welcome to newsday, reporting live from singapore, i'm karishma vaswani. the headlines. the uk becomes the first country to approve a covid vaccine that fights both the original strain and the omicron variant. uk is the first place in the world to licence this new medicine and it means that people get access to a broader community than what would've otherwise been the case. the taliban celebrate the first anniversary of their return to power in afghanistan — but not everybody is cheering, especially women and girls. one big thing about this is the challenges that are trying to portray is the restrictions they've imposed on them. they have not

allowed girls to go to secondary schools and most of afghanistan, the only country in the world to do so. china military launches fresh drills off taiwan. it's in response to a visit to the island by a new group of american lawmakers. and world leaders meet in an attempt to reach an agreement on a treaty to protect the world's oceans from exploitation. welcome to bbc news — broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. broadcasting to viewers in the uk we begin in britain, which has become the first country to approve what its manufacturers are calling a "next—generation" covid vaccine. the uk's medicines regulator has approved a new version of moderna's coronavirus vaccine — the first to target both the omicron

variant as well as the original strain of the virus. ministers say the vaccine will now form part of the autumn booster campaign. here's our medical editor fergus walsh: this is the start of a new era in covid—19 vaccines. until now, they've all been designed against they've all been designed against the originalform of they've all been designed against the original form of the virus which emerged in wuhan china at the end of 2019. they still give strong protection against severe illness but they are not very good at preventing you getting a milder covid—19 infection and that is because coronavirus is mutated substantially with several new variants that can dodge some of our immune defences. but the new vaccine targets the wuhan strain and the now dominant omicron variant. so, it is dualjab. it produced higher antibody responses among volunteers with most of mild side effects that

feel ill protect against infection of omicron however those who contract the infection, the? of omicron however those who contract the infection, they are less likely _ contract the infection, they are less likely to _ contract the infection, they are less likely to get _ contract the infection, they are less likely to get serious - contract the infection, they are - less likely to get serious outcomes of their health such as hospitalisation, intensive care units or even death. i'm joined now by dr ofer levy, director of vaccines, boston children's hospital. he is also a professor of pediatrics at harvard medical school and member of the fda covid vaccine advisory panel. it's great to get you on the programme. perhaps you can explain how this tool vaccine is meant to work and how does a target both strains? . ~ work and how does a target both strains? ., ~ , ., ., , ~ strains? thank you for this. i think the key point _ strains? thank you for this. i think the key point to — strains? thank you for this. i think the key point to your _ strains? thank you for this. i think the key point to your viewers - the key point to your viewers is that we are in a better place now with regards of this pandemic and we have medications, etc. but the coronavirus is not gone away. and if

i understand the data correctly, so much under 50 people per day the united kingdom still dying of this virus. falland united kingdom still dying of this virus. fall and winter coming, the social distancing, potentialfor rising infections in the question for all of us is his fallen winter approaching, community better than we have done up to now and the prevalent vaccine that modern is offering contains an has the spike protein for the ancestral strain, to the versus the causes pandemic as well as the new omicron variant and it targets both in the data i have reviewed, the date on this vaccine, and data suggests safety and the vaccine has antibodies against omicron that should be effective in helping anyone who has this vaccine against infection. this is a practical approach we salute the united kingdom for being the first

country to authorise a vaccine that targets two variants. the country to authorise a vaccine that targets two variants.— country to authorise a vaccine that targets two variants. the uk is the first country _ targets two variants. the uk is the first country to _ targets two variants. the uk is the first country to do _ targets two variants. the uk is the first country to do this _ targets two variants. the uk is the first country to do this but - targets two variants. the uk is the first country to do this but dc - targets two variants. the uk is the first country to do this but dc is i first country to do this but dc is happening in other countries like the united states, for instance? 1 the united states, for instance? i cannot prejudge it and of the united states, for instance? 1 cannot prejudge it and of course, that's going to go to the us but my impression is that we are moving in the direction of the head of the fall season.— the direction of the head of the fall season. ~ , ., fall season. whether the virus works is it consistently _ fall season. whether the virus works is it consistently mutates. _ fall season. whether the virus works is it consistently mutates. we - fall season. whether the virus works is it consistently mutates. we have l is it consistently mutates. we have seen that happen in terms of different strains. roads was just looking down the barrel and more vaccines of this kind or can we get to a point where we just have a single vaccine administered at birth early childhood the way we do for the major illnesses?— the major illnesses? excellent question- _ the major illnesses? excellent question. there _ the major illnesses? excellent question. there are _ the major illnesses? excellent question. there are two - the major illnesses? excellent| question. there are two bigger picture points for your viewers.

