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The researchers found that a protein known as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, or AHR, acts like a molecular 'brake' that limits the ability of injured nerve cells to regrow damaged axons.

The findings, published in the journal Nature, suggest that blocking AHR could help damaged nerves regenerate and improve movement and sensation following nerve or spinal cord injuries.

Axons are long extensions of nerve cells that carry signals between different parts of the nervous system.

When these structures are damaged or severed, the ability of neurons to rebuild them plays an important role in determining how much a person can recover.

However, adult mammals have a limited ability to regenerate damaged axons.

This is one of the reasons injuries to nerves and the spinal cord can result in long-lasting or permanent problems with movement and sensation.

The new study found that AHR plays an important role in this process.

According to the researchers, when neurons are injured, they must balance two competing needs.

They need to protect themselves from cellular stress while also producing the proteins necessary to rebuild their damaged connections.

The researchers discovered that AHR pushes neurons toward managing stress rather than rebuilding their axons.

When scientists removed AHR from neurons or used drugs to block its activity, damaged nerve fibers were able to regenerate more effectively.

Experiments in mice with peripheral nerve injuries and spinal cord injuries also showed that suppressing AHR was associated with improved movement and sensation.

The researchers found that AHR normally supports a protective process known as proteostasis, which helps cells maintain protein quality during stress.

While this response helps injured neurons survive, it can also reduce the production of new proteins needed for axon growth.

When AHR was blocked, neurons appeared to change their priorities. They increased the production of proteins and activated biological pathways linked to growth and nerve regeneration.

The researchers also identified HIF-1α as an important factor in this process. HIF-1α helps regulate genes involved in metabolism and tissue repair.

Hongyan Zou, a professor of neurosurgery and neuroscience at Mount Sinai and the study's senior author, said the findings show how neurons balance survival and regeneration following injury.

AHR was initially known for its role in detecting environmental toxins and pollutants.

The new findings suggest that the protein has a broader role inside neurons, where it helps connect environmental signals with cellular processes that determine whether damaged axons can regenerate.

The discovery could eventually contribute to new treatments for nerve injuries.

Some drugs designed to inhibit AHR are already being investigated in clinical trials for other medical conditions, raising the possibility that similar approaches could eventually be studied for nerve and spinal cord injuries.

However, the researchers stressed that the work is still at an early stage.

More studies are needed to determine the appropriate timing and dosage of AHR inhibitors and to understand how blocking the protein affects other cells involved in the body's response to injury.

The Mount Sinai team plans to investigate AHR-blocking drugs and gene therapy approaches that could reduce AHR activity specifically in neurons.

Researchers hope these approaches could eventually help improve recovery from spinal cord injuries, stroke and other neurological conditions.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/scientists-identify-molecular-brake-that-limits-nerve-regeneration/

Foxx, 58, made the emotional revelation during an August 25 appearance on Keke Palmer's podcast, Baby, This Is Keke Palmer, where he reflected on the medical emergency that left him hospitalized in Atlanta.

According to Foxx, he later spoke with the doctor who treated him because he wanted to understand exactly what had happened during the health crisis.

'I wanted to know his version,' Foxx recalled the doctor telling him. The doctor reportedly said that without Corinne's intervention, Foxx would not have survived.

'He says, 'Hey man, without her you wouldn't be here,'' Foxx said.

The doctor went on to emphasize Corinne's role, telling Foxx that his daughter had saved his life and was the reason he was still alive.

'He said, 'Man, your daughter saved your life,'' Foxx recalled. 'She saved you. He said, 'She's the reason that you're here.''

Foxx described his daughter's response during the crisis as remarkable. He compared her actions to Michael Corleone, the character from The Godfather who takes charge after his father is attacked.

'That's who she was,' Foxx said, explaining that Corinne immediately took control of the situation and focused on protecting her father.

Corinne also opened up about the difficult period during the podcast, saying she immediately went into what she described as 'caretaking mode.'

'When you're in it, you don't have time to be scared,' she said, explaining that she became focused on making sure her father received the care he needed.

Foxx suffered the medical emergency in April 2023 while filming the Netflix film Back in Action in Atlanta. He later revealed that he had experienced a brain bleed that led to a stroke.

The actor has previously said that he has limited memories of the ordeal. During his latest conversation, he recalled returning to the hospital to meet some of the nurses who had cared for him.

Foxx said around 60 nurses had been involved in his care and described their response to his survival as extraordinary.

According to Foxx, some medical staff told him that fewer than three percent of patients who arrived with a condition similar to his survived.

The actor also explained that humor became an important part of his recovery. He said he often joked with medical staff and even pretended to be other celebrities when they asked him questions during his rehabilitation.

For Corinne, however, the situation was complicated not only by her father's condition but also by the intense speculation surrounding his health.

