Scientists in a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society Journal said that half of Great Barrier Reef's corals had died in last 25 years. Climate change is severely affecting the world-heritage listed reef off Australia's northeastern coast.

Great Barrier Reef is made up of corals that support rich and bio-diverse marine life. The reef is 2300 km long.

Climate change has affected larger species of corals which have almost disappeared from far northern reaches of the reef.

"They're typically depleted by (up to) 80 or 90 percent compared to 25 years ago," report co-author and James Cook University professor Terry Hughes told AFP.

"They make the nooks and crannies that fish and other creatures depend on, so losing big three-dimensional corals changes the broader ecosystem."

Great Barrier Reef was an estimated USD 4 billion in revenue from tourism before the coronavirus pandemic.

The reef is at risk of losing its coveted world heritage status because of ocean warming -- fuelled by climate change -- damaging its health.

Changes in ocean temperatures stress healthy corals, causing them to expel algae living in their tissues -- draining them of their vibrant colours in a process known as bleaching.

Back-to-back mass bleaching events in 2016 and 2017 prompted the government to downgrade the long-term outlook for the world's largest living organism to "very poor". 
Mass bleaching was first seen on the reef in 1998 -- at the time, the hottest year on record -- but as temperatures continue to soar it frequency has increased, shrinking the reef and making it harder to recover.

The big mamas

"A vibrant coral population has millions of small, baby corals, as well as many large ones -- the big mamas who produce most of the larvae," the study's lead author Andy Dietzel, also of James Cook University, said.

"Its resilience is compromised compared to the past, because there are fewer babies, and fewer large breeding adults."

On top of long-term ocean warming and associated bleaching, the reef has been battered by several cyclones and two outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish -- which eat the coral -- since 1995.

When the starfish occur in small numbers, they are considered part of the natural ecosystem, but when a large outbreak happens, they can rapidly destroy parts of the reef.

While four mass bleaching events up to 2017 were covered by the latest research, the damage to coral species from bleaching in early 2020 is yet to be assessed.

It was the most widespread bleaching on record, impacting swathes of the southern reaches of the reef for the first time.

Hughes said scientists expected corals to continue dying off unless nations met their Paris Agreement commitment to keep the increase in global average temperature under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

"It takes about a decade for a half-decent recovery for the fastest-growing species, so the chances of us getting decades between the future sixth, seventh and eighth bleaching events is close to zero because temperatures are because going up and up and up," he said.

If temperatures do stabilise later this century under the Paris target, it is hoped that corals will be able to reassemble and rebuild their numbers.&nbsp;

Even then, Hughes said, "we don't think they'll rebuild into the mix of species that we've known historically".

If the rise is as much as 3 or 4 degrees Celsius, "forget it", he said.

"The trajectory is changing very, very quickly -- we're shocked and surprised by how quickly these changes are happening -- and there's further change ahead."

(With AFP inputs)

Scientists in a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society Journal said that half of Great Barrier Reef's corals had died in last 25 years. Climate change is severely affecting the world-heritage listed reef off Australia's northeastern coast.

Scientists in a study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society Journal said that half of Great Barrier Reef's corals had died in last 25 years. Climate change is severely affecting the world-heritage listed reef off Australia's northeastern coast. Great Barrier Reef is made up of corals that support rich and bio-diverse marine life. The reef is 2300 km long. Climate change has affected larger species of corals which have almost disappeared from far northern reaches of the reef. "They're typically depleted by (up to) 80 or 90 percent compared to 25 years ago," report co-author and James Cook University professor Terry Hughes told AFP. "They make the nooks and crannies that fish and other creatures depend on, so losing big three-dimensional corals changes the broader ecosystem." Great Barrier Reef was an estimated USD 4 billion in revenue from tourism before the coronavirus pandemic. The reef is at risk of losing its coveted world heritage status because of ocean warming -- fuelled by climate change -- damaging its health. Changes in ocean temperatures stress healthy corals, causing them to expel algae living in their tissues -- draining them of their vibrant colours in a process known as bleaching. Back-to-back mass bleaching events in 2016 and 2017 prompted the government to downgrade the long-term outlook for the world's largest living organism to "very poor". Mass bleaching was first seen on the reef in 1998 -- at the time, the hottest year on record -- but as temperatures continue to soar it frequency has increased, shrinking the reef and making it harder to recover. The big mamas "A vibrant coral population has millions of small, baby corals, as well as many large ones -- the big mamas who produce most of the larvae," the study's lead author Andy Dietzel, also of James Cook University, said. "Its resilience is compromised compared to the past, because there are fewer babies, and fewer large breeding adults." On top of long-term ocean warming and associated bleaching, the reef has been battered by several cyclones and two outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish -- which eat the coral -- since 1995. When the starfish occur in small numbers, they are considered part of the natural ecosystem, but when a large outbreak happens, they can rapidly destroy parts of the reef. While four mass bleaching events up to 2017 were covered by the latest research, the damage to coral species from bleaching in early 2020 is yet to be assessed. It was the most widespread bleaching on record, impacting swathes of the southern reaches of the reef for the first time. Hughes said scientists expected corals to continue dying off unless nations met their Paris Agreement commitment to keep the increase in global average temperature under 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. "It takes about a decade for a half-decent recovery for the fastest-growing species, so the chances of us getting decades between the future sixth, seventh and eighth bleaching events is close to zero because temperatures are because going up and up and up," he said. If temperatures do stabilise later this century under the Paris target, it is hoped that corals will be able to reassemble and rebuild their numbers. Even then, Hughes said, "we don't think they'll rebuild into the mix of species that we've known historically". If the rise is as much as 3 or 4 degrees Celsius, "forget it", he said. "The trajectory is changing very, very quickly -- we're shocked and surprised by how quickly these changes are happening -- and there's further change ahead." (With AFP inputs)

Great Barrier Reef lost half of its corals in 25 years

Apple iPhone 12 series - Apple Inc on Tuesday (October 13) launched its next-generation iPhone 12, with faster 5G connectivity that the Cupertino-based&nbsp;company hopes will&nbsp;keep its sales booming through the end of the year. During the launch event, Apple unveiled four iPhone 12 devices. iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12&nbsp;Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max.&nbsp;All are equipped with 5G technology.

