IF the world is to gain access to a vaccine for Covid-19, there's a good chance it will pass through the doors of Serum Institute of India.
Serum Institute, the world's largest manufacturer of vaccines by volume, is working on several candidates for the novel coronavirus - including potentially mass-producing the AstraZeneca/Oxford University one that has garnered global headlines -- as well as developing its own.
The efforts are partly being shepherded by Umesh Shaligram, the head of research and development. His employer is a private company but every day, shortly before midnight, he receives a WhatsApp message from the government asking for updates, and about any new hurdles he faces.
The message is usually from K. VijayRaghavan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's top scientific adviser -- an indication of the critical, and even strategically important, nature of the race to develop the vaccines the whole world is waiting for.
Shaligram promptly responds with a progress report and details any bottlenecks.
"Any delays, you just tell them," said Shaligram, adding the government has been doing everything it can to fast-track clearances, and resolve import delays and other issues.
"We have begun to see approvals come through in days, even on a Sunday night, for trials and things like that," he said, noting some of these processes typically took four to six months.
While most of the attention regarding vaccines typically goes to the pharmaceutical developer, India quietly plays a key role in manufacturing 60-70 per cent of all vaccines sold globally with the Serum Institute playing a lead role, said the company's Chief Executive Adar Poonawalla.
At the company's sprawling, 150-acre campus in the western Indian city of Pune, Shaligram and his team are working flat-out. Dozens of buses ferry in hundreds of workers each day to the grounds, which are buzzing with activity even as the city around it remains largely under lockdown.
The push comes as the number of cases of Covid-19, both globally and domestically, continue to surge and world leaders look to vaccines as the only real way to restart their stalled economies, even though none have yet been proven to be effective against the coronavirus.
Poonawalla, whose family owns he vaccine maker, said scientists, drugmakers and manufacturers were collaborating at an unparalleled scale to spur development and availability.
"We are all in a race to battle the disease, there is no one-upmanship here," he said sitting in his office beside his family's 74-year-old stud farm.
Serum, founded in 1966 by Adar's father Cyrus Poonawalla, has partnered with U.S. biotech firm Codagenix, its US rival Novavax and Austria's Themis to potentially manufacture three Covid-19 vaccine candidates that are still in development.
Another candidate in the works is the experimental vaccine developed by a team at the University of Oxford and now licensed to drugmaker AstraZeneca, with whom Serum are in talks to mass produce the vaccine, which is now in the clinical trial stage.
The US has secured almost a third of the first one billion doses planned for the potential vaccine, initially known as ChAdOx1 and now as AZD1222, by pledging up to $1.2 billion.
Poonawalla aims to initially produce four to five million doses a month, beginning from June, and then gradually ramp up to 350-400 million doses a year.
"Hopefully we will build a stock of a few million doses to give to our country and other high-risk areas across the globe come October-November when the trials ought to be concluded," the 39-year-old said.
He added he had been given to understand by the development team that the trials had an 80 per cent chance of success, given that the vaccine is based on a tried-and-tested platform.
Based on the information currently available, Poonawalla also said he anticipated AZD1222 would be a single-dose vaccine and not require a booster dose.
He sees AZD1222 potentially priced at about Rs 1,000 (£11) per dose in India, but expects it will be procured and distributed by governments without charge.
Serum is also working on developing its own in-house vaccine options to tackle the disease, Poonawalla said.
Even if a vaccine does succeed, a treatment to fight Covid-19 would still be required, said Poonawalla, noting some people do not get the desired immune response, even if vaccinated.
"You may get mild symptoms, you may get severe symptoms. It depends on your system, but there is a chance," he added. "Not all vaccines are fully effective."
The Serum Institute produces more than 1.5 billion doses of vaccines every year, for everything from polio to measles.
Poonawalla says that gave the company an edge in securing supplies of vials and high-quality chemicals required to make a vaccine in bulk once all approvals are in place.
"We have partnered with many of our suppliers to have one to two-year inventories of glass vials and tubing glass stocked in advance, so luckily for us that won't be an issue."