She said she was focused on her father's recovery while rumors and conspiracy theories about his condition spread online.

Corinne explained that she did not believe it was her responsibility to reveal her father's private medical information simply to respond to speculation.

Despite the difficult experience, Foxx said it changed the way he views his daughter and deepened his appreciation for her love and strength.

He said the experience made him realize how fortunate he was to have Corinne by his side during one of the most serious moments of his life.

Foxx has since returned to work and continues to pursue acting and other entertainment projects. He also works alongside Corinne on the television music game show Beat Shazam.

The father and daughter have continued to speak openly about their close relationship, with Foxx describing Corinne's actions during his medical crisis as one of the reasons he was given another chance at life.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/jamie-foxx-reveals-how-daughter-corinne-saved-his-life-after-2023-stroke/

Pezeshkian made the remarks in a televised interview broadcast Friday night, responding to questions about whether ongoing diplomatic efforts could revive the peace memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Iran and the United States in June and restore the Iranian nation's rights.

'We can move forward' if Iran's actions are met with reciprocal and proportional actions from the other side, the Iranian president said, acknowledging that the two sides might not achieve all their objectives.

Under the MoU, the United States was expected to lift a naval blockade and oil and petrochemical sanctions against Iran and release Iranian frozen assets.

Pezeshkian said Iran had exported nearly 90 million barrels of oil during the period when the agreement was being implemented.

'The main issue is that we must be committed to the MoU we have written. When we sit down at the negotiating table, we can talk to them,' he said.

On June 18, the United States and Iran signed the deal on ending the war in the region on all fronts, including Lebanon. Under the MoU, they were scheduled to hold negotiations within 60 days, which ended on Aug. 17, to reach a final agreement.

The talks' fate remains unclear following the escalation between the two countries last month.

Pezeshkian's comments came as Iran continues to grapple with economic pressures at home.

In a separate message Friday marking Government Week, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei called for 'serious' attention to economic and livelihood challenges, including inflation, unemployment and the management of prices and markets.

Iran needs stronger economic growth, increased investment and a production boost, Khamenei said, describing greater reliance on domestic production as key to addressing the country's economic difficulties.

Where domestic production cannot meet demand, imports should be used 'properly and wisely,' he said.

Khamenei also called for maintaining national unity and protecting social cohesion, warning against using statements that lead to hopelessness and weaken national and public motivation.

The remarks came amid intensified U.S. economic pressure on Iran. Earlier this month, U.S. President Donald Trump announced 'the most crushing economic operation ever taken' against any country providing a lifeline to Iran.

'This will be Economic Warfare and Isolation on an unprecedented scale,' Trump said in a social media post, calling the move 'an ECONOMIC D-DAY.'

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/iran-willing-to-negotiate-with-u-s-but-remains-wary-president/

El Niño is a climate pattern associated with unusually warm sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean, which can influence weather patterns around the world. In Africa, it can bring drought to some areas while causing above-average rainfall in others.

On August 10-11, 2026, the Ministry in Charge of Emergency Management (MINEMA), in partnership with the World Bank, conducted a two-day Tabletop Simulation Exercise for Rwanda's Contingent Emergency Response Project (CERP).

The exercise aimed to strengthen Rwanda's preparedness to effectively activate and implement the CERP mechanism in response to eligible emergencies, while ensuring rapid and efficient access to emergency financing.

MINEMA Permanent Secretary Aristarque Ngoga said disaster preparedness goes beyond having emergency equipment, stressing the need for institutions at all levels to understand their responsibilities and be ready to respond quickly when disasters occur.

'Preparedness is not only about having resources available; it is also about ensuring that institutions understand their roles and can act quickly and in a coordinated manner when an emergency occurs. The CERP simulation allows us to identify and address potential gaps before they affect our response to a real crisis,' said Ngoga.

Rwanda has also requested $86.2 million, equivalent to more than Rwf126.6 billion, to strengthen preparedness and emergency response capacity in areas considered particularly vulnerable to disasters.

Climate experts have warned that 2026 could rank among the hottest years globally. Meteo Rwanda Director General Aimable Gahigi said Rwanda could receive more than 400 millimetres of rainfall in the coming months.

Gahigi said the potential effects of El Niño could resemble conditions experienced in 1997 and 2023, when heavy rains affected countries across the region between October and December.

Since the beginning of 2026, MINEMA has relocated 4,785 households from areas considered highly vulnerable to disasters. Nearly 4,000 people have also been trained in disaster preparedness and response, while 14 temporary shelters have been established to accommodate people affected by disasters.

Emergency response equipment has been stocked in Kigali, Musanze, Kayonza and Karongi to facilitate faster interventions when disasters occur.

