In the 25th Sept 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
Israeli
scientists have been able to stop breast cancer from spreading.
·
Israel’s
“bacteria or virus?” blood test received a huge grant from the EU.
·
Palestinian
Arabs entered Israel to celebrate Eid al Adha on Jaffa beaches.
·
Israel’s
first Ambassador to NATO presented his credentials.
·
See
Israel’s largest infrastructure project - the Jerusalem railway station.
·
Israel
sent a natural remedy to eradicate South Africa’s mealybugs.
·
Israel has
opened trade offices in Peru and Chile.
·
Ford and
Uber snapped up two Israeli autonomous vehicle tech startups.
·
“David
defeated Goliath.” Beersheba beat Inter Milan in Europa Cup soccer.
·
The
world’s oldest man celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, 100 years late.
·
Click here
to see the 11th Sept newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo
and United
With Israel with features on Health,
Global
Impact, Technology
and Culture.
Also (TY Sandra) available in German
and (TY Karen) available in Portuguese.
Please promote the terrific work of these volunteers by passing their links
onto German-speaking and Portuguese-speaking readers.
Page Down for details on these and more
good news stories from Israel. Thank You
to all who have sent me links to many of these positive news articles. Please
use IsraelActive to search the
archives.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Stopping the spread of
breast cancer.
In laboratory tests, researchers at Tel Aviv University and MIT have used
gene therapy to prevent metastasis - the spread of breast cancer to other parts
of the body. 80% of women with metastatic cancer die from the disease within
five years of being diagnosed.
A cure for motion sickness. MotionCure from Israel’s Sidis Labs can provide relief from motion
sickness within minutes. MotionCure’s combination
of a neck collar and a travel pillow transmits customized pulses to the median
nerve at the back of neck. These counter negative signals from the brain that
upset the stomach.
http://www.israel21c.org/a-device-that-pulses-away-motion-sickness/
http://www.sidislabs.com/motioncure
Treatment for Sickle Cell Disease. (TY Atid-EDI) The
first patient with Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) has received a transplant of
CordIn from Israeli biotech Gamida Cell.
CordIn is an alternative for patients awaiting a suitable match for bone
marrow transplants. Trials of CordIn are
planned for patients with aplastic anemia.
Patent for ocular neuro-protectant treatment. The US Patent and Trademark
Office has granted a key patent covering the treatment of patients suffering
from non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) with the
Company’s ocular neuro-protectant QPI-1007. Quark is a US company with its R&D
in Israel.
Boost for colon X-ray capsule. Israel’s Check-cap,
developer of the world’s first ingestible colon X-ray capsule, has announced
three key news items. It is partnering with
GE Healthcare to develop high-volume manufacturing. It also received $1.2
million from the Israeli government and $5.9 million from private sources.
http://ir.check-cap.com/2016-08-04-Check-Cap-Announces-Agreement-with-GE-Healthcare-for-X-Ray-Capsule-Manufacturing-Collaboration https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XDt36TW9d8Q
http://ir.check-cap.com/2016-08-02-Check-Cap-Awarded-1-25-Million-Grant-for-2016-From-Israels-Office-of-the-Chief-Scientist
http://ir.check-cap.com/2016-08-08-Check-Cap-Ltd-Announces-5-9-Million-Financing
More treatments from Teva. Israel’s Teva has launched in
the US the generic equivalent to Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) for the treatment
of leukemia and other cancer-related diseases. Also, Europe has approved Teva’s
CINQAERO (reslizumab) – the first intravenous anti-IL-5 biologic therapy for severe
eosinophilic asthma.
Europe funds Israeli
blood test for viruses and bacteria. The UN has prioritized fighting antibiotic
resistance. Meanwhile, the European Commission has granted 2.3 million Euros to
Israeli biotech MeMed to help develop its fast blood test that distinguishes
between bacterial and viral infections – and thus significantly reduces the
unnecessary use of antibiotics. (See
Aug 2015 newsletter)
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Israeli-product-that-pinpoints-viruses-bacteria-gets-European-grant-467771 http://www.bbc.com/news/health-31941538
Device to seal burst arteries. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s InSeal Medical has received CE Mark approval for its InClosure VCD
(Vascular Closure Device), designed to close large bore arterial punctures.
These could be emergencies such as abdominal aortic aneurysms or in procedures
such as heart valve replacements.
Corneal edema treatment approved for the
US. (TY Atid-EDI) The US
FDA has approved the Hyper-CL contact lens for the treatment of corneal edema
developed by Israel’s EyeYon Medical. The product is already approved for
marketing in Europe. About two million people develop corneal edema annually.
Using Virtual Reality to prevents falls. Tel Aviv University
researchers have proved that exercise using Virtual Reality (VR) systems can
halve the number of incidents of falls in the elderly. Falls in adults aged 65 and over account for
about 2% of all healthcare expenditures in high-income countries,
Pain relief machines for women in labor. Yad Sarah, the voluntary
organization that lends out medical equipment and offers many other services to
the ill, lonely and elderly, has bought hundreds of TENS machines. These
provide pain relief for women in labor and will be lent to expectant mothers
from Yad Sarah branches.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Dental clinics for the poor. Israel’s oldest charity
Colel Chabad has established nine dental clinics to serve Israel’s neediest. They
include Jerusalem, Afula, Akko, Ashdod and Netanya. Heavily subsidized prices
make oral hygiene affordable for thousands of adults who would otherwise have
no recourse.
After school programs for disadvantaged
kids.
Israel’s Knesset (parliament) has approved a bill allocating some NIS
500 million ($130 million) to the budget for after-school informal education
for children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. It will mainly teach
workforce skills to ultra-Orthodox and Arab children.
Everybody can do everything. (TY Bennett) The Special in
Uniform program proved that anything is possible when Shai Levi enlisted in the
IDF to work at the Eilat Naval base.
Shai suffers from Cerebral Palsy.
$374 million for Arab-sector housing. Israel is to allocate 1.41 billion shekels ($374 million) toward
building public housing for Israeli Arabs and to lift restrictions from
construction on private land. The
agreement with the heads of 15 local municipal Arab authorities will facilitate
the construction of 30,000 housing units.
Thousands of Arabs do National Service. In 2010, only 600 non-Jews
served in Israel’s national service program. Now, 4,500 non-Jews (mostly
Israeli Arabs) do national service, including 100 from East Jerusalem.
Participants volunteer for one to two years in public institutions like
schools, hospitals, courts or health clinics.
Integrating Arabs into hi-tech. (TY Dan) The ExcelHT program
from Israeli NGO IT Works provides much needed manpower to Israeli hi-tech
companies while providing employment opportunities for the Arab sector. ExcelHT
provides career counseling, coaching, English language skills and much needed
business contacts.
Palestinian Arabs
flock to Jaffa beaches. The entrance to Jaffa was turned into a
makeshift bus station as hundreds of Palestinian Arabs arrived in private buses
to spend Eid al Adha in Jaffa and the adjacent beaches.
New shopping mall for all. (TY Janglo)
A new mall for Jews and Palestinians Arabs has opened at the Gush Etzion
junction in Judea and Samaria. Muslim
women wearing hijabs and traditional dress, shopped alongside religious Jewish
women in skirts and scarves tied over their hair. http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/New-mall-for-settlers-and-Palestinians-opens-in-Gush-Etzion-464175
The fifth best country for social
entrepreneurs.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation poll of almost 900 social enterprise
experts in the world's 45 biggest economies ranked Israel as the fifth best
nation (after the US, Canada, Britain and Singapore) for social entrepreneurs –
people who use businesses to tackle social problems.
http://in.reuters.com/article/us-entrepreneurs-poll-findings-idINKCN11L0EV
http://poll2016.trust.org/country/?id=israel
Partnering with Australia’s Victoria
state. (TY
Dan) A delegation of eleven Victorian Coalition MPs took part in AIJAC’s Rambam
Israel Fellowship Program. They were especially impressed by Ben Gurion
University’s social entrepreneurs, OurCrowd’s “Our Innovation Australia Fund”
and Australia’s Landing Pad in Tel Aviv.
http://www.jwire.com.au/victorian-coalition-delegation-looks-israel-innovation-inspiration/
Hunting African wildlife traffickers. I reported previously (Nov
2014) on Israel’s Dr Bill Clark combating poaching in Kenya. Now another
Israeli, Ofir Drori, has launched the EAGLE network and put 1300 poachers behind
bars in Cameroon, Republic of Congo, Gabon, Benin, Togo, Guinea, Senegal,
Uganda and Madagascar.
Nigeria scientific delegation to Israel. (TY Dan) Nigeria’s Minister
of Science and Technology, Dr. Onu, went on a 4-day official visit to Israel, to
stimulate the Technology Acquisition and Transfer initiative. He was accompanied by the Heads of Nigeria’s
Space R&D and Environmental Sciences and Technology.
Israel’s first
ambassador to NATO.
Aharon “Ronny” Leshno-Yaar presented his credentials as Israel’s first
ambassador to the 28-member NATO military alliance. NATO announced upgraded
ties with Israel in May, recognizing an official Israeli representative and
granting Israel a permanent office at its Brussels headquarters.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Electric buses for Tel Aviv. The Dan bus company is to
run five new entirely electric buses on its No.4 route in Tel Aviv. The technology
uses supercapacitors rather than batteries, with a 3-minute recharge between
trips. Dan will introduce another 17 electric buses this year and intends to
replace its entire fleet with electric buses.
Jerusalem’s new
railway station.
(TY Janglo)
In 2018, Israel’s first high speed train is scheduled to leave Tel Aviv. It
will travel over Israel’s longest bridge, through Israel’s longest tunnel and
atop its tallest bridge, before (just 28 minutes later) reaching Jerusalem –
Israel’s deepest station and one of the largest in the world.
Protecting the Olympics. SayVU is one of the many
Israeli security products and services deployed in Rio to protect the Olympic
Games. It enables a user to send a distress signal to an emergency hotline even
if a phone is locked. The message can be sent by shaking the device, tapping
the camera button, or speaking into the phone.
Driving by laser radar. Israel-based startup Innoviz
Technologies is developing game-changing high definition solid state LIDAR
(Light Detection And Ranging) sensors that are essential for autonomous
(self-driving) automobiles. Current LIDAR systems are too large, complex,
expensive and unreliable.
http://spectrum.ieee.org/cars-that-think/transportation/sensors/israeli-stealth-startup-innoviz-promises-100-solidstate-automotive-lidar-by-2018
http://www.innoviz.tech/
Moovit increases people-power. The new Android version
(4.13) of Israeli crowdsourcing public transportation app Moovit allows its 40
million users to add information regarding stations including exits, elevator
outages, parking etc. www.geektime.com/2016/08/09/israeli-transit-app-moovit-expands-crowdsourcing-to-give-users-more-info-for-their-commute/
Showing Israeli tech to US sports
leagues. (TY
Dan) 13 Israeli companies visited San Francisco and New York to show the
world's leading companies their innovative sports technology. Innovations
presented included performance sensors, real-time video analysis, and new ways
of creating connection between fans and brands.
Math and science games go global. (TY Atid-EDI) I
reported on Israeli startup Slate Science previously (in
Dec 2012). Since then, its Matific educational math and science games have
been implemented in hundreds of schools worldwide and in 20 languages. Slate Sciences has just raised $45 million of
funding.
http://nocamels.com/2016/08/matific-makes-math-fun-for-kids/ http://www.slatescience.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qz1nzlP0E6c
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0CeYnbWayEI
Fast standalone mobile broadband. (TY Atid-EDI) The standalone
mobile system from Israel’s Celliboost is suitable for government, law
enforcement, emergency and media services in rugged, rural terrain. Customers
in Mexico and Chile have already purchased the fast, large-volume,
landline-quality, high-resolution data, audio, and video communications
system. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-celliboost-launches-secure-broadband-communications-for-rugged-terrain-1001143476
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0Ywo23Bvo8
Reducing parasites in
South Africa.
(TY NoCamels)
Israel’s Biobee has sent 160 million predatory wasps to South Africa in order
to reduce infestation levels of both the citrus mealybug and vine mealybug.
Biobee’s insects have previously been used effectively in Russia, the Balkans
and in Israel (see here).
Intel Israel’s merged reality system. Intel’s Project Alloy was
unveiled at Intel’s Developer Forum in San Francisco. The headset uses Intel Haifa’s RealSense
technology to merge objects in the real world with virtual reality (VR). Cameras
on the headset protect the user from collisions and allow them to see friends.
App puts fun into museum visit. Nathalie Half founded Israeli startup Museloop when her children
stopped joining her on her museum visits. Now when they walk through the
exhibits, the app plays “I Spy” or “Spot the difference” or makes a jigsaw
puzzle of the artwork or starts a trivia game. Some museums give incentives to
the winner. http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-start-up-brings-tech-to-museums-for-fun-games/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Exports jump 11.5%. Israel's exports continue
powering ahead: in June-August 2016, the export of goods (excluding ships,
planes and diamonds) rose an annualized 11.5%.
Exports of hi-tech goods and medicines were chiefly responsible for the
increase.
Another currency reserves record high. Israel’s foreign exchange
reserves at the end of August 2016 stood at a record $97,626 million - an
increase of $233 million from their level at the end of the previous month.
Expanding trade with
Peru and Chile.
The opening of trade offices in Peru and Chile increases Israel’s integration
with the Pacific Alliance – a trade group that includes both countries, as well
as Colombia and Mexico – bringing trade opportunities for Israeli firms in
South America and beyond.
Trade with Kazakhstan up 36%. (TY Dan) Trade between Israel and Kazakhstan rose 36 percent in the
first half of 2016 compared to the same period last year. Israel’s exports to
Kazakhstan (mainly manufactured goods and chemical products) amounted to $18
million (16 million euros), up $2 million from 2015. (See
also July 31 newsletter) http://www.laht.com/article.asp?ArticleId=2418615&CategoryId=12396
Reducing the cost of hotel rooms. (TY Atid-EDI
and Dan) The Knesset had passed a new law to encourage the building of hotels
and thus make tourism cheaper. It will
streamline planning and building procedures and offers incentives to
developers, including an allowance of up to 20% extra space for residential
construction.
A good future for fintech. (TY Dan) Fintech firms flourish in Israel due to strong overseas
interest, innovation and local talent devoted to addressing the specific needs
of this industry. Israel has approximately 430 fintech companies. Six are highlighted in this article, with “I
Know First” and “Leverate Ltd” new to this newsletter.
A gift to the UK. (TY Atid-EDI) I
reported on Israeli startup Zeek previously (in
Sep 2014). Zeek’s app and website allows users to buy gift cards and
vouchers at a discount and sell unwanted gift vouchers for cash. Zeek has since
expanded to the U.K. and has just raised $9.5 million to help fund the move and
further growth.
