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In the 4th May 2014 edition of Israel’s good news:
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
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Israel is the place to become a billionaire. A report by the UK’s Centre for Policy Studies (CPS) shows that after Hong Kong, Israel is the best place to become a “super-entrepreneur”. The CPS report analyzed billionaires on Forbes’ lists of the world’s richest people who earned their fortunes instead of inheriting them.
New Trade Offices in Asia, Africa and South America. Israel will open more trade attaché offices in Asia, Africa, and South America, to follow the growth of its trade balance. For 2018, Israel forecasts Asia buying 24.5% of its exports, the U.S. 20.3% and European Union 40%.
Venture capital up 53%. Israeli private high-tech firms raised $673 million in venture capital in the first quarter, up 53 percent from a year earlier. Foreign investment was the main reason for the increase.
Another Israeli company protects Soccer World Cup. Israel’s Risco Group has implemented a command and control system for the 44, 000-seat Arena Patanal World Cup stadium in Cuiabá, Brazil. In previous news, Israel’s Elbit Systems is providing a Hermes 900 unmanned aerial vehicles for the Brazilian Air Force.
Intel to invest billions in Israel. (Thanks to Israel21c) Intel has presented the Israeli government with an investment plan to upgrade its Kiryat Gat semiconductor-manufacturing facility. Economy Minister Naftali Bennett said that the investment could reach $6 billion. The project would require 1000 new employees.
US healthcare provider authorizes Brainsway treatment. UnitedHealth Group now offers the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment of Israel’s Brainsway to patients suffering from depression who have not responded to other antidepressant treatments.
Israel’s secret Internet success. (Thanks to Nevet) You probably haven’t heard of Israeli start-up iBario. It has kept away from the media as its software installation engine InstallBrain and advertising network RevenueHits earned $10 million last year, without any publicity. But now you know.
Better water quality for India and Paraguay. Israel’s Blue I Water Technologies is distributing its water quality analysis products and services to India and Paraguay. Blue I’s devices measure chlorine, pH, redox, turbidity, conductivity, pressure and temperature, transmitting online alarms if safe levels are exceeded.
Jerusalem boosts recycling by 60%. Jerusalem sanitation officials report a 60% increase in recycling in 2013 as compared to the previous year. 65, 881 tons of garbage was recycled in 2013 as compared to 40, 922 tons in 2012. 3, 000 new recycling bins receive paper, carton, metals, electronics, textiles and organic materials.
The number of Blue Flag beaches doubles. 21 Israeli beaches and two marinas have just received the Blue Flag international accolade for environmental excellence. In 2013 only nine Israeli beaches and two marinas reached the sufficient standard. This year, the Blue Flag was awarded to eight beaches in Netanya alone.
Jerusalem is the place to visit. (Thanks to Israel21c) Leading travel website TripAdvisor has released a new list citing the Top 10 Destinations on the Rise around the world, and ranks Jerusalem as the fourth most popular site to visit. There are over 5, 200 Jerusalem related posts on the global travel advice website.
La Traviata in Masada. Following the successes of Nabucco, Aida, Carmen and Turandot, the Israeli Opera will temporarily relocate Paris to the Judean desert. They will perform a new ravishing production of Verdi’s most popular opera at the footsteps of the majestic Mount Masada from June 12 – 17.
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SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
No need for a periscope. (Thanks to algemeiner.com) Israel Technion researchers have developed a new camera that enables divers and submarines to see above the surface of the water without a periscope. The Stella Maris (Marine Refractive Imaging Sensor) counters distortions from the dynamic refraction of water waves.
If you can imagine it – we can print it. (Thanks to Israel21c) Industrial designers Oded Marcus and Shaul Cohen have set-up Tel Aviv’s 3D Factory – a three-dimensional printing shop. It features a do-it-yourself ‘experience store’ where anyone can print an actual object from a computer design.
Israel is “the wi–fi nation”. It starts when you arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and are treated to free wifi. Then you get on the train; for over a year now, Israel Railways provides free wifi. The Kavim bus to work offers free wifi. Enter a restaurant in Tel Aviv and you will likely be served free wifi. It’s not the same in Europe or USA.
Ladybugs save Israeli sabras. Israeli scientists have released 150, 000 ladybugs into Northern Israel to get rid of cactus-eating parasites that are threatening Israeli sabra shrubs. The ladybugs were raised in the BioBee Biological Systems laboratories at Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu, near Beit She’an.
Excess heat makes fuel. Rehovot-based New CO2 Fuels (NCF) plans to use the waste heat released by steel, glass and ceramics factories to drive its innovative fuel production process. NCF currently uses solar energy to produce methanol in its proof of concept, but realized the value of a previously untapped energy source.
Turning jellyfish into paper towels. Cine’al Ltd., an Israeli nanotechnology start-up, is developing technology to turn jellyfish into Hydromash, Cine’al says that this super-absorbing strong, dry, flexible material is several times more absorbent and more biodegradable than the material used currently for disposable diapers.
The database of matter. Israeli start-up Consumer Physics is developing Scio – a unique handheld sensor that scans any object and tells you what it contains. For food, it reports carbohydrates, fats, calories etc. Medicines will reveal their molecular makeup. Results will also update a central database for future research. (See video)
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ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
V Wave heart device implanted in first patient. The implant-able shunt developed by Israel’s V Wave treats congestive heart failure patients by reducing pressure on the muscle controlling the blood flow between the heart chambers. The first patient to receive the shunt is already experiencing an improved condition.
Israeli Parkinson’s treatment is used in 40 countries. Japan’s Takeda has signed a deal to commercialize Teva’s innovative treatment for Parkinson’s disease, rasagiline, for use in Japan. It follows Takeda’s deal in Dec 2013 to develop Teva’s glatiramer acetate for the treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Relief for back pain sufferers. Israel’s Teva reported success in a Phase III clinical trial for its abuse-deterrent extended-release CEP-33237 treatment for chronic low back pain. The results showed significant improvement as measured by both weekly average Worst Pain Intensity and weekly Average Pain Intensity scores.
Reduced treatment times for Emphysema patients. Using the Alpha-P1 Glassia treatment from Israel’s Kamada, sufferers of inherited emphysema can reduce the weekly time taken for infusions down from 70 minutes to just 15. It greatly improves their quality of life.
Getting under your skin. (Thanks to NoCamels.com) Israeli biotech StartletDerma has developed a unique system for directing skin cosmetic ingredients deep within the skin where they can be most effective. Inocyte contains micro-injectors from the sea anemone to penetrate the skin and make channels for the cosmetics.
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