The core of the line-up, the iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch display, while a 'Mini' version has 5.4-inch and is slightly cheaper. A 'Pro' version comes with three cameras and a new 3-D 'lidar' sensor. The largest in the series is the 'Pro Max'.&nbsp;

iPhone 12 will be available in India October 30 onwards. Dates for other devices have&nbsp;not been specified.

&nbsp;

<h2>Apple iPhone 12 series - Specifications</h2>

The iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max run on iOS 14 out of the box.

All of these phones come with Super Retina XDR OLED displays.&nbsp;

These smartphones are powered by the A14 Bionic SoC, which is designed to handle talks including 4K video editing.

iPhone 12 mini has a 5.4-inch screen while iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro have 6.1-inch form-factor&nbsp;

iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen.

The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 feature 12-megapixel dual rear cameras with an f/1.6 aperture and f/2.4 aperture respectively.

iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have 12-mexapixel triple rear cameras that have wide (f/1.6), ultra-wide (f/2.4) and additional telephoto (f/2.0 on Pro and f/2.2 on Pro Max) lens. They also include a LiDAR (a portmanteau of light and radar) scanne&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2>The price:&nbsp;Apple iPhone 12 series</h2>

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256 GB variants.

If you want a choice of colours, it's available as well.

You can choose between Black, White, Blue, Green and Red.

64 GB variant of iPhone 12 mini has been priced at Rs 69,900.

iPhone mini 12 with 128GB storage will cost you Rs 74,900

Its 256GB storage variant will set you back by Rs 84,900.

&nbsp;

<h2>iPhone 12</h2>

64 GB iPhone 12 has been priced at Rs 79,900.

128GB variant will cost you Rs 84,900

And Finally, 256GB variant wil be yours if you pay 94,900.

iPhone 12 has been designed by Apple to be a successor of iPhone 11.

&nbsp;

<h2>iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max</h2>

These are larger iPhones in this series unveiled by Apple. Both feature 512 GB variant.

iPhone 12 Pro starts selling at Rs 1,19,900 &nbsp;for 128GB model.

256 GB model will be yours if you pay 1,29,900

512 GB iPhone 12 Pro will be your neighbour's envy if you shell out a cool Rs 1,49,900

iPhone 12 Pro is intended to be a successor for iPhone 11 Pro

&nbsp;

<h2>Let's talk about iPhone Pro Max</h2>

iPhone Pro Max is the top-of-the-line for this series.

Its 128GB variant has been priced at Rs 1,29,900

The model with 256GB internal memory will cost you 1,39,900

512GB variant will be yours if you pay Rs 1,59,900

iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max will be available in Gold, Graphite, Pacific Blue, and Silver colours. 
&nbsp;

Apple iPhone 12 series - Apple Inc on Tuesday (October 13) launched its next-generation iPhone 12, with faster 5G connectivity that the Cupertino-based company hopes will keep its sales booming through the end of the year.

Apple iPhone 12 series - Apple Inc on Tuesday (October 13) launched its next-generation iPhone 12, with faster 5G connectivity that the Cupertino-based company hopes will keep its sales booming through the end of the year. During the launch event, Apple unveiled four iPhone 12 devices. iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max. All are equipped with 5G technology. The core of the line-up, the iPhone 12 has a 6.1-inch display, while a 'Mini' version has 5.4-inch and is slightly cheaper. A 'Pro' version comes with three cameras and a new 3-D 'lidar' sensor. The largest in the series is the 'Pro Max'. iPhone 12 will be available in India October 30 onwards. Dates for other devices have not been specified. Apple iPhone 12 series - Specifications The iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max run on iOS 14 out of the box. All of these phones come with Super Retina XDR OLED displays. These smartphones are powered by the A14 Bionic SoC, which is designed to handle talks including 4K video editing. iPhone 12 mini has a 5.4-inch screen while iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro have 6.1-inch form-factor iPhone 12 Pro Max has a 6.7-inch screen. The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 feature 12-megapixel dual rear cameras with an f/1.6 aperture and f/2.4 aperture respectively. iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max have 12-mexapixel triple rear cameras that have wide (f/1.6), ultra-wide (f/2.4) and additional telephoto (f/2.0 on Pro and f/2.2 on Pro Max) lens. They also include a LiDAR (a portmanteau of light and radar) scanne The price: Apple iPhone 12 series iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini will be available in 64GB, 128GB and 256 GB variants. If you want a choice of colours, it's available as well. You can choose between Black, White, Blue, Green and Red. 64 GB variant of iPhone 12 mini has been priced at Rs 69,900. iPhone mini 12 with 128GB storage will cost you Rs 74,900 Its 256GB storage variant will set you back by Rs 84,900. iPhone 12 64 GB iPhone 12 has been priced at Rs 79,900. 128GB variant will cost you Rs 84,900 And Finally, 256GB variant wil be yours if you pay 94,900. iPhone 12 has been designed by Apple to be a successor of iPhone 11. iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max These are larger iPhones in this series unveiled by Apple. Both feature 512 GB variant. iPhone 12 Pro starts selling at Rs 1,19,900 for 128GB model. 256 GB model will be yours if you pay 1,29,900 512 GB iPhone 12 Pro will be your neighbour's envy if you shell out a cool Rs 1,49,900 iPhone 12 Pro is intended to be a successor for iPhone 11 Pro Let's talk about iPhone Pro Max iPhone Pro Max is the top-of-the-line for this series. Its 128GB variant has been priced at Rs 1,29,900 The model with 256GB internal memory will cost you 1,39,900 512GB variant will be yours if you pay Rs 1,59,900 iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max will be available in Gold, Graphite, Pacific Blue, and Silver colours.

Apple iPhone 12 series: Check out prices, availability, specs and more

When President Trump introduced Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his third nominee to the Supreme Court, he praised her “unyielding loyalty to the Constitution.” The implicit premise was that her fidelity to the nation’s founding document as a judge could excuse his violations of the Constitution as president.

