Oral

• NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE American: NNVC) announced on August 18, 2026, that it will soon begin a Phase II clinical trial for NV-387 oral gummies. • The trial aims to treat the Bundibugyo Ebola virus during what is described as the largest and most rapidly expanding outbreak to date in the Democratic Republic of Congo. • This development is critical as the company seeks to provide an accessible, antiviral treatment that prevents viral escape during a major public health crisis.

• NanoViricides has received regulatory approval to launch a Phase II clinical trial for NV-387 oral gummies to treat Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo. • The trial aims to combat the current outbreak, which is described as the largest and most expanding in the region's history. • Led by Professor Katoto and supported by experts like Fogarty Fellow Patrick, the study leverages specialized implementation research networks to scale novel treatments.

• The author argues that forcing India's state electoral cycles to align with the central government prioritizes administrative convenience over democratic substance. • This push for uniformity pressures voters to elect the same party at both levels, effectively coercing regional alignment under the guise of developmental efficiency. • The current dynamic penalizes states that choose independent political paths, often resulting in those states being starved of essential federal resources.

• Comic candidate Count Binface, known for wearing a bin on his head, has claimed a "moral victory" following the UK's Clacton by-election on August 14, 2026. • The satirical campaign served as a direct challenge to political figure Nigel Farage during the local electoral contest. • This event highlights the role of protest candidates and political satire in challenging mainstream political narratives within the UK.

• NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE American: NNVC) received regulatory approval on August 10, 2026, to launch a Phase II clinical trial for its NV-387 oral gummies. • The trial will take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo to treat patients affected by the current largest and most rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak. • This development is critical as the company aims to provide an accessible, antiviral treatment designed to prevent viral escape during a public health crisis.

• NanoViricides has received regulatory approval to launch a Phase II clinical trial for NV-387 oral gummies, designed as a treatment for the Ebola virus. • The trial will take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo to combat the largest and most rapidly expanding Ebola outbreak on record. • The urgency for the treatment is heightened by the virus spreading into displacement camps housing over 4.4 million people, where poor sanitation and medical resources increase risk.

• Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition suffered a significant electoral defeat in Negeri Sembilan, driven by a surge in Malay unity. • The results reflect growing disillusionment with Anwar's leadership and a shift toward Sabah-based parties and regional autonomy. • Political analysts warn that if UMNO and PAS maintain their alliance, PH risks being marginalized and confined to urban strongholds.

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s Pakatan Harapan (PH) coalition faces a critical electoral test in the Negeri Sembilan state polls scheduled for August 1. • PH is battling to retain power against a combined "Malay-Muslim unity" narrative pushed by rivals Barisan Nasional (BN) and Perikatan Nasional (PN). • The shift is highlighted by hardcore UMNO supporters who now view a BN-PN alliance as a better fit for uniting the Malay vote than the current PH partnership.

Bev Craig, the city council leader, succeeds Andy Burnham as mayor, reversing Reform gains in May local electionsLabour has stormed to a decisive victory in the Greater Manchester mayoral byelection, seizing back areas that recently fell to Reform UK and the Greens.Labour’s Bev Craig, the Manchester city council leader, will now succeed Andy Burnham and hold one of the most powerful political positions outside Westminster. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Reform’s Robert Jenrick says party confident it followed all rules at the time, after latest Guardian revelationsThe Electoral Commission has been asked to investigate whether Reform UK has broken donations rules, after the Guardian revealed that the convicted fraudster George Cottrell transferred more than $2m to his mother in the days before her donations to the party in 2024.Labour’s new chair, Bridget Phillipson, wrote to the commission on Thursday asking for it to examine the donations and whether they had been recorded correctly. Continue reading...

Labour’s Bev Craig expected to win contest that lost column inches to Andy Burnham’s ascent and Reform UK leader’s self-imposed Clacton voteVoting has begun in the biggest byelection in British political history, with more than 2 million people eligible to choose Andy Burnham’s successor as Greater Manchester mayor.In normal times, such a large and politically significant byelection would have dominated the headlines for weeks, particularly as senior Labour figures only weeks ago feared losing the prize mayoralty to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. Continue reading...

