September 2026
All columns and Brief analyses.
10 results
Pelacarsen lowers Lp(a) but misses its cardiovascular risk goal
Novartis announced that pelacarsen missed the main goal of its Lp(a)HORIZON study. The investigational drug lowered lipoprotein(a), but did not achieve the targeted reduction in cardiovascular events. Developed initially by Ionis Pharmaceuticals, it will now be the subject of a full data presentation at an upcoming medical congress. The announcement gives the initial outcome of a study focused on events such as heart attacks and strokes, without naming a presentation date or venue.
Philippine peso closes at a record low of 62.59
The peso closed at a record low of 62.59 against the dollar on the 4th, after also reaching 62.71 that day. The two readings show both the intraday weakness and the record-low closing level, with the currency's decline carrying through to the end of trading.
Portugal regains Fitch's A+ rating for the first time since 2011
Fitch raised Portugal's credit rating from A to A+ while affirming Qatar at AA and removing it from negative watch. Portugal's announcement highlights a declining public-debt path. Qatar's announcement cites lower risks to liquefied natural gas facilities since March, although the country's rating outlook remains negative.
Putin pauses strikes on Kyiv for three days as US envoys arrive in Moscow
Vladimir Putin ordered a three-day halt to strikes on Kyiv during Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner’s visits to Moscow and Kyiv, while Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine would refrain from attacking Moscow. The pause does not cover the front line. A Russian strike on Kamianske killed 5 people and injured 5 that morning, leading Ukraine’s armed forces to say no ceasefire bound them at the front.
Rescued orangutan mother and infant remain under health monitoring in Ketapang
An initial examination found no burns on an orangutan mother and infant rescued from wildfire in West Kalimantan, while veterinarians are monitoring possible smoke effects. Saturday’s health update described nasal discharge in the infant. BKSDA and YIARI teams evacuated the pair on Thursday as flames approached their habitat in Sungai Awan Kiri. The rescue brought the number of orangutans evacuated from wildfire threats in Ketapang to nine in less than a month.
Roland’s Melody Flip plug-in generates melody and backing ideas
Roland released Melody Flip, a plug-in that works inside music production software. It generates melody, chord, bass and drum ideas from approximately 250 musical Palettes and can also start from an imported audio file. Its short loops can be exported as audio or MIDI for further editing. The plug-in is included with all Roland Cloud membership levels, including the free tier.
Senegal’s foreign-currency debt rating falls to CC
S&P cut Senegal’s long-term foreign-currency debt rating from CCC+ to CC and its local-currency rating to CCC, with negative outlooks on both. The agency considers a distressed exchange or default on foreign-currency debt extremely likely. The government’s debt treatment plan under the G20 framework excludes CFA franc obligations, which make up nearly a third of public debt.
Taiz missile strike widens the Houthi offensive towards Bab al-Mandab
Yemen’s government-controlled Saba agency said a Houthi missile hit the Heijah al-Abd road south of Taiz, killing at least 4 people and injuring 9; the Houthis did not comment. The strike came amid heavy fighting in Taiz and Hodeidah and an offensive for high ground overlooking Bab al-Mandab. Sources speaking to AFP put the death toll above 120, but none of the figures has been independently verified.
The 2026 Ig Nobel medicine prize went to the aerodynamics of nose blowing
At the 2026 Ig Nobel ceremony in Zurich, the medicine prize went to Takuji Unno's 1977 study of the aerodynamics of nose blowing. Euronews and RAC1 report an association between faster expiratory thrust and more efficient mucus removal. The reports present this as the awarded research finding, not clinical advice.
The American cheetah Miracinonyx was closer to pumas than cheetahs
A Current Biology study revisits Miracinonyx trumani using ancient DNA for ancestry and isotopes for northern diet. UC Santa Cruz and National Geographic report that the extinct cat was closer to pumas than living cheetahs, while Yukon fossils point to a fish-rich diet.