`At the G7 summit, world leaders are expected to announce they will provide at least one billion doses of Covid-19 vaccine to the world and set out plans to expand vaccine production to meet that goal`

The announcement was made after US President Joe Biden announced he would donate 500 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to 92 poor and lower-middle income countries.

Britain, where the G7 summit is taking place in Cornwall, added that it would donate at least 100 million surplus vaccine doses next year, including 5 million starting in the coming weeks.

The pledge comes after growing calls for rich countries to step up efforts to share Covid-19 jabs with less developed nations.

Britain, which ordered more than 400 million doses, has faced criticism for not yet starting to share with poorer countries.

`Thanks to the success of the UK vaccine program, we are able to share some excess doses with those who need them. At the G7 summit, I hope leaders will make a similar commitment.`

Meanwhile, European Union (EU) members have agreed to fund at least 100 million doses by the end of 2021, with France and Germany each pledging to provide 30 million doses.

US President Joe Biden (left) and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson met bilaterally at Carbis Bay, Cornwall, southwest England, before the G7 summit.

The world has recorded 175,502,882 nCoV infections and 3,785,748 deaths, an increase of 329,746 and 8,939 respectively, while 157,558,602 people have recovered, according to real-time statistics site Worldometers.

The US, the largest epidemic area in the world, reported 34,275,075 cases of infection and 613,806 deaths due to nCoV, an increase of 10,690 cases and 314 deaths compared to the previous day.

The US has also faced criticism for storing large amounts of unused Covid-19 vaccines.

The White House said vaccines will begin to be shipped abroad in August. Rejecting suggestions that it is competing in vaccine diplomacy with Russia and China, Washington describes its initiative as a return to multilateral action.

India is the second largest epidemic area in the world with 29,273,338 cases and 363,097 deaths, up from 91,266 and 3,402 cases respectively the previous day.

India yesterday reported a record of more than 6,000 deaths due to Covid-19, higher than any country in the world since the pandemic broke out, after Bihar state revised its death figures.

Indian experts warn that the country could suffer a third wave of Covid-19 later this year with the risk of affecting children more.

Brazil is the third largest epidemic area in the world with 17,210,969 cases and 482,019 deaths, an increase of 85,612 and 2,228 respectively.

Brazil’s Supreme Court on June 10 ruled that the country can host the Copa America South American football championship, clearing the way for the football tournament to take place in three days, despite calls that it should be canceled.

Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro, who often downplays the pandemic, sent congratulations after the court ruling.

`It’s impossible to describe the madness of trying to hold an event of this magnitude here,` said infectious disease expert Jose David Urbaez.

In Europe, some restrictions have been eased ahead of the European football tournament Euro starting June 11.

But Hans Kluge, WHO’s regional director for Europe, said he was concerned about complacency.

`Vaccination coverage is far from enough to protect the region from new outbreaks,` Kluge told reporters, warning against repeating last summer’s `mistakes` by prematurely easing

South Africa has entered the third wave of Covid-19 as Africa’s most affected country recorded 9,149 new infections, bringing the total number of infections to 1,722,086.

About 90% of African countries will miss their target of vaccinating at least 10% of their population by September as a third wave of the outbreak has begun on the continent.

Africa has recorded 5 million cases, of which the southern region of the continent is most severely affected, accounting for 37% of the total number of infections.

Meanwhile, Iran’s government warned that recent success in containing the Middle East’s deadliest Covid-19 outbreak is at risk of being reversed if the public stops being vigilant in preventative measures amid

The country saw the total number of infections surpass the three million mark on June 10.

In Southeast Asia, Indonesia is the largest epidemic area in the region with 1,885,942 cases, an increase of 8,892, of which 52,373 people died, an increase of 211. More than 10 McDonald’s restaurants had to close on June 9 because of concerns about Covid-19.

Jakarta and several other cities closed at least 13 stores.

Singapore will begin easing Covid-19 restrictions in stages, starting from June 14.