Helping to grow your online business. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s SoLoMoTo provides a digital platform to help small and medium businesses
(SMBs) control their online trading. SoLoMoTo now has over 100,000 customers
and is about to launch in the USA which has 30 million SMBs.
http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160808005224/en/Reaching-100000-SMBs-Internationally-SoLoMoTo-Enters-Market https://solomoto.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O73RPd914PA
Teva acquires US distribution company. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s Teva is spending another half-a-billion dollars to buy Allergan’s
Anda, the 4th largest distributor of generic treatments in the U.S. Teva will
acquire distribution centers in Olive Branch, MS; Weston, FL and Groveport, OH,
with a total of over 650 employees.
Finance systems for Monaco Telecom. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
BillRun has implemented an advanced billing system worth hundreds of thousands
of dollars for quad-play communication services at Monaco Telecom (MT). BillRun’s
charging systems have also been implemented at Israel’s Pelephone and Golan
telecom.
Big data can also get personal. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s Pontis (part of Amdocs) leverages real-time Big Data Analytics to
provide a unified and contextual view of every customer to keep them happy and
achieve company goals. Pontis has been ranked in the list of “100 Most
Promising Big Data Solution Providers” by CIOReview.
http://www.pontis.com/press-release/pontis-receives-recognition-as-one-of-the-100-most-promising-big-data-solution-providers-by-cioreview/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8nb7TDTEKI
The first mobile performance advertising
agency. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s Matomy Media Group is listed on the London Stock Exchange. It recently launched mtmy – a mobile
advertising agency offering a fully-managed service. In two months, Matomy’s
share price has risen almost 60%.
Ford acquires Israeli
autonomous car tech. (TY Izek) Ford Motor Co. has acquired Israel’s
SAIPS to strengthen its expertise in artificial intelligence and enhance
computer vision. It is part of Ford’s project to develop a fully autonomous
vehicle and put it on the road by 2021. SAIPS tech collects visual data through
sensors and translates it into usable data.
Uber acquires Israeli
autonomous trucks.
(TY Dan) Ride-hailing giant Uber Technologies has recently finalized a
$680 million acquisition of Otto Motors, an Israeli startup specializing in
converting normal trucks into autonomous ones.
Otto co-founder Anthony Levandowski will head Uber's self-driving
division.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Shakespeare comes to Tel Aviv. The Tmuna Theater’s 2016
International Theater, Performance and Dance Festival includes five dance
productions - from Germany, Poland, the UK and Israel. There are 12 theater and
dance premieres, workshops, movies and symposiums, all based around the works
of Shakespeare.
The best tour guide in Tel Aviv. Tourists will soon be
flocking to Israel for the Jewish festivals, so it is a good time to tell you
that our friend Samuel Green was recently awarded the title of “Best Bespoke
Tour Operator in Tel Aviv” by Luxury Travel Guide. http://myisraeliguide.com/
Sobar’s grand opening. The day has arrived – the
official opening of the smoke-free, no-alcohol, Sobar Music and Creative Arts
Club for youth in downtown Jerusalem.
Head to Shoshan Street in back of Yaffo 19 at 7pm on Tues 27th Sept. https://www.facebook.com/events/589648134574633/
www.sobarjerusalem.net
The Teder phenomenon. (TY Jacques) Teder.fm is a pop-up
radio bar, which appears every summer night at Beit Romano, a shopping mall
located at Derech Yaffo 9 (Jaffa Street) Tel Aviv. In the evening, Teder
(Hebrew for “frequency”) becomes a hip open air place with DJ music, beer and
pizza. By morning, it’s gone.
http://israelbetweenthelines.com/2016/09/15/tel-avivs-cult-frequency/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsYa0C-k8jE
Israeli animation wins design award. “Scapegoat,” a short film by
Bezalel Academy graduates Gal Haklay and Shulamit Tager, won first prize in the
original design category at the 13th annual Animation Block Party Awards in
Brooklyn. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I0VlFsNRk4
Paralympics medalists. Israeli athletes that won
medals in the Rio Paralympics include Moran Samuel (rowing bronze in arms-shoulders
women's single sculls), Doron Shaziri (shooting bronze in men’s 50-meter rifle
three positions) and Inbal Pezaro (swimming bronze in women’s 200M individual
medley)
Beersheba beats Inter
Milan. In
its first-ever European soccer group stage match, tiny Beersheba beat three-time
European Champions Inter Milan 2-0 in the Europa League at the Italians’ San
Siro stadium. It constituted one of the
greatest wins by an Israeli club in European competitions. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Beersheba-on-cloud-nine-Mac-TA-searching-for-explanations-468006
THE JEWISH STATE
2nd Temple High Priest’s stone
deciphered.
The inscription on a 2000-year-old stone weight, discovered in 2013
excavations of Jerusalem’s Tiferet Yisrael Synagogue, has just been translated.
It contains the family name Katros (in both Aramaic and ancient Persian) of a
Second Temple High Priest, mentioned in the Mishna.
World’s oldest man
celebrates Bar Mitzvah. The world’s oldest man, Holocaust survivor
Yisrael Kristal, now lives in Haifa. Due to World War 1, he was unable to
celebrate his Bar Mitzvah in Poland, so a few years late...100 years late… he
was called up to read the Torah for his delayed Bar Mitzvah – on his 113th
birthday.
Lone soldier center opens in Jerusalem. When Michael Levin, a lone
soldier who made Aliyah from the USA, was killed in the Second Lebanon War, it
set in motion a community-wide, grass roots effort to establish the Lone
Soldier Center. On Michael’s 10th yartzheit (anniversary of death) the
Jerusalem center opened. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/new-jerusalem-lone-soldier-center-opens-on-michael-levins-yartzheit/2016/08/12/
Nefesh b’Nefesh brings home 50,000. (TY Janglo
& Jacob) The 233 North American Olim that landed in Israel on 17th August
included the 50,000th immigrant to make Aliya through Nefesh b’Nefesh. They were greeted in a special ceremony at
Ben Gurion Airport by Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin.
Muslim and Arab Zionists are growing. (TY Phillip)
Muslims and Arabs who openly identify as Zionists are growing in number. Read
here about Muhammad Zoabi, Mahdi Satri, Ahmed Meligy, Nonie Darwish, Qanta
Ahmed, Mosab Hassan Yousef, Mohammad Hosseini, Gabriel Nadaf, Monaliza Abdo and
Lucy Aharish.
When things couldn’t get any worse…. The full entire support system of Ezer Mizion’s Cancer Support
Division was mobilized when both mother and father of a newborn baby were
diagnosed with tumors. Ezer Mizion provides services to over 660,000 Israelis,
plus its Bone Marrow Registry saves lives of Jewish cancer patients the world
over. http://www.ezermizion.org/blog/when-things-couldnt-get-any-worse/
Siblings reunited after 65 years. Just before the last Jewish
New Year, Simon Glassberg flew from Canada to Israel to meet his sister Hilda
Shlick (nee Glassberg) whom he thought had died in the Holocaust. In 1999 another Canadian brother, Karol,
entered Hilda’s details into the Yad Vashem database, to be discovered only in
2015 by Hilda’s Israeli grandson David Shlick. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGkF54fzG3I
160911
In the 11th Sept 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
Israeli
scientists have used brainwaves to deliver medications.
·
A
paralyzed stroke victim uses an Israeli eye control device to communicate.
·
Two
Israeli startups won the Beijing Global Innovation competition.
·
Intel’s
new 7th-generation microprocessor was developed in Israel.
·
An Israeli
company is installing fast broadband for Ghana and Angola.
·
The
world’s largest green investment network has launched in Israel.
·
Israel’s
female judoka Olympic medal winner has raised $50,000 for charity.
·
Fragments
of Second Temple floor tiles have been found in rubble from Temple Mount.
·
Click here
to see the 28th August newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours and United
With Israel with features on Health,
Global
Impact, Technology
and Jewish
State. Also (TY Sandra) available in German
and (TY Karen) available in Portuguese. Please promote the terrific work of these
volunteers by passing their links onto German-speaking and Portuguese-speaking
readers.
Page Down for details on these and more
good news stories from Israel. Thank You
to all who have sent me links to many of these positive news articles. Please
use IsraelActive to search the
archives.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Use your brain to
control nanobots.
(TY Nevet) Researchers at
Israel’s Bar Ilan University and the IDC in Herzliya have used brainwaves of
humans under strain, to control the release of medicine by tiny robots made from
shells made of DNA. The technique could
be used (for example) to treat schizophrenia or depression.
To diagnose genetic disorders. Israeli-based NRGene is the
only company in the world to map the genome for bread, pasta and wild emmer
wheat. Now it is turning its attention
to the human genome in order to help diagnose genetic disorders at an early
stage and strive to personalize medications.
Pain-free bladder treatments. (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli
startup Vensica Medical is developing the ‘VensiCare, a painless needle-free
ultrasound catheter system to deliver treatments for overactive bladder, bladder
cancer and interstitial cystitis.
Vensica has just raised $500,000 for R&D and completion of device
design.
First US patients for Chameleon balloon
catheter.
(TY Atid-EDI)
I reported previously (Jun
13) that Israel’s AV Medical had completed trials of its unique balloon
catheter that allows simultaneous angioplasty and fluid injection. AV Medical has just commenced using Chameleon
on patients in the US.
Tattoo removal laser gets US approval. (TY Atid-EDI) The US
FDA has approved three wavelengths of the PicoWay picosecond laser from
Israel’s Syneron Medical. The device
successfully removes tattoos of various colors.
Recent trials removed 22 tattoos from 15 patients with no side effects.
Monitoring insulin levels. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
DreaMed Diabetes is developing a decision support technology platform called
the Advisor to determine optimal patient-specific insulin treatment plans
leading to balanced glucose levels in people with diabetes. DreaMed has just raised $3.3 million for
development.
Rejoining his family
after 18 months as a vegetable. The amazing story of how Moti’s family
realized that, despite the paralysis from his stroke, Moti was still
there. Now he uses the Israeli device
Click2Speak to take part in conversations.
And he says that he’s happy! http://www.ezermizion.org/blog/is-he-still-there/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Lessening the tax burden for single
mums. (TY Jacques)
The Israeli Knesset has passed a new bill to help single parents join the
workforce. Now, those on income support
or child maintenance assistance are taxed only at the basic rate, irrespective
of how much they earn. It will help them
pay for daycare for their children.
Combating human trafficking. (TY SDM)
Israel is in the top category for battling human trafficking for the fifth year
in a row. There are several centers in
Israel help victims of human trafficking and Israel has created a system of real-time
cooperation between government offices. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Israel-shares-its-expertise-in-combating-human-trafficking-462545
The friendliest city for dogs. (TY Algemeiner)
Tel Aviv has 25,000 dogs - the highest (1 per 17) per capita anywhere. They
have access to 70 public dog parks and special beaches. A no-kill shelter, a city patrol checks on
animal abuse and 24/7 veterinary services for homeless animals. Aug 26 saw the first ever Festival of Dogs of
Tel Aviv-Jaffa. http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2016/8/16/tel-aviv-friendliest-dog-city-in-the-world
Changing Charedi education. (TY Sharon) The Bnei Brak organization Achiya is
changing the lives of thousands of Charedi children and their families. Achiya
employs 250 trained professionals to help over 8600 children with learning
difficulties ranging from ADHD to dyslexia to down syndrome.
Teaching Arabic on the streets of
Jerusalem. (TY
Hazel) Robby Berman decided that rather than give money to begging Arab
children from Hebron, he would bring them to Jerusalem to earn money teaching
Arabic to Israelis and tourists. It
turned into a unique “win-win” co-existence exercise.
Record quantity of goods enter Gaza from
Israel. (TY
Dan) In the first half of 2016, a record 88,800 trucks of goods were
transferred to the Hamas-controlled enclave through the Kerem Shalom border
crossing in southern Gaza. https://www.algemeiner.com/2016/08/26/report-israel-breaks-own-record-more-goods-trucks-entering-gaza-than-ever-before/
Saudi delegation to Israel. (TY Hazel) Abd al-Mujid
al-Hakim, director of the Middle East Center for Strategic and Legal Policy in
Jedda, is a member of the Saudi Arabian delegation that recently visited Israel.
He said, “The Israeli society that I encountered embraces a culture of peace,
has accomplishments it wants to (protect), wants coexistence, and wants peace.” http://www.jpost.com/Arab-Israeli-Conflict/Member-of-Saudi-delegation-Israeli-society-want-peace-462856
Israeli aid worker wins humanitarian
award. (TY
Brad) IsraAID chief Navonel Glick has won the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award
for his work on crises throughout the world.
IsraAID has served in Haiti, Japan, the Philippines, South Sudan, and the
USA during Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, the Colorado floods and the
Arkansas tornado. It has also assisted Syrian refugees landing on Europe’s
beaches.
Boosting ties with
Togo. (TY Dan) Togo is one of Israel’s strongest
friends in western Africa. Israeli President Reuven Rivlin told his counterpart
from Togo that his country’s ability in agriculture, together with
technological capabilities will be shared with the West African nation.
Israeli
startups win Global Innovation awards. Israeli startups won first and
second place at the Global Innovation Awards 2016 in Beijing. NiNiSpeech’s ingenious digital platform for
speech disorder treatment, won first place, and AerialGuard’s, autonomous
navigation system for unmanned aircraft, came in second. Each startup receives
$200,000 cash. http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=35631
Israel’s global impact. (TY Dan) A good article
summing up Israeli positive impact on the world. It includes security, drought solutions,
renewable energy, humanitarian aid and rescue missions.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Intel Israel develops
7th generation microprocessor. Intel has announced its most advanced,
next-level Core processor, named Kaby Lake. Its development was led by Intel’s Haifa
facility, with the promise of a double-digit rise in computer performance,
longer battery life and better security.
Enabling pilots to see through the fog. The new heads-up display
from Israel’s Elbit has been featured on Israeli Channel 2 TV. The system uses special cameras to analyze
wavelengths of light and project clear images onto a pilot’s goggles despite
inclement weather.
Detecting criminal behavior. I featured Israeli
cybersecurity company BioCatch several times previously (see here). Now BioCatch has launched “Criminal Behavior”
that can distinguish between the actions of a genuine user and a hacker by (for
example) how quickly they respond to a security question (e.g. date of birth).
New railway line completed. (TY Hazel) Israel Railways
has completed the Jezreel Valley railway between Haifa and Beit Shean. The
railway revives the line first built by the Ottoman Turks in the late 19th
century and closed by the British in 1946. It will ease the commute to Haifa Bay and also
become a tourist attraction.
24 solutions for California’s drought. (TY Hazel) The Israeli
Economy Ministry’s NewTech program brought 24 Israeli companies to the Israel-California
Water Conference in San Diego to offer water storage, management, treatment,
recycling and leak detection solutions. http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/Israel-leading-a-water-revolution-in-arid-California-457930
Transportation solution is up in the
air. Here is
the latest news about Israel’s SkyTran – the magnetic levitation monorail that
will whisk commuters to work at speeds of up to 250km per hour high above
congested roads. I’m looking forward to
its installation in Netanya in the not too distant future.
Turning the tables on the bad guys. (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli
cybersecurity company GuardiCore helps shut security breaches in data centers.
It also eliminates “false-positives”, vastly speeding up problem analysis. Guardicore has just raised $50 million to
help R&D and expand its commercial reach.
