GLP-1 agonists, which are widely used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes, may be associated with a slight increased risk of hereditary hair loss in men, according to the Experts Club information and analysis center, citing the results of a new study by researchers at NYU Langone Health, published online on September 3, 2026, in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology. (NYU Langone Health).
The researchers studied androgenetic alopecia, the most common type of male baldness, in which hair loss predominantly affects the frontal and upper parts of the scalp. The analysis showed that in men with a genetic predisposition, increased activity of the GLP-1 receptor signaling pathway was associated with an approximately 7% additional risk of this type of hair loss. (NYU Langone Health)
The same class includes drugs based on semaglutide and tirzepatide, known, in particular, under the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound. However, the authors emphasize that the study did not involve observing patients who were actually taking these medications. The scientists used Mendelian randomization, a method in which genetic variants serve as a kind of natural proxy for an effect on a particular biological mechanism.
The study identified 22 genetic variants that increase the expression of the GLP1R gene and, accordingly, the activity of the GLP-1 receptor. These data were compared with genetic information on male baldness. Large databases were used for the analysis, including eQTLGen, with data from 31,684 people, and Complex Traits Genetics, with data from 205,327 people.
The association persisted after accounting for a number of other factors that can influence hair loss, including blood pressure, insulin resistance and testosterone levels. The authors consider the findings evidence of a possible causal role of the GLP1R pathway itself, but warn that they cannot automatically be equated with the effect of a specific medication.
“Our study shows for the first time a genetic link between GLP-1 activity and an increased risk of male baldness in androgenetic alopecia,” noted the study’s senior author, Lynn Petukhova of NYU Grossman School of Medicine. According to her, genetic assessment could potentially help identify patients most predisposed to this side effect in the future.
The mechanism of the possible effect remains unclear. The researchers suggest both a direct effect on hair follicles and an indirect effect through metabolic changes. In addition, hair loss in some patients has previously been linked to rapid weight loss, inadequate nutrient intake and temporary telogen effluvium.
The new study is consistent with the findings of a number of previous studies. A meta-analysis of nine interventional studies involving 4,114 users of GLP-1 drugs, published in May 2026, found a statistically significant increase in the risk of hair loss compared with placebo. The overall incidence of hair loss among patients receiving these drugs was approximately 3.9%. At the same time, the authors of the meta-analysis noted the need for further research because of the relatively small number of available clinical studies.
Another systematic review from 2026 also concluded that reports of hair loss during GLP-1 therapy require closer investigation, since possible causes may include both the effects of the drugs and rapid weight loss, dietary changes and deficiencies in certain micronutrients.
The authors of the new study emphasize that the identified effect is modest and that its clinical significance has not yet been definitively established. The findings are not grounds for independently discontinuing prescribed GLP-1 therapy. Patients experiencing noticeable hair loss should discuss the situation with their treating physician.
According to Fixygen, USDT and USDC reserves are largely invested in short-term U.S. Treasury bonds (US Treasuries) and repo transactions backed by them.
The market capitalization of USDT reached approximately $183 billion, while the amount of USDC in circulation in the second quarter totaled $73.3 billion.
Circle explicitly states that USDC reserves include short-term Treasury bonds and overnight repos backed by Treasury bonds, notably through a BlackRock fund.
As a result, the growing use of digital dollars automatically increases demand for U.S. government debt.
This is precisely why the U.S. administration views the proliferation of stablecoins not only as a fintech project but also as a way to boost international demand for the dollar and Treasury bonds.
BIS Chairman Pablo Hernández de Cos also acknowledged that stablecoins have the potential to lower the cost of U.S. government financing, although they may simultaneously increase the cost of bank financing.
bond, DOLLAR, stablecoin, U.S., USDT
Indonesia is expanding the use of digital technologies to monitor foreign nationals, including artificial intelligence, facial recognition systems, specialized databases, and drones for border surveillance.
Hendarsam Marantoko, Director General of Indonesia’s Immigration Service, stated that in the future, technology should account for about 70% of the immigration system’s operational infrastructure. The statement was made during the opening of the Immigration Lounge in Bali.
Part of the new system is already operational. Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali uses automated border gates and facial recognition to verify passengers against their travel documents and immigration databases. In April 2026, this technology helped identify a foreign national arriving in Bali who was wanted by U.S. law enforcement agencies.
Another key component is the Subject of Interest (SOI) system. It is integrated with the central immigration information system SIMKIM and enables officials to check, in near real time, on foreigners of heightened interest to law enforcement agencies, analyze their data, and decide on further actions.
