200923
In the 23rd Sep 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli innovation kills coronavirus with ionized water.
· A Druze Arab heads an elite IDF unit
· Israel has provided more aid to the majority Muslim state of Chad.
· An Israeli bio-degradable, oven-ready food packaging.
· Huge recent investments in Israeli technology.
· The first Israeli to complete the Tour de France.
· History is made as Israel signs peace agreements with 2 Arab states.
· Click here to see the 13th Sep newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, and United With Israel with extra feature on Medical. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of more than 17,000 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Know your enemy. (TY Hazel) Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute and the Israel Institute for Biological Research have identified four new proteins and 19 peptides that Covid-19 infected patients produce. They believe that these may help the virus to replicate, so targeting them could lead to new treatments.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/profiling-covid-19-coronavirus
That 3D-printed heart. Back in 2019 there was much excitement when Tel Aviv University scientists 3D-printed the first heart produced from human tissue (reported here previously). What was not reported was that the technology itself was licensed to Tel Aviv University from award-winning Israeli biotech Matricelf.
https://www.bioworld.com/articles/431737-matricelf-wins-seed-award-with-3d-printing-heart-design
New allies in the fight against viruses. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have discovered that bacteria contain viperins – enzymes that produce antiviral molecules. These substances are undergoing testing that may lead to the development of highly effective antiviral treatments against influenza and COVID-19.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/bacteria-could-provide-us-next-antivirals
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2762-2
Israel hosts Covid-19 conference. Israel hosted an online conference to discuss cooperation on fighting the coronavirus. It comprised science ministers of Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Peru, Poland, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Bridge over troubled water. (TY UWI) This newsletter previously (here) featured the coronavirus sanitation bridging tunnel developed by Israel’s RD PACK. The video describes its key component - the disinfectant spray – comprised, amazingly, of electrolyzed water (no chemicals) developed at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPsHGKQaJTI
Printing lungs & kidneys. Good article about Israel’s Collplant (reported here previously) and its technology that turns tobacco leaves into bio-ink for printing human organs. Collplant, together with United Therapeutics Corporation have already made lung parts and will now start working on printing replacement human kidneys.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israelis-use-tobacco-plants-to-produce-3d-bioprinted-lungs-and-kidneys/
Expanding digital health across USA. Israel’s DarioHealth (reported here previously) is partnering US giant HMC Healthworks to incorporate DarioHealth's digital therapeutics solution into HMC’s comprehensive care management programs. The platform will also be offered on a stand-alone basis.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Inspiring women to be entrepreneurs. Inspira is a bi-weekly Israeli educational podcast that will be launched in November to promote female entrepreneurship and creativity. It aims to highlight the success of women in the tech world as well as other areas such as space, science, sport, and politics.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3849093,00.html
Druze leader of elite Israeli IDF unit. (TY UWI) Israel-Druze Arab Lt. Col. Ayoub Kyuff - currently a commander in the Golani Brigade - has been appointed as the new head of the IDF’s elite Shaldag unit.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/09/16/elite-israeli-special-forces-unit-gets-first-druze-commander/
Madagascar forms Parliamentary Israel Allies Caucus. The African island country of Madagascar has initiated the formation of an Israel Allies Caucus for the country parliament. The new caucus will be joining the Israel Allies Foundation’s (IAF) international network of 44 pro-Israel caucuses.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/madagascar-initiates-parliamentary-israel-allies-caucus-641323
Rescuing refugees on Lesbos. IsraAID has been providing medical, psychological and educational support to some 12,000 Syrian, Afghan and Iraqi refugees on the Greek island of Lesbos for the last five years. Even after devastation by arson and coronavirus outbreaks, IsraAID’s volunteers are staying to help with recovery.
Aid for Chad. (TY JPost & Hazel) Israeli NGO Israeli Flying Aid (IFA) and the AJC have donated PPE, tents, sprayers and more, to help Chad fight floods, Covid-19, malaria, and to absorb refugees fleeing Boko Haram. IFA also sent supplies and medical aid to Chad in December (reported here previously).
https://www.israel21c.org/israel-sends-emergency-supplies-to-malaria-stricken-chad/
https://ifaid.com/current-mission/
Water for Vanuatu. Israeli humanitarian aid NGO IsraAID has helped the South Pacific country of Vanuatu install water-filtration systems, taps and pipes in Latano, South Tongoa and Central Pentecost. The previous system broke down some 40 years ago and residents have been walking over a kilometer to the nearest source.
https://www.israel21c.org/flowing-water-in-vanuatu-village-thanks-to-israeli-aid/
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Innovator of the Year. Israel’s Kando has won the Innovator of the Year competition, held this year by data storage solutions company Seagate. Kando was ranked first with its smart use of data and algorithm that can be installed in sewage treatment systems to monitor irregular metrics that might impact the health of the public.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3850217,00.html
AI research agreement with UAE. Israel’s Weizmann Institute has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United Arab Emirates’ Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence. The agreement would allow for exchange programs, conferences and seminars, and a new joint institute for AI.
Building a tech park in Panama. Israel’s Innovation BaseCamp is helping the Panamanian government build a high-tech park project. Its aim is to transform Panama into one of Latin America’s top innovation countries. The announcement came during the CybertechLive Latin America online conference.
https://www.israel21c.org/israels-innovation-basecamp-to-build-tech-park-in-panama/
OrCam wins German innovation prize. Israel’s OrCam (see here) is the first Israeli company to win Germany's NRW.INVEST award. The annual prize is given to four exemplary companies that strengthen innovation impetus and bring new products, services and processes to North Rhine-Westphalia and Germany.
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/israel-tech-company-orcam-wins-german-innovation-prize-642762
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xf8YjpalZuM (in German but mostly intuitive for English speakers)
Touch-free screens. Many of today’s shops, fast-food outlets, medical centers and airports use touch-screen digital kiosks for customers and the public - not Covid-friendly. Israel’s Touchless.ai uses cutting edge voice technology to replace touch taps for screen options with voice commands, also eliminating noise interference.
https://www.touchless.ai/ https://storage.newclick.io/video/touchless-original.mp4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wteUr5TkZjY
Safer remote access. Israeli startup Odo Security has developed a new, cloud-based technology that can be deployed in five minutes via the Cloud to provide employees working from home with secure access to their company’s systems. Odo has just been acquired by Israeli hi-tech giant CheckPoint Software Technologies.
Smart fish farming. Israel’s GO Smart has developed hi-tech hardware and software for managing fish farms. They can analyze water quality, fish biomass, mortality, and behavior. Its precision farming systems include an underwater camera to measure fish sizes, oxygen sensors and sophisticated data analysis.
https://www.gosmartfarming.com/ https://www.giliocean.com/
Goodbye to plastic packaging. Israel’s W-Cycle has developed SupraPulp - plastic-free packaging made of sugarcane fiber waste (baasse) that is fully compostable, safe, non-absorbent yet durable. Ready meals in SupraPulp can be frozen and heated to 270 degrees centigrade in an oven, steam cooker or microwave.
https://w-cycle.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGPAPGaGmB4
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
High demand for tech skills. There are still plenty of vacancies in Israeli companies for hi-tech personnel, despite the pandemic. Salary levels also remain high. DevOps engineers and Data specialists are extremely sought-after and cyber security professionals are now seen as critical.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848497,00.html
UAE tech company to open Israel office. Group 42, an Abu Dhabi-based hi-tech company, is opening a subsidiary in Israel to give the UAE company “access to one of the most vibrant and mature tech ecosystems in the world.” Group 42 already has partnership agreements with Israeli companies NanoScent, Rafael and IAI.
A gem of a deal. The Israeli and Dubai diamond exchanges have struck a deal to boost trade. The Israeli Diamond Exchange will open an office in Dubai, while the Dubai Multi Commodities Center, an economic free zone, will set up shop in Ramat Gan, Israel, the base of the Israeli exchange.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-and-dubai-diamond-exchanges-sign-trade-agreement/
$150 million fund for Israeli tech startups. Israeli VC company Greenfield Partners has closed a $150m fund to continue its strategy of supporting early growth stage Israeli and Israel-related technology and tech-enabled businesses. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenfield-partners-announces-close-of-150m-fund-301126254.html
$100 million fintech venture fund. (TY JBN) Israeli cybersecurity startup foundry Team8 (see here) has launched Team8 Fintech – a platform to establish and scale-up transformative financial technology companies. Team8 is investing $100 million, looking to satisfy the demand for digital solutions in a post-Covid-19 world.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3849835,00.html
Another tech fund. (TY JBN) Israel-based Hetz Ventures has closed its second flagship fund totaling $77 million, bringing its total amount to $130 million. Hetz has invested in 10 pre-seed Israeli AI, Big Data, cybersecurity, fintech, and DevOps companies since its launch in 2018.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3849797,00.html
More success during Covid-19. Israeli transcription startup Verbit (reported here previously) now has more than 120 employees and has raised a total of $65 million. 2020 has been its most successful year ever - growing to 500 paid customers (including Harvard and Stanford Universities) and seeing revenues grow fivefold.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3849071,00.html
100 startups generated. The Tel Aviv municipality held Israel’s largest-ever bootcamp (reported here previously). Speakers included MK Nir Barkat, OurCrowd’s Jon Medved, and IAI CEO Aharon Aharon. Volunteers managed 100 projects, 20 speakers, and 60 mentors over Zoom calls and WhatsApp groups.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3850171,00.html
BMW use Israeli tech to feel the road. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Tactile Mobility has signed a deal to provide BMW with its road-sensing software that allows smart cars to “feel the road” and adjust like a human driver. Volkswagen subsidiary Porsche has already invested in the Israeli startup (reported here previously).
Point of Sale credit. Israel’s Jifiti (reported here previously) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Mastercard. Jifiti has grown from being purely an in-store gifting platform into enabling point of sale financing. Its technology allows banks and retailers (e.g. Apple & IKEA) to offer immediate credit by using Mastercard.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848902,00.html
Rivilus exits for $365 million. (TY JBN) Singapore's Temasek is to acquire Israeli-based micro-irrigation company Rivulis for a reported $365 million. Temasek intends to retain Rivulis' current management, as well as its headquarters in Kibbutz Gvat. Rivulis’ 2019 sales were some $400 million. 400 of its 1800 staff are in Israel.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3849453,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups: EverC raised $35 million; Capitolis raised $11 million; Hysolate raised $10 million; Aidoc raised $20 million; BrandTotal raised $12 million; Varada raised $12 million; Medigate raised $30 million; Sternum raised $6.5 million; Blue White Robotics raised $10 million; Ionir raised $11 million.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
US honor for Israeli literary program. Keren Grinspoon Israel has been selected as a 2020 US Library of Congress Literacy Awards Program Best Practice Honoree for its literary program. KGI distributes some 3.5 million books in Hebrew and Arabic each year to more than 500,000 Israeli children (reported here previously).
https://www.jns.org/library-of-congress-honors-israeli-literary-program/
Israeli Art Lending Library. The first-ever Israeli Art Lending Library has been launched at US Northeastern University. Students can bring a piece of Israeli art back to their dorm rooms for the year. It is an initiative of Returning the Sparks, a non-profit which helps connect Jews with Judaism and Israel.
ISResilience. The Israel Director of Stand With Us, Michael Dickson, together with Dr Naomi Baum, have written a new book “ISResilience: What Israelis Can Teach the World”. It features resilient Israelis who have withstood troubles and not just survived but thrived. The aim of the book is to help everyone develop resilience.
www.isresilience.com https://www.standwithus.com/post/what-can-israel-teach-the-world-opinion
Amazon USA; Amazon UK; Amazon Canada; Kindle; Israel;
UAE TV & film students to train in Israel. Students from the UAE will study at Jerusalem’s Sam Spiegel Film and Television School. An agreement signed soon after the Israel-UAE normalization ceremony aims to strengthen commercial ties through training programs for film and TV co-production and joint film festivals.
A Night of Heroes. For those who were unable to watch the 2020 Friends of the IDF Virtual Gala live, here is a 90-second clip of some of the scenes. And the second link will give you the full 90-minute show.
https://www.fidf.org/events/2020-national-gala/highlight-reel
https://www.fidf.org/events/2020-national-gala/full-program
I’m in Dubai. Black Israeli hip hop singer Stephane Legar has made a music video of his trip to the Emirates city of Dubai. Probably best for the younger generation of newsletter readers, but certainly of historic value.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Flfo5MSAI00&
With one heart. (TY HR) Sarit Hadad and Netta Barzilai sing Belev Echad. The song appears on Tzav HaShaa (Call to Action), an album of 50 covers of classic Israeli songs by today’s best-known Israeli singers. The project aims to support the struggling local music industry.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHng7jFEpzc
Israeli completes the Tour de France. Guy Niv is the first Israeli to finish the Tour de France cycle race. He said, “I felt shivers when I crossed the finish line on the Champs-Elysées. It was a sense of vast relief and sheer happiness: I have done it for the next generation of young Israeli cyclists.” His team had 7 top 10 stage finishes.
https://www.jns.org/guy-niv-becomes-first-israeli-to-complete-tour-de-france/
THE JEWISH STATE
The writing is on the wall. A 2000-year-old clay inkwell has been discovered intact in Gush Etzion. The discovery of the inkwell strengthens the hypothesis that literacy was relatively common among the Jewish population in Judea and Samaria during the Second Temple period.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/287487
The mothers of Methuselah and Hannah. Dr Sarah Sallon, who together with Dr Elaine Soloway brought back the Judean date palm from extinction, describes the “miracle” of trees Methuselah and Hannah that were planted from 2000-year-old seeds discovered at Masada. The dates are described as delicious – naturally!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPU_RvJCCL4
2000 more Ethiopians to make Aliya. Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Israeli government has allocated $51 million to bring another 2,000 Falash Mura - Ethiopians with Jewish ancestry - to Israel this year. Those prospective Olim are currently living in temporary camps in Gondar and Addis Ababa.
Peace agreements signed with UAE & Bahrain. (TY UWI) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the Abraham Accords with the Foreign ministers of the United Arab Emirates and of Bahrain. The historic signing took place on the lawn of the White House.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=4416&v=nA_3uYGjIgM
200913
In the 13th Sep 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli prospective treatment for Alzheimer’s.
· Israeli brain surgeons save a South African doctor.
· Bahrain is the 4th Arab country to make peace with Israel.
· Israeli flexible solar panels can generate electricity on any surface.
· 2000-year-old seeds from extinct Judean palm trees have produced dates.
· The EU is funding nine Israeli organizations combatting Covid-19.
· Israeli drones are delivering goods for Walmart.
· More countries are moving their embassies to Jerusalem.
· Click here to see the 6th Sep newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, Janglo, IsraPundit, and United With Israel with extra feature on Inclusive & Global. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of more than 17,000 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Radiation to reduce Covid-19 inflammation. (TY Hazel) Doctors at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center are to test the use of low-dosage radiation on 30 severe Covid-19 patients. It is expected to reduce the inflammatory cells that invade the lungs of coronavirus patients and prevent them from oxygenating the blood.
More success for Covid-19 antibody treatment. 11 of the 12 trial patients treated with the IgG Covid-19 treatment from Israel’s Kamada (reported here previously) have now recovered and been discharged from hospital. https://nocamels.com/2020/09/early-trial-results-kamada-covid-19-antibodies/
A national lab to study viruses. The Israeli government is to set up a new national laboratory at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for the study of viruses. It will help Israel counter pathogens after the Covid-19 pandemic. It will have special air conditioning, advanced testing tools and high-level protective gear.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848670,00.html
Sheba’s “Gulf” initiative. (TY UWI) Sheba Medical Center has launched its “Gulf” initiative with the first agreement between an Israeli hospital and an organization in the United Arab Emirates. Sheba will work with UAE’s APEX National Investment on key medical challenges from COVID-19 to the future of hospital care.
https://nocamels.com/2020/09/uae-apex-sheba-healthcare-innovation/
On stream. More details about the development of StreamO2 – the low-cost breathing machine for Covid-19 patients built by Israeli fizzy-drinks maker SodaStream (reported here previously). StreamO2 was the idea of Hadassah ICU doctor Akiva Nachshon, and recently tested successfully at Hadassah Ein Kerem in Jerusalem.
https://www.israel21c.org/whats-the-worlds-favorite-fizzy-drinks-maker-doing-fighting-covid/
Antibody for Alzheimer’s. (TY Yehoshua) Israel’s ImmunoBrain Checkpoint aims to begin trials of its IBC-Ab002 treatment for Alzheimer’s disease. The antibody, developed by its Chief Scientist EMET Prize-winning Weizmann Institute Professor Michal Schwartz, boosts the immune system to induce brain repair processes.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israeli-revolutionary-alzheimers-treatment-to-launch-phase-1-trial-641848 https://www.ibcheckpoint.com/
Cornea and Glaucoma treatment news. The synthetic cornea from Israel’s CorNeat is beginning human trials, as reported here in July. This has become vital due to shortage of human corneas during Covid-19. CorNeat will soon begin trials of its EverPatch for Glaucoma surgery and is developing the eShunt to reduce eye pressure.
https://nocamels.com/2020/09/medtech-corneat-patented-implants-blind-diseases/
Detecting prostate cancer in Puerto Rico. (TY Hazel) The CorePlus pathology lab in Carolina Puerto Rico is the first in the Americas to detect prostate cancer using the AI-based software from Israel’s Ibex Medical Analytics (reported here previously). The system is already in use in the UK and in France.
A painless bandage. Israel’s Inteligels has developed a wound covering that can be removed without pain. It is made from a special smart transparent polymer that can be triggered to liquify and does not need to be pulled off. It is based on the work of Daniel Cohn, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University.
https://www.geektime.com/inteligels-israel-startup/ http://chem.ch.huji.ac.il/casali/cohn.htm
Doctor, heal thyself (with Israel’s help). Durban pediatrician Dr Thesi Reddy (non-Jewish) was diagnosed with a brain tumor earlier this year and was given nine months to live. South African Friends of Sheba Medical Center got him to Israel, where Sheba surgeons used advanced techniques to remove the entire tumor. Amazing.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Painting by mouth. When Israeli artist Bracha Fischel became paralyzed from rheumatoid arthritis, Sheba Medical center taught her how to use her mouth to write and hold objects. Bracha was able to continue her hobby painting. She now paints with 14 others in Israel’s branch of MFPA - Mouth and Foot Painting Artists.
https://israelbetweenthelines.com/2020/09/03/epic-artist-paints-only-with-her-mouth/
The 3rd best country for vegans. Israel was third on Chef’s Pencil’s top countries for vegans in 2020 and the only Asian country listed. “Unique to this newly formed country is the mix of the traditional Mediterranean diet of the area and the strict dietary laws of kosher food” Chef’s Pencil said. Tel Aviv was the 12th best vegan city.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israel-ranks-3rd-on-list-of-2020s-most-popular-countries-for-vegans-641412 https://www.chefspencil.com/top-most-popular-countries-and-cities-for-vegans-in-2020/
A women-only investor club. Israelis Orit Alperovitz and Inbal Polak were sick of being the only women in the room, so, they started a women-only investor club. NEOME was founded for the explicit purpose of getting more women involved in investments. It has 50 members, meets every month and has made major investments.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848906,00.html
Israeli Covid-19 volunteers honored. Four of this year’s 12 winners of Israel’s Presidential Awards for Volunteerism were recognized especially for their Covid-19-related work. President Rivlin said “Volunteerism is part of Israel’s DNA- a bit of chutzpah, a bit of warmth and always, always happy to help.”
https://www.jns.org/rivlin-volunteerism-an-integral-part-of-jewish-israeli-culture/
Baby turtles get a helping hand. Endangered Mediterranean green and loggerhead sea turtles lay their eggs on Israeli beaches in May and they hatch Aug to Oct. Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority protects nests from predators and brings hatchlings to safety, even digging in the sand to find babies left behind. Beautiful video.
https://www.israel21c.org/saving-endangered-sea-turtles-one-by-tiny-one/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6ojq-830n4
Lionel Messi has a vision. Israel’s OrCam Technologies (reported here previously) has engaged soccer legend Lionel Messi to help promote its AI-based wearable devices to help the blind and visually impaired read texts. Messi will give free MyEye devices to the visually impaired and increase awareness of the plight of the blind.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3849011,00.html
Peace signing at White House. Israel and the United Arab Emirates will sign their historic deal normalizing relations at a White House ceremony on 15 Sep. The delegations will be led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Emirati Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayad, brother of the Abu Dhabi crown prince.
