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Greece Strengthens Defense with €650M Israeli Rocket Deal

A PULS multiple rocket launcher miniature and artillery rockets by Israeli Elbit Systems is exhibited at the DEFEA Defence Exhibition, in Athens. Greece’s parliament has approved the purchase of 36 PULS (Precise and Universal Launching System) rocket artillery systems from Israel’s Elbit Systems in a deal valued at approximately €650 million ($758 million) . The decision, reached late Thursday in a closed session of the Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, marks a significant step in Greece’s ongoing military modernization program. The PULS system is capable of firing a wide range of rockets and missiles with ranges up to 300 kilometers , offering high-precision, all-weather strike capabilities. This acquisition is expected to bolster Greece’s defense posture along its northeastern border with Turkey and enhance protection of Greek islands in the eastern Aegean. Officials confirmed that the purchase is part of Greece’s broader €28 billion military modernization plan running unti...

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Revolutionary Gene Therapy Restores Hearing in Deaf Toddler

 

In a remarkable medical breakthrough, an 18-month-old toddler named Opal Sandy has regained her hearing thanks to a pioneering gene therapy trial. Born deaf due to a rare genetic condition affecting the OTOF gene, which is responsible for producing a protein essential for hearing, Opal’s prospects for natural hearing were bleak. However, the innovative treatment at Cambridge University Hospitals in England has opened up a world of sound for her.

The procedure involved the infusion of a working copy of the OTOF gene into Opal’s right ear, a process that took a mere 16 minutes. Remarkably, within weeks, Opal began responding to loud noises, and after 24 weeks, she could hear whispers, indicating a near-normal level of hearing restoration.

Opal’s case is part of the Chord trial, which is recruiting more children from the UK, Spain, and the US to undergo similar treatment. The trial is being closely monitored, with participants followed up for five years to assess the long-term efficacy and safety of the therapy.

The success of this gene therapy is a beacon of hope for many suffering from genetic deafness, signaling the dawn of a new era in medical science where conditions once thought incurable are now within the realm of treatment. Opal’s story is not just a personal victory; it’s a milestone in genetic medicine, showcasing the incredible potential of gene therapy to change lives.

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