But the highest test of politicians’ constitutional scruples is not how they populate another branch of government. It is how they carry out their responsibilities in their own spheres. By that test, Mr. Trump’s loyalty to the Constitution has yielded to political convenience time and again.

The rhetoric surrounding Judge Barrett’s nomination, which the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to take up on Monday, reflects a troubling strain of constitutional decay: the belief that presidents and legislators fight over policy, while the Constitution is the province of the courts. This view suggests that elected officials can check the box on their own oaths to the Constitution not by upholding them but rather by outsourcing the defense of the Constitution to judges.

Last month, Mr. Trump declared that “apart from matters of war and peace, the nomination of a Supreme Court justice is the most important decision an American President can make.”

Exhorting his fellow Republicans to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the president also said that “we were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices.” Not faithfully executing the law, which Article II of the Constitution requires presidents to do?

Similarly, in late 2017, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader now shepherding Judge Barrett’s nomination, likewise cited the confirmation of conservative judges as the most important achievement of his 36 years in the U.S. Senate. Not the essential constitutional power of Congress, deliberating on legislation?

James Madison assumed that all federal officeholders, not simply judges, were required to maintain the Constitution. As a member of the House of Representatives, Madison routinely participated in debates about whether proposed legislation was constitutional, not just whether it was expedient. As president, his view of executive power was so modest that he would not even lobby members of Congress over dinner, as his predecessor, Thomas Jefferson, had done.

Mr. Trump has not felt comparably constrained. He operates in an alternate constitutional reality in which criticism of him is treason; the process of electing a chief magistrate requires the incumbent to accept the result; and Article II accords him, as Mr. Trump put it last year, “the right to do whatever I want as president.”

In keeping with the tradition of his recent predecessors, he has asserted executive power without any sense of constitutional self-control, sometimes in startling ways. Campaigning for the White House, he famously claimed he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose voters.

Last year, one of his lawyers asserted that occupants of the office were immune from prosecution even if they did commit murder, a view the Supreme Court rejected as placing the president above the law. Recently, when Congress did not agree with him about economic relief in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Trump issued a series of executive orders attempting to achieve through decree what constitutional processes denied him.

For its part, Congress suffers from the opposite problem. Rather than expanding its power, it often declines to exercise it at all. During the Trump era, Mr. McConnell, once known as an institutionalist who defended the Senate’s prerogatives, has abetted this surrender of legislative authority.

When a newly inaugurated Mr. Trump used a 1952 law to ban entry into the United States from several Muslim-majority countries, Mr. McConnell raised constitutional objections. As a legislator, he could have addressed them by working to curtail the decades-old legislative authority Mr. Trump cited.

Instead of asserting personal responsibility for the Constitution, though, Mr. McConnell punted to the judiciary: “Ultimately,” he said, “it is going to be decided in the courts as to whether or not this has gone too far.” That is not what Mr. McConnell’s oath says: On the first day of each of his six terms, Mr. McConnell has sworn that he, not someone else, would “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

In February 2019, Mr. Trump’s insistence on funding for his coveted border wall threatened a government shutdown. Mr. McConnell helped avert it by supporting the president’s unconstitutional contention that he could divert funds by declaring a bogus national emergency.

As Mr. Trump’s impeachment trial loomed in late 2019, Mr. McConnell acknowledged with astonishing candor that he did not regard the Senate as independent from the president: “Everything I do during this, I’m coordinating with the White House counsel,” he declared on Fox News.

Mr. McConnell has also rejected attempts to reclaim Congress’s war powers. When the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution to assert Congress’s constitutional authority over potential hostilities with Iran, for example, Mr. McConnell opposed it. He also endorsed Mr. Trump’s end run around Mr. McConnell’s own branch of government on coronavirus relief.

The image of Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell as constitutional defenders because they support originalist judges is itself a strange breed of originalism. It assumes that judges should adhere to the original meaning of the Constitution with respect to everything but the Constitution’s modest view of judicial power. Yet there is no Madisonian case for seeing judges as more responsible for the Constitution than anyone else who holds national office.

In abrogating their own constitutional responsibilities, Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell have often referred to Democratic support of President Barack Obama’s use of unilateral executive authority.

They are correct to note that Democrats were also complicit in constitutional abuses. Mr. Obama’s executive orders on topics from health care to immigration extended the imperial presidency into the domestic realm. Many of the Democrats opposing Mr. Trump’s assertions of executive power now were quiet then.

But this situational constitutionalism is exactly the problem, and a party whose platform proclaims “a rebirth of constitutional government” bears a particular responsibility to break the cycle. It cannot do so through judges alone because the Constitution is not merely a judicial instrument. Far from it. Every elected official is a constitutional custodian. If Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell — or their eventual successors — want to proclaim themselves champions of America’s founding principles, the best way for them to prove it is not by delegating the Constitution’s defense to judges. It is by undertaking it themselves.

When President Trump introduced Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his third nominee to the Supreme Court, he praised her “unyielding loyalty to the Constitution.” The implicit premise was that her fidelity to the nation’s founding document as a judge could excuse his violations of the Constitution as president.

