In the 9th Dec 2012 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include: Israeli researchers have made major discoveries about bacteria and malaria infections. A huge international turnout at Israel’s top heart surgery conference. CNN shows Israeli hospitals treating injured Gazans and Israelis together. An Israeli company is developing a process that burns coal without any pollution. Demand for Israeli hi-tech skills soars at Apple, Intel and KLA-Tencor Alanis Morissette’s Tel Aviv concert was a sell-out – and just a little “ironic”. Israel’s Funtactix has won Variety Entertainment’s award for the film industry’s top Internet game.
Page Down for more details on these and other good news stories from Israel.
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
How bacteria fights antibiotics. Researchers from Israel’s Weizmann have uncovered the process that bacteria deploys to remove antibiotics from cells. The discovery sheds new light on the ability of bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance.
How malaria deceives the immune system. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem have discovered how the malaria infection works. The deadly Plasmodium falciparum strain only reveals its 60 destructive genes to the body’s immune system one at a time. Uncovering its mask may lead to new treatments.
DNA robots to deliver medication. Israeli biologist Ido Bachalet is part of the Harvard team that designed a microscopic machine of DNA nano-robots that can carry anti-bodies direct to tumours. First they make a basket-shaped truck, then add the payload which is released when the truck meets the key of the tumour.
Beyond the cutting edge. This video begins with the latest Israeli developments in focussed ultrasound surgery. It then moves on to describe the Technion’s goal of using technology to eliminate many of the hundreds of thousands of medical mistakes made around the world by overstretched human doctors and nurses.
Burn patients fight fire with make-up. At age three, during Hanukkah, Ilan Zakai was burned on his face and body. After years of coping with prying stares, he became a professional makeup artist. He now counsels and gives makeup workshops to patients at Rambam Health Care Campus who have experienced severe burns.
Now wash your hands. Doctors and nurses at Jerusalem’s Shaare Zedek are piloting an innovative digital bracelet that prompts use of an anti-bacterial hand-wash following contact with a patient. It then repeats the reminder if the solution hasn’t been applied or if insufficient time was spent rubbing it into the hands.
Final phase for breast cancer treatment. Israel’s Teva has signed an agreement with Galena Biopharma to take its NeuVax early stage breast cancer treatment through its last stage trials and through to sales. Israel will be the location of at least four clinical trial sites for the NeuVax Phase III trials.
Israeli doctors save arm of rocket victim. Doctors at Rehovot’s Kaplan Medical Center have saved the arm of a man wounded in the Grad missile attack in Kiryat Malachi by Gaza terrorists. Boris Chomeh’s arm had been severed in the explosion in which three Israelis were killed and a baby seriously injured.
“Heart-up” Nation. The annual Innovations in Cardiovascular Interventions conference in Tel Aviv brought together 1100 participants from 40 countries to hear about the latest in ground breaking medical technology. Israeli companies produce 50% of the innovations that address the most vital organ in the human body.
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
Israeli hospitals treat everyone. This CNN report features Sheba Medical Centre in Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, which is treating both Israeli and Gazan children hurt in the latest conflict ignited by Hamas terrorists.
Israel treats UN soldiers wounded in Syria. Two Austrian peacekeeping soldiers were treated at Haifa’s Rambam hospital after being wounded in crossfire between Syrian government and rebel forces. It was the first time that Rambam had to deal with anybody hurt in the internal Syrian conflict.
Blind date with the Open University. Ronit Harpaz is nearing completion of her bachelor’s degree in psychology and sociology. What makes her story exceptional is not that she balanced mothering twin girls, work and academic studies but that she lost her vision in the middle of her academic studies.
Transforming lives makes business sense. Israeli Designed International Development (ID2) is a 3-day event at Mitzpe Ramon that will show how innovators and entrepreneurs can achieve sustainable profits from products that save and improve lives. It connects hi-tech and established companies to the developing world.
Funding Haitian agricultural students. The Canadian Friends of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem are raising funds to send students from earthquake-ravaged Haiti to the Hebrew Uni’s agricultural school. The goal is to collect enough money to support two or three students a year over the next decade.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Burning coal without making CO2. Scientists at Israel’s NewCO2Fuels are testing a Weizmann Institute method for turning brown coal into an environmentally friendly fuel source. The process uses highly focused solar rays to convert the carbon dioxide produced in the burning of the coal into more fuel and generate oxygen.
More sustainable products. Israel Chemicals Ltd. (ICL) has launched ICL Innovation Ltd., an Open Innovation program through which it will accelerate its development of sustainable new products and processes to drive its future growth. ICL will allocate several million dollars a year to fund the program.
“White” smell. Researchers at Israel’s Weizmann Institute have proved that combining large numbers of different distinct aromas produces a bland odour that has been named “olfactory white”. The discovery could be as useful as the discovery of white noise (mixed sounds) and white light (mixed colours).
Chess is a science. In a winning move, Israel’s University of Haifa, in collaboration with chess Grandmaster Boris Gelfand, has launched a program to develop a novel academic approach to the skills and culture of chess-playing that can in turn contribute to social and scientific development.