An app to make work simpler. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Capriza puts your company’s core applications onto your smartphone, making it
easy to do business inside and outside your organization. Capriza has just raised
$23 million in new funding to support its growing momentum and rapid customer
adoption.
Mega Internet speeds
for Ghana and Angola. (TY Atid-EDI) AfricaOnline
Ghana has selected and deployed the JET 3.5 GHz Point-to-Multipoint broadband solution
from Israel’s Radwin to cover the capital Accra and then Kumasi, Takoradi and
Tamale. Meanwhile, Internet Technologies Angola (ITA) has deployed a national
network using RADWIN’s Point-to-MultiPoint solutions.
Never leave your child in the car. (TY Karen) I featured the
BaPeep car alarm previously (July
2014) that reminds you to take your baby out of the car. Israel’s 2Find, however, is a small chip you
can put on the baby. Too much distance between the baby and the parent and it
sends an alert to the mobile phone of the parent.
A Master’s in wine cultivation. (TY Dan) The Hebrew
University of Jerusalem is launching an international MSc program in
viticulture and enology. The first of its kind in Israel, the program aims to
provide professional training in the growth, production, analysis and
management of wine. http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Hebrew-U-to-offer-Israels-first-masters-in-wine-cultivation-464501
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Unemployment down, growth up. Israel's unemployment rate
fell to a new all-time low of 4.7% in July.
The rate of participation in the workforce rose, to 64.4% from 64.1% in
June. And (TY Dan) Standard and Poor’s confirmed Israel’s A+ credit rating with
growth exceeding expectations and consumption soaring. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-unemployment-in-israel-falls-to-new-low-1001147453
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-08-16/israeli-growth-beats-economist-expectations-as-consumption-soars
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=35507
More planes for India. (TY Dan) Israel’s
HR Givon (Givon), manufacturer of metallic parts and assemblies for the
Aerospace industry, has been bought by India’s Wipro Infrastructure Engineering
(WIN) one of the largest independent hydraulic actuator manufacturers in the world.
Encouraging green
investment. (TY
Atid-EDI) ImpactNetwork,
the world largest network of green and social startups, is launching activities
in Israel. Impact Network will work in
partnership with Impact First Investments and TechForGood.
Another hi-tech R&D center. (TY Dan) Teridion, the US cloud-based networking company that
delivers fast Internet experience, has announced its new Research & Development
center in Israel, tripling the size of the former local office and getting
ready for new hires.
Helping Gujarat expand its eco-system. A 13-person government and business leaders’ delegation from the the
Indian state of Gujarat have been visiting Israel, to strengthen economic and
social ties between the two countries. http://www.timesofisrael.com/gujarat-team-seeks-ventures-inspiration-in-israel/
Making shipping easier and cheaper. (TY SDM)
I reported on Israel’s Freightos previously (in
Oct 2015). Now Freightos has set up
the world’s first online web market place for international freight - giving
businesses instant comparisons, booking, and management of freight services
from multiple logistics providers.
Frutarom gets a taste of the Irish. Israeli flavors company
Frutarom continues to expand by purchasing Irish savory taste solutions firm Redbrook
for 40 million Euros. Redbrook doubled
growth in 3 years to 22.7 million Euros.
It is Frutarom’s sixth acquisition of 2016.
Indian winners of Start-up Tel Aviv. (TY Dan) Israel’s ambassador
to India Daniel Carmon has announced the winners of the India leg of the Start
Tel Aviv contest. Two women
entrepreneurs - Komal Talwar, of Xlpat Labs, and Mausumi Acharyya, of Advenio
will be flown to Israel for the five-day startup program at Tel Aviv.
40 types of fruit. (TY Dan) Israel grows more
than 40 types of fruit and is one of the world's leading fresh citrus producers
and exporters, including oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and the pomelit, a
hybrid of a grapefruit and a pomelo, developed in Israel. Israel is also one of
the world’s top two exporters of olives.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
How amazing is Israel. (TY Avi) In under 3 mins, this video
shows how easy tourists can go from Israel’s holy sites through to experiencing
floating in the Dead Sea, skiing, Tel Aviv, wineries, clubs, bars, hiking, the
desert, the beaches, Masada, the people and of course the food. And it’s so safe.
Judo Olympic medalist
raises $50,000 for charity. (TY Steve)
Israeli Judoka Olympic bronze medalist Yarden Gerbi auctioned her signed
Olympic uniform nametag and raised 196,000 shekels (over $50,000) to support
children suffering from cancer at the Dana Children’s Hospital in Tel Aviv.
One of the best dressed Olympic teams. (TY Nevet) They didn’t win a medal for it,
but the outfits of Israel’s Olympic team were impressive. Their stylish blue-and-white athletic jackets
were a real hit.
http://www.algemeiner.com/2016/08/08/israels-olympic-athletes-rank-second-best-dressed-after-mongolia-by-usa-today-list/# http://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/08/17-best-parade-of-nations-outfits-from-the-opening-ceremony
THE JEWISH STATE
Honoring Israel’s rescue forces. Knesset members from across
Israel’s political spectrum gave an official salute and thanks to Israel’s United
Hatzalah and Israel’s search and rescue teams. MK Nurit Koren said, “The
scholars of the Talmud coined the term ‘he who saves a life it’s as if he saved
an entire world’.
Israeli nurse to Israeli nurse – a love
story. Nurse
Elie Schiff dedicated her Aliya to Israeli nurse Dafna Meir, who was murdered
by a Palestinian Arab terrorist in Jan 2015. Her connection to Dafna continues
to inspire her now that she has met the family and attended the Bat Mitzva of
Dafna’s daughter Noa.
Ancient frescos discovered in the
Galilee. 1900-year-old
frescos (wall paintings) have been unearthed at Zippori, the Jewish capital of
the Galilee that was home to many Jewish inhabitants throughout the Roman period. The frescos are the first, only and earliest
evidence of figurative images in wall paintings at the site.
Floor tiles from the
2nd Temple. The Temple Mount Sifting Project has
identified some 600 lavish stone floor tile fragments believed to have
decorated the Second Temple in Jerusalem. They were found in rubble dumped by
the Arab Waqf following illegal building on the Temple Mount in 2004.
Mosaic United. Mosaic United, formerly the
Israel-Diaspora Initiative, is investing millions of dollars into strengthening
Diaspora Jewry and its engagement with the State of Israel. Its first project is
a series of grants to Chabad on Campus, Hillel International and Olami. http://mosaicunited.org/our-vision/#our-mission
160828
In the 28th Aug 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
An Israeli-led
study has discovered chemicals to stop melanoma spreading.
·
Israeli
surgeons saved the life of an Afghan boy.
·
Israelis
are building shelters for victims of the Italian earthquake.
·
An Israeli
startup uses Artificial Intelligence to increase crop yields.
·
Israel is first
to produce a robot that can crawl, climb and swim.
·
A
2000-year-old synagogue has been unearthed in the Galilee.
·
Click here
to see the 14th August newsletter on IsraelSeen,
IsraPundit, Janglo
and United
With Israel with features on Health,
Inclusiveness,
. Also (TY Sandra) available in German
and (TY Karen) available in Portuguese. Please promote the terrific work of these
volunteers by passing their links onto German and Portuguese readers.
Page Down for details on these and more
good news stories from Israel. Thank You
to all who have sent me links to many of these positive news articles. Apologies for the late publication due to my
travelling computer having been repaired in the UK. The good news is that it is
now running faster than ever before and I hope to catch up when I return to
Israel in September. Please use IsraelActive to search the archives.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Breakthrough in search
for melanoma cure.
Researchers, led by Tel Aviv University’s Dr. Carmit Levy, have unraveled
the metastatic mechanism of melanoma (how it spreads to other organs). They have also crucially found chemical
substances that can stop the process - promising news for future treatments.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Israeli-researchers-closing-in-on-cure-for-melanoma-with-new-breakthrough-464749
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/216807
New treatment for fatty liver disease. (TY Karen) Hadasit, the
Hadassah Medical Organization’s technology transfer company, and Israel’s BioLineRx
are to develop a treatment BL-1210 for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or
fatty liver disease. It modulates the
immune system to reduce scarring that leads to cirrhosis. There is currently no FDA approved
treatments. http://www.hadassah.org/news-stories/NASH-liver-disease.html
Physiotherapy
using Virtual Reality. Israeli startup VRPhysio matches virtual
reality and physiotherapy to help patients exercise and speed up recovery. The system includes a headset, a mobile app,
weights and body sensors to monitor body movement and a set of virtual reality
games that aim to make exercising more fun.
A device to cure pelvic floor prolapse. (TY Dan) Israel’s POP
Medical has obtained US FDA approval for the marketing of its medical device
for treatment of pelvic floor prolapse. 20% of the women in the world suffer
from this condition at any given moment, and 30% at some time in their lives.
Diagnosing sleep apnea in pregnancy. (TY Nevet) 25% of pregnant women may suffer
from Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) but receive no treatment. Now researchers from Israel and the USA
recommend a new diagnosis, ‘‘Gestational Sleep Apnea” (GSA) to properly
describe, diagnose and treat OSA in pregnant women,
Helping the visually impaired. (TY Nevet) Israeli startup RenewSenses
develops the EyeCane, a small flashlight-like device that translates distance
into sound and vibrations. Also EyeMusic which translates color and shape into
music. RenewSenses has just joined Brainnovation - Israel’s Brain Technologies
accelerator.
New soft material for artificial limbs. Researchers at Tel Aviv
University and in the Netherlands have developed a breakthrough material that
can be “morphed” into any shape. The
programmable metamaterial could be ideal for prostheses or wearable technology
in which a close fit with the body is important.
Cardiac surgery saves
Afghan boy’s life.
(TY Ron) A covert operation has ensured that Yehia (born with multiple
heart defects) is the first Afghan to have been treated by Israel’s Save a
Child’s Heart organization, joining over 4,000 children from over 50 other countries
who have been saved by SACH.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
100 teachers for Israeli special needs
kids. (TY Eli) TALMA, the Israel Program for
Excellence in English, has brought some 100 teachers from English speaking
countries to Israel to teach English as a Second Language to underprivileged
elementary school pupils.
Nursing scholarships for 18 Ethiopians. (TY Karen) Eighteen Ethiopian young men and women have received
Lapan scholarships to fulfill their dream of becoming nurses. The Hadassah program helps new immigrants,
provides jobs, and strengthens health care in Jerusalem.
Innovation
for all. (TY
Dan) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, President Reuben Rivlin and
ex-President Shimon Peres laid the cornerstone for the Israeli Innovation
Center. Thousands of interactive screens,
will showcase the Start-up Nation and host an entrepreneurial hub for Israelis
of all ethnic and social groupings.
Israeli and Palestinian Arab joint water
programs. (TY
Dan) Whilst the global media misreports water issues in the Palestinian
territories, the UK is funding two joint Israeli-PA water research
programs. “Stream” finds solutions to
water problems. “Growth” brings
Palestinian Arabs to Israeli labs to study water technology.
Palestinian Arabs prefer Israeli
employers.
(TY Adela) A new Palestinian Media Watch report reveals the truth that
Palestinian Arabs rather work for Israelis than the Palestinian Authority.
Israelis pay twice the wages; Israeli law protects employees (no exploitation
or middlemen) and Israeli working conditions are much better.
Sodastream hires hundreds of Arabs. Israel’s Sodastream was
subjected to major boycott campaign when it employed hundreds of Palestinian
Arab workers at its Maale Adumim site.
Since that factory closed, it has moved to the Negev where it now
employs hundreds of Bedouin Arabs.
No hardship here. Dulan abu-Saleh, the mayor
of Majdal Shams, the largest Druze town in the Golan, told Makor Rishon that
the UN Economic and Social Council’s recent statement on the area was “a total
joke.” UNESCO had accused Israel of imposing economic and social hardships on
his community.
The best university in the Middle East. (TY Nevet) The Center for World University
Rankings, based in Saudi Arabia, has ranked The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
at number 26 of the 25,000+ degree-granting institutions in the world. The
annual rankings also place the Hebrew University at number 1 in the Middle
East. https://www.afhu.org/center-for-world-university-rankings-lists-hebrew-university-1-in-middle-east-26-worldwide/about
The 6th best international airport hub. (TY Nevet) Everyone knows that Ben-Gurion
International Airport is one of the most secure airports in the world (see
here) and the
best in the Middle East . Now a recent
poll of Travel+Leisure readers’ has ranked it as the world’s sixth best global
air hub.
Friendship
with Kurdistan.
For centuries, Kurdistan was once home to thousands of Kurdish Jews. Nowadays, the Kurds tend to see Israel as a
role model for an independent Kurdistan; a small nation surrounded by enemies
and bolstered by a strategic partnership with the United States.
The first to give aid
to Italy. A
team of 20 Israeli volunteers from IsraAID is the first foreign NGO to arrive
in quake-struck Italy. IsraAID is building temporary shelters for homeless
families, distributing food and other items, and providing grief counseling.
Israel has also offered to send search and rescue teams.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Gene sequencing ancient barley. (TY Eli) Scientists from
Israel, Germany, the USA and UK have genetically sequenced 6000-year-old barley
seeds discovered in the Yoram cave in Israel’s Judean Desert. The DNA-analysis will
provide essential information as to the origin, domestication and spread of
crop plants.
Artificial
Intelligence to grow better crops. Israeli startup Prospera uses artificial
intelligence to help farmers better monitor their crops. Using in-field cameras and climatic sensors,
farmers can irrigate, manage pesticides and fertilizers to achieve maximum crop
yields. Prospera has just raised $7 million of funding.
Israeli smart glass for Mercedes cars. I reported previously (Sep
2013) about Israeli startup Gauzy and its innovative glass that goes from
transparent to opaque and back again.
Now Gauzy has been selected to take part in Mercedes-Benz’s accelerator
program. Gauzy already has offices in
Israel, Hungary and Los Angeles.
Here’s looking at you. I reported previously (in
June 2015) on Israeli startup FST Biometrics and its ability to recognize
individuals from facial images, voice analytics and behavior. Recent attacks in Europe have prompted a huge
rise in demand for FST’s identification technology.
Games to help learn Math. Israeli startup Matific
develops educational math and science games for children in kindergarten and
elementary school. It enables students in
20 countries to access superior math tools in 20 languages at an affordable cost. Matific has just raised $45 million of
funding to expand distribution and R&D.
Engie on TV. (TY Karen) I featured previously (Jun 2015)
Engie – the Israel startup which provides an app that connects to your car via
Bluetooth and diagnoses mechanical faults.
It then helps you contact the repair shops that can fix your problem
efficiently at the lowest price. Engie was
just featured on Israel’s ILTV daily.
Robot can crawl, climb
and swim. (TY
Nevet) Engineers at Ben-Gurion
University have developed a 3D-printed robot called SAW (Single Actuator
Wave-like) that can move quickly, forward or backward, in a wave-like motion
over unstable terrain. It can even be miniaturized
for travelling internally through the human body.
https://aabgu.org/slithering-robot-is-an-engineering-first/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w25zF1bWx5o
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
More efficient deliveries. (TY Dan) Israeli startup
Bringoz helps its clients deliver purchases to customers in the most efficient
way. Bringoz’s algorithms organize
couriers to combine shipments to avoid unnecessary transportation costs. They take into account urgency, route,
volume, weather and more.
