dr OP Kalra, Vice Chancellor of Pt Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak, while addressing a news conference here today. Professor Kalra disclosed that the third phase of the clinical human trials of Covaxin would begin at the Rohtak PGIMS on November 19. — TNS Bolstering democracy, secure Indo-Pacific Biden’s priorities Avalanche hits post at LoC, soldier dead Sandeep Dikshit Srinagar, November 18 A soldier was killed and two were injured when an avalanche hit their post along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district in J&K. Police sources said around 8 pm on Tuesday the avalanche hit the Roshan post along the LoC in the sector. “Three soldiers were swept away by the avalanche. They were immediately rescued and shifted to hospital where one of the injured, identified as Rifleman Nikhil Kumar Sharma, was pronounced brought dead by doctors. The other two soldiers are under treatment,” sources said. Avalanches usually occur in the higher reaches of Kashmir after heavy snowfall. — IANS Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 18 US President-elect Joe Biden provided a snapshot of the altered relationship with India during his phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi late Tuesday night. Among the five priorities highlighted by Biden were “strengthening democracy at home and abroad” and maintaining a “secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific region”. Donald Trump, in contrast, went easy on the lockdown in Kashmir as well as on the CAA and NRC protests in India. On the Indo-Pacific, Trump had pushed for a “free and open Indo-Pacific”, whereas Biden’s terminology is a “secure and prosperous Indo- PM Narendra Modi shakes hands with Joe Biden. FILE PHOTO CHANGE IN EMPHASIS ■ Trump had pushed for a “free and open Indo-Pacific”, whereas Biden’s terminology is a “secure and prosperous Indo-Pacific”. Pacific”. Analysts interpret this change in emphasis to mean that Biden will not be at ■ Analysts interpret this change to mean that Biden will not be at daggers drawn with China like the Trump administration. daggers drawn with China like the Trump administration. CONTINUED ON BACK PAGE Farmers won’t budge, say Suicides up, Himachal operate goods trains first to study Covid impact Tribune News Service Chandigarh, November 18 Allow goods trains to operate in the state, only then the proposal to resume passenger trains will be considered, 30 farm unions announced today after an over five- hour meeting. “The Centre must prove it means well by allowing goods trains to operate,” said an activist. The union leaders said they were under pressure from the industry as well as the Punjab Government to halt the stir on the Railways property after the Union Railway Ministry and Railway Board refused to revoke the suspension of trains. INSIDE CM Amarinder Singh calls it unfortunate A protest outside Bathinda DC’s office on Wednesday. PTI Bhanu P Lohumi Tribune News Service Shimla, November 18 Concerned over a spike in suicides, the Himachal Pradesh State Mental Health Authority is conducting a survey to assess the psychological impact of pandemic on people. The survey is being conducted in collaboration with the Department of Psychology, Himachal Pradesh University, in Shimla, Mandi and Chamba districts with a sample size of 75,000 (25,000 each). It would be completed in 21 days. On an average, nearly 700 suicides are reported in the state every year. There has been a spurt in such cases 302 suicides in 3 mths against 700 annually during the pandemic with 302 suicides reported in just three months (May-July). Dr Sanjay Pathak, CEO, Mental Health Authority, said a questionnaire comprising nine questions would be sent to residents on their mobile phones and the response would be kept confidential. The study would be used to plan and implement strategies to tackle mental health problems. The sample has been classified into three age groups — up to 25 years, 2560 and above 60. 12 civilians hurt in Pulwama grenade attack Srinagar, November 18 Twelve civilians sustained injuries in a grenade attack by militants on a team of security personnel in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday, the police said. The incident took place in In Poonch, Captain injured in blast the Kakapora area of Pulwama, a police official said. He said the grenade missed the intended target and exploded on the road. Twelve civilians sustained splinter injuries in the explosion, the official said, adding they were taken to a nearby hospital. The area has been cordoned off and a hunt launched to nab the attackers, the official said. — PTI CAPF FOR DDC ELECTIONS The Centre has deployed around 250 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces for the Jammu and Kashmir District Development Council (DDC) election. TNS troops in Ladakh ready Tribune News Service New Delhi, November 18 In a massive exercise, the Army has completed the process of providing accommodation with heating facility to the additional troops deployed in eastern Ladakh for the continued standoff with China along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The two armies have been locked in tense buildup since May 5. With no end in sight to the LAC tensions, a review conducted by the Indian security establishment in September found that shelter for troops and supply of potable water required more attention. Accommodation with heating already existed for troops deployed before May. Apart from the “smart Upgraded living facilities for troops in eastern Ladakh. PTI ‘SMART CAMPS’ WITH INTEGRATED FACILITIES State-of-the-art accommodation with arrangement for electricity, water and heating has been created to lodge more troops. camps” with integrated facilities that have been built over the years, an additional stateof-the art habitat with arrangements for electricity, water and heating has been created in the past six months to accommodate more troops, Pb amends rules, jobsfor martyrs’ married siblings Chandigarh, November 18 Amending the existing “Policy of Appointments of Honour and Gratitude”, the Punjab Cabinet on Wednesday gave its nod to provide jobs in the state services to married siblings of three unmarried soldiers killed in Ladakh’s Galwan valley in June. The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh in recognition of the supreme sacrifice made by Sepoy Gurtej Singh, Sepoy Gurbinder Singh and Lance Naik Saleem Khan. As per existing rules, only dependent family members or next of kin are given government jobs in such cases. CAPT AMARINDER SINGH But in the case of the three soldiers no dependent family member existed, hence the government decided to make an exception and give jobs to their married brothers. Sepoys Gurtej Singh and Gurbinder Singh were killed in the Galwan clash while Lance Naik Khan died patrolling near the LAC. — TNS sources in the Army said. Troops on the frontline are accommodated in heated tents as per tactical considerations of their deployment. Those not on the frontline are housed in prefabricated heated bunk beds. Map row: Twitter apologises to panel in writing New Delhi, November 18 Social media giant Twitter has apologised in writing to a key parliamentary panel for wrongly showing Ladakh in China and has promised to correct the error by the month-end, the committee’s chairperson Meenakshi Lekhi said on Wednesday. Twitter’s deposition has come in form of an affidavit signed by Damien Karien, chief privacy officer of Twitter Inc, for wrong geo-tagging of India’s map, Lekhi said. Last month, the Joint Committee of Parliament on Data Protection Bill had come down heavily on Twitter for showing Ladakh as part of China. — PTI