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Did You Know?

Israel engineers are behind the development of the largest communications router in the world, launched by Cisco.

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Israel aids the Philippines

Israel

Israeli aid delegations — IDF, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, IsraAID, and others — responded to the Philippines’ call for help in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan within the first 48 hours. The IDF and IsraAID set up field hospitals in the devastated areas.

IDF doctors and nurses even restored sight to four patients suffering from Pterygium (who could not afford the surgery in the Philippines).
In addition to medical aid, Israeli humanitarian personnel helped rebuild schools, set up clean water facilities, and provide food and clothing for the needy.
Parents of the first baby born in the Bogo City field hospital named their son, Israel, to honor the doctors.
More via Israel21c http://bit.ly/IsraAID
IDF Home Front Command Personnel Assist in Renovation of a School dammaged by the typhoomn in Bogo city in the Pilippines
Thanks to the IDF team in Philippines, the school year began as normal today. They repaired a school building, and taught its students some Hebrew along the way.
Video footage of the IDF's rescue delegation in Bogo City, the Philippines, where yesterday morning soldiers treated a 34-week-old premature baby who was in distress.

Israel’s Peres to Lead Business Delegation to Mexico; Will Meet Billionaire Carlos Slim

Peres

Israeli President Shimon Peres will lead a delegation of 80 companies to Mexico on an official state visit, including an audience with the country’s president, Enrique Pena Nieto, and its richest man, telecoms billionaire Carlos Slim.

As part of the visit there will be the first “Israel-Mexico Business conference” which will be opened by President Peres and President Nieto. The conference will take place in Mexico City, last two days and be attended 500 business leaders including the Israeli delegation, Mexican business leaders and the leading figures in Mexico’s economy.  The conference will include meetings between Israeli and Mexican business leaders and working tours for the Israeli delegation to their Mexican counterparts. The business group led by Carlos Slim will present to the Israeli delegation the range of activities and possibilities for cooperation with his companies, Grupo Carso and America Movil.
The business delegation includes 80 of Israel’s leading companies in the fields of security, cyber, UAV’s, technology, communication, water and energy, with representatives from Rafael, Teva, Amdocs, Netafim, Tamar Group, Strauss, Babcom, and Amiad, among others.
The trip begins next Tuesday and culminates with cutting the ribbon on Guadalajara International Book Fair 2013. Israel was chosen as guest of honor at the event, which is the Spanish-speaking world’s largest book fair, and the world’s second largest behind only Frankfurt’s annual confab. The Israeli stand will include David Grossman and Etgar Keret, Ronny Somek and Agi Mishol, Ivri Lider and Achinoam Nini and Nobel Chemistry Prize laureate Professor Ada Yonath. The Israeli delegation will host over 200 cultural activities across the city and present the best of Israeli culture.
In a statement, the President’s office said his diplomatic meetings will begin with a state welcome ceremony, including an honor guard and a diplomatic work meeting with President Nieto. Areas of concern include ways to strengthen the strategic, economic and security relations between Israel and Mexico, the peace process between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, and relations between Iran and Latin America. Peres will deliver a diplomatic speech to the Mexican parliament and then meet with the Speaker of the Parliament and with other senior government officials.
On Tuesday, the Jewish Community in Mexico City will host a dinner for the Israeli delegation to mark the beginning of the visit and Peres will meet with them again on Thursday.
Source: Algemeiner.com

“Israel Through Foreign Lenses” – 101 Faces of Israel

Israel
On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of Israel’s independence and International Friendship Day, The Diplomatic Club magazine launched the diplomatic photo exhibition “Israel through foreign lenses”. This extraordinary new exhibition displayed for the first time how foreign diplomats and journalists see Israel of the 21st century through the camera lens.

The Photographers:

Mr. Dev Sharan Sams – India,
Mr. Sachin Kumar Srivastava – India,
E. Siva Subramaniam Iyer – India,
Jeshima KY — India
Mr. Carlos Berruezo – Spain,
Mr. Mikel Marin – Spain,
Mr. Jonathan Goff – USA,
Mr. Noah Smith – USA
Ms. Pavlina Schultz – Czech Republic,
Mr. Niclas Maabari Skovbjerg – Denmark,
Mr. Sandor Pamuk – Hungary,
Ms. Yumi Ishido – Japan,
Mr. Luka Tomic – Bosnia and Herzegovina,
Ms. Nida Degutiene – Lithuania,
Ms. Charlotte Veldkamp – The Netherlands,
Mr. Jacek Olejnik – Poland,
Mr. Yoonsang Lee – Republic of Korea,
Ms. Olga Novytska – Ukraine