Any successful vaccine is however bound to be in short supply at first, he stressed.
India recorded more than 6,000 new cases of the coronavirus on Friday, bringing its total to over 118,000 cases with more than 3,500 deaths, even as it gradually begins to ease its nearly two-month long nationwide lockdown.
There have been more than five million infections and over 330,000 deaths reported worldwide.
The Indian government stands ready to cover the costs of trials of any vaccine in the country, said Poonawalla, adding that the government had also expressed interest in placing advance orders for a potential vaccine.
"We've reached out and they have been very positive," he added. "But we've said hold on ... as we don't want to take government money until we are very confident we can deliver."
UNLOCKING VALUE IN THE 'HYPE'
Serum, one of the few companies ramping up hiring during the health crisis, is also designing a separate facility to make vaccines for pandemic-level diseases that could handle 90 per cent of the current vaccine candidates being developed, beyond just the Covid-19 ones.
That facility, which will be ready in the next two to three years, would be able to potentially churn out 700-800 million doses a year, according to Poonawalla.
The CEO said he considered taking the company public some years ago to fund some large acquisitions, but changed course when the deals fell through.
Now he's considering a different approach. He is exploring creating a holding entity that will host the company's pandemic-level technologies, including manufacturing rights, intellectual property and the sale of all of Serum's Covid-19-related candidates, and selling a minority stake in the venture.
"That will unlock value in the main hype," he said.
Poonawalla said he had engaged bankers to test the waters on this, but stressed he would only consider selling a stake to ethical, long-term funds or sovereign funds that do not expect huge returns and want to "make a difference to the world".
"After getting them onboard, I don't want to be in a situation where I have to charge high prices to give them returns."
The Farmer’s Dog, the Cotswolds pub owned by television presenter Jeremy Clarkson, has been added to a list of over 600 UK businesses deemed undesirable by an animal rights group. The former Top Gear host, who also stars in Amazon’s Clarkson’s Farm, has faced criticism from campaigners for his alleged support of fox hunting and opposition to badgers.
Pub featured in Clarkson’s Farm finale
The Farmer’s Dog, located in the Oxfordshire countryside, opened in late August 2024. Its launch was documented in the final episode of Clarkson’s Farm Season 4, which aired recently. The pub is housed in a 15th-century vaulted barn with panoramic views of the Cotswolds and was previously known as The Windmill.
Despite the scenic location and fan interest, the pub’s early days were marked by controversy. Two hospitality consultants hired to assist with the launch reportedly resigned after a few days, citing problems including a leaking roof, under-resourced staff, and a lack of toilet facilities. They claimed the venue was not fit for business.
Animal rights group lists Clarkson’s pub
The pub has now been added to a list compiled by Blood Businesses, a campaign group that tracks venues linked to hunting and animal cruelty. The group describes The Farmer’s Dog as owned by “pro-hunt and anti-badger celebrity farmer Jeremy Clarkson,” and includes it on its public database of UK businesses it views as promoting or enabling animal harm.
Clarkson has previously stated that the pub loses £10 for every customerInstagram/ Farmersdog
Blood Businesses said Clarkson’s association with fox hunting and comments about badgers contributed to the pub’s inclusion. They also highlighted the presenter’s previous links to the controversial Heythrop Hunt, which has faced criticism for animal cruelty.
Ongoing criticism from campaigners
Clarkson’s Hawkstone Brewery has previously been targeted by animal rights activists after allowing a hunt onto his land, some of whose members had reportedly been fined for related offences. The presenter has also made headlines for statements criticising badger protection policies, which some farming groups blame for the spread of bovine tuberculosis.
The addition of The Farmer’s Dog to the Blood Businesses list adds further scrutiny to the public figure’s farming and hospitality ventures. The list includes over 600 venues across the UK, spanning landowners, retailers, pubs, and online platforms.
