Monday, June 6, 2022

Toxic Romney. Good News Israel (Edited.)

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Toxic Mitt Romney glows in the dark:
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Mitt Romney Says It’s Time To Prepare For A Nuclear Strike

(JustPatriots.com)- Senator Mitt Romney penned yet another op-ed last week, this time in the New York Times, where he argued that the United States must prepare for the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons.

In the time he’s been in the US Senate, Mitt Romney has written more op-eds in newspapers than he has written legislation in the Senate. If Mitt wants to be a newspaper columnist, maybe he should resign his seat and let someone who wants to be a member of the US Senate take his place.

In his op-ed, Romney sets up different arguments “some” are making and then proceeds to offer his counter-arguments to each of these hypothetical arguments.

Some say we should “pre-emptively restrain Ukraine from routing the Russian military.” But Romney says the “free nations” should continue to support Ukraine’s defense of its country because if we don’t, Putin will “inevitably” “devour” our other allies.

But, Romney warns, if a “delusional” Putin is “cornered,” he might resort to a tactical nuclear strike. And if that happens the US and NATO have several options to choose, including a nuclear response or placing troops in Ukraine.

Romney also wants the United States to “confront” China and any other country that doesn’t back his warmongering fantasy, giving them the same warning George W. Bush gave after 9/11: “You are either with us, or are with Russia – you cannot be both.”

Romney pretending he’s George Patton at a time when Americans by and large oppose getting dragged into a war with Russia seems ill-advised.

Then again, Mitt Romney has always been a bit of a chicken hawk when it comes to sending Americans to fight in wars – a prospect neither Romney nor any of his sons have ever faced since none of them has ever served in the military.

It’s also possible that Mitt Romney is setting the stage for another run for the White House by carving out name for himself as a “pro-war” Republican among the sea of non-interventionist, America First alternatives.

Sure, he justifies his op-ed by citing Russia readying its nuclear arsenal and the warnings from CIA Director William Burns that Putin might deploy tactical nuclear weapons despite there being no “practical evidence” that he would.

But even without that, Mitt Romney would be advocating for escalating the conflict by getting the US and NATO directly involved.

He remains one of a dying breed of Republican politicians who has never met a war he didn’t want other Americans to fight.

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Israel is like a powerful magnet, attracting global demand for its innovations and assistance.  The European Union is negotiating for Israeli natural gas. Israel is partnering Greece for innovation and research. Israeli robots are caring for seniors in New York.  Israeli technology is growing crops in Africa and providing water in India. Israel's economic ties has extended to Arab countries that don't even have formal diplomatic relations with it. Meanwhile, arrivals at Ben Gurion Airport include young Moroccan leaders, the Governor of Arizona, OECD educators, hundreds of new Ethiopian immigrants and hundreds of thousands of tourists. Finally, yet another international embassy is to open in Jerusalem.
 

In the 5th May 22 edition of Israel’s good news, the highlights include:
 

 

 
 
ISRAEL’S MEDICAL ACHIEVEMENTS
 
Ketamine as an antidepressant. Scientists at Israel’s Weizmann Institute and in Germany, have clarified the molecular cascade triggered by ketamine, that leads to its sustained antidepressant effects. They found that the gene Kcnq2 enables potassium ions to pass through the brain, maintaining the activity and stability of neurons.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-german-study-hopes-to-pave-way-for-use-of-ketamine-as-an-antidepressant/
 
Hi-tech blood cell analysis. Report and fascinating new video showing the features of the X100 Microscope and Decision Support System from Israel’s Scopio Labs (see here previously).
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/scopio-labs-cell-microscope/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FT3vF1UT4HM
 
$30 million for digital health. Israel has selected 19 programs for a new digital health initiative. They include test sharing, endoscopy videos for R&D, and making data on mental health and midwifery more accessible. The databases used are anonymized and better access should contribute to more breakthroughs in Israeli health tech.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-approves-19-programs-for-30-million-digital-health-initiative/
 
