In the 27th Mar 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
An Israeli
treatment for a fatal heart condition was successfully tested.
·
Israel is
responsible for over a quarter of all medical innovations.
·
Six
African countries have asked Israel to help them combat terrorism.
·
An Israeli
has designed a wheelchair that can push a baby stroller.
·
Two major
Israeli bio-techs list on USA and Canadian stock exchanges.
·
Two
Israelis won World Ju-Jitsu gold medals.
·
19 Jews
and a 500-year-old Torah scroll were rescued from Yemen.
·
Click here
to see the 6th March newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo
and United
With Israel with extra features on Medical,
Inclusiveness,
Technology
and Entertainment. 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
Treatment for
Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. (TY Dan) Israeli startup SoniVie has a novel
system for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension, a progressive and
fatal illness with no current cure. SoniVie has just successfully completed the
first two procedures for its First In Human (FIH) multi-center clinical trial.
US approval for airway ventilation
system. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s Hospitech Respiration has received US FDA clearance for its
AnapnoGuard 100 intubation system.
AnapnoGuard is already CE2 cleared.
More than 100 million patients annually require manual ventilation - the
largest reason for admission into intensive care.
Diagnosing Dry Eye syndrome. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s BioLight Life Sciences has completed a successful U.S. clinical study
designed to assess the effectiveness of its TeaRx multi-assay test in
evaluating tears’ components of patients suffering from dry eye syndrome (DES)
as well as those of healthy subjects.
Diagnosing thyroid cancer. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s Rosetta Genomics has announced that its RosettaGX Reveal diagnostic
test for thyroid cancer is now approved for use in all 50 US states.
The potential to save millions of lives. Israel’s MobileODT
demonstrated its life-saving smartphone technology to detect cervical cancer at
the Innovation Showcase at this year’s AIPAC Conference. Launched only last May it has been used 6000
times in 20 countries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Cg4snYV6g
How to cope with stress. Researchers at Tel Aviv
University have developed tests to highlight the different rates people recover
from stress. The study can help
individuals to train themselves to relax.
It also may lead to a blood test that can diagnose undue stress and help
with the recovery process.
Preventing hospital readmissions. A study by Israel’s
EarlySense has shown that the unresolved respiratory problems of heart patients
was the most significant cause of their readmission to hospital. EarlySense’s “under the mattress” device
monitors a patient’s breathing amongst many other factors.
New life for Gaza boy. (TY Hazel) 13
year-old Mohammed Abu Jazer from Gaza got a new lease on life when surgeons
from Israel’s voluntary humanitarian organization Save a Child's Heart in Holon
implanted an Israeli pulmonary valve. The Medronic Melody device will improve blood
flow and help him avoid future surgeries.
One in four medical
innovations has Israeli roots. (TY Dan & Hazel) Ruti Alon, co-chairman
of this year’s IATI-Biomed Conference, highlighted that Israeli research is
present in between 25% and 28% of the world’s successful biotech-based
solutions. E.g. Exelon for Alzheimer’s,
Doxil for cancer and Copaxone for Multiple Sclerosis. http://www.timesofisrael.com/one-in-four-life-science-innovations-has-israeli-roots-says-expert/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Everyone has the right to trek. Israel’s Paratrek organizes hiking
trips and outdoor adventures for the physically challenged and impaired using chairs
with oversize wheels, mountain bike tires and a harness that allows them to be
pulled like a rickshaw. Paratrek’s slogan is “Where there's a wheel, there's a
way!”
Developing for the disabled. Jerusalem’s Alyn Hospital, Israel’s
biggest rehabilitation center for physically challenged youngsters, aims to
become the world’s first full-time “maker lab” to develop projects to help the
disabled. Alyn just held its first-ever Makeathon, for developers of technology
with global social benefits.
It’s ability, not ethnicity. (TY Hazel) Israel Technion’s
Professor Hossam Haick, whose breakthrough work in nanotechnology has garnered
global accolades, says his success as an Arab citizen of Israel proves that
education knows no boundaries and is key to improving his community’s lot. Prof Haick was included in Good Magazine’s
2016 “Good 100” and also awarded the Humboldt Research Award in Germany.
Simply Sing. (TY Hazel) “Simply Sing” is a Jerusalem-based
cross-cultural project that has Jews and Arabs meet every few weeks for an
evening of musical performances and singing. 250 attended the latest event at Jerusalem’s
Museum of Islamic Art which featured three Jewish and three Arab Israeli
musicians.
Muslims that support Israel. (TY Steve) This blog by
Steve of IsraelSeen, featuring
nine important Muslim intellectuals, needs to be seen. http://israelseen.com/2015/08/27/9-incredible-muslims-that-support-israel/
Six African countries
ask Israel for help. (TY IsraPundit) Kenyan
President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that he has been entrusted by Ethiopia,
Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan to form an alliance with Israel to rid
their countries of the jihadist Islamic State, Al Qaeda and their affiliates.
Bulgaria, one of Israel's best friends
in the EU.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu said that it was a pleasure to welcome
“my good friend” Boiko Borissov, Prime Minister of Bulgaria, when he visited
Jerusalem. They discussed cooperation in
the energy sector. Bulgaria often votes
for Israel in the UN.
Canadian Aborigines leadership mission
to Israel. (TY
Dan) For the third time in five years, Grand Chief Ron Evans of the Norway
House Cree Nation in Northern Manitoba is taking a youth group on a leadership
development tour of Israel. Ron believes
Israeli entrepreneurship can motivate his community’s youth to achieve more. http://www.cjnews.com/news/business/aboriginal-trip-to-focus-on-israeli-innovation
Israel’s mobile industry has extra
benefits.
10% of the 2,000 companies presenting at this year’s Mobile World Congress
in Barcelona were either based, or do the majority of their R&D work, in
Israel. This has led to the event being an
opportunity for Israelis to show the positive side of Israel that few abroad
are aware of.
See what Israel has done for the World. (TY Dan) If you are
travelling through Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport be sure to view the exhibit,
between customs and the departure hall, of 60 posters showcasing Israeli
developments and discoveries that have influenced the world.
Israel is only one call away. (TY Zev) The ultimate video
shows that Israel is more than just another country.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Israeli space odyssey. This video highlights
Israeli technology presented at the 66th international astronomical congress in
Jerusalem. Tech that will help NASA fly to Mars and Europe to study Venus. New
Israeli satellites will provide Internet access to remote areas of Africa and help
research into alleviating global drought.
Israel & MIT celebrate 8 years of
growth. (TY
Dan) Formally incepted in 2007, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology-Israel
Program recruits, selects, and places qualified MIT students in internships
across Israel.
A baby stroller for
wheelchair users.
(TY ToI)
Dana Yichye-Shwachman, a designer with Israel’s Jonathan Bar-Or Industrial
Design has developed Easy Stroll - an aluminum attachment to a wheelchair’s
footboard that latches on to a baby stroller.
Dana is now extending the prototype to fit a variety of wheelchairs and
strollers.
US ranch to grow rice with Israeli
irrigation.
The 17,000 acre Conaway Ranch in Woodland, California will be the first
US rice grower to use Israeli drip irrigation.
The Conaway Preservation Group is partnering with Ben-Gurion University
of the Negev’s Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research and Israel’s Netafim.
Emerging from stealth mode. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israeli cybersecurity startup Siemplify has revealed its innovative security
operations platform that can help companies identify security threats and respond
quickly to incidents. Siemplify has just
raised $4 million of funding.
35 billion chips checked. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s Optimal+ analyzed more than 35 billion semiconductor devices on behalf
of its customers in 2015 - a 50 percent increase from 2014. The information has contributed to
significant quality improvements and fewer defective chips shipped for use in
next-generation devices.
Soft wheels for cars. (TY JBN)
Israel’s SoftWheel is to bring its innovative automatic suspension system to
the automobile sector. No flat tires, because
the SoftWheel system uses a rigid tire that is not filled with air. At AIPAC, SoftWheel demonstrated the
company’s Acrobat wheelchair and revealed its ambitious plans.
Almost limitless communication. Israeli start-up SkyFi is
developing a network of 60 nano-satellites to cover the globe and enable any
type of communication between two points – telephone, digital, and even
television. It will also provide
Internet access to some 4 billion people in rural areas without wired or
wireless connections.
(Ariel University video on nano-satellite
development https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIUZZvE5yl4)
Belgians use Israeli tech to register as
“safe”.
Facebook activated its Safety Check app to help people stay in touch and
let friends and family know they’re safe following the deadly attacks in
Belgium. The social network tool was
developed at the Tel Aviv headquarters of Facebook Israel. Some 4.1 million people used the app after
the Nov. Paris attacks. http://www.israel21c.org/belgians-turn-to-israeli-tech-to-mark-themselves-safe/
Low-cost renewable energy storage. (TY Dan) Israel’s Electric
Fuel Energy has developed a novel Iron Flow energy storage technology that is
projected to be less costly, safer, and more environmentally friendly than
other large-scale battery storage solutions.
It is particularly suited for renewables and long-duration storage.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israeli economy grows again. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
economy grew by 3.3% in the fourth quarter of 2015 from 2.5% in the third
quarter - stronger than expected. Overall
GDP growth for 2015 was 2.6% compared to its previous estimate of 2.3%. Consumer and Public spending increased significantly,
whilst inflation fell.
$1 million of benefits for $75 per
month. Israeli
incubator Lighthouse Innovations offers startups a benefits package that
includes services worth up to a million dollars. It includes unlimited time, office space,
advice, mentoring, marketing plans and investor connections, with no strings
attached. For a nominal $75 a month.
Boeing contracts for Israel. (TY Dan) Boeing has awarded Israel
Aerospace Industries (IAI) a new contract to build the empennage leading edges
for the 777X, which will enter into service in 2020. IAI was also awarded an
extension of its existing 777 contract and a strategic agreement worth up to hundreds
of millions of dollars.
Vaxil Bio lists in
Toronto. Israel’s
Vaxil Bio, developer of the ImMucin cancer vaccine, is the first Israeli
biotech to list on Toronto’s TSX-Venture Exchange. Vaxil’s Isaac Maresky rang the 21st March
opening bell at the Toronto Stock Exchange, along with Israeli Consul General
DJ Schneeweiss and many Israeli flags.
http://www.cjnews.com/news/business/dj-schneeweiss-joins-israeli-biotech-company-in-ringing-tsx-bell
NASDAQ launch for
blood sugar monitor. (TY Dan) Israel’s LabStyle, developer of the
Dario smartphone blood sugar monitor, has raised $8.5 million from its launch
on NASDAQ. (Previous newsletter links)
$50 million Russian fund for Israeli
startups. (TY Atid-EDI)
Russia's Titanium Investments has unveiled its $50 million fund for investing
in Israeli startups. Titanium was originally focused on investments in Russia,
but has since expanded its scope, investing mainly in Israeli startups since
November 2014.
Zero-interest loans for social projects. (TY JNi.Media)
Israel’s LivinGift has opened applications for zero-interest loans to social
impact enterprises from all sectors, including health, education, animal protection,
social impact technologies, environment, and support for disadvantaged
populations.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/new-israeli-crowdfunding-to-raise-zero-interest-loans-for-social-impact-ventures/2016/03/16/ http://www.livingift.org/en_landing?redirect=1
New trade agreements with Japan. (TY Dan) 30 top Japanese
government and business officials recently visited Israel, including from
Hitachi and Panasonic and principal cities Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto. Officials from the Kansai region signed a
memo of understanding on increasing trade and economic ties with Israel.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
“Unexpected Israel”. A new book “Unexpected
Israel” written by Ruth Corman is worth reading
Explore the Upper Galilee. High peaks, rivers and
streams, breathtaking landscapes and evergreen forests make the Upper Galilee
particularly attractive to hikers. No wonder it has been nicknamed The Israeli
Tuscany.
Top scoring words. (TY Hazel) Forty-six players
from 10 countries took part in the 2016 Israeli Open Scrabble Tournament in
Tiberias. The top prize was $3000. Israel - though not an English-speaking
country - hosts the largest regular Scrabble gathering in the world, in
Jerusalem.
World champions at
Ju-Jitsu. Israeli
women won two gold medals at the World Ju-Jitsu Under 21 Championship in Spain.
Rony Nisimian won gold for 62 Kg, Meshi Rosenfeld the gold for 70 Kg. Ma’ayan Diamond, won a bronze medal for 55
Kg. The men’s team won three silver
medals and three bronze.
World cup fencing medal. (TY Nevet) Israeli fencer Yuval Freilich
overcame the Olympic gold medalist and two former world champions to win the
bronze medal in the epee competition at the Peter Bakonyi World Cup event in
Vancouver, Canada.
THE JEWISH STATE
Joint Druze / Jewish Sabbath. (TY Hazel) In honor of of
Zidan Seif, the brave Israeli-Druze policeman who gave his life stopping the Nov
2014 massacre at Jerusalem’s Har Nof synagogue, Rabbi Yaakov Kermaier has brought
Jews and Druze together for Jethro’s Shabbat, when Jews read the Torah portion
of the Druze founder.
Nice venue for a Chuppah. (TY Avi) This Jewish wedding
song Likrat Kala was written and sung by Shlomo Broner and Orchestra. It was filmed
on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and includes gorgeous footage of the
Israeli coast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TYz8og8A8qk
Israeli goods for Purim parcels. (TY Dan) Like many
synagogues around the world, the Young Israel of Teaneck New Jersey has led a
community-wide initiative to include Israeli products in its Mishloach Manot
(Purim parcels) that it distributes to families this Purim. It said “Buycott Israel” is the ideal
response to BDS.
Purim costumes in Tel Aviv. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b5qeAeF93E0
Nazi hunter gets Israeli citizenship. German Nazi hunter Beate
Klarsfeld, 77, who is non-Jewish, has been granted Israeli citizenship. Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said at the
ceremony, “You are a hero who has dedicated her life to the Jewish people.” Beate’s husband Serge and son Arno already
hold Israeli citizenship.
Israeli village is the missing link. (TY SDM) Archaeologists
from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem have uncovered a unique prehistoric
village, in excavations at Nahal Ein-Gev.
The village contains tools typical of the Old Stone Age (Paleolithic
period) but art and architecture typical of the New Stone Age (Neolithic period).
19 Jews rescued from
Yemen. Israel
has completed a secret operation to rescue 19 of Yemen's last remaining
Jews. They included head of the Raida community,
Rabbi Dahari, who also brought a Torah scroll dating back to the fifteen or
sixteenth century. “I am so excited to
reach the land of our forefathers,” he said.
He saved a whole world. Ezer Mizion’s bone marrow
transplant database connected Yehuda to Leukemia sufferer Itai Chanan. A year after the transplant, Yehuda met with
Itai - now the father of a one-year old boy.
160306
In the 6th Mar 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
“Cool”
Israeli research will help long-term storage of organs for transplant.
·
An Israeli boy-genius is revolutionizing the
study of brain disease.
·
Did you
know that Israel has Sharia law courts for its Muslim citizens?
·
Watch the
US Ambassador to Israel ride in an Audi with no driver.
·
An Israeli
air-quality detector is now available in 11 countries.
·
World Cup
gold and silver for Israeli rhythmic gymnasts.
·
Under an
IDF base, archaeologists have found German, Roman and 2nd Temple-period remains.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours (including great intro), Janglo,
IsraPundit and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact, Technology
and Sport. 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
Ice-tech could end
organ shortage.
(TY UWI)
Currently it is not possible to freeze organs in order to preserve them for
later transplant. Now researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have
studied ice-binding “antifreeze proteins” that protect frozen cells from
expansion damage when they thaw out.
Cancer pre-dates the modern era. Researchers at Tel Aviv
University have discovered evidence of colon cancer in the mummified remains of
an 18th century Hungarian corpse. The mutation
of the Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene is the earliest recorded case of
colorectal cancer.
Merck and Weizmann sign medical
agreement. US giant Merck has signed a new
framework agreement with Israel’s Weizmann Institute to research new solutions
in the area of biotechnology and cancer research. Merck has more than 300 employees at four
sites throughout Israel.
Portable ultrasound device demonstrated. (TY Hazel & JBN)
Here is a video to demonstrate the power of the portable ultrasound device
developed in the laboratory of Israel Technion’s Professor Yonina Eldar.
The 19-year-old
neuroscientist.
Israel’s Amir Goldenthal began his PhD when he was 16 and just one year
into his first degree. Now 19, his
doctoral dissertation involves breakthroughs in the understanding of neurological
diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. Amir won a prize at the Nobel Laureates
Conference in Japan for best research paper.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4772307,00.html
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Free smoke detectors for the poor and
the elderly.
(TY Janglo)
Jerusalem’s Fire Service is distributing smoke detectors to large families, the
elderly and Holocaust survivors in the city.
3,000 detectors will be installed nationally. The costs have been donated by the
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
President Rivlin hosts
new Sharia judges.
(TY Hazel) Israeli President Rivlin greeted, at his Jerusalem residence,
seven newly appointed judges to Israel’s Sharia courts, saying the
institution's viability served as a testament to Israel's strength in
diversity. Israeli law recognizes Sharia
courts’ jurisdiction on personal status issues within the Muslim community,
including marriage, divorce, custody of children and inheritance.
Israel is 8th world power. A report published by US
News & World Report listed Israel as the 8th most powerful country in the
world. A country's power was categorized
in terms of being a leader, being economically influential, politically
influential, having strong international alliances and a strong military.
And 3rd best for quality of life. (TY Atid-EDI) In
the biannual report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD), Israel was rated third in quality of life among advanced nations, after
Japan and Switzerland. The report also
praised Israel’s high employment and high economic growth.
The only free state in the Middle East. (TY UWI)
Please have a look at this handy little interactive map of the world from
Freedom House, showing the freedom rating of each country. Use the + key to enlarge, otherwise it is
impossible to find tiny Free Israel amongst some of the Worst of the Worst in the
Middle East.
And the only one that could produce a
soldier like me.
Major Alaa Waheeb is the highest ranking Muslim officer in the Israel
Defense Forces. Not only has he fought
alongside Jewish soldiers, but he now trains them too. Here is his own story. (see
also newsletter July 2014)
The first PM to visit Africa in 50
years. (TY algemeiner)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received an invitation from Kenyan President
Kenyatta to visit Kenya this summer, in what would mark the first visit by an
Israeli leader to Africa in 50 years. He
intends to do so around the 40th anniversary of the raid on Entebbe. The announcement coincided with the launch of
the new Knesset Caucus for Israel-Africa Relations.
Mobile desalination unit donated to
Papua New Guinea.
Israel’s G.A.L. Water Technologies, with the Israeli Foreign Ministry,
have donated a mobile desalination unit developed in Israel to Papua New Guinea. The Galmobile will provide the Pacific islands
with clean drinking water from the ocean or any water source.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
US Ambassador in
driverless car in Jerusalem. US Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro tried out
Israeli company MobilEye’s driverless car on Jerusalem roads - and was impressed. Shapiro said, “it’s probably safer than if a
driver was in control of the vehicle, because drivers can be distracted but
this vehicle cannot.”
“Israeli
technology is improving the world.” The 2,000 people at the Microsoft Israel’s “Think
Next” event in Tel Aviv, including CEO Satya Nadella, had a video call from the
man who started it all, Bill Gates. Gates
said that Israeli developments in tech areas like analytics and security were
“improving the world.”
http://www.timesofisrael.com/bill-gates-israeli-tech-changing-the-world/
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Tech/Microsofts-Nadella-in-Israel-to-mark-25-year-cooperation-446062
Another Israeli airport safety system. (TY Dan) Israel’s Controp
has teamed up with USA’s Pharovision to develop the Interceptor and Sentinel
detection systems. They are designed to
warn of potential collisions between airplanes and either airborne birds or
foreign object debris on the ground.