• The Monsoon Session of Parliament has commenced with the potential introduction of the controversial Constitution (One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth Amendment) Bill, 2024, known as the "One Nation, One Election" (ONOE) Bill. • The proposal aims to synchronize elections, addressing concerns that frequent polling cycles lead to development programs being put on hold due to government restrictions during election periods. • Critics and observers highlight that current election windows typically last 35-40 days, though Lok Sabha polls are extended across multiple phases that could be compressed under the new system.

• Merck has received FDA approval for Lipfendra, the first oral pill in the PCSK9 inhibitor class of cholesterol-lowering medications. • Unlike traditional PCSK9 inhibitors that require injections, Lipfendra is a macrocyclic peptide specifically designed for oral administration. • This development provides a more convenient alternative for patients who require stronger cholesterol management than standard statins can offer.

• President Donald Trump delivered a presidential address on Thursday, July 16, 2026, which critics argue was designed to destabilize the U.S. electoral system. • The address leveraged the authority of the presidency and U.S. intelligence agencies to cast doubt on the integrity of American elections. • This action is seen as a strategic effort to undermine public confidence in the voting process ahead of the November midterm elections.

US president accused China of meddling in his 2020 election defeat and said system was ‘catastrophically’ unfair. Plus Christopher Nolan’s epic take on The Odyssey hits the big screenGood morning. Donald Trump accused China of interfering with the 2020 election in a primetime televised address that laid bare his continuing obsession with his defeat to Joe Biden, but which opponents warned was a smokescreen for him to meddle in the forthcoming congressional midterms. Trump’s claims are unverified.In a 25-minute speech, the US president cast extraordinary doubts on the integrity of the US electoral process, saying it was “catastrophically” short of standards of fairness and trust, while vulnerable to trespassing by foreign powers. Democrats warned that Trump was trying to sow confusion, spread misinformation and lay the groundwork to challenge the results of the midterm elections.What was the aim of Trump’s address? In this analysis piece, Sam Levine explains how the president is using his office and US intelligence agencies to try to undermine confidence in elections. Instead of offering smoking-gun evidence, the release of new papers seemed to be a return to a classic Trump strategy of flooding the zone with information in an attempt to muddy the waters.What did US networks do about broadcasting Trump’s allegations? The US’s largest television stations split on whether to air Trump’s White House address, which was filled with unproven accusations. While CNN, ABC and NBC chose not to air the speech live, CBS, Fox News and MS Now (formerly MSNBC) aired at least large portions of the speech live.What did Rubio say? “They can call themselves anti-capitalist or anti-imperialist, communist, anarchist or Marxist. It’s always the same. It is a poisonous resentment cloaked in the language of equality and justice liberation – an overwhelming need to tear down, to wreck, what is beautiful and what is right on behalf of people who are only filled with ugliness,” he said. He called leftists “an encroaching darkness” and “the enemies of civilization”. Continue reading...

• The article examines whether the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) can transition from electoral success to effective governance, drawing on the political history of the region. • It contrasts the legacy of the previous administration, which is credited with strong GDP growth, expanded electricity access, and digital governance, against criticisms of weakened press freedom and institutional independence. • The analysis highlights the tension between prioritizing economic stability and infrastructure development versus maintaining political pluralism and democratic norms.

• Approximately 88 Labour MPs, representing over one-fifth of the party's House of Commons presence, are calling for the establishment of a body to investigate electoral reform. • The movement seeks to challenge Britain's "first past the post" voting system, with high-profile support from potential leadership contender Andy Burnham. • This push for reform highlights internal party pressure to move toward a more proportional representation system to ensure fairer election outcomes.

Parliamentary authorities are already looking into a £5m donation to the Reform Uk leader from the crypto billionaire Christopher HarborneGood morning. One of the reasons why Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, is relatively popular is because he presents as genial and good-natured. A rather different Farage was on display last night, after he angrily berated a Sky News cameraman who doorstepped him as he arrived back in the UK off a flight from the US. Farage also accused Sky News of harassing his family, which Sky denies. Perhaps Farage had a grim journey next to a noisy passenger in economy, but it is hard not to conclude that the outburst has more to do with Farage fearing that the ongoing controversy about his failure to declare gifts and support he received in the period shortly before he became an MP in 2024 could fatally damage his chances of becoming PM.The Labour party has posted the clip. Continue reading...