An amazing life - Michael Sela. Professor Michael Sela, formerly the sixth president of Israel’s Weizmann Institute, has passed away at the age of 98. Prof Sela co-invented Copaxone to treat MS, Erbitux for cancer, and other treatments. He helped create the field of immunology, won numerous awards, and spoke nine languages.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328454
 
Identical twins give birth on same day. Identical twin sisters, Yael and Avital gave birth at Shaare Zedek Medical Center to their fourth babies (both boys) on the same day. Each already had two girls and a boy. And previously, a set of twins were born at Hadassah Medical Center, at 2:22am on the 22nd of February 2022.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328464  https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/322774
 
 
ISRAEL IS INCLUSIVE AND GLOBAL
 
New JCT campus for women. (TY Sharon) Building has begun on Jerusalem College of Technology’s Tal Campus for women. It will provide higher education for 3,000 female students in nursing, computer science, industrial engineering, accounting, and management and will help religious women break the cycle of poverty.
https://baltimorejewishlife.com/news/news-detail.php?SECTION_ID=37&ARTICLE_ID=154643
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328533
 
Arab firefighters. 31 members of the national service from Israel’s Arab community have completed the course to become assistant firefighters and will now serve at fire stations throughout Israel. A ceremony held in their honor was attended by Israel’s Minister of Internal Security and the Fire and Rescue Commissioner.
https://unitedwithisrael.org/arab-israeli-integration-continues-with-31-new-arab-firefighters/
 
Israeli Home Guard is 12% Muslim. Israel’s Police and Defense Ministry have launched a ‘Home Guard’ campaign, training civilians to patrol their hometowns and be first responders in case of incidents. Approximately 4,000 civilians have signed up so far – 12% of them Muslims.
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1lafggwq
 
Morocco’s “leaders of tomorrow” visit Israel. 40 young people - 20 Israelis and 20 Moroccans - took part in the Leaders of Tomorrow program, which seeks to build on the long-standing historical and cultural roots between the two countries. They saw the “real Israel, the heart of Israel, not the one that we see in the media”.
https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/05/15/returning-from-israel-young-moroccans-hope-to-change-minds-back-home/
 
3rd Israel visit for Arizona Governor.  Arizona Governor Doug Ducey was in Israel for five days of talks with political and business leaders. As in 2015 and 2019, his focus was trade, with additional interest in Israel’s water technology and its expertise in border security.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/arizona-governor-visits-israel-for-talks-on-trade-water-and-security/
 
The first Israel-Greece conference. Entrepreneurs, politicians, and business experts gathered in Greece for the first Israel-Greece conference hosted by Calcalist and Brown Hotels. Speakers included Israeli President Isaac Herzog plus Greek and Israeli Ministers. Topics included real estate, innovation, and travel.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1hqufg00q
https://newmedia.calcalist.co.il/conferences/2022/greece/index.html
 
OECD Education Innovation Conference. Israel is again hosting the OECD International Education Innovation Conference (see here previously) – this time in Israel’s capital, Jerusalem. 15,000 participants are expected from 48 countries including leading educational professionals from around the world.
https://www.jns.org/israel-hosts-oecd-international-education-innovation-conference-in-jerusalem/
https://www.jerusalem.muni.il/en/events-and-culture/allevents/education-week/  https://www.jlmedweek.co.il/
 
Europe requests Israeli gas. Israel’s Energy Ministry Director-General Lior Schillat said the European Union is negotiating to import Israeli natural gas via Egypt’s two gas liquefaction facilities. He said that Israel’s exploration for new natural gas fields will continue until Europe’s gas crisis is over.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-to-issue-new-gas-exploration-bids-in-reversal-amid-europe-supply-crunch/  https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-707371
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjwvA43kwg0
 
 
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
 
High School is robotics contest runner-up. Team Steampunk1577 from Ra’anana’s Aviv High School came second overall of 9,000 teams in the First Championships international robotics competition in Houston, Texas. Nine Israeli teams reached the semi-final stage and Steampunk1577 won through to the “Einstein” final.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1h11w0xrq
 