it's not i—size—fits—all, as you'll see the booster policy in the united kingdom is based on risk groups by age, we know older individuals are at risk immune status of people of immunocompromised conditions or household status, person themselves may be very healthy but maybe they live with others who are very vulnerable that's one concept that your viewers should appreciate. and another is the need for ongoing research was severely sexing of the sexes are fantastic on the safe and effective, but they are costly and they do require multiple doses and they do require multiple doses and they do require updating periodically with the new variant. so, we need ongoing vaccine research and support for such research to build a coronavirus vaccine or around the world. so we have to develop save vaccines to cover more variance. ., ~ , ., ,.,

develop save vaccines to cover more variance. ., ~ i. . develop save vaccines to cover more variance. ., ~ . ., variance. thank you so much for “oininu variance. thank you so much for joining us _ variance. thank you so much for joining us and — variance. thank you so much for joining us and you _ variance. thank you so much for joining us and you can _ variance. thank you so much for joining us and you can find - variance. thank you so much for joining us and you can find out l variance. thank you so much for - joining us and you can find out much more about that new dual vaccine online, including analysis by your health correspondent is a bbc dot com. let's take a look at some of the other stories in the headlines in the uk. the leader of the opposition labour party, sir keir starmer, has been outlining its latest — and most comprehensive — response to the cost of living crisis. the plan would freeze the energy cap in britain at the current level ofjust under 2000 pounds — or 2—thousand 400 dollars — for most customers for the next six months. labour says the move would cost 29 billion pounds. that's 35 billion dollars. here's what sir keir had to say about the proposals: there is a choice that we have to make and the choices either we let oil and gas companies continue to make huge profits whilst every household is really suffering with

the bills that they really cannot afford. we do something about it in the labour party isn't going to walk on by, we are going to stand up for those households that are going to really struggle this winter. the manchester city footballer benjamin mendy has gone on trial accused of eight counts of rape, one of attempted rape and one of sexual assault against seven young women. the jury at chester crown court heard the offences are alleged to have taken place at mr mendy�*s cheshire mansion between october 2018 and august 2021. the 28 year old french international denies all the charges. now to afghanistan, where it's a year since the taliban dramatically and unexpectedly returned to power after the chaotic withdrawal of international forces. their return prompted a desperate exodus, with many who tried to flee having worked alongside international forces and agencies. but the vast majority of afghans remain in their homeland and are now

facing an economic crisis, severe food shortages and the roll back of what progress there had been for women and girls. our correspondent yogita limaye, reports from kabul... a song of defiance. "if they fight us again, we'll pray the world is destroyed." the taliban erupted in a spontaneous celebration. at kabul�*s main square, hundreds gathered to mark one year since they walked into this city and took over afghanistan. carrying american weapons, fighters and their commanders now trying to run a country. when you compare the taliban this time around to their rule during the 1990s, you perhaps don't hear of the level of brutality that was associated with that regime. but one big thing, among others, that challenges the more moderate image they are trying to portray is the restrictions

they've imposed on women. the fact that they haven't allowed girls to go to secondary schools in most of afghanistan — the only country in the world to do so. taliban men displaying their dominance, but women shut down for demanding their rights. two days ago, this group was stopped from marching in kabul. shots fired in the air. mobile phones seized. the protesters threatened. this woman took part in the march. we are hiding her identity to protect her. "we were so scared, we thought we would die. but we'll continue protesting until there is even one woman alive to fight", she told us. "they took away our rights and we want them back." five months ago, there had been a glimmer of hope. teenage girls were told they would be allowed to study again. in a cruel blow, they were sent back

home within an hour. for nine years, this girl attended school under the shadow of war. i'm totally upset because of this situation that i don't have the right to study. they don't consider us as human. and my feel is like humanity has died in this country. i asked taliban spokesman zabihullah mujahid when schools would be opened. translation: we have | problems in some places. we are trying our best to solve them and to bring things back to normal. what problems, though? because classes were always segregated for boys and girls even before the 15th of august. translation: our leader scholars have issues with the safety of girls| travelling to and from schools. we cannot only make decisions based on the situation in kabul. we also have to consider villages and districts, where people don't want girls to go to school.