Bahrain makes peace with Israel. Significantly, on the anniversary of 9/11, the Kingdom of Bahrain became the 4th Arab country to agree to a peace deal with Israel. Like the agreement with the United Arab Emirates, the Bahrain-Israel deal will normalize diplomatic, commercial, security and other relations between the countries.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/bahrain-a-tiny-country-in-the-shadow-of-iran/#gs.fyxkq9
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/287086
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1cM1QQ9sTI
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Robotic arm for Covid-19 testing. (TY CTech) The Israeli R&D center of Japan’s Yaskawa Electric has built a robotic arm that can conduct around 2,800 Covid-19 tests a day and has been installed in the IDF’s main Covid-19 testing lab. The arm is faster than human testers, less error prone and can free up staff for other tasks.
https://yaskawa.co.il/english/yaskawa-israel-installs-first-robotic-system-idf-main-corona-lab/
https://yaskawa.co.il/english/
Micro satellites for research and rescue. Israel Aerospace Industries is partnering Israel’s Technion Institute in its ADELIS-SAMSON project, to develop 3 new micro satellites to be launched this year. Their purpose is to help search and rescue operations, conduct remote sensing, and carry out environmental monitoring missions.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3846374,00.html
Helicopter drones. (TY UWI) Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has unveiled its new MultiFlyer non-military unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) squadron of small helicopters. It will be used to monitor disaster areas, guide rescue missions, help with traffic control in large-scale events, and track agriculture or marine areas.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848495,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkgyPgLOIrc
From pilot to programmer. After 10 years in the IAF and 4.5 years as an El Al pilot, Stav Nemirovsky retrained as a computer programmer. Thanks to an IAF veterans’ association, he landed a job in the professional services department of Israeli cybersecurity company Guardicore.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3846537,00.html
Energy everywhere under the sun. Israel’s Apollo Power’s flexible solar panels produces cheap electricity anywhere the sun shines. It operates without any construction. It is unbreakable and can be placed on any surface, on water, uneven terrain and vehicles. Apollo is working with Audi and Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848977,00.html
https://www.apollo-power.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9awnRqbe_Fg
Storybook app for educating children. Israel’s Amit Tishler is one of the co-founders of PopBase – an award-winning tool for producing interactive content with minimal effort. PopBase is developing Woodland Fables - a storybook game that helps kids make healthy life choices such as balanced nutrition, sleep, and physical fitness.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/09/01/welltech1-invests-in-part-israeli-winner-of-global-wellness-startup-competition/ https://www.pop-base.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0J8xw1oajI
Recycling waste in the Netherlands. Israel’s UBQ Materials (reported here previously) is to open its first full-scale production facility in the Netherlands. It will convert landfill waste into some 70,000 tons of sustainable, thermoplastic material for producing pipes, floors, bins, shipping pallets, crates and more.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3847790,00.html
A date with history. The Judean date palm was extinct. But 2000-year-old seeds discovered at Masada in 2005 were planted at Kibbuts Ketura by Drs Elaine Soloway and Sarah Sallon (see here). The resulting trees were named Methusala and Hannah. Their dates were just harvested, linking the State of Israel to its ancient roots.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/07/world/middleeast/israel-judean-dates-agriculture.html
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/my-date-with-history-and-hope/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Currency reserves break another record. Israel’s reserves of foreign currency rose by another $4 billion to a more than $161 billion – the fifth consecutive month they have reached record levels.
https://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/07-09-20.aspx
Israel joins car makers’ club. Despite having no vehicle manufacturing companies, Israel has been accepted as a member of the International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers (OICA). Israel’s advanced auto-tech industry was sufficient qualification.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848523,00.html
EU Covid-19 funds for 9 Israeli organizations. Nine Israeli organizations have been selected for EU funding under the Horizon 2020 program designed to combat Covid-19. A total of NIS 18 million was allocated for them to work in eight of the EU’s 23 collaborative projects.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848373,00.html
Generating startups. The Tel Aviv Municipality along with Google and Microsoft and others are to hold Israel’s “biggest 24-hour online bootcamp” on 15th & 16th Sep. The aim is to turn the ideas of at least 100 of the 500 participating fledgling entrepreneurs into new startup companies.
UAE minister on trade with Israel. The Southern California Israel Chamber of Commerce is publicizing a webinar (Mon 14 Sep) featuring the UAE’'s new Minister of Economy, Abdulla bin Touq Al Mari, on the business implications of the historic Abraham Accord.
https://www.cvent.com/c/express/8604adab-9dd8-4f19-a360-3957cb9d4eff
http://www.usuaebusiness.org/israel-u-a-e-u-s-agreement-heralds-much-more-than-peace/
Opening shoe shops in the UAE. (TY JBN) Israel’s Scoop Shoes is opening five stores in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the first such endeavor for an Israeli retailer. Scoop’s owners, brothers Ronnie and Freddie Insaz, partnered with Bethlehem businessman George Bassus, who has offices in Dubai, to establish the venture.
https://www.israel21c.org/in-first-israeli-shoe-store-to-open-shop-in-uae/ https://scoopshoes.co.il/
The first UAE investment. UAE-based private equity and venture capital fund KEN Investments has led a $5.8 million investment in Israel’s Salaryo, which provides credit and digital banking services to small businesses in the U.S. It is said to be the first time an Emirati fund has openly invested in an Israeli company.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848856,00.html
We are hiring. Israeli fintech company Payoneer (reported here previously) is recruiting 300 new employees, half of them in Israel and the other half across its dozens of branches around the world. There has been a huge demand during the Covid-19 pandemic for Payoneer’s online money transfer and digital payment services.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3847358,00.html
Investing in wellness. Israel’s Joy Ventures seeks out and supports organizations that are actively working on wellness solutions to help those suffering from the ‘new world’ brought on by Covid-19. Its portfolio includes Sanga (meditation) and virtual personal fitness coach Vi Technologies (reported here previously.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3846357,00.html https://www.sanga.app/
Flexible payments during Covid-19. Israel’s Melio helps small businesses to better manage their cash flow during the pandemic. It allows them to transfer and receive payments in a faster, easier way. Melio’s workforce has increased from 35 to 125 since the start of the year and its volumes increased 700% in the last 6 months.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3848776,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89jl2FqPZIg
Walmart trialing delivery by Israeli drones. (TY Hazel) Walmart is launching a drone delivery pilot programme in partnership with Israeli drone startup Flytrex (reported here previously). Walmart branches in North Carolina will trial deliveries to customers’ yards.
https://corporate.walmart.com/newsroom/2020/09/09/walmart-now-piloting-on-demand-drone-delivery-with-flytrex https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUOZRbUxsW0
Israeli ice cream in New York. (TY Janglo) After debuts in Australia and Puerto Rico, Israeli gelato chain Anita (reported here previously) has finally arrived in New York. Its store, near Central Park, brings unique flavors from the Holy Land, some specifically for the Big Apple.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-ice-cream-chain-anita-arrives-in-new-york-641338
Investment in Israeli startups: Snyk raised $200 million; Melio raised $140 million; Pcysys raised $25 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Israeli recovers Catalonian Jewish prayer book. National Library of Israel director of rare books Dr. Idan Perez has won a Catalan culture prize for his publication of the “Sidur Catalunya,” the first complete recreation of a prayer book used by the Jews of Catalonia, Valencia and Majorca before their 1492 expulsion from Spain.
New Israeli stamps. (TY JR) Jacob Richman has posted pictures of some beautiful new Israeli stamps. They include Art for the Jewish New Year, Israeli Murals, Israel & Brazil joint issue, and Israeli helicopters.
https://jr.co.il/stamps/index-2020.html
Israel Festival is live and on-line. The Israel Festival, scheduled for June and postponed due to Covid-19, will take place through Sep 12 in Jerusalem and online. For the first time in its 38-year history, all performances will be filmed for live and later viewing on the festival website. It also encompasses the International Jazz Festival.
https://www.israel21c.org/israel-festival-to-be-live-and-online-for-first-time-ever/
https://www.israel-festival.org/ https://www.israel-festival.org/en/
Israel is a nature-lover’s paradise. In these times, it is important to get as much fresh air as possible. Here are four of the top Israeli parks visited by Israeli citizens and by tourists who are lucky enough to be here. Since June, 1.5 million Israelis have visited Israel’s 67 parks. (1.4 million visitors in 2019 included foreign tourists.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voVwsOyBNbU
Tonight – a Night of Heroes. This exciting Friends of the IDF event is on Sunday 13th Sep at 7pm EDT.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwQnkn-UYgc https://events.fidf.org/
Israeli helps win MLB game. (TY JBN) Dean Kremer has become the first Israeli pitcher to win a Major League Baseball (MLB) game. He struck out 7 batsmen in six innings for the Baltimore Orioles in a 5 to 1 victory over the New York Yankees. It was his Major League debut and first start.
THE JEWISH STATE
Jewish soldiers were literate in 600 BCE. Handwriting experts from the Israeli police and Tel Aviv University research archaeologists have examined ancient Hebrew inscriptions made by Jewish soldiers on pottery found at Tel Arad. The multiple varied handwriting proves that most of the soldiers were literate.
Masa programs renew Russian Jewry. Over one million Russian Jews made Aliya in the 1990s. But Russian immigration to Israel has not stopped, largely thanks to organizations such as Masa. Masa’s Israel programs have awakened a Jewish identity in Russians – some of whom did not even know they were Jewish.
https://www.jns.org/opinion/renewing-russian-jewry-through-masa-israel-trips/
$20 million donation to fund Israel youth trips. The Marcus Foundation has donated $20 million for its RootOne initiative. It will subsidize trips to Israel organized by BBYO, NCSY, NFTY, USY and Ramah. With the subsidies, the groups can lower the cost of the trips by some $3,000 per participant for the 3 to 6-week trips.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286901
The light of Israel and the Jewish People. Rabbi Pini Dunner was in Israel’s Negev for his son’s enlistment in the IDF. At midday, he noticed a bright light on the horizon, but the wrong place for the Sun. He was told it was not a mirage. It was the Ashalim Solar Power station (see here). 500,000 mirrors to power up to 120,000 homes.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/09/04/the-light-of-israel-and-the-jewish-people/
An unexpected Jewish wedding. A particularly exciting wedding took place on the beach of Rishon LeZion. Dor Shachar was born Ayman Subah 40 years ago in Khan Yunis, Gaza. He fled to Israel and later converted. Last week he married Edith, also a convert. A very moving story.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286856
They will all come to Jerusalem. Malawi’s President Lazarus Chakwera said that his country will establish an embassy in Jerusalem - the first African nation to do so. Chad may follow. Kosovo too said that its first Israeli embassy will also be in Jerusalem. And Honduras has advanced its plans to move its embassy to Jerusalem.
https://www.jns.org/malawi-to-move-embassy-to-jerusalem/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sK8d2x0Bl4c
https://www.jns.org/honduran-official-embassy-relocation-to-jerusalem-moving-forward/
Shana Tova. (TY JR) Israel’s Jacob Richman has compiled a site containing 70 links about Rosh Hashana, ranging from laws and customs to games and recipes. Site languages include English, Hebrew, French, German, Italian, Portugese, Russian and Spanish. Also, over 780 Rosh Hashana cool videos. Something for everyone.
https://jr.co.il/hotsites/rosh-hashana.htm https://jr.co.il/videos/rosh-hashana-videos.htm
200906
In the 6th Sep 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· The UK Health Service is to use Israeli tech to identify potential colon cancer patients.
· 6 Israelis are among the world’s top creative, innovative and influential businesspeople.
· Another Israeli-Italian medical research satellite has been launched.
· Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are allowing Israeli aircraft to overfly their countries.
· Two more Israeli companies have been valued at over a billion dollars.
· Team Israel Start-up Nation gets on the Tour de France podium.
· Archeologists discover dozens of 1st Temple period remains in Jerusalem.
· Historic new agreements with Serbia and Kosovo.
· Click here to see the 23rd Aug newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, Janglo, IsraPundit, and United With Israel with extra feature on Medical. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
More patients to receive Covid-19 treatment. Israel’s Pluristem (reported here previously) has launched an FDA-cleared Covid-19 expanded access program. It enables Pluristem to use its PLX-PAD cells to treat up to 100 more infected patients outside its current trials in the USA and Europe and compassionate use in Israel.
https://www.pluristem.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PSTI-Expanded-Access-Program-last-version.pdf
Maintaining Covid-19 antibodies. Israel’s Elicio Therapeutics has published the results of a pre-clinical study of its ELI-005 protein subunit vaccine for Covid-19. It extended the life of coronavirus antibodies and may resolve the problem whereby patients who recover from the virus can be re-infected if later exposed to it.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/08/24/israeli-startup-elicio-therapeutics-fights-covid-19-with-immunotherapy/ https://elicio.com/
Breath test for Covid-19. Technion’s Hossam Haick, the Israeli-Arab Professor who invented the Sniffphone cancer detector (reported here previously) has led the development of another Israeli coronavirus breathalyzer test (see here for previous). The rest of his team is in Wuhan, China where Covid-19 likely originated.
https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acsnano.0c05657
UK uses Israeli colon cancer risk software. (TY Hazel) Barts Health, one of the largest providers to the UK’s National Health Service, has selected the ColonFlag software from Israel’s Medial EarlySign (reported here previously) to identify members at high risk for developing colon cancer – the UK’s 4th most common cancer.
Stimulating the brain to help quit smoking. The US FDA has approved the use of the Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) system from Israel’s BrainsWay (see here) to treat cigarette smokers who seek to quit. The patient wears a helmet containing a patented H-coil that generates a magnetic field for 20-minutes.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3846389,00.html
First delivery of burns treatment. Israel’s Mediwound (reported here previously) has delivered its first batch of its Nexobrid treatment for burns to BARDA (the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority) for the US Department of Health’s emergency response preparedness.
DayTwo wins Roche Diabetes Care Innovation contest. Israel’s DayTwo (reported here previously) won the 2020 Roche Diabetes Care Innovation Contest. Its virtual pitch convinced the judges that its personalized nutrition solution, using microbiome data, could best integrate with Roche Diabetes Care.
https://www.israel21c.org/daytwo-wins-roche-diabetes-care-innovation-contest/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_n3H8XlIGo
The patient room of 2030. (TY Stuart Pl) This video simulates how the futuristic patient rooms at Israel’s Sheba hospital integrate artificial intelligence, robotic technologies, wearable devices, virtual reality and other smart technology to simulate the most extreme medical situations, including the current coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdQEVGHP3NE
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Computers for at-risk youth. The Israeli Public Forum for Youth Villages and Boarding Schools is tackling the problem of many Israeli children lacking computers to help them study. The NGO raises funds and has supplied 1,400 computers to some of the 25,000+ disadvantaged children it supports. But more are needed.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286477 https://www.fkn.org.il/about_us
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzZRWB0Fm8Q
Most creative woman. Inna Braverman, founder and CEO of Israeli clean-energy company Eco Wave Power was named in the 11th annual Fast Company list of the 74 Most Creative People in Business. Most recently, she was awarded the United Nations Global Climate Action Award (reported here previously).
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-woman-on-fast-company-most-creative-people-list/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4CbvsLmP3pw
Top innovator. (TY Janglo) Eliran Malki, co-founder and CEO of Israel’s Belong.Life (the world’s largest social cancer network), has been named one of the top 25 innovators of 2020 by Modern Healthcare magazine. It recognizes his company’s use of AI and machine learning to create uniquely personalized patient experiences.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/ceo-of-israeli-startup-named-in-healthcare-magazines-top-25-innovators-639837 https://belong.life/ https://www.modernhealthcare.com/awards/2020-top-25-innovators-eliran-malki
Influential Israelis. Fortune magazine named 4 Israelis in its 2020 “40 under 40” list of 200 most influential young people in business. They are Nir Bar Dea of Bridgewater Associates, Yoni Assia CEO of eToro, Yonatan Adiri CEO of Healthy.io and Adam Mosseri CEO of Instagram, who holds dual US & Israeli citizenship.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/4-israelis-in-fortunes-40-under-40-list-of-influential-businesspeople/
Oxygen for Indian hospitals. (TY Hazel) The Israeli Consulate in Bengaluru, Karnataka state, South India, has donated 25 industrial oxygen concentrators, or purifiers, to help contain the spread of Covid-19 in Karnataka hospitals. https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/israeli-consulate-in-india-gifts-oxygen-concentrators-to-local-govt-hospitals-639062
Covid-19 aid to Liberia. (TY Hazel) Israel’s MASHAV (Agency for International Development) presented various humanitarian aid and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the Liberian Health Services. It also supplied food items and startup kits to young single mothers and families in Liberia, affected by COVID 19.
https://allafrica.com/stories/202008280612.html
Fighting California wildfires again. Israel helped California fight wildfires in 2018 (see here) and is back again with a team of experts to help combat the latest incidents. California Governor Gavin Newsom and US National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien thanked the Israelis for their response.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-fire-and-rescue-experts-fly-to-aid-california/
https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/09/01/california-governor-praises-beautiful-example-set-by-israeli-firefighters-who-came-to-help-in-ongoing-wildfire-battle/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vn5skEVKdls
First direct flight from Israel to UAE. The first-ever direct commercial flight between Israel and the Arab Gulf touched down at the United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi International Airport. Flight LY971 was also the first EL Al plane to fly through Saudi airspace. A popular UAE newspaper headlined “Salam, Shalom”
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286302
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P_7N9YtaQo https://www.ynetnews.com/article/SYVKYV6DW
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/286331
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Are you wearing your mask? Israel’s Sheba Medical Center is using the software from Israel’s AnyVision (see here) to persuade its visitors to wear masks and to wear them correctly. The facial recognition system displays positive or negative messages on nearby screens depending if and how a person is wearing a mask.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/face-recognition-tech-nudges-visitors-to-wear-masks-at-sheba-hospital/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0m9WmC-JVc
The impact of IDF’s 8200 unit. The Alumni of the IDF’s 8200 intelligence unit has launched the sixth round of its 8200 Impact Accelerator program. It runs for five months, focusing on technological solutions for meaningful, social, and environmental problems. It has so far supported 10 ventures - all related to Covid-19.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3847613,00.html
Israeli-Italian satellite launched. Israeli and Italian space agencies have successfully launched the DIDO-3 nanosatellite. It is part of a series of satellites (see here) built by Israeli-Swiss company SpacePharma that Israeli and Italian scientists are using to conduct micro-gravity experiments into antibiotic resistant bacteria.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-italian-nano-satellite-launches-medical-experiments-into-space/
Protecting our energy infrastructure. On Sep 10, the US-Israel Energy Center is holding a webinar entitled “Cyber Security for Energy Infrastructure”. See link for registration and links to previous webinars.
https://us-isr-energycenter.org/presentations-webinars/ https://us-isr-energycenter.org/about/
Radar monitor for the elderly. Israel’s EchoCare (reported here previously) has begun production its ECHO radar-based, non-invasive emergency monitor for seniors. Following trials in Japan and Australia, demand has been high due to Covid-19. ECHO detects and alerts users on a variety of emergency or abnormal behaviors.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845864,00.html
Monitoring shoppers increases sales. Israeli supermarket chain Victory has used cameras and software from Israeli neuromarketing company Drill, to analyze the reactions of shoppers in their stores to products, prices, and aisle location. It has led to a 10% increase in revenue compared to its stores without the technology.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3846202,00.html https://drill-d.co.il/
Games to measure child development. Israel’s GiantLeap, has developed a platform to test cognitive development. It has partnered with the Texas Medical Center, where parents at home can evaluate 8 areas of their child’s development including social behavior, language, motor skills, and brain functioning.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/08/24/israeli-startup-giantleap-a-platform-for-children-cognitive-development-test-has-raised-900k-pre-seed/ https://www.giantleap.tech/
Higher yield crops in salty soil. Israel’s Salicrop (reported here previously) has just completed 3 years of field trials in Israel, India and Spain of its seed crops that thrive in saline (salty) soil. Salicrop soaks its seeds in a proprietary chemical cocktail, under very strict conditions and achieved an increase in yield of up to 32%.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tphMsUQDOl4
Social robots teach children language skills. Tel Aviv University scientists have used robots to help teach 5 to 9-year-olds how to decipher words. They tested 50 children on their ability to identify verb roots and nouns. They then gave the kids short robot-led activity-based sessions, which dramatically improved their test results.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-social-robots-revolutionize-learning-in-post-corona-world/
https://www.aftau.org/pages/the-curiosity-lab https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kk6VJK--sTQ
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Open skies to the Gulf and beyond. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have formally agreed to allow all aircraft, including Israeli, to use their airspace. Meanwhile, UAE’s Etihad Airways has started selling tickets to Israelis, with direct flights between the UAE and Israel expected within just a few weeks.
https://worldisraelnews.com/bahrain-opens-skies-to-israel-joining-saudis-in-allowing-overflights/
https://worldisraelnews.com/uaes-etihad-airways-now-selling-tickets-to-israelis/
Trade with UAE. Israel signed its first official agreement with the United Arab Emirates. A joint committee was set up to advance cooperation in finances and investments. The UAE formally ended its economic boycott of Israel and signed a decree to build ties in business, tourism, tech, research, energy, and academia.
https://nocamels.com/2020/09/israel-1st-agreement-uae-tourism-trade-tech/
Funds for tech production. Israel’s Innovation Authority has launched a NIS 40 million ($12 million) a year program to bring advanced manufacturing capabilities to Israeli industry and increase the number of tech firms that make their products in Israel. It will help build new factories and upgrade the technology at existing ones.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-earmarks-12-million-a-year-to-bring-tech-to-production-lines/
New agreements with India. (TY UWI) Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi met on Thursday with 11 ambassadors from the Asia-Pacific region. Bilateral agreements were signed with India to promote culture and cooperate on a water project in India.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/india-israel-sign-cultural-agreement-to-further-strengthen-people-to-people-ties/articleshow/77653383.cms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk_L9-Ft-04
Grants for joint Israel-South Korean projects. The Israel Innovation Authority is awarding grants of up to $2 million for projects involving both Israeli and South Korean companies. The projects need to be in the bio arena, including nanorobotics, advanced therapeutics discovery, tissue engineering and bio-electronics.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3846499,00.html
Japanese investment approaching record levels. The latest IVC Research Center report shows that Japanese investment in Israeli tech firms is unaffected by the coronavirus pandemic. The $853 million for the first half of 2020 compares to $660 million in the first half of 2019 and the record total of $1.5 billion for the whole year.
Expanding trade with Japan – an example. Leading AI chipmaker, Israel’s Hailo (reported here previously) has opened a new Japanese subsidiary to support its growing Asia-Pacific client base and expand its global reach. It follows two new Japanese partnerships and a $60 million investment including from Japan’s NEC.
Who is flying to Israel? You must check if you will be allowed entry, but all these airlines are now flying into Tel Aviv on a regular basis. United, Delta, Lufthansa, Swiss, Ethiopian, WizzAir, Air Canada, Air France, Israir, Belavia, Ryanair, Austrian, Turkish, Aegean, Air Europa, Pegasus, easyJet and Ukraine International.
https://www.touristisrael.com/whos-flying-to-tel-aviv-during-covid-19/31894/
Pennsylvania grant for Covid-19 therapy. The US State of Pennsylvania has given a grant of $300,000 to help advance the clinical testing of opaganib from Israel’s RedHill Biopharma (reported here previously). The grant is part of the state’s program supporting the rapid advancement of promising novel COVID-19 therapies.
Redis becomes a Unicorn. Database software developer Redis (reported here previously) has just received $100 million of financing that values the company at more than $1 billion, giving it the financial title of a Unicorn. Redis has over 7,500 customers, including MasterCard, Dell, Microsoft, Costco and Gap,
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3846516,00.html
Nanox becomes a Unicorn. Israel’s Nanox (reported here previously) has just raised $165 million in an initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ. The share price of the portable X-Ray devices company rose 21% on their first day of trading. Subsequent rises have brought the company’s valuation to over $1 billion.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/medical-imaging-startup-nanox-raises-615-million-on-nasdaq/
An app to buy from small Israeli shops. Israeli app BeeZee is the brainchild of Georgina Green, an employee of marketing agency GMT. She arranged development of an app that enables people anywhere in the world to order goods from over 100 Israeli “mom-and-pop” stores for delivery to friends or relatives in Israel.
https://www.israel21c.org/new-app-lets-anyone-order-items-from-small-israeli-shops/
Investment in Israeli startups: Redis Labs raised $100 million; Innovalve raised $10.5 million; Evogene raised $10 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Save the Arts, Yay! STAY (Save The Arts Yay) performing arts benefit in Tel Aviv on Oct 1st will feature some of Israel's top comedic and musical performers. They include Yohay Sponder, Lioz Shem Tov, Kandi Abelson, Chaya Lev, Grant and Daniella Crankshaw from Center Stage and many more. Hosted by Mike Kroll.