The
Australians are landing. A delegation of 10 Australian cybersecurity
and fintech startups will take part in an accelerator program in Tel Aviv in
September to boost Sydney’s position as an innovation hub. It is part of the Australian Government’s Landing
Pads initiative to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in Australia.
Support Israel – buy an ibox. (TY Adela) Now you can
counter BDS attempts to boycott Israeli goods by ordering an ibox. The ibox is a surprise box consisting of
Israeli products, that is delivered to your door. The specialty ibox will let you hear, taste,
see, smell and feel Israel. Profits will benefit organizations fighting BDS.
Hi-tech mutual funds to benefit Israeli
investors.
The Israeli Government is promoting mutual funds for investing in public
and private high-tech companies. In this
way, the Israeli public can participate in Israel’s high-tech sector – an area
dominated previously by overseas shareholders.
Israel’s economy is an island of
stability.
Ambassador Yoram Ettinger’s latest report shows Israel is one of the top
five world high-tech powers thanks to billion-dollar investments by Apple, USA,
China, Russia and India. GDP has doubled
since 2006, FX reserves are over $90 billion, unemployment is falling, etc.
etc. Jonathan Adelman also writes a very
positive analysis “Israel emerges as a player on the World stage”.
http://bit.ly/2atXxd8 http://www.jpost.com/Opinion/Israel-emerges-as-a-player-on-the-world-stage-462251
Oxford University press – latest news. (TY Dan) I reported
previously (Feb
7) on the digitizing tie-up between Oxford University press and Israeli
start-ups Tiny Tap, Kidoz, and Total Boox.
Here is how they have been progressing.
http://publishingperspectives.com/2016/07/israeli-startups-oxford-university-press/
Fly from Terminal 1. (TY Janglo)
After the new Terminal 3 was opened in 2004, Terminal 1 has been used initially
only for domestic flights and check-in, border control and security for
international flights. Passengers are bused to Terminal 3 to board the plane. But in summer 2017, passengers could board
flights at Terminal 1, eat at restaurants and shop at duty free stores. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4835318,00.html
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Israeli designer has 4 London shows. (TY SDM)
Israeli artist, architect and designer Ron Arad has three major public artworks
on display in London, plus a solo exhibition at a Mayfair gallery. His exhibit
“Spyre” is a 16-meter high, constantly moving steel sculpture in the Royal
Academy’s Annenberg Courtyard.
Take a bite of Haifa. (TY Jacques) A new special sightseeing
tour is aimed to show that Haifa has much more to offer than the visit of the famous
Bahai Gardens: With the Haifa Street Food tours you can experience the city
with your taste buds. http://israelbetweenthelines.com/2016/08/04/take-a-bite-of-haifa/
The vibrant flavors of Israeli food. (TY SDM)
The UK’s Telegraph featured the new East-London restaurant “Struck & Cluck”
owned by Israel’s Amir Chen. It also
mentioned Barbary in Covent Garden, Honey & Co in Warren Street and Shwarma
Bar in Exmouth Market – all run by Israelis.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/food-and-drink/features/a-cuisine-without-borders-the-vibrant-flavours-of-israeli-food-i/
If I forget you, Jerusalem. (TY Janglo)
A beautiful rendition of “Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim” (If I forget you
Jerusalem) by KOLture Shock. Signalling the end of the sadness of the Three
Weeks between the fasts of Tammuz and Av. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulNTsAQbMsc
Jessye Norman receives Wolf Prize for
music. (TY SDM)
70-year-old American-born iconic opera singer Jessye Norman received Israel’s
coveted Wolf Prize for Music. Poor health prevented her from collecting it last
year and she almost missed out again this year, arriving in an electric
wheelchair after fracturing her ankle.
THE JEWISH STATE
Home for all Jews - plus. Arifa and Assad Farajov recently
immigrated to Israel from Azerbaijan.
Arifa, the wife, is Jewish and a lecturer in Russian literature. Assad,
her husband, is Muslim - a former military judge who says “I've fallen in love
with Israel.” Arifa’s grandmother was a Rabbi’s
daughter who also married a Muslim.
Be fruitful and multiply. The average Israeli
household has three children, nearly double the OECD average. But it puts a strain on the childcare
system. Israel’s oldest charity, Colel
Chabad runs a network of daycare centers across Israel. They provide children nutritious breakfasts,
lunches and snacks six days per week.
Nine new Rabbinical judges. (TY Sharon) For the first time in nine years,
nine new dayanim (Rabbinic judges) were appointed to the Supreme Rabbinical
Court - Israel's highest. They include Rabbis who have served in the IDF. The appointments committee included its first
female member, Dr Rachel Levmore.
Jerusalem, old and new. (TY Sharon) The Talpiot neighborhood of Jerusalem
used to be known mostly for its garages.
But as another tech startup initiative opened in the area, the garages
are being replaced with modern office buildings and showrooms. https://rjstreets.com/2016/07/28/jerusalem-old-and-new/
2000-year-old
synagogue unearthed. The remains of a structure that served as a
synagogue during Second Temple times have been unearthed in an archaeological
excavation at Tel Rechesh in the heart of the Nahal Tavor Nature Reserve in Israel’s
lower Galilee. Eight 2nd Temple synagogues have been discovered in Israel.
160814
In the 14th Aug 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
A new
Israeli treatment can prevent damage from strokes.
·
Israeli
helicopters evacuated 8 wounded Syrians including 2 children.
·
Israel is
helping Cameroon to prevent the spread of bird flu.
·
An Israeli
startup can identify a sweet watermelon from its photo.
·
One of
Israel’s oldest companies is building roads in Colombia.
·
Two
Israeli judokas have won Olympic medals.
·
My latest
Israel Good News feature. Click here for
“Funny
but True”. Also published on the Jerusalem
Post, IsraelSeen,
San
Diego Jewish World and United
With Israel websites.
·
Click here
to see the 31st July newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, IsraPundit,
Janglo
and United
With Israel. Also (TY Sandra)
available in German
and (TY Karen) available in Portuguese. Please promote the terrific work of these
volunteers by passing their links onto German and Portuguese readers.
Page Down for details on these and more
good news stories from Israel. Thank You
to all who have sent me links to many of these positive news articles. Due to computer problems in the UK, the
newsletter is shorter than usual. I’ll catch up when I return to Israel in September. Please use IsraelActive to search the archives.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Countering the effects
of strokes.
(TY Eli) Israeli biotech Pambio is developing a treatment that prevents
bleeding and subsequent damage from brain hemorrhages. No existing treatment exists. Pambio has just received $7 million of
funding. http://www.geektime.com/2016/07/18/nazareth-based-startup-pambio-raises-7-million-to-battle-long-term-effects-of-stroke/
There is no “good” cholesterol. Scientists at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem, including Professor Jeremy Kark and Dr Chobufo Dita
from Cameroon, have confirmed in tests on 504 Arabs and Jews that small dense protein-rich
high-density lipoprotein particles (MS-HDL-P) protects against coronary heart
disease and not cholesterol-rich HDL-C.
http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/32119
Using prawns to fight deadly parasite. Researchers at Israel’s Ben
Gurion University are studying how to use male prawns in Africa to kill the parasitic
worm that causes Schistosomiasis (Bilharzia).
The disease affects 200 million people worldwide, coming only second to
Malaria in terms of the devastation it causes.
Sleep Apnea device approved for teens. The US FDA has approved the
use of the WatchPAT Sleep Apnea device from Israel’s Itamar Medical being
extended to adolescents of twelve years old and above. Previously, WatchPAT was only approved for
use on those aged seventeen and above.
The secrets of antisocial behavior. Scientists at Israel’s
Weizmann Institute have discovered in laboratory tests that the molecule Urocortin-3
acts as a “social switch”. High
concentrations the molecule increases social interactivity, but blocking the
molecule turns the subject into reclusiveness.
The treatment that will cure MS and ALS
and more.
(TY Nevet) Very uplifting
article by Paul Alster on the trials at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center of
stem cell treatments for Multiple Sclerosis, ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) and potentially
other brain diseases and strokes.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Bike paths for the disabled. (TY SDM)
Athletes with physical disabilities who use adaptive bicycles like hand cycles
will now be able to utilize dozens of kilometers of bike paths thanks to a new
5.7-million shekel Accessible Cycling Complex at the National Sport Center in
Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park.
Israel’s Wonder Woman empowers women. (TY SDM)
Gal Gadot, the Israeli actress who plays the role of Wonder Woman in the film Batman
vs Superman, is the star of a new campaign to highlight the talents and
uniqueness of Israeli women. The video
also features an IDF pilot, a business woman, a doctor and a surfer.
Still saving Syrian
lives. (TY SDM)
In just one week, eight Syrians who were severely injured in artillery
strikes on a hospital were evacuated by Israeli helicopters from Syria to
Israel. They included two children, aged
7 and 11. Israel has treated 2,500
wounded Syrians over the past 3 years.
Solving Indian health problems. The India Israel Affordable
Healthcare Hackathon 22-24 July brought 600 participants to Tel Aviv, Mumbai,
Hyderabad and Bangalore. They developed innovative ideas and prototyped
solutions to address the healthcare challenges of lower-middle income
communities in India. Israeli teams won
prizes for addressing malnutrition and hearing impairment. http://www.med4dev.com/#!tel-aviv/r87q7
Helping fight bird flu
in Cameroon.
(TY Dan) Israel has provided urgent assistance to Cameroon to help fight
the spread of the bird-flu virus. The Israeli Embassy in Cameroon initiated and
organized the arrival of emergency protective equipment. http://cameroon-concord.com/business/item/6474-the-state-of-israel-has-provided-urgent-assistance-to-cameroon-to-help-fight-the-spread-of-the-bird-flu-virus
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Hi-tech protects the Old City. The Mabat 2000 observation
and intelligence center counters crime and terror attacks in Jerusalem. 36 hi-tech touch screens receive real-time images
from 320 CCTV cameras at the nine entrances to the Old City providing fast response
data in any incident. Police and
homeland- security delegations from around the world regularly visit the
facility.
Protecting hospital data. Israeli cybersecurity Votiro’s unique “zero-day” technology quarantines
emails containing malicious software that locks hospital systems and issues
ransom demands to unlock it. Jerusalem’s
Alyn Hospital for special needs children has just installed Votiro’s software
to protect it against such threats.
Beginning of the end for supermarket
checkout queues.
(TY Janglo)
The barcode self-scanning and checkout payment smartphone app from Israeli
startup SuperSmart could be the start of a revolution in Israeli grocery
shopping. The app is currently on trial
at an Osher Ad supermarket branch in Tel Aviv.
A perfectly sweet
watermelon. Salah
Abd Alhalem, Adam Garah and Ayman Sarha’an from Israel’s Technion Institute
have invented a device that correlates a watermelon's internal and external
appearance. Using three pictures of the melon at different angles, an algorithm
determines its taste rating with 100% accuracy.
Alternative fuels summit. Tel Aviv will host the
fourth annual Fuel Choices Summit on 2-3 Nov. It will explore and exhibit
innovation in alternative fuels and smart mobility. Israel’s Prime Minister will award the 2016
Samson Prize for a major breakthrough in the field of alternative fuels for
transportation.
http://www.israelscienceinfo.com/en/hightech/fuel-choices-summit-sommet-international-sur-les-combustibles-alternatifs-2-3-nov-2016-a-tel-aviv/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJCxNFJvGes
Two medals at Chemistry Olympiad. (TY IsraelSeen)
Israeli high school students Ron Solan and Rina Svotianovwon a silver and a
bronze medal at the annual International Chemistry Olympiad which took place in
the Georgian capital Tbilisi. 264 high students
competed from 66 different countries.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israeli and US minds combine. "Excel Ventures,"
an extension of the specialized Birthright Israel Excel program, brought 10
American business students, and 10 Israeli ex-tech soldiers, together for a 10-week
"start-up training boot camp" in the heart of Tel Aviv. The Israelis bring their problem-solving
skills and the Americans bring their business acumen. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/215762
Tax cut plans for hi-tech companies. Israel’s Finance Ministry
plans to cut corporate tax for multinational hi-tech companies that register
their Intellectual Property in Israel.
The move would encourage large companies to move or continue with their
Research & Development in Israel.
Israeli games company sold for $4.4
billion. A Chinese
consortium has bought Israel’s Playtika for $4.4 billion - the third largest
sale in Israel’s history (TY Dan).
Playtika is based in Herzliya, but is owned currently by Caesar’s
Interactive Entertainment. Playtika’s
games are played daily by over 6 million people in 190 countries, in 12
languages, and on at least 10 platforms.
Intel invests in 3 more Israeli
startups.
Intel Capital, the global investment arm of the US-based chipmaker Intel
Corp, has invested in three additional Israeli startups - Velostata, Panoply.io
and Sedona Systems, for a total of $25 million.
Intel Capital has invested over $345 million in Israeli companies since
1997.
Fashion House reborn after 62 years. (TY Dan) Fashion house Maskit was founded in 1954 by
Ruth Dayan - wife of Moshe Dayan. Then
in 2011, young Israeli designer Sharon Tal, inspired by the dress worn by Kate
Middleton at her wedding with Prince William, contacted Ruth (then nearly 100)
and Maskit was relaunched.
Building roads in
Colombia.
Israel’s Shikun & Binui is to build a 100-mile (154km) toll road
near Bogota, the capital of Colombia in South America. The contract is worth around $640 million.
Enabling financial services for
micro-businesses.
(TY SDM)
Israeli startup Sling has been bought by Brazilian Avante. Sling allows independent traders to access
essential business financial services direct from their smartphones. Sling was extremely popular in Israel and
plans to service 10,000 merchants in Brazil.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Santana’s amazing concert. Carlos Santana performed in
front of 25,000 fans in Tel Aviv’s Yarkon Park.
Israellycool has published dozens of video clips. Santana’s encore included
“Exodus” and “Hava Nagila”.
Get to know Tel Aviv. (TY Nevet) Forbes journalist Breanna Wilson
recommends Tel Aviv as the destination of the year. She particularly liked the hotels, food and Neve
Tzedek - one of the oldest and now trendiest districts in town. http://www.forbes.com/sites/breannawilson/2016/06/08/get-to-know-tel-aviv-3-things-not-to-miss-in-israels-coolest-city
Stoudemire to play basketball in Israel. Former NBA star Amar’e
Stoudemire has signed to play for the Hapoel Jerusalem basketball team for two
years. “My family and I are excited to start a new journey in Israel, a country
I have grown to love,” he said. Stoudemire,
33, retired from the NBA after a 14-year career.
The first Israeli NASCAR driver. I reported previously (Feb
2012) that an Israeli team had joined the NASCAR racing league. On Aug 13, Alon Day became the first Israeli
driver to compete in the NASCAR league, taking part in the Xfinity Series race
at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.
