The proposed acquisition of Escorts’ railway parts business will likely provide a further fillip to this endeavour, since it will give the company a toehold in the railways. Sona Comstar’s decision to acquire the railway equipment division (RED) of Escorts Kubota, announced late last month, is expected to not just expand the former’s green mobility…
YOUNG Thug’s girlfriend has said she is “so grateful” for the rapper’s release after he was allowed to walk free from prison on Thursday. The 33-year-old Grammy winner, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, was behind bars for more than 900 days after his arrest on racketeering and gang-related charges.4Rapper Young Thug entered his plea deal on Thursday, sentenced to time already servedCredit: Reuters4His girlfriend and singer Mariah The Scientist pictured performing on October 13, 2024 in South Fulton, GeorgiaCredit: GettyIn May 2022, prosecutors alleged the rap label he founded was a front for an organized crime syndicate responsible for “75 to 80% of violent crime” in Atlanta.He was sentenced on Thursday to time served and 15 years of probation. He was released later on Thursday night. In a statement, Young Thug’s girlfriend and singer Mariah the Scientist – real name Mariah Amani Buckles – said she was “so grateful” for the ruling. “This is more than what we prayed for,” she told reporter Michael Seiden. Read More News”We are so grateful, this is the greatest opportunity we’ve ever been presented with.”“I cannot say it enough, I cannot repay you for this. You have changed our lives, Jeffery’s life and mine.” The couple recently celebrated their third anniversary, and were joined by rappers Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, and T.I in celebrating the news. It came after Young Thug told the court on Thursday that he takes “full responsibility” for his crimes and the charges against him. “To really everybody that has got something to do with this situation, I want to say sorry,” he said. He went on to describe himself as “a good guy with a good heart” who found himself “in a lot of stuff because I was just nice or cool,” BBC News reports. “And I understand that you can’t be that way when you reach a certain height because it could end bad… and it could fall on you.”Prosecutors had planned to recommend a sentence of 45 years for the rapepr, with 25 of those spent in custody and 20 on probation.Negotiations, however, were unsuccessful, and Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker instead chose his punishment as the time he has already served. As part of the deal, Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges.He also entered a no-contest plea to leading a gang and violating the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act.“I want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem,” Judge Whitaker told him.She went on to hand the rapper 100 hours of community service and a ban on contact with gang members and former co-defendants.Read More on The US SunHe is also banned from the metropolitan Atlanta area for the first 10 years of his 15-year probation. This can be broken only in exceptional circumstances – for example a funeral or wedding in the area. 4Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, and his lawyer, Brian Steel, pictured in the Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on June 10, 2024Credit: AP4Young Thug performs at halftime during the Boston Celtics v Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021Credit: Getty
South African business aims to increase trade and investment with Nigeria, given that trade flows from the West African nation are currently dominated by crude oil imports.
The South Africa-Nigeria Joint Ministerial Advisory Council on Industry, Trade and Investment (JMACITI) is a public private partnership launched by the two governments and business at the end of 2021, to highlight opportunities and address market access and operational issues between the countries.
The latest initiative under the JMACITI umbrella is a video initiated by South African business that offers a snapshot of South Africa’s operating environment and investment opportunities for Nigerian companies.
Speaking in the video, Lungisa Fuzile, Regional Chief Executive: South & Central Region, Africa Regions, of the Standard Bank Group, says: “When South Africa and, Nigeria are aligned, it becomes easy to pull the different parts of the continent together towards a common agenda.”
The two countries, which are among the biggest economies in Sub-Saharan Africa, need to work together for the continent to deliver more effectively on its Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, he adds.
Lerato Mataboge, Deputy Director General of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, says: “South Africa offers a predictable environment to investors. So our regulations, our policies, even legislation, are quite accessible.
“South Africa is very open to investments from the rest of Africa. In fact, intra-African investment is a policy priority of ours,” she says, adding that the current reform of South Africa’s visa landscape will be an enabler for greater trade and investment.
Sola Adegbesan, President of the South Africa-Nigeria Business Chamber in Johannesburg and head of Global Markets Sales for the Standard Bank Group, says that despite the advantages between the two countries in both directions, the number of Nigerian companies invested in South Africa is “not as much as you would expect”.