Israeli Wonder Woman returns. Israeli actress Gal Gadol is back in her superhero role in Wonder Woman 1984 which is scheduled to be released on 2nd October. She also stars in a remake of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU0oCJJxvMY
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israels-wonder-woman-stars-in-two-blockbusters-opening-this-fall/
Giant manta ray visit Israeli waters. The marine unit of Israel’s Nature and Parks Authority recently sighted a rare giant manta way near Eilat – the largest specimen seen swimming off the Israeli coast in the last 15 years. The giant manta is defined as a “vulnerable” species by the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
https://unitedwithisrael.org/giant-manta-ray-makes-rare-visit-to-israeli-waters/
Bird photographers of the year. Two Israeli photographers won Gold in the 2020 Bird Photography of the Year (BPOTY) competition. Moshe Cohen won the Attention to Detail category with his photo of a Scops owl next to a tree. Gadi Shmila won the Bird in Flight category with his photo of a hoopoe – Israel’s national bird.
https://www.israel21c.org/two-israelis-win-gold-in-global-bird-photography-contest/
https://www.birdpoty.co.uk/bpoty-2020-winners
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=80&v=N_-a3i5mls4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=46&v=4SMutvCTwRA
Israel cycles into history. An Israeli team has begun the Tour de France - the first time in its 107-year history. Israel Start-up Nation’s Krists Neilands even gave Israel their first podium finish at the end of Stage 4. He did not win the Stage, but he was awarded the combativity prize for leading the breakaway charge during the race.
https://www.cyclingnews.com/news/neilands-takes-historic-first-for-israel-start-up-nation-at-tour-de-france-news-shorts/ https://www.jns.org/tackling-the-tour-israelis-cycle-their-way-to-history/
Covid-19 facemasks for Tour de France. The Team Israel Start-Up Nation cycling team are using anti-viral SonoMasks made by Israel’s Sonovia during their participation in this year’s Tour de France bicycle race. The washable, reusable anti-pathogen facemasks are branded with the team’s logo.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3846584,00.html
THE JEWISH STATE
2700-year-old discovery. Israeli archaeologists have uncovered in Jerusalem, dozens of stone artifacts dating to 7th century BCE when First Temple King Hezekiah ruled Judea. They included sections of lavish window frames plus decorated capitals as depicted on current 5 Shekel coins. Even the BBC reported the discovery.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/davidic-dynasty-symbol-found-in-jerusalem-once-in-a-lifetime-discovery-640929 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hODD2oqtIzg
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-54006773
Save a life – donate your plasma. More than 83,000 Israelis have recovered from Covid-19 infection. They are requested urgently to call Magen David Adom Blood Services on 03-9101101 to donate plasma so that their antibodies can save lives. The Talmud states “Whoever saves a life it’s as if they have saved an entire world.”
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/are-you-a-covid-19-survivor-donate-your-plasma-and-save-a-life/
The ship that launched the Jewish State. The famous voyage of the ship Exodus in 1947 carrying 4,500 Holocaust survivors made a huge global impact. Netanya’s Ervin Birnbaum was on board and has been enthralling us with his eye-witness testimony. Here are links to the first two parts of his story. More to follow.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8_Ig9mychM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ORb7_0Vq2M
Stoudemire conversion completed. Amar’e Stoudemire, the NBA star who continued his basketball career by making Aliyah to Israel, has confirmed that his conversion to Judaism is now complete. His Hebrew name is Yahoshafat Ben Avraham. Stoudemire helped Maccabi Tel Aviv win the Israeli championship earlier this year.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/nba-legend-stoudemire-completes-conversion-to-judaism-in-israel/
Just a regular event. An everyday example of an Israeli soldier helping an elderly Arab down steps in Jerusalem. https://unitedwithisrael.org/watch-true-israeli-kindness-soldier-helps-elderly-arab-in-jerusalem/
Normalization with Kosovo; Serbia to move embassy to Jerusalem. The leaders of Serbia and (95% Muslim) Kosovo have signed economic normalization deals with Israel. As part of its agreement, Serbia will relocate its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem by next summer - the first European country to do so.
Peace is made with kosher food. Rabbi Yissachar Krakowski, head of Israel’s Orthodox Union kosher department. supervised Dubai caterer Elli’s Kosher Kitchen in preparing 300 kosher meals for Jewish members of the US and Israeli delegation to the UAE. Ellis will now also supply kosher food to guests at Dubai hotels.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/side-order-of-peace-dubai-hotel-is-first-to-offer-kosher-food-in-uae/
200823
In the 23rd Aug 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli Covid-19 test gives the result in one second.
· 4 Israelis win European Women in Tech awards.
· Hundreds of Israeli companies are doing business in the UAE.
· Israel’s new Intel microprocessor uses less energy for high-performance.
· Israel has massively boosted investment in the hi-tech sector.
· UK soccer club Chelsea has adopted an Israeli coaching system.
· Foreign students can once again enroll in Israeli University courses.
· Click here to see the 16th Aug newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, Janglo, IsraPundit, San Diego Jewish World, Israel Bonds and United With Israel with extra feature on Technology. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of more than 17,000 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Covid-19 one-second gargle test. Israel’s Sheba Medical Center is trialing a gargle-and-spit test that is 95% accurate in detecting Covid-19 infections. The USB-powered machine is the size of an ashtray and takes just one second to conduct light analysis of gargled mouthwash. Results from standard PCR tests take much longer.
Maya goes viral. “Maya” is the Israeli-developed 3D-printed nanotech sticker (reported here previously) that adds Covid-19 protection to surgical masks. It now will be mass produced at the DYKAM printing plant in Kibbutz Ein Harod and soon will be available to medical staff in Israel, Canada, Japan, Spain and elsewhere.
https://nocamels.com/2020/08/israeli-anti-viral-protective-stickers-masks/
Helping ADHD children to hear the teacher. Israel’s Nuancehear has developed the “Sound Selector” to help students with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). The device filters background noise to help focus on hearing a teacher or lecturer. A trial on 31 students with Clalit Health Services has been positive.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/08/18/israeli-innovation-noise-filter-for-students-with-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/ https://www.nuancehear.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gsSbqVUkRA
Treating intrauterine conditions. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s OCON Healthcare has been awarded $13 million of orders for its Intra Uterine Ball (IUB) proprietary platform. The purchasers are South America's DKT and UK’s Consilient Healthcare, where the product will be fully reimbursed by the National Health Service.
Park ranger saves choking baby. Just a nice story featuring Afiw Bkreia, a park ranger at Nachal Amud in Israel’s Galilee. Afiw volunteers as a United Hatzalah paramedic, is a member of the canine rescue team, runs a photo club and much more. So, he did not panic when given a lifeless baby that was choking on a banana.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/285221
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Singing for Covid-19 relief. Popular Israeli singer Ishay Ribo performed at an event in New York to raise money for the coronavirus relief efforts of Israeli social and educational NGO Migdal Or (“Tower of Light”). Ishay recently recovered from Covid-19. Keynote speaker was Gilad Erdan, Israel’s new ambassador to the US.
Israel’s European Tech Women. 4 Israeli female entrepreneurs have been chosen to speak at the first UK DIT European Tech Women Event in London on 2nd Sep. They are among 24 European Region women recognized for their achievements in the tech field. The Israelis are all founders and CEOs of their companies.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845624,00.html
https://nocamels.com/2020/08/israeli-female-founders-win-european-women-in-tech-awards/
Making facemasks together. Health Minister Yuli Edelstein and Samaria Regional Council Head Yossi Dagan dropped in to see the Supergum factory in the Barkan Industrial Zone in Judea and Samaria. There, Jews, Israeli Arabs and Palestinian Arabs work together to produce surgical masks for the Israeli and overseas market.
https://www.jns.org/edelstein-visits-barkan-factory-example-of-joint-israeli-arab-employment/
German & Israeli air forces fly together. For the first time, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) is holding a joint drill with the German Air Force in Germany. During the two-week exercise, the planes are scheduled to fly over Dachau and Munich – two auspicious sites for Jews and Israelis.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/iaf-german-air-force-to-hold-joint-drill-in-germany-for-the-first-time-638770 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvbQmWMRER4
International aid to Covid-19 victims. (TY UWI) Great video summarizing Israeli aid to Honduras, Bolivia, Chile, Cote d’Ivoire, Madagascar, Kenya, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Ethiopia, Zanzibar, Senegal, Philippines, Nepal, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Western Ukraine. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqV9rRJYlnM
4,000 overseas agricultural students. In 1994, the Midwest Arava Regional Council invited 50 Thai workers to mix academic study with practical work experience of Israel’s agriculture technology and methods. Currently more than 4,000 students from around the world participate each year.
Untold News tells the news. Jacob Kamaras’ article below is a great advert for pro-Israel advocate Marcella Rosen and her Untold News initiative. Its Facebook page has over 725,000 followers including the important Hispanic community. The article itself describes many of Israel’s vital innovations to combat Covid-19.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/how-israels-untold-story-on-combating-covid-19-is-reaching-the-non-committed/ https://www.facebook.com/UntoldNews/ https://www.facebook.com/elpequenodinamo
Latest UAE peace progress. (TY UWI) Immediately after the Israel - United Arab Emirates announcement, phone lines were opened, blocks on Israeli websites were removed, Covid-19 research agreements (see here) were signed, and an Israeli pop star was even invited to appear in Dubai.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844892,00.html
200 Israeli companies trade with UAE. According to the Manufacturers Association of Israel, some 200 Israeli companies are already exporting products - mostly telecommunications, medical equipment, and security - to the UAE. And OurCrowd CEO Jon Medved expects many more to join them soon.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845269,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845233,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845312,00.html
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Predicting the next Covid-19 outbreak. Israel’s Neura (reported here previously) has announced the adoption of ViruScore, the first ever Covid-19 predictive testing solution. It allows communities to track their “pandemic index score” using AI plus anonymized data from mobile devices. Testing can then focus on high risk areas.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844697,00.html https://www.theneura.com/
IAI’s 3rd round of innovators. The Innovation Center of Israel Aerospace Industries (see here) is opening its 3rd 13-week accelerator program to startups in machine learning, quantum computing, radar, sensing, robotics, big data, computer vision, smart cockpits, propulsion, drones, cyber, 3D printing, new energy, IoT, and more.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845300,00.html
Arrow 2 test successful. Israel has conducted a successful test of the Arrow 2 defense system. The joint Israeli-US interceptor missile destroyed an incoming missile that simulated an Iranian Shihab-3 surface-to-surface missile. https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-tests-arrow-2-missile-against-simulated-iranian-attack/
https://www.jns.org/arrow-2-missile-defense-system-successfully-tested-in-joint-us-israel-exercise/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypLilrJXhH8
Alder Lake is coming. Intel Israel is developing "Alder Lake" – Intel’s next generation of increasingly more powerful micro-processors. The new chip is scheduled for 2021, following Tiger Lake and the current Ice Lake. It is Intel’s first “hybrid” chip (2 core types) to give high performance in use, but low power when on standby.
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/313803-intel-makes-it-official-hybrid-cpu-cores-arrive-with-alder-lake https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844875,00.html
End to end security. (TY JBN) Israel’s Ananda Networks allows companies to implement their own secure private network, but without having to trust or rely on any third party. All communications throughout the network are end-to-end encrypted, plus much faster and simpler than a VPN (Virtual Private Network).
https://www.ananda.net/press/ananda-networks-comes-out-of-stealth-to-help-companies-connect-their-distributed-workforce-and-make-networking-a-joy https://www.ananda.net/
FoodTech innovators. Israel’s Future Meat (reported here previously) won the FoodTech Innovation startup contest, organized by Calcalist and Tnuva. Future Meat develops tech to produce GMO-free meat from animal cells, without the need to raise or slaughter animals. Runners up were Amai Proteins (see here) and NextFerm.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844827,00.html
https://future-meat.com/ https://www.nextferm.com/
WakeUp with a BioLift. The re-branded and newly launched Biolift WakeUp beverages (reported here previously) are designed to overcome the tiring midday slump known as ‘'Post Lunch Dip”. Scientifically tested at Israel’s Technion and Rambam Medical Centers, the 3 flavors are now available to purchase online.
https://www.drinkbiolift.com/ https://www.drinkbiolift.com/collections/products
From F35s to car safety. Israel’s RFISee has adapted technology from the F-35 fighter jet and air defense systems to prevent accidents in self-driving cars. Its low-cost phased array 4D all-weather imaging radar provides significantly improved visibility on existing radar technology for autonomous vehicles.
https://rfisee.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72V4IIeiJR8
Safer transportation of fuel supplies. (TY JBN) Israel’s Eyesight Technologies (reported here previously) has partnered with the GloboConnect Group to develop a driver monitoring device targeted for the Oil & Gas fleets industry. It aims to improve road safety for an estimated 50,000 potentially hazardous vehicles.
Managing traffic in Phoenix. Phoenix Arizona, the 5th largest city in the US, has partnered with Israel’s NoTraffic (reported here previously) who will install its autonomous traffic management platform. NoTraffic has shown that it can reduce vehicle delay times by roughly 40 percent.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845444,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Od0lNP2D10
High demand for smart vehicle testing. Israel’s Foretellix (reported here previously) tests the safety of smart automatic vehicle systems. Despite Covid-19, it has too much business than it can handle, as Autonomous Vehicle manufacturers have just re-focused from full autonomy to ADAS (advanced driver-assistance systems).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845722,00.html
A partner for the flying car. Israel’s Urban Aeronautics (reported here previously) is partnering with U.S.-based non-profit Hatzolah Air to develop, produce, and market its CityHawk aircraft as an air ambulance. The EMS vehicle will be able to land in a busy street, treat and transport patients to appropriate medical facilities.
https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/general/1729281/newest-hatzolah-division-launches-literally-video-photos.html https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845744,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur1jAp_Pnws
StoreDot is a game-changing pioneer. Israel’s ultra-fast charging technology company StoreDot (reported here previously) has joined Israel’s REE Automotive (see here) as one of the two Israeli top 10 winners of Bloomberg’s 2020 NEF Pioneer Award for game-changing companies leading to a low-carbon economy.
A slice of printed meat. Israel’s MeaTech (reported here previously) has reached a milestone in its “Project Carpaccio” to bio-print real meat using stem cells, but without harming animals, causing pollution etc.. It successfully 3D-printed a thin layer of meat and is now on target for printing a 100-gram (quarter pound) steak.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845414,00.html
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
S&P maintains Israel’s credit rating. Karen Vartapetov, the credit analyst at Standard & Poor’s in charge of setting Israel’s sovereign rating, said there is no immediate threat for a downgrade. He said advanced countries including Israel, have relatively effective institutions, relatively high income and credible economic policies.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israels-credit-rating-under-no-immediate-threat-for-downgrade-sp/
More cash for tech startups. Israel’s Innovation Authority (IIA), the government’s tech investment arm, has had its budget increased by NIS 390 million budget. It will now extend its Fast Track Incentive program to help hi-tech startups during the coronavirus crisis. It has also renewed its GovTech Incentive Program.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845745,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845679,00.html
Improved protection for investors in startups. Israel’s Investment Authority is encouraging investing in early stage startups. It has reduced the minimum investment eligible for government protection to NIS 100 million (was NIS 150 million). The state will provide up to 40% of the original investment in case of losses incurred.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839464,00.html
A good tip. Israel’s Tipranks (reported here previously) provides analysis and ranking based on text data on news sites, analyst reviews, corporate reports and more. Its services are now used by millions of direct users, plus clients of Santander, TD Ameritrade, Nasdaq Etrade and most of Israel’s banks and investment houses.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844234,00.html
A smart Israeli irrigation partnership. Israel’s Viridix, a developer of data-driven precision irrigation systems, is partnering Israel’s Talgil, a manufacturer of professional irrigation controllers. They will provide farmers with the ability to automate irrigation cycles by optimizing water needs for each crop.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845253,00.html https://www.viridix.com/
http://www.talgil.com/Home https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvGiiEZZviE
More precision irrigation. Israel’s CropX (reported here previously) is partnering US giant irrigation company Reinke Manufacturing. Farmers using Reinke's ReinCloud app will be able to remotely run their irrigation system while simultaneously using CropX’s soil sensors and analytics to maximize crop yields.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845425,00.html
Success in investment analysis trials. Israel’s Fintica (reported here previously) has successfully completed its Proof of Concept with Japan’s Nikko Global Wrap (part of Sumitomo Mitsui). Nikko will continue to use Fintica’s AI engines to help its financial decision-making. Fintica is part of Israel’s Cortica (see here).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3845413,00.html
Taking note of AudioCodes. Live Cloud for Microsoft Teams developed by Israel’s AudioCodes has been selected by secure communication service provider Enablis for its customers in Australia and New Zealand. AudioCodes’ ‘Mia’ (reported here previously) automatically helps enterprises with note-taking.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844822,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups: K2View raised $28 million; Bambi Dynamic raised $6 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
On with the show. (TY Sharon) Even during a pandemic, in Jerusalem the show must go on. Western Wall prayers meet Covid limits; nature trails are popular; construction continues; IPO musicians and Rock school students perform outdoors; the Tower of David show is sold out and several festivals are scheduled to go ahead.
http://rjstreets.com/2020/08/16/on-with-the-show-in-jerusalem/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTH6ZTZDL58
What’s Up at Center Stage. Last week’s On-Cue interview at Israel’s theater for English speakers featured comics Lenny Ravich and Mike Kroll (see here). Tonight (Aug 23 noon EDT) see "The Wandering Israeli" Elad Shippony with Aaron Scheer of "The Daily Freier". Coffee Club on Aug 26 features Keep Olim in Israel.
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYpcu2grTgiGNOIkIwsYI0aOaw6vQVtVFJg
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpcuytqjgrG91DpNbEFyH16ns7H4IzAYjy
https://www.centerstageisrael.com/
Thousands watch meteor display. (TY Janglo, Arutz 7 and I24 News) There was plenty of space in the Mitzpe Ramon crater in the Negev for 40,000 Israelis to watch this year’s Perseids Meteor Shower. Many lucky Israelis were surprised earlier in July, when comet Neowise appeared, for the first time in around 7,000 years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GqQ-n20nOG4 http://www.astronomyisrael.com/
Perfect Play at Chelsea FC. Top British soccer club Chelsea has launched the Perfect Play soccer training app. Israel’s Coach-AI developed the app’s virtual coach in labs in Germany and Israel. The technology helps soccer players improve skills based on professional knowledge from the Chelsea FC Academy.
https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2020/08/12/developed-with-chelsea-football-club--new-app--perfect-play--off https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844814,00.html
https://coach-ai.com/ https://perfectplay.com/
THE JEWISH STATE
Books for Israeli children. Harold Grinspoon’s Foundation HGF runs PJ Library, the world’s largest children’s Jewish book program. In 2009 it partnered Israel’s Ministry of Education to launch Sifriyat Pijama (Hebrew) and Maktabat al Fanoos (Arabic “Lantern Library”) the world’s largest Arabic book-gifting program.
https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/harold-grinspoon
Israel re-opens to international students. Israel is re-opening its borders for international students to begin academic studies during the 2020-2021 academic year. Many universities and colleges are still accepting applications for the fall semester beginning mid-October. See the official Study in Israel website.
https://jewishbusinessnews.com/2020/08/17/israel-opens-borders-for-international-students/
https://studyinisrael.che.org.il/
Educating Haredi for tech. Good article about the Jerusalem College of Technology. 89% of their haredi students gain employment immediately after graduation. It has retrained garment makers into cybersecurity experts and placed haredim into the cyber departments of aerospace companies and also cyber start-ups..
https://www.jns.org/opinion/haredim-and-high-tech-beyond-the-numbers/
More good publicity for Israel. Last week’s positive Israel newsletter was featured for the first time in two international media publications – San Diego Jewish World and Israel Bonds.
https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2020/08/16/some-of-the-websites-i-like-to-read/
https://israelbondsintl.com/aug20-tu-bav/
Saving lives together. (TY UWI) Israeli-Arab Eyad and Israeli Jew Ya’akov are both paramedics with Magen David Adom. During their work saving lives of Jews and Arabs, they have developed a strong friendship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mOLRpVVzQA
200816
In the 16th Aug 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli passive vaccine is saving critical Covid-19 patients.
· Israeli expectant mothers are being issued with a home ultrasound monitor.
· The United Arab Emirates is making peace with Israel.
· An Israeli device allows patients on ventilators to communicate.
· Israel is investing a billion Shekels to support the tech economy.
· An Israeli system is to recharge electric vehicles in Eastern Europe.
· Another top international cyclist has signed for Israel’s Tour de France team.
· An Israeli paramedic saved a life at his own son’s wedding.
· Click here to see the 9th Aug newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit and United With Israel with extra feature on Technology. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of more than 17,000 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Covid-19 passive vaccine cures 3 Israelis. Three of the first critical Covid-19 patients treated with the new IgG plasma-derived “passive vaccine” product developed by Israel’s Kamada and Hadassah Medical Center (reported here previously), have made a rapid recovery and have now been discharged from Hadassah hospital.
Pluristem’s Covid-19 Phase 2 Germany trial. Israel’s Pluristem Therapeutics (reported here previously) has been approved by German’s health regulatory authority to conduct a Phase 2 clinical trial of its PLX PAD stem cells on 40 serious Covid-19 patients. Pluristem is already conducting a 140-patient Phase 2 trial in the US.