When President Trump introduced Judge Amy Coney Barrett as his third nominee to the Supreme Court, he praised her “unyielding loyalty to the Constitution.” The implicit premise was that her fidelity to the nation’s founding document as a judge could excuse his violations of the Constitution as president. But the highest test of politicians’ constitutional scruples is not how they populate another branch of government. It is how they carry out their responsibilities in their own spheres. By that test, Mr. Trump’s loyalty to the Constitution has yielded to political convenience time and again. The rhetoric surrounding Judge Barrett’s nomination, which the Senate Judiciary Committee is set to take up on Monday, reflects a troubling strain of constitutional decay: the belief that presidents and legislators fight over policy, while the Constitution is the province of the courts. This view suggests that elected officials can check the box on their own oaths to the Constitution not by upholding them but rather by outsourcing the defense of the Constitution to judges. Last month, Mr. Trump declared that “apart from matters of war and peace, the nomination of a Supreme Court justice is the most important decision an American President can make.” Exhorting his fellow Republicans to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the president also said that “we were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices.” Not faithfully executing the law, which Article II of the Constitution requires presidents to do? Similarly, in late 2017, Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader now shepherding Judge Barrett’s nomination, likewise cited the confirmation of conservative judges as the most important achievement of his 36 years in the U.S. Senate. Not the essential constitutional power of Congress, deliberating on legislation? James Madison assumed that all federal officeholders, not simply judges, were required to maintain the Constitution. As a member of the House of Representatives, Madison routinely participated in debates about whether proposed legislation was constitutional, not just whether it was expedient. As president, his view of executive power was so modest that he would not even lobby members of Congress over dinner, as his predecessor, Thomas Jefferson, had done. Mr. Trump has not felt comparably constrained. He operates in an alternate constitutional reality in which criticism of him is treason; the process of electing a chief magistrate requires the incumbent to accept the result; and Article II accords him, as Mr. Trump put it last year, “the right to do whatever I want as president.” In keeping with the tradition of his recent predecessors, he has asserted executive power without any sense of constitutional self-control, sometimes in startling ways. Campaigning for the White House, he famously claimed he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose voters. Last year, one of his lawyers asserted that occupants of the office were immune from prosecution even if they did commit murder, a view the Supreme Court rejected as placing the president above the law. Recently, when Congress did not agree with him about economic relief in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, Mr. Trump issued a series of executive orders attempting to achieve through decree what constitutional processes denied him. For its part, Congress suffers from the opposite problem. Rather than expanding its power, it often declines to exercise it at all. During the Trump era, Mr. McConnell, once known as an institutionalist who defended the Senate’s prerogatives, has abetted this surrender of legislative authority. When a newly inaugurated Mr. Trump used a 1952 law to ban entry into the United States from several Muslim-majority countries, Mr. McConnell raised constitutional objections. As a legislator, he could have addressed them by working to curtail the decades-old legislative authority Mr. Trump cited. Instead of asserting personal responsibility for the Constitution, though, Mr. McConnell punted to the judiciary: “Ultimately,” he said, “it is going to be decided in the courts as to whether or not this has gone too far.” That is not what Mr. McConnell’s oath says: On the first day of each of his six terms, Mr. McConnell has sworn that he, not someone else, would “support and defend the Constitution of the United States.” In February 2019, Mr. Trump’s insistence on funding for his coveted border wall threatened a government shutdown. Mr. McConnell helped avert it by supporting the president’s unconstitutional contention that he could divert funds by declaring a bogus national emergency. As Mr. Trump’s impeachment trial loomed in late 2019, Mr. McConnell acknowledged with astonishing candor that he did not regard the Senate as independent from the president: “Everything I do during this, I’m coordinating with the White House counsel,” he declared on Fox News. Mr. McConnell has also rejected attempts to reclaim Congress’s war powers. When the Senate passed a bipartisan resolution to assert Congress’s constitutional authority over potential hostilities with Iran, for example, Mr. McConnell opposed it. He also endorsed Mr. Trump’s end run around Mr. McConnell’s own branch of government on coronavirus relief. The image of Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell as constitutional defenders because they support originalist judges is itself a strange breed of originalism. It assumes that judges should adhere to the original meaning of the Constitution with respect to everything but the Constitution’s modest view of judicial power. Yet there is no Madisonian case for seeing judges as more responsible for the Constitution than anyone else who holds national office. In abrogating their own constitutional responsibilities, Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell have often referred to Democratic support of President Barack Obama’s use of unilateral executive authority. They are correct to note that Democrats were also complicit in constitutional abuses. Mr. Obama’s executive orders on topics from health care to immigration extended the imperial presidency into the domestic realm. Many of the Democrats opposing Mr. Trump’s assertions of executive power now were quiet then. But this situational constitutionalism is exactly the problem, and a party whose platform proclaims “a rebirth of constitutional government” bears a particular responsibility to break the cycle. It cannot do so through judges alone because the Constitution is not merely a judicial instrument. Far from it. Every elected official is a constitutional custodian. If Mr. Trump and Mr. McConnell — or their eventual successors — want to proclaim themselves champions of America’s founding principles, the best way for them to prove it is not by delegating the Constitution’s defense to judges. It is by undertaking it themselves.

Donald Trump’s alternate constitutional reality

Bar and pub workers dumped ice outside Glasgow City chamber on Friday night (local time) as pubs and bars were closed as part of coronavirus restrictions. The restrictions will be in effect for 16 days from Friday.

Bucket-loads of ice were thrown on the street by Glasgow hospitality workers in George Square, as people cheered and clapped.

Pubs across England, Wales and Scotland were forced to close early from last month.

Scotland's government has since ordered a 16-day closure of pubs in the country's two biggest cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, starting on Friday.

The second wave of the coronavirus is threatening to derail Britain's economic recovery, which was already starting to wane, according to official data.

Since mid-September, number of COVID-19 cases in Scotland has been increasing. 1054 new cases were reported on Wednesday (October 7). These were driven by infections in the central belt of Scotland. 3.4 million people stay in the central belt.

Beyond the central belt, pubs, restaurants and cafes will not be able to serve alcohol indoors, and can only serve food and non-alcoholic drinks between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. for the 16-day period.

They will be able to continue to serve alcohol outdoors until the existing curfew time of 10 p.m., First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said earlier.

(With Reuters inputs)

Bar and pub workers dumped ice outside Glasgow City chamber on Friday night (local time) as pubs and bars were closed as part of coronavirus restrictions. The restrictions will be in effect for 16 days from Friday.