Now an app can learn about humans. (TY Dan) Israel’s SimilarWeb
has launched SimilarWeb Portrait - smart software that builds up a
(non-identifiable) profile of a human computer user. This allows app developers to tailor their
apps to give a friendlier user experience, from the moment they are installed.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Startups raise over $0.5 billion in one
month. (TY Atid-EDI) In
Jan 2016, Israeli startups raised an astonishing $556.4 million. They included ForeScout Technologies ($76m), JFrog
($50m), Zerto ($50m), SiSense ($50m), BlueVine ($40m), Elastifile ($35m),
V-Wave ($28m) and Insightec ($22m).
Cisco pays $380m for Israeli startup. Cisco Systems has acquired
two-year-old Israeli Leaba Semiconductor for $350-$400 million. Leaba is so new that it is still operating in
“stealth” mode. Its website says that
"Leaba is a fabless semiconductor company providing innovative solutions
for significant infrastructure challenges.”
Haim Saban invests $100m in Israelis
startups. (TY The
Tower & Israel21c) Israeli-born billionaire Haim Saban has set
up a new fund (Saban Ventures) to invest $100 million in Israeli startups. The
fund will invest in startups in the mobile, social networks, ecommerce and
digital media sectors.
Israel’s best-performing tech stock in
2015. (TY
Dan) Israel’s Nano Dimension (reported
here in Oct 2014) was Israel's top performing technology stock in 2015. The Israeli startup uses 3D nano-printing to
create printed electronic circuit boards (PCBs). Its DragonFly2020 printer is in
beta test with several Tier-1 customers.
Clearing the air in 9
new countries.
Israeli startup BreezoMeter has now expanded its air quality analysis
coverage from just the USA and Israel to nine more countries. These are China, the UK, Hong Kong, Japan,
Finland, France, Mexico, South Korea and Taiwan. BreezoMeter currently has over 50 million
daily users.
Perrigo opens $46 million factory. Irish biotech Perrigo said
it expected a $100 million boost to annual sales from the new $46 million factory
it has just inaugurated in Israel.
Perrigo's president, John Hendrickson said, "It allows us to stay
on the cutting edge of being a leader of complex products." Perrigo is listed on the TASE.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Magic at Jerusalem’s Winter Noise
festival.
(TY Sharon) All was quiet in the
City of Peace whilst Jews, Moslems and Christians enjoyed the Winter Noise
festival. On four Mondays nights in
February, residents and visitors enjoy colorful street performers, lectures,
music and food and some even “flew” on a magic carpet.
Israeli represents France at Eurovision. French-born, Israeli singer
Amir Haddad will represent France at the Eurovision song contest this May in
Stockholm, Sweden. Haddad made Aliyah
with his family at the age of 8. In
2014, Hadad came 3rd in France's version of "The Voice,” and has since become
popular in France.
Heavens above. There's no place like the
Ramon Crater for stargazing. This breathtaking long-exposure night sky photo
gives but a glimpse of the enchanting nighttime views in the Negev desert!
Israel wins gold at
Rhythmic Gymnastics World Cup. Israeli rhythmic gymnasts won a gold and two
silver medals in the first World Cup Series competition of 2016 in Finland. They won one silver in the group all-around
final and another in the ribbons before winning a gold in the hoops and clubs
final.
The new national stadium in Haifa. Open since August 2014, the
Sammy Ofer Stadium is a home to Haifa's two football clubs and Israel's
national football team. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTasOeGCnOE
THE JEWISH STATE
New Israeli stamps. (TY Jacob Richman) The first
new Israeli stamps of 2016 include Pioneering women; Ephraim Kishon;
Greece-Israel diplomatic relations and Turtles.
80 years of Emunah. Emunah, the National
Religious Women's Organization, celebrated the 80 years since its founding. In that time, it has established 140 day-care
centers for working women, 5 homes for at-risk kids, a children's crisis center,
the Women's College of Arts and Technology, 13 family counseling centers and
more.
Brazilian Jews feel safe in Israel. A record 463 Brazilian Jews
immigrated to Israel last year – 41% more than in 2014. An in-depth report by Brazil’s Globo TV featured
the major reason for Brazilian Jews to claim Israeli citizenship as the desire
to flee Brazil’s severe urban violence atmosphere.
Bnei Akiva helps remaining Ethiopian
Jews to make Aliya.
World Bnei Akiva, will send two shlichim (outreach workers) to Ethiopia,
at 2-monthly intervals for five years, to help the last 6000 Ethiopians of
Jewish origin prepare for Aliyah. They will teach Hebrew, Torah and Zionism to
those in Ethiopian transit camps.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/bnei-akiva-in-ethiopia-will-ease-transition-to-israel-for-remaining-jews-video/2016/03/03/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDOmZPNNiiw
Thanks for the miracle. As we approach the Jewish
festival Purim, the wife of Roi Harel described how her husband heroically fought
off two Arab terrorists who stabbed him several times and forced their way into
his house in the community of Eli, where the other members of Roi’s young
family were hiding.
Under the feet of the
British army.
(TY Sharon) The British expelled the
Germans from the Schneller orphanage in WW2.
The British army base was then replaced by an Israeli one in 1948. Current excavations of the site have revealed
a 2nd-Temple-period mikva (Jewish ritual bath), Roman baths and a winery.
How to give a positive message about
Israel? (TY
Dan) Gerald Ostrov, CEO of the reThink Israel Initiative, spoke at the recent
Jerusalem Conference of Presidents.
reThink Israel is targeting, via social media, the 70% of Americans who don’t
know, don’t care and aren’t interested in Israel. reThink Israel focuses on “food, nature,
arts, lifestyle, health and innovation. (See
my Oct 2013 newsletter)
160228
In the 28th Feb 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
An Israeli
system could save millions of intensive care patients.
·
An Israeli
smartphone app can determine your spectacle prescription.
·
The
Egyptian government has upgraded its relations with Israel.
·
Kenya made
its first state visit to Israel in 21 years.
·
An Israeli
startup won Best Mobile Innovation at the Mobile World Congress.
·
A 3rd
major car manufacturer signs up for Israeli self-driving technology.
·
An Israeli
artist is to construct the first sculpture in outer space.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo,
IsraPundit and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact, Technology
and Entertainment. 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
Detecting the dangers
in ICU.
Israeli startup Intensix is trialing an Intensive Care Unit patient
monitoring system at Tel Aviv Sourasky (Ichilov) hospital. Using data collected from 8,000 patients over
the past 8 years, the system gives an early warning of impending sepsis and
organ failure that kills 30% of ICU patients.
Control disease – deactivate genes. Scientists at Israel’s
Technion have discovered how to use proteins to suppress unwanted gene
activity. It could lead to a cure for cystic fibrosis and sickle-cell anemia,
as well as more common diseases that are caused by gene activity or mutations,
such as many forms of cancer.
Protecting USA from radiation sickness. (TY The
Tower) I previously reported (here) on the therapy
from Israel’s Pluristem for treating patients exposed to lethal radiation
doses. Pluristem is to join the US National
Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases program designed to protect people
from catastrophic incidents.
Keeping hip and spinal surgeons on
target.
Another great invention from the students of the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem’s BioDesign Medical Innovation program. Their BendGuide system monitors and detects
minute changes in guide-wire trajectory during hip and spinal surgery. Surgeons
can correct drilling trajectories, prevent guide-wire breakage and
significantly reduce operation time while increasing safety.
Another test for Alzheimer’s. (TY Hazel) Researchers from Tel
Aviv University, the Technion and Rambam Medical Center propose testing the
blood biomarker ADNP for cognitive aging and Alzheimer’s disease. ADNP is essential for brain formation and
cognitive function. I reported another
blood test in January (here).
Alzheimer’s therapy is available. (TY Hazel) I reported previously
on the neuroAD transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and cognitive training
from Israel’s Neuronix (see here). NeuroAD now has CE approval and is commercially
available in Israel, Europe and Asia. US
FDA approval is subject to results of latest trials.
Exercise and dance to reduce Parkinson’s
symptoms.
(TY Hazel) I reported previously (in
August) that dancing can treat Parkinson’s.
Now Israeli Alex Kerten has developed a mind-body therapy for Parkinson’s
called Gyro-Kinetics. It includes breathing
exercises, relaxation and dance.
An app to check your
eyesight.
Israeli startup 6over6’s GlassesOn smartphone app helps check your
latest lens prescription without having to visit an optometrist. It can also help those buying spectacles
on-line and in developing countries. The
app won the startup contest at the mHealth Israel Conference in Tel Aviv.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Ethiopian-Israelis get top IDF roles. Derech Kfar (The Village
Way) Educational Institute operates preparatory programs that helps Ethiopian
Israelis to be assigned as IDF medics, social services NCOs, drill instructors and
intelligence NCOs. In its first class of
14, three recruits became commissioned officers.
Empowering women in workplace and home. (TY Sharon) Three Israeli groups, Ima Kadima,
Women In Wireless and Digital Eve Israel, held their first joint event at Tmol
Shilshom Cafe in Jerusalem. The room was
crowded with women eager to network with others they had only ever communicated
with on the Internet.
Disabled can type in Hebrew. The IssieBoard is an
adaptive Hebrew iPad keyboard that makes typing easier for children and adults
with learning disabilities, visual impairments, developmental and intellectual
disabilities, and can even assist immigrants who wish to learn Hebrew. It was developed by a collaboration of SAP
and the Israeli charity Beit Issie Shapiro.
http://en.beitissie.org.il/new-at-the-app-store-issieboard/
Israelis under cover to save Syrian
lives. Some
200 or so Israeli volunteers working for the nonprofit Il4Syrians have been secretly
operating in Syria since the civil war began in 2011. They have delivered food, medical supplies, sanitation
kits, baby powder, survival kits and even 3000 protective suits for doctors treating
victims of chemical attacks. http://www.israel21c.org/the-israeli-who-goes-undercover-to-save-syrian-lives/
Egypt’s new Ambassador
is proud to be here. Egypt’s new ambassador to Israel, Hazem
Khairat, told Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin that he was very happy and very
proud to be in Israel and that he hoped for a situation in which the friendship
between Jews and Arabs will be such that they can live in peace. And in a first, a new Egyptian schoolbook
teaches about the peace treaty with Israel.
Kuwaiti reporter praises Israel. Ahmad Al-Sarraf, of Kuwaiti
daily Al-Qabas, wrote on Israel's advantages over the Arabs in democracy,
military, science, technology, human rights, freedom of worship and economics.
He called on the Arabs to look at the reasons for Israel's success and
superiority, instead of viewing it as a political-religious foe. http://www.memri.org/report/en/0/0/0/0/0/0/9020.htm
Arab trade via Israel. In 2015, some 13,000 trucks
laden with products from Turkey and Bulgaria passed through Israel on their way
to Arab states - an increase of more than 25% on 2014. An additional shipping line is to be added
next month between Turkey and Israel, which will add another 150 trucks a
month.
Interview with IsraAID’s founder. (TY Scott) A recent edition
of the AJC Live radio show focused on Israel's humanitarian work around the
globe being carried out by IsraAid, which is supported by AJC. AJC Live interviewed
Shachar Zahavi, the Founder of IsraAid.
Here is the link to the show:
California-Israel Water Summit. (TY Jacob) The JNF is
presenting the first ever California-Israel Water Summit in Beverly Hills on
March 2nd. Political and policy leaders,
utility officials, investment executives, labor, business, and environmental
leaders will discuss the future security of California’s water supply.
First visit by Kenyan
President in 21 years. (TY Sharon)
Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta came to Israel for a 3-day state visit - the
first such visit by a Kenyan president to the Jewish State since 1994. The visit focused on economic and security cooperation. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said “Israel is
coming back to Africa, and Africa is returning to Israel. http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Netanyahu-Israel-is-coming-back-to-Africa-and-Africa-is-returning-to-Israel-445825
International bird conservation. (TY Simon N) In mid-March, Israel
will host over 30 international scientists at a 4-day meeting of the Technical
Committee of the AEWA (Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian
Migratory Waterbirds). The meeting is a
vital stage in the implementation of this UN treaty.
Get a law degree in Israel and practice
in the USA. (TY
Dan) Israel’s Lirom Global Education offers foreign students graduate courses
in a variety of fields - far cheaper than a US degree. Eg, a 3.5 year bi-lingual bachelor of law
degree (LLB), that qualifies students to practice law internationally, at the
age of only 22.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Huge Israeli presence at Mobile World
Congress. The
largest mobile expo in the world – the annual GSMA Mobile World Congress held
in Barcelona - showcased 2,100 companies, including a delegation of over 100 Israeli
high-tech companies in the field of mobile solutions and apps.
Best mobile
innovation.
Israel’s Anagog, developer of the world’s largest crowdsourced parking
network, won the ‘Best Mobile Innovation in Automotive Award’ at the Mobile
World Congress in Barcelona. Anagog can detect
if a smarphone user is at home or at work, walking, driving, riding a bus, where
he parked and more.
Laying the foundations for 5G networks. One of the companies
showcasing at the Mobile World Congress is Israel’s Ceragon and its 5G wireless
backhaul technologies. Commercial 5G
services are expected to begin by 2020, bringing increased capacity, the
Internet of Things (IoT) and machine to machine (M2M) solutions.
A most innovative company. Fast Company magazine has
included Glide - Israel’s mainstream video messaging app - in their Top 10 Most
Innovative Companies in Video list (#7). Glide was specifically recognized for its
efforts to "provide a social communication tool for the deaf
community."
Top of the world in fire safety. Israel has invested 2
billion Shekels ($505 million) in its firefighting service since the 2010
Carmel forest fire. Hundreds of new
firefighters helped reduce average response times from 14 minutes in 2010 to
six minutes in 2015. There were 70
fatalities in 2010; 23 in 2011; 17 in 2013 and 9 in 2015.
Award-winning seedless papaya. (TY Dan) The Aurora, a
seedless papaya from Israel, was crowned winner of the Fruit Logistica Innovation
Award (FLIA) 2015. It began as an
accidental mutation which breeder Assaf Avizohar spent 12 years developing
hybrids with better taste and color.
A better way to get a better job. Israeli job-matching
start-up Woo matches the right people with the right job via an anonymous
employment platform that provides tailor-made offers for each user. Woo’s platform recognizes that 75-80% of
people don’t actively look for new jobs, but would accept a better job if
offered.
The Israeli tech in Lady Gaga’s Grammy
performance.
Intel Israel showed at the Grammy Awards ceremony what the Israeli-developed
RealSense 3D camera is capable of. As
Lady Gaga began her “David Bowie tribute” performance, her dynamic makeup was
digitally projected onto her face.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Majority of Haredi men are employed. (TY Janglo)
More than 50 percent of ultra-Orthodox Israeli men are participating in the
workforce for the first time in recorded Israeli history, the Central Bureau of
Statistics said. In 2003, Haredi male
employment was only 36%. The employment
rate for Haredi women is now 73%.
Mapped in Jerusalem. (TY Janglo)
MadeinJLM has produced a new interactive
map with more than 500 Jerusalem startups.
http://madeinjlm.org/locations
New Ryanair route Bratislava to Eilat. Ryanair has launched a new
route from Bratislava, Slovakia, to Eilat Ovda, Israel. The route is part of
Ryanair 2016 winter plan, with two flights per week scheduled. This new route adds to the 3 routes already
operating by the airline to Ovda, from Budapest, Hungary, Kaunas, Lithuania,
and Krakow, Poland. http://www.touristisrael.com/ryanair-starts-flights-from-bratislava-to-ovda-israel/18086/
Oracle buys Israeli cloud startup for
$500 million. Israeli cloud software start-up
Revello Systems has been purchased by Oracle - the world’s second largest
software developer - for an estimated $500 million. Ravello’s software enables the transfer of
data between different cloud platforms and servers.
Nissan to use Israeli
self-driving technology. Japanese car giant Nissan and Israel’s
Mobileye have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to integrate Mobileye's new
Road Experience Management digital maps technology into Nissan’s fleets. The Nissan deal, follows similar ones with General
Motors and Volkswagen.
Honduras buys Israeli radar to stop
smugglers.
(TY UWI
and algemeiner)
Honduras is currently in the implementation stage of installing 3 radar systems
developed by Israel Aerospace Industries.
The systems, worth $30 million, will help Honduras combat South American
smugglers.
Taxi startup wants happier drivers. (TY Dan) Israeli
ride-hailing startup Juno is building a driver-friendly business to compete
against its rival Uber. Firstly, it will
take only a 10% cut of each fare (Uber takes 20-25%). Secondly, Juno’s drivers will be shareholders
in the startup. Juno is to launch in New
York City in the spring.
A business matchmaker. (TY Dan) Jeremy Lustman set
up the Israel branch of DLA Piper law firm in 2009. Like a Jewish matchmaker, he introduces
clients and builds relationships. In
just the first half of 2015, he helped facilitate seven M&A (merger and
acquisition) transactions that collectively exceeded $1.5 billion.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Simultaneous festival with Turkey. The Sound Ports Festival,
Istanbul - Tel Aviv, is a unique music event at its first edition. Taking place
simultaneously in Tel Aviv and Istanbul, from March 9 to 12, the music,
lectures, exhibitions and culinary events aim to create a bridge between the
two cultural capitals of the Middle East.
The first art to be
made in outer space. Israeli concept artist Eyal Gever is working
with NASA to produce a digital representation of a human laugh. The image will be uploaded to the
International Space Station and will be the first piece of art to be made in outer
space when it is turned into a sculpture using a 3D printer designed to work in
zero gravity. http://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-artist-to-create-first-sculpture-in-outer-space/
http://www.eyalgever.com/laugh/
When the Jerusalem shuk shutters close. When the Jerusalem market
closes, 300 shutters go down, to reveal one of Israel’s cultural marvels. 300 portraits of inspiring individuals that
built the State of Israel. Spray-painted
on the shutters themselves. http://www.israelvideonetwork.com/the-shuk-gallery/
The daughters of Tzelofchad. (TY Sharon) The Rebecca
Crown Auditorium of the Jerusalem Theater was filled to capacity when the
talented women and girls from the Gush Etzion, Raise Your Spirits Theater (RYS)
performed, “Sisters: The Daughters of Tzelofchad” to an all-female audience.
World Windsurfing Championships in
Eilat. Eilat
- Israel’s most southern spot – where the combination of warm tropical waters
and beautiful coral reef running along the sandy shores of the Red Sea provide
the perfect venue for the RS:X World Windsurfing Championships and RS:X Under
21 Windsurfing Championships
THE JEWISH STATE
Piecing together the Dead Sea Scrolls. A German-Israeli research
project is building a digital environment to connect thousands of fragments of
the Dead Sea Scrolls. The project involves
the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA), Haifa University, Tel Aviv University
and the Göttingen Academy of Sciences and Humanities.
Do unto others. Volunteering at Israeli
cancer charity Ezer Mizion often requires self-sacrifice. Eli refused his specialist’s cancellation appointment,
in order to take a patient to hospital and support her when she asked for
help. Just then, Eli’s father was
brought in on a stretcher - and was amazed to see Eli already there to greet
him.
How to beat terror – by the Lubavitcher
Rebbe. Forty
years ago, the Lubavitcher Rebbe spoke precisely about the current situation. Read about his solution in this article.
100 Israelis enliven wedding
celebration.
(TY David F) Only 20 invited guests were able to attend the party of
Judd and Ma’ayan who came from the US to get married in Israel. Guests at a nearby Bat Mitzva party noticed
and used Facebook to enlist over 100 friends to boost the numbers and cheer up
the wedding couple.
Making Aliya from China. Five women, descended from
the ancient Chinese Jewish community of Kaifeng, are returning to the Jewish
homeland. The women have studied Hebrew
and Judaism for several years in order to convert, and are being brought home
by Jerusalem-based nonprofit Shavei Israel.
160221
In the 21st Feb 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
Israeli
research led to life-saving leukemia treatment.
·
The first
school for Israeli-Arab entrepreneurs has opened.
·
An Israeli
aid organization is saving lives in Serbia.
