On the other hand
FIFA world cup competitions, known as Mondial here, are in full swing with teams from many countries striving to become champions of soccer…writes Michael Kuttner.
Israel may not be participating but in other competitive fields it is striving to fulfill its goal of being world leaders.
ISRAELI DRONES TO FLY IN GERMANY
In what must be yet another ironical twist of Jewish history the German Bundestag has approved a US$1.18 billion deal to lease Israeli drones for a nine-year period until locally produced European drones become available.
About 100 German soldiers will be trained in the use of the Israeli drones at the Tel Nof Air force base. Who would have imagined this a mere seventy-three years ago?
UK ECONOMY BOOSTED BY TRADE DEALS WITH ISRAEL
Technology partnerships between the UK and Israel is estimated to impact Britain’s economy by hundreds of millions of dollars, and help Israeli companies gain more access to global markets, according to a new report.
The report by the UK Israel Tech Hub — an initiative of the British Embassy in Israel that promotes partnerships in technology and innovation between the two countries — said the hub has led to 175 tech partnerships in deals worth £85 million ($113 million), adding this could help boost the UK economy by potentially £800 million ($1.1 billion).
ISRAELI STUDENTS INVOLVED IN AMAZING DRONE INNOVATION
A team of students from Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev are developing a personal security app to enable local authorities to respond quicker to emergencies.
The app will provide the infrastructure for operating a fleet of security drones. App users who feel threatened (walking down a dark street alone, for example) will be able to summon a drone that will transmit live video images to a person of their choosing or public safety entities.
ANOTHER MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH
A nanotech system invented in Israel for transporting anticancer drugs specifically in pediatric patients has been shown to slow tumor growth and prolong life expectancy in engineered mice by 42 percent. In most of the Western world, cancer is the primary cause of death in children over the age of one.
The new system meets an unmet need because existing chemotherapy treatments for adult cancer patients are not particularly effective for children due to differences in their physiology and in the way pediatric cancer cells grow and spread. In fact, conventional chemotherapy can cause severe damage to an ill child.
WELCOME TO ISRAEL
A surprise awaited participants from a recent Taglit group arriving at Ben Gurion Airport. Another unique experience not likely to be repeated at any other airport terminal in the world.
On the soccer world cup an Australian sports commentator said after Peru defeated Australia 2-0 “the Socceroos were the best of the worst teams”. Australia cant compete with the overpaid players in other countries, our isolation including being part of an easier zone draw group of nations and our “small” population of only 25 million. But at least Australia got into the competition.