Previous TB vaccinations help young Covid-19 patients. Researchers at Israel’s Ben Gurion and Hebrew Universities have found that vaccinations given against Tuberculosis (BCGs) in the last 15 years reduced death rates and infection rates in COVID-19 patients under 24 years of age. Data from 55 countries was analyzed.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-corona-discovery-tuberculosis-shots-could-help-fight-covid-19/
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/8/3/378
Hadassah tests Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine. Professor Zeev Rotstein, CEO of Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, has revealed that its clinic in Skolkovo, Moscow is involved in clinical safety trials of the new Russian Covid-19 vaccine. Phase 3 trials are still ongoing, even while Russia’s President Putin inoculated his family.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfDMrlsQJl8
The Israeli at Moderna’s vaccine project. This 30-minute video features Israel’s Dr. Tal Zaks - chief medical officer of Moderna, a front-runner in the race for a COVID-19 vaccine. He summarizes the progress of the latest trial, and how his education at BGU’s Joyce and Irving Goldman Medical School shaped his career.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhn_MX7XhUE
Approval to test treatment for advanced cancer. Israel’s KAHR Medical has received US FDA approval to begin Phase 1 & 2 clinical (human) trials of its DSP107 treatment of advanced solid tumors (reported here previously). The trials will assess DSP107 both by itself and in combination with Roche’s atezolizumab.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/fda-gives-jerusalem-based-company-go-ahead-to-start-cancer-drug-trials-638355 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2NLNV3CB2U https://kahr-medical.com/technology/pipeline/
Stress relief pre surgery reduces metastatic risk. Tel Aviv University researchers reduced secondary cancer following colorectal tumor removal. Deralin and Etopan were given before and after surgery. 3 years later the cancer had spread significantly less than in a control group. Now pancreatic cancer patients will be tested.
https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-08/afot-tau080720.php (latest trial)
https://english.m.tau.ac.il/news/cancer-stress (2017 trial on breast cancer patients)
Moses 2.0 launched. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel-headquartered Lumenis (reported here previously) has launched a superior version 2.0 of its Moses platform for minimal and non-invasive laser removal of urinary (bladder) stones and other stones. https://lumenis.com/medical/holmium-products/lumenis-moses-pulse-120h/
Home ultrasound for pregnant Israelis. Israeli healthcare provider Clalit, with 4.6 million Israeli members, has authorized the use of the PulseNmore home ultrasound device (see here) for expectant mothers. It will reduce numbers of unnecessary hospital visits (average two per pregnancy) during the Covid-19 pandemic.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/clalit-to-offer-pregnant-members-startup-pulsenmores-at-home-ultrasound-kit/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLskCQS79P4
From drip irrigation to diagnosing diseases. Kibbutz Hatzerim is famous for founding drip-irrigation innovator Netafim. It has now co-founded Picodya - developer of the B-Matrix in vitro diagnostics (IVD) platform. B-Matrix gives 15-30min test results for cancer, cardiac dysfunction and viruses (including Covid).
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844490,00.html https://picodya.com/
https://picodya.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/PicodyaBMatrixTechnology.mp4
Signs of the times. The vital signs monitoring tool from Israel’s Binah.ai (reported here previously) is to be used by 4 Japanese companies. NTT Data - Health Data Bank; Alm’s MySOS - emergencies & new Covid-19 cases; Macnica Networks – monitoring Covid-19 re-infections; SOMPO – insurance policyholder checkups.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844709,00.html
Canon partners Zebra. Israel’s Zebra Medical Vision (reported here previously) has partnered with American radiology system distributor, Canon Medical Systems USA (part of the Canon empire). Zebra’s disease analysis platform will be made available to many more locations across the United States.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844686,00.html
https://us.medical.canon/news/press-releases/2020/08/11/3390/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Meal for Two. Israeli restaurants and the public are encouraged to join the “Meal for Two” initiative of Israeli charity Leket. Citizens donations are used by restaurants impacted by corona to cook a meal for needy Israelis.
4 Israeli women lawmakers. 33 out of the 120 Israeli Members of Knesset (Parliament) are women. 4 of the first-time female Knesset Members include the first female Ethiopian-born MK and minister, the first female ultra-Orthodox Jewish MK and minister, the first female Druze MK, and the first MK wearing a Muslim hijab.
Enabling Arabs & Israelis to do business. Israeli Jew Yosef Mahfoud Levi founded Insijam (Arabic for “harmony”). Levi was born to a Yemenite family and grew up speaking Arabic. He learned the Bedouin dialect and teaches Arab culture. Insijam establishes Arab-Israeli business & cultural channels across the Middle East.
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/insijams-arabist-founder-helps-jews-and-arabs-do-business-637983
Israeli runway protection for Qatar. (TY Atid-EDI) Hamad International Airport (HIA) in Qatar is to deploy the RunWize Foreign Object & Debris (FOD) detection system provided by Israel’s Xsight Systems (reported here previously). HIA is ranked as one of the best airports in the world and is Qatar Airways’ international hub.
Israel and UAE make peace. US-brokered talks have culminated in an historic teleconference between Israeli PM Netanyahu and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed where the two leaders agreed to a full recognition and peace between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. It includes embassies and direct flights.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/285244
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGLHwUCt-G8
Colombia’s Jerusalem innovation center. In a video conference with Israel’s Prime Minister, Colombian President Ivan Marquez announced his country is to open an innovation center in Jerusalem. A new free trade agreement has just come into effect between Israel and Colombia - South America’s third-largest economy.
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/columbia-innovation-center-to-open-tuesday-in-jerusalem-638193
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Giving voice to the speech impaired. Israel’s VoiceITT (reported here previously) enables those with cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s, ALS, stroke or other brain disfunction to speak clearly. VoiceITT has just completed a pilot with the Department of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in the US State of Tennessee.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/08/07/israeli-speech-translation-startup-champions-inclusivity-for-the-speech-impaired/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5wy_VFm1F8 https://www.voiceitt.com/
Enabling ventilated patients to communicate. Israel’s EyeControl (reported here previously) developed its eye-tracking communication for “locked-in” patients such as ALS or stroke sufferers. Now it enables ventilated Covid patients to “speak”. The EU has just given it a $2.5 million grant from its Covid-19 Pilot Program.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844755,00.html
Vegan toddler food is certified organic. (TY Atid-EDI) The novel, plant-based complete nutrition product for toddlers from Israel’s Else Nutrition (reported here previously) has now received the key USDA Organic certification. The product will now be launched in the US and is also available from its new e-store.
https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/else-nutrition-receives-key-usda-organic-certification-ahead-of-toddler-nutrition-product-launch-in-u-s--831161356.html https://elsenutrition.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VMsrN1nN7Rk
Autonomous taxis for Asia. (TY Atid-EDI) Jerusalem’s Mobileye (reported here previously) and Asian transportation giant WILLER are partnering to develop an autonomous robotaxi service in Japan, Taiwan and across Southeast Asia. Testing in Japan is targeted to begin in 2021 with plans to launch the service in 2023.
Truly international development. Israel’s PerceptionBox helps startups and medium-sized businesses build their development teams, sourcing the best of 100,000 personnel from countries all around the world. It is essentially a matchmaker between visionary entrepreneurs and skilled, remote-working IT professionals.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3841851,00.html
Quantum Machines is a Cool Vendor. Israel’s Quantum Machines (QM) has been named a Gartner Cool Vendor in the June 2020 Cool Vendors in Quantum Computing report. QM’s platform enables an entirely new approach to controlling and operating quantum processors, capable of running the most complex algorithms.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quantum-machines-recognized-as-a-cool-vendor-in-gartners-june-2020-cool-vendors-in-quantum-computing-301090009.html https://www.quantum-machines.co/
Protecting Israel’s precious water. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Waterfall Security Solutions (reported here previously) has deployed its Unidirectional Security Gateways to protect the Shafdan wastewater treatment plant - Israel’s largest treatment plant, producing high-quality irrigation water for Israel’s agricultural industry.
https://waterfall-security.com/waterfall-to-protect-israels-largest-wastewater-treatment-plant/
Automatic security updates for your apps. Israeli cybersecurity startup Adaptive Shield offers companies its solution to completely automate control of the security of their SaaS applications, like Zoom, Salesforce and Office 365. It configures those apps to protect them from cyber-attacks that can lead to data breaches.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844703,00.html https://www.adaptive-shield.com/
Lasers combat Gaza arson balloons. (TY WIN) Israel’s Light Blade laser defense system, developed by Ben Gurion University, was deployed for the first time to target incendiary balloons and kites from Gaza, which have started countless fires in Israel. Light Blade (“Lahav Or”) has an effective day/night range of 1.2 miles.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/08/12/israel-deploys-first-of-its-kind-laser-system-to-gaza-border-to-fight-incendiary-balloons/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H__xBoxAifY
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/laser_defense.aspx
Award-winning security. Israel’s Perimeter 81 currently serves 1,000 enterprises, including Fortune 500 companies. Its innovative secure network as a service has won international awards, including Info Security’s Global Excellence, Frost & Sullivan’s Technology, Cybersecurity’s Breakthrough and Gartner’s Cool Vendor.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844513,00.html https://www.perimeter81.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Retraining unemployed for tech. The Israeli government’s Innovation Authority (IIA) is setting up a fund dedicated for programs that retrain unemployed workers for R&D positions in the high-tech industry. The fund consists of NIS 7 million up to end 2020 and NIS 20 million for 2021 and prioritizes underrepresented Israelis.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844447,00.html
A billion shekels to stimulate tech economy. Separate to the new IIA fund, the Israeli ministries of Finance and Employment published a NIS 1.1 billion plan to encourage investments and employment in the Israeli technology and industry sectors. The plan is part of the NIS 8.5 billion aid package to accelerate the economy.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844320,00.html
Government backs social lender. Non-profit Ogen (reported here previously) is to distribute loans backed by state guarantees, as part of a push to help businesses struggling with the coronavirus pandemic. The guarantees enable Ogen to raise additional lending funds from philanthropy, impact investors, and institutional investors.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/finance-ministry-gives-social-lender-nod-for-government-backed-loans/
Swiss backing for Israeli innovation. Swiss biotech giant Roche and Israeli Venture Capital fund aMoon are to launch an early-stage investment program named “StarFinder Digital Innovation Lab.” It will support 3 Israeli Life Science startups for 3 years with annual investments, mentoring, contacts and offices.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844333,00.html
Charging electric cars in Eastern Europe. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Driivz (reported here previously) has been selected by Budapest-based energy company MOL to manage its electric vehicle (EV) charging network. MOL operates chargers in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Hungary, and Romania.
https://driivz.com/news/mol-group-selects-driivz-technology/
Another 3 Indian irrigation projects for Netafim. Israel’s drip irrigation pioneer Netafim (reported here previously) has won an $85 million contract for another three irrigation projects in India. This time they will benefit 35,000 farmers in Karnataka state, southwest India.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netafim-gets-85m-irrigation-deal-to-help-indian-farmers-grow-onions-beans/amp/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844352,00.html
4G for Latin America. Gilat Satellite Networks has won several recent contracts including $10M for a 5-year project servicing half a million people in rural Latin America (see link below). Others include a US Tier 1 mobile operator, Africa Mobile Networks, a leading Mexican mobile operator and Telefonica in Argentina.
The right size for online shoppers. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s MySize (reported here previously) has opened a new subsidiary in Moscow to meet the growing demand for its online measurement solutions. MySize recently expanded its operations in France and is doubling its size recommendations every month (now over 1 million).
Cereal paradise. A new restaurant bar “Lulu & Co” has opened in Rothschild Boulevard Tel Aviv, serving mainly breakfast cereals. It offers many all-time childhood favorites, plus toppings such as hazelnut cream, salted caramel and marshmallow. Lulu plans to add new cereals each month, plus cereal-based ice creams.
https://www.jpost.com/food-recipes/new-cereal-bar-to-be-opened-in-tel-aviv-638052
https://www.mako.co.il/food-restaurants/restaurant-news/Article-9d179285ad8c371027.htm
Another year for the Bubble. The Israeli transportation ministry has approved Via’s ride-sharing 10-seater van shuttle service “Bubble” (reported here previously) for an additional period of one year. Via’s passengers book rides in and around Tel Aviv through an app, specifying their desired pick up and drop off locations.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839452,00.html
An app to manage your personal finances. A new Israeli app called FamilyBiz allows families to manage their finances and set budgets and goals during difficult periods. FamilyBiz consolidates in one place data from banks, credit cards, insurance companies, investments, and more, aiming to be the “Spotify” of financial tools.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844520,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RYlNYWU4pwI
Gong becomes a Unicorn. Israel’s Gong.io (reported here previously) has just raised $200 million, giving it a market value of $2.2 billion. Gong says its keyword speech recognition technology for sales conversations “gives Gong some tailwind” in the current situation. “The interest in Gong has gone through the roof”.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3844705,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups: Gong.io raised $200 million; Perimeter 81 raised $40 million; Picodya raised $10 million; EyeControl raised $7.5 million; Adaptive Shield raised $4 million; env0 raised $3.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Sail-in movies. We all know about “drive-in” movies. Now Tel Aviv is launching Israel’s first “sail-in” movies. From Aug 22-28, an open-air cinema at the boating lake in Hayarkon Park will show 8 movies to DigiTel Resident Card holders, floating in 70 boats at least two meters apart in front of a large screen.
https://nocamels.com/2020/08/tel-aviv-floating-theater-park-hayarkon/
The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem. Israel’s Yes Studios has begun production of a new period drama “the Beauty Queen of Jerusalem”. Set in early to mid-20th century Jerusalem, the “colorful, passionate and tragic series interwoven with Judeo-Spanish traditions…” stars actors from Israeli successes “Fauda” and “Shtisel”.
Beyoncé wears Israeli outfits for “Black is King”. (TY UWI) Beyoncé’s visual album Black is King features the mega star wearing Israeli designed clothes. They include those of two established Israeli designers – Alon Livne and Shahar Avnet, plus recent Shenkar College graduate Avy Amram.
https://www.israel21c.org/beyonce-dons-israeli-designers-for-mega-visual-album/
Israeli team gears up for Tour de France. (TY Arutz Sheva) Israeli cyclist Guy Niv tells I24 News how Israel’s Startup Nation cycling team is preparing for its first Tour de France. Meanwhile, top Canadian cyclist Michael Woods has just signed with the Israeli team to join Chris Froome, who has won the race 4 times.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyHXZKQsTzg
https://www.timesofisrael.com/top-canadian-cyclist-to-join-israeli-tour-de-france-team/
THE JEWISH STATE
Shining a light on life in Judea. 2nd and 1st century BCE oil lamps excavated in and around Jerusalem were different to lamps from that time found in other Middle East countries. Researchers from Bar-Ilan University have suggested that Jews in the Hasmonean period wanted to keep their identity separate from the Hellenists.
Canadian Philanthropy. Canadian philanthropists are funding Israeli education and cancer research. The Goodman family is funding scholarships for Ethiopian Israelis and the Shapiro family is funding scholarships for IDF veterans. The Soyka Foundation is supporting the Hebrew University and Sheba Medical Centers.
https://canadianjewishrecord.ca/2020/08/12/canadians-help-fund-education-cancer-research-in-israel/
100 years of loving Israel. Another Canadian philanthropist, Marcel Adams (born Meir Abramovici), passed away nine days after his 100th birthday. He survived Nazi labor camps and Israel’s War of Independence. He funded brain research at Tel Aviv University and Israel’s Academy of Sciences and Humanities. A great story.
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/marcel-adams-a-hundred-years-of-loving-israel-and-life-636655
Saving a life at his son’s wedding. Dr David Kupferberg volunteers for Israel’s emergency NGO United Hatzalah. But he did not expect to have to go into action at his own son’s wedding. Shortly after the chuppah, one of the female guests had a major allergic attack and the mother of the bride pulled him from the dance floor.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/285151
“Operation Home” brings Jews from Mexico. A first-of-its-kind charter flight from Mexico carried 50 Mexican Olim (immigrants) to Israel, plus 150 Hanoar Hatzioni graduates. Dubbed “Operation Home,” the flight also carried dozens of Israelis who had been stranded due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In the 9th Aug 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli Covid-19 treatment being trialed has already saved many patients.
· Israeli surgeons saved a Muslim boy accidentally shot during Eid celebrations.
· An Israeli program was launched to generate more female health-tech executives.
· Israel won the top University International Math competition.
· An Israeli additive will help make buildings free from Covid-19.
· Upgraded Israeli smart glasses give even more help to the visually impaired.
· Israeli hospitals are on standby to receive victims of the Beirut explosion.
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Aviptadil saves Covid-19 patients. As reported here previously, Aviptadil from Israel’s NeuroRx, is undergoing Phase 2/3 trials in Israel and the US. The adapted treatment, now known as RLF-100, prevents Covid-19 replication and has already significantly improved the health of 15 emergency cases in the US.
Latest progress at the HUJ against Covid-19. This video shows up-to-date information on the research work being conducted at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem into testing and treatments for Covid-19.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woUrXXT1Jys
50 Technion labs battle against Covid-19. This video shows Technion scientists working on innovations to improve Covid-19 testing, screen for contagion, fast track vaccines, nano ghost decoys, liquid foam therapy for ARDS, self-cleaning mask, antiviral sticker, ventilator hood, air-filter mask, disinfectant, Corobot and more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_Puc6QNrB4
October start for human trials of Israeli Covid-19 vaccine. Israel's Minister of Defense Benny Gantz has announced that the Israel Institute of Biological Research will begin human trials of its Covid-19 vaccine in October. Phase 1 clinical trials for safety and efficacy will begin after the Jewish holidays that end on Oct 9th.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israel-to-begin-covid-19-vaccine-human-trials-1001338518
Corona patient leaves hospital after 99 days. 74-year old Marina Chivatova was discharged from Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center after having spent no less than 99 days in the hospital’s Corona Unit. It could be the world’s longest stay for a hospitalized Covid-19 patient and shows that Israel never gives up.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/284832
Matching therapy to tumor behavior. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute and at MIT and Harvard can identify the most suitable cancer therapy from the signals detected in the tumor itself. They analyze the pathway of the tumor using PathOlogist - an advanced bioinformatics tool developed by Bar-Ilan professor Sol Efroni.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/life-sciences/new-approach-tailoring-cancer-therapy-tapping-signaling-activities-cancer-cells https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-020-17090-y
Nano antioxidant for CJD patients. (TY UWI & I24 News) More on the nano-engineered pomegranate oil antioxidant produced by scientists at Jerusalem’s Hadassah hospital. It is now being targeted at sufferers of Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) - common in specific Jewish groups. The latest findings give hope.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY0jvY_AI20
Israeli neurosurgeons save Muslim boy’s life. (TY JNS) A bullet from Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha celebrations hit a 9-year-old Arab boy in the head. At Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, Israeli neurosurgeons removed the bullet from deep inside the boy’s brain. Two days after the surgery, the boy was eating, talking and moving his limbs.
https://www.israel21c.org/surgeons-safely-remove-mystery-bullet-from-boys-brain/
Prospective treatment for children with autism. In her lab, Professor Illana Gozes of Tel Aviv University (reported here previously) repaired live but damaged brain cells taken from deceased Alzheimer’s patients and an autistic child. It showed that her experimental NAP peptide could be used to treat both conditions.
https://neurosciencenews.com/alzheimers-drug-autism-16714/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32661233/
The science of sleep. Another excellent medical webinar from Techion UK. Sleep And Dreams featured Professor Peretz Lavie, former President of Israel’s Technion Institute. He explained some of the mysteries about sleep and dreams. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqhgu6ehgII&t=388
Competition for remote Femtech. 15 startups are pitching their telemedicine for women to a panel at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center. The Israeli startups include PulseNmore, Gyntools, MobileODT, HeraMed (HeraBeat), Nuvo (INVU), EfA (RevDX), MyMilk,and IsenseU (Milk-O-Meter).
https://www.gyntools.com/ https://isense-u.com/
Israeli animal therapy reported in UK Guardian. (TY Eric F) A rare (mostly) positive article in the normally anti-Israel Guardian. This emphasizes the importance of continually sending positive Israel articles to the Mainstream Media (MSM). https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/jul/21/cats-camels-and-a-jesus-lizard-the-rise-of-animal-assisted-therapy
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Donating Covid-19 grants to Israelis in need. A fund has been set up for Israelis to donate their Government Covid-19 grants to those most impacted by the pandemic. Several Israeli companies have promised to match donations made by their employees. Ex-IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot heads the fund’s advisory board.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3843103,00.html
Promoting more women health executives. Four female senior Life Science executives have founded the We@Heathtech program. Its aim is to propel junior women managers into executive positions in the health tech sector. It involves mentoring and an eight-month program of lectures and networking events.
Saving lives together. (TY BIG & Stuart) Israeli Arab Yasmeen from Nof Hagalil and Israeli Jew Natalie from Netanya work together as paramedics for Israel’s Magen David Adom. They are great friends, enjoy singing together and (of course) saving lives. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zx8X39R9nHA
Building bridges in tech. 50:50 Startups is an initiative that creates startup partnerships between Israelis and Palestinian Arabs. After two years of preparation, its first group has brought together budding entrepreneurs at Azrieli College of Engineering to build joint platforms of equal ownership.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israelis-palestinians-build-bridges-by-joining-forces-in-tech/
World's heaviest plane makes first visit to Israel. (TY INN) The world's heaviest cargo plane, the Antonov An-225, flown by a USAF crew, landed at Ben Gurion Airport, for the first time since it was built in the 1980's. It carried trucks that were used to collect Iron Dome batteries purchased by the US Army from Israel.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1vqP5rbD https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFSo71oUFs0
Israel wins International University Math competition. The Israeli national student team (5 from Tel Aviv University, one from Bar-Ilan) took first place at the International Mathematics Competition for University Students. The event, held online, involved 546 students from 96 universities around the world.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/08/03/israeli-team-wins-international-mathematics-competition-for-university-students/ https://www.imc-math.org.uk/?act=teams
The future of Education. 3,200 participants from U.S.A, Israel, South Africa, Australia, Ireland, Mexico, Peru & many more countries attended the Zoom-out event “Re-imagine the Future of Education. It was organized by the Israeli American Council (IAC) together with Tel Aviv University and streamed live on July 13.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dzp5aYMC1fE
Free transport to Madrid hospitals. Israel’s Via has launched a ViaVan ridesharing transit service to connect Madrid residents and healthcare providers with the city’s Infanta Leonor Hospital and 12 de Octubre Hospital. The service is planned to operate until the end of August for seven days a week, between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839295,00.html https://vimeo.com/436450609
Covid-19 aid to 15 countries. Israel has provided equipment and technology for fighting Covid-19 to 15 countries, including Guatemala, India, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Nepal. It sent medical equipment & tech, personal protective gear, handwashing stations, sanitizers and food supplies.
https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-sends-covid-19-aid-to-15-countries-in-3-continents/
Food packages to student families in Addis Ababa. The Israeli embassy in Ethiopia sent food packages to 250 families of students at the School of St Yared in Addis Ababa. Each package included a month’s supply of oil, pasta, rice and soaps. The embassy previously sent medical equipment and PPE to the capital’s hospital.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/284815
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Pinpointing Covid-19 in the sewers. As reported previously (see here) Covid-19 hotspots can be detected by analyzing virus levels in the sewage. Now Israel’s Kando (reported here previously) is working with scientists at Israel’s Technion and Ben Gurion University to detect outbreaks even before residents show symptoms.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3842574,00.html
Sodastream’s Covid-19 breathing machine. Israel’s Sodastream, now part of PepsiCo, has developed the StreamO2. It pushes temperature-controlled oxygen mixed with air into the patient’s nose. It helps Covid-19 patients suffering from respiratory distress, but who can still breathe on their own and don’t require a ventilator.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/sodastream-joins-covid-19-fight-with-new-breathing-machine/
Covid-19-proof construction. Tambour, Israel's leading paint and building material producers, is partnering Israel’s Tera Novel. Tambour will integrate Tera Novel’s anti-viral, anti-bacterial additive "Germs Over," (developed by Israel Institute for Biological Research) with Tambour’s paints, adhesives, plaster, cement etc.