·
Israel is building
the world’s tallest solar tower.
·
A smart
Israeli finance system won a major European award.
·
The US
Dept. of Defense is sponsoring Israeli security development.
·
A
French-Israeli has won France’s “Singer of the Year”.
·
A stranger
on a train paid a large debt of a needy family.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo,
and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact, Technology,
and Entertainment. 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
Breakthrough leukemia
cure is “Israeli”.
I was suspicious of the BBC’s report on the “innovative” US immunotherapy
that cured 27 of 29 “no-hope” leukemia patients. Sure enough, the genetic modification of
T-cells was developed by Weizmann Institute Professor Zelig Eshhar, and the US
researchers accredited him.
Positive trials for treatment of Graft
vs Host disease.
(TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s Kamada has reported positive interim results from a Phase 1/2 clinical
trial of its proprietary alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) to treat steroid-refractory
Graft Versus Host Disease (GvHD). Subjects
responded well to treatment in the small study.
Patent for kidney cancer test. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israeli biotech Rosetta Genomics has been granted a US patent for its gene
signature method of distinguishing four different types of kidney cancer. The molecular diagnostic test recognizes the
profile of 29 microRNAs that are expressed in patients with renal cancer.
Watching memory at work. Tel Aviv University
Professor Itzhak Fried has completed his study of how memory neurons behave in
real time when they are “remembering.” He will present his findings at an
upcoming Jerusalem symposium. These have important implications for
understanding dementia such as Alzheimer’s.
ReWalk is medically necessary. (TY Dan) A US surgeon,
confined to a wheelchair following a spinal cord injury, has successfully won
his case to be reimbursed by his health plan for a ReWalk exoskeleton. The ruling will help make ReWalk available to
all eligible patients. http://rewalk.com/rewalk-robotics-exoskeleton-deemed-medically-necessary-by-independent-medical-review-organization/
Hospital search engine wows Russia. Russia’s most dominant email
service Mail.Ru is integrating the database of Archimedicx. Health Mail.Ru is
one of the most popular health portals in Russia. Israeli Moni Milchman (see
here) developed ArchimedicX, the world’s first search engine for
information about hospitals.
Israel-California biotech agreement. Israeli Science, Technology
and Space Minister Ofir Akunis signed a biotechnology agreement with the
California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) Its focus is stem cell
research and breakthroughs in treating diseases such as cancer, diabetes,
Alzheimer’s and HIV-AIDS.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
How to avoid employee burn-out. The Wisdom 2.0 Conference in
Tel Aviv gave employees ideas for protection against the onslaught of
technology forcing people to be connected to work 24/7. The organization’s first Israel conference had
speakers from Facebook, Google, LinkedIn, Israel’s Glide and ex-Israeli MadMimi.
The first Arab-Israeli
startup school.
(TY algemeiner)
The first school for Arab high-tech entrepreneurs in Israel is set to open on
Feb 23 in Kafr Qasim, an Arab city northeast of Tel Aviv. Sponsors of the project include Tsofen, an
Arab-Jewish organization that aims to help integrate Arab Israelis in the
high-tech industry.
Odisha, India seeks Israeli investment. (TY Dan) A large business
delegation led by the Minister of Industries Indian state's Debi Prasad Mishra
reached out to leading Israeli businesses seeking collaboration in areas of
joint interest during the three-day visit to the country.
Teaching water conservation in
California.
The rainwater catchment systems from Israel’s Rain Harvest serve over
140 schools in Israel. Now students at
three California elementary schools will use Rain Harvest’s barrels to recycle rainwater. http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/Local-Students-Learn-Water-Conservation-With-Rain-Barrels-366623781.html http://www.sdjewishworld.com/2016/02/01/67062/
Another Israeli aid
organization.
Natan-International Humanitarian Aid (NIHA) is a network of Israeli
disaster relief organizations and civil society organizations, working to alleviate
humanitarian crises and disasters. In 12
years it was active in Sri Lanka, Georgia, Haiti, the Philippines, Nepal and
now Serbia.
http://www.israel21c.org/israeli-ngo-treats-bodies-and-souls-of-refugees-in-serbia/ http://www.natan-iha.org/
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
More cybersecurity startups. (TY Nevet) Cybertech 2016 in Tel Aviv proved
that Israel is a cyber superpower (see report by Adam Segal linked below).
Also, more Israeli cybersecurity startups get their first mention in my
newsletter. IronScales (TY Atid-EDI)
protects companies from phishing attacks.
GreenSQL (TY Atid-EDI) has
rebranded as HexaTier and protects databases in the Cloud. http://ironscales.com/irontraps/
Israel’s “electric” cyber defense. (TY Dan) Israel Electric
Company’s Yosi Shneck is senior VP in charge of computer security. The IEC is known the world over for its
expertise in foiling catastrophic cyber events.
It works on a model called “cyber everywhere” and a team of 100 full and
part-time security experts.
US DoD sponsors
Israeli security contest. (TY Dan and NoCamels)
The US Department of Defense is one of the sponsors of Israel’s 2016 Combating
Terrorism Through Technology challenge program. Two $100,000 prizes will be
awarded for innovative technologies that could help combat terrorism or
homeland security.
UK Foreign Office advisor praises
Israeli science.
(TY Dan) It could be the nearest Israel has been to getting praise from
the UK Foreign Office. Ahead of a visit
by 11 Israeli scientists, UK Foreign Office deputy chief scientific adviser,
Emma Hennessey, said Israel was “an important science partner for the UK”.
Astronauts arrive for Israel Space Week. (TY Dan & algemeiner)
Israel’s Space Week includes lectures and discussions with several astronauts:
NASA's Shannon Walker, Joseph Acaba and former astronaut Garrett Reisman. South Korea's Yi Soyeon, and European Space
Agency’s Samantha Cristoforetti, will join them.
Another Israeli UAV. (TY Dan) Here is one of the
first glimpses of the Impact unmanned air vehicle (UAV) being developed by
Israeli startup Meteor Aerospace.
SolarEdge energy storage goes global (TY Atid-EDI)
The StorEdge system from Israel’s SolarEdge Technologies is now available in Australia,
Europe, South Africa, and the United States.
With StorEdge, unused solar energy is stored in a battery and used when
needed, and for power backup. SolarEdge
also reported the shipment of its 10 millionth power optimizer, of which nearly
5 million were sold in 2015.
The world’s tallest
solar tower.
Israel-based Megalim Solar Power is building the tallest solar tower in
the world at Ashalim, in the Negev desert.
50,000 computer-controlled mirrors will focus solar rays onto the
787-foot tower producing, when the project is complete, 121 megawatts, to cover
1% of Israel’s electricity needs.
Israeli water stations in Ohio. Sinclair Community College
in Dayton Ohio is the first site outside of Israel to test the water stations
from Israel’s Whoosh (see previous newsletters). Woosh customers can take virtually any bottle
or cup of their own and fill it with filtered, chilled tap water. The can also
cleanse a drinking bottle.
Cheaper fish. Israeli startup Subflex builds
cages for the planned offshore fish farms near Ashdod, that I reported on
previously (in
Aug). The submersible, flexible net cage systems will allow for the managed
raising of fish in the ocean, providing large, locally grown harvests that will
help lower the cost of fish.
Backup your data in the Cloud. Israeli startup OwnBackup is
the first graduate of this year’s Microsoft Ventures Israel’s Accelerator to
receive funding - $3.5 million in fact.
OwnBackup provides a data backup and fast recovery service to companies
using 3rd party services in the Internet Cloud.
The last smartphone standing. (TY Atid-EDI) In the
Flagship Smartphones Battery Life Challenge in China, the Meizu PRO5 with
PowerXtend from Israel’s Lucidlogix was running gaming programs 16 mins after
all other screens went dark. It beat the Nexus 6P (3.5hrs), Huawei Mate8
(6.2hrs) and the iPhone6s Plus (6.75hrs).
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Low cost hospital food machines. (TY Janglo)
The price of food in Israeli hospitals will no longer make you sick. Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman has just
inaugurated the first set of cheap food vending machines at Ichilov
Hospital. You should get soft drinks,
water, juice, hot drinks and a variety of snacks for 5nis each.
Israeli AI is “Best in
Show”. (TY NoCamels)
Israeli startup Capitalise won one of five Best in Show awards at London’s
FinovateEurope 2016. The Capitali.se
platform uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) to read the text of an investor’s
investment strategy and convert it into executable market trading
instructions. www.capitali.se
Testing services for HP customers. Israeli cybersecurity
startup NorthBit has struck a deal with Hewlett-Packard Enterprise to develop
test automation software for mobile application developers. NorthBit’s 20 researchers are graduates of
the top technological units in the Israeli army.
WeWork opens Israeli R&D center. (TY Dan) Co-working space
WeWork has opened an R&D center. It
already has office space in Tel Aviv, Herzliya and Be’er Sheva. http://news.nocamels.com/2016/02/01/wework-opens-rd-center-in-israel-to-develop-digital-services-platform-for-its-creators/
The King is back. (TY Janglo) After a six-year absence, Burger King has
re-opened in Tel Aviv. It sold its franchise
to Israel’s Burgeranch in 2010 after Muslim groups boycotted it. Now it plans to open 10 branches in 2016 and
fifty in the next five years. In
response, Burgeranch is partnering with discount coffee chain Cofix.
Flight training systems for the UK. (TY Dan) Israel’s Elbit has
won a $713 million deal to supply the UK Ministry of Defense with an 18-year
training program for its air crew.
The first joint Israeli-Chinese VC fund. (TY Dan) Israel’s Catalyst
Private Equity and China Everbright Limited have launched the first dedicated
Israel-China private equity fund. The $200 million fund will invest in
mid-to-late-stage companies with a special focus on pushing their tech in China
and emerging markets.
The largest fund ever raised in Israel. (TY Dan) FIMI, the leading
private equity firm in Israel, has just completed a $1.1 billion financing
round for its sixth fund - the largest fund ever raised in Israel. FIMI's strategy is to acquire control of
Israeli companies with sales of $75 million or more.
Working with Shenzhen Stock Exchange. (TY Dan) The chairmen of the
Tel Aviv Stock Exchange and Shenzhen Stock Exchange have signed a Memorandum of
Understanding. They will share
experience in SME and technology financing, cooperate in index-based product
development and explore market linkup.
Israel hostels are a bargain. Here are five hostels in Tel
Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa which are promoted for groups and lone explorers who want
the comforts of a good hotel, but without the hefty bill.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Israeli-designed video has 55 million
hits. (TY SDM) Coldplay’s “Hymn for the weekend”,
starring Beyonce, was filmed in Mumbai, the design, animation and additional
visual elements were done in Israel by by Yaron Yashinski. http://www.sizedoesntmatter.com/events/coldplay-and-beyonces-new-music-video-made-in-israel/
Opera in Tel Aviv market. (TY UWI)
The Tel-Aviv market is a place where the sounds a myriad of vendors advertising
their products obscures even the loudest noise.
But a group of opera singers created an “only-in-Israel” moment to replace
the familiar sounds and take over the show.
France’s ‘Singer of
the Year’.
Israeli-French singer-songwriter Yael Naim is France’s singer of the
year. The French-born, Israeli-raised 38-year-old soul singer won Female Artist
of the Year at the 2016 Victoires de la Musique (France’s Grammys). Her new album, Older, was also nominated for
Album of the Year.
Beyonce wears Israeli dress at Grammy
awards. One
of this year’s most talked about gowns is an Inbal Dror-designed wedding dress
worn by none other than Beyoncé, Queen of Pop.
“It was an amazing moment to see one of my favorite stars wearing one of
my designs,” Shenkar-trained Dror told BRIDES magazine.
Oscar nominees to get trip to Israel. A free 10-day first-class
trip to Israel, valued at $55,000, is the most valuable gift in the Oscar
“goody bag” given to nominees for this year’s actor and director Academy
Awards.
Faster than Ronaldo. International soccer star
Cristiano Ronaldo features in a new commercial for Israeli internet provider
HOT – advertising its 200Mb fast Internet service.
THE JEWISH STATE
He helped fly a million Jews to Israel. Read about entrepreneur
Aaron Frenkel’s role in flying Jews from the Former Soviet Union and Eastern
Europe to Israel. A phone call in 1988
triggered his entry into the aviation industry.
Soon between 20,000 to 35,000 Jews per month were being flown to Israel.
Martial arts fighter now fights terror. Israel’s Noy Peles is a
skilled former MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) champion. Last March she enlisted in
the IDF and chose the Border Police, despite the adverse impact on her martial
arts career. She now helps defend
Jerusalem against terror attacks.
Largest-ever Conference of Presidents. The Conference of Presidents
of Major American Jewish Organizations convened its 42nd consecutive annual
Leadership Mission to Israel with a delegation of more than 100 leaders from
the Conference’s 53 member organizations, the largest group ever.
Air-conditioning saves a life. (TY Chani) Moving story of
how a teenager’s desire just to get out of the summer heat resulted in him
registering on Ezer Mizion’s bone-marrow database and from there to saving a
9-year-old with leukemia. http://www.ezermizion.org/blog/one-grows-up-and-the-other-by-kobi-arieli/
Angel pays electricity
bill for soldier’s family. (TY David F) A soldier on a train pleaded
with the Israel Electric Company not to cut off her elderly disabled
family. Suddenly a fellow passenger
grabbed her phone and paid her overdue 1,950-shekel bill. An eye-witness said the episode filled her
with pride to be part of a nation that devotes itself to helping one another in
times of need.
160214
In the 14th Feb 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
A
prize-winning Israeli sealant prevents damaged lungs from collapsing.
·
IsraelAID
has sent a team to Taiwan to help victims of its earthquake.
·
An Israeli
security startup catches cyber criminals in the act.
·
An Israeli
pesticide works by spraying the greenhouse, not the crops.
·
Israel is
to spend $28 billion on upgrading its railway system.
·
An Israeli
movie is a Sundance Film Festival winner.
·
The
World’s oldest Bible in Jerusalem is now a UNESCO world treasure.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo,
IsraPundit and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact, Technology
and Entertainment. 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
Reversing Alzheimer’s symptoms. (TY UWI)
Israel’s Dr. Shira Knafo heads Spain’s Molecular Cognition Laboratory at
BioCruces Health Research Institute. She
has discovered a small protein, which inhibits the processes normally
associated with impairment, including depression and Alzheimer’s disease.
http://www.algemeiner.com/2016/02/09/medical-breakthrough-israeli-scientist-heading-intl-research-team-reverses-alzheimers-symptoms-in-mice/ http://www.nature.com/neuro/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nn.4225.html
Sealing wounds without
stitches, tape or bandage. Israel’s Vigor Medical Technologies won the
Innovex Disrupt contest at Tel Aviv’s Innovex2016 conference. Vigor’s sealant system treats thoracic trauma,
a chest injury that can cause the lungs to collapse. If treated within one
hour, the patient has an 80% survival chance.
Sensors to monitor the elderly. Kytera is another Israeli
startup that has developed innovative sensor technology to keep a close eye on
at-risk seniors. It also collects
anonymous data that can be used to provide vital research on specific illnesses
or medications. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOTn_rmJexc
Heart device saves more lives. (TY Atid-EDI) I
reported on Israel’s V-Wave in
May 2014 when it implanted its first heart shunt to treat congestive heart
failure patients. It has since
successfully treated over 30 patients.
V-Wave has just raised $28 million to expand clinical evaluation, development
and production.
Portable ultrasound. Professor Yonina Eldar at Israel’s
Technion is developing an innovative portable ultrasound system that transmits
scans to the treating physician immediately.
Scans can be performed in disaster areas, at road accidents, and in
developing countries where the medical infrastructure is limited.
Socks to warn of foot ulcers. Another great innovation
from Hadassah / Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s BioDesign students. Their SenseGo socks contain dozens of
micro-fabricated pressure sensors that send warnings via smartphone of incorrect
posture or ill-fitting shoes that may cause foot ulcers to develop.
Another app to cure stuttering. Israel’s Ninispeech enables
people who stutter to take control over their speech, using unique mobile
feedback technology. NiNiSpeech
catalyzes assimilation of speech strategies, encourages communication, sharpens
learning curve, and maximizes success rate.
3 top Israeli doctors are cofounders, including Dr Yoav Medan, ex-CTO of
Israeli focused ultrasound specialists InSightec.
Device to shakeup a snorer. (TY Dan) Israeli
startup Nexense manufactures a device to treat snoring and sleep apnea. Worn as a chest strap or wristwatch, it detects
snoring or sleep apnea and then vibrates to help the patient resume breathing
or stop snoring, without waking him / her up.
http://nexense.com/?page_id=87
Linked to Life. (TY Chani) Cancer charity
Ezer Mizion has a unique WhatsApp Group.
“Linked to Life” has about 4,000 volunteers who respond fast to
(sometimes life-threatening) problems.
Like forgotten medication or a premature baby who needs special
formula. http://www.ezermizion.org/blog/whats-app-by-kobi-arieli/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Autistic boy uses facebook to make new
friends.
4-year-old Tommy Traitel from Tel Aviv has set-up a facebook page to
set-up play dates with normal kids and improve his communication skills. It has also generated interest from Israelis
in the US and celebrities who have arranged to meet Tommy.
Israel appoints its first Muslim police
commissioner.
Israel’s Internal Security Minister Gilad Erdan has announced the
setting up of an executive administration to enforce law within the Arab sector. The executive head will be Muslim Arab Jamal
Hakroush, who will be promoted to the rank of Deputy Commissioner.
Muslims of Israel. This facebook page is a
collection of news & images of Israel's almost 2 million Muslim citizens
enjoying the good life in Israel. Please share.
It is an open page, allowing anyone to post comments.
A Syrian refugee thanks Israel. Syrian refugee Aboud
Dandachi has set-up a website “Thank You Am Israel” and writes “I am morally
obligated to ensure that the goodwill that Israelis and Jews have displayed
towards my people will not be overlooked nor forgotten.” “...it is imperative
that Syrians reciprocate the enormous goodwill shown towards us by Israelis and
the Jewish people.” http://www.thankyouamisrael.com/thank-you-am-israel
Bahraini princess treated in Israel. A secret 2010 visit to
Israel of a Bahraini princess has just been revealed. She received life-saving
treatment at Haifa’s Rambam Medical Center.
She stayed 2 months in Israel, including time at a rehabilitation center
in Nesher, near Haifa. She chose Israel,
rather than an alternative in the USA.
Aid to Taiwan. Israel is sending search and
rescue teams to Taiwan where many have been killed and are still missing in the
magnitude 6.4 earthquake. Taiwan’s new
President Tsai Ing-wen previously visited Israel in 2013 and was very
impressed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikw6tsu_r9I
Empowering women in Nepal. IsraAID has launched a
project in Nepal by opening a beekeeping school near Kathmandu. 64 women have learned how to become
beekeepers, form a cooperative to sell honey to local stores and tourists in
Nepal. Each woman received one beehive stacked with a colony of local Himalayan
bees to start her venture. For many of them, this beehive was one of the first
things they completely owned.
How to hack a hacker. This is the message of the
latest ad in the New York Times from “Israel is on it”. It highlights Israel’s dominance of the
cybersecurity market and particularly the innovative software from Israel’s Illusive
Networks. http://www.israelisonit.com/inventions#/how-to-hack-a-hacker/
Success at English debating
championships.
(TY Dan) At the 2016 World University Debating Championship in
Thessaloniki, Greece, Israel’s Ayal Hayut-man won Best Speaker at English as a
Second Language with partner Dan Lahav as runner-up. The two reached the semi-final stage of the
Open Finals – an Israeli record. Three
Israeli teams reached the Open Finals. http://www.tabletmag.com/scroll/196361/israeli-debate-teams-achieve-record-showing-at-world-university-championship
The all-time best iPhone apps. (TY Nevet) Mashable’s 100 all-time best
iPhone apps includes three from Israel. Waze
ranks 22 (“So good that Google bought it”); Meerkat (video streaming) is at 86 and
Yo (the best dumb app) at 91. http://www.israel21c.org/three-israeli-apps-make-the-100-best-iphone-apps-of-all-time-list/
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Recognizing your digital identity. Israeli startup Neura’s
artificial intelligence recognizes and analyzes human behavior. Neura develops
what it calls a “digital identity” for each person, that can be used to
personalize applications, services, and devices. http://venturebeat.com/2016/01/18/neura-raises-11-million-to-create-digital-identities-from-consumers-connected-lives/
Catching the
successful hacker.
(TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s TopSpin Security detects and stops cyber attackers who have already
breached an organization’s perimeter and are now attempting to steal or damage
internal assets. TopSpin has just
obtained $7 million of funding. http://www.topspinsec.com/news/topspin-security-obtains-7m-series-a-funding-from-israels-leading-cyber-security-investors/
Turning agricultural waste into energy. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Doral Energy is teaming up with Kibbutz Lahav to build a facility to generate
energy from organic waste and animal waste from local kibbutzim. There are 14 Israeli projects at varying
stages to generate electricity from waste, 3 in the agricultural sector.
Keeping patients and staff safe. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s SuperCom has more facets than I reported previously in
Feb 2015. The NASDAQ listed company has
just launched a suite of software for the Health Care industry that addresses
staff, patient and residence safety. It
incorporates mobile applications and wearable technology.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/supercom-introduces-enhanced-purehealth-solution-suite-563915991.html http://www.supercom.com/index.asp?module=category&item_id=17&t=4
Summer cybertech training course. Ben Gurion University will
launch a cybertech program for international students this summer focusing on
data mining and business intelligence. In
addition, students will visit leading Israeli companies to gain practical
experience and enhance their understanding in the field.
No more zombies. A team from Ben Gurion
University, working with Deutsche Telekom, has been able to track the source of
botnets - illicit and secretive networks that have turned half a billion
computers into zombies that try to crash websites, send out spam or run click
fraud scams.
New light railway line for Jerusalem. Last week I finally
experienced my first-ever ride on the Jerusalem light railway Red line from the
Bus Station to Jaffa Central. So I was
pleased to read that a second line has now been approved. The 20km Blue line will connect Northern and
Southern Jerusalem districts.
Startups to watch. (TY Eli M) Here are seven
Israeli startups that I hadn’t previously reported. Audioburst (radio search engine), AzurePCR (virus
and bacteria identification), DaPulse (project collaboration), Fairfly (price
saver), Fraudlogix (fraud detection), Riskified (credit card checker) and Tipalti
(automatic payments).
Smartphone security bug found. Security experts at Israeli
companies BugSec and CyNet have helped smartphone manufacturers LG fix a major
security flaw in their popular LG G3 device.
It is the second time in a month that the team has uncovered a breach in
cybersecurity that could have exposed millions to hackers.
Tracking the bad guys at sea. (TY Dan) In Nov 2015,
Israel’s Windward tracked 10,000 vessels entering Europe. Of those, 650 ships
originated from, crossed or entered the territorial waters of Libya, Syria and
Lebanon. Among those 650, 34 of them
reported a fake identity. Is the world
listening?
Natural pesticides prove
effective.
(TY Hazel) Israel’s EdenShield has completed studies in Italy, Spain and
Israel that show its non-toxic natural pesticides protect crops without damage
to the environment. In fact, the plants
don’t need to be sprayed at all – EdenShield’s Net product is sprayed on the
netting and vents of the greenhouse. http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-start-up-keeps-bad-bugs-at-bay-no-poison-needed/
An app to analyze your app. (TY Dan) Israeli startup
Gingee has developed Curve – app metrics tools for marketers and developers to
review metrics of their app on a single dashboard from multiple mobile
platforms. Its most beneficial use is in
helping transfer an app to another platform (e.g. from Android to iPhone).
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Global confidence in Israel’s economy. Ambassador Yoram Ettinger
has written another positive account of Israel’s economic prospects. He cites hi-tech funding (especially
cybertech), increasing Chinese investment, shrinking trade deficit and reduced
public / private debt to GDP rations.
Funding for 9 new US-Israeli projects. (TY Atid-EDI) The Israel-U.S.
Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation approved another
$7.5 million in funding for nine new projects between U.S. and Israeli
companies. BIRD has financed 926
projects with over $10 billion in its 38-year history.
NIS 28 billion railway
project.
Israel is to spend NIS 28.3 billion to overhaul its railway system over
the next 4 years. NIS 12 billion will
electrify the system (see
previous newsletter). The rest will
go to add new lines, expand and build new stations and replace signaling
communication and maintenance systems.
Spanish startups’ digital mission to Tel
Aviv. (TY
Dan) Spain's internet development agency Red.es, together with trade and
investment body ICEX and trade association Adigital, have organized the first
digital mission of Spanish tech startups to Tel Aviv in March. They will visit leading Israeli digital
economy players.
Israeli women behind JFE. (TY Dan) Israelis Jenny
Belotserkovsky and Michal Tavrovsky founded Jews for Entrepreneurs (JFE) to
advance their own startups and help connect them to the Silicon Valley
ecosystem.
The die is cast. (TY Dan) Israel’s Omen
Casting Group is opening a new high pressure die casting factory in Richmond, Indiana,
USA, creating up to 100 new jobs. Omen will
manufacture aluminum parts for drivelines, steering components and oil pumps at
its new facility, to be installed in US and German cars.
Fans can invest in their clubs and
players. (TY
Dan) Israeli startup FBFM (Football Fans Marketplace) is developing an online
marketplace to allow football (soccer) fans worldwide to invest in their
favorite players and clubs. Fans provide
loans to clubs for players and then receive a portion of any future transfer
proceeds.
More automated parking systems. Since I wrote about Israel’s
Unitronics (see
Mar 2015) it has built five automated parking facilities in North America
including two in New Jersey and one in California. It has just won a $4.5 million deal to build
another facility in New Jersey.
Netflix buys “The Greenhouse”. (TY Dan) US media giant
Netflix has bought its first Israeli television show. It has acquired the youth drama “The
Greenhouse” (HaKhamama in Hebrew), created by Giora Chamizer. The US version will be set in California,
although filmed in Israel.
The first non-Jewish Israeli bond. (TY Dan) Michael Shah’s
Delshah Capital secured nearly $82 million through the first phase of the
firm’s bond issuance on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. In doing so, Shah became
the first non-Jewish developer to tap Israel’s corporate bond market.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Publishing Israeli academic books
globally. (TY
Nancy) Israel Academic Press (IAP) is a peer-review press, dedicated to making
the finest Israeli academic writing available worldwide. It aims to disseminate
knowledge about the complexity of Israel and its society. http://www.israelacademicpress.com/
Gazelle Valley - Jerusalem's Urban
Nature Reserve.
I reported on Jerusalem’s Gazelle Valley Park twice previously. Israel's first urban nature reserve is named
after a herd of about 30 wild gazelles, which roam freely throughout the
250-acre park. This video shows how Israelis
and nature can coexist for mutual benefit.
A horticultural tour of Israel. (TY Dan) John and Kelly
Schroeder of Canada’s Valleybrook Gardens will host a tour of Israel’s
greenhouses, garden centers and nurseries from Oct 24 to Nov 7 2016. It
includes “plenty of time to enjoy the incredible culture, history and sights of
this fascinating country”.
Israeli film wins
Grand Jury Prize at Sundance. (TY Dan) The Israeli film "Sufat
Chol" (Sand Storm), written and directed by Elite Zexer, was awarded the prestigious
Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The film follows the story of two Bedouin
women and their struggle to change their destiny.
Megadeth to perform in Israel. Megadeth is considered to be
one of the world’s four biggest thrash metal bands, having sold 50 million
records worldwide and received eleven Grammy nominations. Megadeth will perform
at the Rishon Live Park, just south of Tel Aviv, on July 2, 2016.
Wix’s Super Bowl ad. (TY SDM) Wix.com,
the Tel Aviv-based do-it-yourself website development company broadcast a
stunning commercial featuring Kung Fu Panda during the Super Bowl on Feb 7.
The most grandmasters per capita. The Israeli city of Be’er
Sheva holds a world record of number of chess grandmasters per capita, with one
in 20,000. Former chess champion Eliyahu
Levant left the Soviet Union in the 1970s and came to Be’er Sheva. His teaching made Be’er Sheva into a dominant
force in Israeli chess.
The surf’s up in Netanya. (TY Hazel) The World Surf
League held its SEAT Pro event at Netanya’s Kontiki beach Jan 16 – Jan 25. Conditions were ideal for testing the
competitors’ skills. The winners took home $10,000 and trophies containing
shofarim (rams’ horns). http://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/176181/hd10
THE JEWISH STATE
Israelis pass the “Blind Man” test. An Australian test of
honesty was repeated in Israel. A blind
Israeli asked strangers to change a 10 or 20-shekel note, but held out a 100 or
200-shekel note to see if anyone exploited his disability. 100 per cent of Israelis corrected the blind
man’s “mistake”.
Fight BDS – drink up. (TY Dan) The first linked article
highlights some delicious wines made in Judea and Samaria. Meanwhile,
the 2016 Sommelier Wine Exhibition in Tel Aviv featured the products of 80 different
Israeli wineries with the Golan Heights Winery being very popular in Europe. “Lechaim!”
http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/196953/want-to-fight-bds-drink-up
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4759488,00.html
Campaign to bring Subbotnik Jews home. Michael Freund of Shavei
Israel writes that there are still 15,000 to 20,000 Subbotnik Jews in Russia
and many want to make Aliya. They are
descendants of Christians who began celebrating the Jewish Sabbath in the late
18th century. Many formally converted to
Judaism.
Bibi’s miraculous recovery. No, not the Israeli PM; this
is Border Police Officer Raz Bibi who was stabbed by an Arab terrorist in May
and nearly died. He was discharged from
hospital a month later and immediately went to pray at the Western Wall. Bibi
returned to duty in November and now a ceremony has honored him.
Oldest bible is a
world treasure.
The Aleppo Codex in Jerusalem’s Israel Museum has been recognized by UNESCO
as a unique world treasure. It was
written in Tiberias around 930 CE and is believed to be the world’s oldest copy
of the Hebrew Bible. The Codex joins
UNESCO’s registry of 300 items and collections.
160207
In the 7th Feb 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
Israeli
scientists have developed a way to kill the HIV virus.
·
Israel’s MobileODT
donated cervical cancer screening devices to Kenya.
·
Israeli
doctors’ discovery saved the life of an Arab girl.
·
India’s
Foreign Affairs Minister made an historic visit to Israel.
·
A
13-year-old Israeli girl has designed a satellite to produce Oxygen in space.
·
An Israeli
startup has an EU grant to develop electric buses without batteries.
·
Amazon
will print custom shirts using Israeli digital printers.
·
Honest,
caring Israelis found and returned valuable lost property to their owners.
·
The
world’s oldest man is an Israeli.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo,
IsraPundit and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact and Technology. 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
Breakthrough treatment
for HIV. Scientists at the Hebrew University of
Jerusalem have destroyed the HIV virus using peptides containing multiple
copies of the virus’ DNA. Combined with
existing HIV medications the peptides activate the cell's self-destruction
mechanisms. After two weeks there was no
sign of the virus. Human trials will
commence in a few months. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4750903,00.html
Gold lights up blocked arteries. Researchers at Israel’s Bar-Ilan
University are developing gold nano-rods to help identify and treat blocked
arteries. The tiny gold particles are
absorbed by macrophages (bacteria-viruses) in the blood to illuminate problem
areas. Combining them with good
cholesterol can then clear the blockages.
A high-definition image of your eye. Scientists at Israel’s
Technion Institute have developed innovative imaging technology to capture
fine, high-quality optical images of the retina of the eye (including blood
vessels and neurons) non-invasively. It
could transform eye research. http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Health-Scan-Looking-sharply-into-the-eyes-443311
MDA’s “Life Guardians” go live. Magen David Adom has
launched its new “Life Guardians” program. It relies on Israelis nationwide to
respond to an emergency in their area until Emergency Medical Support units
arrive. MDA states that anyone with first aid training can become a part of the
program.
Predicting cancer & obesity using
artificial light.
Haifa University’s Nataliya Rybnikova has been granted NIS 500,000
($126,000) to help her research into satellite images of artificial light at
night and its link to high levels of cancer and obesity. Night shifts may endanger health, and LEDs
can damage melatonin production.
How well do you sleep? Israel’s EarlySense has “got
into bed” with US-based iFit to develop the first “sleepable”- an Internet of Things
connected sleep sensor that will be integrated with iFit mattresses and
mattress covers. By monitoring sleep quality, users can improve sleep and overall
wellness.
More donors and transplants. 2015 saw a 60% increase in
organ donations agreed by Israeli families of the deceased. It led to a 28% increase in the number of Israeli
organ transplants – to 433 in 2015. In
addition, 668 corneas were donated and 42 burns patients received donated skin.
There was a 5% increase (to 850,000) in registered donor cards http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Highest-ever-rate-of-family-agreement-to-donate-organs-in-2015-443214
Free screening devices
for Kenya.
Israel’s MobileODT has donated 20 of its Enhanced Visual Assessment
(EVA) cervical cancer screening devices to healthcare providers in Kenya. On World Cancer Day (4th Feb), nurses trained
by the NGO Rotary International aim to screen over 700 Kenyan women using the
devices.
Overseas paramedics recognized. The Israeli Knesset has approved
an amendment to a law on health professions. Professional paramedics, who were
certified in a country where their job does not require an academic degree, can
convert their qualifications in Israel without having to go back to school. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/new-knesset-law-recognizes-paramedical-degrees-obtained-abroad/2016/02/03/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israel’s first special needs basketball
league. Israel’s
first ever basketball league for people with special needs has been launched in
Jerusalem. There are many special needs
basketball teams throughout Jerusalem and Israel, but until now there had been
no official or organized framework for such teams.
Boosting job skills for
Ethiopian-Israelis.
The Israeli government is to spend NIS 55 million ($14 million) on
programs to improve the job prospects of at least 3,600 Ethiopian immigrants. It
will focus on job training, academic programs, and grants to employers for
hiring Israeli workers of Ethiopian descent.
Building multi-ethnic Israeli companies. Forsan Hussein and Ami Dror are
the Muslim and Jewish Israeli cofounders of Zaitoun Ventures. They build and invest in companies either
cofounded by Jews and Arabs or with diverse employees, including Myndlift,
Sidis Labs, Ninispeech, Comedy Break, Teramount, Galapromter and IceCure. Zaitoun is poised to invest about $100
million in 2016.
Helping Israeli-Arab employment. (TY Eli) In 2015, over 8,000 new participants visited the 20
employment centers set up for the Arab, Druze, and Circassian populations
throughout Israel. 13,600 people found jobs through the centers and 24,000 have
received assistance. 68% of visitors
found work – far more than the government’s 56% target. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4759117,00.html
Israeli doctors save
life of 17-year-old Arab girl. Doctors at Rambam Medical Center, Haifa saved
the life of Jummana, a 17-year-old girl from Nablus suffering from a serious
and rare endocrine problem. With help
from the US National Institutes of Health, the doctors traced the source to a tiny
tumor, which they removed.
An Israeli mall in Israeli-Arab town. (TY Hazel) Supermarket
magnate Rami Levy is building a $50 million shopping mall in the Israeli-Arab
town of Al-Ram near the Palestinian Arab city of Ramallah. Levy anticipates that Jews and Arabs will be
attracted to shop at the mall and will travel from both Jerusalem and Ramallah.
The island of tears. (TY Denis) New video of some
of the thousands of refugees from Syria arriving daily by boat on the Greek
island of Lesbos, hoping to find a new start in Europe. Waiting for them on the
shore is a rescue team of doctors and nurses, both Arab and Jewish, from the
Israeli humanitarian organization IsraAid.
Israel to host Forbes 600 under 30. (TY Dan) Forbes is to hold
its Under 30 Summit EMEA in Israel. 600
young entrepreneurs and game changers from across the world will take part in
Jerusalem and Tel Aviv events 2-7 April 16. The game changers include 200 from
Europe, 200 from the US and 200 from Israel.
High return on US investment in Israel. (TY Dan) Ambassador Yoram
Ettinger describes the USA’s “win-win” relationship with Israel.
Strengthening
relations with India. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma
Swaraj came to Israel, seeking new areas where the two countries can cooperate. Speaking from Jerusalem, she stressed the
importance of Israeli-Indian ties and said the “potential of our relations are
much much more.” Meanwhile the number of
visitors to Israel from India during 2015 increased by 13.5% compared to 2014 -
to around 40,000.
Health agreement with Cyprus. Cyprus and Israel signed a
healthcare sector cooperation agreement covering issues such as improving
health systems, epidemiology, prevention of infectious diseases, food safety
and environmental hygiene. It also
includes sending patients abroad for treatments and transplant procedures.
Israel is on it. The latest Untold News ad publicizing
Israeli innovation in the New York Times.
How to combat terror. (TY Algemeiner
& Dan) 15 Massachusetts law enforcement officials are on an organized
10-day trip to Israel to learn about fighting terrorism. The trip was sponsored by the Anti-Defamation
League. http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2016/01/massachusetts_law_enforcement.html
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Smart Video On Demand. Israeli streaming company
Vonetize's may be the first 2016 launch on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The
company's service is called Smart VOD (Video On Demand) and is a similar
service to Netflix. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-vonetize-plans-raising-nis-30-34m-on-tase-1001098407
EdTech startups get a boost. Israeli entrepreneurs Yair
Brosh and Shachar Vilner have set up a new platform using Edvantage - a combination
of venture capital fund and accelerator - to encourage start-ups in informal
education. Edvantage, from Israel’s Time to Know, helps build technological
solutions and assists start-ups to enter international markets. http://www.timesofisrael.com/edtech-start-ups-get-a-boost-from-new-funding/
Israel is a nano-superpower. NanoIsrael 2016 in Tel Aviv
on Feb 22 will show the world just how far Israel’s nanotechnology industry has
come. There are 1,995 nanotechnology PhD
graduates plus 2,908 with masters’ degrees from Israeli universities. Israeli nanotechnology researchers have filed
1,590 patents.
Producing oxygen in
outer space.
(TY Dan & Nevet) 13-year-old
Israeli Roni Oron won a “Satellite Is Born” award from the Israel Space Agency
for her design of a system to produce oxygen in outer space. Her “BioSat” uses algae, carbon dioxide,
water, sunlight, mirrors and photosynthesis.
She will develop the satellite at a NASA summer camp in Florida. http://www.algemeiner.com/2016/01/21/13-year-old-israeli-girl-develops-satellite-system-for-producing-oxygen-in-space/
http://www.cjnews.com/news/business/13-year-old-israeli-girl-invents-system-for-producing-oxygen-in-space
Making water out of thin-air. (TY Dan) The technology of
Israel’s Water-Gen (featured
here previously) can extract clean water from the ambient air humidity. The
technology is now used by the Israeli, British, French and US armies. GENNY, the civilian version, is now used in
India, Africa, Central America and China.
Everything you want to know about birds. (TY Dan) Researchers from
the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv University have developed a new
bird tracking device called Atlas. The
tag transmits radio signals that tells more about wildlife than ever before –
and for a fraction of the cost of previous devices.
The most popular VPN in the world. (TY Dan) Israel’s Hola is the
most popular free VPN service in the world, used by tens of millions of people
daily, mainly to watch TV shows in countries outside the country of
origin. Hola is so busy, it is now
offering $7,000 to anyone who refers new hi-tech employees to the company.
Exposing a security flaw at Ebay. Israeli cyber-security firm
Check Point has discovered a serious flaw in online e-commerce giant eBay’s
security, allowing hackers and cyber criminals to use malicious code to target
users and steal their online information.