Bar and pub workers dumped ice outside Glasgow City chamber on Friday night (local time) as pubs and bars were closed as part of coronavirus restrictions. The restrictions will be in effect for 16 days from Friday. Bucket-loads of ice were thrown on the street by Glasgow hospitality workers in George Square, as people cheered and clapped. Pubs across England, Wales and Scotland were forced to close early from last month. Scotland's government has since ordered a 16-day closure of pubs in the country's two biggest cities, Glasgow and Edinburgh, starting on Friday. The second wave of the coronavirus is threatening to derail Britain's economic recovery, which was already starting to wane, according to official data. Since mid-September, number of COVID-19 cases in Scotland has been increasing. 1054 new cases were reported on Wednesday (October 7). These were driven by infections in the central belt of Scotland. 3.4 million people stay in the central belt. Beyond the central belt, pubs, restaurants and cafes will not be able to serve alcohol indoors, and can only serve food and non-alcoholic drinks between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. for the 16-day period. They will be able to continue to serve alcohol outdoors until the existing curfew time of 10 p.m., First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said earlier. (With Reuters inputs)

Scotland: Bar workers dump ice to protest against coronavirus shutdown in Glasgow

A collision between a bus and a train killed at least 17 people on Sunday. The accident took place about 50 kilometres east of Bangkok. Number of casualties is expected to rise. The bus passengers were on their way to a temple in Chachoengsao province.&nbsp;

"The death toll we have so far is 17," a police officer told AFP. The accident occured around 8 am local time (0100 GMT). Provincial governor said that about 29 people were injured.

Early images by rescue workers showed gnarled metal and debris, with bodies lying by the train tracks and people's belongings scattered.

The bus overturned on its side and the top of it was ripped off.

Such deadly accidents are common in Thailand, which regularly tops lists of the world's most lethal roads, with speeding, drunk driving and weak law enforcement all contributing factors.

According to a 2018 report by the World Health Organization, Thailand has the second-highest traffic fatality rate in the world.

Though a majority of the victims are motorcyclists, bus crashes involving groups of tourists and migrant labourers often grab headlines.

In March 2018, at least 18 people were killed and dozens wounded when a bus carrying people returning from holiday in northeastern Thailand swerved off the road and smashed into a tree.

(With AFP inputs)

A collision between a bus and a train killed at least 17 people on Sunday. The accident took place about 50 kilometres east of Bangkok. Number of casualties is expected to rise.

A collision between a bus and a train killed at least 17 people on Sunday. The accident took place about 50 kilometres east of Bangkok. Number of casualties is expected to rise. The bus passengers were on their way to a temple in Chachoengsao province. "The death toll we have so far is 17," a police officer told AFP. The accident occured around 8 am local time (0100 GMT). Provincial governor said that about 29 people were injured. Early images by rescue workers showed gnarled metal and debris, with bodies lying by the train tracks and people's belongings scattered. The bus overturned on its side and the top of it was ripped off. Such deadly accidents are common in Thailand, which regularly tops lists of the world's most lethal roads, with speeding, drunk driving and weak law enforcement all contributing factors. According to a 2018 report by the World Health Organization, Thailand has the second-highest traffic fatality rate in the world. Though a majority of the victims are motorcyclists, bus crashes involving groups of tourists and migrant labourers often grab headlines. In March 2018, at least 18 people were killed and dozens wounded when a bus carrying people returning from holiday in northeastern Thailand swerved off the road and smashed into a tree. (With AFP inputs)

Thailand: Collision between bus and train claims 17 lives

Hurricane Delta may have weakened and worst may have been over but it has left devastation in its wake. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected as they are left with no electricity. Those who faced the worst of Hurricane Laura have had to face Delta as well. Trees, electricity poles have been uprooted, many have been left homeless while others are trying to save what they can from their damaged homes.

This video, shot from a drone, gives us a sense of the devastation.

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Drone footage shows the damage caused by Hurricane Delta after it flooded the streets of coastal Louisiana <a href="https://t.co/m8ozCfgmDE">https://t.co/m8ozCfgmDE</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXXULl34p6">pic.twitter.com/lXXULl34p6</a>
— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1315111124501630976?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

However, the worst is over and it's now time to rebuild.

Delta made landfall near the town of Creole in Louisiana early Friday evening (local time) as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, packing sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. However, it weakened and moved northeast.&nbsp;

The storm weakened to a tropical depression as it moved inland to western Mississippi, according to the National Hurricane Center, but still carried heavy rains.

<img alt="Hurricane Delta" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e5f08a6f-20cc-4186-86df-85c8a620fc6f" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/000_8RU7XL.jpg" />

"Even if it wasn't quite as powerful as Hurricane Laura, it was much bigger," Governor John Bel Edwards told a briefing in Baton Rouge.

Some 3,000 National Guard troops had been called up to distribute relief supplies, clear roads, maintain security and conduct search and rescue operations, the governor said.

Sylvia Pastrano, 65, said the roof of her Lake Charles, Louisiana home leaked from Delta's rains after being initially damaged by Laura. She positioned three trash cans over her bed to catch the water.

"We were debating whether to leave or not but my husband has got orthopedic issues and I do too and we're just too exhausted to even get up and evacuate," Pastrano said. "Last night it was terrifying, the whistling and whistling."

Thousands without power

No deaths have so far been linked to Hurricane Delta, but Louisiana Governor said that in such situations, deaths may also occur in the aftermath of the storm during clean up operations.

Governor Edwards said that about 600,000 people were without electricity.

But restoration is much faster than it was after Hurricane Laura as Hurricane Delta's winds were not as powerful.

<img alt="Hurricane Delta" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="11643716-96d4-4f25-abff-7c456c550744" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/2020-10-09T171808Z_2_LYNXMPEG980SB_RTROPTP_4_STORM-DELTA-min%20%281%29.jpg" />

Delta brought widespread flooding of streets and riverbanks, mostly in southwestern Louisiana, tracking the path of destruction left by Laura but causing damage over a larger swath of the Gulf Coast.

"Even if it wasn't quite as powerful as Hurricane Laura, it was much bigger," Governor John Bel Edwards told a briefing in Baton Rouge.

As Delta made its way over the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, energy companies cut back U.S. oil production by about 92%, or 1.7 million barrels per day - the most since 2005's Hurricane Katrina.

While the storm is expected to continue weakening, it is forecast to bring rain though Tennessee, Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley through early next week.