Israel aims to attract cyclists

Cyclists

Tourism Ministry launching campaign presenting country as destination for extreme sport tourism. ‘Israel has optimal conditions for cycling,’ says ministry’s director-general

Where do cyclists ride to when it becomes freezing in Europe?
The Tourism Ministry is seeking to turn Israel into a destination for cycling tourism, mainly extreme sport tourism, as part of the country’s efforts to develop new tourism channels and in light of the huge increase in cycling tourism around the world.
Eight journalists, six men and two women, from leading cycling magazines and websites will arrive in Israel this week. The eight, who are professional cyclists, will arrive with their private bicycles and take an extreme road trip from Jerusalem to Eilat through the Dead Sea and Mitzpe Ramon.
Meanwhile, the Tourism Ministry is launching a campaign on the Eurosport television channel which aims to present Israel as a destination for extreme sport tourism. The campaign, which costs some NIS 5 million (about $1.40 million), will include news updates (“spots”) about a bicycle competition in the Negev, a marathon in Jerusalem, extreme tourism in the desert, and more.
According to Tourism Ministry Director-General Amir Halevy, “Cycling tourism is a fast-developing field all over the world. While in Europe there are few hours of light and it’s cold, Israel has optimal conditions: A bright and pleasant weather most days of the year, and an infrastructure of tracks against the background breathtaking landscapes.
“If an island like Majorca can attract more than 80,000 cyclists every year, there is no reason why Israel shouldn’t succeed in bringing at least that number, especially while Europe is frozen.”
Source: Ynetnews.com

Jovella, the leading event of Israel's jewelry industry



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Where jewelry retailers come to find the most innovative designs and dazzling jewels.

"Everyone identifies Israel with diamonds because Israel is one of the three main diamond centers in the world," says Itzhak Bendor, managing director of the Israel Jewelry Manufacturers Association. After all, Israel's diamond exports total $7 billion dollars annually.

But as you'll see in this video, Israel's jewelry industry isn't only about the diamonds.

Some 100 exhibitors and 10,000 visitors came to this year's Jovella, the leading annual showcase for Israel's jewelry industry. Watch here to find the latest fashions and trends.

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World’s No. 1 DJ coming to Israel

Hardwell

Dutch music producer Robbert van de Corput, better known by his stage name Hardwell, to show off his renowned skills as disc jockey in Tel Aviv on December 19

After Tiesto and David Guetta, another nightclub star is headed to Israel: Hardwell, who will perform at Tel Aviv’s Exhibition Grounds on December 19 as part of the XL Nightlife Festival.
The Israeli audience will get a chance to see (and hear) why Hardwell, born Robbert van de Corput, is considered one of the world’s leading DJs in recent years, and was even crowned No. 1 in the world by British magazine DJ Mag.
Robbert van de Corput, 25, grew up in Breda, Holland. At the age of 13 he already signed a contract with a major Dutch label and began playing in clubs in Holland. He made his breakthrough outside Holland about four years ago.
In 2011, he launched his own radio show and podcast, “Hardwell On Air,” which received airtime on 25 international radio stations.
In recent years he has been part of many collaborations which created a huge buzz, like the “Zero 76″ mix with Dutch musician and DJ Tiesto or the remix for Rihanna’s huge hit, “Where Have You Been.” Twenty of his singles have reached the top of Europe’s most important charts.
Hardwell said recently that he did not feel stressed over his ranking. “As long as the fans know that I do the music I love and appreciate it, I’m fine. That’s what’s important to me.”
Source: Ynetnews.com

Celebrating Israeli Literature on Instagram



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Israel was selected to be the guest of honor in the International book fair in Guadalajara, Mexico in November 2013.

The Israeli President, Shimon Peres, will attend the opening ceremony, and some of Israel's leading writers, poets & artists will participate at the fair, which is the world's 2nd biggest book fair.

To celebrate Israel's special participation at the book fair, together with the @ig_israel instagram community(http://www.instagram.com/ig_israel), we asked people to take photos that have to do with reading & literature, upload them to instagram & tag them with #ig_israel_reading.

These are some of the photos that participated in the photo challenge. you can browse them on instagram, under the tag #ig_israel_reading and you can find some of them in this photo album: http://dld.bz/cUERN

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Foodies Loving Medjool Dates From Israel, Crop Thrives With Irrigation System

Medjool

Global foodies are clamoring for Israel’s Medjool dates, which are thriving because of intense irrigation made possible by new water treatment facilities,Bloomberg News reported on Thursday.