Leader of France’s far-right National Rally and a contender for the presidency set to hear appeal decision on TuesdayMarine Le Pen, France’s far-right figurehead and a leading contender for its presidency, will learn on Tuesday whether she can run in next year’s election when a Paris appeals court rules on her attempt to overturn a ban on holding elected office.The ruling will determine whether the far-right National Rally (RN) will be led by Le Pen, 57, or her young protege, Jordan Bardella, 30 in next year’s general elections. Continue reading...

Broadway star, who is performing on the vessel, expresses shock after authorities ban Scarlet Lady from docking in Kuşadası A cruise ship carrying 2,000 LGBTQ+ passengers and the Broadway performer Patti LuPone has been blocked from entering Turkey after local authorities said their behaviour didn’t “align with the structure of our society and our moral values”.Virgin Voyages’ Scarlet Lady set sail from Athens, Greece, on 5 July for what was billed as “an epic all-gay voyage” over 10 days run by Atlantis, a US company that puts on cruises and vacations for LGBTQ+ people. Continue reading...

Exclusive: Most of the island’s corals are likely to be species that have not been formally described by science, researcher saysGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastScientists fear unique corals that fringe Australia’s remote Norfolk Island could disappear because of a triple threat of disease, El Niño and a federal government plan to dredge a neighbouring shipping channel.A failure to manage sediment and pollution washing into bays from cattle farming, cleared land along with wastewater has been blamed for widespread disease and outbreaks of algae over the corals. Continue reading...

• Former diplomat and author DP Srivastava has criticized Islamabad for interfering in the Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) elections, claiming the electoral mandate has been "completely distorted." • The unrest is driven by protesters demanding the immediate abolition of "refugee seats" within the PoJK legislative assembly, which they view as a constitutional trigger for public fury. • This situation highlights the growing instability and governance crisis in the region as local populations challenge the legitimacy of the current electoral framework.

• Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar stated on Monday that India's electoral process is the most transparent among the world's major democracies. • He highlighted that every stage of the exercise, including voter list preparation, polling, and counting, is audited by candidates and political parties. • These remarks were made while Kumar was chairing a session for International IDEA, emphasizing the robustness of India's democratic systems.

• The Dharwad district administration is launching a month-long Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls starting June 30 to ensure a transparent voting process. • Deputy Commissioner and District Election Officer Snehal R initiated the drive on Monday by flagging off a mega awareness rally at the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation office. • The exercise comes amid ongoing political debate and criticism from civil society groups regarding the revision process.

This week marked 10 years since the UK chose to leave the EU. In a series of interviews with key players from both sides, Kiran Stacey looks back on the Brexit vote that changed the country foreverRead the Guardian’s full article on Brexit here Continue reading...

How five months in 2016 that encompassed Boris Johnson siding with Vote Leave, Jo Cox’s murder and David Cameron’s resignation shaped the UK’s futureDavid Cameron, having promised in 2013 that a future Conservative government would offer a referendum on Britain’s membership of the EU, announces the date of the vote: 23 June 2016. The next day, Boris Johnson, then the mayor of London, says he will campaign for leave. Continue reading...

• The Supreme Court recently upheld the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision (SIR), sparking a debate over potential voter disenfranchisement. • The ruling highlights a constitutional tension between Article 324, which grants the Commission supervisory powers, and Articles 327 and 328, which reserve election rule-making for the legislative process. • This decision matters because it suggests a judicial trend toward expanding the Election Commission's authority, potentially blurring the line between administrative supervision and legislative lawmaking.

The influential role vacated by the new Makerfield MP will be fiercely contested by Labour, Reform and the GreensAs Andy Burnham maps out the final steps on his path to Downing Street, he may feel that his future is clear. But a look back over his shoulder reveals a cloudier outlook, inviting the question: what now happens to his former role as Greater Manchester’s mayor?An election has been set for 30 July, and with the job widely seen as having grown under Burnham’s tenure to become one of the most influential in British politics outside Westminster, Labour is desperate to cling on to it – but parties to its right and left both see an opportunity. Continue reading...