Power from the open
road. Israel’s
Electroad has developed Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) that will charge
electric buses from the road they are being driven on. No need for a battery or charging spots. ElectRoad has won a grant from the European
Union’s Horizon 2020 program.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
OECD report. The Organization for Economic Co-operation
and Development (OECD) biannual report on Israel is chock full of mostly good
news. Increasing GDP, well-stimulated
economy, high employment, low unemployment, rising wages, stable banks, high
quality of life and long life expectancy.
Israel is “beyond expectations”. (TY Dan & Eli) Credit
ratings agency Moody's has reported that Israel’s fiscal performance was
improving "beyond expectations."
It also said that Israel is the only high-rated country (A3 or more) to
have seen a consistent decline in its debt burden. Also S&P has maintained
Israel’s A+ rating.
http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Moodys-Israel-only-high-rated-country-with-persistent-debt-decline-441946
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/sp-keeps-israels-credit-rating-at-a/2016/02/06/
Encouraging the move to natural gas. (TY Dan) Israel’s Ministry
of National Infrastructure, Energy and Water Resources is offering grants of NIS
1 million ($250,000) for the building of each one of a network of 30 to 40 compressed
natural gas (CNG) refueling stations. It
is a key stage of Israel’s transition to cleaner energy.
EU puts $170 million in Israeli
startups. Israel
has signed no fewer than 240 agreements with the EU as part of the Horizon 2020
research and development program, with grants to Israeli start-ups and research
groups worth up to €155 million euros ($170 million). http://www.timesofisrael.com/eu-e155m-in-rd-deals-proves-theres-no-boycott-of-israel/ https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/doc/call/h2020/space-sme-2015-2/1700114-sme-instrument-phase1-beneficiaries_january_2016_en.pdf
Invest in top Israeli companies. (TY Dan) International
finance giant BlackRock has launched an exchange-traded-fund (ETF) that allows
European investors to invest directly in Israel’s top 25 listed companies. The iShares TA-25 Israel UCITS ETF (TASE)
allows global investors to invest in the Israeli economy.
http://www.financemagnates.com/institutional-forex/execution/blackrock-rolls-out-new-ishares-index-tapping-into-israeli-capital-markets/
http://www.forbes.com/sites/rogeraitken/2016/01/21/blackrocks-first-israeli-etf-ishares-ta25-listing-on-lse-could-appeal/#5fa636b51013
Israel is on it. Marcella Rosen’s non-profit
organization Untold News (see
newsletter) has launched a new advertising campaign promoting Israeli
inventions. “Israel Is On It” aims “to raise mass-market awareness of one tiny
country whose citizens are curing cancer, making the ocean drinkable, freezing cancer
tumors, preventing hospital infections, stopping airport terrorism, and
changing all our lives for the better.”
http://unitedwithisrael.org/new-ad-campaign-shines-light-on-israeli-inventions/ http://www.israelisonit.com/
Amazon to publish
T-shirts using Israeli tech. Israel’s Kornit is already revolutionizing
the custom-printed textile market with its digital garment printing
technology. Now Amazon plans to use the
Kornit systems to digitally print shirts on receipt of online customer orders.
More Aegean Airways flights. (TY Dan) Greece’s largest airline
Aegean Airways has increased its schedule to Israel to 20 flights per week. They include 3 more to Athens and 4 more to
Larnaca, Cyprus.
Digitizing content for Oxford University
Press. The Oxford University Press (OUP) has signed
deals with three Israeli digital book start-ups - Tiny Tap, Kidoz, and Total
Boox, to help OUP digitize and distribute its content. The OUP wishes to develop
products and services that improve the lives of teachers and learners globally. http://www.timesofisrael.com/oxford-university-press-signs-deal-with-3-israeli-start-ups/
A fun way to motivate employees. Israeli startup GamEffective
offers firms exciting ways to get staff to achieve better results. The technique, known as Gamification, refers
to the incentivizing component of game-playing – awarding points, badges and
other rewards for good performance.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
110 years of art and design. The Bezalel Academy of Arts
and Design, Israel’s national school of art, was established on 16th Jan 1906
with just thirty European art students. Today
around 2,000 students are enrolled at Bezalel. Many of Israel’s best-known
artists, designers, filmmakers, and sculptors are among its graduates.
Combining rich history & gourmet food. Jerusalem's Mahne Yehuda
Market is a melting pot of cultures and culinary experiences. The sounds, smells and colors are as varied
as the people. Songs and stories were
written about the market that dates back to the 19th Century. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJDQXICPiOk
Israel Trail now on Google Street View. The 1,100 km Israel National
Trail, from north to south, became the first such trail to be uploaded to
Google's Street View service, in honor of Tu Bishvat (the Jewish New Year of
trees). 250 staff from Israel's Society
for the Protection of Nature and Google filmed the path for three months. It is
now accessible to any user of Google Maps.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4757567,00.html
Scorpions are returning. German hard rock band
Scorpions will perform at Tel Aviv’s Menorah Mivtachim Arena on July 14 as part
of its 50th anniversary tour. It is the
band’s third time in Israel, after performing in 2010 and 2012. http://www.algemeiner.com/2016/02/01/scorpions-lead-singer-sends-message-to-israel-ahead-of-world-tour-tel-aviv-performance/
Tame Impala’s first Israeli concert. Australian
psychedelic/indie-rock band, Tame Impala will be heading to Tel Aviv for their
first ever Israeli concert at Rishon Live Park, on 11th July. Tame Impala’s internationally successful 2015
album “Currents” includes hits “Let It Happen”, and “Cause I’m a Man”.
A different kind of battle. (TY Dan) Tel Aviv became a
battlefield for medieval knights when Israel hosted the World Medieval Fighting
Championship. Representatives
from Ukraine, Russia, Germany, UK, Estonia, Denmark, Moldova, France and
Israel. took part in the unique competition.
Golden Judokas. (TY Dan) Israelis Yarden
Gerbi (under 63kg) and Linda Bolder (under 70kg) won gold medals at the Judo Grand
Prix in Havana, Cuba. In addition, Shira
Rishony won silver in the under 48kg event.
THE JEWISH STATE
Yeshiva boy finds
& returns NIS 130,000 lost property. (TY Janglo)
A Belz yeshiva student found a small bag containing 130,000 shekels (over
$32,600) in cash at a bus station in Haifa.
He then waited until the owner of the cash turned up and handed it over
to the astounded (previously anti-orthodox) man, refusing any reward.
Engagement ring found
in the garbage.
A wedding nightmare had a happy ending after a lost engagement ring was
found in a garbage pile and returned to the frantic bride-to-be. Volunteers sifted through trash at the
Municipal warehouses in Givat Shaul, Jerusalem after the bride’s family put out
an appeal on facebook.
From Iranian army, to Jewish State. Dr. Shahab Davidfor, an
Iranian Jew, served as a doctor in the Iranian army, treating patients at an
Iranian air force base. He made Aliyah 2 years ago and is now working in a Terem
(emergency) clinic in Romema, Jerusalem.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4760152,00.html
Keep Olim in
Israel. (TY
Eli) Liami Lawrence (featured
here in Jan 15) made Aliya from California in 2014. Now he has formed a group “Keep Olim in
Israel” for the thousands of new immigrants to Israel, providing a positive
channel to helping them settle in Israel.
http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Aliya-advocate-group-seeks-funding-to-keep-new-immigrants-in-country-441985 http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4759318,00.html
Aliya at age 97. Melba Landa, 97 was the
oldest woman to make Aliyah in 2015. She was born in Odessa and now lives with
her son and daughter-in-law in Haifa. By profession she is a geologist but she
dedicated the bulk of her time to fighting for human rights and for Soviet
Jewry.
Rare minerals discovered near Haifa. Corundum stones found in the
Kishon River, near Haifa contain a variety of rare minerals, including
Moissanite and tistarite. Until now,
tistarite has been found on a single meteorite that came from outer space; this
is the first find in a natural source deep inside the Earth.
Israelis don’t pick flowers. (TY Nevet) In the 1960s, Uzi Paz realized
Israel’s wildflowers would simply disappear at the rate people kept picking
them. Uzi helped found Israel’s Society
for the Protection of Nature, convinced the government to make picking illegal
and campaigned successfully for protecting the wildflowers.
112-year-old Israeli
is world’s oldest man. Yisrael Kristal Kristal was born in 1903 to a
religiously observant Jewish family in what is now part of Poland. His first
wife and two children were murdered in the Holocaust. He survived Auschwitz and
other death camps, remarried, made Aliyah, and had more children.
160131
In the 31st Jan 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
Israel’s
ZAKA emergency response organization received UN recognition.
·
Israel is
to spend an extra $3.3 billion on Israeli-Arabs in the next five years.
·
Seven
major news stories highlight Israel’s dominance in cybersecurity.
·
The EU has
selected Jerusalem’s water company for a major project.
·
Sony,
Honda, GM and Mercedes all announced deals with Israeli startups.
·
A BBC
video captures an amazing display of starlings in Israel.
·
Israel is
making it easier for dentists and therapists to make Aliya.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Janglo
and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact, Technology
and the Jewish
State. 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
Early detection of lung cancer in
smokers.
Scientists at Tel Aviv University and Rabin Medical Center have
discovered they can detect lung cancer early in smokers by performing a CT scan
at the time they are admitted as pneumonia patients. Often, the pneumonia is caused by young
cancer cells blocking air pathways.
The reason lack of sleep leads to obesity. Researchers at Israel’s
Weizmann Institute have detailed for the first time how human biological clocks
work in tandem with intestinal gut bacteria to control blood sugar levels. Digestion suffers when the schedules of the
gut bacteria are interrupted by late-night wakefulness.
Why the blind have better hearing. Scientists at the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem have discovered how the brain compensates for the loss
of one of the senses (e.g. sight) by improving another (e.g. hearing). They
studied the simple roundworm and manipulated synapses to control the sensory
ability of the organism.
US approval for smartphone blood sugar
monitor.
Israel’s LabStyle has received US FDA approval for its Dario device for
measuring blood sugar levels using a smartphone. It already has approval for European sales.
Turning rehabilitation into a fun
exercise.
Israeli startups BioGaming and Motorika use virtual-reality and robotics
technology to introduce fun into physical therapy exercises. BioGaming’s algorithms power a Microsoft
Kinect 3D motion-capture camera. Motorika’s robotics enable neurological and
orthopedic rehab.
ZAKA secures official
U.N. status.
(TY algemeiner and Dan) The Israeli emergency response organization ZAKA
has received official consultative status from the United Nations. ZAKA will now be recognized as an official
body in the U.N., which will help it to expand its international search, rescue
and recovery missions.
NIS 300 million more for health. Eighty-three new medications
and medical technologies were added to Israel's "health basket" on
Thursday, benefiting 108,500 patients at the cost of NIS 300 million. Cancer treatments include myeloma, leukemia,
pancreatic, kidney, prostate, breast, ovarian, lung and more.
The top Israeli responder. (TY Janglo)
The average Hatzalah emergency response volunteer will attend to some 300 calls
annually, but 58-year-old Yehuda Londner of Bnei Brak recorded an impressive
2,370 calls last year. In 29 years with
Hatzalah and Magen David Adom he has responded to over 45,000 emergency calls.
Novotalk founder’s startup cured his
stutter. The
founder Novotalk (see
Dec 27 newsletter) Moshe Rot describes how he suffered from stuttering
since age 3. Then at age 22 he went for
fluency shaping at Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital. He started up Novotalk to teach and reinforce
the skill online at much less cost.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Connecting kids to Israeli seniors. The HaVeDa project connects
senior Israeli citizens with Jewish and Israeli children living in the diaspora
who want to keep in touch with Israel – its people and its language. The Israeli seniors live at home or in a
nursing home and are happy to share their stories with young people.
El Al’s first all-female cockpit. An El Al flight that flew
from Israel to Larnaca, Cyprus was a small-but-significant
historical moment for the Israeli airline: its cockpit was comprised entirely
of women. The controls were in the hands
of Captain Smadar Shechter and First Officer Meirav Schwartz.
35% of Teva’s senior management are
women.
Israel’s Teva has reported that 49% of all its management positions are
staffed by women, with a female level of 35% in senior management. Teva launched 315 generic medicines in 2015.
It saved UK local authorities $4.3 billion in 2014 and tens of billions of
dollars worldwide.
Free on-line English courses. Israel’s Education Ministry
is paying for Israeli university students to take English language courses
offered online by the Open University in preparation for further study at
academic institutions. It will save
students thousands of shekels and improve their career opportunities.
$3.3 billion to help
Israeli-Arabs.
(TY Hazel) Israel will spend around 13 billion shekels ($3.3 billion)
over the next five years to improve the standard of living of its Arab
minority. Investment will be boosted in education,
infrastructure, culture, sports and transportation in Arab areas.
Syrians see Israel’s good side. (TY Hazel) Another report
about some of the 2,000 Syrian war wounded who have been treated in Israeli
hospitals.
R&D agreement with Colombia. (TY Dan) Israel and Colombia
have signed an agreement on cooperation in industrial R&D. Colombia is the fourth largest economy in
Latin America, after Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, which have also signed
agreements with Israel in recent years. http://www.port2port.com/article/Industry-Trade/Economy/Israel-and-Colombia-signed-R-D-cooperation-agreement/
Irrigating Indian farms. The Indian state of Haryana
- located just northwest of Dehli - will initiate micro-irrigation projects
based on Israeli expertise at 14 sites throughout the state over the course of
2016. Israeli agricultural professionals
work extensively in Haryana and neighboring Punjab, as well as around the
country.
Apple learns Hebrew. iPhone and iPad users will
know about Siri - Apple’s speech-recognition robot. Now Siri (Speech Interpretation and Recognition
Interface) will be available in Hebrew in March.
Where Israel gives humanitarian aid. (TY Hazel) Israel21C has
produced a map showing all the top locations where Israel offers aid to people
in need around the world. http://mapme.com/israel-aid
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
$3.5 million more to tackle pollution. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Environmental Protection Ministry is to invest NIS 14 million ($3.5 million) in
projects to encourage use of public transportation and bicycles. The funds are
in addition to the NIS 6 million ($1.5 million) transferred to local
authorities in the past year to promote similar initiatives.
An intelligent extra eye. Israel’s OrCam has moved on
from its camera that helps visually impaired.
It has now launched MyMe – an augmented attention device that gives you
an extra eye and ear. It can perform
face recognition, speech to text translation, time analysis etc. OrCam also opened a European HQ in London.
Bringing back the sound of voice. Israeli app HearMeOut
reinvents vocal features in social media.
“Israel is a global agricultural force”. On Tu B’Shvat – the New Year
for Trees in Israel – Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Israeli
agro-tech at an exhibit of Israel’s latest developments at the Agricultural Research
Organization’s Volcani Center, in Beit Dagan near Tel Aviv.
Magnificent seven.
Last week there was good news about seven Israeli
cybersecurity companies - the first six are their first mentions in my
newsletter. LightCyber won awards in both
SC Magazine and CRN Magazine; SafeBreach launched its continual testing
platform; Fireglass raised $20 million of funds for its critical systems
solution; ImVision raised $4 million for its anomaly detection technology; Nubo
raised $7 million to expand its Cloud-based mobile protection; and ForeScout
became a billion-dollar value company.
Finally, Elbit’s CYBERBIT unit exposed the workings and solution for
Dridex - the most dangerous virus in existence.
http://www.crn.com/slide-shows/security/300079040/the-10-coolest-security-startups-of-2015.htm/pgno/0/1
http://www.crn.com/news/security/300079496/security-startup-safebreach-launches-with-platform-to-pinpoint-a-companys-weak-spots.htm
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-cyber-security-co-fireglass-raises-20m-1001098415
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-cyber-security-co-imvision-raises-4m-1001097880
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-mobile-security-co-nubo-raises-7m-1001097362
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-iot-cyber-security-co-forescout-raises-76m-1001097233
http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-elbit-unit-cyberbit-uncovers-bank-theft-malware-1001098035
$100 million in STEM scholarships. Real estate magnate and
publisher Mortimer Zuckerman has announced a 20-year, $100 million scholarship
program to pay for American graduate students in the sciences to study in
Israel. It will allow leading US and
Israeli academics to work together on cutting-edge research.
Helping firms make IoT products. Israeli startup Seebo makes
it easier for companies to develop smart products. Seebo provides them with
end-to-end tools and technology that connect the products to the Internet of
Things (IoT). Seebo has just raised $8.5
million of funds.
The brains behind Iron Dome. Israel’s mPrest provides
monitoring and control software for the Internet of Things (IoT), enabling
organizations to connect any sensor at any time. mPrest also developed the brains for the Iron
Dome missile defense system. mPrest has just raised $20 million of funds for
international expansion.
Don’t waste time dialing. Israeli startup MyState shows
the availability of a contact before dialing by displaying if the person is on
a call, offline, on vibrate or silent, has no Internet connection, is in a
different time-zone, or their battery is running low, or charging. MyState has
just raised $6.5 million of funds.
Israeli tech in one third of Smart TVs. A third of the smart TVs
sold in the world today contain Adaptive Video Acceleration (AVA) - an
essential piece of technology made by Israeli start-up Giraffic. Both Samsung and LG use Giraffic’s AVA to
stream content, uninterrupted by network glitches and slowdowns.
Jerusalem Water on EU
research project.
Hagihon - Jerusalem’s water company - has been awarded a key role on the
4-year European Union project to improve governance and social awareness of water
environmental challenges. It involves
setting up a Digital Social Platform to share details of water scarcity,
security, quality and water consumption-related issues. https://www.hagihon.co.il/News/NewsItem.aspx?nodeId=227&id=180
A better mousetrap. Israeli start-up IoTBox has
developed a hi-tech sensor tracking system for super-fast elimination of rodent
infection at food processing sites. It
utilizes the Internet of Things (IoT) and predictive analytics to calculate the
travel pattern of the vermin and identify where pest control needs to be
applied.
The best gadgets at CES. Thousands of products were
displayed to over 100,000 visitors at the recent Consumer Electronics Show
(CES) in Las Vegas. Both winners in the
“Last Gadget Standing” category were Israeli.
The VUZE Camera from HumanEyes was the Live Audience winner and
SteamCC’s Ripple Maker was the on-line winner http://www.timesofisrael.com/two-israeli-inventions-voted-ces-favorites/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Water rates to fall by 14.5%. (TY Dan) Israel's cabinet
has approved a 14.5% cut in water rates to be effective from 1st Feb. It follows a 10% reduction a year ago.
Huge investment in Israeli startups. As you will see in this
week’s newsletter, there is a huge surge currently of financial investment in
Israeli hi-tech companies.
3000 attend investor summit. The OurCrowd Global Investor
Summit in Jerusalem brought together technology leaders and innovators from
around the world to see some of Israel’s hottest start-ups. This article features Engie, BIRD, freeD, HIL
and UpNRide, who were among the many presenters at the packed event.
2000 attend China-Israel investment
summit. Over
100 Israeli companies and 2000 delegates were in Beijing at the first ever
China-Israel Technology Innovation and Investment Summit. They came to raise capital, market their
products or build strategic partnerships.
$3 billion worth of deals were anticipated.
NIS 1 billion boost for small &
medium businesses.
Israel’s Economy Ministry has chosen two Israeli venture capital funds, Cogito
Capital and Peninsula Investments, to create a billion shekel ($27 million)
capital growth fund for firms that have an annual sales volume of NIS 100
million ($27 million) or less.
Sony buys Altair for $212 million. Sony Corporation has purchased the Israeli
chip manufacturing company Altair for $212 million or 25 billion Yen. Sony enters the prestigious Israeli startup
market to help its aim to become a world leader in the IoT (Internet of Things)
field, connecting various devices to the Internet.
Advanced Inhalation to launch on NASDAQ. Israeli biotech Advanced
Inhalation Therapies (AIT), plans to raise $12 million on NASDAQ. AIT develops products for the treatment of
respiratory infections including Cystic Fibrosis. See previous newsletter articles (here) of its Nitric
Oxide treatment.