Bloomberg said that Israel’s success in the date business is also due to the branding effort behind the Medjool, especially by Hadiklaim, the Israeli date growers’ cooperative, positioning it “as an exotic delicacy.”
Bloomberg cited Mitch Berliner, who runs two farmers markets near Washington, D.C., as saying, “If there was one date variety that the average person would ask for by name it would be the Medjool.”
Medjool means “unknown” in Arabic, as it was one of several varieties of date palm, and the only one without a name, originally brought to California from Morocco as a blight hit the crop there in the 1950s.
Medjool dates account for 1% of the 7.9 million ton global date market, which is led by Egypt and Iran, but it is the main varietal among the 32,000 tons of dates grown in Israel annually.
Among the 14,500 tons of dates Israel exported last year, about 10,000 were Medjools, agriculture officials told Bloomberg. Overall, the volume of Israel’s date exports jumped 23 percent last year to 247 million shekels ($70 million), reaching 27 countries across five continents. The crop has also become a frequent target of campaigns to boycott the Jewish state.
The growth in production is due to innovation in irrigation and creating new water sources, beginning with the Netafim Irrigation Co.’s development of a drip irrigation system 50 years ago, Larry Duane Geohring, an agricultural researcher at Cornell University, told Bloomberg.
“Israel is a leader in water technologies, recycling and conservation,” said Geohring. The United Nations has identified Israel as a leader in wastewater recycling. Mekorot, Israel’s national water company, says Israel recycles 75% of its wastewater, followed by Spain, at just 12%.
Source: Algemeiner.com

You gotta check out this contestant’s audition from the X Factor Israel

Rose Fostanes

Her name is Rose Fostanes and she’s singing ‘You and I’ and You and I both know, SHE’S AMAZING!



Rose Fostanes - You And I
ŚœŚŚȘŚš Ś”ŚšŚ©ŚžŚ™ Ś©Śœ Ś”ŚȘŚ›Ś Ś™ŚȘ: http://reshet.tv/shows/the_x_factor_i...
ŚœŚąŚšŚ•Ś„ Ś”ŚšŚ©ŚžŚ™ Ś‘Ś™Ś•Ś˜Ś™Ś•Ś‘: https://www.youtube.com/user/XFactorI...
ŚœŚ”ŚŠŚ˜ŚšŚ€Ś•ŚȘ ŚœŚąŚšŚ•Ś„ Ś”ŚšŚ©ŚžŚ™: http://www.youtube.co/subscription_ce...
ŚœŚ”ŚŠŚ˜ŚšŚ€Ś•ŚȘ ŚœŚ€Ś™Ś™ŚĄŚ‘Ś•Ś§ Ś©Śœ Ś”ŚȘŚ›Ś Ś™ŚȘ:https://www.facebook.com/XFactorIsrae...

Sunday, November 17, 2013

NBC’s Dr. Snyderman Visits IDF Medics in Philippines, Leaves ‘in Awe’

Israel, Typhoon, Philippines, Aid, IDF

NBC’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Nancy Snyderman, said she left “in awe” of Israeli doctors and medics after paying a visit to an IDF field hospital serving victims of Typhoon Haiyan, which recently ravaged the Philippines.

The base was set up in Bogo, a small village on the northern island of Mactan, a location the Israelis selected because the locals “were poor and their needs were great”, according to the IDF Surgeon General in charge.
“As I left, I walked away in awe of this group of doctors: physician humanitarians, and medicine at its very best,” Dr. Snyderman wrote for NBC.
On its first day in operation the field hospital treated 370 patients, including 150 children, Israeli media reported.
“The Israeli team, which includes doctors, paramedics and nurses, has been performing surgeries and assisting with deliveries. One of the women whose delivery was assisted by an Israeli team has decided to name her newborn baby Israel,” Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot said.
Describing her experiences at the IDF facility Snyderman noted that she had seen the IDF in action before, in Haiti, following the country’s devastating earthquake of 2010.
“Smart. Sophisticated. Secure. This was what I had experienced with the IDF before,” she said. “But now I was impressed with something else: the place they had selected. This wasn’t a site where trauma surgeons were needed — those injuries in other towns were being addressed.  What the people of Bogo needed was good, solid medical care.  They were already living in poverty when the typhoon decimated their fragile infrastructure.”
So far over 3600 people have been reported killed by the typhoon, and thousands more are missing or have been displaced.
Source: Algemeiner.com

IDF Field Hospital in the Philippines

IDF Humanitarian Delegation Arrives in the Philippines



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Video of the IDF's Humanitarian delegation arriving in Bogo City, the Philippines. They will be providing medical aid as well as search-and-rescue services to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

IDF's Rescue Mission to the Philippines: First Day Recap



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After a long journey halfway across the world, the #IDF #rescue team has finally arrived from #Israel to the storm-ravaged #Philippines. Thousands are waiting for them. As we speak, the field hospital is going up. In it, 500 patients will be able to receive the help they need.