Extreme tech winners. Israeli startups won 2 awards in the Extreme Tech Challenge 2020 (XTC) - the world’s largest startup contest with 2,400 companies from 87 countries. ReWire won the Fintech category for its global digital banking solutions. TytoCare.(see here) won the Covid-19 Innovation Award for its telehealth solution.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839941,00.html www.rewire.com
Earthquake warning system. (TY Hazel) Recent video and update from SeismicAI (featured here previously) that uses an innovative sensor network and Artificial Intelligence to predict earthquakes and send alerts to help reduce damage. SeismicAi has pilot projects in Canada, the Himalayas and even Istanbul, Turkey.
https://www.israel21c.org/a-revolutionary-new-early-warning-system-for-earthquakes/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1U3978aM20
US-Israel to conserve our heritage. The United States and Israel have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to support cooperation and exchanges on biodiversity conservation, protected areas and the protection of cultural and historical heritage. It covers countering wildlife trafficking and protecting ecosystems.
https://www.jns.org/us-israel-sign-mou-to-boost-cooperation-on-conservation-nature-preservation/
New chip tech is “most promising venture”. The Venture program – Switzerland’s leading competition for up-and-coming entrepreneurs – ranked new on-chip memory technology developed at Bar-Ilan University, as one of three most promising ventures among nearly 330 start-ups. The technology is being commercialized.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/284577
https://www1.biu.ac.il/indexE.php?id=44&pt=20&pid=4&level=1&cPath=4&type=1&news=3525
Medals at chemistry Olympiad. (TY WIN) Israelis won one gold, two silver medals and a bronze at the 52nd International Chemistry Olympiad, held on Zoom. 18-year-old Roi Peer won the first ever Israeli gold medal at the event. The Israelis competed against 240 students from 60 countries, including Iran and Syria.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/08/04/israeli-chemistry-students-win-gold-silver-and-bronze-at-52nd-olympiad/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pogjCFNL6xc
A virtual desktop for working at home. Israel-based ControlUp (reported here previously) helps employees turn their home computers into a virtual office running on a virtual desktop from the cloud. Many of the 1,000 employees at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center use ControlUP for telemedicine and to work from home.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3841278,00.html https://www.controlup.com/
An app to prevent online exam cheating. Israel’s ORT Braude College of Engineering in Karmiel won a 250-participant hackathon with “Anansee” - an app to prevent cheating, specifically for online tests. The app uses the camera in the student’s computer and mobile phone, plus issues and verification checking.
https://worldisraelnews.com/as-schools-go-remote-ingenious-israeli-app-keeps-tabs-on-cheaters/
Protecting the Internet from attack by your fridge. The Internet of Things makes home devices connected to the Internet (such as your fridge or TV) vulnerable to being hijacked and used to mount Denial of Service attacks via the Internet. Do not worry though - scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University can help stop that.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/iot_attacks.aspx
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167404820302418?via%3Dihub
Israel’s largest server farm. Nine floors below Jerusalem’s Har Hotzvim tech hub, Israel’s Bynet Data Communications is building one of Israel’s biggest data centers. Some of Israel’s most sensitive information will be stored inside the hill. It is said Herod used rocks from Har Hotzvim to expand the 2nd Temple.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3843580,00.html
Smart spectacles now can focus. The MyEye device for the visually impaired, from Israel’s OrCam (reported here previously) has been upgraded to include Smart Reader. The wearer can now ask the AI device to focus on specific items - e.g. only to read out the vegetarian items on a menu or just a newspaper’s headlines.
Israeli kids go to Space Camp. Israel’s SpaceIL in partnership with members of the Israel Space Agency, the Ministry of Science and Technology, and the Ramon Foundation, have launched a free online space camp for Hebrew speakers aged 7 – 11. It runs Aug 9 – 13, each morning having four different 30-minute activities.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd-epIZ97i6J5_h4LvwzBnVzil86yKSsRAsIhYXnE7EgWmMlQ/viewform
AI to understand written text. Amnon Shashua, founder of Mobileye, has now founded AI21. Its aim is to revolutionize written communication with artificial intelligence (AI) software that can understand and generate text. Its AI generator HAIM fills in gaps in incomplete sentences. HAIMKE turns bullet-points into sentences.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838814,00.html https://www.ai21.com/
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Foreign currency reserves leap by $10 billion. It may only be temporary, but Israel’s reserves of foreign currency soared by a record $10 billion in July to a record $157 billion.
https://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/6-8-20.aspx
Digital gift cards. Israel’s Rise.ai has been selected by Google to help businesses offer digital gift cards via their listing on Google My Business (GMB). It will help small and medium businesses to survive and even thrive during the Covid-19 crisis. Digital tools and e-commerce have proved essential during the pandemic.
https://nocamels.com/2020/08/rise-ai-digital-gift-cards-small-businesses-google/ https://rise.ai/
Teva’s biosimilar partnership. Israel’s Teva has joined with Iceland’s Alvotech to commercialize five biosimilar product candidates in the US. Biosimilars are slightly different versions of already approved treatments. They are not the same as “generics” but require less testing than the original and are much cheaper.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/teva-joins-forces-with-icelandic-firm-to-gain-edge-on-biosimilars/
Gett expands with Ola. Israeli-founded Gett.(reported here previously) has signed a strategic partnership agreement with UK ride-sharing company Ola Cabs. Gett’s business clients can now receive service from Ola’s 2 million drivers in 250 cities around the world.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3843738,00.html
Improving the procurement process. Israel’s Approve has developed technology that fully supports the enterprise procurement process, from the initial purchase request to the final payment to the supplier. The product helps finance and purchasing departments save processing time, effort and costs of purchasing.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3843773,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups: Yotpo raised $75 million; Thriver raised $33 million; Silverfort raised $30 million; DarioHealth raised $28.6 million; ZenCity raised $13.5 million; Voiceitt raised $10 million; Beewise raised $10 million; EcoPlant raised $8 million; Approve raised $5 million; CAPS Medical raised $3.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
What’s on Center Stage. August online events at Israel’s permanent English-speaking theater include: tonight (Aug 9th) On Cue Interview (free) with funny men Lenny Ravich & Mike Kroll; Aug 12 The Coffee Club with Julie Gray & Gidon Lev; Aug 22 - 48-hour 5-minute play contest (free). Click on relevant date to register.
https://www.centerstageisrael.com/
Jaffa theater goes digital. For the next few months. Jaffa’s Gesher Theater is offering audiences worldwide the opportunity each Thursday to tune in to some of its best plays on Facebook. The theme is “A Journey Through Our History,” Each week Gesher will conduct a discussion about the play with the house playwright and actors.
https://www.israel21c.org/catch-great-israeli-plays-as-gesher-theater-goes-digital/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2m2ftp9_gHc
Israeli hikes based on the 12 tribes. (TY Jacques) Brothers Marcus and Emilio Cohen formed Shevet Haaretz (Tribes of Israel) to take groups across Israel on the first day (Rosh Chodesh) of each month of the year. Not only do they enjoy the scenery but on each hike, they also learn the history of one of the Biblical tribes.
https://israelbetweenthelines.com/2020/08/06/israeli-hikes-based-on-the-12-tribes/
Brewing up nicely. The American influence has made a huge difference to the Israeli brewing industry. Israel now has some 30 micro-breweries, many owned by US ex-pats. Their craft beers have become popular with the younger generation of Israelis. There is even a kosher for Passover cider and a new whiskey distillery.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/move-over-bud-and-coors-israeli-beers-are-moving-up/
THE JEWISH STATE
The Earth’s magnetic field 2606 years ago. When Jerusalem burned on the 9th Av 586 BCE, the intense heat realigned magnetic material in the floor of a building being excavated in the City of David. Yoav Vaknin of Tel Aviv University has been able to measure the Earth’s magnetic field on the day the 1st Temple was destroyed.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUp7zh5MqOk
Israel offers help to Lebanon. Israel has offered Lebanon medical and humanitarian assistance in the wake of the blast at Beirut port. Even the BBC & CNN reported this. Israeli doctors and citizens sent messages of support and Israeli hospitals are on standby to receive wounded. Israel Flying Aid is raising funds for supplies.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2020/08/05/head-of-hospital-in-galilee-pleads-with-lebanon-to-send-beirut-disaster-victims-to-israel/ http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/284745
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6Tx3wqujbI
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-flying-aid-raising-funds-for-beirut-relief/
Paramedic meets paramedic who saved his life. 12 years ago, a United Hatzalah paramedic saved Yaakov Bar Yochai’s life after he almost drowned in Eilat. It inspired Yaakov to also become a paramedic, but he was sad that he could not find and thank the person who saved him. 12 years later, Yaakov finally found Meir Hajbi.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/sderot-hero-reunites-with-man-who-saved-his-life-12-years-ago/
French Jews fly to freedom. 140 Olim (immigrants) from France have just arrived in Israel thanks to the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. They included medical and hi-tech professionals and many who suffered from anti-Semitism in France. Also, see the World Zionist Org’s plans for 50,000+ French Olim.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/284678
200802
In the 2nd Aug 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israeli scientists have developed a 2-hour test for cancer biopsies.
· Israelis and Palestinian Arabs are partnering to fight Covid-19.
· UK television features Israeli drone saving endangered chick.
· A new tabletop air purifier keeps rooms Covid-19 free for weeks.
· Israeli satellite tech will provide mobile connectivity to rural Kazakhstan.
· The 40th anniversary of the first appearance of Israeli comic-book superhero Sabra.
· United Hatzalah’s CEO Eli Beer is a present-day superhero.
· VeryGoodNewsIsrael’s editor publicized Israel’s Covid-19 treatments on Cool TV.
· Click here to see the 26th July newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, Janglo and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of nearly 17,000 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Pre-clinical success for Covid-19 ARDS treatment. Israel’s BrainStorm (reported here previously) reported promising results of pre-clinical trials for its Nurown treatment for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) brought about by Covid-19. The NurOwn cells reduced the cytokine storm and lung damage.
Vitamin D impacts Covid-19 infection and severity. (TY UWI) Scientists at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University have identified low plasma vitamin D level to be an independent risk factor for COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. They studied 782 Israeli COVID-19 positive patients and 7,807 COVID-19 negative patients.
You’ve got Covid – is that bad news? (TY Janglo) Two recent Jewish immigrants to Israel from France have developed an algorithm named PhysioZoo. Using data from a pulse oximeter (that measures oxygen in blood) the algorithm can determine if a Covid-19 patient is going to develop pneumonia long before symptoms appear.
VeryGoodNewsIsrael on TV. Barry Shaw of the Israel Institute for Strategic Studies and The View from Israel interviewed me last week about the projects that Israel is working on to help combat the coronavirus infection. We hope to produce a monthly video featuring positive Israeli news. Please pass it on.
http://www.cooltv.se/video/the-view-from-israel-israels-s-search-for-a-covid-cure (Please ensure the sound is on.)
US approval for AI mammography. Israel’s Zebra Medical Vision (reported here previously) that uses artificial intelligence technology to help read medical scans, has received US FDA clearance for use of its algorithm to read mammograms. It already received European (CE) approval for its “HealthMammo” solution.
Two-hour analysis of a biopsy. (TY Honest Reporting) Technion Professor Daphne Weihs has developed a fast test to analyze cancer cells. Biopsies are placed into a special gel and measured. Two hours later the extent that the cells have embedded denotes whether they are benign, non-metastatic or metastatic (potential or actual).
So how is your health? Another exciting webinar (see previous) from Technion UK featuring Technion Professor Shai Shen-Orr, one of the leading Israeli researchers into the mysteries of the immune system. Also featured is Professor Ester Sager who is developing biosensors to diagnose diseases within minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eOli7AezlrU
Sleep and Dream. Professor Peretz Lavie (ex-President of Israel’s Technion Institute) founded the Technion Sleep Medicine Center and authored several books on sleep disorders. Thanks to Technion UK, he is giving a free (donations welcome) webinar on Weds 5th Aug at 6pm UK time – 1pm EST. Register below to view live.
https://technionuk.org/rsvp-sleep-and-dream-insomnia-dreams-and-stress
Sharing stuff that works. An Israeli startup has launched an online platform where people suffering from chronic diseases can share information to learn which treatments work best for their specific condition, based on the experience of their peers. The crowdsourcing site is appropriately called StuffThatWorks.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3841285,00.html https://www.stuffthatworks.health/
https://stuff.health/s/1SaJPrvA (personal survey for specific conditions)
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Haredi women surge into hi-tech. The number of ultra-Orthodox tech employees jumped by 52% in 2014-2018; 71% of them are women. The report was compiled by the Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI), together with non-profit KamaTech, that seeks to integrate Haredi Jews into the country’s high-tech industry.
Another Special in Uniform. Daniel Defour was born very premature and at the age of 15 he went blind. At 17 he met the Prime Minister and spoke of his desire to join the IDF. Last week, aged 21, Daniel’s wish came true.
Baseless love in Jerusalem. Rabbi Matanya Yadid, teacher at Bar-Ilan University, and Sheikh Eyad Amer, imam of the central mosque in Kafr Kassem, held a Zoom session this week. The topic was “baseless love” in the context of the Jewish holiday of Tisha B’Av and the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha.
https://worldisraelnews.com/rabbi-and-sheikh-spread-baseless-love-in-jerusalem/
Battling Covid-19 together. Israelis and Palestinian Arabs are partnering to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. From early in the crisis, Israeli doctors have shared their expertise and given aid. Senior staff at Israel’s Sheba hospital brought equipment to PA hospitals and trained medics.
https://www.jns.org/opinion/israelis-and-palestinians-join-forces-to-battle-the-coronavirus/
Water generators for Gaza. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Watergen and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies have now donated three water generators to Gaza. The latest will produce (from humidity in the air) up to 5,000 liters of drinking water a day for the Nasser Medical Center in Khan Younis, Gaza’s second largest hospital.
The digital quality of life. Israel ranked 8th in a “quality of digital life” study conducted by VPN provider Surfshark. According to the index, Israel has the most affordable Internet in the world. The study measured the Internet in 85 countries as to its affordability, quality, infrastructure, government, and security.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3842555,00.html
Testing mass-testing technology in India. Delegations from Israeli businesses and the Government are in India testing four new Israeli technologies for rapid diagnosis of coronavirus. These include from Vocalis (see here), and Tera Group (see here). The names of the other companies are being verified. (see here)
https://www.jns.org/high-level-israeli-delegation-in-india-for-mass-testing-of-covid-19-technology/
Israeli drone saves endangered vulture. (TY Clifford & Joan) UK Television station ITV featured this amazing positive story of the Israeli army using a UAV (drone) to feed a griffon vulture chick. The baby chick’s mother died when she flew into overhead cables and the father could not rear the chick alone.
https://www.itv.com/news/2020-07-28/conservationists-protect-griffon-vulture-chick-with-hi-tech-mama-drone-to-help-it-thrive-in-the-wild https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1RZKeO01s8
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Covid-19 Shield updated. Israel’s Health Ministry has launched version 2 of the Israeli app HaMagen (the Shield). The Covid-19 tracking app can now identify when a smartphone user approaches a Covid-19 infected individual provided both have Bluetooth enabled. Several errors that caused false positives were also fixed.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/health-ministry-launches-revamped-covid-19-tracking-app/
Purifying the air. (TY Barry Shaw) Israel’s ProtectAir uses tiny amounts of Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) to safely deactivate Covid-19. The device contains granules that activate on opening and protects a room for weeks. Meanwhile trials at Sheba hospital show Israel’s Aura Smart Air can eliminate 99.9% of the virus from the air.
https://protectair.co.il/en/home-english/ https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3842434,00.html
https://www.israel21c.org/four-israeli-inventions-that-can-help-clean-the-air-of-covid-19/
UAV flies non-stop for 2 days. (TY UWI) Israel Aerospace Industries has built and tested a new drone for the German Air Force. The Heron TP UAV can remain in the air for 2 days. Previous models of the Heron have been sold to Brazil, Canada, Ecuador, Greece, India, Singapore, South Korea and even Turkey and Morocco.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZIaXsAAlCw
Ultra-fast charging for drones. Israel’s StoreDot (reported here previously) has announced that its ultra-fast battery charging technology can now be used to charge commercial drones in just five minutes. Current charge times are typically 90 minutes for a 30-minute flight time.
Monitoring construction sites. The technology of Israel’s Buildots allows construction companies to keep a close eye on the processes at a construction site. It includes artificial intelligence and 360-degree cameras worn by site supervisors. Buildots’ clients include some of the biggest construction companies in Europe and Israel.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3842566,00.html https://buildots.com/
Ethanol from melon waste. (TY Hazel) Similar to the Tel Aviv University article last week (see here), researchers at Haifa University have turned agricultural waste into alcohol. It can save 56,000 tons of pulp waste and 8,200 tons of CO2 emissions from the Malali watermelon, which is grown primarily for its seeds.
https://www.ynetnews.com/environment/article/ry624mvgD
Testing a faster emergency response. Israel’s Autotalks (reported here previously) is partnering US Applied Information in Alpharetta, Georgia to test the Autotalks V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) system. The system sends a signal from the emergency responder’s vehicle to the traffic-lights so the signals automatically change.
https://www.israel21c.org/autotalks-deploys-smart-traffic-signals-in-us-city/
Stopping targeted ads. It can be very annoying – a friend asks you to search online for something and within a few hours you receive dozens of unsolicited advertisements for items that you have no desire whatsoever. Now Israel’s CodeFuel has a launched a private search engine that keeps away Facebook, Amazon, Google etc.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3841930,00.html https://www.codefuel.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GcNQFYlkFQ
Hunting for cyber threats. Israel’s Liat Hayun has formed a team of Israeli cybersecurity experts to build the first ever "Managed Threat Hunting" service for US giant Palo Alto Networks. Aiming to counter cybercrime, it was launched at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and is vital to many of Palo Alto’s customers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3841000,00.html
The Path of Least Resistance. Israeli cybersecurity startup CyCognito eliminates a company’s most critical areas of exposure and shuts doors that would otherwise lead to stolen data or compromised systems. CyCognito leverages the concept of POLaR, the Path of Least Resistance – the easiest entry points which attackers target.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3841283,00.html
A search engine for data. Israeli-founded Explorium has built an end-to-end data automation service that uses machine learning to searches and extracts data from thousands of external sources relevant to a client. It then connects this to the customer's internal database to build a predictive model that answers a specific query.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3842276,00.html https://www.explorium.ai/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjt6tRe4eKQ
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Take the ferry to work in Tel Aviv. Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev has approved establishing a commuter ferry line that would reduce highway traffic in the center of the country. It would link Tel Aviv with Netanya and Hadera to its north, and Ashdod to its south. Netanya to Tel Aviv (e.g.) would take 20 minutes.
https://www.jns.org/report-israeli-transportation-minister-green-lights-ferry-to-tel-aviv/
https://israelbetweenthelines.com/2020/07/30/tel-aviv-gets-a-ferry/
Cellular connectivity for rural Kazakhstan. Israel’s Gilat Satellite Networks has won a cellular backhaul project for Kcell, Kazakhstan's largest Mobile Network Operator. Gilat will provide connectivity starting with hundreds of rural villages as part of the “Digital Kazakhstan” government program.
Reaching out further. Israel’s Fiverr International (reported here previously) is continuing its international expansion by launching its freelance network in two new languages - Dutch and Italian. The move follows the opening of similar sites in Germany, France and Spain, now serving 5.5 million businesses in 160 countries.
Extending the reach of your videos. Israel’s Minute.ly offers to increase revenue and user engagement by using its AI technology to “amplify the impact of your video content”. Minute.ly is partnering Infront – part of Wanda Sports - to identify peak moments in sporting videos and increase audiences in Europe and the U.S.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3842019,00.html https://minute.ly/
Facebook & Intel expand Tel Aviv offices. Social media giant Facebook says its Israeli R&D center is a significant growth engine and is taking over two more floors in Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Sarona Tower (It already leases 10 floors). Meanwhile, Intel Israel is to rent four more floors in Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Triangular Tower.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3842201,00.html
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3842545,00.html
An app offering short-term jobs. Israel’s Nano Business has developed an application connecting employees seeking a daily income with employers in need of temporary workers. Those laid off by the Covid-19 crisis can use Nano to convert from waiters and event laborers into removers, plumbers and building workers.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3842490,00.html
Investment in Israeli startups: Nanox raised $110 million; Sight Diagnostics raised $71 million; Chorus.ai raised $45 million; Explorium raised $31 million; CyCognito raised $30 million; ClimaCell raised $23 million; Ermetic raised $17 million; Buildots raised $12.5 million; Cybellum raised $12 million; SavorEat raised $3 million; Aura Smart Air raised $3 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
US supporters’ donation to reopen Israel museum. The American Friends of the Israel Museum has donated $4 million to help Jerusalem’s culture and art museum to reopen. The museum has been closed since the start of the coronavirus crisis and without visitor income could only pay essential maintenance and conservation staff.