so, after one year in power, you are not able to commit a time at which all girls will be able to go to secondary schools? translation: when we came to power, there were a lot of problems. _ these things take time. the decisions on women have far—reaching effects. international recognition and funding is tied to them. crucial, in a country where a majority are going hungry each day. yogita limaye, bbc news, kabul. china says its military has launched fresh drills off taiwan in response to a visit to the island by a group of american lawmakers. just days earlier, beijing had completed another huge military exercise around taiwan, following a trip there by the us house speaker nancy pelosi. china considers taiwan its own territory. after this latest us visit, beijing said it would defend its sovereignty.

for more on this i am joined now by duncan bartlett, research associate, with the soas china institute. this visit by the us congressional delegation — so soon after nancy pelosi coming — do you think this was a good idea? it wasn't announced, it came as a surprise to the international media. the person who doesn't think it's a good idea, ithink the person who doesn't think it's a good idea, i think its presidentjoe biden. because prior to nancy pelosi's visit, he gave a carefully worded warning. he said the us military does not think it's a good idea at this time. under the hand, the national security adviser for asia said that china is seeking to intimidate and coerce taiwan if this has led to a response by those us politicians to say that they're going to stand up for democracy in the face of china's bullying. and

you can see the americans who have been approaching taiwan have a different way of looking at it and shynessis different way of looking at it and shyness is a very differently and is encircling taiwan with its military planes and warships. the situation certainly looks _ planes and warships. the situation certainly looks potentially - certainly looks potentially explosive and it seems to be escalating all the time and do you see them continuing to react to the fact that us lawmakers are in taiwan are coming to taiwan? the fact that us lawmakers are in taiwan are coming to taiwan?— are coming to taiwan? the work of the people's _ are coming to taiwan? the work of the people's liberation _ are coming to taiwan? the work of the people's liberation army - are coming to taiwan? the work of the people's liberation army is - the people's liberation army is using at the moment is encirclement. and those live fire drills are taking their places in the waters all around the island of taiwan and they stopped a little bit after nancy's visit, but they started up again. we look at some of the chinese propaganda, another word is being used. rehearsal. rehearsalfor unification and that is a reminder

that xijinping his unification and that is a reminder that xi jinping his ambition is the reunification of the isle of taiwan with the people's republic of china, peacefully if possible but by force if necessary. and another thing is the chinese government thinks that the chinese government thinks that the americans are stirring things up with taiwan. they think they are encouraging the time it needs to declare independence. it is not been a word that has been with the taiwanese president. nevertheless, they see this as a breach of a long—standing agreement between the united states and china, what is called the one china policy. yes, america recognises taiwan, but doesn't diplomatically send an ambassador in those kind of things and so, there is a dividing line. just to step in, do you think will receive the us, this is accelerating china's attempted reunification with

taiwan? hf china's attempted reunification with taiwan? f ., ~ china's attempted reunification with taiwan? j . ~ _ taiwan? if they're talking by the rehearsal. _ taiwan? if they're talking by the rehearsal, and _ taiwan? if they're talking by the rehearsal, and a _ taiwan? if they're talking by the rehearsal, and a trade _ taiwan? if they're talking by the rehearsal, and a trade between | taiwan? if they're talking by the - rehearsal, and a trade between these exercises, including ballistic missiles over taiwan, it's definitely looking like a more threatening situation and indeed come the whole situation in east asia is looking very unstable at the moment. , ., ., , ., asia is looking very unstable at the moment. , ., ., ., moment. great to get you on the programme — you're watching newsday on the bbc. still to come on the programme. the us says iran's response to the attack on the author salman rushdie is despicable and disgusting. we'll have more on that story in just a moment. washington, the world's most political city, is today assessing the political health of the world's most powerful man. indeed, i did have a relationship with ms lewinsky that was not appropriate. in fact, it was wrong.