First baby was born in the field hospital established by the IDF in the Philippines



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As gratitude to the expedition members the baby's father named him "Israel".

Today, November 15, 2013, at 13:15 pm Philippines time, the first baby was born in the field hospital established by the IDF humanitarian aid delegation to the Philippines.
The baby was born with the assistance of the delegation's Gynecological medical team which consists of three gynecological doctors and two midwifes. The baby boy was born early during his mother's eighth pregnancy month at 2.150 Kg.

The Opening of the IDF Field Hospital in the Philippines



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Video of the IDF's field hospital opening its services to those in need in Bogo City, the Philippines. They will be providing medical aid as well as search-and-rescue services to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan.

Israel, India ties grow as 2 nations do business

Drip irrigation, illustration (Photo: Hanania Herman, GPO) Photo: Hanania Herman, GPO
Drip irrigation, illustration (Photo: Hanania Herman, GPO) Photo: Hanania Herman, GPO

Conference brings together business people, politicians, academics from both countries to talk technology, agriculture, increase cooperation. ‘Economic potential between Israel, India, specifically within high tech sector, is huge,’ Israeli attendee says

The ties between Israel and India are growing stronger each year. India is buying Israeli companies and establishing more joint ventures between the nations.
“We work with small and marginal farmers and we have a lot of problems in terms of water and productivity,” Dr. Suchita Bhandari, the business head of Bold Tree Tech Ltd.
“We find Israel has managed these things very well so we are looking to have the transfer of technology from Israel to India.” Some 80% of India’s population of 1.1 billion works in agriculture.
“We do agro-forestry, so we are good with trees,” she said. “But we are looking to increase the production of the vegetable crops in between. I am looking for better seeds, better water management, better harvesting, and better value chain management.”
She was one of 23 Indian businesspeople, politicians and academics who met their counterparts in Israel this week for the sixth India-Israel forum, sponsored by the Aspen Institute of India and Tel Aviv University. The meeting aims to deepen ties between the countries, and in some cases, to cut out the middle man.

Austrian eyes 3rd daily flight to Tel Aviv

Austrian

Marking 50 years of flying to Israel, airline looking to boost capacity on route as early as next summer once open skies agreement with Europe takes hold

Austrian Airlines is looking to boost capacity on its route to Tel Aviv as early as next summer once an open skies agreement between Israel and Europe takes hold, a senior official at Austrian said on Wednesday.
The open skies deal starts to go into effect next April and the relaxation of restrictions and quotas on flights between Israel and European Union countries is expected to increase competition and help Israel’s economy.
Stephan Linhart, director of international sales at Austrian, said the Austrian and Israeli governments have yet to approve more flight frequencies but he believes an announcement will be made very soon.
Austrian, owned by Lufthansa, flies two roundtrip flights a day between Tel Aviv and Vienna. Linhart said a third flight a day would be most likely since the route already uses Airbus A321s and a shift to wide-body Boeing 767s would mean fewer passengers and higher operating costs.
To be able to add another flight by the summer, Austrian would need at least three months notice from the government. If not, then the extra daily flight would have to wait until 2015, he said. It also needs approval from upper management but the carrier has discussed the issue since the open skies deal was forged earlier this year.
Israel is Austrian’s third largest intercontinental market after the United States and Japan and one of the airline’s most profitable, Linhart told Reuters at an event to mark 50 years of flying to Israel.
A third daily flight, he noted, could be used to attract more Israelis to Vienna.
Linhart said he did not see a bid by Israel’s government to boost the number of low-cost carriers as a threat.
“It’s also an opportunity,” he said. “It increases demand and increases passenger potential. We are working in a highly competitive market … so this would just add to that.”
Source: Ynetnews.com

Decoding graffiti in Israel



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Join Guy Sharett in Tel Aviv's Florentine neighborhood for a most unusual language lesson.

Linguist Guy Sharett discovered a fun way to teach Hebrew and Israeli culture all at the same time, with walking tours focused on deciphering graffiti in Tel Aviv.
By analyzing the Hebrew writing on the walls with his clients, Sharett provides a hip taste of contemporary Israeli culture as part and parcel of his language lessons.

You won't find these sights in a travel book, so keep your eyes open as you stroll down the narrow streets of the colorful Florentine quarter of the White City.

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Apple reportedly buys Israeli 3D sensing company PrimeSense

Apple

The appeal for Apple is the company’s advanced body-movement tracking technology that was originally used for the Xbox 360, a popular gaming device.