At the same time, Indonesia is developing the “Digital Fence” project. The Immigration Service, in collaboration with the Bandung Institute of Technology, is working on using drones to patrol hard-to-reach border areas and detect people crossing the border outside of official checkpoints.
The digitization of border control also affects ordinary foreigners legally residing in or vacationing in the country. Hotels, apartments, guesthouses, and other lodging facilities use the APOA app—Aplikasi Pelaporan Orang Asing—to submit information about foreign residents to immigration authorities. In 2026, the authorities continue to expand the use of this system.
At the same time, on-the-ground monitoring is being strengthened. The country operates the PIMPASA program—Petugas Imigrasi Pembina Desa—under which immigration officers are assigned to specific communities and collaborate with local authorities and residents. Their tasks include gathering information on the whereabouts and activities of foreign nationals and the early detection of potential violations.
This new model is being applied particularly actively in Bali, where authorities intensified checks on foreign nationals in 2026. During the first phase of Operation Dharma Dewata, the immigration service identified 62 foreign nationals with various violations. In the next phase, another 66 people were detained or summoned for inspection. Among the most common violations cited were failure to comply with registration and public order rules, misuse of a residence permit, and overstaying the permitted period of stay.
However, tighter controls do not mean the introduction of new restrictions directly on the purchase of real estate or the acquisition of residence permits by foreigners. The focus is primarily on deeper digital integration of existing immigration controls: the authorities want to know when and through which port of entry a person entered the country, on what basis they are in Indonesia, where they reside, and whether their actual activities correspond to the type of visa or residence permit they hold.
For foreign property owners, investors, and long-term residents of Bali, the practical implication of these changes is that discrepancies between visa status and actual activities will become easier to detect. This applies, for example, to working on a tourist visa, overstaying one’s visa, or engaging in commercial activities without the appropriate authorization.
Indonesian authorities view these tighter controls as part of a broader immigration strategy. In June 2026, the head of the immigration service identified its three main elements: strengthening border controls, monitoring foreigners within the country, and integrating digital services.
According to Experts.news, Ukraine has a strong chance of taking first place in the world during the 2026/27 season—not only in terms of net exports but also in terms of the total volume of frozen raspberry exports—amid a sharp decline in harvests among its main competitors, Serbia and Poland, according to the August analytical report by the Ukrainian Berry Growers Association.
The association estimates that Serbia’s raspberry harvest in 2026 could total about 30,000 metric tons, compared to approximately 65,000 metric tons in a typical season—the lowest figure in about 30 years. Production was affected by spring frosts, plant diseases, heat, and extreme drought: Serbia received only about 7 mm of precipitation in August.
The situation has also worsened in Poland, where spring frosts damaged berry plantations. The reduction in supply immediately affected European prices: the cost of Serbian IQF raspberries reached about 7 euros/kg, which is approximately 51% higher than last year’s level.
This creates a favorable price window for Ukrainian suppliers. Ukraine is already the world leader in net exports of frozen raspberries—that is, export volume minus imports. During the 2025/26 season, from June 2025 to May 2026, the country exported 63,300 metric tons of frozen raspberries for a record $250.8 million. Export revenue rose by 65% year-over-year, and the average price was 3.96 euros per kilogram.
The new season also began with high prices. In June 2026, Ukraine exported approximately 2,150 metric tons of frozen raspberries at an average price of 4.14 euros per kilogram. The main export destinations were the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany.
Over the past few years, Ukraine’s frozen raspberry sector has significantly strengthened its position in the European market. Based on 2024 results, EastFruit analysts estimated Ukraine’s exports at approximately 65,1 thousand metric tons, while Serbia exported about 67,7 thousand metric tons. However, Serbia simultaneously imported about 4,700 metric tons of berries for subsequent re-export, so its net exports amounted to about 63,000 metric tons. Ukraine, which imports virtually no raspberries, became the world leader in this category for the first time.
Poland also remains one of the largest hubs for the global trade in frozen raspberries; however, its role is largely tied to the processing and re-export of imported berries. According to EastFruit estimates, in 2024, more than half of the frozen raspberries exported by Poland consisted of imported raw materials, a significant portion of which came from Ukraine. Poland’s net exports were estimated at only about 16,000 metric tons.
At the same time, Ukraine is gradually reducing its dependence on Polish intermediaries. Between 2022 and 2024, Poland’s share of Ukrainian frozen raspberry exports fell from 63% to 35%, while the combined share of Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and France rose to 48%. During this period, direct shipments to Germany increased 4.5-fold, to the Czech Republic 4.2-fold, and to Austria 33-fold.