Pub remains popular despite controversy
Despite criticism and its inclusion on the undesirable list, The Farmer’s Dog continues to attract visitors. Since opening, fans of Clarkson’s Farm have travelled to the pub, even amid reports of high prices. A viral photo of a receipt for a Sunday roast recently reignited debate about affordability and value for money.
Clarkson has previously stated that the pub loses £10 for every customer, though no detailed financial figures have been released. The recent developments may further discourage animal welfare supporters, but the venue remains a point of interest for the presenter’s followers.
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The festival was warmly received by recipients and appreciated by local residents
Madhavipriyadas Swami of SGVP Holistic Hospital in Ahmedabad led a mango distribution drive in 2025, providing free mangoes to poor and needy families as part of the SGVP Mango Festival.
The event was held at the SGVP campus and aimed to support underprivileged communities by distributing fresh seasonal fruit during the summer. Thousands of mangoes were handed out to individuals from economically weaker backgrounds.
Thousands of mangoes were handed out to individuals from economically weaker backgroundsSGVP
Swami Madhavipriyadas personally oversaw the initiative, highlighting the hospital’s continued commitment to community welfare and seva (service). Volunteers and staff members of the hospital participated in the event, ensuring the distribution was well-organised and reached the intended beneficiaries.
With the support of its spiritual and community leadersSGVP
The mango distribution is one of SGVP’s ongoing efforts to uplift disadvantaged sections of society by offering food, healthcare, and support. Organisers said the gesture was not only about providing fruit but also about spreading kindness and compassion.
The festival was warmly received by recipients and appreciated by local residents. SGVP plans to continue similar charitable activities in future, with the support of its spiritual and community leaders.
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The lowest-hanging full moon visible from the UK since 2006
A full Strawberry Moon is set to light up UK skies tonight, and while the name might sound whimsical, it harks back to ancient survival. This year’s version is even more special, astronomers say it will be the lowest-hanging full moon visible from the UK since 2006, thanks to a rare celestial rhythm called a major lunar standstill.
This striking phenomenon won’t return until 2043, giving tonight's event a once-in-a-generation status.
Not just folklore: Why the full moon mattered
Before artificial light, people used the moon to tell time, track seasons, and plan everything from planting to hunting. Full moons were the most reliable markers in the sky. June’s full moon, now called the Strawberry Moon, earned its name because it marked the brief, crucial window to harvest wild strawberries in parts of North America and Europe.
It was more than poetic. For agrarian and tribal societies, knowing when fruit would ripen, or when tides would shift, often meant the difference between feast and famine.
The names of full moons, like the Wolf Moon in January or the Hunter’s Moon in October, served as practical reminders in cultures where survival was tuned to nature’s cycles. In Britain, Anglo-Saxon traditions also named full moons to align with seasonal activities, including “Mead Moon” and “Hay Moon” in midsummer.
What makes this Strawberry Moon rare?
Tonight’s full moon won’t just carry a historical name, it will also appear exceptionally low in the southern sky over the UK, due to a major lunar standstill.
This standstill is part of an 18.6-year lunar cycle in which the Moon’s orbit tilts to its extreme, causing it to rise and set at its furthest points on the horizon. When the Moon is full during this period, it appears dramatically low to those living at higher latitudes like the UK.
The last time this happened was in 2006, and the next opportunity will be in 2043. Astronomers say the effect is subtle but visually striking, especially for those who catch it just above the horizon.
Why the Moon may look larger and warmer in colour
Because the Moon will sit low on the horizon, it may appear larger and redder than usual. This is due to two overlapping effects:
The Moon illusion is a psychological effect that makes low-lying moons seem unusually large when viewed against trees, rooftops or hills.
Atmospheric filtering: as the Moon’s light passes through more of the Earth’s atmosphere, shorter blue light wavelengths are scattered, leaving red and orange tones, similar to what we see during sunsets.
Despite its name, the Strawberry Moon isn’t pink. The reddish glow has nothing to do with strawberries and everything to do with basic physics.