Israeli news and financial newspaper Calcalist reported Sunday that Apple has acquired PrimeSense, a motion-tracking company based in Tel Aviv, in a $345 million deal.
PrimeSense is best known for licensing the hardware design and chip used in Microsoft’s Kinect motion-sensing system for the Xbox 360 from 2010.
The Israeli 3D sensing company with offices in Israel, North America, Japan, Singapore, Korea, Chinatown and Taiwan, provides products in the area of sensory inputs for consumer and commercial markets.
PrimeSense’s main appeal to Apple is its advanced body-movement tracking technology, a report by technology website Slashgear said, adding that one of its newer implementations, Capri, has the potential to be used in future iPhone and iPad versions.
A rumor, based on the report by Slashgear, is that Apple intends to use the PrimeSense technology for a television project that would use a streaming smart TV system using gestures rather than a remote.
Another speculation is that PrimeSense’s sensor system could be used In Apple’s smartwatch project (unofficially called the iWatch), Slashgear said.
According to Calcalist, PrimeSense has raised $85 million from Israeli and U.S. venture capital funds such as Canaan Partners Global, Gemini Israel and Genesis Partners.
“We are focused on building a prosperous company while bringing 3D sensing and natural interaction to the mass market in a variety of markets such as interactive living room and mobile devices,” a spokeswoman for PrimeSense said. “We do not comment on what any of our partners, customers or potential customers are doing and we do not relate to rumours or recycled rumours.”
The acquisition of PrimeSense would be Apple’s second purchase of an Israeli company. It bought flash storage chip maker Anobit in January 2012.
Source: Haaretz.com

French president Francois Hollande shows off his Hebrew on arrival to Israel

Hollande

French president, Francois Hollande, arrived in Israel today for a 3 day visit, on arrival, he decided to try out his Hebrew. #Success, we appreciate it Francois.




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Protecting Israel: One Year Since Operation Pillar of Defense



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Today, the IDF marks one year since it launched Operation Pillar of Defense, a widespread campaign designed to combat Gaza terrorism and defend Israeli living under rocket fire. One year later, the threat of rocket attack from Gaza has not ceased. We will continue to protect the people of Israel.

Israeli Clinicians Develop Novel Way to Needle

Innovation

Fear needles? Well fear no more–Hebrew University students and Hadassah Medical Center clinicians have come up with a novel solution.

They “created a semi-automatic handheld device for rapid and safe IV insertion. Called SAGIV, the device uses infrared sights and electrical sensors to identify veins, insert the needle into the correct location, and withdraw it in a single, rapid robotic movement,” writes the website Nocamels.com, after interviewing Dr. Yotam Almagor, the group’s clinical expert.
“Inserting an IV is a demanding procedure, and many times children need to be pricked five, six or more than 10 times for successful insertion,” Dr. Almagor was quoted as saying. “This leads to a lot of pain and frustration.”
The group’s prototype has already been tested successfully on children at the pediatric ward of Hadassah Medical Center.
“We had a lot of excited parents asking that we use the device,”  Dr. Almagor saod. “Children who used to be pricked numerous times in every visit can now be connected in a single attempt.”
Source: Algemeiner.com
Watch a video of how it works below:
Students at the Hebrew University Biodesign program develop a handheld device for rapid and safe IV insertion

Biodesign is a multi-disciplinary, team-based approach to medical innovation, created by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Center in partnership with Stanford University. The program takes outstanding medical fellows, bioengineering and business graduate students and tutors them in the science and practice of bringing a medical innovation to the market.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

IDF Stories: Louis Miller, Paratrooper



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When Louis Miller first visited Israel in 2007, he decided that he was going to be a paratrooper in the IDF. Five years later, he did it. Watch him fulfill his dream.

For more from the IDF:
http://www.idfblog.com/
http://twitter.com/idfspokesperson/
http://www.facebook.com/idfonline/
http://www.idf.il/english/

IsraAID sends team after Philippines typhoon kills at least 1,200

Typhoon

IsraAID, an Israeli humanitarian aid organization, is preparing to send a team consisting of medical, trauma and relief professionals to help those affected.

