· Israeli Scientists have discovered how to genetically alter fast-growing tobacco plants to produce a natural compound known to fight malaria. Malaria was eradicated from Israel around 50 years ago but still affects half a billion people a year in Africa and East Asia, of whom about a million die. Professor Alexander Vainstein of Hebrew University has discovered a cheap way to produce the main ingredient of a malaria-fighting drug from tobacco plants.
· Even as several countries around the world struggle to integrate renewable energy solutions, The Israeli company, Better Place, has quietly built a network of 33 battery-switch stations throughout Israel and is on schedule to launch a fleet of Renault Fluence ZE electric vehicles (EV) in the second quarter. “We want to end global dependence on oil by 2020,” Better Place CEO, Shai Agassi told reporters last week, adding that he projects that from 8,000 – 10,000 electric cars will be using the networks his company has built in Israel and in Denmark by next year.
· Not before time, a law has been brought in to make it illegal for people to abandon their animals. A precedent indictment was filed this week at the Haifa Magistrates’ Court against a resident of Ussefiya who was charged with abandoning his dog , in contravention of the Animal Cruelty Prevention Law. The indictment is the result of extensive activity of the Ministry of Agriculture for enforcing this law dealing with both livestock and pets. Thousands of dogs are abandoned each year in Israel and often suffer cruelly, it is hoped that this law will encourage the owners of all animals, to act in a more responsible manner.
· According to the Wall Street Journal, Europe’s top technological city is – Tel Aviv! The statistics show that Tel Aviv beats London, Berlin and every other European city. It hosts 600 early stage companies. Access to venture capital is double that of USA and 20 times that of Europe.
· The Israeli Flower growers’ Association reported that Israeli farmers exported millions of flowers to Europe, North America and Asia for Valentine’s Day. The Flower Growers’ Association secretary general reported that there was a jump of 40-70 percent in demand for Israeli flowers in the run up to the Holiday of Love. Red was the most popular colour and roses the most popular flowers, followed by gerberas, anemones, and buttercups (ranunculus) which were all in high demand. It was reported that the Valentine’s Day sales would bring in some $ 10 million, with 90 percent of the sales coming from exports.
Yesterday the Jerusalem-based online-only publication, The Times of Israel, helmed by British-born David Horovitz, formerly editor and publisher of The Jerusalem Report and editor-in-chief at the Jerusalem Post was launched. In a blog post. He wrote,“The Times of Israel represents a determined effort, by a team of skilled, committed journalists, to report Israel, the region and the Jewish world accurately and engagingly.” He asserted that the publication would assert the interconnectedness of the global Jewish community, making it “a must-read, must-visit current affairs website for the Jewish people.” We strongly recommend that you read it.
(Thanks to ICEJ, Israel 21C, Imre, Israel Hayom & The shmooze))
Excellent new blog. Kol Hakavod
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