Robot companions for New York seniors. The New York State Office for the Aging (NYSOFA) is partnering Israel’s Intuition Robotics (see here previously) to supply ElliQ voice-operated robots to 800 older people who live alone. ElliQ performs daily check-ins and can send texts, conduct video calls and display photos.
https://www.israel21c.org/israeli-robots-to-be-care-companions-for-800-new-york-seniors/
 
Revamping R&D partnership with Greece. Israel and Greece are to strengthen cooperation in science, technology and innovation. It involves partnerships in the European Union’s Horizon Europe research program, and PRIMA (the Partnership for Research and Innovation solutions in the Mediterranean Area).
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/all-news/article-708425
 
Boosting African agriculture. Africa-based Releaf and Volcani International Partnerships (VIP) US are to address African food security challenges with the assistance of Israeli expertise and innovation. VIP-US Board Member Lord Stuart Polak said he hoped that Israeli innovations would transform agriculture across Africa.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/rykd3xmoc
 
A spider to catch the spider.  Israel’s BioBee (see here previously) develops natural solutions to agricultural pests. Its latest target is the red spider mite, which destroys strawberry plants. BioBee uses drones to drop millions of Phytoseiulus persimilis, a minuscule spider, whose favorite food is… red spider mites.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-companys-tiny-arachnids-provide-alternative-to-pesticide/
 
Recycling waste to grow seafood. Israel’s Mermade Seafoods is cutting the price of lab-grown seafood, such as scallops, by feeding the waste products of the cell culture process to microalgae. The microalgae is then upcycled into the seafood.  But is it kosher?
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/mermade-seafoods-process-lab-cells-scallops/  https://mermadefoods.com/
 
Water from Indian air. Israel’s Watergen is partnering India’s SMV Jaipuria Group to bring Watergen’s “GENius” patented AWG technology to India. SMV will build Watergen’s water-from-air machines locally to help to 30% of Indian districts reporting critical or overexploited groundwater levels.
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/energy-and-infrastructure/article-707711
 
Floating solar power plants. Several Israeli startups have developed solar panels that float on water (see here previously). Here is another – Xfloat. Its Artificial Intelligence controlled panels move and track the sun while floating. They will be installed on the water reservoirs of Mekorot – Israel’s national water company.
https://nocamels.com/2022/05/xfloat-mekorot-solar-panels-energy-floating/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py4xy2FuyuI
 
Powering into energy storage. (TY NoCamels) Israeli renewable energy company Solegreen, signed a $130 million agreement with Israel’s Tadiran Group (see here previously) to buy energy storage systems totaling 600MW hours for its solar energy installation projects. It is the largest ever Israeli energy storage deal.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-solegreen-to-buy-tadiran-energy-storage-systems-for-130m-1001412767
https://solegreen-group.com/
 
Combining music and hi-tech. “Music is essentially the connection between math and emotion” says Yoni Bloch, founder of Israeli interactive video startup Eko. This article features musicians who merged their musical and technology skills to enhance their creativity.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/r1xhau0wq
 
 
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
 
Israel launches Sovereign Wealth fund. Israel's sovereign wealth fund will start operating on June 1st, now that taxes on profits from natural gas and other resources have passed the 1-billion-shekel minimum. Profits from the fund will be allocated for Israel’s social, economic, and educational purposes.
https://www.reuters.com/markets/funds/israels-sovereign-wealth-fund-begin-june-1-finmin-2022-05-30/
 
Israeli financial companies invest in Israel. Israeli institutional investors increased their allocation to
the Israeli start-up scene, for the first time in decades. Astoundingly, the capital allocated to the Israeli tech start-up sector in 2021 increased 6.5-fold and is estimated at $864m, compared with just $134m in 2020.
https://www.ivc-online.com/Insights/Industry-Maps
 
Ben Gurion Airport fully reopens. Over 60,000 passengers departed from Terminal 1 at Ben Gurion Airport on its first day of re-opening after being shuttered due to the Covid-19 pandemic and reduced air traffic.  75,000 were due to leave from Terminal 1 the following day.  https://video.i24news.tv/details/_6307085127112
 