Over the past five years, disasters have damaged more than 16,600 houses across Rwanda, with about 2,700 completely destroyed. They have also damaged roads, bridges, schools, electricity infrastructure, health facilities and markets.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/rwanda-steps-up-preparedness-for-el-nino-related-disasters/

The project, located in Kabuhunde Village, Kagugu Cell, Kinyinya Sector in Gasabo District, is expected to provide modern housing for 716 families currently living on a 33.699-hectare site.

The development will feature six-storey buildings (G+6), equipped with designated parking spaces and elevators.

City of Kigali spokesperson Emma-Claudine Ntirenganya said the new neighbourhood will also include key infrastructure and services, including tarmac roads, a wastewater treatment facility, public recreational spaces, a market and a health centre.

Residents who currently own land or houses within the project area will receive new homes based on the value of their existing properties and in accordance with compensation regulations, allowing them to retain ownership of the new homes.

The Kagugu project will follow an approach similar to that used in the Mpazi and Nyabisindu housing developments.

The first phase of the Mpazi project delivered nearly 800 homes, while its expansion is expected to provide more than 4,100 additional homes. The Nyabisindu project is expected to deliver more than 2,000 homes by June 2027.

The City of Kigali says the objective of the project is not simply to construct houses, but to improve residents' overall living conditions.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/new-kigali-housing-project-to-accommodate-716-families-in-kagugu-photos/

After Tshisekedi announced on August 27, 2026, that he had officially launched consultations aimed at finding solutions to the crises affecting the DRC, opposition figures grouped under the C64 coalition, which advocates for the defence of the Constitution, immediately rejected the initiative.

C64 includes prominent opposition politicians such as Martin Fayulu, Moïse Katumbi, Jean-Marc Kabund, Matata Ponyo and Delly Sesanga.

The coalition criticised the initiative, saying it should have been a genuinely inclusive national dialogue rather than what it described as consultations organised by the authorities.

'C64 continues to condemn and reject what Félix Tshisekedi calls national consultations, instead of launching an inclusive national dialogue. The Congolese people are not fools,' the coalition said.

The M.A.R.C party, led by Claudel Lubaya, also rejected the initiative, arguing that the consultations favour supporters of the Tshisekedi administration.

Opposition figures say their concerns centre on how the dialogue has been organised, who has been invited and the issues expected to be discussed. They argue that the process is primarily designed to serve the political interests of the current administration.

Fayulu and his allies have announced that they will join their supporters in a demonstration against Tshisekedi's government on September 15, 2026. The protest had previously been postponed twice as the two sides engaged in efforts to ease tensions.

The dispute is also linked to Tshisekedi's reported plans to amend the Constitution, which his opponents say could allow him to seek a third term. C64 members have vowed to strongly oppose such a move.

'Congo does not belong to Mr Félix Tshisekedi. The country will not become the victim of a third term after 2028,' C64 said.

Union Sacrée backs Tshisekedi

While opposition groups have rejected the initiative, senior figures within Union Sacrée, the political coalition supporting Tshisekedi, have welcomed it.

Transport Minister Jean-Pierre Bemba described it as a 'new approach to dialogue', while National Assembly Speaker Vital Kamerhe called it an unprecedented way of seeking solutions to the DRC's problems.

Tshisekedi said consultations would first be held across all 26 provinces before a national conference in Kinshasa, allowing citizens and different institutions to present their views.

His supporters say the process is intended to move beyond traditional political negotiations involving only senior political figures and give ordinary citizens a role in finding solutions to the country's challenges.

Joseph Kabila stance

The 'Sauvons la RDC' coalition led by former President Joseph Kabila, who governed the DRC from 2001 to 2019, supports an inclusive national dialogue but wants it to be led by an independent and impartial facilitator.

Kabila and his allies are calling for all parties affected by the DRC's crises to participate in the talks. They also want all sides to agree on the framework for the dialogue and for the international community to play a role in monitoring the process.

Their position is similar to that of the National Episcopal Conference of Congo (CENCO) and the Anglican Church, which have called for dialogue involving armed groups, including AFC/M23 fighters and the CRP movement founded by Thomas Lubanga.

Tshisekedi has faced calls to ensure that armed groups are included in the dialogue, with critics warning that excluding them could limit the chances of reaching a lasting solution and potentially worsen the conflict, particularly in eastern DRC.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/drc-opposition-rejects-tshisekedis-new-dialogue-process/

The GSDF said it was extremely regrettable that one of its members, who was supposed to abide by laws and discipline, had committed such an act, public broadcaster NHK reported.

On March 24, the GSDF officer, identified as Kodai Murata, allegedly scaled a barbed-wire wall and broke into the Chinese embassy in Tokyo with an 18-cm blade, threatening to kill Chinese diplomatic personnel. He was later arrested by the police.