One of the strongest typhoons ever to make landfall devastated the central Philippines, killing more than 1,000 people in one city alone and 200 in another province, the Red Cross estimated on Saturday, as reports of high casualties began to emerge.
A day after Typhoon Haiyan churned through the Philippine archipelago in a straight line from east to west, rescue teams struggled to reach far-flung regions, hampered by washed out roads, many choked with debris and fallen trees.
The death toll is expected to rise sharply from the fast-moving storm, whose circumference eclipsed the whole country and which late on Saturday was heading for Vietnam.
Among the hardest hit was coastal Tacloban in central Leyte province, where preliminary estimates suggest more than 1,000 people were killed, said Gwendolyn Pang, secretary general of the Philippine Red Cross, as water surges rushed through the city.
“An estimated more than 1,000 bodies were seen floating in Tacloban as reported by our Red Cross teams,” she told Reuters. “In Samar, about 200 deaths. Validation is ongoing.”
She expected a more exact number to emerge after a more precise counting of bodies on the ground in those regions.
IsraAID, an Israeli-based humanitarian organization, said it was preparing to send a team from Israel early in the coming week to join forces with local NGOs and UN agencies in reaching out to treat the hundreds of thousands affected by the Super Storm.
“Our local counterparts in the most devastated areas of Leyte and Samar islands are reporting that over 90% of houses collapsed,” IsraAID Chairman Shachar Zahavi said. “IsraAID is aiming to send a team consisting of medical, trauma and relief professionals and will aim its initial focus in…Tacloban City in Leyte” among other sites.
Witnesses said bodies covered in plastic were lying on the streets. Television footage shows cars piled atop each other.
“The last time I saw something of this scale was in the aftermath of the Indian Ocean Tsunami,” said Sebastian Rhodes Stampa, head of the U.N. Disaster Assessment Coordination Team sent to Tacloban, referring to the 2004 earthquake and tsunami.
“This is destruction on a massive scale. There are cars thrown like tumbleweed and the streets are strewn with debris.”
The category 5 “super typhoon” weakened to a category 4 on Saturday, though forecasters said it could strengthen again over the South China Sea en route to Vietnam.
Authorities in 15 provinces in Vietnam have started to call back boats and prepare for possible landslides. Nearly 300,000 people were moved to safer areas in two provinces alone – Da Nang and Quang Nam – according to the government’s website.
The Philippines has yet to restore communications with officials in Tacloban, a city of about 220,000. A government official estimated at least 100 were killed and more than 100 wounded, but conceded the toll would likely rise sharply.
The national disaster agency has yet to confirm the toll but broken power poles, trees, bent tin roofs and splintered houses littered the streets of the city about 580 km (360 miles) southeast of Manila.
‘It was like a tsunami’
The airport was nearly destroyed as raging seawaters swept through the city, shattering the glass of the airport tower, leveling the terminal and overturning nearby vehicles.
“Almost all houses were destroyed, many are totally damaged. Only a few are left standing,” said Major Rey Balido, a spokesman for the national disaster agency.
Local television network ABS-CBN showed images of looting in one of the city’s biggest malls, with residents carting away everything from appliances to suitcases and grocery items.
Airport manager Efren Nagrama, 47, said water levels rose up to four metres (13 ft) in the airport.
“It was like a tsunami. We escaped through the windows and I held on to a pole for about an hour as rain, seawater and wind swept through the airport. Some of my staff survived by clinging to trees. I prayed hard all throughout until the water subsided.”
Across the country, about a million people took shelter in 37 provinces after President Benigno Aquino appealed to those in the typhoon’s path to leave vulnerable areas.
“For casualties, we think it will be substantially more,” Aquino told reporters.
Officials started evacuating residents from low-lying areas, coastlines and hilly villages as early as three days before the typhoon struck on Friday, officials said. But not all headed the call to evacuate.
“I saw those big waves and immediately told my neighbors to flee,” said Floremil Mazo, a villager in southeastern Davao Oriental province.
Meteorologists said the impact may not be as strong as feared because the storm was moving so quickly, reducing the risk of flooding and landslides from torrential rain, the biggest causes of typhoon casualties in the Philippines.
Ferry services and airports in the central Philippines remained closed, hampering aid deliveries to Tacloban, although the military said three C-130 transport planes managed to land at its airport on Saturday.
At least two people were killed on the tourist destination island of Cebu, three in Iloilo province and another three in Coron town in southwestern Palawan province, radio reports said.
“I never thought the winds would be that strong that they could destroy my house,” LynLyn Golfan of Cebu said in a television interview while sifting through the debris.
By Saturday afternoon, the typhoon was hovering 765 km west of San Jose in southwestern Occidental Mindoro province, packing winds of a maximum 185 kph, with gusts of up to 220 kph.
The storm lashed the islands of Leyte and Samar with 275-kph wind gusts and 5-6 meter (15-19 ft) waves on Friday before scouring the northern tip of Cebu province. It weakened slightly as it moved west-northwest near the tourist island of Boracay, later hitting Mindoro island.
Haiyan was the second category 5 typhoon to hit the Philippines this year after Typhoon Usagi in September. An average of 20 typhoons strike every year, and Haiyan was the 24th so far this year.
Last year, Typhoon Bopha flattened three towns in southern Mindanao, killing 1,100 people and causing damage of more than $1 billion.
Source: Haaretz.com