Israel wins two
Olympic medals. Israeli judokas won two bronze medals at the Rio Olympics – the
first medals since 2008. Yarden Gerbi
won bronze in the women’s under 63kg class.
And Ori Sasson won bronze in the men’s over 100kg event.
THE JEWISH STATE
Against the odds, victim recovers. Tzvika Cohen returned home from
hospital, five and a half months after being brutally attacked by an
axe-wielding Arab terrorist. Doctors had
predicted that Tzvika might never wake up (he was comatose for 3 weeks) or be
paralyzed for life. He is now able to
walk and shower on his own.
1000 FSU Birthright participants
celebrate Israel.
1000 Russian-speaking Birthright Israel participants celebrated Israel
as a land of diversity and opportunity at the Wohl Centre in Ramat Gan. Around 45,000 Russian-speaking young adults
have experienced Israel through Taglit-Birthright over the past 16 years.
That’s what I call a welcome. When the Weisel family from
New Jersey arrived on Aliya to their new home in Moreshet, they received a
tremendous welcome from the townspeople.
160731
In the 31st July 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
Europe and
the US have approved innovative Israeli compact MRI scanners.
·
The IDF’s
new Chief Medical Officer is a Druze Arab.
·
Israeli
students used an Israeli satellite to take a selfie from space.
·
Israeli
drip irrigation is revolutionizing mushroom farming.
·
An Israeli
security surveillance system will protect Uruguay.
·
The first
Israeli woman to win a European championship athletics medal.
·
Mosaics
depicting Biblical scenes were found at a 1600-year-old Galilee Synagogue.
·
Click here
to see the 24th July newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Janglo
and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact. Technology
and Jewish
State. Also (TY Sandra) available in
German
and (TY Karen) available in Portuguese. Please promote the terrific work of these
volunteers by passing their links onto German and Portuguese readers.
Page Down for details on these and more
good news stories from Israel. Thank You
to all who have sent me links to many of these positive news articles. Due to high volumes, some have been held over
until next week.
Please use IsraelActive to search the archives.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
The power to see
inside. (TY Atid-EDI & Dan)
Israel’s Aspect Imaging develops small, affordable and innovative MRI scanners. Its non-claustrophobic WristView scans limbs (e.g.
wrist and hand) and Embrace scans newborns.
WristView has just received the European CE Mark, to add to its existing
US FDA approval.
Good feelings can kill bacteria. (TY Nevet) Scientists at Israel’s Technion
Institute have stimulated the feel-good center in mice and discovered that
their immune cells were able to kill twice as much bacteria than those of non-stimulated
mice. The results, published in nature
medicine, could explain the placebo effect.
New treatment for cancer. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Rosetta Genomics has received a patent for its miR-34 treatments of p53-negative
cancers including lymphoma, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, liver cancer, skin
cancer, certain types of lung cancer, and others.
A better test for prostate cancer. Israeli founded Cleveland
Diagnostics (CDX) is developing a technology and test kit that can eradicate
inconclusive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests. CDX says it will save the
$4000 cost per negative biopsy, currently necessary in 70% of current testing.
And another one. Israel’s Micromedic
Technologies (part of Israel’s Bio-Light Life Sciences) reported positive
results in a trial of its prostate cancer diagnosis solution. Its CellDetect technology was used to
diagnose samples from 18 patients and healthy subjects, and both groups were
accurately diagnosed.
Another step forward in fighting
melanoma.
Almost a year ago (see
here) Tel Aviv University researchers found what triggers melanoma cells to
become malignant tumors in the brain.
Now they have uncovered an early warning of that event by detecting the
brain’s inflammatory response to microscopic invading tumor cells.
Upgraded spine surgery robots. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Mazor Robotics has launched FDA-approved Mazor X, “a transformative platform
for spine surgeries”. Mazor’s current
range guides surgeons in spine operations. The new platform also helps planning
through to verification. Israel’s
Medtronic has already bought 15.
Snack vegetables to replace fast foods. (TY Dan) Israel’s Origene
Seeds is developing a range of snack vegetables which aim to replace fast food
snacks. The “Sweet Drops” mini-size
cucumbers and peppers have a long shelf-life and will be marketed in special
packets as "Finger Food" for work, school or leisure.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israel’s first deaf EMT. Nechama Loebel, deaf since
birth, has become the first deaf person to successfully become an Emergency Medical
Technician in Israel. She works for
United Hatzalah and will be provided with alternate solutions to the audible
stimuli that are necessary to properly treat injured and sick people at the
scenes of medical emergencies. http://israelrescue.org/blog/united-hatzalah-graduates-first-deaf-emt-in-israel/
The first woman in charge of a power
plant. (TY Nevet) Rinat Avrahami Karniel is the
first woman in Israel to become a power plant director. She has been appointed head
of Ashkelon’s Rutenberg Power Station – one of the two largest in Israel. Rinat has two master’s degrees and has
worked for Israel Electric for 20 years.
Druze officer heads
IDF Medical Corps.
(TY Nevet) The IDF has named
Dr. Badar Tarif from Israel's Druze Arab minority as its most senior medical
official. Dr Tarif will be promoted to Brigadier
General and take up the post of IDF Chief Medical Officer. It is the first time
a Druze will hold the position. (See him on youtube.) http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/214807
The world’s first blood bank for birds. (TY Dan) Israel's Wildlife
Hospital has opened a blood bank for birds that arrive injured to the country
during migration. Hospital veterinarians
realized that they could better treat the birds if they had a blood bank for
them because, much like humans, birds have different blood types.
Israel opens border for Syrian humanitarian
aid. For the
first time since the Syrian civil war began, Israel has formally opened its
border for delivering humanitarian aid into Syria. Moti Kahana, founder of Israeli NGO Amaliah,
said that medicines, food and schoolbooks are transferred into a “Safe Zone”
around Quneitra.
Global diplomacy improvements. (TY Dan) A summary of
Israel’s improving relations with Africa, Latin America, China, India, Japan,
South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Cyprus, Greece, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the
UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Russia and Turkey.
And excellent defense, security and intelligence cooperation with the
USA. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-adds-diplomatic-skill-to-its-armory-1001138089
Growing cooperation with Kazakhstan. (TY Dan) Kazakhstan is
likely to be the chief beneficiary of the free trade zone that Israel entered
into in Nov 2015 with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Israel imports over
$1.4 billion worth of goods from Kazakhstan each year. Security cooperation is
also at its highest level.
Technion students take
selfie from space.
Students in International Space University’s Space Studies Program at Israel’s
Technion Institute had a group selfie photo. It was taken from a height of 520
kilometers by the EROS-B satellite, built by Israel Aerospace Industries and
operated by Israel’s ImageSat International.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Israeli medals at Physics and Math
Olympiads. (TY
UWI)
Israel was 19th of the 87 countries competing in the Physics Olympiad in Zurich,
winning 3 silver medals and a bronze. Israel
was ranked 22nd among 109 countries that took part in the Mathematical Olympiad
in Hong Kong, winning 3 silver and 3 bronze medals.
Genome mapped of durum wheat. Israel’s NRGene made a major
contribution to completion of the project to assemble the 12 billion base pairs
of durum wheat genome - the source of semolina, the key ingredient of pasta. It will result in better varieties of durum
wheat - one of the world’s major food sources.
A concrete bench from a paper mold. (TY Dan) Israel’s Skitza
Print have used their Israeli Highcon Euclid digital cutting machine to produce
a 4000-layer mold from recycled paper for a spectacular two-meter bench
(entitled Morpheus) made from Israeli Eco-concrete. The bench is being exhibited in Taipei until
mid-August.
A trap for the hacker. (TY Dan) Israeli
cybersecurity firm Cymmetria uses deception to lead computer hackers into
thinking they have the upper hand. Cymmetria
uses decoys and “digital breadcrumbs” to lure the hacker to its “MazeRunner”
platform where they are detected and analyzed.
Transforming soil for building roads. (TY Dan) Israel’s I-Tec-W holds
a patent in 96 countries for its Zymtec soil stabilization technology that
allows roads and buildings to be built ecologically. The “Israelite” technology is currently being
tested by Kenya in order to help construct 3,500 km of new road infrastructure.
The diamond business goes hi-tech. (TY Dan) In May, Israel’s
OGI Systems launched OGI Maximus - the first-in-the-world innovative scanner
system for easily measuring extra-large rough diamonds. Then in June, it announced OGI Solico – the
first “magic box” that plans and then cuts rough diamonds.
Water difference. (TY Harold) There is a
lovely quote in Rowan Jacobsen’s latest article, inspired by his visit to
Israel’s (and the world’s) largest water desalination plant at Sorek. “A few miles from here (Syria) water
disappeared and civilization crumbled. Here, a galvanized civilization created
water from nothingness.”
Drip irrigation to
save mushroom industry. (TY Dan) Israeli water specialist Netafim has
developed Mushroom Master - the world’s first drip irrigation system for
mushrooms. It reduces reliance on
expensive heavy peat casing soil to hold large amounts of water. Underground irrigation also avoids bacterial infestation.
Plants can take risks. (TY SDM)
A study by scientists at Israel’s Tel-Hai College and UK’s Oxford University
found that pea plants will risk putting down roots into pots containing varying
amounts of nutrients. They will take the “gamble” when their only other growth
medium contains low amounts of nutrients.
Another power plant for South Africa. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Rioglass Solar has won a 70 million-shekels contract to provide receivers for a
100MW thermo-solar power plant to be built in South Africa. It is Rioglass’s 3rd power plant project in
South Africa. Israel’s Brenmiller won a
4th project in June. (see
3rd July newsletter)
High speed wi-fi over the Niagara. (TY Atid-EDI) Hornblower Niagara Cruises - the official
Canadian Tour Boat operator in Niagara Falls - has deployed RADWIN’s
FiberinMotion® mobility solution to provide high-speed wireless connectivity
onboard its boats.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
US invests in Israeli emergency
response.
The Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial R&D (BIRD) Foundation is to
invest $1.9 million in 2 new projects to foster advanced technologies for First
Responders. The program was established
by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Israeli Ministry of
Public Security.
How to get things moving. (TY Janglo)
Movir is Israel’s first and only moving app.
Need to move one or multiple items from one location to another? Use
Movir – it’s as easy as ordering a taxi.
Low cost way to move money to Israel. (TY Dan) Joseph Sokol’s startup,
OlehPay, is a payments website that enables users to inexpensively transfer
dollars to Israeli shekel bank accounts.
It is free for debit cards and makes no charge to the recipient. It claims to beat the rate consumers get from
many financial institutions.
Italian energy company starts Tel Aviv
hub. Italy’s
Enel, a multinational energy producer, has opened the first and the largest innovation
hub to be launched by an Italian company in Israel. The hub will foster up to 20 startups in
technologies from cyber security to big data, smart metering, digital
technology and analytics.
Ebay buys another Israeli startup. Ebay has made another
Israeli investment, (see also here)
acquiring SalesPredict, maker of technology that is able to track consumer
behavior and preferences when shopping online.
Some of SalesPredict’s employees will move to eBay’s Israeli Development
Center in Netanya.
Israel buys services on Israeli
satellites. (TY
Atid-EDI) The
State of Israel is paying $63 million over five years to Israel’s Spacecom
Satellite Communications for communications services on its Amos satellites. Israel has an option to extend the contract
for another eight years at a cost of an additional $101 million.
Sorek power plant begins operations. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Sorek desalination plant will produce cheaper water thanks to a new local ($200
million, 140MW) power plant fueled by natural gas from Israel’s Tamar gas
fields. The power plant will
additionally fuel local factories.
Keeping an eye on
Uruguay. (TY
Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Elbit Systems is to provide a Safe District project for the Maldonado District
Administration in Uruguay. It includes a command and control system, plus over 1000
cameras and sensors, including vehicle traffic control, spanning 2000 sq. km across
six municipal authorities.
Travel accelerator is launched. (TY Dan) In May 2015, El Al began
its “Cockpit” hub to help entrepreneurs develop solutions for the travel
industry. (see
here) Now it has launched Navigator – an accelerator program for those
startups. http://www.cockpitinnovation.com/navigator#about-the-navigator
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Top 10 fashion school. (TY Dan) Israel’s Shenkar
College of Engineering, Design and Art was ranked 9th in Fashionista.com’s annual
survey of the world’s best fashion schools.
The survey gauged tuition costs, alumni success, student feedback,
faculty quality, training, social life, career counseling and financial aid
options.
Jerusalem of Gold. Naomi Shemer’s classic song
with some outstanding video scenery.
Kenyan marathon runner competes for
Israel. (TY Algemeiner)
Kenyan-born marathoner Lonah Chemtai is to compete for Israel at the Rio
Olympics. Chemtai grew up a rural
village in western Kenya and first came to Israel in 2009 to care for the
children of her country’s ambassador to Israel.
Running for an Olympic medal. Israel’s Donald Sanford won
the bronze medal in the 400 meters’ sprint at the European Athletics
Championship in 2014. He is proud to
represent Israel at the Rio Olympics.
Israel’s swimming team. Yakov Yan Toumarkin and Amit
Ivry are two of Israel’s best hopes for swimming medals at the Rio
Olympics. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ4doAYSohE
European silver in
triple-jump.
(TY SDM)
Israeli triple jumper Hanna Knyazyeva-Minenko became only the second Israeli
ever to win a medal at the European Athletics Championships, claiming a silver
in Amsterdam. She fouled in five of her
six attempts, but in one she leaped 14.51 meters - her best result of the
season.
Another rhythmic gymnastics gold. Israel won the gold medal in
the ribbons event at the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) World Cup
Final in Rhythmic Gymnastics in Baku, Azerbaijan. In addition, Israel won silver in the important
group all-around category. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/israeli-gymnasts-win-gold-in-baku-just-before-olympic-games-in-rio/2016/07/24/
THE JEWISH STATE
Academic excellence for Israeli orphans. Further to the article last
week (linked
here), Colel Chabad - Israel’s longest continuously running charitable
organization - has awarded another 85 orphaned students with scholarships (and
funds) for academic excellence at a ceremony in Jerusalem.
Summer fun for children with cancer. Scenes from last year’s
summer activities that Israeli charity Ezer Mizion organized for children
suffering from cancer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u4xb1uuSD6Q
More mosaics found in
ancient Galilee synagogue. (TY SDM)
Archaeologists have uncovered mosaics depicting prominent Bible scenes during
excavations in June of the 5th Century synagogue at Huqoq, in Israel's Lower
Galilee. The scenes include Noah’s ark and the splitting of the Sea of Reeds.
Download the United With Israel iPhone
app. The
world’s largest grassroots pro-Israel organization United With Israel invites
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Now you can REALLY make an impact by keeping up to date and helping to
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160724
In the 24th July 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
An Israeli
cream stimulates the immune system to regrow damaged skin.
·
Israeli
aid workers are helping flood victims in Virginia.
·
Israel has
restored diplomatic relations with Guinea.
·
An Israeli
startup is to produce meat without harming animals.
·
An Israeli
device lets you tap computer text on any surface.
·
40 years
after Entebbe, Israelis are planning Uganda’s new airport.
·
Over 400
new immigrants to Israel have arrived from France and North America.
