In the 22nd Apr 18 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
Study
proves that Israeli medical reminder app saves lives.
·
One
quarter of all United Nations Ambassadors visited Israel on its 70th birthday.
·
300 drones
lit up Jerusalem’s skies on Israel’s 70th Anniversary.
·
An Israeli
app can quickly identify crop diseases and their treatment.
·
The first
Israeli startup venture fund for University students and graduates.
·
Two
Israeli TV series won top awards at Cannes.
·
Israel has
opened a 70km hi-tech Jewish historical trail in the Galilee.
·
Click here
to see the 15th Apr newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo
and United
With Israel with extra feature on Inclusiveness.
Also (TY Sandra) in German.
·
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Long-lasting MS
treatment.
Israeli biotech Mapi has developed a formulation of Glatiramer Acetate that
Multiple Sclerosis patients only need take once a month, rather than daily.
Glatiramer Acetate Depot is still in Phase 3 trials but Mapi has already sold
the marketing rights to multinational giant Mylan.
More generic
alternatives. (TY Atid EDI) Israel’s Teva
has launched generic versions of the anti-nausea treatment ALOXI and Lialda
delayed-release mesalamine. It is good
news for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and ulcerative colitis
sufferers respectively.
Glucose
monitor approved for iPhones. (TY Atid-EDI) I
reported previously (Jan 2016) that the Israeli Dario blood sugar monitor had
received FDA approval. Now approval has been extended for the device to be used
on the latest Apple iPhones including iPhone 7, 8 and X. http://mydario.investorroom.com/2018-03-26-DarioHealth-Receives-U-S-FDA-Clearance-for-iPhone-7-8-and-iPhone-X-Smart-Glucose-Meter
Smartphone-based
urine tests at home. Israeli startup Healthy.io has
partnered with the American National Kidney Foundation and Pennsylvania-based
Geisinger Health System to offer its home testing kits to U.S. patients. Healthy.io
transforms a regular smartphone into a device that performs lab-standard urine
analysis.
https://vimeo.com/195720514 BBC doesn’t mention Israel. CNBC does! https://vimeo.com/154610009
Diagnosing
resistant hypertension. (TY Atid-EDI) I
reported previously (Aug
2011) that Hadassah surgeons had devised and used an innovative tool to
treat resistant hypertension due to overactive kidney nerves. Now Israel’s Pythagoras
Medical has received the CE mark for its ConfidenHT System to help identify
such patients.
http://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/pythagoras-medical-receives-ce-mark-for-the-confidenht-system-677894643.html
http://www.rainbowmd.com/our-companies/
Israeli “nagging” app saves lives. (TY Atid EDI) I
reported previously (see here)
about the SimpleMed app from Israel’s Vaica that reminds patients to take their
meds. Now a Canadian trial has shown a 66% improved adherence for teen and
young kidney transplant recipients taking life-saving anti-rejection medicine.
Mental health
prescriptions by video. I reported previously (Nov
2014) about Israel’s Talkspace that provides on-line psychological advice.
Now US therapist physicians will begin prescribing medication using Talkspace’s
video chat facility to comply with state and federal regulations. Talkspace
already has 1 million users.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
12,000 strangers sing together in
Jerusalem. To celebrate Israel’s 70th Independence
Day, Koolulam invited 12,000 people (who hadn’t met before) to sing together in
a special event in Jerusalem. Together with Israeli singer Shlomi Shabat and
the Jerusalem Street Orchestra they performed Naomi Shemer’s “Al Kol Eleh”.
Co-working space for Orthodox Jews. I’ve reported previously (see here) on the work of
Israeli non-profit KamaTech to help integrate Haredi Jews into the hi-tech
industry. Now KamaTech has launched in
Bnei Brak “Ampersand” - the first ultra-Orthodox co-working space in Israel. It
is supported by Cisco and WeWork.
Arabic version of BoI website. Governor of the Bank of
Israel, Dr. Karnit Flug, hopes that the launch of the Arabic version of the
Bank of Israel website would encourage the Arab community to broaden its economic
knowledge and contribute to increased integration of the Arab community in all
parts of the Israeli economy.
40 UN Ambassadors
visit Israel.