Friends of the IDF events. Here are links to two events of the Friends of the IDF (FIDF). Today’s (Aug 2 at 2pm & 6pm EDT) celebrates 18 years of FIDF’s Impact scholarship fund. It features Israel’s President, Israeli singer Idan Amedi and actors from Fauda. Then on Sep 13 at 7pm EDT is the FIDF 2020 National Virtual Gala.
https://www.fidf.org/events/impact-impact-registration https://www.fidf.org/events/2020-national-gala
1000 videos and 6 billion hits. (TY Janglo) Israeli-Arab Nas Yassin (reported here previously) is the founder of Nas Daily – a Facebook page with 25 million followers in which he documents his travels and experiences around the world. Nas has produced 1000 videos in 1000 days, receiving some 6 billion hits.
https://jewishjournal.com/podcasts/319164/nas-daily-i-made-1000-videos-in-1000-days-and-received-6-billion-views/ https://www.facebook.com/nasdaily/
40 years of Marvel’s first Israeli superheroine. (TY WIN) Marvel comics celebrates 40 years of Israeli superheroine, Sabra (alias Ruth Bat-Seraph). The Israeli policewoman with special powers first appeared in “Incredible Hulk” on 4th Aug 1980. She flies and fires metal quills, resembling the Israeli “sabra” (cactus).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMeAjfg9TiE https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sabra_(comics)
https://www.cbr.com/sabra-whatever-happened-to-israels-strongest-superhero/
Thanks for the fish. (TY Janglo) A pod of 15 bottlenose dolphins has been observed swimming in Israel’s Evtach sea preserve, which extends up to 13 miles off the Ashkelon coastline.
https://www.jewishpress.com/news/environment/a-pod-of-15-dolphins-spotted-off-ashkelons-coastline/2020/07/26/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g786JRF7_a4
Israeli gymnast wins silver medal – virtually. Israel’s top Olympic hopeful Linoy Ashram won second place in the International Online Rhythmic Gymnastics Competition organized by Russia’s Gymnastics Association. The first online competition of its kind, it was limited to teams from Israel, Russia, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-rhythmic-gymnast-wins-silver-in-online-event/
Israeli cycling has come a long way. The Wheels of Love event (reported here previously) began with only nine riders. It now attracts over 400 riders, raising millions of dollars annually for Jerusalem’s Alyn hospital. Tel Aviv and Jerusalem now have hundreds of kilometers of bike paths. Read also how Israel has changed.
https://www.israel21c.org/cycling-is-having-a-moment-in-israel/
THE JEWISH STATE
Scholarships for Ethiopian Israelis. The Morris and Rosalind Goodman Family Foundation, based in Montreal, Canada, has launched a scholarship program to support Israeli graduate students of Ethiopian descent, in partnership with Tel Aviv University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Gap year programs to restart. Israel is approving entry visas for foreign students planning to study in gap-year programs, including at yeshivahs and seminaries. In a typical year, more than 12,000 yeshivah and seminary students arrive in Israel from aboard to study individually or to take part in organized programs.
More Brazilians make Aliya. (TY JNS) Since March, 140 Brazilian Jews have immigrated to Israel. Another 2,400 recently attended an online Aliya fair, organized by the Jewish Agency for Israel. In June, the Jewish Agency opened files for 632 Jews in Latin America – twice the number of June 2019.
Antithesis to Wiley. Thanks to Hazel and our friend, Israel’s Samuel Green (a.k.a. Antithesis) for this excellent blog and rap in response to Wiley, the “Godfather of Grime”, who went on a wild antisemitic rant on Twitter. https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/im-grateful-to-wiley-for-exposing-how-bad-this-is/
https://www.israellycool.com/2020/07/27/listen-rap-riposte-to-wiley/
From coma to donor. Eli Beer, CEO of Israeli NGO United Hatzalah has just donated blood plasma to help Covid-19 patients recover. Eli almost died after contracting Covid-19. The doctors at Hadassah Medical Center said that his blood was particularly high in antibodies. Eli is also running to raise funds on Aug 16 (see video).
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/284243
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n4zzgd1ACk
I.S.R.A.E.L. Readers may remember that last week I asked for suggestions for expanding the Abbreviation for the Jewish State. The winner (TY Pamela) is:
Innovation, Survival, Righteousness, Antiquities, Eternity and Loyalty
200726
In the 26th July 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Three anti-cancer breakthroughs.
· French & UK hospitals use Israeli cancer screening technology.
· A one-second Israeli test for Covid-19.
· An Israeli app has boosted local businesses during the pandemic.
· See Israel’s future chess champions.
· 1st Temple period storehouse found near US Embassy in Jerusalem.
· Aliya applications in June 2020 were six times more than June 2019.
· Click here to see the 19th July newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, Janglo and United With Israel with extra feature on the Jewish State. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of nearly 17,000 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
The 3rd most Covid-19 solutions. Cross-border investment specialists Cukierman & Co state that Israel has the most Covid-19 solutions, after the USA and China. Some 180 of Israel’s 1,600 life sciences companies are either fully or partially dedicated to coronavirus. Israel is also a top global pioneer in personalized medicine.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840111,00.html
Latest Covid-19 research at HUJ. This video shows some of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem’s latest medical research into the novel coronavirus. They include the overactive immune response; locating the virus during the incubation period; analysis of virus receptors; and boosting the oxygen needed by immunity T-cells,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JEOhlCUKEI
Positive report on “second wave”. (TY Pamela). Contrary to several media reports, the current Covid-19 situation in Israel is not “out of control”. Listen to this 45-min presentation by Professor Yonatan HaLevy of Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek Medical Center. The elderly are protected and treatments are working.
A sense for detecting respiratory problems. Israel’s NanoVation (reported here previously) has been awarded a €2.5 million EU Horizon 2020 grant to develop SenseGuard. The device’s nano-sensor technology detects respiratory problems (e.g. COPD). Professor Hossam Haick (Sniff phone inventor) is Chief Scientific Officer.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/israeli-startup-secures-25-grant-from-eu-to-develop-respiratory-monitor-635793 https://www.nanovation-gs.com/team https://www.nanovation-gs.com/
Bubbles plus ultrasound kills cancer. Tel Aviv University researchers have developed an innovative cancer treatment. They shoot microbubbles at cancer cells and then blow them up using ultrasound. This destroys 80% of the cancer cells and a simultaneous “trojan horse” immune system gene therapy kills the remaining 20%.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israelis-turn-ultrasound-into-powerful-cancer-fighting-weapon/
Filter out cancer-causing proteins. (TY Hazel) Scientists at Israel’s Sheba Medical Centre are trialing a new cancer treatment called immunopheresis. It involves filtering a patient’s blood to remove proteins produced by malignant cells from the bloodstream. These proteins suppress the immune system’s cancer-killing T-cells.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/283420
Did we remove all the cancer? (TY UWI) Currently after cancer surgery biopsies are taken, but testing takes weeks. Now a new experimental tool developed by Tel Aviv University researchers tests a sample taken during surgery. An hour later and the surgeon knows if an immediate return to the operating theater is needed.
https://www.israel21c.org/breakthrough-finds-leftover-cancer-cells-in-real-time-during-surgery/
Reduce stress before cancer surgery. Tel Aviv University researchers have found that the weeks before and after cancer surgery are critical for the prevention of metastases development. Patients require immune-therapeutic treatment as well as treatment to reduce inflammation and physical and psychological stress.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41571-019-0319-9?proof=true
https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/cncr.32950
Warning of post-gastro surgery problems. Israel’s Exero Medical has developed a bio-degradable wireless sensor for the early detection of leaks following gastrointestinal surgery procedures. Doctors at Israel’s Rabin Medical Center have just completed the first human implantation of the device as part of a clinical trial.
Triage system for Mayo Clinic. Israel’s Diagnostic Robotics is to implement its triage system (reported here previously) at the Mayo Clinic’s headquarters in Rochester, Minnesota (see here also). The system cuts down emergency room wait times (currently 2.5 hours on average in the US) and reduces the burden on physicians.
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/mayo-clinic-diagnostic-robotics-ai-system/
Safe analysis of dangerous viruses. To safely develop vaccines against deadly viruses, scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have developed a method for producing artificial cells that can assemble just part of the virus. Researchers can then test their vaccines on a safe section of the virus.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/chemistry/artificial-cells-produce-parts-viruses-safe-studies
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Redesigning the Xbox for disabled children. Microsoft Israel developed the Xbox Adaptive Controller to make Microsoft’s gaming console accessible for gamers with limited mobility. The head of R&D at Microsoft Israel personally delivered six specially adapted Xboxes to Alyn children’s rehab hospital in Jerusalem.
Entertaining the elderly. (TY UWI & Marsha) Israeli singer Bat Ella and her band have been performing before and during the pandemic, at homes for the elderly all over Israel. Much of her music is Hebrew prayer set to popular music - especially uplifting at these times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAIY2hxzQCk
Cancer screening for France. Just 3 weeks after deploying its cancer diagnostics for the UK’s National Health Service (reported here previously), Israel’s Ibex Medical has partnered Medipath (France’s largest pathology lab network). They will implement France’s first AI-powered pathology solution for cancer detection.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840790,00.html
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
One-second virus test. Israel’s Newsight (reported here previously) has developed a spectral signature virus test that it says identifies Covid-19 in a blood or saliva sample in less than a second. A pilot trial of the test is to be performed at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center where Newsight has been working in the tropical diseases dept.
Six years of tech incubation. Israel’s Elbit Systems launched its Incubit Technology Ventures accelerator at the Beersheva High-Tech Park in 2014. It has since invested in 17 startups including NewRocket, FlyWorks (hybrid drones), EchoCare, and Sealartec. 10 of the startups have signed big commercial agreements.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840586,00.html https://www.fly-works.com/
Apple Design Awards winner. (TY Sharon) One of the winners of this year’s Apple Design Awards was the animation app LOOOM, co-founded by Eran Hilleli, graduate of Israel’s Bezalel Academy of Art and Design. A LOOOM user as young as four can "weave" colorful animations on an iPad using a finger or an Apple pencil.
https://www.baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=1&ARTICLE_ID=133339
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/israel-animation-app-apple-design-awards-2020/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v97JbRgnNr4
Smarter batteries. Israeli companies are at the forefront of next generation battery development (see here). Israeli startup Addionics says it has set a new standard for Electric Vehicle (EV) rechargeable batteries. Its aim is to improve performance, mileage, lifetime, safety and charging time for any type of battery.
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/israeli-uk-startup-sets-a-new-standard-for-ev-rechargeable-batteries/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lq0L0Av5m0Q https://www.addionics.com/
A saxophone only the player can hear. (TY UWI) Israel’s Emeo has launched the world’s first digital practice saxophone. It enables saxophonists to practice anytime, anywhere. With headphones, Emeo cannot be heard by anyone else. Variable volume through speakers; Bluetooth for wireless playing; USB to recharge.
https://www.israel21c.org/ingenious-practice-saxophone-spares-the-neighbors-ears/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRwdxzylyfQ https://www.emeomusic.com/
Prevents killing of male chicks. 7.5 billion unwanted male chicks are hatched each year. Four Israeli companies (see here) have developed technology to prevent this – the latest, Soos, has been selected as one of 11 startup finalists in Future Food Asia 2020. https://futurefoodasia.com/ffa2020/ http://www.soos.org.il/
GPS warning - camels in the road. Israel’s SMBIT (part of Startup Negev) has developed a solar-powered collar for every Bedouin-owned camel. If a camel comes within 100 meters of a road or rail track, GPS users will receive an automatic notification, e.g. via Waze, alerting drivers to slow down and avoid an accident.
https://secure.calcalist.co.il/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839496,00.html
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Strong trade links with Czech Republic. Since renewing diplomatic relations between Israel and the Czech Republic 30 years ago, mutual trade has boomed. Israel imports over $1 billion of Czech goods annually. The Czech Republic meanwhile seeks Israeli cybersecurity, digital health and Industry 4.0 innovations.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840431,00.html
Japanese investment increases. Despite Covid-19, Japanese investment in Israeli tech is on the rise. The total volume of Japanese investments in the first half of this year amounted to $472.3 million, up 15% from $412 million in the first half of 2019. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840822,00.html
Accelerating public transportation. A non-profit accelerator, Israeli Association of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) has been launched to promote tech to streamline transportation systems, raise safety levels, and reduce pollution during the Covid-19 crisis. Its startups are Spool, Opticity Israel, Safe-on, JesTap and Afik.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840836,00.html
https://opticity.co.il/ https://finder.startupnationcentral.org/company_page/safe-on
New profession – Medical Data Analyst. In these days of a global pandemic, Medical big data analysts have become one of the most sought-after professions. In Israel, there are currently about 500 people who know how to derive insights from medical data, and the demand for them is increasing.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3841080,00.html
Rewards for using local businesses. Customers using the Colu app (reported here previously) to purchase goods and services in Israel during the Covid-19 pandemic, contributed $4 million to local businesses from March to May. Business owners reported that some 30 percent of their economic activity came from Colu users.
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/colu-cities-pandemic-civic-engagement/
Ford partners Mobileye for sensors. Israel-based Mobileye is to provide its EyeQ family of devices plus vision-processing software to the Ford Motor Company. EyeQ includes Lane-keeping and Pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking. Ford will display Mobileye’s name on SYNC driver-assist displays.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840611,00.html
Remote working increases Check Point profits. Israeli cybersecurity giant Check Point reported increased quarterly net profit, beating market expectations. Check Point’s revenue was boosted by increased demand for network security as more people work remotely during the coronavirus outbreak.
Electronic visas for Botswana. The government of Botswana has selected Israel’s Pangea (reported here previously) to integrate its eVisa solution as part of Botswana’s efforts to expand its digital and online services. The online visa will enable visitors to Botswana have a seamless entry into the country.
https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/44269
Investing in Israeli startups. Hippo raised $150 million; Gett raised $76 million; Taranis raised $30 million; GoTo Global (formerly Car2Go) raised $19 million; XM Cyber raised $17 million; Belkin Laser raised $12.2 million; RealView Imaging raised $10 million; Epsagon raised $10 million; CIM Group invested $40 million in Ecoppia;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
International cuisine comes to your home. Israeli on-line platform Delicious Experiences connects foodies in one-on-one virtual food tours to Michelin-starred restaurateurs, James Beard Award winners, bestselling cookbook authors, and other acclaimed culinary professionals.
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/delicious-experiences-platform-foodies-cuisine/
Israeli singer is a hit in Africa singing in French. (TY UWI) Israeli singer-songwriter Noy Meirson was born and raised in Israel, but she has found success in Africa singing heartfelt ballads in the French language.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRm5JovtZ1o
The next generation of chess champions. The UN proclaimed 20th July as International Chess Day to mark the date of the establishment of the International Chess Federation (FIDE) in Paris in 1924. Select Youtube’s captions feature to read what these budding young Israeli chess champions think about the game of chess.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R8o98bBzEn8
iPhone photo award winner. Israeli photographer Avishai Futerman won second place in the Nature category of the 2020 iPhone Photography Awards (IPPAWARDS). With an iPhone XR, he took a photo of a kea - the world’s only species of alpine parrot - as it swooped down over the summit of Mt. Luxmore in New Zealand.
https://nocamels.com/2020/07/israel-photographer-iphone-awards/
THE JEWISH STATE
Kingdom of Judah site next to US Embassy. Israeli archaeologists have discovered a trove of artifacts from 2,700 years ago in Jerusalem. The 120+ jar handles with seal impressions, inscribed “to the King” in ancient Hebrew, indicate a key administrative site of the 1st Temple Kings of Judah - close to today’s US Embassy.
I.S.R.A.E.L. Israel in Ireland tweeted that Israel stands for Inspirational, Stunning, Radiant, Ancient, Eclectic and Lively. My version is Inclusive, Spiritual, Revolutionary, Accessible, Exciting and Limitless. Send your suggestions to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com. I hope to publish the best one next week.
The Rabbi and the soccer teams. Nice article about Rabbi Ami Pykovski - the Israeli Chabad Lubavitch rabbi and former soccer player - who has been nicknamed “The Soccer Players’ Rav” across the Israeli sports scene.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/the-israeli-rabbi-and-the-soccer-players-635619
Free electric scooters to help save lives. Bird Rides Inc. is providing free access to its fleet of scooters to volunteer paramedics of Israeli non-profit United Hatzalah. The paramedic locates the closest available scooter, opens the Bird app, enters the code they received from United Hatzalah and rushes to the scene in seconds.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3840807,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGZTHGiCEUE
A first for two paramedics. Two paramedics from Israel’s Magen David Adom delivered their first babies during their recent shifts. One paramedic was nervous with his first delivery in 3 years but was more confident delivering the second one 4 hours later. The baby delivered by the second paramedic was his wife’s!
Israel is the safest place. (TY WIN) Many Jews and former Israeli residents have decided that if they have to deal with Covid-19, they will be better off doing so in Israel. This June, 3,000 North Americans opened Aliya files versus 480 in June 2019. Demand for new apartments is at an all time high.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-covid-19-prompts-jews-abroad-to-seek-homes-in-israel-1001336691
I am Israel. The film "I Am Israel" is a soaring journey through the Land of the Bible. It introduces Jewish men and women whose very lives are a testimony to divine promises. "I Am Israel" is narrated by award winning actor John Rhys-Davies, best known for his roles in the Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings series.
www.IamIsraelfilm.com https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hq0CZUvuSDs (inspiring trailer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsHgeERZajg (film clip – City of David)
200719
In the 19th July 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· Israeli scientists have used fat-reducing medication to starve coronavirus.
· An Israeli trial has greatly improved cognitive function for healthy seniors.
· Israeli drones rescue Europeans plus help Florida prepare for hurricanes.
· Intel’s new superfast USB connectivity was developed in Israel.
· Huge new investments in joint US-Israeli projects.
· Israeli-German partnership promises to transform food production.
· The 10th anniversary of the very first VeryGoodNewsIsrael newsletter.
· Click here to see the 12th July newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, Janglo and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of nearly 17,000 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Treat fat in lungs to kill Covid-19. Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and at Mount Sinai in New York, have prevented Covid-19 from reproducing. In lab tests, the virus was destroyed in 5 days on lung tissue that had been exposed to the anti-cholesterol treatment Fenofibrate (Tricor).
https://www.timesofisrael.com/existing-drug-may-downgrade-covid-threat-to-common-cold-level-jerusalem-study/ https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3650499
From psoriasis to Covid-19. One of the treatments being developed by Israel’s Can-Fite (see here) is CF-101 (Piclidenoson) which is in Phase 2 & 3 trials for psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases. Can-Fite is shortly to commence a Phase 2 trial of CF-101 on Covid-19 patients.
$9 million for 25 Covid-19 projects. Israel’s Council for Higher Education and philanthropic foundations have selected 25 research projects to share NIS 9 million from their “killCorona” program to help combat Covid-19. The projects include diagnostics, vaccines, treatments for severe cases and curbing the spread of the virus.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/25-research-projects-to-whip-coronavirus-get-nis-9-million-in-funding/
Plasma cancer treatment. Israel’s CAPS Medical has developed a small disposable catheter that can reach deep inside the body to deliver cold atmospheric plasma (CAP). The plasma is a stream of high-energy ionized gas that kills solid cancer cells and triggers a tumor-destroying immune response without harming healthy cells.
https://www.israel21c.org/new-plasma-cancer-treatment-designed-to-kill-malignant-cells/
Antibodies to fight cancer. There are some “nectin” proteins that help cancer cells evade the immune system. Israel’s Nectin Therapeutics (at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem) places novel monoclonal antibodies into these nectins to stimulate the immune system and help it fight cancers in solid tissue and in the bloodstream.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839716,00.html http://www.nectintx.com/
Matching cancer treatment to patients. Israeli biotech Nucleai (reported here previously) has progressed from merely analyzing biopsies. It now uses its computer vision and machine learning to study the characteristics of tumors, helping predict which cancer patients will react to which immunotherapy medication.
A Smart colonoscope. (TY Atid-EDI) The US FDA has approved the G-Eye Colonoscope from Israel’s SMART Medical Systems. Its unique balloon innovation provides an enhanced field of view and demonstrates a substantial increase in the detection of cancerous polyps - the precursors of colon cancer.
https://www.smartmedsys.com/us/g-eye-colonoscope-now-fda-510k-cleared/
Diagnosing sports brain injuries. Scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University have developed a combined MRI scan plus an analysis of the brain’s blood vessels to detect Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. CTE is a neuro-degenerative disease caused by repeated head injuries - a major issue in contact sports e.g. US football.
Aging process reversed. Tel Aviv University’s Dr Shai Efrati used hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to improve the cognitive function and brain tissue of dozens of over-65-year-old volunteers. They received a 60-day course of 2-hours in a pressurized chamber 5 times a week, breathing pure oxygen for some of the time.
Preventing blindness. Israel’s AEYE Health can save millions of people from going blind with its easy-to-use, hand-held retina camera. Together with AEYE’s AI algorithms, even the untrained can perform automated diagnostic screening for retinal imaging and instantly detect various eye diseases.
https://www.aeyehealth.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YJjfw2QtKk
Synthetic corneas. Israel has approved the first-in-human synthetic corneal transplants. Surgeons at Israel’s Beilinson Hospital will operate to restore the sight of 10 Israelis using KPro implants from Israel’s CorNeat Vision (reported here previously). If OK, Canada, the US, France, China and the Netherlands will follow.
Automating cell analysis. Israel’s Accellix supports vital medical research into cell therapy with its automated flow cytometry devices. Now laboratories can get accurate analyses of their cell samples in minutes without complicated procedures and training or having to send the samples to a central lab.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200611005290/en/Accellix-Cell-Therapy-QC-Company-Raises-9.5 http://www.accellix.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mh9giMuJsik
Medical robots more advanced than F-35 jets. (TY Yehoshua) Great article featuring many of the tasks and procedures performed by hi-tech robots at Jerusalem’s Hadassah Medical Center, that would have previously been impossible. These include spine surgery, 3D imaging during operations and automated blood tests.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/283730
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Helping children cope with Covid-19. Leading Israeli pediatricians have founded the Goshen organization to advance children’s optimal health, development and well-being. Its website (in Hebrew, English & Arabic) includes explaining coronavirus to children, calming their fears, helping them sleep and home activity ideas.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/an-online-resource-for-israeli-parents-to-rely-on-during-lockdown-622418 https://gadalta.org.il/corona-eng/
Australia and Israel are “mates”. Good article highlighting the excellent relationship between Israel and Australia both politically and economically. It is described as “a mateship based on trade, trust and mutual values.” https://www.jns.org/australia-israel-relationship-a-mateship-based-on-trade-and-mutual-values/
Rescue service for Norway. Israeli drone manufacturer Atlas Dynamics has signed a contract with Norwegian People’s Aid (NPAID), one of the world’s top arctic rescue units. Swarms of Atlas Pro drones, equipped with artificial intelligence and distributed communication systems, will patrol the arctic skies of Norway.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839585,00.html
https://www.atlasdynamics.eu/applications/search-and-rescue
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brt2lUgGJ8M (see video of an actual rescue)
Drones to help Florida respond to hurricanes. The Sparrow “drone in a box” from Israel’s Percepto (reported here previously) passed level 5 Florida hurricane testing, including winds up to 150mph and will help Florida Power and Light’s emergency response during the hurricane season. Percepto has customers in 10 countries.
https://www.wptv.com/news/region-martin-county/florida-power-and-light-uses-drones-to-improve-service-after-storms (includes great video) https://percepto.co/
Connecting Israel to the Americas. Israeli non-profit Start-Up Nation Central has partnered ConnectAmericas - a social network for Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) businesses to get global help with health, social services, food security and more. Already some 5,000 Israeli companies have set up profiles on the network.