The key factor in Ukraine’s ability to maintain its leading position remains the quality of processing. A significant portion of the added value is generated not during the berry cultivation stage, but during sorting, individual quick freezing (IQF), packaging, and direct sales to European retail chains and industrial consumers. Therefore, further growth in processing capacity may be no less important than the expansion of the plantations themselves.
According to the latest available FAOSTAT data for 2024, Russia remained the world’s largest raspberry producer—at approximately 213,800 metric tons—followed by Mexico in second place with 175,500 metric tons and Serbia in third with 94,000 metric tons. Next were the United States with approximately 82,1 thousand metric tons and Poland with about 76,9 thousand metric tons. Ukraine produced about 33,6 thousand metric tons. These figures reflect domestic raspberry production specifically and do not correspond to export rankings, as part of the harvest is consumed domestically, and some countries actively import the berries for processing and re-export.
In the global trade of frozen raspberries, Ukraine, Serbia, and Poland remain the key players. Ukraine has led in net exports since 2024, while Serbia has maintained a slight lead in gross shipments. In the broader HS 081120 tariff category, which also includes frozen blackberries and some related berries, Chile is among the major exporters; therefore, customs rankings cannot be fully equated with the ranking for raspberries specifically.
If the forecast by the Ukrainian Berry Growers Association proves accurate, the 2026/27 season could be the first in which Ukraine simultaneously ranks first in the world in both net and gross exports of frozen raspberries.
According to Serbian Economist, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated that he is seriously preparing to take on the role of prime minister following the upcoming early parliamentary elections and intends to form a significantly smaller government.
“I am seriously preparing for the position of head of government,” Vučić said on the evening of September 4 on TV Informer. According to him, with the support of the Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), he is ready to run for prime minister, and this term in office will likely be his last.
By September 5, the situation had developed further: following a meeting of the SNS Central Committee in Niš, the party endorsed Vučić as the leader of its list for the upcoming parliamentary elections and as a candidate for prime minister. Earlier, SNS Chairman Miloš Vučević had repeatedly stated that this scenario was the party’s top priority.
If a government is formed, Vučić proposes drastically reducing the number of ministers. According to his plan, the new cabinet would consist of the prime minister and no more than 12 ministers.
By comparison, the current government of Juro Matsuta, formed on April 16, 2025, includes the prime minister and 30 ministers, including five ministers without portfolio. Thus, if Vučić’s proposal is implemented, the number of cabinet members could be reduced by more than half.
At the same time, Vučić clarified the timeline for announcing early parliamentary elections. According to him, the decision will be made “in the next few days,” most likely on the morning of September 9 or 10.
Earlier, on August 20, the president had mentioned two possible dates for the election—October 18 or 25.
However, given Vučić’s latest statement, the October 18 option has effectively become unlikely. Serbian law requires that at least 45 and no more than 60 days elapse between the announcement of parliamentary elections and election day. If the elections are announced on September 9 or 10, October 25 meets this requirement, whereas there are fewer than 45 days remaining until October 18.
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“Ukrnafta” is preparing for the fall-winter period amid ongoing Russian attacks on civilian oil and gas production infrastructure.
Bogdan Kukura, Chairman of the Board of Ukrnafta, and Serhiy Fedorenko, Acting Chairman of the Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine, visited Ukrnafta’s production units in northern and eastern Ukraine.
“The main focus is on people’s safety and the protection of production facilities. Our top priority is to safeguard our personnel and minimize the consequences of possible attacks,” said Bogdan Kukura, Chairman of the Board of JSC “Ukrnafta.”
During the visit, they inspected shelters for employees, warning systems, and the availability of personal protective equipment. They also specifically checked the security status of production facilities and the units’ readiness for operations during the fall and winter months.
The company continues to strengthen security measures and prepare its production infrastructure to operate under conditions of constant threats. The primary objective is to protect people and ensure the stable operation of production facilities.
JSC “Ukrnafta” is Ukraine’s largest oil producer and operates the country’s largest national network of gas stations—UKRNAFTA. In 2024, the company began managing Glusco’s assets. In 2025, it finalized a deal with Shell Overseas Investments BV to acquire the Shell network in Ukraine. In total, it operates nearly 700 gas stations.
The company is implementing a comprehensive program to resume operations and modernize the format of the gas stations in its network. Since February 2023, it has been issuing its own fuel vouchers and “NAFTACard” cards, which are sold to legal entities and individuals through Ukrnafta-Postach LLC.
The largest shareholder of Ukrnafta is NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, with a stake of 50% + 1 share.
In November 2022, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine decided to transfer to the state the portion of the company’s corporate rights that belonged to private owners; this portion is now managed by the Ministry of Defense.