40 United Nations Ambassadors (25% of the countries with ties to Israel)
came to Israel thanks to the American Zionist Movement and Israel’s UN Ambassador
Danny Danon. They met government officials, toured historical, religious and
strategic sites and joined in 70th Anniversary celebrations.
Breaking the deadly cycle in Africa. Israel’s Innovation: Africa
CEO Sivan Yaari links Africa’s poor health to its lack of doctors, medicine,
water and electricity. So, she delivers solar panels to African villages and
now they have electricity to pump water, to power refrigerators that can store
medicines for doctors to treat the sick.
Happy 70th birthday Israel, from the
White House.
(TY UWI)
The White House on released a video sending Happy Independence Day wishes to
Israel as well. The video shows President Trump and his family visiting the
Western Wall during their visit to Israel last year. The President also sent
his best wishes in a tweet.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Lighting up the skies
over Jerusalem.
During the 70th Anniversary Independence Day ceremony in Jerusalem, 300 Intel
quadcopters staged a light and music display in the sky. The drones weigh just
300 grams with LEDs to make 4 billion color combinations. Intel CEO Brian
Krzanich was in the audience.
$50 million boost for Quantum science
center. I reported previously (Jun
2016) on the Israel Technion’s opening of the Center for Quantum Science.
Now the Helen Diller Family Foundation has donated $50 million to recruit
staff, establish new infrastructure and fund research and development.
Food-tech hub near Lebanese border. The Israeli government has approved the allocation of $27 million
to build a food-tech research institute, startup accelerator and a micro
industry hub in its northernmost city Kiryat Shmona. The project, part of Israel
Initiative ii2020, includes budget to promote new startups in the region.
Honor for lab-grown meat inventor. Yaacov Nahmias of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was inducted as
a fellow of the American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering.
Nahmias invented Future Meat, the process for growing meat artificially. He also founded Tissue Dynamics (see
here) and its screening platform.
Free security for automobiles. (TY Atid-EDI)
I reported previously (see
here) on several Israeli companies providing security for cars. Now
Israel’s C2a (Cyber 2 Automotive Security) is supplying its technology free to
global auto manufacturers and suppliers. C2a’s Stamper system protects
connected cars at the microchip level.
The world’s first visual fragrance. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Amkiri
has launched the world’s first ever ‘visual fragrance’ technology. Amkiri has developed and patented long-lasting
“scented ink” which is applied to the skin via specifically developed
applicators. It allows the user to create body art combining scent and color.
Israeli app plugs Facebook data leak. Israel’s MyPermissions (soon to be “MyPrivacy”) prevents the misuse
of your data. It runs a scan on your smartphone, looking at social media
accounts (e.g. Facebook) and shows which third-party apps have access to your data.
You then can block access for any privacy-infringing apps.
Powering the largest super computers. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Mellanox has been chosen to accelerate the new 2-Petaflop NVIDIA DGX-2
artificial intelligence (AI) system. Mellanox adapters with smart acceleration
engines enable the highest performance for AI and Deep Learning
applications.
Detecting unsafe food. (TY Myer) I have reported
previously (see here)
on several Israeli startups that have developed devices to detect contaminated
food. Here is another – Inspecto can be used at any point in the supply chain and
displays its results in real time. Inspecto recently received an EU Horizon
2020 grant.
Saving crops from
disease and pests. (TY Lynn) Israeli startup Saillog
has developed Agrio - a smartphone app that allows farmers to upload photos of
diseased crops. AI and experts identify the pathogen responsible and
appropriate treatment. Misdiagnosis and late diagnosis results in 30% of global
agriculture yield losses.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
World’s second most cybersecurity deals. Tiny Israel ranked second
after the US for the number of deals involving cybersecurity companies between
2013 – 2017. Israel was ahead of the UK,
Canada and China. New York data firm CB Insights also named six Israeli
companies in its list of 29 pioneering “cyber defenders”.
University Venture
Fund. Tel Aviv University is to set up an early-stage
startup venture fund, the first of its kind by an Israeli university. It
has already raised some $20 million to invest in startups mainly by university
graduates or students. The university will also provide its labs, knowledge and
its network of contacts.
Need a ride? Share a bike. If you need to get around a city in Israel
you can catch a bus / minibus, call a taxi or rent a bike. Car2Go operates its Mobike service which
provide bicycles that you can pick up from a bike stand, pay for, scan the QR
code and you’re ready to go. Then drop off the bike at a stand near your
destination.