A $2 billion fund. Israel’s Liquidity Group is partnering with Japan’s MUFG Group and US Spark Group to set up a $2 billion investment fund. It plans to invest $25 - $30 million in individual growth companies, mainly late-stage tech startups. https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/bkfmz11lo9  
 
Soaring trade with the UAE. In the last year, trade with the United Arab Emirates has increased from $270 million (see here previously) to 2.5 billion. The two countries have just signed a Free Trade Agreement.
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/uae-israel-bilateral-trade-crosses-2-5bn-within-two-years-of-abraham-accords-uae-minister https://www.arabianbusiness.com/politics-economics/uae-israel-sign-trade-agreement-to-boost-non-oil-trade-to-over-10bn-in-five-years
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYov1P-BJqU
 
Saudi Arabia and Israel. (TY Hazel) Saudi Arabia has lifted its ban on Israelis entering the country on Israeli passports. Dozens of Israeli hi-tech businesspeople have since visited Riyad and Neom and have concluded two multimillion-dollar desert agriculture deals, in addition to a medical equipment contract.
https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-israeli-passport-saudi-arabia-welcomes-you-1001413475
 
Qatar Airways invests in Israeli startup. Prior to a planned IPO, Israel’s Freightos (see here previously) has received private funds including from Qatar Airways, the world's largest air cargo carrier. Freightos’s platform connects multiple airlines, shipping and trucking companies, freight forwarders, importers and exporters.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/ryzdg54dq
 
Telifonica invests in Israel. (TY WIN) Wayra, the innovation arm of Spanish telecom giant Telefónica has made its first investment in Israel, by funding Upword, an AI tool that creates a summary of a much longer document. The company is also offering to provide capital and test facilities to other Israeli startups.
https://www.israel21c.org/telefonica-makes-first-israeli-investment-more-to-come/  https://www.upword.ai/
 
Wolt opens Tel Aviv grocery store. Finnish delivery giant Wolt has opened its first Israeli grocery store in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood of Tel Aviv. Customers can order any of its 3,000 products on-line and pay NIS 16 for delivery or free pick-up at the store. Wolt already delivers for 2,500+ businesses to 28 Israel cities.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/wolt-launches-grocery-delivery-from-new-market-store-in-tel-aviv/
 
Fundbox launches debit card. Israel’s Fundbox (see here previously) is partnering with Visa to strengthen its digital payments platform. The first result of the partnership is the launch of the Fundbox Flex Visa Debit Card, which will help small business customers better manage their cash outflows.
https://www.calcalistech.com/ctechnews/article/b1g4kqvoq
 
Investment in Israeli startups to 5/6/22: Pixellot raised $161 millionCoralogix raised $142 millionFreightos raised $80 millionHourly.io raised $27 millionSeemplicity raised $26 millionAir Doctor raised $20 million;
 
 
CULTURE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPORT`
 
Agam museum reopens. Recently reopened after more than a year of pandemic closure, the Agam museum in Rishon Lezion is filled with examples of Yaacov Agam’s unique and colorful kinetic art created over the past six decades. It is one of only a few museums in the world dedicated to Kinetic Art.
https://www.jns.org/unique-colorful-kinetic-yaacov-agam-museum-in-rishon-letzion/
 
Shiloh winery, where it all started. Shiloh was the capital of Israel for 369 years before King David established Jerusalem. Now, a local winery, Shiloh Wines, has harnessed the history of the Jewish people in their land to develop one of the finest wines in the country and maybe in the world.
https://www.jns.org/spotlight/a-winemaking-paradise-shiloh-winery-brings-ancient-israel-back-to-life/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqZh37rYbUg
 
Pianist prodigy wows the world. (TY UWI) Up-to-date article about 18-year-old Israeli pianist Yoav Levanon whose amazing piano-playing talent has won him numerous awards.  He has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York, the Verbier Festival in Switzerland and just released his debut album “Monument to Beethoven”.
https://www.israel21c.org/the-modest-18-year-old-piano-prodigy-wowing-the-world/
 
