On November 24 at 12:30 PM, Zhang Chaoyang, founder, chairman, and CEO of Sohu.com, hosted a bilingual (Chinese-English) livestream on "Zhang Chaoyang's English Class," analyzing multiple international hot topics. These included the breakthrough in gene therapy for "Hunter syndrome," violent incidents in Sierra Leone, Africa, and progress in Russia-Ukraine peace talks. During the stream, he integrated English vocabulary lessons into news analysis, helping viewers stay informed while improving their language skills.
In the medical field, Zhang introduced the world's first successful gene therapy breakthrough for Hunter syndrome, achieved by the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital in the UK. The hospital successfully treated a three-year-old boy, Oliver Zhu, who suffered from this rare inherited condition. Hunter syndrome primarily affects males, where a genetic defect leads to the absence of a critical enzyme, causing progressive physical and mental deterioration, with most patients not surviving beyond 20 years.
One year after treatment, Oliver's condition has been effectively controlled, and he is now developing normally. As one of the first five families globally to receive this therapy, his mother repeatedly choked up while describing this "medical miracle."
Shifting to international affairs, Zhang also discussed recurring "black magic" crimes in Sierra Leone, Africa. An 11-year-old boy was brutally murdered and dismembered, with his organs allegedly used to make so-called "juju" charms. Such cases remain difficult to curb due to limited police resources and widespread local superstitions.
On geopolitical developments, Zhang cited reports that U.S. Senator Marco Rubio recently met with Ukrainian and European negotiators in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss a "28-point peace proposal" from the U.S., noting "tremendous progress" had been made.
Throughout the livestream, Zhang maintained his signature teaching style—writing key vocabulary on a whiteboard—while breaking down terms like "astound," "devastating disease," "halt," "disturbing," "traumatized," "mutilated," "witchcraft," and "ritual" within news contexts to enhance viewers' practical English skills. The session will later be segmented and summarized on Sohu Video’s "Follow Feed" for review.
Additionally, Zhang highlighted upcoming events on Sohu Video, including the "2025 Sohu Finance Annual Forum" on November 27 and the "Sohu Video Guofeng Awards" on December 7. He emphasized Sohu Video’s role as a social platform, encouraging interaction between new and existing users to foster a friendly, community-driven atmosphere.