·
Biblical
history is revealed at a huge Philistine cemetery in Southern Israel.
·
Click here
to see the 10th July newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo
and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact. Technology
and Culture. Also (TY Sandra) available in German
and TY Karen who has translated the 3rd
July and 10th
July newsletters into Portuguese – please promote the terrific work of
these volunteers by passing their links onto German and Portuguese readers.
Page Down for details on these and more
good news stories from Israel. Thank You
to all who have sent me links to many of these positive news articles. Due to high volumes, some have been held over
until next week.
Please use IsraelActive to search the archives.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
More positive trials in ALS treatment. (TY Nevet) Phase 2 US trials of a single
dose of Nurown stem cell treatment from Israel’s Brainstorm on 48 patients
suffering from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease) showed over 90% efficacy with no
adverse effects. Multi-dosage trials can now take place. (see
results of Israeli trials here)
A molecule to protect the brain. I reported previously (Feb
2014) about Hebrew University of Jerusalem scientists’ development of TXM
peptides that can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s and dementia in
diabetics. Latest HUJ research shows that
TXM peptides can also protect the brain after mild traumatic brain injury.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Israeli-developed-molecule-shown-to-protect-brain-460139
http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/31750
Cream to heal wounds. (TY Karen) Israeli startup
Biotreat 21 has invented what it calls a miracle cream, claiming it could
completely regrow damaged skin by utilizing one’s own immune system. Initial
trials have erased scars and even healed severe diabetic ulcers. It is also
anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and kills pain.
Regenerative medicine award for HU
scientist. Dr.
Yosef Buganim, a research scientist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has
been honored with the Boyalife Science & Science Translational Medicine
Award in Stem Cells & Regenerative Medicine. http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/31872
Outreach award for neuroscience. (TY Dan) The Federation of
European Neuroscience Societies awarded the EDAB-FENS Brain Awareness Week
Excellence Award for 2016 to The Edmond and Lily Safra Center for Brain
Sciences at The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
FENS President Prof. Monica di Luca praised the HUJ for the imaginative
ways it combines neuroscience research with the arts. http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/31700
Boosting immunity to fight cancer. (TY Dan) Dr. Pinchas
Tsukerman of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has won a prestigious Kaye
Innovation Award for developing novel monoclonal antibodies that can boost the
immune system’s ability to destroy tumors.
http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/31197
Rebuilding lives – with Lego and art. The weekly Lego Workshop is
an important part of Israeli charity Ezer Mizion’s extensive cancer support
services for cancer patients (children and adults) and their families. It is held at Ezer Mizion’s “Oranit” cancer
patient guest home - a home away for home during outpatient treatment. Also Ezer Mizion’s “Good Morning” visual art
workshop that relieves some of the trauma from mothers with cancer.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Technology training for all. In 2003 non-profit
organization Machshava Tova opened a tech room for low-income Ethiopian
children in Jerusalem. Today it has over
12 centers spanning the country, providing 30,000 children, teenagers, job
seekers and special needs with computer literacy skills, irrespective of
ethnicity.
A winning formula for coexistence. “The Equalizer” is a
national educational and sports organization that brings 2,300 children from
152 Israeli schools together through their love of soccer. They include Muslims, Bedouins, Jewish
immigrants, Druze, and even children of Eritrean refugees.
Druze women attract tourist trade. (TY Steve) Dozens of Druze
women are opening home-based businesses, in embroidery and in Druze traditional
cuisine. In some cases, the women are the sole breadwinners in the family. Israel’s Tourism Ministry provides courses in
entrepreneurship and helps with advertising.
The first Israeli-Palestinian Arab mall. Israeli developer and
business guru Rami Levy is building the first Israeli-Palestinian Arab mall
along the road between Jerusalem and Ramallah. His existing shopping centers
and supermarkets in Judea and Samaria have become points of friendly
interaction between Jews and Arabs.
Israeli female paramedics treating
Syrian wounded.
The IDF treats hundreds of Syrians wounded in the ongoing civil war in
that country; Two of the women who treat them when they first arrive at the
border - Sgt. Rotem Einav and 2nd Lt. Leshem Shirgaouker describe the wounded
they've seen, and the thrill of saving a life.
Aid for West Virginia
flood victims.
(TY Karen) Israeli international relief organization IsraAid has been helping
West Virginia homeowners with the tremendous amount of damage caused by flash floods
in June that killed 23 people and destroyed hundreds of houses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko7kUFJeWQQ
Israeli AIDS solution extended to
adolescents.
(TY Dan) The World Health Organization has expanded the use of the PrePex
device made by Israel-based Circ MedTech, to all males over 13 years of age. Prepex
allows medical workers in Africa to perform painless circumcisions to help stop
the spread of AIDS. (see
here)
Israel-Ghana friendship society. Israel has launched a
society that stresses mutual friendship between the Israeli Knesset and the
parliament of Ghana. MK Avraham Nagosa will act as head of the society. Inauguration guests included members of
Ghana's parliament, Ghana’s ambassador to Israel and members of the
Israel-Africa Chamber of Commerce. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/214847
Renewed ties with
Guinea. Israel
has renewed diplomatic relations with the Republic of Guinea that were severed
in 1967 after Israel’s Six-day War with the Arabs. The West African state has 10.5 million
citizens, over 85% of whom are Muslim. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/215285
First contact. It has been reported that Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently met with President Hassan Sheikh
Mohamud of the African state of Somalia in the first high-level contact between
the two countries. http://www.timesofisrael.com/somalias-president-recently-held-first-ever-meeting-with-israeli-pm/
First visit by President of Paraguay. Paraguay’s President Horacio
Cartes met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin on Monday in Jerusalem during a
three-day visit. Paraguay is one of
Israel’s best allies in international forums.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Paraguayan-President-rare-ally-in-South-America-arrives-for-visit-460635
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=35071
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Vegan-friendly kosher
meat to save the planet. Israeli startup SuperMeat is developing a
method for bio-engineering “cultured meat” from animal cells. Its tagline:
“Real meat, without harming animals.” Vegan
CEO Koby Barak says it will be kosher, vegan-friendly, prevent world hunger and
stop global warming. Wow!
http://supermeat.com/
https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/supermeat-real-meat-without-harming-animals#/
Saving the world from hunger. This NoCamels article
features nine Israeli companies who are making major contributions to
agriculture through their innovative technology. These are Sensilize, BioBee, miRobot, Roots,
Tal-Ya, Morflora, Netafim, GreenWall and EdenShield.
Farming in the Arava desert. In southern Israel's Arava
desert, thanks to innovative Israeli technology, strawberries, argan trees and
sustainable fish thrive in some of the harshest environments.
Preventing accidents. (TY Dan & Atid-EDI) I
featured previously (Oct
4) the dashcam app from Israel’s Nexar which records and reports bad
driving. App users have automatically
profiled the driving behavior of over 7 million cars in San Francisco, New
York, and Tel Aviv. Nexar has just
raised $10.5 million of funding.
http://nocamels.com/2016/07/nexar-dashcam-app-road-safety/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqSDRqBimgM
Kwik delivery at the press of a button. (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli
starup Kwik has developed smart buttons, which let consumers order products
from their home by pressing a button.
Kwik is working with Domino’s, Budweiser, Huggie’s and others. Kwik has just raised $3 million to expand to
the US.
Drone camera sees like a human. (TY Dan) I reported
previously (3rd
Jan) on the RealSense camera technology developed by Intel Haifa. Now Intel has installed the human-like depth
perception technology into Typhoon H - a new drone developed by the
Shanghai-based aerospace company Yuneec International.
Virtual Reality for the Chinese. (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli
startup WakingApp announced a full Mandarin language version of its successful ENTiTi
Virtual Reality software for the Chinese market. ENTiTi enables any company or individual to
create interactive virtual and augmented reality content without any developer
skills.
Protection from the Dark Web. (TY Atid-EDI) Israeli
cybersecurity startup Sixgill analyzes the mysterious Dark Web for information
regarding upcoming hack attacks. It enables
organizations to prevent attacks against them and their employees. Sixgill has just raised $5 million of new
funding.
A keyboard on any
surface. (TY
SDM)
Israeli tech entrepreneur Ran Poliakine has developed the Tap Strap – a wearable
device that senses finger movements and translates them into text from any
surface to any smart device. The Tap
Strap sends a character or command to a device based on which fingers touched
the surface.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
$15 million agtech fund. I reported previously (Apr
24) that International giant Bayer invested $10 million in a new fund to
support Israeli agro-tech start-ups. Now
it has joined with Israel’s OurCrowd and DuPont to set up a new accelerator
fund to finance early stage agricultural technology start-ups.
YotPo increases your business (and
theirs). (TY
Atid-EDI) The
latest news on Israeli company promotion startup YotPo since my Dec 2012 article
(see
here) – is that it tripled its revenue and customers last year, opened a
New York office and is hiring 250 more employees. It has also just raised $22 million of
funding.
LightCyber enters Europe.
(TY Atid-EDI) I reported on Israeli award-winning cybersecurity startup
LightCyber previously (this
year) . The behavior attack detection solutions company has expanded its
sales team by 150% and opened offices in the UK and mainland Europe. It has also raised $20 million of funds.
http://lightcyber.com/lightcyber-raises-20m-meet-growing-global-demand-behavioral-attack-detection-solutions/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-co0YYNX5Xo
The vast potential of Israel-Africa. (TY IsraPundit) Barak Raz was
in the business delegation accompanying Prime Minister Netanyahu’s visit of East
African countries. Developing infrastructure, fighting desertification, telecommunications,
agriculture, water, energy, homeland security - opportunities are endless.
Israeli company to
plan the new Uganda. (TY Dan) The Ugandan government has chosen
Israel’s Tzamir Architects and City Planning to plan the massive reconstruction
of Uganda’s infrastructure. It includes
the building of a new International airport.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4823576,00.html
New US-Israeli medical incubator. (TY Dan) Cleveland Clinic, together
with Israel’s Maccabi Healthcare Services, have been awarded an incubator
franchise from the Israel Innovation Authority.
It will invest $40 million (including $25 million from the Israeli
government) in Israeli startups over eight years.
Israeli startups head for Japan. A delegation of 11 Israeli
companies from the field of the Internet of Things will be part of an
investors’ roadshow that will take place in Tokyo and Osaka. More than 200
meetings have been set up for the startups, including with Japanese
conglomerates Fujitsu, NEC and Hitachi.
Virginia trade mission to Israel. (TY Dan) US Governor Terry
McAuliffe led a two-day marketing and trade mission to Israel. Whilst there,
Governor McAuliffe announced an agreement between Virginia Tech and Israel’s TESSA
Dairy Machinery to bring the Israel-based company's Mini Dairy to the
university and help grow Virginia’s dairy fermentation industry. https://vtnews.vt.edu/articles/2016/07/cals-minidairy.html
Canadian firm raises money in Israel. (TY Dan) Toronto’s Skyline
Investments Inc - a leading developer of hospitality properties and destination
communities – is seeking to raise up to 140 million Israeli Shekels (about $45
million Canadian dollars) in the Israeli bond market.
An all-Israeli exit. Israel-founded NNG –
developer of the popular iGO navigation app – has acquired Israeli startup
Arilou – developer of cybersecurity for vehicles. A newsletter debut for both companies.
http://www.geektime.com/2016/07/20/an-all-israeli-exit-igo-developer-nng-acquires-automotive-cyber-startup-arilou-technologies/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANq2APuY6as
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Is statue? (TY SDM)
It is the season of outdoor concerts and the Israel Museum’s sculpture garden
is a magical spot for listening to music.
Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv some of the sculptures are not quite what they
seem to be! http://www.timesofisrael.com/singing-stars-come-out-at-night-among-israel-museum-sculptures/
Tel Aviv’s cool Yemeni village. (TY SDM)
The “Kerem”, the Yemenite village in the heart of Tel Aviv, is the most
chilled, most authentic, and most easygoing area of town.
Israeli dance in the Galilee. 60 young dancers, from schools
in the Misgav regional council of 35 small towns and communities in the Galilee,
are performing at July’s three-day Carmiel Festival. Misgav has some 340 dancers, from age 10 to
adults, who entertain while dressed in distinctive, furry red hats.
Baby whale still in Israeli waters. The 10m whale spotted off
the Caesarea in June (see
19 June newsletter) has been visiting Tel Aviv and is now heading north to
Haifa. You can follow its progress on
Facebook.
X-factor Israel star reaches new
heights. Over
665,000 Youtube viewers watched last year’s X-Factor Israel entry by Anna
Timofei, who hit the top notes with her rendition of “The Phantom of the
Opera”. She achieved 3rd place in the Series
2 Final with “Memories”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wroXwn6zcHQ
European youth chess champions. (TY Karen) Israel won the 2016
European Youth (under 18) Team Chess Championships in Slovenia. Team Israel
headed nine other countries, defeating Austria in the final round.
THE JEWISH STATE
Look what became of
the Philistines.
Archaeologists digging at the southern coastal city of Ashkelon have
discovered the first cemetery belonging to the Israelites’ Biblical enemy, the
Philistines. The cemetery dates between the
11th and 8th centuries BCE, may contain thousands of graves, and reveal many
Philistine customs.
Rare Bar Kochba coin for sale. (TY SDM)
Winner's auction house is offering a unique item for sale: a silver shekel from
the 4th year of the Bar Kochba rebellion against the Roman occupation of
Judea. The coin is rare as silver for
minting coins was in short supply then.
It is expected to fetch between $28,000 and $32,000.
Seeking Western Sephardim. The Avotaynu DNA Project organized
by Israel’s Technion, seeks males who are direct paternal line descendants of
members of the historic Western Sephardi communities of Amsterdam, London,
Livorno, Venice, Bordeaux, Southwest France, Curacao, Suriname, and North
America for a study of Western Sephardi paternal DNA lineages. http://www.avotaynuonline.com/2016/07/avotaynu-dna-seeks-sephardi-study-participants/?ct=t(Weekly_Avotaynu_Digest4_2_2015)
Hebron, a microcosm of Jewish history
and survival.
The city of Hebron has been in the news recently for tragic reasons due
to the recent terror wave. Here is a
short history of the city from Biblical times until now.
Hospital summer camps. Colel Chabad’s summer camp
program for hospitalized Israeli children includes 45 pediatric beds at
Barzilai Hospital in Ashkelon and 80 pediatric beds at Kaplan Hospital in
Rehovot. The hospital camp activities revolve around arts and crafts and are
fully funded by Colel Chabad.
Scholarships for orphans. (TY Sharon) Colel Chabad has also awarded 100
Israeli orphans with academic scholarships.
A special celebration was held at the Psagot Winery near Jerusalem. The Chesed Menachem Mendel Awards help the
child with tutoring, music lessons, summer camps and therapies in order to help
them succeed in school and socially. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Helping-orphans-stay-in-school-460876
Saved by his dog tag. Shrapnel from shots fired at
an IDF post near Metulla on the northern border with Lebanon ricocheted off one
the dog (identification) tags of a soldier guarding the post. Military medics at the post inspected the
soldier and found him unharmed.