“We at the Chamber expect that number could grow significantly, and we’re more than happy to welcome more Nigerian companies and help to facilitate some of these investment initiatives.” He states that in addition to investment opportunities, there is a large pool of investment capital in South Africa that Nigerian companies could tap into.
Nigerians interested in South Africa must be aware of the country’s investment priorities and the rules and regulations underpinning trade and investment transactions, to ensure a smooth and successful experience, speakers said.
Bongi Kunene, Managing Director of The Banking Association South Africa (BASA), explains: “It is critical for the success of trade between the countries to ensure that correct processes are followed throughout the value chain. If there are any issues, the rules must be clear.”
Other interviewees spoke about the need to make it easier to get visas to travel between the countries. They also highlighted the need for prospective business partners to work together to improve trust and trade between the two countries, for the benefit of all.
The thought of a well-deserved holiday is often tempered by the stress of getting to your destination, and recent scenes at Tenerife South Airport have done little to alleviate these concerns. Videos have been circulating on social media showing lengthy queues at passport control, with many travellers expressing their frustration at the “awful” experience. Security…
On Saturday, learners of all ages can explore Hawaiʻi’s new contributions and discoveries in astronomy from working astronomers, engineers, researchers and educators during AstroDay at Kona Commons.
Keiki make Rice Krispies pop from static electricity during an activity with University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo students during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)
The event organized by the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee will feature 20 institutions, including Maunakea Observatories, Maui observatories, and other local and national institutions. They will engage with the community through demonstrations and activities that will dive into the many aspects of astronomy.
Carolyn Kaichi, an education and outreach specialist for the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, has been organizing the annual AstroDay events in Hilo and Kona for about 10 years.
“I think that there is a need for connection between scientists, kids, families and the community in general,” Kaichi said. “A lot of times, there seems to be a misconception that science doesn’t apply to everyone, but people working in science are like anybody else living in the community. We just like to share our love, especially astronomy.”
During AstroDay in Hilo last year, representatives from Subaru Telescope brought a television that portrayed different information an astronomer could get from the telescope on Maunakea. The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo brought a static electricity sphere for fun experiments. Hilo High Robotics brought robots for keiki to learn and use. And, the NASA Solar System Ambassadors brought maps, photographs and other tangible information from the Artemis mission.
A representative from Subaru Telescope shows keiki what they can see through a telescope during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADParticipants from Maunakea Observatories coming to Konaʻs event this year include the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, Subaru Telescope, W.M. Keck Observatory, Gemini Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the Sublimeter Array project from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Thirty-Meter Telescope International Observatory and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, which is operated by East Asian Observatory.
As an addition to the annual AstroDay event, the Institute for Astronomy will be bringing a solar telescope for the first time for anyone interested in safely viewing the surface of the sun.
Participating Maui observatories include Las Cumbres Observatory and the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy Maui, which both operate on Haleakalā.
A keiki looks at 3D images at the NASA Space Ambassadors booth during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)
Other Hawaiʻi Island institutions and programs participating include the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Astrophysics Club, Project PANOPTES, Onizuka Space Science Program, NASA Solar System Ambassadors, National Weather Service, International Lunar Observatory Association, Thelma Parker Memorial and School Library, Hawaiʻi Keiki Museum and PISCES.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADAlthough they were late registering, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will be joining for the first time in a few years and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering will also be represented as they share more information about the “Space Sciences Initiative.”
The Space Sciences Initiative is a collaboration between the College of Engineering, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy and is the first step in establishing a space engineering and instrument development center for students in Hilo.
Construction of the high-tech center is still years away and tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2030, which is dependent on securing funding for the construction phase. However, the academic programming started this semester and will be offered as the center is developed.
“Prior to this initiative there was no direct avenue for local kids on the Big Island to major in engineering,” Kaichi said. “The College of Engineering will be at AstroDay to talk about new program, which will raise whole new generation of homegrown engineers who will, hopefully, stay and work here on their home island.”
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADIn a 2019 report on astronomy in Hawaiʻi, the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization found that the industry supported the employment of 1,313 residents and that there are approximately 500 jobs at observatories on Maunakea and Haleakalā that are held by engineers and technicians who specialize in optics, software, data science, materials, mechanics, systems and cryogenics.