When and where to see the Strawberry Moon in the UK
Date: The Strawberry Moon will reach its peak tonight, Wednesday, 11 June, though it will appear nearly full on surrounding nights.
Time: Moonrise begins shortly after sunset, and it will set in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Best locations: Look towards the southeast horizon from an open space, countryside, hilltops or coastal areas are ideal. Avoid areas with tall buildings or trees.
Much of England and southern Scotland is expected to have clear skies, while parts of Northern Ireland, the Western Isles and the southwest may face some cloud cover.
What to watch for: Shadow, light and silence
Unlike a solar eclipse or meteor shower, the Strawberry Moon offers no sudden burst of activity. Instead, it invites quiet observation.
The last time this happened was in 2006Getty Images
You may notice longer shadows, a softer night glow, and even subtle changes in wildlife behaviour—birds going quiet or insects emerging as the Moon brightens the landscape.
Photographers and night hikers often prefer these low full moons because the warm-toned light adds depth and contrast to landscapes. Tonight could offer one of the most photogenic lunar rises of the decade.
A celestial rhythm worth remembering
With artificial light, GPS, and 24-hour timekeeping, it’s easy to forget how much our ancestors depended on full moons like this one. The Strawberry Moon full moon is more than a curious title; it’s a symbol of our shared rhythm with the Earth and sky.
And with tonight’s lunar standstill adding a rare twist to a long-standing tradition, it’s the perfect moment to pause and look up, knowing that the same glowing sphere was once used to mark the start of strawberry picking, midsummer festivals, and the passing of seasons.
Next time it swings this low, many of today’s children will be adults. That alone makes it worth stepping outside.
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This included visible skid marks, fast-paced music and an overall emphasis on speed
A television advert for the chocolate bar Twix has been banned in the UK by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) after it was found to promote unsafe driving. The advert, produced by Mars-Wrigley, featured a high-speed car chase involving two identical caramel-coloured cars, which ends in a crash with one vehicle stacked on top of the other, resembling a Twix bar.
Complaints raise driving safety concerns
The ASA received five complaints, with viewers arguing that the advert encouraged dangerous and irresponsible driving. Mars-Wrigley defended the campaign, describing it as having a “cinematic presentation” set in a “fantastical and absurd” world. Clearcast, the body that approves ads for broadcast, supported this view.
Advert breaches Highway Code expectations
While the ASA acknowledged the crash scene was unrealistic and exaggerated, it ruled the first half of the ad appeared to show driving that would likely breach legal standards set by the Highway Code. This included visible skid marks, fast-paced music and an overall emphasis on speed.
- YouTubeYouTube/ TWIX
The ASA stated that the advert “must not appear again” in its current form as it “condoned unsafe driving”.
Mars-Wrigley and Clearcast defend advert
Mars-Wrigley insisted that all vehicles were filmed at legal speeds and that any real-life imitation would reflect lawful driving. The company also said the ad reflected Twix’s well-known “absurd and playful” tone.
Clearcast added that the stylised nature of the advert made it clear it was not to be emulated and did not imply that safe driving was boring.
ASA issues warning to Mars-Wrigley
The ASA instructed Mars-Wrigley to avoid condoning or encouraging irresponsible driving in future advertising, particularly anything that could breach the Highway Code.
Twix is part of the Mars-Wrigley product range, which also includes M&Ms, Celebrations and Maltesers.
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Experts warn that nimbus may be more efficient at infecting human cells than earlier variants
A new covid variant, known as nimbus (scientifically NB.1.8.1), is causing concern among health experts as cases rise globally. The variant, a descendant of omicron, has been detected in several countries, including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the UK. While its symptoms are largely similar to previous covid strains, doctors have identified a distinctive new symptom: a razor blade sore throat, characterised by an intense stabbing pain when swallowing.
Experts warn that nimbus may be more efficient at infecting human cells than earlier variants, which could lead to increased transmission rates. Although there is no current evidence to suggest that it causes more severe illness than its predecessors, the rapid spread has raised concerns, particularly among vulnerable groups.