Elbit opens Berlin office. Israeli defense contractor
Elbit Systems has opened a Berlin office to help expand its activities in the
German market. The office will serve as its technological, industrial, and
commercial base in the country. Elbit employs around 12,500 people worldwide, of
which 10,000 are in Israel.
Nike buys Israeli fashion tech startup. I reported previously (see
here) on Israel’s Invertex which uses 3D imaging and Artificial Intelligence
(AI) to scan your feet, so you always buy the right size shoes. Now Nike, Inc. has acquired Invertex to help “create
the most compelling Nike consumer experience at every touch point”. https://www.timesofisrael.com/nike-buys-israel-computer-vision-startup-invertex/
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
What does it mean to be Israeli? This video may answer one of
the most complex questions of our time.
Then again, it might not! https://www.youtube.com/embed/RVwsV7L-WeQ?rel=0
The world’s new dining hotspot. Israel has one of the most
exciting dining scenes in the world, and it is just starting to be discovered
as a food destination like New York or London. Restaurateurs in Tel Aviv say as
many as 30 percent of their guests are now foreign visitors, led by Americans,
British, Russians, French and more.
3-day Yoga festival. The Israel Yoga Festival is underway for the third time from 7-9
June. It features over 80 of the leading
Yoga teachers in Israel and more than 1000 practitioners are expected to attend.
Cannes “Best Series”. The Israeli drama “When Heroes Fly” won the top honor of Best Series
at the Cannes International Series Festival. On accepting the honor on stage, actor
Tomer Kapon recited a Hebrew blessing. The other Israeli entry, the series
“Miguel,” took home the award for “Special Performance.”
Israel hosts 2018 European Judo
Championships.
(TY WIN)
As reported last year, (Apr
2017) Israel is hosting the European Judo Championships for the first time,
beginning on 26th Apr. Israeli medal prospects include Ori Sasson, Sagi Muki
and Tal Flicker. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrgjLnNrf0g
THE JEWISH STATE
Revival
of a Nation. Lovely 10-minute animation highlighting the
last 2000 years of Jewish history and the return to the Land of Israel. https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZJMS9sLHYTY?rel=0
“Am
Yisrael Chai”. Israeli
law currently prevents Jews from praying on Temple Mount. However, the
Jerusalem Magistrate’s court has ruled that it is permitted for visitors to the
Temple Mount compound to call out, “Am Yisrael chai” (“The people of Israel
live”), because it is a patriotic slogan rather than a prayer.
Stoudemire
is converting to Judaism. Former NBA All-Star Amar’e Stoudemire has long claimed to have “Hebrew
roots”, studied Judaism and practiced its cultural customs. Now he is formally converting
to the Jewish religion. Stoudemire partly owns hoops team Hapoel Jerusalem and
has his own brand of Israeli wine.
The Sanhedrin Trail. Thousands of Israeli school pupils and
volunteers have prepared a new public 70km path in the Galilee called the
Sanhedrin Trail. Tourists will learn the archaeology, nature and history from hi-tech
milestones that transmit data directly to smartphones. Many Jewish relics were
also found along the trail.
70
reasons to admire Israel. To celebrate Israel’s 70th
birthday, writer Robert Sarner has prepared a list of notable things Israel has
done over the past 12 months. He admits that it’s only a small sampling of what
the country has accomplished since Independence Day 2017. Apologies if I’ve
missed reporting any of these.
Israel
at 70 - mature and prosperous. Joseph Puder writes that the number 70 has significant meaning in Jewish
tradition. It recalls the 70-year
Babylonian Exile that led to the start of the 2nd Jewish Commonwealth in 530
BCE. Puder highlights similarities between the returnees from the Babylonian
Exile and Israelis today.
“I
am the luckiest Jew". Shmuel Rosner says it for me - in
the NY Times no less. “I am the Jew who gets to see Jewish ingenuity
unapologetically celebrated, Jewish material success flourish, Jewish might
acknowledged and the Jewish language rejuvenated. I am the Jew who after 2,000
years gets to witness Jewish political independence.” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/17/opinion/jewish-state-israel-70th-anniversary.html