Mental health aid for workers battling Covid-19. CoronaCare Israel is offering free psychological first aid (anonymously) for New Jersey healthcare and law-enforcement personnel on the Covid-19 frontlines. The pilot project is a partnership between New Jersey doctors and Israel’s voluntary first-response NGO United Hatzalah.
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Covid-19 has boosted training in hi-tech engineering. Tel Aviv’s Afeka College of Engineering is holding a conference on the Development of National Human Capital in Engineering on 20th July. It reports a 50% increase of interest in studying engineering since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839661,00.html https://english.afeka.ac.il/
https://www.afeka.ac.il/ba_minisite/camp/2020/human_capital20/index.html
A parched wasteland transformed. Always good to read a new article describing the “miracle” of turning the Northern Israel from withered fields and swamps into a land of natural beauty and proliferation of agriculture.
https://www.jns.org/opinion/how-israel-rescued-the-promised-land-from-devastation-and-neglect/
Testing smart transportation on Israel’s busiest road. Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Freeway is to become a test site for Israeli autotech. The highway’s operator, Netivei Ayalon Ltd. is set to embark on a series of pilots in the smart vehicle and smart transportation field, in partnership with the Israel Innovation Authority
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3835458,00.html
More on the paper 3D-printed drone. More details on the “Sky Printer” unmanned drone (reported here 28th June). The electric-powered UAV is 1.65m long with a 1.5m wingspan. It can carry communications gear and a camera. Its 26 parts (including the wheels) are made from paper, printed in just a few hours on a 3D printer.
https://worldisraelnews.com/new-israeli-paper-airplane-drone-made-with-a-3d-printer/
Predict prices a year in advance. Israel’s Fetcherr employs deep price neural networks (DPNNs) to predict prices with (it says) 90% accuracy up to a year in advance. Its AI algorithm factors in hundreds of variables, including unexpected events (such as Covid-19). It is currently focusing on aviation and tourism.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838051,00.html
A cybersecurity alliance. Israel’s Cybellum detects vulnerabilities in engine control units. It is partnering with The Alliance Innovation Lab Tel Aviv (reported here previously) to build cybersecurity technologies for the automotive market. The Alliance includes Renault, Nissan Motor Company and Mitsubishi Motors.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838507,00.html
Protection from wireless attacks. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s InfiniDome protects systems dependent on GPS and wireless communications (e.g. trucks) from jamming and spoofing attacks. GPS jammers can be bought online for just $18 and are responsible for thefts and damage costing billions of dollars (see video).
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200610005095/en/Israel%E2%80%99s-GPS-Security-Startup-infiniDome-Closes-Seed https://www.infinidome.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKeVPz5LnX4
Tel Aviv adopts Carbyne. Tel Aviv has joined several other Israeli cities, including Jerusalem, Ashkelon, Modiin, and Rehovot, by implementing the smart emergency call service from Israel’s Carbyne (reported here previously). Carbyne currently operates in seven countries and can handle over 400,000 calls a day.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838352,00.html
Intel Israel has the best connections. (TY UWI) Intel’s Client Connectivity Engineering Group in Israel has developed Thunderbolt 4, the next generation universal cable connectivity solution. With a USB 4 port and a cable up to 2m long, users will be able to fast charge their computer or transfer data at 4GB / second.
https://www.jpost.com/jpost-tech/israeli-intel-plant-rolls-out-new-thunderbolt-4-cable-port-634315
REE is a gamechanger. Israel’s REE Automotive (reported here previously) has won Bloomberg’s 2020 BNEF Pioneer award. REE was named as one of ten game-changing companies, for its breakthrough wheel arch that incorporates most of a vehicle’s systems.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839660,00.html https://ree.auto/
https://about.bnef.com/blog/ten-innovative-companies-named-as-2020-bnef-pioneers/
Keeping Blockchain secure. Covid-19 has encouraged many more business contracts to be performed on-line using latest Blockchain technology. Fraud is still possible, so Israel’s Valid Network protects smart contracts, including code vulnerability checks, intrusion detection, version compatibility checks, and anomaly detection.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839587,00.html https://valid.network/
https://valid.network/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nD-NIqvONVM
What did we just say? As reported recently (see here) one Israeli company has developed an AI system to take notes during on-line doctor/patient consultations. Now Israel’s AudioCodes (see here) has partnered Microsoft to develop Mia (Meeting Insights). Its AI bot produces a transcript and summary of a Microsoft Teams meeting.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839592,00.html
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Grants for joint US-Israeli projects. Israel’s Innovation Authority is providing more funds (see previous) to Israeli technology companies initiating industrial R&D and pilot projects with companies in the US states of New York, New Jersey, Colorado, and Indiana. They can receive up to 50% of the approved R&D costs.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838736,00.html
Another $8 million for US-Israeli projects. The Israel-U.S. BIRD Foundation is investing $8 million in 10 new automotive, cybersecurity, healthcare, and other joint US-Israeli projects. The Israeli companies are AEYE Health, Aeronautics, Datumate, Firedome, Genoox, Redler, Senso, Serenus.AI, VayaVision and XRHealth.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839383,00.html
Economic agreement with Thailand. Israel and Thailand signed an agreement to bring essential Thai workers to Israel to work in the agricultural sector. It also marks 66 years of ties between the two countries.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpvXe0qAJ5U
Meet me in The Lounge. If Israeli companies must meet face to face with an overseas guest during lockdown, Fattal’s Lounge at Ben Gurion airport’s VIP terminal (see here) is where to do it. It has 3 luxury bedrooms and a meeting room. After approval by Israel’s Interior Ministry, the guest flies in for up to 2 days in The Lounge.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839472,00.html
New VC fund for early stage startups. Tel Aviv-based venture capital firm Amiti Ventures has secured $110 million in commitments for its third fund. It will invest in early stage Israeli companies that otherwise would suffer due to the global Covid-19 crisis. Most of fund’s money comes from investors outside of Israel.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839382,00.html
Barcelona partners Israeli startup. Israel’s Pixellot (reported here previously) and Barça (FC Barcelona) have signed a partnership to record and analyze the team during training sessions. Pixellot has been working with Barcelona for 3 years, supplying its automated AI cameras at the Ciutat Esportiva, and the Estadi Johan Cruyff.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838366,00.html
Transforming greenhouse production. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Prospera (see here previously) is partnering German giant Bayer to help improve greenhouse output. Prospera’s AI and big data monitors the production of $5 trillion worth of agricultural produce. Bayer says the partnership will help transform grower operations.
https://media.bayer.com/baynews/baynews.nsf/id/Bayer-partners-Prospera-Technologies-Inc-develop-integrated-digital-solutions-vegetable-greenhouse https://home.prospera.ag/greenhouses
After takeover production moves to Israel. US giant KLA Tencor acquired Israel’s Orbotech last year for $3.4 billion. Since then, KLA has moved its flat panel display testing equipment production to Israel. Some 90% of the company’s total production will be performed in Israel by end 2021.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3835616,00.html
Microsoft expands and moves offices. Microsoft’s Tel Aviv development center is expanding. Its 1,500 employees will move to WeWork’s Midtown Tel Aviv building, specially tailored to Microsoft Israel’s R&D division’s needs. Joining them are Microsoft for Startups, the Microsoft accelerator, and Microsoft’s Reactor.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839793,00.html
To grow or to exit – that is the question. Israeli entrepreneurs vary between those who want to grow billion-dollar “Unicorns” or those that simply want to make a quick profitable exit and start a new company. Here is the view of the latter. Ram Yonish is now helping other entrepreneurs make that decision.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3839776,00.html
A global HR management system. Israeli-founded Payroll and workforce management tool Papaya has acquired Israeli HR information system platform Mensch. It will result in what Papaya says is the first global human resources management system.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3837510,00.html
Another Israeli startup benefiting from Covid-19. Israeli digital advertiser Kendago B2C Media Solutions was on the rise well before the arrival of Covid-19, growing by 150% year-to-year in 2019. It has since grown another 600%, marketing companies selling inexpensive products online to customers staying at home.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3837753,00.html
Investments in Israeli startups. OwnBackup raised $50 million; Seebo raised $9 million; NovaSight raised $8 million; Valid Network raised $6 million; Nectin Therapeutics raised $6 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Off Broadway, On HaMasger. Today! (19 July) 12-1pm EST, 7pm Israel; America-Israel Friendship League in partnership with Center Stage in Ra’anana and Jewish Plays Project present 3 short performances. Hudson’s Legacy, Madame Magician, and Refuge Malja. Register on Zoom or live streaming on AIFL’s Facebook page.
https://aifl.org/events/off-broadway-off-raanana
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TngOtUUwS6ecjA3QA2bcRQ
https://www.facebook.com/events/2709052012700937/
Animated film prize. The Israeli concept film “Cinema Rex” won the Canal + Youth Award at June’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival. The fictional story is about a Jewish boy and Arab girl in 1938 Jerusalem who make friends due to their love of movies. Cinema Rex was a real cinema co-owned by an Arab and a Jew.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/cinema-rex-israeli-animated-film-about-jerusalem-wins-prize-632767
A glimpse of Israel. A video featuring Israeli tourist sites, history, nature, togetherness, culture, food, innovation and the beautiful sunset. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzZ_kWFnidY
THE JEWISH STATE
The Jerusalem Road. Jerusalem has started building part of an $870 million major highway that will serve as a ring road around Israel’s capital city, with the goal of significantly alleviating traffic throughout the capital. It will complete the “American Road” which was planned in the 1960s but halted due to the Six-Day War.
The religious significance of Israel. (TY Aish & Zev) Last year, in his “Covenant and Conversation” essay on this week’s Torah portion (Masei), ex-UK Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks wrote “Only in Israel can the Jewish people construct a political system, an economy, and an environment on the template of Jewish values.”
https://rabbisacks.org/the-religious-significance-of-israel-masei-5779/
The 10 lost tribes are not lost anymore. Excellent lecture by Rabbi Dr Jonathan Lieberman. He suggests that Ezekiel’s prophecy of the return of the lost tribes of Israel is becoming a reality.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl-YL4iRAFk
Ten years of Very Good News. On 18th July 2010, the very first issue of the VeryGoodNewsIsrael newsletter was emailed only to some 30 family and friends. Current editions now reach many thousands every week.
https://verygoodnewsisrael.blogspot.com/2011/07/2010-history-of-good-news-july-dec-2010.html
For information in the newsletters, search www.IsraelActive.com by subject or keyword.
200712
In the 12th July 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· New Israeli high-sensitivity tests for Covid-19 infections and antibodies.
· Thousands of Israeli mobile X-ray devices have been distributed worldwide.
· Israel has appointed its first Arab Bedouin ambassador.
· Israeli scientists are making hand sanitizer from vegetable waste.
· Investment in Israeli startups has surged in the last 3 months.
· More Israeli security for ports in European and (Muslim) African countries.
· A UK Tour de France champion is to lead an Israeli cycling team.
· Another orthodox Israeli woman has qualified to advise on matters of Jewish law.
· Click here to see the 5th July newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, Janglo and United With Israel with extra feature on Inclusive & Global. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of nearly 17,000 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
The best test for Covid-19 antibodies. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have developed a serological test that from one blood sample can, for the first time, identify all three of the key antibodies that counter Covid-19. The test is extremely sensitive and accurate to around 98-99 percent, better than current tests.
Another fast Covid-19 test. Israel’s AID Genomics has developed a coronavirus test kit that gives results in just 30 minutes. It uses different enzymes from current tests with much higher sensitivity. AID Genomics has partnered with the Chinese-owned BGI Group, which will be distributing the test in Israel and globally.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AElVxSQqpHc
Fix the heart before treating cancer. Researchers at Israel’s Technion Institute have made a breakthrough discovery that cancer progresses much faster in patients with heart problems. To improve their survival chances, these patients should have their heart treated first before beginning cancer therapy.
How deep we sleep. Neuroscientists at Tel Aviv University working with others at Israel’s Weizmann Institute, UK’s Bristol and France’s Montpellier universities, have discovered the brain’s mechanism for deep sleep. The locus coeruleus in the brainstem secretes the chemical noradrenaline and too high levels prevent deep sleep.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/how-did-you-sleep-through-your-alarm-tau-study-reveals-how-deep-we-sleep-634118 https://advances.sciencemag.org/content/6/15/eaaz4232
Innovative gastro stent technology. (TY Hazel) Gastro stents are essential for clearing clots in the bile ducts and pancreas. Israel’s Endo GI Medical has received US FDA approval for its Stenting Placement Delivery Systems that reduce risk of infection from repetitive insertions of singular stents.
https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israeli-medical-company-receives-fda-approval-for-life-saving-tech-633756 https://www.endo-gi.com/
Breakthrough device for dialysis patients. (TY Atid-EDI) The US FDA has awarded breakthrough designation to the VasQ from Israel’s Laminate Medical (reported here previously). The device provides safe connections to dialysis machines. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vasq-external-support-awarded-breakthrough-device-designation-by-the-fda-301071728.html
Monitoring cancer post-surgery. (TY Atid-EDI) At its Israeli R&D center, C2i Genomics has developed a personalized, real-time solution for monitoring recurrence and treatment response for various types of solid cancers. It employs a breakthrough tumor DNA pattern recognition approach for liquid biopsy.
Mobile X-rays for five more countries. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Nanox (reported here previously) has signed multiple new deals to deploy over 1000 of its mobile X-ray devices to Russia, Belarus, Taiwan, Singapore and Italy. Previous deployments include to Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea and Vietnam.
https://www.nanox.vision/news-en
Autism Research and Treatment. The latest Ben-Gurion Briefing, “Autism Research and Treatment” featured 4 leading Israeli experts from Ben-Gurion University and Soroka University Medical Center. They discussed whether early autism diagnosis can lead to the eradication of symptoms of autism later in life.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KqM0RN6Ubo
Saving lives is vital. An exciting article about a United Hatzalah paramedic who, on the eve of her final chemistry exam, rushed to save the life of a heart-attack victim.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/283030
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Even the disabled can surf here. There are several clubs in Israel where people with disabilities can enjoy the opportunity of surfing in the sea. There are even special adaptive surfboards, including a surfboard and walker combination designed by Israel’s Adi Klang, 2017 ISA World Adaptive Surfing champion.
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/israels-little-steps-helps-dmd-boys-catch-the-waves/
Protecting the disabled from Covid-19. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Israeli charity ALEH takes utmost care of its 750 vulnerable babies, infants, children and adult residents at its 4 Israeli sites. Staff are covered in protective clothing and self-quarantine when necessary. Parents and volunteers stay in contact by phone.
https://honestreporting.com/israelis-disabilities-covid-19/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwhpuDVvodQ
Israel’s first Bedouin Ambassador. Israel’s Foreign Ministry is appointing Ishmael Khaldi (reported here previously) to head its Eritrea embassy. Once ratified, it will make him Israel’s first-ever Bedouin (Arab Muslim) Ambassador.
https://www.jns.org/israel-set-to-appoint-first-ever-bedouin-ambassador-to-head-eritrea-mission/
Bar-Ilan’s first female Arab professor. Bar-Ilan University has appointed Prof. Elinor Saiegh-Haddad as their first Arab female full professor. Her work focuses on linguistics and also language acquisition by children. She additionally serves as a senior adviser to various organizations in Israel and around the world.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/bar-ilan-university-appoints-first-full-time-arab-professor-634178
New ambassadors. Israel’s President Rivlin received diplomatic credentials from the new ambassadors of Colombia, Greece, Denmark, Romania and Argentina to the State of Israel. There were several differences to previous ceremonies, due to Covid-19 – with masks, social distancing, a smaller IDF honor guard and audience.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/283236
Nice compliments from OECD official. OECD deputy secretary general Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen praised Israel at an online conference marking 10 years since Israel joined the OECD. “The Israeli level of development and digitization is twice that of other OECD countries.” He said many other good things too.
Israelis in EU food consortium. EIT Food is Europe’s leading food innovation initiative, working to make food healthier and more sustainable. Israel’s Technion Institute is a core consortium member and Israel’s Amai Proteins (reported here previously) is a member of the “Rising Food Stars” startup club.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/diabetes-and-obesity-could-be-history-with-new-israeli-sweetener/
https://www.eitfood.eu/in-your-country/country/israel
Israel appointed to UN Food & Agriculture board. Israel has been accepted to the board of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and begins a 3-year term in the organization. Israel’s Foreign Ministry said it wanted to share Israel’s unique knowledge and improve global living conditions.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/283319
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
From autonomous vehicle cameras to Covid-19. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Foresight Autonomous Holdings has turned its visible-light and thermal cameras into a mass screening solution for the detection of COVID-19 symptoms. Its vision systems and AI algorithms will detect coughing, high body temperature and fatigue.
https://ir.foresightauto.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/FRSX-COVID-19-050620-ENHE_FINAL.pdf
Turning waste into hand sanitizer. Scientists at Tel Aviv University can transform some of Israel’s 620,000 tonnes of vegetable waste into alcohol for producing sanitizers. TAU’s reactor uses a small amount of ozone to produce ethanol and potentially replace the need for Israel to import alcogels.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/283287
Award-winning waste-management. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s SGTech (Sustainable Green Technologies – see previous here) has just received Frost & Sullivan’s 2019 European Technology Innovation Award for SGTech’s Integrated Ecosystem Solution. It turns livestock waste into clean biogas and water, plus nutrient-rich compost.
Avoid toxic chemicals. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel's Clearya is a free app to help people avoid toxic chemicals when shopping online for cosmetics, personal care, cleaning products and baby care products. Clearya automatically analyzes the product ingredient lists online and warns if any of the ingredients match a known toxicant.
https://chemsec.org/chemsec-and-clearya-partner-to-help-online-shoppers-avoid-toxic-chemicals-in-daily-products/ https://www.clearya.com/
Sustainable microalgae factory. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Yemoja (reported here previously) has opened its new plant dedicated to the production of high value microalgae. The “green” factory is chemical-free, uses recycled water and minimal energy. It is already fulfilling orders from global nutraceutical and cosmeceutical sectors.
https://www.prnewswire.com/il/news-releases/yemoja-opens-sustainable-microalgae-production-plant-301069936.html https://yemojaltd.com/
The VeganNation app. An essential part of VeganNation’s new ecosystem (reported here previously) is its mobile app. It accesses vegan businesses and organizations and links via VeganPay to your VeganCoin wallet.
https://vegannation.io/our-app/
Eco-friendly flying cars of the future. Israel’s Urban Aeronautics has 2 divisions. Tactical Robotics (reported here previously) for its prototype unmanned Cormorant aircraft; Metro Skyways is developing the 6-seater CityHawk. Both will be powered by hydrogen fuel cells and targeted to be available by the end of this decade.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israeli-made-flying-cars-may-be-floating-into-our-future/
An all-Israeli satellite. Israel has successfully launched its Ofek-16 (“Horizon-16”) satellite. Both the satellite and its Shavit launcher were developed locally in Israel. The highly advanced reconnaissance satellite has already entered orbit and undergone initial tests. It will begin transmitting its first pictures a week after launch.
Ashdod - a smarter port. One of Israel’s two largest ports, Ashdod, has chosen another 18 startups to test their innovative technologies. They include drone patrolling, pollution sensors, autonomous cargo trucks, and wave energy. Three startups were previously selected in 2019 and already are piloting their technologies.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/drones-pollution-sensors-aim-to-make-work-at-ashdod-port-smarter/
Award-winning Smart City system. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s Octopus Systems has won a New Product Innovation Award from global consultants Frost & Sullivan – just one of Octopus’ many awards. Octopus’ Smart City control platform allows supervision of operations, security, infrastructure and communications.
https://octopus-app.com/2020-global-smart-and-safe-city-platform-new-product-innovation-award/
The safest car-seat. (TY Stuart) Some 700 children die in car accidents in Europe annually, and 80,000 are injured. The EU has awarded Israel’s BabyArk a 2.5 million Euro grant to develop “the safest car seat ever created” for children. It incorporates energy absorption technology and anchors the seat to the vehicle’s frame.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/israelis-develop-safest-car-seat-ever-for-children/
Nano ink for sensors. (TY Atid-EDI) Israel’s PV Nano Cell (reported here previously) has announced new inkjet printing technology. Uses include sensors for a world-leading multinational healthcare company. It is also to be used in an EU-funded project for laser printed RFID antennas fingerprint sensors.