A massive space in the Cloud. Hundreds of top enterprises
and carriers currently run the flagship Cloud products Cloudify and XAP from
Israel’s GigaSpaces to enhance IT efficiency and performance. GigaSpace has just raised $20 million of
funds for global expansion and product development.
Honda seeks Israeli smart car technology. (TY Dan) Honda has engaged Israeli crowdfunding
equity platform company OurCrowd to help its plans to build intelligent
automobiles. Honda is already working
with Israel’s VocalZoom, which has developed a robust speech interface for cars
and motorbikes.
Infotainment for GM & Mercedes cars. Israeli video tech company Valens has
announced that two of the biggest automakers - GM and Mercedes - are to install
its HDbaseT world standard cable technology into their vehicles and
products. HDBaseT eliminates waiting
time for the display of apps, videos and other content.
The largest investment of its kind. Netanya’s jFrog has just
raised $50 million – one of the largest ever investments in a Development /
Operations company. jFrog’s products
allow IT departments to build and maintain new systems. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-devops-startup-jfrog-raises-50m-1001096830
Frutarom continues to Grow. Israeli flavors and natural
ingredients company Frutarom has made its second acquisition of 2016 following
12 takeovers in 2015 and 29 in five years.
It has now bought US ingredients company Grow for $20 million. Grow has an R&D and marketing center and
production site in New Jersey.
Fly from Rosh Pina to Eilat. Domestic Israeli travel has
been enhanced with the inaugural flight from Rosh Pina airport to Eilat. Deputy Minister of Regional Cooperation Ayoub
Kara is planning a 34 million Shekel ($8.6 million) program to develop the Rosh
Pina airport and turn it into a regional hub for local flights.
Save money on your bills. (TY Janglo)
Israeli startup EZSave has an app that renegotiates your service provider
contracts to optimize your service and save you money. Just send a photo of your bill and EZSave
does the rest. It currently works in Israel for phone, Internet, TV and gas
bills.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Israel has the X-Factor. The purchase of Israel’s
media production company Abot Meiri, by South Africa’s FremantleMedia, gives an
Israeli development arm to the owner of X Factor, Pop Idol, and Got Talent.
Deep Purple returns to Israel. Deep Purple, one of heavy
rock's most legendary bands, will be back in Israel on May 22 in Rishon Lezion.
It'll be the band's fifth visit to Israel since their first show in 1991.
A new viewing experience. Tech giant Intel is working
with Israel’s Replay Technologies to enable sports fans to re-watch key moments
of sporting events from nearly every conceivable angle. Replay’s “freeD” technology and Arena stadium
system of super high-definition cameras will be optimized for 6G Intel Core
processors and Intel server technology. http://www.thetower.org/2787oc-intel-teams-with-israeli-tech-company-to-give-sports-fans-new-viewing-experience/
Suddenly Jerusalem flashmob. The spirit is high among
these young dancers in Israel’s capital city.
BBC finally films a
beautiful Israeli sight. (TY Avi) A BBC cameraman looked
up at the Israeli sky and captured an amazing sight. Thousands of starlings forming “dancing
clouds” – known as murmurations.
Israel’s first men’s Olympic Taekwondo
competitor. (TY
SDM)
Ron Attias will be Israel's first-ever male Olympic Taekwondo martial arts
contestant, when he competes in the under-58 kg category at the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Attias won the gold medal at the qualification tournament in Turkey.
THE JEWISH STATE
Running for ALEH. Read about the young people
who are running the Jerusalem marathon on March 18, to raise funds for ALEH –
the Israeli charity for disabled children.
Please join in the race if you can, or give a donation if you can’t. http://runforaleh.org/about-aleh-ascend/
http://runforaleh.org/register-jerusalem/
1700-year-old graves of Rabbis found. Three 1,700-year-old burial
inscriptions in Aramaic and Greek have been uncovered in the northern Israeli
community of Tzipori. Two belong to
Rabbis, whose names have yet to be deciphered.
http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/17000-year-old-gravestones-of-unknown-rabbis-uncovered-in-northern-israel/2016/01/27/0/
A unique language. Israel is the only country
to have revived an unspoken language and establish it as its national tongue. Thanks mainly to Eliezer ben Yehuda
(1858-1922), Israelis hailing from all corners of the globe now speak Hebrew as
the language of everyday communication.
From Japan to the IDF. Daniel Tomohiro is not the
typical Israeli soldier. Born from a Jewish mother and a Japanese father, he
learned how his Hungarian grandparents survived the Holocaust, made Aliyah, and
fought in Israel’s War of Independence.
Now Tomohiro serves in the 50th Battalion of Israel’s Nahal Brigade.
Easier for dentists to
make Aliya.
New Israeli legislation is being introduced to allow dentists with at
least five years’ experience to practice in Israel without having to take an
exam. Certified occupational therapists,
physiotherapists, speech therapists and dietitians can practice without an
academic degree but with a test.
Israel’s oldest and youngest trees. For the Jewish festival of
Tu Bishvat (New Year for trees) Israel21c published a Do-It-Yourself tour guide
to the most impressive trees in Israel. Israel
is also one of the few countries to enter the 21st century with more trees than
100 years ago. Please help to beautify
the Holy Land.
Eyelid surgery saves porcupine. Veterinarians at Israel’s
Ramat Gan Safari park had to call on the help of Dr. Ayelet Priel, an ophthalmologist
at Tel Hashomer’s Sheba Medical Center who performed a first-of-its-kind
operation in order to save the eyesight of a porcupine that had hurt her face
while trying to escape from a trap.
160124
In the 24th Jan 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
Israeli
scientists have used a cancer treatment to fight Alzheimer’s disease.
·
An
Israeli-Arab rescue team proudly wears the IDF uniform.
·
The World
Bank is using Israeli technology to improve healthcare in India.
·
Israeli
streetlights also measure traffic congestion, climate and pollution.
·
An Israeli
startup detects underground water leaks from outer space.
·
Discovery
of another potentially huge Israeli natural gas deposit.
·
A video of
3 Israeli Yemenite singers has gone viral in Arab countries.
·
The BBC
has produced a positive program about Israel’s rescue of Ethiopian Jews.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully Yours, Janglo
and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact, Technology
and Entertainment. Also (TY Sandra) the newsletter is now 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
Cancer treatment can
fight Alzheimer’s. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann
Institute have discovered that PD-1 blockers used as cancer treatments are also
able to destroy the plaque in the brain that causes Alzheimer’s disease. The blockers keep the immune system working
to fight disease and repair damage in the body.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/elder/12105714/Cancer-drugs-could-be-re-purposed-to-fight-Alzheimers-disease.html
http://www.nature.com/nm/journal/vaop/ncurrent/full/nm.4022.html
Partnering to treat pancreatic cancer. Israel’s BiolineRX is to
perform a Phase II clinical test combining BiolineRX’s BL-8040 with Merck’s KEYTRUDA
anti-PD-1 therapy in the treatment of patients with metastatic pancreatic
adenocarcinoma.
Come to Israel to fix your child’s
spine. (TY
Atid-EDI) Australian, Canadian and US kids are traveling to Europe and Israel
for the ApiFix non-fusion treatment of their Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis
(twisted spine). Israel’s ApiFix is
approved in Europe and Israel and ApiFix helps parents to identify suitable
spine surgeons.
http://venturebeat.com/2015/12/17/spine-surgeons-say-new-device-apifix-makes-kids-scoliosis-surgery-minimally-invasive/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWoLcYnfq94
Eight organs transplanted in 48 hours. Surgeons at Israel’s
Beilinson hospital in Petah Tikva set an Israeli record when in 48 hours they
transplanted 4 lungs and 4 livers into 7 patients. One of the liver transplants included surgery
to shorten the stomach – only the eighth such operation in the world.
Nearly 200 cartilage regenerations. Israel’s CartiHeal has now
implanted its Agili-C cartilage regenerator into nearly 200 damaged knees since
the biotech was founded in 2009 (see
here for previous newsletters).
CartiHeal has just raised $15 million to expand trials prior to a planned
European launch in 2017.
Free dental care for more kids. Israel has allocated NIS 80
million to extend free basic dental care to children up to age 14. Previously children received free dental care
up to age 12. http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Cabinet-expands-free-basic-dental-care-to-children-aged-13-and-14-437922
Computer training to treat depression
and anxiety.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have devised simple computer-aided
brain exercises that help individuals ignore negative stimulation. Functional MRI scans showed reduced
activation in the brain region involved in negative emotions, including sadness
and anxiety.
Foods that trigger autoimmune diseases. Scientists at Israel’s
Technion and in Germany have discovered evidence that certain processed foods damage
the intestine and weaken its resistance to bacteria, toxins and other hostile elements.
This “leaky gut” syndrome increases the likelihood of developing autoimmune
diseases.
Another successful Brainstorm trial. A four-year study at
Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital of the stem cell treatment from Israel’s
Brainstorm has been shown to inhibit the progression of the fatal neurological
disease ALS (Lou Gehrig’s) in 87 percent of 26 patients.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Aging with dignity. In Israel, although there is
yet no cure for Alzheimer’s and dementia, the charity Ezer Mizion provides caregiver
services, a counseling center, an empowerment center, walking groups, a variety
of workshops, visits by volunteers and a unique “Bonding with Motion” program.
The Israeli-Arab
rescue team.
The existence of a 60-member search-and-rescue team wearing IDF uniforms
in the Israeli-Arab town of Abu Gosh may surprise you. The team’s leader, Muslim Arab Imad Jaber,
said “We rescue people. It doesn't matter gender, race or religion. Our goal is
to save human lives.”
Christian Arabs in the IDF. Father Gabriel Naddaf of
Nazareth celebrated Christmas with Christian soldiers at an IDF base in
Northern Israel. He works with the
International Fellowship of Christians and Jews to encourage Christian Arabs to
enlist in the Israel Defense Forces. Only 40 enlisted in the whole of 2012
before Father Naddaf began his project, but in March 2015 alone, 102 Christian
Arabs volunteered to serve in the IDF.
The Swede that turned. Sweden’s Daniel Borg was
working for the anti-Israel ISM organization in Ramallah, East Jerusalem and
Hebron. Then contact with some Zionists and
Israeli Arabs changed his whole mindset.
Israeli doctors save Syrian girl. Christian organization
Shevet Achim brought two-year-old Niyaz from a Syrian refugee camp to Israel
where surgeons from Save A Child’s Heart (SACH) repaired a large hole in her
heart. She already suffered lung damage,
but the surgery was successful and Niyaz will now lead a normal life.
Teaching desert farming to Nigerians. (TY Hazel) For five years, Israel’s
Galilee International Management Institute is to train 100 farmers each year
from Kano state Nigeria, which is on the edge of the desert. Israelis will also go to Kano to train the
farmers in advanced water management, desert agriculture and drip irrigation.
Connecting power grids. (TY Dan) Israel, Greece and
Cyprus are connecting their power grids to continental Europe. The 1,518 km subsea power cable, known as
the EuroAsia InterConnector will allow Israel and Cyprus to sell their excess
electricity generated from natural gas to anywhere in mainland Europe.
http://famagusta-gazette.com/electricity-interconnection-project-with-israel-and-greece-enters-new-phase-p31687-69.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKsh_RrJ4jM
http://www.euroasia-interconnector.com/
World Bank enlists
Israeli help for India. The World Bank’s International Finance
Corporation has launched TechEmerge in Israel – a project matching top Israeli health
technology innovators with interested healthcare providers in India. India needs Israeli tech to address the rise
in non-communicable chronic diseases in India.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
An app for the really serious shopper. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israeli startup Shopicks has launched a platform to help you discover, collect,
organize, and manage all of your online shopping. It also sends you sale alerts for your items,
tells you where the items are sold locally and can share shopping ideas with
friends to get feedback.
Upgrading Real Madrid’s app. Israel’s Interacting
Technology, via its Spanish subsidiary Sportech Interactech, is to upgrade Real
Madrid’s official mobile app. The Spanish
soccer club seeks to add online games and develop communication and interaction
between fans, which would contribute to its monetization.
Really smart streetlights. Israel’s Ga’ash Lighting is
installing its Apollo smart LED streetlights in the South Tel Aviv suburb of
Bat Yam. The lights not only save
energy, but they include Wi-Fi repeaters, security cameras, temperature and air
quality sensors, and systems to measure traffic congestion.
Center for 3D and functional printing. The Hebrew University of
Jerusalem has launched Israel’s first center for research into 3D and
functional printing - for example adding light emission or movement to a 3D-printed
object. It will help develop the printing of sophisticated 3D products such as robots,
solar equipment, radiation detectors, smart windows and medical devices. http://new.huji.ac.il/en/article/28249
A back-end for your app. Israel’s RapidAPI saves 70%
of app development time as it provides the operations common to most apps, such
as entering user name and password, purchases, and data keeping. Developers can
borrow and insert RapidAPI’s routines into their apps without having to write a
single line of original code.
http://unitedwithisrael.org/silicon-valley-fund-investing-in-israeli-startup-to-streamline-startups/
A recipe to better health. The Israeli app MakeMyPlate
has some well-known users, including Jennifer Lopez. MakeMyPlate makes dieting more accessible and
easier as it motivates users by literally getting to see what their plate
should look like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpUDoDiwIKo
Save space on your smartphone. (TY JBN)
Israel’s Invoke Mobile has developed Camra – an app that lets you quickly
upload photos and videos directly to the cloud, bypassing your phone’s storage.
Spotting water leaks
from outer space.
Israeli startup Utilis uses readily-available satellite images to
pinpoint underground water leaks. Spectral
microwave imaging, plus Utilis’ patented set of algorithms, tracks the
“signature” of drinking water as it leaks from distribution pipes. http://www.utiliscorp.com/
Your smartphone fixed in under 1 hour. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israeli startup CellSavers can fix your smartphone within the hour at your preferred
location, such as home, office, café or gym.
CellSavers has just raised $3 million to enhance its technology-driven
logistics and expand into other major U.S. cities.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
More potential natural
gas. (TY
JBN) An estimated 8.9 trillion cubic feet of natural gas has been located by
seismic surveys in the Mediterranean at Israel’s new Daniel natural gas field. The discovery is of similar size to the
massive Tamar deposit currently being extracted.
Increase in Israeli cyber security
exports.
Exports of Israeli cybersecurity software and services grew by 10% in
2015 from their previous $3 billion value in 2014. There are 300 Israeli cybersecurity
companies, led by Checkpoint which has a $14.2 billion valuation.
Israelis pay less tax. According to the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Israelis pay less tax than residents
of 22 of the OECD’s 34 member countries.
Israelis pay an average of 31.4% in total taxes, compared with the OECD
average of 34.4%.
Israel’s other $ billion companies. There are several Israel
“Unicorn” companies – those valued as more than $1 billion. But Israel’s strength is that it has
thousands of million-dollar startups – which add up to several more
“unicorns”. http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/celebrating-israels-other-unicorn-economy/
Israeli startups in Moldovia. Interesting article of how
two Israeli entrepreneurs have built up an Israeli start-up hub in the Eastern
European state of Moldovia. http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2016/01/16/two-israelis-entrepreneurs-help-build-a-startup-scene-in-a-tiny-country-moldova/
The first green industrial complex. Intel Israel has received Israel’s
first Green Building Standard for an industrial complex. The new Intel complex
in Kiryat Gat meets the requirements of SI 5281, the sustainable buildings
standards.
New fund for Israeli startups. The former chief product
officer at Intel, David Perlmutter, has set up an fund aiming to invest $300
million in Israeli tech companies, with the goal of eventually listing them on
Nasdaq.
3M expands Israel operations. (TY Dan) Multinational
hi-tech 3M has launched a customer innovation center in Herzliya. It signals 3M’s interest in Israel as a
market as well as a source of technology.
3M’s Israeli acquisitions and investments include Attenti, VocalZoom and
Takadu as well as establishing an R&D arm in Israel. http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Tech/3M-expands-Israel-operations-with-first-customer-innovation-center-436511
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Earth Color Project. (TY Barbara) A good friend
and newsletter reader has sent me details of the new album that her Israeli
granddaughter Michal Hoter has produced.
Please support her project and be amongst the first to receive her CD. Any money for pre-bought CDs will only be
taken if Michal reaches her crowdfunding goal.
Songs for Schubert. In honor of the composer
Schubert’s birthday on 31 Jan, the annual Schubertiade takes place in
Israel. There are concerts at the Israel
Music Conservatory in Tel Aviv, Hechal Hatarbut in Rishon Lezion, the Mishkan
Performing Arts Center in Ra’anana, and the Mormon University in Jerusalem.
A magical night at the opera in
Jerusalem. Right
under the walls of Jerusalem's old city, opera lovers had a chance to
experience an evening of musical joy at the premiere of 'The Elixir of Love'
opera.
Israeli band is a hit
with the Arabs.
(TY Dan) Sisters Tair, Liron and Tagel Haim are collectively known as
A-Wa, or “yes” in Arabic slang. They are descendants of Yemeni Jews who
immigrated to Israel decades ago. The
youtube video has had over 2 million views and is extremely popular in Yemen
and other Arab states.
Just for the birds. The Hula Valley Bird
Festival is an initiative of the Israel Ornithological Center and has been
running since 2000. The festival aims to
highlight the fantastic birding opportunities Northern Israel and the Hula
Valley in particular can offer. 500
species of birds in a fabulous local area – unheard of in Europe.
THE JEWISH STATE
Feeding the poor - one bag at a time. For the 1.6 million Israelis
living under the poverty line, hunger is a reality. 8000 Pantry Packers volunteers distribute
monthly food boxes to more than 40,000 families in 24 Israeli cities. The Colel Chabad run Jerusalem volunteer
center celebrates its third anniversary on Jan 31.
2700-year-old farmhouse unearthed. A 2,700-year-old farmhouse has been discovered during recent
excavations ahead of the construction of a new neighborhood near the town of
Rosh Ha’ayin, just east of Tel Aviv. Archaeologists
uncovered the ruins of a Byzantine monastery built on the site 1200 years
later.
Help find the guitar man. 15 years ago, Israeli Arnold
(Arik) Nesis received the gift of a 1983 Ibanez X Explorer Destroyer X guitar
from a US donor. The guitar helped
Arnold launch his musical career and now he is asking social media users to
help him find the person who changed his life forever.
The daring mission to
save the Jews of Ethiopia. A rare thrilling BBC documentary about
Operations Moses (1984) and Solomon (1991), that brought the lost Jews of
Ethiopia to Israel. (Editor’s note – on
both occasions, my wife and I landed at Ben-Gurion Airport as the C-130 planes
were flying out – amazing sight)
160117
In the 17th Jan 16 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
An Israeli
anti-Rabies vaccine is now available in 10 countries.
·
Israel is
opening a chain of 40 non-profit supermarkets.
·
Israel’s
UK aid team is now helping flood victims in Scotland.
·
Israeli 3D
sensors can see through walls and find tumors under the skin.
·
An Israeli
hands-free suitcase will follow you around.
·
Global
deals boost prospects of two Israeli water companies.
·
Aliya from
Western Europe is at an all-time high.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo,
IsraPundit and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Global
impact, Technology
and Jewish
State.
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
Rabies vaccine is
ready for US market. Following successful trials, Israeli biotech
Kamada has launched its KamRAB anti-Rabies vaccine in 10 countries, including
Israel. Kamada will now apply for a
Biologics License Application (BLA) from the US FDA - the last step before
offering a remedy for sale in the United States.
Collagen wound treatment final trials
success. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s CollPlant announced positive final trial results for Vergenix FG
(Flowable Gel), designed for the treatment of chronic, hard to heal wounds and
surgical wounds. 4 weeks after a single
application, average wound closure was 80% with 45% fully closed.
Blood test for Alzheimer’s. Israeli biotech NeuroQuest is to begin clinical trials of its blood
test for early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. Human trials in Israel have already proved
87% accurate – with blood tests, anything over 70% is considered medically
significant.