Delta was the tenth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season to make U.S. landfall this year, eclipsing a record dating to 1916.

(With Reuters input)

Hurricane Delta may have weakened and worst may have been over but it has left devastation in its wake. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected as they are left with no electricity.

Hurricane Delta may have weakened and worst may have been over but it has left devastation in its wake. Hundreds of thousands of people have been affected as they are left with no electricity. Those who faced the worst of Hurricane Laura have had to face Delta as well. Trees, electricity poles have been uprooted, many have been left homeless while others are trying to save what they can from their damaged homes. This video, shot from a drone, gives us a sense of the devastation. Drone footage shows the damage caused by Hurricane Delta after it flooded the streets of coastal Louisiana https://t.co/m8ozCfgmDE pic.twitter.com/lXXULl34p6 — Reuters (@Reuters) October 11, 2020 × However, the worst is over and it's now time to rebuild. Delta made landfall near the town of Creole in Louisiana early Friday evening (local time) as a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale, packing sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. However, it weakened and moved northeast. The storm weakened to a tropical depression as it moved inland to western Mississippi, according to the National Hurricane Center, but still carried heavy rains. "Even if it wasn't quite as powerful as Hurricane Laura, it was much bigger," Governor John Bel Edwards told a briefing in Baton Rouge. Some 3,000 National Guard troops had been called up to distribute relief supplies, clear roads, maintain security and conduct search and rescue operations, the governor said. Sylvia Pastrano, 65, said the roof of her Lake Charles, Louisiana home leaked from Delta's rains after being initially damaged by Laura. She positioned three trash cans over her bed to catch the water. "We were debating whether to leave or not but my husband has got orthopedic issues and I do too and we're just too exhausted to even get up and evacuate," Pastrano said. "Last night it was terrifying, the whistling and whistling." Thousands without power No deaths have so far been linked to Hurricane Delta, but Louisiana Governor said that in such situations, deaths may also occur in the aftermath of the storm during clean up operations. Governor Edwards said that about 600,000 people were without electricity. But restoration is much faster than it was after Hurricane Laura as Hurricane Delta's winds were not as powerful. Delta brought widespread flooding of streets and riverbanks, mostly in southwestern Louisiana, tracking the path of destruction left by Laura but causing damage over a larger swath of the Gulf Coast. "Even if it wasn't quite as powerful as Hurricane Laura, it was much bigger," Governor John Bel Edwards told a briefing in Baton Rouge. As Delta made its way over the Gulf of Mexico on Friday, energy companies cut back U.S. oil production by about 92%, or 1.7 million barrels per day - the most since 2005's Hurricane Katrina. While the storm is expected to continue weakening, it is forecast to bring rain though Tennessee, Kentucky and the Ohio River Valley through early next week. Delta was the tenth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season to make U.S. landfall this year, eclipsing a record dating to 1916. (With Reuters input)

Video: Hurricane Delta leaves devastation in its wake, clean up begins

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote an open letter to Pope Francis on Saturday and called on the Roman Catholic Church to apologise for atrocities on indigenous people of Mexico during the Spanish conquest in 1500s. Spanish conquest of Latin America including Mexico had wiped out indigenous population and religion. Spanish Conquistadors, who were Catholic, equated the local relgion to devil worship and destroyed cultural symbols, book, places of worship etc. There were widespread killings. The local Aztec Empire soon fell.

"The Catholic Church, the Spanish monarchy and the Mexican government should make a public apology for the offensive atrocities that Indigenous people suffered," the letter from the Mexican president states.

In the same letter, Obrador has requested the Vatican to lend some ancient and pre-Hispanic Mexican and colonial-era documents.

One of the three codicies, or books, requested is the Codex Borgia, an especially colorful screen-fold book spread across dozens of pages that depicts gods and rituals from ancient central Mexico.

It is one of the best-preserved examples of pre-conquest Aztec-style writing that exists, after Catholic authorities in colonial-era Mexico dismissed such codicies as the work of the devil and ordered hundreds or even thousands of them burned in the decades following the 1521 conquest.

In the letter, Lopez Obrador requests the Vatican return the Codex Borgia, two other ancient codicies as well as its maps of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan for a one-year loan in 2021.

The Vatican has not yet responded to the request, but its museums and archives have in the past lent out various manuscripts and works of art after similar requests from other countries.

(With inputs from Reuters)

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote an open letter to Pope Francis on Saturday and called on the Roman Catholic Church to apologise for atrocities on indigenous people of Mexico during the Spanish conquest in 1500s.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador wrote an open letter to Pope Francis on Saturday and called on the Roman Catholic Church to apologise for atrocities on indigenous people of Mexico during the Spanish conquest in 1500s. Spanish conquest of Latin America including Mexico had wiped out indigenous population and religion. Spanish Conquistadors, who were Catholic, equated the local relgion to devil worship and destroyed cultural symbols, book, places of worship etc. There were widespread killings. The local Aztec Empire soon fell. "The Catholic Church, the Spanish monarchy and the Mexican government should make a public apology for the offensive atrocities that Indigenous people suffered," the letter from the Mexican president states. In the same letter, Obrador has requested the Vatican to lend some ancient and pre-Hispanic Mexican and colonial-era documents. One of the three codicies, or books, requested is the Codex Borgia, an especially colorful screen-fold book spread across dozens of pages that depicts gods and rituals from ancient central Mexico. It is one of the best-preserved examples of pre-conquest Aztec-style writing that exists, after Catholic authorities in colonial-era Mexico dismissed such codicies as the work of the devil and ordered hundreds or even thousands of them burned in the decades following the 1521 conquest. In the letter, Lopez Obrador requests the Vatican return the Codex Borgia, two other ancient codicies as well as its maps of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan for a one-year loan in 2021. The Vatican has not yet responded to the request, but its museums and archives have in the past lent out various manuscripts and works of art after similar requests from other countries. (With inputs from Reuters)

Mexico asks Pope to apologise for atrocities during Spanish conquests

Maulana Dr Adil Khan, a religious scholar and head of Pakistan`s Jamia Farooqia seminary, was shot dead along with his driver in a suspected targeted attack in Karachi on Saturday, Dawn reported. Citing police statement, it was reported that Khan`s car had stopped near a shopping centre in Shah Faisal Colony to purchase sweets when armed pillion riders opened indiscriminate fire on the car and fled.

