Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

India overtakes US in administering Covid vaccines, says its health ministry

India overtakes US in administering Covid vaccines, says its health ministry

INDIA has overtaken the United States in administering Covid-19 vaccine doses, the country's health ministry said on Monday (28). After launching its vaccination drive on January 16, the country has administered over 323.6 million doses so far. The US, on the other hand, started its drive in December last year and has given 323.3 million doses till now.

“India achieves another milestone in COVID-19 vaccination and overtakes USA in total number of COVID-19 vaccine doses administered,” the ministry said. India's cumulative vaccination coverage exceeded 323 million on Sunday (27).


A total of 3,233,663,297 vaccine doses have been administered through 4,321,898 sessions, as per the provision report till 7 am on Monday, according to the ministry. It said 1,721,268 shots were given in the last 24 hours. So far, 10,198,257 healthcare workers have taken the first dose while 7,207,617 have taken the second, the data added. Among the frontline workers, 17,442,767 have received the first dose while 9,399,319 have taken the second.

In the 18-44 group, 84,651,696 individuals have received the first jab while 1,901,190 have got the second. In the 45-59 age group, 87,111,445 have taken the first shot while 14,812,349 have taken the second. Among people aged 60 and above, 67,529,713 have received the first dose while 23,408,994 have received the second. The new phase of universalization of Covid-19 vaccination started from June 21.

However, the US, which is the worst-affected country in the world, has so far vaccinated 46 per cent of its population, in India, the number currently stands at only four per cent. India is the second-worst hit nation with 30.2 million positive cases as against the US’s 33.6 million.

Modi praises India's vaccination drive

Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Monday noted that the country's vaccination drive "keeps gaining" momentum and that "vaccines for all, free for all" remains the government's commitment.

“India’s vaccination drive keeps gaining momentum! Congrats to all those who are driving this effort. Our commitment remains vaccines for all, free for all,” he said in a Twitter post.

More For You

Rajnath Singh

The council that approved the initiation of procurement for arms and equipment is headed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. (Photo: Reuters)

Reuters

India starts process to procure arms worth $12.31 billion

INDIA’s Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) has approved the initiation of procurement for arms and equipment worth $12.31 billion (£9.05 billion), the defence ministry said on Thursday.

The council is headed by India's Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Forecasts indicate that the weekend will be unsettled

Getty Images

Cooler conditions bring relief as UK heatwave ends

Key points

  • UK's second heatwave of 2025 ends with cooler temperatures setting in.
  • Tuesday recorded the year’s highest temperature at 34.7°C in London.
  • No return to heatwave conditions forecast for early July.
  • Showers expected in parts of Scotland and Northern Ireland, with drier weather ahead.

UK heatwave fades as cooler weather returns

Following a stretch of record-breaking heat, the UK has now entered a cooler phase, with no heatwave conditions forecast for the first half of July. This change comes after Tuesday became the hottest day of the year so far, with 34.7°C recorded in London’s St James’s Park.

However, the high temperatures that marked the start of July have now given way to more comfortable conditions. In many parts of the country, temperatures have dropped by more than 10°C, bringing relief from the extreme heat.

Keep ReadingShow less
Families slam Hancock's 'insulting' care home defence at Covid inquiry

Matt Hancock arrives ahead of his latest appearance before the Covid-19 Inquiry on July 02, 2025 in London, England.(Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

Families slam Hancock's 'insulting' care home defence at Covid inquiry

BEREAVED families have condemned former health secretary Matt Hancock as "insulting" and "full of excuses" after he defended the controversial policy of moving untested hospital patients into care homes during the early days of the Covid pandemic.

Speaking at the Covid-19 inquiry on Wednesday (2), Hancock described the decision to discharge patients into care homes as "the least-worst decision" available at the time, despite the devastating death toll that followed.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer has said the NHS must 'reform or die' and promised changes that would control the rising costs of caring for an ageing population without increasing taxes. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Starmer outlines 10-year NHS reform strategy

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer will on Thursday launch a 10-year strategy aimed at fixing the National Health Service (NHS), which he said was in crisis. The plan seeks to ease the pressure on overstretched hospitals and shift care closer to people’s homes.

The NHS, which is publicly funded and state-run, has faced difficulties recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic. It continues to experience annual winter pressures, repeated waves of industrial action, and a long backlog for elective treatments.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Reeves-Getty

Starmer and Reeves during a visit to Horiba Mira in Nuneaton, to mark the launch of the Government's Industrial Strategy on June 23, 2025 in Nuneaton. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

Reeves ‘going nowhere’, says Starmer after tears in parliament

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer on Wednesday said that Chancellor Rachel Reeves would remain in her role for “a very long time to come”, after she appeared visibly upset in parliament as questions were raised about her future.

Reeves was seen with tears rolling down her face during Prime Minister’s Questions, after Starmer did not confirm whether she would remain chancellor until the next general election, expected in 2029.

Keep ReadingShow less