Deep Purple is timeless. British rock band Deep Purple played to a sold-out Menora Mivtachim Arena in Tel Aviv. They also played in Jerusalem. Formed in 1968, they played all-time classics plus from their 2020 and 2021 albums. Don Airey even did a keyboard solo rendition of Naomi Shemer’s “Jerusalem of Gold”.
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-707477
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bgXkNhUM-kY  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdhNidN-yq8
 
Israel is recommended – by CNN. (TY UWI) CNN Travel has named Israel as one of the top eleven destinations to visit this summer. It singles out Eilat, the Dead Sea, Masada, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and a classic Israeli breakfast.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REkGC5xbvUA
 
18 cool things to do for free in Tel Aviv. Though Tel Aviv ranks as one of the world’s most expensive city to live in, visitors will find plenty of activities that don’t cost a shekel. And read below about the street names.
https://www.israel21c.org/18-cool-things-to-do-in-tel-aviv-for-free-2/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1dBivg7Z0Q  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RN_pJmuTtzw
https://www.israel21c.org/tracing-the-history-of-tel-aviv-through-its-street-names/
 
Martial Artist honors survivors. (TY Nevet) Israeli lightweight mixed martial artist (MMA) Natan Levy has just won his first top-level Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) match. In recognition of Holocaust Remembrance Day, he is to auction off his equipment from the fight to raise funds for Holocaust survivors.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-fighter-secures-his-first-victory-in-top-level-ufc/
 
 
THE JEWISH STATE
 
Section of 2000-year-old aqueduct uncovered. Excavations in Jerusalem’s Armon Hanatziv neighborhood have revealed a 40-meter piece of the capital’s ancient main water carrier dating back to the Hasmonean era 2100+ years ago.  The complete 21 km aqueduct was in use until the British replaced it with electric pumps.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-segment-of-jerusalems-2000-year-old-low-level-aqueduct-revealed/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328406
 
A drone over Judea on Independence Day. As Israel celebrated Yom Ha’Atzmaut, Ezri Tubi captured these beautiful views of Judea and Samaria from the air, using his drone and camera.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRuS5nBGhY4
 
Independence Day in Bahrain. In Bahrain, hundreds celebrated Israel Independence Day for the first time. The event attracted members of the government, the Shura Council, military personnel from the ministries of Defense and Interior and the Bahrain Defense Force, and ambassadors to Bahrain from other countries.
https://themedialine.org/by-region/in-bahrain-hundreds-celebrate-israel-independence-day-for-1st-time/
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328301
 
Suriname to open Embassy in Jerusalem. The South American republic of Suriname will open an embassy in Israel’s capital. In return, Israel has offered to send humanitarian workers to northern Suriname, to help with aid efforts after severe flooding left many residents homeless. Suriname is eight times the size of Israel.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328452
 
Jerusalem Day. Enjoy some of the excitement of Israel’s 55th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem. Over 50,000 participated in the Flag March.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328421 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYpJDdaGmHY
 
Saving a life on Jerusalem Day. A school worker suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in Petach Tikvah. United Hatzalah volunteer EMT Sariel abandoned Jerusalem Day prayers and together with fellow paramedics restored the man’s pulse and breathing. Sariel returned to his synagogue in time to sing Hallel – praise and thanks.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/328420
 
Ethiopian immigration resumes. 181 Ethiopian immigrants landed at Ben Gurion Airport on Jun 1st as Israel resumed flights bringing new immigrants from Ethiopia to Israel. Another 160 were scheduled to arrive on Jun 2nd with a total of 3,000 expected by end November. Most are relatives of Ethiopians already in Israel.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/181-ethiopian-immigrants-land-in-israel-as-aliyah-from-african-nation-restarts/
https://worldisraelnews.com/ethiopian-immigration-to-restart-wednesday-3000-expected-this-year/
https://www.jns.org/ethiopian-families-prepare-for-immigration-to-israel-many-after-decades-of-waiting/
 

 

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