Japanese prosecutors indicted Murata on charges including trespassing and threatening embassy staff.

The embassy has lodged solemn representations and a strong protest with the Japanese side, demanding that Japan provide a responsible explanation. So far, however, the Japanese side has only expressed that the incident was 'regrettable,' without offering an apology.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/japans-gsdf-dismisses-officer-over-chinese-embassy-intrusion/

NESA Director General Dr Bahati Bernard said the results are currently being processed and will be announced in the coming days.

The national Senior Six examinations were held on July 15, 2026. Figures show that 108,722 candidates sat for the examinations at the upper secondary level.

Speaking during an interview with Rwanda Broadcasting Agency, RBA, on August 28, 2026, Dr Bahati said the results of students who completed Senior Six would be released soon.

'The processing of the results for students who completed secondary school is at an advanced stage, to the extent that we can say that within a few days, possibly within a week or a week and a half, we could have announced the results,' he said.

In Rwanda, once examination results are released, students who obtain grades that qualify them to pursue university studies can immediately proceed to university without having to wait for another year.

Last year, candidates who sat for the Senior Six national examinations recorded an overall pass rate of 89.1%. Boys recorded a pass rate of 93.5%, while girls recorded a pass rate of 85.5%.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/nesa-sets-timeline-for-release-of-senior-six-examination-results/

The 41-year-old rapper was scheduled to perform at Golden 1 Center on Thursday, August 27, as part of his ongoing The Fall-Off World Tour.

However, the concert was canceled following the fatal accident involving a truck carrying equipment for the tour.

The crash occurred shortly after 6 a.m. on Interstate 5 in Yolo County, northwest of Woodland, California.

According to authorities, the big rig was traveling southbound when it moved onto the right shoulder and later overturned as the driver attempted to return to the roadway.

The driver, who was the only person inside the truck, died in the crash. The Yolo County Coroner's Office identified him as Jarlath Parkinson, 66, of Jackson, South Carolina.

The truck was transporting equipment used for J. Cole's tour. California Highway Patrol officials said the cause of the crash remains under investigation, with possible driver distraction or fatigue being considered.

Authorities said alcohol and drugs were not believed to have contributed to the crash.

Following the death, Golden 1 Center and Live Nation announced the cancellation of J. Cole's Sacramento performance.

'Our thoughts are with the crew member's family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,' the venue said in a statement.

Fans who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster are expected to receive automatic refunds, while those who bought tickets through other sellers have been advised to contact their original point of purchase.

The canceled performance was part of J. Cole's extensive The Fall-Off World Tour, which is scheduled to continue with shows in Oakland before moving to Southern California and other international destinations.

The tour is currently scheduled to conclude in Johannesburg, South Africa, in December.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/j-cole-cancels-concert-after-touring-crew-member-dies-in-highway-crash/

Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, and Yale University analysed GPS tracking data from 4,581 mammals and birds across the United States.

The study, published in the journal Science, combined animal tracking information with anonymised cellphone location data to examine how wildlife responds to people themselves, rather than only to the landscapes humans have changed.

Researchers compared animal movements during matching periods in 2019 and 2020, a period that provided a rare opportunity to study changes in human activity during COVID-19 lockdowns.

The analysis found that 57 percent of the species studied were affected by both human presence and changes to the landscape.

Human presence was linked to changes in the amount of territory animals used or the size of their environmental niche for 67 percent of mammal species and 68 percent of bird species.

The researchers also found that wildlife responses varied greatly between species.

For example, wolves expanded their habitat use in response to human presence, while white-tailed deer reduced their environmental niches as human presence increased. Sandhill cranes showed an opposite pattern to deer.

The effects were particularly noticeable in areas with relatively little development, including national parks.

This suggests that even when landscapes remain largely natural, the presence of people can influence how animals use available habitats.

Researchers said the findings show that conservation efforts should not focus only on protecting natural landscapes from roads, cities and other forms of development.

Understanding where and when people are present could also be important for protecting wildlife.

Ruth Oliver, an assistant professor at UCSB's Bren School of Environmental Science and Management and co-lead author of the study, said the findings highlight the need for conservation strategies that take into account the specific needs and behaviours of individual species.

The research was part of the COVID-19 Bio-Logging Initiative, an international collaboration that used the unusual reduction and changes in human activity during the pandemic to study how wildlife responded.

The wider initiative brought together about 600 partners and collected one billion location records from roughly 13,000 animals.

Researchers are now investigating whether changes in animal behaviour caused by human activity and environmental changes help wildlife adapt or instead indicate increased stress and a greater risk of death.

The scientists say the findings could help conservationists develop more targeted policies that identify when and where wildlife needs greater protection from human activity.

Source : https://new.igihe.com/english/study-finds-human-presence-influences-how-wildlife-uses-habitats/