Sea change. When sailboats and other craft get into difficulties at sea, the rescue boat usually tosses a rope to secure the vessel in distress. Israel’s Sealartec uses a hydrodynamic floating structure with a robotic capture device and an autonomous processes control decision-making algorithm. It also retrieves unmanned vessels.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838482,00.html https://sealartec.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtaZsPuu8eo
Too complex to explain in 3 lines. (TY Atid-EDI) Some Israeli companies develop products that are too technical to explain in my limited space. Such as Sixgill’s next-gen threat intelligence visualization; CyberArk Alero’s new authentication options; Newsight Imaging’s kit for spectral profiling; Illusive Networks’ new forensics; Safe-T Group’s (NetNut) new data center proxy network; Gilat Satellite’s new VSAT Capricorn Plus; Hub Security’s Quantum-proof HSM;
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Israeli startups raise $2.5 billion in Q2. Despite coronavirus, startups in Israel raised $2.5 billion during the 3 months from Apr to Jun 2020, 13% higher than the same period in 2019. The number of deals - 170 - was 33% more than the number of transactions in the second quarter of 2019.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838511,00.html
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-tech-firms-raise-2-5-billion-in-q2-amid-pandemic-data-shows/
And we’re hiring. There should be no reason for Israeli hi-tech workers to be unemployed. This article gives details of dozens of Israeli companies who are actively recruiting skilled staff.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838552,00.html
A new trade deal with Romania every two weeks. In 2019, 26 trade deals were struck between Israeli and Romanian firms and agencies. And in one week in June 2020 Israel’s Romania mission held virtual programs on cyber and homeland security, an online oncology clinic, chronic disease programs and an agriculture event.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838219,00.html
Another $5 billion of reserves. Israel’s foreign exchange reserves at the end of June 2020 were over $147 billion, an increase of over $4.8 billion on their level at the end of May 2020.
https://www.boi.org.il/en/NewsAndPublications/PressReleases/Pages/7-7-20a.aspx
Connecting businesses to fast Internet. The Israeli government is offering a grant of NIS 1,000 for up to 20,000 small businesses to allow them to connect to Israel’s fiber-optic Internet. Upgrading their connections will help the businesses to digitally maintain and expand their business activity
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3838519,00.html
There will still be Israeli Bluebirds. Israel’s Bluebird Aero Systems (reported here previously) was taken over by Israel Aerospace Industries. So, Bluebird’s innovative Unmanned Aerial Vehicle technology will still be Israeli. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3832433,00.html
Security for Spain and Djibouti. Israel’s Magal Security Systems (reported here previously) has just won $2.5 million of orders. One is to extend its security contract with the Spanish port of Tarragona. The others are for new seaport security projects, including at the mainly Muslim Republic of Djibouti in the Horn of Africa.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbvB8PzqCpc
Testing healthcare systems. Israel’s Pcysys (reported here previously) has been chosen separately by US giant Apria Healthcare and UK’s St Margaret’s Hospice Care, to automate their cyber security testing with Pcysys’ PenTera Automated Penetration Testing Platform. Sadly, medical systems are often subject to cyber-attack.
https://www.pcysys.com/press-releases/pentera-selected-by-apria-healthcare-to-automate-its-cyber-security-validation-efforts/ https://www.pcysys.com/press-releases/pentera-selected-by-st-margarets-hopsice-care/
Funds raised by Israeli startups: BiolineRX raised $4.39 million; Prilenia raised $62.5 million; C2i Genomics raised $12 million; infiniDome raised $1.6 million; Accellix raised $9.5 million; Nucleai raised $6.5 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
Bringing culture nationwide. (TY Janglo) Israeli organization Tarbut Movement comprises young artists and educators from across Israel. They promote cultural activities for 2,500 children and teens, plus art groups for adults and seniors in the social and geographical periphery of Israel. It also operates in eight Arab-Israeli towns.
https://www.israel21c.org/art-movement-brings-culture-to-all-corners-of-israel/
https://www.tarbutmovement.org/
Happy World Chocolate Day. Israel is home to over 60 world-renowned chocolatiers. On World Chocolate Day (July 7) Israelis enjoyed candy bars, truffles and even an Israeli chocolate kebab!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVxi1ZnWkQU
Sabraman to the coronavirus rescue. (TY David Herman) A fanciful suggestion by David that Uri Fink’s legendary Hebrew comic-book superhero Sabraman could come out of retirement to rid us of coronavirus. Halevai! (If only). https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/sabraman-to-the-corona-curse-rescue/
Israel’s mini-Grand Canyon. (TY Mickey) Israel’s Kan TV channel has revealed Israel’s own mini version of Arizona Grand Canyon. Like many things in Israel, it was formed in just a few decades as brine from the Dead Sea works in Israel and Joran flows from one part of the Dead Sea to the other, cutting into the Arava mud.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlN8APOicP4 (Commentary in Hebrew only, but great photography.)
https://www.eretz.com/wordpress/blog/2020/02/08/the-dead-seas-secret-river/
Tour de France winner to cycle for Israel. (TY Hazel) Four-time Tour de France winner, UK’s Chris Froome will lead the Israel Start-Up Nation (ISN) cycling team. He is scheduled to sign a contract on August 1st that will take him to the end of his professional career. The BBC reported he was leaving, but not his destination!
THE JEWISH STATE
Almost the Garden of Eden. (TY Sharon) The renovations and replanting in Jerusalem’s Sacher Park have made a huge improvement to one of the largest public outside green spaces in Israel’s capital.
http://rjstreets.com/2020/07/05/jerusalem-moving-outside-summer-in-sacher-park/
Ethiopian-Jewish heritage in the heart of Tel Aviv. Born on route to Israel during Operation Solomon, 29-year-old Ethiopian Israeli Ashagar Araro is founder of Battae, an Ethiopian Heritage center in the heart of Tel Aviv. Israeli and international visitors experience the joy of Ethiopian culture through food, dance and art.
https://www.israel21c.org/meet-the-woman-breaking-down-barriers-in-israel/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaxwigwXXps
An Orthodox Israeli female spiritual leader. Rabbanit Shira Sapir is the 9th woman to have completed the 5-year course of studies in Ohr Torah Stone's Susi Bradfield Women's Institute of Halakhic Leadership. Certified as Morat Hora'ah and Spiritual Leader, she is authorized to provide direction in matters of Jewish Law.
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/283128 https://ots.org.il/marching-on-the-glass-floor/
What did you get me for my birthday?! Imagine this conversation around 150,000 years ago, when several painted clam shells were strung together on wild flax to form the earliest necklace ever discovered. They were found during excavations in a cave in northern Israel. It is also the earliest known use of string.
200705
In the 5th July 20 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
· An Israeli treatment for Alzheimer’s also combats Covid-19.
· Two Israeli startups have partnered two companies in the UAE.
· An Israeli startup is 3D-printing tasty kosher vegan steaks.
· Blurred and poor-quality photos can now be brought into sharp focus.
· Israeli companies succeed despite Covid-19 pandemic.
· A baby giraffe was born at Jerusalem’s Biblical Zoo on World Giraffe Day.
· Archeological evidence of Jews’ return to Jerusalem after Babylonian exile.
· Click here to see the 28th June newsletter on IsraelSeen, Ruthfully Yours, IsraPundit, Janglo and United With Israel. Also (TY Sandra) in German and (TY Zachy) in Hebrew. Please pass on the following links to German and Hebrew-reading contacts. Also (TY Esty) please visit the www.facebook.com/VerygoodnewsIL Facebook page.
· Please click here, to donate (a small or large amount) to help me expand the reach of VeryGoodNewsIsrael.
· Click here, to SEARCH the IsraelActive archives of nearly 17,000 previous news articles.
· If someone wishes to be added to the free email subscription list, they should either click here or send a request (with their name) to michael.goodnewsisrael@gmail.com
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Treatment for Alzheimer’s and Covid-19. Israeli-founded AZTherapies is in Phase 3 trials for its ALZT-OP1 for Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment also suppresses the immune system’s “cytokine storm” that is often lethal to Covid-19 infected patients. AZTherapies is building commercial partnerships with Israeli institutions.
https://worldisraelnews.com/one-new-drug-may-treat-both-covid-19-and-alzheimers/
https://aztherapies.com/about-us/david-elmaleh-phd
Developing a mutation-proof Covid-19 vaccine. Dr Frenkel-Morgenstern of Israel’s Bar-Ilan University has filed a US patent application for her research (see previously) on epitopes (proteins) that can build immunity against COVID-19. An advantage of such a vaccine is it will still work even if the virus mutates.
Israel’s best shots at a vaccine. (TY Hazel) A round-up of the leading Israeli prospects for a COVID-19 vaccine. One of them - the Israel Institute for Biological Research and the Weizmann Institute of Science - featured in the World Health Organization’s periodic report on international vaccine efforts.
From cancer to shrimps to a Covid-19 vaccine. Professor Avi Schroeder of Israel’s Technion (reported here previously) was working on a cancer cure using Elephant protein and a cure for a disease decimating the shrimp population. Then he discovered that the shrimp medication could also be adapted to make a Covid-19 vaccine.
https://technionuk.org/video/webinar-could-a-vaccine-for-shrimp-help-in-the-fight-against-covid-19-professor-avi-schroeder/ https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-scientist-could-adapt-shrimp-antiviral-for-humans/
Crowdsourcing for a Covid-19 algorithm. Scientists at Israel’s Technion are confident that they can monitor Covid-19 patients at home. For their algorithm that monitors oxygen levels, they issued an international call for statistics through an open source medical platform. They hope to receive tens of thousands of case files.
Cancer screening for UK NHS. Another instance of Israeli technology saving British lives. Israel’s Ibex Medical (reported here previously) is helping the UK’s National Health System (NHS) diagnose cancer from biopsies. Ibex, has teamed up with UK’s LDPath to reduce pathology pressures on 24 different NHS trusts.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3836954,00.html
Israel is first to approve new AML cancer treatment. (TY Hazel) As soon as Phase 3 results were published, Israel added the new combo-therapy of venetoclax and azacytidine from global biotech AbbVie to the basket of treatments for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Israel had the most patients enrolled in the Phase 3 study.
Slowing down the aging process. (TY WIN) Researchers at Israel’s Ben Gurion University have discovered, for the first time in mammals, that by slightly lowering body temperatures in mice, the animals lived 20 percent longer, Also, by reducing their oxygen level and increasing their CO2 level, their wounds healed faster. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MycF-7T1zqY https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/mice_lifespan.aspx
https://www.israel21c.org/researchers-can-extend-the-lifespan-of-mice-are-we-next/
Off-road rescue. United Hatzalah EMT Eilon crossed the Judean desert in 3 minutes to save the life of Elad – whose arm was almost severed in a car accident. Following Elad’s recovery, the Western Marble Arch synagogue in London (the Rabbi is Elad’s grandfather) donated an off-road ambucycle to United Hatzalah.
Med-tech startups pitch up. (TY Charmaine) Five graduates of the Hadassah IBM Alpha Zone Accelerator presented their solutions to investors. Their products included wearable pain relief, distance eye diagnosis, preventing medication errors in hospitals, help for stroke patients and a brain-wave sleep headband.
https://www.ukisraelhub.com/event/il-hadassah-acclerator-class-2-demo-day/
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
PA scientist doing cutting-edge Israeli research. (TY Nevet) Dr. Rafat Qubaja lives in Tarqumiyah under the Palestinian Authority but works at Israel’s Weizmann Institute. His research on trees in arid regions found they can absorb vast amounts of carbon. Meanwhile he praises the opportunities he has in the Jewish State.
https://wis-wander.weizmann.ac.il/earth-sciences/grove
Natural pest control. (TY UWI) New video re-iterating the Israeli project (reported here previously) to use barn owls to keep agricultural crops free from rodent pests. It brings together farmers from Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority to cooperate for mutual benefit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWdtOValDTs
Israel-UAE alliance. Two private companies in the United Arab Emirates have signed an agreement with two Israeli companies, to develop research technology to fight COVID-19. Announcements were made both by the Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Health and a UAE spokesperson.
https://www.jns.org/israeli-emirati-companies-partner-on-research-to-combat-covid-19/
Bringing the smile back. (TY Hazel) Israeli-founded global non-profit Faces Behind Masks aims to provide medical staff in every hospital worldwide with sets of free personalized Smiling Face stickers. A photograph of each staff member’s face can be worn over protective clothing, so that patients see faces instead of just masks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdC4WWcTwI4 https://www.behindmasks.org/
Helping Ethiopia combat Covid-19. Israeli NGO NALA was helping Ethiopia fight snail fever in 2018 (see here). It is now working to combat Covid-19 and has implemented a 5-point plan – information to rural areas, enlisting religious leaders, distributing PPE, building handwashing stations, and training health workers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0H0gi9-bEY
Medical supplies for Nepal. (TY Hazel) The Embassy of Israel donated aid to the Nepalese government to help front-line workers contain Covid-19. It comprised Personal Protective Equipment, masks, infrared digital thermometers, surgical gloves, hand sanitizers, hand sprayers and disinfectant solutions.
On vultures’ wings. (TY WIN & ILTV) Here is a new video featuring Israel’s work to protect the endangered Griffon vulture and increase its numbers in the wild. The Hebrew word for vulture is “nesher”, mistranslated as “eagle” in some Biblical sources. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMGwkU3tbkM
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Covid-19 immunity passports. Israeli startup Pangea has devised a biometric smart card to enable countries to reopen airports to tourists while protecting their population from Covid-19. Pangea’s immunity Pass Card would be issued by a country’s health ministry, include recent antibody test results and allow real-time updates.
https://www.israel21c.org/israels-pangea-introduces-covid-19-immunity-passport/ https://pangea-it.com/
Discovering light behavior by accident. In an accidental breakthrough made while blowing soap bubbles, scientists at Israel’s Technion have demonstrated the branched flow of light. The phenomenon was discovered in 2001 but never before seen by the human eye. Besides being beautiful, it has practical medical implications.
Sparrow can see in the dark. Israeli startup TriEye (reported here previously) has developed Sparrow, the world’s first CMOS-based camera with Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) sensing technology. The camera will enhance visibility for smart vehicle systems at night, during adverse weather and other low visibility conditions.
https://www.autovision-news.com/sensing/sensor-technology/trieye-denso-swir-camera/
Nano onion lubricants are out of this world. Scientists at Israel’s Ben Gurion University are the first in the world to produce sizable amounts of "nano-onion" structures from boron nitride. They make remarkable lubricants and NASA has already requested samples of BN nano-onions for possible use on US satellites.
https://in.bgu.ac.il/en/pages/news/nano_onion.aspx
Israeli drone defense technology. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Israel’s Iron Drone are to integrate Iron Drone’s interception capabilities with IAI’s ‘Drone Guard’ anti-drone system. Drone Guard uses advanced radar, sensors and computer vision that can detect, lock onto and neutralize drones as they enter Israeli airspace.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3836798,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nx8Lqw-JVXY
Now we’re cooking. Israel’s Redefine Meat (reported here previously) has produced what it says is the first plant-based 3D-printed kosher and pareve steak with the texture, taste and look of the real thing. It will start testing the steaks soon at high-end restaurants in Israel, followed by marketing in Israel and elsewhere.
A portable oxygen generator. (TY Hazel) Israel’s Oxygenium has developed an ultra-portable oxygen generator. The 45 x 18 cm device would help Covid-19 patients needing oxygen and ventilation. It can save wounded soldiers and accident victims and help patients needing oxygen at home and even mountain climbers.
Taking note of the treatment. Israel’s Simply Speak uses Artificial Intelligence to help physicians document their interactions when treating patients remotely using telemedicine tools. It enables doctors to focus entirely on the patient while the software extracts meaningful medical notes from doctor-patient conversations.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3837092,00.html
Smart detection of cyber-attacks. Israeli cybersecurity startup Hunters can detect cyber-attacks that are usually overlooked. It uses automation tools that identify and cross-reference various IT attack strategies. Hunters has just received $15 million of funding from companies including Microsoft’s M12 investment arm.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3837082,00.html
Ahead of the Curv. Israeli startup Curv has developed innovative encryption technology for securing blockchain assets. It enables the transfer, storage, and management of any digital asset on any blockchain or distributed log. Customers transfer billions of dollars each month on Curv’s security platform.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3837240,00.html https://www.curv.co/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNCq9IZlK2A
Fishing in data lakes. Israel’s Upsolver helps companies trawl through the huge volumes of data that they have accumulated to extract key information and make important decisions. Upsolver has just raised $13 million from companies including Israel’s JVP, to help its expansion in North America.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3837001,00.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFu3i6frRK8 https://www.upsolver.com/
Enhancing photos. Israeli genealogy company MyHeritage Ltd. (reported previously here) has launched Photo Enhancer, that brings blurred, low-resolution or low-quality photos into sharp focus. Newsletter readers may remember (here) when MyHeritage launched its app that turns B&W photos into color.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3833191,00.html
https://blog.myheritage.com/2020/06/introducing-the-myheritage-photo-enhancer/
The re-invented workplace. Israel’s Spike has developed a mobile application to handle the way people are working in the new post-Covid-19 workplace. Spike puts existing e-mails into a multimedia mobile messaging, chat-like interface enhanced with voice calls, video calls, memos, reminders and the option to share documents.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3832558,00.html https://www.spikenow.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3g8BH57KCc
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Jerusalem & Tel Aviv are joint top 6 ecosystems. The 2020 Startup Genome Ecosystem report has listed Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as the sixth most attractive ecosystem for startups and innovation.
https://startupgenome.com/ecosystems/tel-aviv https://startupgenome.com/ecosystems/jerusalem
A new hi-tech center for Eastern Jerusalem. The first stage of the "Silicon Wadi" project is underway. The initiative is designed to set up industrial and business zones in the eastern half of Jerusalem. 200,000 sqm of commercial space should result in 10,000 new jobs and increase Arab participation in the hi-tech workplace.
https://www.israelhayom.com/2020/06/02/jerusalem-hopes-silicon-wadi-will-create-10000-jobs/
Stock Exchange launches English website. The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE) has launched an English version of its MAYA website. It will report corporate disclosures of its 436 TASE-listed companies and is part of its program to make the exchange more accessible to foreign investors.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/tel-aviv-stock-exchange-starts-english-website-for-corporate-filings/
$1 million for the best homeland security. The Israel-U.S. BIRD (Binational Industrial R&D) Foundation is offering to fund 50% (up to $1 million) of the budget for advanced tech projects in homeland security. These include for anti-cybercrime, critical infrastructure, border protection, UAVs, and first responder security.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3832473,00.html
Companies snap up available talent. The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in many skilled Israeli hi-tech employees being made redundant. This has encouraged many Israeli companies to actively recruit the newly available skilled staff. Before the current crisis there was a shortage of some 15,000 IT employees in Israel.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3833232,00.html
Surge in on-line e-commerce. Israeli e-commerce startup Global-e Online Ltd. has raised $60 million to help expand the technological solutions it provides to international e-commerce websites. It comes on the heels of a significant increase in global online commerce, in part because of the coronavirus pandemic.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3832452,00.html
Everyone will work from home. Israel’s LivePerson surveyed its 1,300 employees and the vast majority said they preferred to work from home. So LivePerson has adopted a full work from home (WFH) model until a vaccine to Covid-19 is found. It will now forgo its office real-estate rentals, saving it $12-15 million a year.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3837400,00.html
How to Gett ahead during the pandemic. Israel’s Gett has managed to compensate for the loss of private and business transportation due to Covid-19. It has maintained its income level by capturing a large share of the delivery business. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3831750,00.html
Lemonade double-bubbles. Israeli insure-tech company Lemonade has just completed a listing on the New York Stock exchange. Its share price at the start of trading was $29. By the end of the day, the share price was over $69 – a 139% increase. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3837404,00.html
A healthy takeover. Israel’s Healthy.io (reported here previously) has acquired its U.S. competitor, Inui Health, for $9 million. Both companies develop and market FDA-approved analysis kits for home monitoring of the progress of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The takeover gives Healthy.io a stronger US presence.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3836540,00.html
Music to make videos with. Israel’s Artlist develops and offers content, including video, photos, music, and sound effects to content creators, who pay through monthly subscriptions. This media can then be used in videos and video games without worrying about copyright or other legal issues.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctech/articles/0,7340,L-3836750,00.html https://artgrid.io/ https://artgrid.io/
Funds raised by Israeli startups: Artlist $48 million; Cynet $18 million; Codefresh $27 million; TripActions $125 million; Simply Speak $1.1 million; Hunters $15 million; Upsolver $13 million; Spike $8 million; Global-e Online $60 million; InterCure $11 million; ECOncrete $5 million; InnoCan $3.7 million; Curv $23 million; Electreon $50 million;
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
From Persia to Jerusalem. As reported here previously, the Tower of David Museum in Jerusalem has re-opened. Its first exhibition is called “Banai: A Musical Journey from Persia to Jerusalem.”. It focuses on modern-day Israel, on the well-known Banai family and their influence on the music of a rich and ancient city.
https://www.jns.org/building-jerusalem-tower-of-david-exhibit-features-cultural-icons/
IPO virtual concert. (TY Mickey) Dane Helen Mirren hosted a wonderful on-line concert featuring musicians from the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. Stars included Zubin Mehta, Pinchas Zukerman & Amanda Forsyth, Itzhak Perlman, Khatia Buniatishvili, Sir András Schiff, Gil Shaham, Adèle Anthony and many more.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ib3O-9Sp6ss https://www.ipo.co.il/en/ipo-global-gala/
Giraffe born on World Giraffe Day. The longest day of the year (Jun 21st) is designated World Giraffe Day. This year it coincided with the birth of a 50kg, 1.5m baby female giraffe at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. The South African giraffe is a vulnerable species. Her parents, Maya and Roi, were also born in the zoo.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/newborn-giraffe-at-jerusalem-zoo-draws-long-list-of-names/
THE JEWISH STATE
More support for increased Aliya. To help the growing numbers of Olim (immigrants to Israel), Aliya organization Nefesh b’Nefesh is to build a 2,200-square-meter Aliyah Center in the heart of Jerusalem. It will include space for Hebrew classes, exhibits, performances, and lectures on Israeli culture and history.
https://www.jns.org/nefesh-bnefesh-lands-center-in-jerusalem-for-new-arrivals-to-israel/
Evidence of Jews’ return to Zion. (TY UWI) Archaeologists have unearthed, just outside Jerusalem’s Old City, evidence of resettlement after the Babylonian exile of 586 BCE. A clay “official” seal impression, and a pottery sherd seal, indicate that Jews were rebuilding Jerusalem in the 6th century BCE.
Journey to Judaism. (TY David Herman) Three videos of Israel's top jazz singer Elana Watson, who was born to Christian Zionists in June 1967 (during the six-day war); then moved to Israel and converted to Judaism.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyH-krfRzec (Elana reading her story – 8 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_TqJH3laYQ (longer interview)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GinLzE1zOa8 (Elana singing “Awake O Israel” composed by her mother)
CT-Scan on ancient mummies. (TY Janglo) Two small Egyptian mummies, some 2,500 to 3000 years old, from Haifa Museum, were brought into Haifa’s Rambam hospital for CT-scans to reveal more information about them. One mummy turned out to be a falcon with a broken spine. The other still remains unidentified.
Eli Beer is back at work. Eli Beer, CEO of Israeli emergency medical organization United Hatzalah, is back saving lives despite still recovering after almost dying of Covid-19. He said “I have a big responsibility to raise more funds to grow the organization. I have no choice. If I relax, people will suffer.”
https://www.israel21c.org/after-covid-19-nearly-killed-him-eli-beer-is-back-in-israel-saving-lives/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itl0N1FKnoE&t=600s (Video of Eli celebrating Pesach Sheni)