in south africa, 97 people have been killed today and with the worst days of violence between rival black groups over the last ten days, 500 have died. chanting: czechoslovakia must be free! _ russia is observing a national day of mourning for the 118 submariners who died on board the kursk. we are with them now within our hearts. - the pope is celebrated mass before a congregation more than two and half million people in his hometown of krakow. "stay with us, stay with us!" chanted this ocean of humanity. "well, well," joked the pope, "so, you want me to desert rome?" this is newsday on the bbc. our headlines. the uk becomes the first country

to approve a covid vaccine that fights both the original strain and the omicron variant. the taliban celebrate the first anniversary of their return to power in afghanistan — but not everybody is cheering, especially women and girls. to kenya now where william ruto has been declared the winner of the presidential election. he's been the country's deputy president since 2013, first appointed by the outgoing president, uhuru kenyatta. it was a tight race. official results say mr ruto won 50.49 percent of the vote. raila odinga, kenya's former prime minister, won 48.85 percent. his supporters are disputing the result. songs and dance broke out at mr ruto's campaign headquarters after the result was announced. the bbc�*s akisa wandera was there. we have been camping here all day at the communication centre where many congregated and eagerly waited, the

dramatic close, mr ruto got a new designation. president—elect. the announcements sparked celebrations among mr ruto's supporters across the country although it's been disputed by some commissioners and the electoral body, and in the camp, ruto has made this very transparent and if this is challenged, mr ruto will have to postpone the party and after the supreme court to defend his victory. and to the supreme court nullify the presidential vote and cited irregularity stop mr ruto's huge task will be to unite a country divided along political lines. for now, all eyes will be on the president—elect as he takes the mantle to lead east africa's

economic powerhouse. bbc news nairobi. let's turn to the us now, which has described iran's suggestion that the author salman rushdie has himself to blame for saturday's knife attack as "despicable". tehran has denied any links to the man who stabbed the 75—year—old at a book fair in new york state, leaving him severely injured. here's us state department spokesman, ned price: iranian officials seek to incite violence over the years of person the initial declaration. with the gloating that's taken place in the aftermath of this attack on his life, this is something that is absolutely outrageous, it's despicable and we wanted to be very clear that it is not something that we can tolerate. let's take a look at some other international stories in the headlines.

russia says its defence minister has spoken by phone to the un secretary general, antonio guterres, on the security situation at ukraine's zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. the area is currently under moscow's control, but has been the target of numerous military strikes, with moscow and kyiv blaming each other for the shelling. the fighting has triggered fears of a potential nuclear catastrophe and was the subject of an emergency un security council meeting last week. a russian—backed proxy court in the ukrainian region of donetsk has charged five foreign nationals with being mercenaries fighting alongside the ukrainian army. russian media report that three of the men — a briton, a croatian and a swedish — could face the death penalty. all of them pleaded not guilty. the trial was adjourned, and is expected to resume in october. un member states have resumed talks in new york aimed at finally agreeing a treaty to protect the world's high seas — the planet's last,

lawless wilderness. these waters don't come under any state's jurisdiction but cover nearly half of the earth's surface — and are hugely vulnerable to threats such as over—fishing, deep—sea mining and climate change. if agreed, a un high seas treaty would put 30 per cent of oceans into conservation areas by the end of the decade — but four previous attempts have failed. for more on this, i'm joined now byjon copley, who is a deep—sea biologist and professor of ocean exploration at the university of southampton. just explain to our viewers how serious the risks are in the oceans right now — if nothing is done to address these threats? iron oceans are under increasing threats such as climate change. all the climate change we've added from

global warming has been absorbed by the ocean. but we know that it is changing ocean currents it's affecting marine life in the flow of oxygen in which these things are what oceanographers measure and we know it's happening and we know why it is happening and here's an opportunity for us to come together and tackle this together because only by bringing nations together can we come up with some sort of treaty to protect this high seas area beyond an individual nations jurisdictions. area beyond an individual nations jurisdictions-— jurisdictions. looking at the ambitions _ jurisdictions. looking at the ambitions of _ jurisdictions. looking at the ambitions of this _ jurisdictions. looking at the ambitions of this treaty - jurisdictions. looking at the ambitions of this treaty say| jurisdictions. looking at the i ambitions of this treaty say up jurisdictions. looking at the - ambitions of this treaty say up with 30% of those in the conservation areas by the next decade and of course, if that is agreed, but is that a high enough target given the threats and risks you've just outlined? it threats and risks you've 'ust outlinedai threats and risks you've 'ust outlined? , . , ., ., ., outlined? it is a start, without a doubt. a outlined? it is a start, without a doubt- a lot _ outlined? it is a start, without a doubt. a lot of— outlined? it is a start, without a doubt. a lot of been _ outlined? it is a start, without a doubt. a lot of been on - outlined? it is a start, without a i doubt. a lot of been on the details of where the 30% is going to be, one hemisphere asserted latitude, as a