Keiki learn how to operate robots from the Hilo High robotics team during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)
“There is a great need for engineers in the science community on Hawaiʻi Island and a big desire to hire more local engineers for specialized positions,” Kaichi said. “The initiative hopes to make an engineering career as easy and accessible to local students as possible.
“I think there is an engineer in all of us, all it takes is lighting the spark and growing the flame,” she continued.
AstroDay is free and will be outside the Kona Commons from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Free giveaways will be available while supplies last and there will be two drawings at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for four special grand prizes––two beginning-level telescopes and two NASA-themed skateboards.
On Saturday, learners of all ages can explore Hawaiʻi’s new contributions and discoveries in astronomy from working astronomers, engineers, researchers and educators during AstroDay at Kona Commons.
Keiki make Rice Krispies pop from static electricity during an activity with University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo students during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)
The event organized by the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee will feature 20 institutions, including Maunakea Observatories, Maui observatories, and other local and national institutions. They will engage with the community through demonstrations and activities that will dive into the many aspects of astronomy.
Carolyn Kaichi, an education and outreach specialist for the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, has been organizing the annual AstroDay events in Hilo and Kona for about 10 years.
“I think that there is a need for connection between scientists, kids, families and the community in general,” Kaichi said. “A lot of times, there seems to be a misconception that science doesn’t apply to everyone, but people working in science are like anybody else living in the community. We just like to share our love, especially astronomy.”
During AstroDay in Hilo last year, representatives from Subaru Telescope brought a television that portrayed different information an astronomer could get from the telescope on Maunakea. The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo brought a static electricity sphere for fun experiments. Hilo High Robotics brought robots for keiki to learn and use. And, the NASA Solar System Ambassadors brought maps, photographs and other tangible information from the Artemis mission.
A representative from Subaru Telescope shows keiki what they can see through a telescope during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADParticipants from Maunakea Observatories coming to Konaʻs event this year include the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, Subaru Telescope, W.M. Keck Observatory, Gemini Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the Sublimeter Array project from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Thirty-Meter Telescope International Observatory and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, which is operated by East Asian Observatory.
As an addition to the annual AstroDay event, the Institute for Astronomy will be bringing a solar telescope for the first time for anyone interested in safely viewing the surface of the sun.
Participating Maui observatories include Las Cumbres Observatory and the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy Maui, which both operate on Haleakalā.
A keiki looks at 3D images at the NASA Space Ambassadors booth during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)
Other Hawaiʻi Island institutions and programs participating include the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Astrophysics Club, Project PANOPTES, Onizuka Space Science Program, NASA Solar System Ambassadors, National Weather Service, International Lunar Observatory Association, Thelma Parker Memorial and School Library, Hawaiʻi Keiki Museum and PISCES.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADAlthough they were late registering, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will be joining for the first time in a few years and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering will also be represented as they share more information about the “Space Sciences Initiative.”
The Space Sciences Initiative is a collaboration between the College of Engineering, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy and is the first step in establishing a space engineering and instrument development center for students in Hilo.
Construction of the high-tech center is still years away and tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2030, which is dependent on securing funding for the construction phase. However, the academic programming started this semester and will be offered as the center is developed.
“Prior to this initiative there was no direct avenue for local kids on the Big Island to major in engineering,” Kaichi said. “The College of Engineering will be at AstroDay to talk about new program, which will raise whole new generation of homegrown engineers who will, hopefully, stay and work here on their home island.”
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADIn a 2019 report on astronomy in Hawaiʻi, the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization found that the industry supported the employment of 1,313 residents and that there are approximately 500 jobs at observatories on Maunakea and Haleakalā that are held by engineers and technicians who specialize in optics, software, data science, materials, mechanics, systems and cryogenics.
Keiki learn how to operate robots from the Hilo High robotics team during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)
“There is a great need for engineers in the science community on Hawaiʻi Island and a big desire to hire more local engineers for specialized positions,” Kaichi said. “The initiative hopes to make an engineering career as easy and accessible to local students as possible.
“I think there is an engineer in all of us, all it takes is lighting the spark and growing the flame,” she continued.