Israeli invention may spare visit to doctor

Tyco

New device developed by Tyto company can perform almost complete checkup of body and send results to physician, who will be able to make prognosis without meeting patient. Marketing of device, which is expected to cost $200, to begin next year



Gal Gadot - Israeli actress and model







Gal Gadot (Hebrew: Ś’Śœ Ś’Ś“Ś•ŚȘ‎; born April 30, 1985) is an Israeli actress and model. She won the Miss Israel title in 2004 and went on to represent Israel at the 2004 Miss Universe beauty pageant. Gadot is known for her role as Gisele Yashar in The Fast and the Furious film series.

Gadot was born and grew up in Rosh HaAyin, Israel. She has stated that she was brought up in a "very Jewish, Israeli family environment". At the age of 19, she attended and won the 2004 Miss Israel competition. After winning, she travelled to Ecuador to compete in the Miss Universe pageant. She did not place in the top 15 and returned to Israel to work as a model. She eventually made the move to Hollywood and became an actress. Gadot married her boyfriend, Israeli businessman Yaron Versano, during the filming of Fast & Furious, on September 28, 2008. At the beginning of November 2011, Gadot and Versano welcomed their first baby girl, Alma. She is an avid motorcycle rider. She owns a black 2006 Ducati Monster-S2R. At the age of 20, Gadot joined the Israeli Army. Throughout her two-year service term as sports trainer in the Israel Defense Forces, she continued to work as a model.

In 2007, she took a part in the Maxim photo shoot "Women of the Israeli army," which focused on Israeli models who served in the IDF. Gadot's photo was on the invitation to the launch party, and she featured on the cover of the New York Post. Since 2008, Gadot has been a leading model for Castro, one of the largest Israeli clothing brands. Her height is 175 cm (5 ft 9 in). In April 2012, Shalom Life ranked her Number 5 on its list of “the 50 most talented, intelligent, funny, and gorgeous Jewish women in the world."

In 2008, Gadot played the lead in the Israeli drama Bubot ("Dolls"). She appeared in Fast & Furious alongside co-stars Vin Diesel and Paul Walker, having beaten six other actresses for the role. In 2010, Gadot had a small role in the action-adventure Knight and Day, which starred Tom Cruise and Cameron Diaz. Earlier in the same year, she had a small role in the movie Date Night as Natanya, Holbrooke's (Mark Wahlberg) Israeli girlfriend. April 2011 brought her back to the The Fast & the Furious franchise, reprising her character in Fast Five. In May 2013, Gadot again played Gisele Yashar, in Fast & Furious 6.

Report: Israeli Actress Gal Gadot Tipped for Hollywood’s ‘Wonder Woman’ Role in 2015 Batman-Superman Film

Gal Gadot

Female crime fighters on the big screen should watch out, as IDF combat-trained actress Gal Gadot is atop a short list to play ‘Wonder Woman’ in a 2015 ‘Justice League’ reunion film being planned to star Ben Affleck, as Batman, and Henry Cavill, as Superman, Variety reported.

After the quick jump from Miss Israel 2004 to star of the ‘Fast and Furious’ franchise, Gadot, 28, 5’9″, is up for the role against Elodie Yung and Olga Kurylenko, the report adds. The casting description is for “tall, brunette, athletic and exotic,” Variety said. Directed by ‘Man of Steel‘ filmmaker Zack Snyder, the Batman-Superman feature opens worldwide on July 17, 2015.
Industry insiders are already betting on the Israeli. At BroadwayWorld, which covered the Variety exclusive, J. Evert Jones, a “top commenter” from Vendor Direct Solutions, wrote in: “Don’t sleep on Gal Gadot – Ś’Śœ Ś’Ś“Ś•ŚȘ!” referring to the entertainment industry refrain of “I’ll sleep on it, and maybe decide tomorrow,” and miss the opportunity.
“She would be to Wonder Woman what Christopher Reeve was to Superman,” Jones said emphatically, referring to the Hollywood action movie ideal, when one actor becomes inseparable from a famous role, which helps in financing subsequent installments.
For Gadot, who auditioned for a role in 2008 James Bond film ‘Quantum of Solace,’ the chance to join a superhero blockbuster could boost her Hollywood star, especially as ‘Fast and Furious’ has already completed its sixth installment.
In an interview with The Algemeiner in May, Gadot spoke about how she felt representing Israel in Hollywood, “When it comes to Israel there is a lot of misconception. Some people still think that the Israelis ride around on camels. It is important for me to show Israel on its true side as a positive, pluralistic country. Israel is full of interesting culture and liberal people. Israel is a beautiful place with lots of heart and meaning. I am proud to call it my home.”
Gadot lives in Neve Tzedek and is married to an Israeli-Dutch hoteliernamed Yaron Varsano. Beside Hollywood features, she’s the celebrity spokeswoman for Israeli clothing brand Castro and Vine Vera skin care products.
In the interview, she said, “I have much love for Israel. It is a place that warms my heart, it is my home. However, I don’t feel like I represent Israel in Hollywood, I represent myself. I am not an Israeli ambassador yet.”
Being cast as Wonder Woman would put her in that spotlight, as a role model to millions, but she said her Jewish identify is strong.
“To me the Jewish identity means family, the holidays, the traditions, and home,” she told The Algemeiner.
Source: Algemeiner.com