lot of thought that needs to be going into how these things join up. we've seen some countries taking the initiative last year, costa rica, ecuador, panama, they came together at their existing marine protected areas within the territory that they have control over to protect animals that migrate across the ocean like will sharks and turtles. undoubtedly, more will be needed because no protected area is immune to the effect of climate change. we can stop these impacts piling up on top of each other to threaten marine life but some of them, we have to tackle through other means as well. it is learning the principles and really importantly, it is showing that we can come together to tackle these global challenges that are beyond any one nations jurisdiction. many of these attempts have failed

before but how high is the likelihood of countries coming together this time in passing this treaty? j together this time in passing this trea ? ~ �* together this time in passing this trea ? ~' �* . , treaty? i think we're close. it is taken ten _ treaty? i think we're close. it is taken ten years _ treaty? i think we're close. it is taken ten years of— treaty? i think we're close. it is taken ten years of work- treaty? i think we're close. it is taken ten years of work by - treaty? i think we're close. it is taken ten years of work by a . treaty? i think we're close. it isj taken ten years of work by a lot treaty? i think we're close. it is i taken ten years of work by a lot of people to bring us this far and the reason it's been so hard is because all of these different activities that take place at their niceties, they have been regulated piecemeal and we have international treaties across the dumping and regional organisations that manage fishing and they need to be joined up and there are new challenges and opportunities of what we can learn from studying ocean life, defining medicine materials not the smartest thing marine life but studying how it is adapted to its environment and now we ensure that the benefits are shared equally?— now we ensure that the benefits are shared equally? ocean exploration at the university — shared equally? ocean exploration at the university of— shared equally? ocean exploration at the university of southampton. - shared equally? ocean exploration at| the university of southampton. thank you forjoining us on the programme and that brings us to the end of

this new state. thank you for joining me. hello. well, much—needed rain in the forecast, but that unfortunately may come at a price for some of us. and with big downpours forming once again on tuesday, there's a risk of flash flooding across parts of england and wales. now, here's the big picture. this dip in the jet stream has spawned an area of low pressure which is in part responsible for breaking the heatwave and developing the showers. and then later on in the week, the jet stream here could push in a weather front with slightly lighter rain but more widespread rain crossing parts of the uk, but no guarantee as far as rain is concerned further south. and then that westerly jet stream brings fresher conditions later on in the week.

now, here's the rainfall accumulation over the next 48 hours or so. the computer models tend to smooth out the rainfall and average it out, so i think if you take a closer look, actually, some areas get very little rainfall. you can see it's just at the bottom of the scale — five, maybe ten mm, no more than that — and some spots won't get any rainfall at all. so let's get onto the forecast, then, for tuesday. and quite a warm start in the south and the southeast — 18 degrees. fresher in scotland. and in scotland and northern ireland, quite cloudy in the morning with some light rain, i think, in central and eastern scotland, which should eventually peter out. and then we've got those scattered, heavy showers and thunderstorms developing across england and wales and that risk of flash flooding. but remember, some of us will miss the storms altogether. mid—20s across the south, around 18 or so in newcastle and a very fresh 14 there in aberdeen with that northerly breeze. here's wednesday's weather forecast, and again a chance for some showers across parts of england and wales, but further north, the weather's looking dry and bright.

i think a very pleasant day on the way for scotland and northern ireland, with temperatures of around 18 celsius. now, i talked about that jet stream at the start pushing in a weather front, and here's that area of low pressure approaching the uk during the course of thursday. it'll spread thursday night into friday across the country, bringing thicker cloud and perhaps some outbreaks of rain early hours of friday, but no guarantee of rain further south. here's the outlook for the middle of the week, into the weekend. you can see it's generally set fair towards the end of the week.

this is bbc news. the headlines: a new version of moderna's coronavirus vaccine that targets the omicron variant is approved in the uk. the booster vaccine may only need to be administered once a year. 12 months on from the collapse of the western—backed government in kabul, afghanistan's economy has been in freefall, there's a humanitarian crisis in the country and the struggle for education for all continues. kenya's deputy president, william ruto, has been declared the winner of last week's presidential election, narrowly beating the opposition leader raila odinga. there were chotic scenes ahead of the announcement after scuffles broke out. and world leaders have been meeting to try to protect the world's oceans from exploitation. a treaty would put 30% of oceans

into conservation areas by the end of the decade.