While both Khan and his driver died, his aide escaped the uneventful incident as he had gone to purchase sweets.Dawn quoted Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah as saying that some miscreants wanted to "sabotage the peace in the city".

Counter-Terrorism Department Deputy Inspector General Omar Shahid Hamid said that the police were focusing on two possible motives behind the incident.He said in addition to the sectarian aspect of the gun attack, they were ascertaining as to whether a third party wanted to create sectarian conflict.Pointing to "certain incidents" that may trigger sectarianism in the city such as Adil, a prominent figure in the Deobandi school of thought was recently targeted.

Maulana Dr Adil Khan, a religious scholar and head of Pakistan`s Jamia Farooqia seminary, was shot dead along with his driver in a suspected targeted attack in Karachi on Saturday, Dawn reported.

Maulana Dr Adil Khan, a religious scholar and head of Pakistan`s Jamia Farooqia seminary, was shot dead along with his driver in a suspected targeted attack in Karachi on Saturday, Dawn reported. Citing police statement, it was reported that Khan`s car had stopped near a shopping centre in Shah Faisal Colony to purchase sweets when armed pillion riders opened indiscriminate fire on the car and fled. While both Khan and his driver died, his aide escaped the uneventful incident as he had gone to purchase sweets.Dawn quoted Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah as saying that some miscreants wanted to "sabotage the peace in the city". Counter-Terrorism Department Deputy Inspector General Omar Shahid Hamid said that the police were focusing on two possible motives behind the incident.He said in addition to the sectarian aspect of the gun attack, they were ascertaining as to whether a third party wanted to create sectarian conflict.Pointing to "certain incidents" that may trigger sectarianism in the city such as Adil, a prominent figure in the Deobandi school of thought was recently targeted.

Pakistan religious scholar shot dead in Karachi

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif continued to face sedition charges as all senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) were declared innocent. The case is registered with Shahdara Police in Lahore. As per Dawn, the decision to declare seniors leaders of PML-N innocent was taken late on Saturday by the police. 41 senior leaders of PML-N have been named in the FIR besides Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz.

The FIR also names the so-called prime minister of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider

Pakistan government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan has distanced itself from the FIR. Imran Khan has expressed displeasure.

Nawaz Sharif is in the UK right now. He had flown out of Pakistan for medical treatment.

The FIR against Sharif, filed by a man named Badar Rasheed alleges that Nawaz Sharif was making "hateful speeches". Rasheed also alleges that instead of availing medical treatment in the UK, Nawaz Sharif is defaming the country.

As per the FIR, the speeches made by Sharif on September 20 and October 1 are under the scanner. The complainant alleged that Sharif supported India's policies of getting Pakistan declared a 'rogue state'

Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court has asked Nawaz Sharif to appear before it by November 24 to avoid being declared a 'proclaimed offender'

The court on Friday noted that it was left with no option but to order issuance of proclamation for intimating 70-year-old Sharif, who has been living in London since November last year, to appear before it on November 24.

A two-member bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Aamer Farooq observed that the examination of statements of witnesses as well as the documents showed that all out efforts were made for serving the non-bailable warrants of arrest on Sharif to ensure his attendance before the court in the the Al-Azizia and Avenfield graft cases.

(With PTI inputs)

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif continued to face sedition charges as all senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) were declared innocent.

Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif continued to face sedition charges as all senior leaders of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) were declared innocent. The case is registered with Shahdara Police in Lahore. As per Dawn, the decision to declare seniors leaders of PML-N innocent was taken late on Saturday by the police. 41 senior leaders of PML-N have been named in the FIR besides Nawaz Sharif and his daughter Maryam Nawaz. The FIR also names the so-called prime minister of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir Raja Farooq Haider Pakistan government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan has distanced itself from the FIR. Imran Khan has expressed displeasure. Nawaz Sharif is in the UK right now. He had flown out of Pakistan for medical treatment. The FIR against Sharif, filed by a man named Badar Rasheed alleges that Nawaz Sharif was making "hateful speeches". Rasheed also alleges that instead of availing medical treatment in the UK, Nawaz Sharif is defaming the country. As per the FIR, the speeches made by Sharif on September 20 and October 1 are under the scanner. The complainant alleged that Sharif supported India's policies of getting Pakistan declared a 'rogue state' Meanwhile, Islamabad High Court has asked Nawaz Sharif to appear before it by November 24 to avoid being declared a 'proclaimed offender' The court on Friday noted that it was left with no option but to order issuance of proclamation for intimating 70-year-old Sharif, who has been living in London since November last year, to appear before it on November 24. A two-member bench comprising Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani and Justice Aamer Farooq observed that the examination of statements of witnesses as well as the documents showed that all out efforts were made for serving the non-bailable warrants of arrest on Sharif to ensure his attendance before the court in the the Al-Azizia and Avenfield graft cases. (With PTI inputs)

Nawaz Sharif alone faces sedition charges now, party leaders declared innocent

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said it had registered a case and taken over the investigation of the Hathras gang rape-murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman.

The CBI registered the case on a complaint of the victim`s brother who alleged that an accused had tried to strangulate her sister in a millet field on September 14.

The case was earlier probed by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The agency took over the case following the a request by the Uttar Pradesh government and further notification from the central government.

The CBI said that it has constituted a special team to probe the case, which led to the widespread criticism of the UP government after the victim was hurriedly cremated by Hathras police on September 30.