Symptoms of nimbus
Like previous Covid variants, nimbus presents with a range of symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, congestion, and shortness of breath. However, one symptom, in particular, is capturing attention—the razor blade sore throat. This sensation, described by medical experts as a sharp, stabbing pain at the back of the throat, makes swallowing extremely uncomfortable.
Other symptoms include redness in the throat, swollen neck glands, and general discomfort when eating or drinking. Some patients have also reported experiencing fatigue, headaches, and a persistent cough. While these symptoms may overlap with those of earlier variants, doctors emphasise that the severity and persistence of the sore throat are unique to nimbus.
Spread and concerns
Although only a small number of cases have officially been recorded in the UK, experts believe the actual spread of nimbus could be significantly wider. This is due to the decline in routine Covid testing since the height of the pandemic. According to UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) data, the number of people testing positive for Covid has increased significantly in recent months. Reports indicate that infection rates have surged by 97% compared to figures recorded earlier in the year.
Virologists are warning that the number of Covid cases could continue to rise, particularly as summer approaches. Increased social interaction, crowded events, and holiday travel all create conditions for virus transmission. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist at Warwick University, notes that while many respiratory viruses, such as flu, tend to subside in warmer climates, Covid continues to spread even in hot and humid weather. This makes it difficult to predict the scale of a possible summer wave.
Another concerning aspect is that population immunity, whether from vaccination or prior infection, appears to be waning over time. This means that even those who have had previous covid infections or vaccinations may still be at risk of catching nimbus.
Severity and vaccination
Laboratory studies suggest that nimbus is capable of infecting human cells more efficiently than previous strains. While there is no evidence indicating that it leads to more severe illness or higher fatality rates than earlier Covid variants, doctors stress that infection can still be dangerous for vulnerable individuals.
In May alone, Covid was a contributing factor in the deaths of over 300 people in England. The elderly, individuals with weakened immune systems, and those with pre-existing medical conditions remain particularly at risk.
The UKHSA is closely monitoring its progression and is assessing its impact on public healthiStock
Vaccination continues to be the strongest defence against severe illness. Experts say that current Covid vaccines, reformulated to target omicron-related variants, are expected to offer protection against nimbus. Research indicates that individuals who received a Covid booster jab as part of last spring’s vaccination campaign were 45% less likely to require hospital care following infection, compared to those who had not been vaccinated.
Global outlook
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), nimbus now accounts for 10.7% of global Covid cases, a sharp increase from just 2.5% a month earlier. The UKHSA is closely monitoring its progression and is assessing its impact on public health.
Dr Gayatri Amirthalingam, deputy director of the UKHSA, has stated that the organisation is keeping track of all available data related to Covid variants in the UK and abroad. While nimbus has only been detected in small numbers in the UK so far, international data indicates that it is growing as a proportion of all Covid cases worldwide.
Preventative measures and vaccination eligibility
Health authorities continue to urge eligible individuals to receive their Covid vaccinations. In the UK, free vaccines are available for specific groups, including people aged 75 and older, care home residents, and those with weakened immune systems. This includes patients undergoing cancer treatment, organ transplant recipients, and individuals with genetic disorders that affect the immune system.
Getting vaccinated remains essential in protecting against severe illness and hospitalisation. While nimbus may not be more lethal than previous variants, experts emphasise that its ability to infect cells efficiently makes it highly transmissible. Vigilance, personal hygiene, and vaccination all play crucial roles in reducing the risk of infection.
The spread
The emergence of the nimbus variant is a stark reminder that Covid continues to evolve. While symptoms are similar to previous strains, the distinct razor blade sore throat is emerging as a defining characteristic of the latest variant. Experts warn that its ability to spread efficiently could lead to a summer surge in cases, particularly as population immunity declines.
Although there is no evidence that nimbus causes more severe illness than past variants, it remains a threat to vulnerable individuals. Health officials continue to recommend vaccination as the best means of protection. With the UKHSA closely monitoring its spread, staying informed and maintaining caution remain essential as the situation develops.