Non-implant heart valve treatment. Israel’s Pi-Cardia has
developed the Leaflex Catheter System - a novel non-implant based technology
for treating patients with aortic valve stenosis, rather than replacing the
heart valve. Pi-Cardia has just raised
$10 million to help complete development of a second-generation device.
Faster diagnosis of a heart attack. Dr Amos Danielli, now of
Israel’s Bar Ilan University, developed technology at Tel Aviv University to
identify minute quantities of chemicals using magnetic particles attached to
fluorescent molecules. One use is to
detect the protein Troponin, an indicator of an imminent heart attack. Dr Danielli has founded the company MagBiosense
which has won a NIS 900,000 grant from the BIRD foundation. http://www.globes.co.il/en/article-magbiosense-to-shorten-heart-patients-er-wait-time-1001093195
Israel hosts emergency response
conference.
Israel hosted hundreds of delegates from 30 countries, plus the World Health
Organization, at the Fourth Israeli International Conference on Healthcare
System, Preparedness and Response to Emergencies and Disasters in Tel Aviv and Beersheva.
Helping us get to 120. Israeli-born Technion
graduate Dr Nir Barzilai is now director of the Institute for Aging Research at
the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. As he approaches his 60th
birthday himself, he is working with the US FDA on treatments that could make
everyone live a lot longer.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
More opportunities for the disabled. The Israeli Government is establishing
the first national employment center for disabled Israelis. In addition, a new Israeli law will prohibit
banks from denying mortgages to individuals with significant disabilities, such
as those suffering from ALS or autism.
Non-profit
supermarkets to help the poor. Israel’s first non-profit supermarket co-op
store has opened in the southern Israeli city of Sderot. Ten co-ops are planned to open each year, providing
a low-cost shopping alternative for the socio-economically challenged
communities in Israel’s northern and southern periphery.
Speak for yourself. (TY Chani) Israeli charity Ezer
Mizion’s Speech Generating Device Lending Center is one of only three of its
kind in the entire world. Read how its remarkable
technological solutions for the speech impaired can help those imprisoned in
their own bodies to communicate and to be included in society.
Bedouin in the Israeli hi-tech sector. (TY David and Hazel) Highlights
that even Israeli Arabs living in the Negev desert can succeed in Israel’s
hi-tech workplace. (Still several major errors
and bias, but a relatively positive article in the usually anti-Israel NY
Times.)
Bedouins help Israel fight terrorists. 25-year-old Mohammad
Ka’abiyah, a Political Sciences student at Haifa university, is one of around
1,700 Bedouin soldiers voluntarily serving in the Israel Defense Forces. “I am
proud of being Bedouin, Arab, Muslim and Israeli” he says.” “I am also proud to
fight in the Israeli army.”
Nazareth mayor & PM call for
co-existence.
Mayor of Nazareth, Ali Salam, invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin
Netanyahu to visit his city, saying “It would be a great honor for me to host
you in Nazareth. I believe in coexistence and in the only way – that we should
live together and continue together."
Making changes in China. The Startup Nation is
driving dramatic changes in the culture and politics of China. One of those influencers is the Lahav
Executive Education, a Tel Aviv University project that organizes and runs
executive training programs in management and business skills.
Israeli flood aid team
moves on to Scotland. Five volunteers from the IsraAid disaster
relief team have finished their work in Leeds UK and are now helping residents
of Aberdeen in Scotland. Parts of the
city in have been badly affected by storm-force winds and heavy rainfall, with
rivers bursting their banks.
Ukraine’s solidarity with Israel. During his official state
visit to Israel, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko signed several bilateral
agreements focused on developing and strengthening scientific and technological
cooperation. He also expressed his
desire to increase bi-national trade from its current $1 billion level.
25 years of friendship with Albania. Albanian Prime Minister Edi
Rama met Israel’s PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem and signed bilateral
agreements on medical cooperation and other matters. They also signed a
declaration of friendship to mark 25 years of diplomatic relations with Israel.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Agritech on Gaza border. Despite its location close
to Gaza, Israel’s Phytech (see
July newsletter) is to receive funds from major firms interested in its
crop sensor technology. Phytech’s PlantBeat is used in the biggest farms in the
US, Brazil and Australia, plus 60% of tomato farmers and 40% of cotton growers
in Israel.
3D imaging at your
fingertips. (TY Atid-EDI)
The 3D sensors from Israeli startup Vayyar can see through skin and tissue to
detect cancer, through walls to detect structural foundations, and can track a
person’s location and vital signs as they move through a Smart Home. Vayyar has just raised $22 million to launch
globally.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vayyar-imaging-launches-globally-announces-22m-series-b-funding-led-by-walden-riverwood-300192969.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRssyBnsaf8
Protecting UK kids from unsafe WiFi. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israeli cybersecurity specialist Cyren has been accredited as a "Friendly
WiFi" approved provider by the UK Council for Child Internet Safety. CYREN’s cyber security solutions protect
thousands of public WiFi installations in the UK.
A more relevant comment. Most of the comments you see
about Internet articles are tucked away at the bottom of the article, where
no-one is looking. Israeli startup
Fidback, however, allows you to make comments directly next to the text that
you are referring to, so you can get into a really good on-line conversation.
Leak detection could save your home. Israel’s Aqua-Rimat is
running a pilot of its Flowless water leak detection system in 500 Israeli
homes. The system is one of the Internet
of Things (IoT), allowing you to remotely turn off the water to your property. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chAqjIx_8So
Get the right price for your product. Israel’s Feedvisor allows on-line
suppliers to quickly change prices for their products in response to changing
market conditions. Feedvisor analyzes hundreds
of thousands of data points in real-time to determine the precise point at
which customers will make a buying purchase.
Fast broadband for the UK. Israel’s Gilat Satellite
Networks is supplying its HTS VSAT Networks to Broadband satellite operator
Avanti Communications to provide the fastest available broadband Internet
access to rural households throughout the United Kingdom. http://www.gilat.com/Avanti-Deploys-HTS-VSAT-Networks-from-Gilat-for-Broadband-Connectivity-Across-the-UK
A suitcase that
follows you around.
Israel’s NUA Robotics has designed luggage that travels hands-free on
flat surfaces. It has a camera sensor to
detect where you are and Bluetooth connection to your smartphone and an alarm
to deter against theft. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EGPmuxnQbE
The world’s second-largest cyber event. Hundreds of overseas
delegations, companies, and investors will attend Cybertech in Tel Aviv on Jan
26/27. Cybertech is the world's second
largest cybersecurity event. It includes an exhibition with 250 companies, 100
of which are Israeli startups.
Vegan baby milk at Food Tech Nation. (TY Dan) If you are
interested in the progress of INDI - the Israeli non-dairy, no soy infant milk (see
Oct 2014 newsletter) it was one of the stars at Tel Aviv’s Food Tech Nation
2015. Stage 3 formula milk should
hopefully be available commercially by the end of this year.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Less exits but more profit. Israeli high-tech companies
generated $9.02 billion in profits from 104 exits in 2015. The number of exits decreased by 10% compared
to 2014, as more Israeli companies grew rather than sold out. Total profit from exits rose 16%, with the
average exit deal in 2015 amounting to $87 million.
Optimistic economic prospects. (TY Nevet) Israel’s economic future looks
good, according to this report.
The worst kept secret. Israel has no diplomatic
relations with Indonesia - the largest Muslim country, but bi-lateral trade
reaches hundreds of millions of dollars a year.
One of the Indonesia’s top venture capitalists spoke to a crowd of 600
at Tel Aviv’s Israel Foreign Trade Conference, but his name could not even be
reported.
VW eyes Israeli tech for self-driving
car. Israel’s
Mobileye has signed an agreement with Volkswagen in preparation for installing
Mobileye's self-driving technology in Volkswagen vehicles. Mobileye is already working with two other
car manufacturer that with VW would account for one third of global auto sales.
Frutarom buys into Israeli algae. Israeli flavors and
specialty natural ingredients company Frutarom has purchased 50% of Algalo
Industries, based at Kibbutz Ein Hamifratz near Haifa. Algalo has a unique and innovative method for
cultivating algae that contain active ingredients for the food nutrition
industry.
Cleaner water. Israel’s Amiad has opened
its first UK office, in Swansea - home of Welsh Water, to support increasing
demand in the UK and Europe. Also,
Israeli irrigation specialists Netafim has signed an exclusive distribution
agreement to market Amiad's Arkal product lines for the irrigation market in
numerous countries.
Purifying Schweppes in
Australia.
Israel’s Mapal Green Energy has signed its first major contract in
Australia – supplying a system to clean up wastewater from Schweppes’ factories
throughout the country.
Business is booming in China. An unprecedented 150
leaders from 90 Israeli companies recently attended a two-day investors’ summit
in Beijing. Meanwhile, Israel Aerospace
Industries is to build a development center in Shantou, China in order to
expand local aircraft manufacturing.
Trendit launches on UK Stock Exchange. Israel’s Trendit has raised
4 million Euros with a successful IPO on the UK Stock Exchange. Its share price has since risen by 22%.
Trendit’s app tracks smartphone signals and uses them to analyze population
samples at a specific time or location for a variety of targets.
Plenty of credit for Israeli tech
startups.
Recent successful fund-raising for Israeli hi-tech companies include $17
million for MultiPhy - developer of DSP-based high bandwidth CMOS
communications semiconductors for Data Center connectivity. Also, $35 million
for Israeli flash storage company Elastifile.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Chamber music festival in Eilat. The Eilat Chamber Music
Festival from 1st to 6th Feb is one of the leading international festivals in
Israel. Renowned French, Belgium and German ensembles will perform, as well as
Jewish musicians from Spain and Israel. http://www.eilat-festival.co.il/content/about-festival
Pat Boone to perform in Tel Aviv. US legendary singer,
composer, actor and TV star Pat Boone will perform at Tel Aviv’s Mann
Auditorium on 1st March 2016. His famous
songs include “Speedy Gonzalez”, “April Love”, “Love Letters in the Sand” and
“Moody River”.
Living next door to Alice. Chris Norman, legendary
front man of the British rock band Smokie, is to perform at the Mann
Auditorium, Tel Aviv on March 30th. Chris and his band gained popularity in the
’70s, with hits such as “Living next door to Alice”. “Midnight Lady” is one of his most popular
solo songs.
“Together against the Odds-2” (TY Grant) More opportunities to see this two-person comedy musical
about falling in love, converting and making Aliya. See the youtube.
A new seaside park - inland. (TY Janglo)
The city of Modi’in Maccabim-Reut is building an artificial beach park. It will include a wave pool, water
installations, restaurants and cafes and will take 3 years to build.
THE JEWISH STATE
Level of Lake Kinneret begins to rise. Despite having plenty of
drinking water from desalination, Israelis are very happy to see the first
increase in the level of the Kinneret / Sea of Galilee this winter. Previous rains fell mostly in the center and south
of the country.
Over 30,000 make Aliya
in 2015. Over
30,000 new immigrants arrived in Israel in the past year, 10% more than in 2014
and the highest number in over a decade. Nearly 8,000 came from France, while
around 7,000 came from Ukraine. Tel Aviv received the most immigrants, followed
by Netanya, Jerusalem and Haifa. Aliya
from the UK in 2015 increased by 25% from the previous year. Aliya from Western Europe hit record levels.
Returning to the Jewish State. Israel’s Academy of Sciences
and Humanities is running its first-ever job fair to help over 3000 Israeli
academics working overseas who have applied for assistance in finding a job in
Israel. Over 1,700 of the applicants are
currently working in the US, and 228 are employed in the UK.
This land is your birthright. (TY Sharon) 3,000 young Jews
from seven countries gathered in the Jerusalem International Conference Center
for Taglit-Birthright’s Mega Event of 2016.
And Israel is making it easier for Birthright and Masa participants to
extend their stay in the Jewish State without unnecessary bureaucracy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP22DGT8fbM
http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Birthright-Masa-participants-to-be-given-six-month-visas-in-order-to-allow-extended-stays-438668
Emunah celebrates 80th anniversary. (TY Sharon) Israeli President Rivlin welcomed leaders
of Emunah, the National Religious Women's Organization, to honor 80 years of
caring and educating. Emunah in Israel
operates 140 daycare centers, serving 9,000 children. Educational institutions include
19 midrashot for women.
Stabbing victim recovers to celebrate
Bar Mitzvah.
13-year-old Naor Shalev Ben-Ezra recently has just had his Bar Mitzvah
at the Western Wall, two months after suffering life-threatening injuries when
stabbed on his bike, by two Palestinian Arab teenagers. One guest was David Dalfon, the MDA paramedic
who saved his life.
In the 10th Jan 2016 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
An Israeli
therapy is now available to treat prostate cancer.
·
Israel has
approved the building of a new town for Druze Arabs.
·
Israel is
providing aid to flood victims in Paraguay and England.
·
Israeli
shock-pads are preventing injuries in Europe’s playgrounds.
·
The first
ever startup investment roadshow was held on an Israeli train.
·
Israel is
helping to build a massive dairy in South Sudan.
·
An Israeli
bird race funds prevention of illegal killing of European birds.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo,
IsraPundit and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Inclusiveness,
Technology
and Culture.
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
Prostate cancer
therapy completes successful trials. Prostate cancer therapy (laser plus TOOKAD
Soluble) invented at Israel’s Weizmann Institute completed Phase 3 trials on
480 patients in Latin America and Europe and was approved by Mexico’s health
authority. Minimal side-effects were
associated with the high cure rates.
Pain therapy has 100% success. Israeli and US trials of
Israeli-developed Hyperbaric (high-pressure) Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) reported
relief for all 48 sufferers of the chronic pain condition fibromyalgia. Dr. Shai Efrati, lead author of the study at
the Assaf Harofeh Medical Center noted his own mother suffers from the
syndrome.
(See previous newsletters here)
http://news.rice.edu/2015/06/02/hyperbaric-hope-for-fibromyalgia-sufferers-2/
A treatment for pancreatic cancer. Israeli biotech Silenseed has completed
a Phase 1/2a clinical study of its siG12D LODER treatment in 15 patients with
Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (LAPC). The treatment combined with chemotherapy
was well tolerated and demonstrated promising efficacy with durable responses.
Your virtual personal nutritionist. Israeli app Nutrino (with a
little help from IBM Haifa’s Watson supercomputer) promotes healthy
eating. Enter your details, goals and
tastes and Nutrino gives you meal plans and more. http://www.timesofisrael.com/coffee-during-pregnancy-app-tells-you-pros-and-cons-of-morning-java/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr89Bnh9ISk https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df8CYPD90fM
Training Chinese doctors. (TY Hazel) The MASHAV
organization of Israel’s Foreign Ministry is to train medics from the underdeveloped
southwestern regions of China. Doctors from
Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou provinces will study medicine in Israel in 2016.
Enabling paraplegic US veterans to walk. (TY Dan) The U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs (“VA”) has issued a national policy for the evaluation,
training and procurement of Israel’s ReWalk Personal exoskeleton systems for
all qualifying veterans across the United States who have suffered spinal cord
injury.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Vital roles for autistic volunteers. I featured Israel’s Roim
Rachok (seeing far) program in a previous (Mar
2015) newsletter. Then there were 12
autistic young adults in the IDF program - in focused roles such as
interpreting detailed satellite photos.
Now some 50 volunteers do vital work and learn skills for their future.
Israel to build new
town for Druze.
For the first time since 1948, Israel has approved plans for the
establishment of a new Druze town in northern Israel. The town will be established in the Lower
Galilee, near Tiberias and close to centers of employment.
Priest and psychiatrist help kids at
risk.
Israeli psychiatrist Henri Cohen Solal founded Batim Hamim (“warm
houses”) in the 1980s to give Israeli kids at risk (both Jews and Arabs) safe
places to meet. Argentinian Catholic
priest Pedro Opeka met Henri in Madagascar and their joint work now benefits
kids in both countries.
Cornerstone laid for joint China-Israel
University. Israel’s Technion has laid the
cornerstone for its new research center in the southern Chinese city of
Shantou. The Guangdong Technion Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT) will
provide BA, MA and PhD courses in chemical engineering, materials engineering
and biotechnology engineering. http://www.timesofisrael.com/technion-lays-cornerstone-for-china-campus/
Israeli technology protects the Pope. (TY Dan) The Ugandan
government used the Israeli-made Skystar 180 surveillance balloon system to
monitor Pope Francis on his recent historic visit to Uganda. Newsletter readers may recall that the system
was also used to protect the recent UN climate conference in Paris. (see
here)
Israel helps UK flood
victims. Four
IsraAID volunteers have travelled to Leeds, UK to begin repairing homes and
distributing food to victims of devastating floods in the area. They have been hailed as heroes by residents
and were praised by the Lord Mayor of Leeds for travelling the distance to help
those affected by the flood.
Israel aid for
flood-stricken Paraguay. (TY Algemeiner)
Israel is to provide food and assistance kits to Paraguayans impacted by
massive flooding of the Paraguay River from El Niño storms during December. Some 100,000 people in Asuncion have been displaced
from their homes.
http://www.jns.org/news-briefs/2016/1/7/israel-provides-emergency-relief-for-flood-stricken-paraguay
Joint Israeli and Hong Kong projects. Israel and Hong Kong have launched
a Research & Development Cooperation Program to fund projects where Israeli
companies are matched with those in Hong Kong.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Kishon River flow restored. As part of the ongoing
rehabilitation efforts of the once highly polluted Kishon River, about 1.1
million cubic meters of water is being pumped annually into the basin to
restore its flow. High quality fresh
water is being used, which has encouraged native Israeli flora and fauna to
return and flourish.
The FoodTech Nation. The first Foodtech Nation
Conference, in Tel Aviv, brought together entrepreneurs, academics and
corporate executives from Israel and abroad to examine how made-in-Israel food
technology can help manufacturers produce processed food that is easier to
store, cheaper to produce, and healthier to eat.
Joint research with China. Israel and China are to
conduct joint research into scientific fields including the human brain,
nano-technology, 3D printing, bio-medicine, renewable energy, computer science,
smart cities and aging populations. China
will invest $5 million and Israel $1 million.
Clean solar energy. One of the many Israeli
companies exhibiting at the COP 21 Climate Conference in Paris was Ecoppia with
its smart, robotic, water-free solar panel cleaning system.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-robot-cleaning-system-promises-brighter-future-for-solar-power/
80 genomes mapped in 12 months. Israel’s NRGene has
assembled more than 80 complete genomes over the past 12 months – an average of
one every 4.5 days. The data from
NRGene’s DeNovoMAGIC version 2 can be utilized for pinpointed trait analysis,
in order to deliver better crops and thus benefiting billions of lives.
Safe surface for
European playgrounds. Israel’s Pashut Yarok (“Simply Green” in
Hebrew) is exporting “shockpads” - plastic foam safety surfaces for childrens’
playgrounds - to countries in the European Union. The shockpads are installed under synthetic
grass to absorb the shock if a child falls.
24 ways to wear one shirt. Israeli startup Morf has
sent the fashion world into a spin with its patented shirt that can be worn up
to 24 different ways. Morf raised 524
percent of its crowdfunding goal, attracting $131,089 from 1,788 backers. It should at least provide for some extra
space in the suitcase. There is also a
Morf dress.
Deaf father is impetus for son’s
startup.
Israeli Zeev Gruber got the idea for his startup Vocavu when he no
longer could tolerate the noise of his deaf dad’s radio. Vocavu transforms
speech from radio and TV into text that you can read on your smartphone. It also then displays content relevant to the
subject of the broadcast.
Flying car
completes first untethered test flight. The Air
Mule from Israel’s Tactical Robotics has successfully completed its first
autonomous, untethered flight at Israel’s Megiddo airfield.