Top Chefs Face Off in First-Ever IDF Cooking Competition



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The IDF brings health back to the forefront of its kitchens in its first-ever healthy cooking competition.


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American LGBT leaders explore partnerships in Israel

Gay Rights Israel

American LGBT leaders visited the Gay Center in Tel Aviv as part of a seminar in Israel aimed at exploring partnerships with their Israeli counterparts.

The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender leaders — from advocacy organizations, government and academia — visited the center on Monday, the first day of their weeklong mission. The center is owned and operated by the city of Tel Aviv.
“None of us are aware of another municipality where they are solely funding the LGBT community center,” said Malcolm Lazin, executive director of the Equality Forum, a national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus.
Lazin is leading the delegation, which along with exploring partnerships and collaborations with their Israeli counterparts is learning about the difficult issues facing Israel and the region. The seminar is under the auspices of Project Interchange, a nonprofit educational institute of the American Jewish Committee.
Lazin and the LGBT seminar participants learned Tuesday that common law marriage for same-sex couples is recognized in Israeli courts, though they cannot be married in Israel. The group is scheduled to meet with Israeli jurists to discuss Israel’s approach to marriage recognition.
“The people in our group came here recognizing Israel is more progressive, but we’re learning what that really means,” Lazin said.
Other participants in the seminar include Kevin Naff, editor and co-owner of the Washington Blade, an LGBT news publication; Kirk Fordham, executive director of Gill Action, which provides resources to individuals and organizations working to advance equality; and Gregory Angelo, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans, which represents gay conservatives and allies.

String Bridge - A New Jerusalem Landmark



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String Bridge - A New Jerusalem Landmark

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Turkish Energy Minister: ‘Turkey is Interested in Israeli Gas’

Israeli Gas

Turkey is interested in playing a large role in exporting Israel’s gas deposits, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz told an energy conference in Istanbul, Israeli business daily Globes reported on Thursday.

“Turkey is interested in Israeli gas,” Yildiz said, adding that “although there are political problems, they are solvable.”
At The Economist’s European Energy Summit, Israeli, Turkish, and foreign companies discussed connecting Israel’s Leviathan gas field to southern Turkey via a pipeline that would cost between $2 billion and $3 billion and could supply up to 10 billion cubic meters (BCM) of natural gas a year to Turkey.
Most of the gas would be used by Turkey, and some would probably be sent from Turkey to Greece and other EU countries.
Turkey has no gas reserves of its own, and currently imports 44 BCM a year, two-thirds of which comes from Russia and the rest comes from Azerbaijan and Iran, as well as expensive liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Algeria, Globes said.
APCO Worldwide Istanbul managing director Zeynep Dereli said that the project would be cost effective for Turkey at a natural gas price of $10 per million BTU, Globes reported from another energy conference, at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore last week.
In September, a Turkish pipeline operator Turcas Petrol also “volunteered” to help Israel get its natural gas to Europe, proposing to develop and construct a $2.5 billion, 470 km pipeline to connect the country to Israel’s Leviathan natural gas platform.
A Turkish pipeline project would compete against another possible route, through Cyprus, which has closer relations with Israel.
Last week, Globes reported that Eli Groner, Israel’s Economic Attache to the U.S, said that Israel’s commercial and diplomatic relations with Cyprus and Greece are becoming closer as they work together on issues related to the natural gas, as well as collaborate to combat terror threats.
In August, Israel’s Minister for Energy and Water Resources Silvan Shalom  signed a three-way agreement with Greece and Cyprus relating to interconnecting electricity grids, protecting natural gas deposits and desalinizing sea water. One proposed route for the export of the natural gas is to Cyprus, then to Greece.
Source: Algemeiner.com