Covid: UK first country to approve dual-strain vaccine
The UK has become the first country to approve a dual vaccine which tackles both the original Covid virus and the newer Omicron variant, BBC reported.
Ministers say the vaccine will now form part of the autumn booster campaign.
Moderna thinks 13 million doses of its new vaccine will be available this year, but 26 million people are eligible for some form of booster.
Health officials say people should take whichever booster they are offered as all jabs provide protection.
The original vaccines used in the pandemic were designed to train the body to fight the first form of the virus which emerged in Wuhan, in China, at the end of 2019.
The Covid virus has since mutated substantially, with a stream of new variants emerging that can dodge some of our immune defences. They have caused large surges in cases around the world.
Cases of coronavirus are currently falling in the UK. In mid-to-late July, around 2.5 million people tested positive for coronavirus.
Kenya election result: William Ruto wins presidential poll
Deputy President William Ruto has been declared the winner of Kenya's presidential election amid dramatic scenes, BBC reported.
He narrowly beat his rival, Raila Odinga, taking 50.5% of the vote, according to the official results.
The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Mr Odinga's campaign.
Four of the seven members of the electoral commission refused to endorse the result, saying it was "opaque".
"We cannot take ownership of the result that is going to be announced because of the opaque nature of this last phase of the general election," said Juliana Cherera, the vice-chairperson of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
"We are going to give a comprehensive statement... and again we urge Kenyans to keep calm," she added.Mr Odinga's party agent earlier alleged that there were "irregularities" and "mismanagement" in the election.
This was the first time Mr Ruto, 55, had run for president. He has served as deputy president for 10 years, but fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who backed Mr Odinga to succeed him.
Electoral commission chairman Wafula Chebukati said he had done his duty despite receiving threats.
"We have walked the journey of ensuring that Kenyans get a free, fair and credible election. It has not been an easy journey - right now two of my commissioners and the CEO are injured," he said.
In his speech, President-elect Ruto thanked the electoral commission for overseeing the election.
Mr Ruto said he wanted to be a president of all, and for the country to focus on the future.
"To those who have done many things against us, I want to tell them there's nothing to fear. There will be no vengeance. We do not have the luxury to look back," he added.
Celebrations have broken out in several parts of the country, including in Mr Ruto's strongholds of the Rift Valley, and that of his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, in the Central region.
Supporters of Mr Odinga have staged protests in the western city of Kisumu and some parts of Nairobi.
But generally there's a sense of relief that the result has finally been declared because the country had ground into a halt since election day on 9 August, economic activities had stalled and schools remain closed.
Following the 2007 vote, at least 1,200 people were killed and 600,000 fled their homes following claims of a stolen election.
Banchare Danda locals call off protest
Locals of Banchare Danda, who had been creating obstructions at the landfill site by stopping tippers carrying garbage from the Kathmandu Valley, have decided to withdraw their protest for now. The locals said that they would take the next step by observing the three-month time asked by the government. The Banchare Danda Waste Landfill Site Affected Area Management Concern Committee said that it has decided to put off the protest for now after the government asked for three-month time to prepare a report on the impact of the garbage in the affected area and the measures to solve the problems. Committee Coordinator Shree Ram Dhungana said that they have announced to halt the protest after the Urban Development Ministry on Sunday decided to form a Technical Consultation Committee and move ahead as per the report prepared by the team. He said that the entire Sisdol Waste Management Struggle Committees would help the technical team for three months. Dhungana made it clear that they would announce the second phase of protest programs by observing the works and role of Kathmandu Metropolitan City.
Janata Pragatisheel Party Chairman Tripathi proposes UML Chair Oli for electoral alliance
CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli and Janata Pragatisheel Party Chairman Hridayesh Tripathi held a meeting on Monday. Tripathi reached Balkot, Bhaktapur this afternoon and proposed Oli for electoral alliance. Earlier, Tripathi, who had won the election to the House of Representatives with the CPN-UML's election symbol- Sun, urged Oli to contest the upcoming elections by forging an alliance. He had separated from the then Janata Samajbadi Party in 2017 and formed a new party. Tripathi said that he held discussions on contemporary political issues with Oli. It has been learnt that the duo also discussed the Citizenship Bill which was sent back to the House of Representatives by President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Sunday for reconsideration.