The woman died at a Delhi hospital on September 29, a fortnight after she was allegedly raped at her village by four upper-caste men. 
&nbsp;

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said it had registered a case and taken over the investigation of the Hathras gang rape-murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Sunday said it had registered a case and taken over the investigation of the Hathras gang rape-murder of a 19-year-old Dalit woman. The CBI registered the case on a complaint of the victim`s brother who alleged that an accused had tried to strangulate her sister in a millet field on September 14. The case was earlier probed by the Uttar Pradesh Police. The agency took over the case following the a request by the Uttar Pradesh government and further notification from the central government. The CBI said that it has constituted a special team to probe the case, which led to the widespread criticism of the UP government after the victim was hurriedly cremated by Hathras police on September 30. The woman died at a Delhi hospital on September 29, a fortnight after she was allegedly raped at her village by four upper-caste men.

CBI takes over Hathras gang-rape case, begins probe

A police station in suburban Paris came under attack by about 40 unidentified people on Saturday night (local time). The mob was armed with metal bars and it was using fireworks as mortars. People wanted to enter the police station but were not able to do so. &nbsp;

"Violent attack last night on the police station of Champigny with mortar shots and various projectiles. No police officer was injured," the Paris police headquarters said on Twitter.

The police station is located in Champigny-Sur-Marne, about 15 km southeast of central Paris.

The police posted a video of the attack. The video showed a barrage of fireworks going off in the direction of the police station.

"It was an organised attack of about 40 people who wanted to do battle," Champigny Mayor Laurent Jeanne told BFM. "For a few days it has been tense with people who have a certain willingness to do battle with the police. It`s anti-police sentiment. We weren`t far off from a disaster."

There were no arrests.

A spate of public safety incidents across France since the end of the COVID-19 lockdown in mid-May has put the government on heightened alert for increases in crime amid the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

President Emmanuel Macron, who faces a presidential election in less than two years, has been criticised by opponents over crime and public safety since he took power in 2017 and opinion polls show that the public see his government as weakest on those issues.

(With Reuters inputs)

A police station in suburban Paris came under attack by about 40 unidentified people on Saturday night (local time). The mob was armed with metal bars and it was using fireworks as mortars.

A police station in suburban Paris came under attack by about 40 unidentified people on Saturday night (local time). The mob was armed with metal bars and it was using fireworks as mortars. People wanted to enter the police station but were not able to do so. "Violent attack last night on the police station of Champigny with mortar shots and various projectiles. No police officer was injured," the Paris police headquarters said on Twitter. The police station is located in Champigny-Sur-Marne, about 15 km southeast of central Paris. The police posted a video of the attack. The video showed a barrage of fireworks going off in the direction of the police station. "It was an organised attack of about 40 people who wanted to do battle," Champigny Mayor Laurent Jeanne told BFM. "For a few days it has been tense with people who have a certain willingness to do battle with the police. It`s anti-police sentiment. We weren`t far off from a disaster." There were no arrests. A spate of public safety incidents across France since the end of the COVID-19 lockdown in mid-May has put the government on heightened alert for increases in crime amid the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic. President Emmanuel Macron, who faces a presidential election in less than two years, has been criticised by opponents over crime and public safety since he took power in 2017 and opinion polls show that the public see his government as weakest on those issues. (With Reuters inputs)

Mob of 40 attacks police station in Paris suburb

Race to find a vaccine against coronavirus is on. Research, test and trials are going on in all corners of the world. But now, a new approach is being adopted in global fight against the pandemic. BCG tuberculosis vaccine will now be tested on frontline care workers in Britain for its effectiveness against COVID-19.

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used to protect against tuberculosis. However, researchers are drawn towards the broad innate immune-system response the BCG vaccine elicits. This immune response is shown to protect against infection or severe illness with other respiratory pathogens.

"BCG has been shown to boost immunity in a generalised way, which may offer some protection against COVID-19," Professor John Campbell, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said.

"We are seeking to establish whether the BCG vaccine could help protect people who are at risk of COVID-19. If it does, we could save lives by administering or topping up this readily available and cost-effective vaccination."

The UK study is part of an existing Australian-led trial, which launched in April and also has arms in the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil. The BCG vaccine is also being tested as a protection against COVID-19 in South Africa.

The British trial is recruiting volunteers ahead of winter months that officials have warned may be tough as the country grapples with a second wave of infections.

The trial`s UK arm, which is being run from Exeter, southwest England, is seeking to recruit 1,000 people who work in care homes and community healthcare nearby.

Meanwhile, UK is preparing to put in place a three-tier lockdown regime. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce the outline on Monday.

The three-tier system is meant to clarify the patchwork of rules for England that has evolved since infection rates started to climb again in September, according to reports.

(With agency inputs)

Race to find a vaccine against coronavirus is on. Research, test and trials are going on in all corners of the world. But now, a new approach is being adopted in global fight against the pandemic.

Race to find a vaccine against coronavirus is on. Research, test and trials are going on in all corners of the world. But now, a new approach is being adopted in global fight against the pandemic. BCG tuberculosis vaccine will now be tested on frontline care workers in Britain for its effectiveness against COVID-19. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is used to protect against tuberculosis. However, researchers are drawn towards the broad innate immune-system response the BCG vaccine elicits. This immune response is shown to protect against infection or severe illness with other respiratory pathogens. "BCG has been shown to boost immunity in a generalised way, which may offer some protection against COVID-19," Professor John Campbell, of the University of Exeter Medical School, said. "We are seeking to establish whether the BCG vaccine could help protect people who are at risk of COVID-19. If it does, we could save lives by administering or topping up this readily available and cost-effective vaccination." The UK study is part of an existing Australian-led trial, which launched in April and also has arms in the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil. The BCG vaccine is also being tested as a protection against COVID-19 in South Africa. The British trial is recruiting volunteers ahead of winter months that officials have warned may be tough as the country grapples with a second wave of infections. The trial`s UK arm, which is being run from Exeter, southwest England, is seeking to recruit 1,000 people who work in care homes and community healthcare nearby. Meanwhile, UK is preparing to put in place a three-tier lockdown regime. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce the outline on Monday. The three-tier system is meant to clarify the patchwork of rules for England that has evolved since infection rates started to climb again in September, according to reports. (With agency inputs)

BCG vaccine to be tested in UK for effectiveness against COVID-19

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