Israeli
tech headed to Jupiter. (TY SDM)
The JUICE satellite of the 3GM (Gravity & Geophysics of Jupiter and
Galilean Moons) Project will carry an atomic clock technology-based device to
detect any signals of life. The device was developed by Israeli firm AccuBeat,
working with the Weizmann Institute’s Dr. Yohai Kaspi,
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Lower corporate tax. (TY Dan) Israel has reduced
its rate of corporate tax by 1.5% to 25%, giving a boost to the growth rate,
cultivating investment and making Israeli companies more competitive.
New record for foreign currency
reserves. Israel’s
foreign exchange reserves at the end of Dec 2015 stood at an all-time record of
$90.6 billion, an increase of $1.8 billion from their end Nov 2015 level. There is now $8.7 billion in the reserves
fund built up from Israel’s natural gas program.
NASDAQ / TASE venture to boost Israeli
startups.
The US NASDAQ is partnering with the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to allow
Israeli startups to raise funds on a new private exchange. The venture will operate in Tel Aviv, using
NASDAQ trading technology.
A train journey to
fame and fortune.
Israel’s Terra Venture Partners organized the first of its kind startup
investment event – on an Israeli Railways train from Haifa to Beersheba. Billed as the MoneyTrain, Terra reserved one
carriage on a train for startups to make 10-minute pitches to top international
investors. The CEO of the Tel Aviv
Stock Exchange, Yossi Beinart, was also on the train.
More tech giants join The Junction. (TY Dan) Following its
partnership with The Junction - Israel’s successful startup accelerator (see
here), SAP has been joined by HP, insurance giant Munich Re, and
Australia’s Telstra.
A leap into reality. (TY Dan & JBN)
Augmented Reality (AR) startup Magic Leap was founded by Rony Abovitz,- the son
of Israelis. It has raised a massive $1.4
billion and set-up an Israeli development center.
Another $108 million telecoms project in
Peru.
Israel’s Gilat has won a new $108 million project for its satellite
networks in the Cusco region of southern Peru.
The deal is in addition to the $286 million Peruvian contract that Gilat
won in March (see
here).
The West’s largest desalination plant
goes live. (TY Dan) (As
forecast here) Israel’s IDE Technologies has now begun operations at its
Carlsbad, California site – the largest desalination plant in the Western
Hemisphere. It will produce 190 million
liters of water a day and employ some 2,500 people.
A huge
Israeli-designed dairy for South Sudan. Israel’s Alef Bet Planners Ltd is designing a
$150 million large-scale dairy project in South Sudan - where milk production
is currently very low. The Israeli
cowshed model has been used successfully in Vietnam, China, the US, Russia and
India.
Netflix comes to Israel. American streaming service
Netflix is now available in Israel as one of 130 new countries it has just
begun services to. The service will be
only in English and Arabic initially, with packages costing between
approximately $8 and $12 per month.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Ein Gedi Reserve – an oasis in the
desert.
Enchanting new video of the abundance of life at Israel’s Ein Gedi Nature
Reserve in the Judean Desert, just a few minutes’ drive from the Dead Sea.
Izhak Perlman wins Genesis Prize. Israeli violinist Itzhak
Perlman has been awarded this year's Genesis Prize – the "Jewish
Nobel" to add to his recent US Medal of Freedom. Perlman intends to use his $1 million prize
money for projects to assist individuals with disabilities and to develop young
musicians of special talent.
Israeli series for US cable TV. (TY Eli) American cable
network Showtime is to broadcast the Israeli-made 8-part docuseries "Dark
Net" beginning this month. The
series, exploring the dark side of technology, was created by the Israeli Mati
Kochavi, owner of media and technology company Vocativ.
Stunning photos of starlings. (TY Nevet) Amazing
pictures of a starling murmuration (flock of migrating birds) in the Israeli
desert – featured in the normally anti-Israeli UK Guardian, no less!
A bird race with a
difference. On
29th March 2016 the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel is staging
Champions of the Flyway – a bird race for conservation in Israel’s migration
hotspot of Eilat. The 2015 event raised
$60,000 to help stop illegal trapping in Cyprus and the 2016 race will help protect
birds in Greece. http://www.champions-of-the-flyway.com/
Use your shoes for self-defense. (TY Eli) Israeli Avital Zeisler teaches the Israeli Krav Maga
method of self-defense but with a twist – she uses high-heeled shoes. The objective is to disrupt the attacker’s
thought process. Dubbed “the Soteria
Method," it is now a hit across the US.
THE JEWISH STATE
A journey. (TY Chani) This blog posting from one of
cancer charity Ezer Mizion’s children is a moving account of his/her physical
and spiritual journey from treatment to remission.
Saving an endangered species. Here is a new video of
Israel’s unique Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBAxAVvceIU
Art depicts Jewish Biblical land deals. The three Jewish purchases
of land recorded in the Torah are depicted in a painting by the artist Baruch
Nachshon. The picture of Hebron’s Cave
of Machpelah, Shechem’s (Nablus) Joseph's Tomb and Jerusalem’s Temple now hangs
prominently in Israel’s Foreign Ministry.
160103
In the 3rd Jan 2016 edition of Israel’s
good news, the highlights include:
·
An Israeli
portable ventilator is saving thousands of lives.
·
Disabled
Israelis are receiving free hands-free smartphones.
·
Israel was
the first country to send aid to flood victims in Kenya.
·
An Israeli
device can reduce the noise from snoring.
·
A
versatile Israeli mobility scooter folds up into a trolley.
·
An Israeli
company broke the record for most takeovers this century.
·
A Jerusalem
concert in a cave dug by King Hezekiah 2700 years ago.
·
Click here
to see the newsletter on Jewish
Business News, IsraelSeen,
Ruthfully
Yours, Janglo
and United
With Israel with extra features on Health,
Inclusiveness,
Technology
and Entertainment.
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
A treatment for migraine. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s
Teva is partnering with Japan’s Heptares to develop small-molecule calcitonin
gene-related peptide (CGRP) antagonists discovered by Heptares for the
treatment of migraine. Migraine affects
36 million people in the United States and 10% of people worldwide.
Brain link to diabetic foot ulcers. Researchers at Ben Gurion
University have discovered that sufferers of diabetic foot ulcers frequently
also have substantially impaired cognitive function. Systemic vascular changes affect the whole
body including the feet, heart and brain.
The researchers propose new treatment strategies.
Unique brain imaging study with UCL. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s Teva has begun a unique study with University College London (UCL) to
use PET scans of the brain in order to analyze the role of inflammation of the
brain on dementia and other neuro-degenerative diseases.
Portable ventilator is
saving lives.
The Israeli-invented Pocket BVM (Bag Valve Mask) mini-ventilator has
saved US soldiers in Afghanistan and is now being used to treat thousands of
people at disasters, as in Nepal. It is also carried on many El Al planes. (See http://www.israelifirstaid.com/
for other Israeli medical equipment)
http://www.timesofisrael.com/the-israeli-invented-device-thats-saving-american-lives-in-afghanistan/
Transforming patient care. (TY Atid-EDI)
Israel’s Zebra Medical Vision has signed a multi-year agreement with Dell
Services to deliver its screening and diagnostic decision support platform to
hospitals worldwide. Zebra’s systems can identify patients at early risk of osteoporosis,
cardiac disease, liver disease etc.
An app to lower your stress level. (TY SDM)
Israeli startup Eco-Fusion has developed Serenita - an app that measures and
can lower your stress level. Cover your
smartphone lens with a finger to measure heartrate, blood flow, and
respiration. Serenita’s 5-minute
personalized breathing exercise then visibly reduces your stress.
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4735610,00.html
http://www.eco-fusion.com/serenita/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PGP7n-Sb_U
Safer ingredients. Israel’s Frutarom has
launched a new line of natural food extracts compatible with new EU regulations
prohibiting polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other contaminants in
food supplements. Frutarom’s patented EFLA
HyperPure technology purifies raw materials susceptible to contamination by
PAHs.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
“Ability” technology. Israeli accelerator A3i is developing
‘ability’ technology to help millions with disabilities. Setup by Israel’s PresenTense, Beit Issie
Shapira, the Ruderman Foundation and the Jewish Federation of Greater Los
Angeles, A3i focuses on ideas to improve the lives of challenged individuals.
Hands-free smartphone
for free. Israel’s Sesame Enable is giving away its
specially-designed smartphone to those who have limited or no use of their
hands. Co-sponsors of the initiative are
Israel’s organization for the disabled Beit Issie Shapiro and Google. See here
and here
for previous newsletter features on Sesame Enable.
Where Jews & Arabs work
side-by-side.
There are close to 350 businesses and factories in the Mishur Adumim
Industrial Park near Maale Adumim. Some
are Jewish owned and some of them are Arab owned. Most of these factories have Jews and Arabs
working side by side.
More Israeli Arabs do National Service. 4.500 Israeli Arabs
volunteered for National Service in 2015 – an increase of 13% on 2014. Israeli Arabs are not drafted, but can
volunteer for the IDF, or can serve the State by doing National Service. By doing so, they receive rights and benefits
similar to those of IDF soldiers.
Israeli customs officer saves Gazan
merchant. A
merchant from Gaza suffered a heart attack at the Erez crossing into Israel. An
Israeli customs officer, who had paramedic training previously, began
resuscitation using a defibrillator.
Magen David Adom paramedics transported the Gazan to hospital where he underwent
catheterization and regained consciousness.
http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=30053
Jerusalem Art Club – for Jews, Muslims
and Christians.
(TY Hazel) The Art Club, organized by the Machol Shalem Dance House and
funded by the Jerusalem Foundation, brings together East and West Jerusalem
teens (aged 13-15), to create art and break down barriers.
Helping farmers in Ethiopia. Israeli nonprofit Fair
Planet, is giving smallholder Ethiopian farmers access to cutting-edge seed
technology and showing them how to get the most from these seeds with minimal
changes to their traditional practices.
The farmers can increase their productivity five times and income up to
eight times.
Water for peace? (TY Michelle & Barbara)
In 1967, only four of the 706 Arab towns captured by Israel had running water.
Today, Israel supplies clean water to 96% of Palestinian Authority Arabs. In thirsty parts of the Islamic world there may
be a chance that Israel could now trade “water for peace”. Hope springs eternal.
Beer for Germany. Israeli brewery Herzl Beer
of Jerusalem has been chosen to make a joint Israeli-German beer to commemorate
the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot, Germany's and perhaps the world's
first beer purity law. The new brew will
be introduced at the Munich Jewish Museum in April 2016.
Jerusalem is 11th Best City. Jerusalem scored 84.715 out
of 100 to earn 11th place in Conde Nast Traveler’s “Best Cities of the
World”. The cities were selected from
the 128,000 comments of Conde Nast readers.
Relief to Kenyan flood
victims. The
Israeli Government has donated food and humanitarian supplies to Kenya to help flood
victims in Migori county. Aid included
blankets, water tanks and mosquito nets.
Israel was the first country to respond to requests for assistance in
mitigating the effects of El Nino rains.
Liberia thanks Israel for helping to
eradicate Ebola.
Liberia’s senate president Armah Zolu Jallah, is making the first visit
to Israel by any head of his country’s parliament. He thanked Israel for its
help in wiping out the fatal disease Ebola in Liberia. Israel sent mobile clinics and medical
experts who trained Liberian medics. http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Liberia-thanks-Israel-for-helping-to-wipe-out-its-Ebola-outbreak-437502
Israel’s high education standards. The OECD’s “Education at a
Glance 2015” report shows Israel well above the OECD averages. Its high school dropout rate was just 14.6%
compared to the OECD average of 24.7%.
Israel is one of the few states to increase education spending during
the global financial crisis.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Still nothing. (TY 12TribeFilms)
I reported about Silentium’s Anti-Noise Cancellation (ANC) technology in
previous 2013
and 2014
Newsletters. Here is an update in a
video from the CES 2015 event in Las Vegas.
Snoring? Not a
problem.
Another Israeli startup Silent Partner has developed a device that uses
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) – this time to reduce the sound of someone
snoring. It works irrespective to the
reason for the snoring. Silent Partner
has raised over $210,000 of funds on Indiegogo (its target was just $40,000).
Monkey makes a spear. (TY Nevet) For the first time, a scientific
study by Itai Roffman of the University of Haifa, has observed bonobos (an
analogous race to chimpanzees) making and using tools to search for food. One bonobo even fashioned a spear from the
branches of a tree and used it to threaten Mr. Roffman.
Never hit a red light again. The Israeli app Green Wave tells
drivers the ideal speed to drive at, in order not to have to stop at a red traffic
light. Green Wave came third in
Hyundai’s i-Way hackathon, winning 15,000 shekels. The app uses municipality data and a
crowdsourced database.
Finding the lowest prices. The Israeli app Pricez is
helping the hundreds of thousands who have downloaded it to save money by
directing them to the stores where the products they need are the cheapest. It uses location data, plus the database that
Israeli stores must by law update automatically direct from their cash
registers.
A green and sustainable new city. The town of Harish, east of
Hadera is being developed into a major city (see previous newsletter Sep
2015). Buildings will be built
according to official Israeli Standard 5281 for green, or sustainable,
construction. The Israeli government has allocated NIS 9 million to build new
schools.
Technology to let robots “see”. Intel Haifa’s RealSense is
using Israeli 3D tech and the Israeli-developed Skylake microchip to give
robots sight. (See previous Sep
2015 newsletter). Intel bought
Israel’s Omek in 2013 to help develop Intel’s 3D cameras and infrared lasers so
that robots can interact with their environment.
Protecting airport runways. Israel’s Xsight has been
busy since installing its Foreign Object Debris detection system at Ben Gurion
airport in
May 2013. RunWize / FODetect now operates
at Seattle, Boston and Bangkok airports.
Xsight has also installed FODspot at Paris Charles De Gaulle and launched
BirdWize and SnowWize.
Keep your pets healthy. (TY SDM) Israel’s
PetPace has developed a hi-tech pet collar to track the health of your pet cat
or dog. Its non-invasive sensors monitor
temperature, pulse, respiration, activity level, positions and calories. If the
collar detects any abnormalities, an alert is sent in real-time to owners and
veterinarians.
Revolutionary mobility
scooter. “Be
like everyone else” is the motto of Israel’s Moving Life - developer of the
Atto, the world's first trans-folding freedom scooter. This versatile scooter folds into a trolley to
wheel or put in a car or plane, transforming the lives of the disabled, elderly
or those who just have problems walking.
The street can tell you where to park. I have featured many apps
where crowdsourcing or municipality data helps find a parking space. But Israel’s
Spaceek uniquely uses road reflector sensors to detect one. It alerts relevant drivers and the first to “select”
the space has a few minutes to reach the spot before the alert resumes.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Record Balance of Payments surplus. Israel had a record balance
of payments surplus of NIS 3.8 billion in the third quarter of 2015. The main reason was a fall in the cost of
imported oil and coal and Israel’s growing use of its own natural gas.
Israeli Haredi entrepreneurs wow New
York. Six
members of Israel’s Kamatech accelerator impressed crowds of investors with
their technologies at Demo and Investor Day at the Microsoft Technology Center
in Times Square, New York. Kamatech was
the first accelerator / incubator for ultra-Orthodox entrepreneurs.
A database for commercial real estate. (TY Dan) Israeli startup
CredFi has developed a database on commercial property, covering 1.5 million
properties. It is the first to give
crucial data for making investment decisions.
http://www.timesofisrael.com/big-data-a-big-deal-in-commercial-real-estate-says-credifi/
Upgrading MGM’s WarGames movie classic. I featured Israeli video
tech company Interlude previously here
and here. Now MGM is leading an $18.2 million
investment in Interlude so that it can make an interactive digital short video,
inspired by MGM’s three-time Academy Award-nominated 1983 feature film
“WarGames.”
Record-breaking
acquisition opens Chinese market. Israel’s Frutarom’s 12th acquisition of 2015
- China’s Inventive - smashed the 21st Century record (10). Frutarom’s new R&D center in Shanghai,
together with two Inventive R&D centers, will boost Frutarom’s fruit and
flavors market in China and Southeast Asia.
Frutarom also made its first acquisition of 2016 - Wiberg of Austria for
$130 million - Frutarom’s largest ever purchase.
Israeli incubator for Australian startups. (TY Dan) As part of its global innovation strategy, the Australian
government is opening an overseas startup hub in Tel Aviv. Entitled “Landing Pad”, it will give
Australian entrepreneurs and start-ups a short-term operational base in
Israel’s key global innovation hotspot.
Deal shatters solar glass market. (TY Dan) Israel’s Rioglass Solar has acquired the thermo-solar
receiver business of Germany’s Schott Solar - Rioglass’s main competitor with
70% of the market. Rioglass bought the
other 30% from Siemens in 2013 and is the preferred supplier for all new
thermo-solar projects globally.
Bosch to open Tel Aviv development
center. (TY Dan) German electronics giant Bosch is
setting up a development center in Tel Aviv.
Bosch executives visited Israel in June (see
previous Newsletter)
The 10th most innovative Fintech company. Israel’s OurCrowd was voted
the 10th most innovative Fintech company worldwide, in the annual ‘Fintech 100’
list, the leading Global Fintech innovators report published by investment
firm, H2 Ventures and KPMG. http://blog.ourcrowd.com/index.php/2015fintech100/
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Music in a Jerusalem
cave. (TY Sharon) A unique event took place at
Zedekiah’s Cave (also known as King Solomon's Quarry) in Jerusalem. Hundreds of Jerusalem residents and visitors
were treated to Israeli pianist Gil Shohat and singer Nurit Galron as the
melodies of Chopin reverberated from the stone walls.
Israel is the place for puppet theatre. The annual International
Puppet Theatre Festival in Jerusalem is the biggest in the country. Here is an enchanting new video of the 2015
festival.
Acre – history meets vibrant cuisine. The northern port city of
Acre / Akko once served as the last stronghold of the crusaders in the Holy
Land 1,000 years ago. Today it attracts not only history buffs, but many who
enjoy the old city's culinary scene, from traditional handmade hummus to Middle
Eastern fusion cuisine.
Daily Israeli TV News in English. You can now watch a daily
newscast from Israel in English – a morning brief and a daily roundup. It claims to broadcast “fair, honest, real, true
televised news” with “no slant, no political agenda, just the news”. http://www.iltv.tv/
Miss Israel is full of surprises. She didn’t win Miss Universe
but Avigail Alfatov (Miss Israel) has won Israel’s Youth Fencing Championship
seven times and hopes to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She currently works in computer security
whilst serving in the Israeli Air Force. Prior to that she was a volunteer for
Akim, the charity that supports those with developmental and intellectual
disabilities.
Record points for Israeli hoops star. Israeli basketball star Omri
Casspi scored a career best of 36 points for Sacramento Kings, including a team
record nine 3-pointers. But his team
still lost 122-103 to NBA champions Golden State Warriors. http://www.timesofisrael.com/omri-casspi-scores-career-high-in-loss-to-nba-champs/
THE JEWISH STATE
Israel’s Jewish pedigree is “rock
solid”.
Excellent analysis of the major discoveries of Biblical proportions,
during excavations in the Land of Israel.
Stamps for centenary of NILI. (TY Jacob Richman) Two of
the new stamps issued in December commemorate the founding of NILI – the Jewish
organization that helped the British in World War 1 to defeat the Turks in
pre-State Israel.
http://www.history-of-israel.co.il/stamps/jrst0749e.jpg
http://www.history-of-israel.co.il/stamps/jrst0749c.jpg
It’s never too late to laugh. I missed sending out this
link to amusing Chanukah videos during the Festival of Light. But hopefully you will still be able to
appreciate them, during these long (Northern hemisphere) nights.
The menorah that faced the Nazis. (TY TPS
News) In 1932 Rabbi Dr Akiva Posner, leader of the Jews of Kiel, Germany, lit
his menorah in the window of his house overlooking the Nazi Party’s local HQ. Rabbi Posner’s great-grandson, also named Akiva,
now lights the menorah in Israel next to an amazing 1932 photo.