The first Aliya flight
of the Summer.
Israel welcomed 218 new immigrants (Olim) from North America as the
summer season of Aliyah organized by Nefesh B'nefesh begins.
French mass-Aliya
flight arrives.
206 immigrants from France arrived in Israel in the largest-ever summer
mass-aliyah from France. They were met
by Natan Sharansky – Head of the Jewish Agency, who danced with the new
Olim. Another 5,000 Jews from around the
world plan to make Aliya this summer.
http://www.thejc.com/galleries/news-galleries/in-pictures-over-200-french-jews-immigrate-israel-largest-french-aliyah-fli
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/215293
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGsM_1DUv7E
160710
In the 10th July 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
An
innovative Israeli device for those who cannot eat by mouth.
·
A new
railway line from Haifa will take European goods to Arab countries.
·
An Israeli
system uses natural plants to purify wastewater.
·
An Israeli
startup uses unmanned aircraft to track down stolen cars.
·
Brazil is
to use an Israeli satellite to help secure the Olympic Games.
·
Bosch has
opened an Israeli Research & Development center.
·
Carlos
Santana’s concert proceeds will go to an Israeli charity.
·
Bat
Mitzvah celebrations in Jerusalem for 100 Holocaust survivors.
·
Last
week’s Israel Good News descriptive summary.
Click here for “Israeli
Remedies for a Longer Life” (fast-loading version, no adverts). Also published on the Jerusalem
Post, IsraelSeen, San Diego Jewish World and United
With Israel websites.
·
Click here
to see the 3rd July newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
. Also (TY Sandra) available in German. And (new) TY Karen who has translated the 26th
June newsletter into Portuguese
– please pass these links to German and Portuguese readers.
Page Down for details on these and more
good news stories from Israel. Thank You
to all who have sent me links to many of these positive news articles. Please use IsraelActive to search the archives.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Good progress on dry-AMD treatment
trials. (TY
Karen) Human trials of OpRegen from Israeli biotech Cell Cure (see here) at Hadassah
Medical Center are proceeding well. This
unique stem cell therapy aims to stop progression of the dry form of
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) that leads to blindness.
Oral insulin to replace injections. Israeli TV news about the
innovative treatment from Israel’s Oramed that will make life better for many
of the 400 million people with diabetes.
When you cannot eat. Many sufferers from cancer,
stroke, cerebral palsy and Parkinson’s cannot take food orally. Israel’s Fidmi Medical is developing an
innovative enteral feeding device that is secure, reliable, painless and discreet. It is extremely unlikely to get clogged up or
be dislodged by (potentially fatal) accident.
Studying cancer in space. (TY SDM)
Israeli startup SpacePharma is working with Bioscience engineering faculty and
students at SUNY Polytechnic Institute in a $1.75 million research project that
will use research in space to find new cancer cures. They will launch a “lab-on-a-chip” with
cancer cells inside in a micro satellite that will orbit the earth, studying
how cancer cells behave in zero gravity and micro gravity environments.
UK fellowship award for Israeli CF
Professor.
(TY Karen) The UK’s Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health has
awarded an Honorary Fellowship to Professor. Eitan Kerem, head of the Division
of Pediatrics at the Hadassah Medical Center and cystic fibrosis specialist. He
was praised especially for his work training Palestinian Arab pediatricians in
his cystic fibrosis clinic, and treating Palestinian Arab children.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Conference for religious female
entrepreneurs.
(TY Sharon) Over 650 women attended the 7th annual Temech Conference for
Israeli Female Entrepreneurs on Jun 28 in Jerusalem. Parallel programs were offered in English and
Hebrew. Temech was started by Anglos but
Hebrew speakers were in the majority this year.
Beyachad – together. The latest JNF newsletter
contains many great features on JNF’s latest activities not only in the fields
of water technology, but also in coexistence and diversity projects like support
for Bedouin Arabs and “Baseball for All”.
http://www.jnf.org/byachad/
Free sports in Jerusalem for lone
soldiers. (TY Janglo)
Jerusalem’s municipality has given season tickets to all lone soldiers for
the Kiryat Yovel sports center. Free pool, gym and studio classes like yoga and
Pilates. https://www.facebook.com/nir.barkat/photos/a.163572597082036.27441.159416337497662/866408356798453/?type=3&theater
Thank you for saving my daughter. (TY Karen) I featured (May
15th) the story about Hadassah doctors saving Palestinian Arab student Sara
al Qassriwy (Katzroy) who collapsed whilst jogging. Now her father has shown his gratitude by
hosting a Hadassah interfaith mission to a festive meal in his Bethlehem home.
Rail link for Arab
trade. (TY
Hazel & Dan) Israel is due to open in October a new 40-mile rail line
between Haifa and a terminal 5 miles short of the Jordanian border. Trade between
Israel and Jordan increased 65% between 2010 and 2015 as trucks with European
goods travel on to Saudi Arabia, Iraq and the Gulf. http://www.wsj.com/articles/israel-builds-railway-in-hope-of-boosting-commerce-with-arab-neighbors-1466614190
Tanzania to open embassy in Israel. (TY Dan) The Tanzanian government
has said it has decided to open an embassy in Israel in a move aimed to promote
economic diplomacy and “following the economic development Israel has made in
agriculture, science and technology”.
Africa needs Israel. During the visit by Israeli
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said Israel
is a critical partner in the battle against terrorism, the most serious
challenge facing the world today.
President Kenyatta vowed to work to upgrade Israel's status in the
African Union. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/During-historic-Netanyahu-visit-Kenyan-president-says-Africa-needs-Israel-459548
Drip irrigation for Paraguay. (TY Dan) Israel has delivered
13 drip irrigation systems from Israel’s Netafim to farmers in San Pedro,
Paraguay. It is part of the “Family Drip
System” plan led by Paraguayan agronomist Edgar Figueredo, a graduate of Mashav
- Israel’s Agency for International Development Cooperation.
HUJ VP gets France’s highest honor. Yossi Gal, the Vice
President for Advancement and External Relations at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem, has been named a Commander of France’s Legion of Honor. Prior to joining the Hebrew University, he
served as Israel’s Ambassador to France.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Purifying water using
plants. Israeli
startup Ayala Water & Ecology provides a solution to water purification
which lies within nature itself. Its flagship product, called Natural
Biological System (NBS), uses containers full of plants to act as a biological
filter for wastewater treatment.
Israeli finalists for Shengjing Awards. Three Israeli startups have
won through to the finals of this year’s Shengjing Awards in China. They are Boomerang (cancer therapy -
see Oct newsletter), NiniSpeech (stutter cure -
see Feb newsletter) and AerialGuard (drone navigation). Israel’s DiACardio
won last year’s award.
Israel-Korea project to grow grapes
using drones.
(TY Dan) Korea and Israel are to work together in developing a system of
growing grapes through utilization of amphibious and commercial UAVs and big
data. They will also co-develop a grape
cultivation and growth control system for entering the new Chinese wine market. http://www.businesskorea.co.kr/english/news/industry/15035-uva-joint-development-korea-israel-co-developing-unmanned-aerial-vehicles
Using drones to
retrieve stolen cars. (TY Dan) Israeli startup Ituran uses Unmanned
Air Vehicles (UAVs / drones) to track down vehicles stolen in Israel and then taken
to Palestinian Authority towns. It
helped to keep car theft down to 5400 vehicles between January and May - 19% less
than in the same period in 2015.
Traffic control for drones. Israeli startup Arbe
Robotics has a solution to prevent collisions between the increasing number of
unmanned air vehicles (drones). It uses radar technology - radio frequencies - to help drones detect
objects and avoid crashing. Arbe won the
TechCrunch Meetup and Pitch-Off event in Tel Aviv.
Israeli satellite to
secure Rio Olympics. Israeli high-resolution imaging satellite Eros-B
will strengthen security during the Rio Olympics. Brazilian Defense Minister Raul Jungmann said
“This is an Israeli satellite at a low Earth orbit altitude capable of
capturing high-resolution images of up to 50 centimeters in an area of 450
kilometers.” http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-satellite-to-secure-rio-olympics/
Music to your ears. (TY SDM)
Israeli startup MeQ Inc has developed earphones that adapt to your unique
hearing condition. The Even Headphones
incorporate an “earprint” facility which allow the listener to lower the volume
and protect against further hearing problems from being over-exposed to loud
music.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Tech/Israeli-start-ups-headphones-adapt-to-peoples-unique-earprints-459192
https://www.engadget.com/2016/06/28/even-headphones/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Record $1.4 billion raised by startups. Israeli startups broke all
records for the most funds raised in a quarter.
The $1.4 billion raised from Apr to Jun beat the $1 billion in Q1 2016 and
the £1.1 billion in Q2 2015.
$3.32 billion in six months. Israeli startups are still
in high demand. In the first half of 2016
there were 45 exits by Israeli startups worth $3.32 billion. They include the $811
million acquisition of EZchip by Mellanox, the $643 million buyout of Xura, and
the $430 million acquisition of Ravello Systems by Oracle.
$100 million Israeli fund makes first
investment. The
$100 million Israel Biotech Fund (IBF), founded to invest in Israeli bio-techs,
has made its first investment in cancer treatment developer Vidac. Vida’s VDA-1102 is the first ointment that
selectively targets malignant skin cancer cells with minimal effects on
surrounding healthy skin. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-biotech-fund-raises-100m-1001136253
Another 9 joint US-Israel projects. The Israel-U.S. Binational
Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation approved funding (worth
$21.5 million) for nine new projects.
The Israeli companies involved are Cellect Biotechnology, Evogene, File
X, Hinoman, IAI, Kamada, Keystone Heart, MedAware and Mellanox.
Bosch opens Israel
R&D center.
(TY Dan) Bosch Group has established a research and technology office in
Tel Aviv. Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner said “Pioneering
spirit, world-class universities, and creative ideas – they’re all here. It’s
just the right environment for groundbreaking innovations, and thus for Bosch
as well”.
Israeli cybersecurity boom is
sustainable.
(TY Dan) Isaac Ben Israel, who heads the Interdisciplinary Cyber Research
Center (ICRC) at Tel Aviv University, reckons the massive growth in Israel’s
security industry will continue. “Israel
is the only country where you can choose cybersecurity in high school,” he said
at Cyber Week. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/06/22/isreal_cybersecurity_boom/
Mobileye is world’s 6th smartest
company. (TY
Dan) MIT Technology Review ranks Israel’s Mobileye sixth on a list of the world's
50 "smartest" companies. Mobileye
is working on autopilot and collision avoidance technology for Audi, BMW,
General Motors, Nissan, Tesla, Volkswagen, and Volvo.
Mighty Israeli tahini. (TY Dan) Israel’s Rushdi
Foods Industries has launched Mighty Sesame Tahini. It is made from just one ingredient‑ Ethiopian sesame seed - no preservatives, sugar, salt, or any
artificial ingredients. Over 21% protein
and ten times higher in calcium than cream cheese.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ready-to-use-next-gen-tahini-launches-at-fancy-food-300286852.html
http://www.ilovesesame.com/lp/
Microsoft’s latest accelerator
graduates.
Ten Israeli startups have just completed Microsoft Israel’s latest “Scalerator”
program, bringing a total of 83 that have graduated from the eight programs to
date. Six of the ten have already raised
investments or received investment offers for a total of $27 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
A taste of Israeli wines from the Judean
hills. From
Bible times till today, the Judean Hills near Jerusalem has been the home of some
of the region's finest vineyards. The
owners of the Castel Winery, Mony Winery and Zion Winery have unique stories to
tell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugq-cY8MSWs
Carlos Santana donates
concert proceeds.
Despite BDS pressure, singer and guitarist Carlos Santana is looking
forward to his Tel Aviv concert on 30th July.
He has even donated his proceeds to the Israel charity Hand In Hand, an
organization that brings together thousands of Jews and Arabs in 6 schools
throughout Israel.
Morrissey to perform in Israel. (TY SDM)
Having performed in Israel in 2008 and 2012, legendary British singer Morrissey
is once again returning to the Holy Land, for two concerts on August 22 at Tel
Aviv’s Mann Auditorium and August 24 at the Caesarea Amphitheater. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Culture/King-of-Mope-Morrissey-returns-to-Israel-for-two-August-concerts-457895
Ramon’s Piano. Tal Ramon, second son of
Israel’s first astronaut Ilan Ramon, has just released his first album,
Character (Dmut in Hebrew). He was
inspired to take up music thanks to his father Ilan, the son of a piano teacher
who survived Auschwitz, and in 1974 spent his entire first paycheck a Steinway
piano.
White Night Tel Aviv. Here is a montage of the
huge number of all-night events that took place on Jun 30th.
THE JEWISH STATE
The largest donation to an Israeli
University. A
$400 million gift to Ben-Gurion University from the estate of Howard and Lottie
Marcus is believed to be the largest-ever bequest on behalf of an Israeli
university. Much of it goes to BGU’s
Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, which studies sustainable use of water
resources, desalination technologies, water quality, and microbiology.
Miracle at Entebbe. (TY Avi) Please watch this exciting
six-and-a half-minute video summary of the IDF raid to free 102 Jewish hostages
at Entebbe airport Uganda, 40 years ago - hailed as the most daring rescue in
the history of the Modern Jewish State. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xCxzdU9dQo
A Bat Mitzvah for 100
Holocaust survivors. About a hundred Holocaust survivors, ages
75-95, celebrated their “coming of age” Bat Mitzvah ceremony at the Western
Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem. The event was
arranged by the charity Ezer Mizion for women who were prevented by the Nazis
from celebrating at age 12.
Re-planting the Garden of Eden. (TY Janette) The Hava V’Adam
(Adam and Eve) Ecological Farm near the Israeli city of Modi’in is organizing
the planting of an ecological orchard – an edible forest of fruit trees and
herbs. Residents of the Cramim
neighborhood are able to take part in establishing and maintaining the garden.
http://www.modiinfo.com/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=5370:planting-the-ecological-orchard&Itemid=178 http://www.havaveadam.org/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSx44ZbziI8
160703
In the 3rd July 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
A new
Israeli treatment for stomach cancer.
·
A new
record for the number of women in Israel’s Parliament.
·
The
world’s longest and highest glass bridge is Israeli-designed.
·
An Israeli
natural bio-fungicide made from tea tree oil.
·
Bill Gates
makes his first Israeli investment.
·
Cisco highlights
its confidence in Israel with three big deals.
·
Beyoncé is
to give her first-ever performance in Israel.
·
Israel
celebrates 40 years since the daring Entebbe rescue mission.
·
Last
week’s Israel Good News descriptive summary.
Click here for “The
Israel Guide to an EU Exit” as published online in the Jerusalem Post.
·
Click here
to see the 26th June newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo,
IsraPundit and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
Impact, Technology
and Culture. Also (TY Sandra) available in German.
Page Down for details on these and more
good news stories from Israel. Thank You
to all who have sent me links to many of these positive news articles. Please use IsraelActive to search the archives.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Nanomedicine targets
stomach cancer.