AstroDay is free and will be outside the Kona Commons from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Free giveaways will be available while supplies last and there will be two drawings at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for four special grand prizes––two beginning-level telescopes and two NASA-themed skateboards.
A well-read Airdrie author’s work has been selected as one of the UK’s books of the year. Booksellers across Britain have revealed their top reads of 2024 as the shortlists are announced for the Books Are My Bag Readers Awards, sponsored by National Book Tokens and with support from various publishers. Airdrie poet and mental-health…
A large group of South Korean tourists arrived at Siem Reap International Airport (REP) in October 2023. Siem Reap provincial information department
Similar to other tourism markets, the number of South Korean tourists in Cambodia remains below pre-Covid-19 levels due to various factors.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, the country received 132,286 Korean tourists between January and August, a 14.6% increase compared to the same period last year. In 2019, there were 254,847 Korean tourists, placing Korea as the fourth largest source market after China, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.
The Post’s reporter Niem Chheng sat down with Seam Sokkheng, president of the Korean Language Tourist Guide Association in Cambodia, to gain insights into the market, especially with recent coverage in Korean media about reports of detention and coercion involving Korean nationals.
What has been the situation of Korean tourists in Cambodia since the country reopened post-Covid-19 in November 2021 and how does it compare to 2019 levels?
After COVID-19, there was a significant influx of Korean tourists until the end of February 2022, after which the numbers gradually declined. At that time, direct flights from Korea to Siem Reap helped drive these numbers.
However, with the discontinuation of direct flights, fewer Korean tourists are coming. Now, they must arrive in Phnom Penh before continuing to Siem Reap or travel to Siem Reap directly from neighbouring countries, but their numbers are limited.
Currently, I estimate that Korean tourist numbers are only about 30 per cent of what they were before Covid-19. As I mentioned, the main issue is the lack of direct flights. If they were available, I believe the numbers would be much closer to previous levels.
Have South Korean tourists raised any concerns when visiting Cambodia, especially given recent reports of South Korean nationals claiming to have been detained and coerced by criminals?
As a Korean-speaking tour guide, I personally have not encountered Korean tourists expressing concerns about their trips to Cambodia. The main complaint I hear from them is the absence of direct flights, which makes travel more difficult. Aside from that, they don’t bring up other issues. They enjoy their time in Siem Reap and find it safe.
Regarding the recent Korean news reports about South Koreans allegedly being detained and coerced, this is relatively new. Even with these reports circulating, I continue to guide Korean tourists around the temples, but they showed no reaction or concern about these issues.
From my experience with them directly, they don’t bring up such matters. Upon arriving in Siem Reap, they see the real situation, which is different from the reports, and they seem to enjoy their trip without any issues.
As the president of the Korean Language Tourist Guide Association, what would you like to tell South Korean citizens about the situation in Cambodia?
I encourage Koreans to continue visiting Cambodia, especially Siem Reap, as the actual situation in Siem Reap and throughout Cambodia is not as portrayed in some news reports. I encourage them to come explore Khmer culture as Siem Reap is safe and offers unique attractions where they can learn and experience new things.
Concerns like scams are part of the black market and don’t relate to tourism. We can assure them that in Cambodia and in Siem Reap, there is no such issue at all.
What has your association done to help boost the Korean tourism market in Cambodia?
First, we have strengthened our members’ knowledge to enhance their ability to provide accurate information to tourists and to offer a smooth travel experience. We focus on meeting the needs and requests of our tourists. Additionally, we have promoted Cambodia in Korean media through bloggers, YouTubers and other social platforms.
Do you have any recommendations to encourage the return of Korean tourists to Cambodia?
I urge relevant ministries, especially Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and Korea’s Ministry of Tourism, to collaborate on promoting Cambodia’s tourism more widely. I also encourage collaboration with airlines to establish direct flights from Korea to Siem Reap.
If we increase promotion and restore direct flights, I believe Korean tourists will visit Siem Reap on their own without difficulty. As Korean-speaking guides, we are fully prepared to meet the needs of tourists and provide a quality travel experience.