Yotpo is socially aware. Israeli start-up Yotpo provides a solution for companies to receive on-line reviews of their products – and a lot more besides. But during Operation Pillar of Defense, four of their ten employees were called up. Needless to say, the rest of Yotpo’s staff used their social skills to cover for their colleagues.
Three “typical” Israeli start-ups. This clever video highlights 3 popular Israeli smart-phone applications that sum up what Tel Aviv life is all about. But be sure to watch through to the humorous self-critical ending.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Sirens didn’t stop Israeli start-ups. 50 Israeli start-ups opened their doors to visitors at Tel Aviv’s Open Start-up event. Despite alarms sounding, and all having to take temporary shelter, Start-up Nation didn’t slow down. Thousands of Israeli start-ups continued to function, even under missile fire. Conduit even opened a temporary child-care center so its employees could bring in their kids because schools were closed.
Amazon likes Israel. Israel is important to Amazon not just for the business it gets, but also for the technology that Israeli companies are supplying the company. Chief Technical Officer Dr Werner Vogels told reporters “There are some excellent start-ups here, especially among start-ups developing for mobile”.
Charge your battery here. Despite troubles at Better Place, Israeli Energy and Water Minister Uzi Landau inaugurated Israel’s first-ever public electric vehicle charging station in Mitzpe Ramon. Landau drove an all-electric Renault Fluence from Ra’anana to the Eilat-Eilot International Renewable Energy Conference.
3D print merger makes $3bn Israeli company. The merger between Israeli 3D printer manufacturer Objet and its US rival Stratasys has been completed. The new company will continue to be called Stratasys but will be incorporated in Israel. It has assets valued at $3 billion.
Semi-conductor maker opens new Israeli centre. Global hi-tech giant KLA-Tencor Corporation has opened a new center in Yokne’am, in addition to its R&D, production, and sales center in the lower Galilee. The company has been growing steadily and wants to recruit new staff living in central Israel.
Fighting over Israeli engineers. There is apparently a major battle ensuing between Apple and Intel to recruit Israeli hi-tech employees who have been laid off as part of Texas Instruments’ worldwide redundancy program. Apple is desperate for skilled IT engineers to satisfy its plan to open a research & development centre in Israel.
Starting up in the Loft. (Thanks to Israel21c) Tel Aviv’s start-up workspace known as TechLoft has been host to 60 Israeli start-ups in its first year. Opened in September 2011, TechLoft joins a field of start-up spaces providing Internet access, printers, storage areas, a corporate address, mentors and a community of peers.
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT
Alanis Morissette wows Tel Aviv. Seven times Grammy award-winning singer Alanis Morissette refused to be bullied by anti-Israel hate mail. For those familiar with her signature song “Ironic” you may be amused that the Canadian-American’s concert at Tel Aviv’s Nokia Arena was sold-out and that the very next day – it rained!
An Art tour of Israel. (Thanks to Israel21c) Denver’s Mizel Museum of Jewish Art, Culture & History sponsored a special Keshet tour called “Israel, Art and the Jewish People”. It included Ein Hod artists village, the Holon Design museum and dance workshops and performances in Tel Aviv and Mitzpeh Ramon.
Let’s Party. (Thanks to Israel Seen) The Sheinkin Street Party was an appropriately hip way to celebrate the completion of the renovations to the trendiest area of Tel Aviv.
The film industry’s top Internet game. Israel’s Funtactix won this year’s Variety Entertainment App Award for “The Hunger Games Adventures”. Funtactix won in the category Best Entertainment IP-based Mobile Game: Award recognizing the overall best mobile game tied to a TV or film franchise.
THE JEWISH STATE
Trade Unionists see the other side of Israel. The British Prison Officers Association, Bakers Food and Allied Workers’ Union, GMB and USDAW, sent 17 delegates on a four-day trip organised by Trade Union Friends of Israel (Tufi). Perceptions were changed, as many only knew previously what was portrayed in the media.
Pro-Israel march in the Philippines. 300-400 Filipinos gathered in a busy Manila business district in support of Israel. They carried huge signs, Israeli flags, white and blue balloons, loudspeakers and sang songs in Hebrew, and even blew shofars.
Uncovering shipwrecks on Israel’s coast. (Thanks to Eli) A team of Israeli and International archaeologists have discovered the remains of a fleet of early-19th century ships and ancient harbour structures from the Hellenistic period (third to first century B.C.) at the city of Akko.
Good to be born in the Jewish State. The Economist Intelligence Unit – a sister company of The Economist (no lover of Israel) has published a study measuring which country will provide the best opportunities for a healthy, safe and prosperous life in the years ahead. Israel (20th) beats most European countries.
Israeli paramedics save choking cat. (Thanks to the Algemeiner) Magen David Adom’s response to a Tel Aviv fire found no fatalities but a cat was spotted suffering from smoke inhalation. It was treated with oxygen and after several minutes returned to its normal feline-self, but apparently failed to thank the MDA team.
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