(TY Dan) Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute have developed a
nanomedicine technology for the targeted treatment of gastric tumors. The platform combines anti-cancer and
anti-resistance compounds, packaged orally in beta-casein – a constituent of
mother’s milk.
Artificial Intelligence to aid patient
care.
Israeli startup MedyMatch is developing an artificial intelligence (AI)
platform using proprietary algorithms to process CT image data in the Cloud. Fast analysis of data will help physicians make
accurate critical clinical decisions – e.g. with stroke diagnosis.
An app to beat acne. Israeli
startup MDAlgorithms has built MDacne - the world’s first app to provide mobile
acne analysis with customized treatment plans.
Users complete a questionnaire and take a selfie. An algorithm then processes
the data and offers food and hygiene tips and recommended medications.
ReWalk inventor can now stand up. Israel’s Amit Goffer
invented the ReWalk for paraplegics, but as a quadriplegic he couldn’t use it.
So he invented UPnRIDE (see
Aug 2014) which allows wheelchair-bound quadriplegics to get vertical. Watch Amit use the latest version of UPnRIDE.
Device to treat overactive bladder. (TY Dan) Israeli startup
BlueWind Medical has won a CE mark for its miniature neuro-stimulation device
to treat overactive bladder. The
OAB-1000 system is wireless, has no battery, is 90% smaller than existing
devices and is minimally invasive, being implanted in the leg.
Robotic surgery in New York. (TY Dan) Dr. Ronald Lehman
is first in NYC to perform PROlat(TM) spinal surgery using technology from
Israel’s Mazor Robotics. He praised the
time saved (one hour), the absence of having to flip over the patient and the
reduced radiation that the patient and operating staff were exposed to. In addition, Mazor’s platform has now been
approved by the medical authorities in (South) Korea.
http://www.orthospinenews.com/dr-ronald-lehman-is-first-in-nyc-to-perform-prolattm-procedure-with-mazor-robotics-technology/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=650Yoyiw-6Y
Find an Israeli doctor. The Israel Medical
Association has launched a database (in Hebrew) of Israeli public and private
doctors. Currently containing 1500
doctors (and growing) one can search by name, specialty and subspecialty,
location, gender, professional status, languages they speak and age group that
they treat.
http://www.jpost.com/Breaking-News/Find-a-doctor-easily-and-quickly-with-IMAs-new-app-and-website-457920 www.ima.org.il/doctorsindex
Israeli soldiers revive Palestinian Arab
baby. A
Palestinian Arab baby without a pulse was brought to where IDF soldiers were
stationed and they immediately began emergency treatment. They were able to
restore the baby’s breathing before the Red Crescent arrived to take him to
hospital. The baby is now in stable condition.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Record number of women
in Israeli Parliament. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
latest political reshuffle has brought the number of women lawmakers to a 33 –
an all-time high. Yulia Malinovsky was sworn in as a Yisrael Beytenu Member of
the Knesset on 7 June. She plans to
focus on issues of welfare, education, housing, and the cost of living. http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=34185
Supporting social startups. (TY Atid-EDI) TechForGood
has announced registration for the third cycle of its Israeli accelerator
program, which supports startups that leverage technology in order to address
social issues. It seeks Israeli startups with ideas for the elderly, the
environment, food quality, healthcare, etc.
Israeli-Arab is University dean. Professor Michael (Mousa)
Karayanni is the first-ever Israeli-Arab to be appointed dean of the Faculty of
Law at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Professor Karayanni, is from a Christian Greek Orthodox family in the
Galilee town of Kafr Yasif.
Finance for Arab businesswomen. (TY Dan) SAWA is a microfinance
initiative from Koret Israel Economic Development Funds that offers loans to
women with promising business ideas. SAWA
began in the country’s South focusing on Bedouin women, and has recently
expanded further north.
150 PA farmers attend expo in Tel Aviv. The Civil Administration for
the Territories (COGAT) arranged for 150 Palestinians Arab farmers to attend an
international exhibition of agriculture (Agro-Mashov)
in the heart of Tel Aviv in order to learn about cutting-edge agricultural
technology to develop their businesses.
Employment for Georgia. (TY Dan) Jobs will be
created in the US State of Georgia when Israel’s Polymer Logistics opens its
third U.S. distribution center in Dublin, Georgia. The $4 million center will eventually
employ 110 people, adding to those already employed in its California and Texas
service centers. In addition, Georgia Ports
Authority reported a 23 percent increase in trade with Israel last year.
Israeli greenhouses to employ Philippine’s
homeless.
(TY Dan) The Secretary of the Department of Agriculture in the
Philippines is to train the street dwellers in the capital Manila to work in
agricultural projects supported by Greenhouse Israeli Agro-Innovative
Technology. (See
also Aug 2015 newsletter)
US University leaders visit Israel. (TY Dan) Presidents and
chancellors from top US universities and colleges have been visiting Israel to
learn about innovation and opportunities for bilateral academic partnerships.
China’s incredible
glass bridge.
Israeli architect Haim Dotan designed the world’s highest and longest
transparent glass bridge spanning China’s Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, one of the
most popular scenic spots in China. It
is 430m long and 300m high and took only 18 months to complete at a cost of
approximately £48 million.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
AI to build a website. (TY Dan) Israeli DIY
website development company Wix.com is to market a new platform that uses
Artificial Intelligence (AI) to ensure the website completely meets the
requirements of the builder. Wix ADI
asks the user what he/she needs and then uses its algorithms to build the
website in minutes.
http://www.geektime.com/2016/06/07/in-massive-challenge-to-wordpress-wix-launches-ai-offering-for-automatic-web-design/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrERmaDZNl0
Electric car-sharing for Haifa. The Haifa municipality and
the Ministry of Environmental Protection is to launch a pilot program for
shared vehicles. It includes operation of an electric car rental service for users
to collect a vehicle at a one location and return it at any of the charging
stations scattered around the city.
Israeli solar tech for South African
power plant.
Israel’s Brenmiller Energy has teamed up with Spanish company Isolux in
a tender for construction of a 150-megawatt solar power station in South
Africa. Brenmiller's energy storage
systems will account for half of the project's estimated $500 million overall
cost.
Wheat genome data released for research. The bread wheat genome, that
was deciphered by Israel’s NRGene, has now been made available to researchers
by the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC). The data will make possible the production of
improved wheat varieties for farmers.
A bio-fungicide from
tea tree oil.
Israeli-managed Stockton Group has signed a major agreement with
Syngenta as the exclusive global distributor of Stockton’s new bio-fungicide
technology based on tea tree oil for the control of several diseases in
ornamental crops.
The optical engine to AR glasses. (TY Dan) Israel’s Lumus produces
optical engines - a critical part of Augmented Reality (AR) products. Its customers build AR glasses, visors,
goggles, and headsets including Thales, Atheer and DAQRI. Lumus has just raised $15 million in new
funding. (see
also May 2014 newsletter)
http://www.geektime.com/2016/06/15/israeli-lumus-conjures-up-a-15m-series-b-bringing-the-future-of-ar-into-view/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcf6ohKi8Ag
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRyVAw41hCQ
Green globes for World Environment Day. (TY Dan) To mark World
Environment Day, the Israeli Union of Environmental NGOs - Life and Environment,
presented a Green Globe to Yosef Abramowitz - the Israeli CEO of solar energy
company Energiya Global. Other winners
included Greeneye in the Business category.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Environment/Energy-Ministry-gets-award-for-failure-while-solar-power-gets-accolade-456204 https://www.knesset.gov.il/spokesman/eng/PR_eng.asp?PRID=12102
The firewall that fights back. At cybersecurity startup
Preempt’s Israeli R&D center it has developed a firewall that not only
detects suspicious behavior, but responds to neutralize any threat in real
time. It will decide whether to block the
attacker, notify management or challenge the attacker to authenticate.
Interpol and NATO attend Cyber Week. (TY Dan) Cybersecurity
professionals, policymakers, investors, entrepreneurs and academics, including
some from INTERPOL and NATO, attended Tel Aviv’s 6th Annual International
Cybersecurity Conference (also known as Cyber Week). They discussed threats
facing the international community and the latest advances in cyber technology.
Accelerating the world’s fastest
computer. The
world's new fastest supercomputer is Sunway TaihuLight in Wuxi, China. But its 93 petaflop/s (quadrillions of
calculations per second) are accelerated by its use of the interconnect InfiniBand
solutions of Israel’s Mellanox Technologies.
InfiniBand connects 41.2 percent of the TOP500 systems. http://www.mellanox.com/page/press_release_item?id=1749
Minimizing machinery downtime. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
DeepSense processes data from industrial machinery to predict likely machine
failures and alert management. DeepSense
has just raised $2 million of funding. www.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-machine-failure-prediction-co-deepsense-raises-2m-1001131785
Power from Gallium Nitride. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s VisIC
Technologies develops and markets high power transistors and modules based upon
the semiconductor compound Gallium Nitride (GaN). VisIC’s mission is to replace
most of the less efficient Silicon products used in power conversion systems.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Study to be an entrepreneur. Israel’s Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya will launch a new
one-year program in October to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. IDCBeyond, will train graduates in
technology, biomedicine, globalization and sustainability, with mentoring from
academia and industry.
Israeli-Indian startups. (TY Dan) Tel Aviv University
is to launch a joint accelerator program together with India’s T-Hub
technological incubator. The program
will support agritech startups both in the Indian state of Telangana and in
Israel.
Bill Gates invests in
Israeli incubator.
(TY SDM)
Intellectual Ventures, of which Bill Gates is a member, has invested in the new
technological incubator XELERATOR for the development of medical devices. It is thought to be Gates’ first-ever
investment in Israel.
Jerusalem – startup capital of Israel. Jerusalem is the fusion of
old and new. An ancient city where new
media and new technology startups emerge.
Israel’s largest exits (NDS bought by Cisco and Mobileye’s NASDAQ
launch) came out of Jerusalem. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8ECyAwyAzQ
The Israel who built a $16 billion
brand.
Israel’s Adam Neumann founded WeWork (see
here) which rents shared office space to entrepreneurs, small companies,
and even divisions of large corporations.
WeWork has some 50,000 members, about 100 international locations, and a
private valuation of $16 billion.
Smart tennis system is a smash hit. (TY Dan) I reported on the
Smart Court tennis training system from Israel’s PlaySight previously (in 2014)
when there were 8 systems in the USA.
There are now 300 of the camera and kiosk systems all over the world. http://www.examiner.com/article/playsight-smart-courts-income-opportunities-for-tennis-professionals-and-facil
A business hub in the desert. Construction has started on the
JNF business hub in the development town of Mitzpe Ramon. The Hub provides office space for firms
active in digital marketing and new media. The lower costs of setting up in the
Negev make the location attractive both to start-ups and employees.
Israel is a digital printing leader. (TY Dan) Israeli digital
printing companies were star attractions at the drupa international printing
trade fair in Germany. Nano printing
Landa received $450 million of orders.
Highcon demonstrated what can be achieved with its digital finishing
technology and sold $40 million. Scodix had $100 million of orders and 100 new
customers from 21 countries for its digital enhancement solutions.
Accenture grows in Israel. US consultancy giant
Accenture has just bought Israeli cybersecurity company, Maglan, in order to increase
its ability to provide clients with cyber defense services using Israeli
innovation. It has also set up a new research and development lab in Herzliya,
focusing on cyber security projects.
More funds for interactive stories. (TY Dan) I featured Israeli
startup Interlude’s amazing video technology previously. (see here) Interlude is the developer
of the Eko interactive storytelling platform and has just received “tens of
millions of dollars” of new funding from Sony Pictures Entertainment.
Israel is strategic
for Cisco. Cisco’s
chairman and Israel’s Prime Minister signed a strategic agreement to make the eastern
Negev into Israel's first fully digitalized region. In other news, Cisco signed a financial tech
agreement with Bank Hapoalim and paid $293 million for Israeli cloud security
company CloudLock.
http://theettingerreport.com/Overseas-Investments/Cisco-highlights-global-confidence-in-Israel%E2%80%99s-cap.aspx http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-cisco-and-hapoalim-sign-fintech-agreement-1001135452
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
What the Romans got up to. Israeli archeologists have
excavated the gate of the Roman city of Hyppos at Sussita National Park in
Northern Israel. They believe the gate
may have led to the compound of Pan, worshipped by the Romans during the period
of the Emperor Hadrian, who reigned from 117 to 138 CE.
Lifeguard finds 900-year-old lamp on
beach. Meir
Amshik, a lifeguard at the Ashkelon Coast National Park, discovered a 12th
century CE oil lamp from the early Crusader period. Meir said, “Finding such a treasure is very
exciting. You feel like you're a part of history."
Dogs and the Rio Olympics. (TY Jacob Richman) What
connects guide dogs for the blind to Olympic Games events featuring Israeli
athletes? Answer - they are all featured
on the latest issue of Israeli stamps.
http://www.history-of-israel.co.il/stamps/jrst0775c.jpg
http://www.history-of-israel.co.il/stamps/jrst0778c.jpg
Israeli fashion. What do Beyoncé and Lady
Gaga have in common? Both of them wear Israeli-designed fashion! Israel's creative fashion scene is making a
statement both in Israel and abroad.
Beyoncé is coming to
Israel. (TY Janglo)
It’s now official – Beyoncé will be performing in Tel Aviv
on October 26 at Tel Aviv’s HaYarkon
Park. http://igoogledisrael.com/2016/06/beyonce-confirms-an-october-tel-aviv-concert-to-wrap-up-a-sizzling-hot-concert-packed-summer/
Natalie Imbruglia to perform in Israel. 90s pop sensation Natalie
Imbruglia will be performing this summer on August 31, at the Hichal HaTarbut
in Tel Aviv. Natalie’s hits include
Torn, Big Mistake, Smoke, and Beauty On The Fire. Her concert in Israel is part
of her world tour promoting her latest album.
Concert to benefit Sobar. The next fun event to support
the no-alcohol, no smoking music club for Jerusalem youth will take place at
Mike's Place in Tel Aviv on Friday July 8th from 1-4pm. Join the Sobar band,
Libi Hart, Eli Marcus, Assaf Ganzman, SheRock and more for a fun 60's music.
Also see Sobar’s crowdfunding site.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1049578948469236/permalink/1057572667669864/?notif_t=event_mall_comment¬if_id=1467202300457225 http://www.headstart.co.il/project.aspx?id=18465&lan=en-US
THE JEWISH STATE
Remembering Entebbe. 40 years after the most
daring rescue in the history of the Jewish State, former hostages and commandos
recall the event that grabbed
the attention and admiration of the world.
Google of the Bible. (TY Dan) Herzog College in
the Judean town of Alon Shvut has developed a website to access the Bible. Google of the Bible offers a search engine,
biblical-era maps linked to contemporary satellite pictures, thematic
cross-references, terminology, idioms, commentary, videos, curriculums and
artwork.
A new Israeli holiday – Aliya Day. The Knesset officially
enacted a national day to celebrate Aliyah (immigration). Yom Ha’Aliyah will be celebrated on 7
Cheshvan (October-November), coinciding with the week of the Torah portion in
which Abraham is commanded by God to migrate to the Land of Israel.