Critic Bethanne Patrick recommends 10 promising titles — fiction and nonfiction — to consider for your November reading list.“I have come to regard November as the older, harder man’s October,” wrote Henry Rollins, that longtime punk Californian. This month’s books, which include titles on vanishing wildlife, a devastating plane crash and murder, might echo that perspective. But there is always hope: a ballerina’s redemption, a marvelous oceanic recovery and … a little Ted Lasso.FictionA Case of Matricide: A NovelBy Graeme Macrae BurnetBiblioasis: 256 pages, $18.95(Nov. 12) (Biblioasis) Beginning with “The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau” and continuing with “The Accident on the A35,” Burnet’s trilogy concludes with a mystery about what we put up with in mystery narratives. Yes, it’s metafiction again, and fans of this Booker-nominated author will have a grand time following Inspector George Gorski’s careful (read: slow) investigations into the latest murder threats in the tiny town of Saint-Louis, France. It’s smart, quirky and fun.Every Arc Bends Its Radian: A NovelBy Sergio de la PavaSimon & Schuster: 288 pages, $27.99(Nov. 12) (Simon & Schuster) Riv del Río, a New York City detective, returns to his native Colombia for respite after a terrible event, only to find himself wrapped up in investigating the disappearance of a brilliant MIT PhD candidate, Angelica, which involves a super-villainous crime lord named Exeter Mondragon. Between unctuous descriptions of Cali and its region, hilarious send-ups of noir tropes and more than a dash of speculative horror, de la Pava sticks a highly unlikely landing.Munichs: A NovelBy David PeaceW.W. Norton: 480 pages, $30(Nov. 12) (W.W. Norton) The 1958 plane crash that killed 23 people en route from Munich to Manchester affected that city’s Man United soccer team deeply; eight players and three officials died. Peace’s novel digs into the trauma to show how individuals, families and a city regained faith in their community and its ability to knit back together. If the book carries too much nostalgia and seems detached from today’s world of commercial “footie,” perhaps that’s deliberate.The Magnificent Ruins: A NovelBy Nayantara RoyAlgonquin: 448 pages, $29(Nov. 12) (Algonquin) Television executive, playwright and now novelist Roy turns to India for this debut novel about an unexpected inheritance. Protagonist Lila De lives in Manhattan and works in book publishing; she’s on her way up in her American life and has no intention of returning to South Asia until she learns she’s the new owner of her extended family’s estate. Will hijinks ensue? Indubitably. But so will complications, and tragedy, as Lila learns to live with honesty.City of Night Birds: A NovelBy Juhea KimEcco: 320 pages, $30(Nov. 26) Natalia Leonova, once a prima ballerina, returns to St. Petersburg as a broken woman whose accident two years in the past has led to her substance abuse. As people from her former life reappear, she endures more pain, this time emotional — but is also offered an unusual, maybe even dangerous, chance at stardom again. Kim (“Beasts of a Little Land”) delves into Natalia’s past to show both how hard she has worked and how important that work is to her psyche.NonfictionBelieve: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way Into Our HeartsBy Jeremy EgnerDutton: 368 pages, $32(Nov. 12) In 2020, a TV show about an American football coach brought in from Kansas to lead a British soccer team debuted — and took off. Jason Sudeikis, in the title role of Ted Lasso, turned a fish-out-of-water character into a folk hero, an Everyman who could inspire sulky young athletes one moment and bake superlative shortbread the next. New York Times TV editor Egner takes his material and makes it shine with accuracy and admiration.Treekeepers: The Race for a Forested FutureBy Lauren E. OakesBasic Books: 336 pages, $30(Nov. 12) (Basic Books) Planting trees to replace trees sounds like a simple positive step, but as author and scientist Oakes, a Stanford professor, explains in this book, it takes more than placing a sapling somewhere to maintain the planet’s forests. Whether it’s a tropical jungle or a northern woodland, forests, like all ecosystems, require different kinds of growth, geology and climate interacting — and their establishment and maintenance is crucial.Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered CreaturesBy Katherine RundellDoubleday: 224 pages, $26(Nov. 12) (Doubleday) Step right up to see scholar Rundell’s parade of oddities — no mere sideshow but a catalog of 22 endangered species, including sharks, raccoons, lemurs, seahorses, pangolins and frogs. While the author argues for wildlife conservation, she retains an enthusiast’s passion for details, be they mating rituals, community politics or anatomical quirks. And when it comes to saving animals, she shows that we can do it, as with the wood stork, once nearly vanished, now flourishing.Endurance: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Legendary ShipBy John Shears and Nico VincentNational Geographic: 256 pages, $50(Nov. 5) (National Geographic) Other books soon will be released about the extraordinary March 2022 discovery of the Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship that, as of 1915, was considered lost in the Antarctic’s Weddell Sea. Shackleton’s survival and rescue of his 27 crewmen is the stuff of legend, and now, in this photographic chronicle written by the expedition’s leaders, we can all view the find from their perspective.Citizen: My Life After the White HouseBy Bill ClintonKnopf: 464 pages, $38(Nov. 19) Walking out of the White House as an ex-president cannot be easy — but for some, like Bill Clinton, it is also the end of long years of public service. After three decades in office and still just 54 years old, Clinton knew he wanted to continue to use his expertise, and in this memoir, he details his projects, volunteerism and advocacy around the world — as well as his attention to his family in recent decades. This sequel to “My Life” will inspire as well as inform. More to Read
Key TakeawaysIn mice at least, scientists have found a way to stop and even reverse a deadly scarring of liver tissue called fibrosisIf proven to work in people, it would be a major advance for patients battling cirrhosis, hepatitis disease and other ailmentsThe therapy works by blocking proteins produced by certain genesFRIDAY, Nov. 1, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Cirrhosis, hepatitis infection and other causes can trigger liver fibrosis — a potentially lethal stiffening of tissue that, once begun, is irreversible.For many patients, a liver transplant is their only hope.However, research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles may offer patients a glimmer of hope. Scientists there say they’ve successfully reversed liver fibrosis in mice.Reporting recently in the journal Nature Communications, the team say they’ve discovered a genetic pathway that, if blocked, might bring fibrosis to a halt.The three genes involved in this fibrotic process are called FOXM1, MAT2A and MAT2B.“What we achieved was to unveil the axis of FOXM1, MAT2A and MAT2B as a potential target for developing drugs to treat liver fibrosis,” said study senior author Dr. Shelly Lu, who directs gastroenterology and hepatology at Cedars-Sinai. “Our findings suggest that blocking any of these [gene-produced] proteins might be useful in treating this condition.”The research is still in its early stages, of course, and results in animal don’t always pan out in humans.But Dr. Peter Chen, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Department of Medicine, said insights from the study hold real promise.“This highly original study significantly advances our understanding of an insidious condition that too often leaves patients and doctors with few treatment options,” he said in a Cedars Sinai news release. Chen wasn’t involved in the study.The research team set their sights on the three genes.One, FOXM1, is present in liver cells called hepatocytes and can trigger liver cancer, inflammation and fibrosis if it becomes overactive.The two other genes, MAT2A and MAT2B, are active within a second kind of liver cell called stellate cells, which also play a role in fibrosis.All three genes “code” for different proteins necessary for the fibrotic process, the scientists explained.“We discovered that these proteins ‘talk’ with each other inside liver cells,” Lu said in the Cedars news release. “They even influence nearby cells through extracellular vesicles — fat molecules filled with genetic fragments, proteins and other biological materials that act as messengers between cells. Working together, that is how these proteins stimulate each other, driving liver inflammation and fibrosis.”What if production of even one of the proteins produced by the genetic trio was interrupted?To find out, Lu’s group first induced liver inflammation and fibrosis in lab mice.They then treated those mice with a substance known as FDI-6 that blocks the protein produced by the FOXM1 gene.The result was impressive: Not only did this therapy put a halt to further fibrosis, it seemed to reverse some of the stiff fibrotic scarring of the mouse liver tissue that had already taken place.It’s a hopeful start, and the team noted that mice and humans share all three of the genes that are the focus of this research. Still, Lu and colleagues stressed that only further research can determine if treatments like FDI-6 might help people.More informationFind out more about liver fibrosis at the American Liver Foundation.SOURCE: Cedars-Sinai, news release, Oct. 29, 2024What This Means For YouScientists may have made a breakthrough in treating liver fibrosis, a potentially deadly scarring of liver tissue.FOX41 Yakima©FOX11 TriCities©