Skip to main content

Featured

Denmark Pushes Back as PM Urges Trump to Halt Greenland Annexation Threats

    The Danish flag flutters next to Hans Egede Statue in Nuuk, Greenland   Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has urged U.S. President Donald Trump to stop making threats about taking over Greenland, responding firmly to renewed comments from Trump about the island’s strategic value. Frederiksen emphasized that the United States has no authority to claim any part of the Danish Kingdom and reiterated that Greenland “is not for sale.” She noted that Greenlanders have repeatedly expressed their desire for self‑determination and that discussions about annexation are inappropriate between close allies. Trump’s remarks, made in a recent interview, revived earlier tensions over his interest in Greenland’s natural resources and military positioning. His comments also raised concerns in Copenhagen about the possibility of unilateral U.S. actions in the Arctic. Greenland’s leadership echoed Denmark’s stance, stressing that the island is a self‑governing democracy and s...

article

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.

Comments