Speaking out
Former Miss World, the Israeli Linor Abargil, is leading a global campaign against sexual violence. Abargil, who was raped at knifepoint only six weeks before being crowned as Miss World, has inspired other Israeli women to break their own silence and in the process, she became a national symbol who helped destigmatize rape in the country.
A chance to win the World Cup?
The Israeli national soccer team has almost made the cut to enter the FIFA World Cup this summer. Now, it appears the team may have a chance to win the cup after all. US Senators Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) and Dan Coates (R-Ind.) in their letter last week urged FIFA Chairman Sepp Blatter to suspend Russia from the World Cup in Brazil as punishment for its takeover of Crimea. Should the head of international soccer’s governing body heeds the suggestion, Israel would participate in the 2014 World Cup. Fingers crossed!
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British science reaches Israel
On Tuesday, a major two-day UK and Israel conference opened in Haifa, Israel. The event, an initiative of the British Embassy and British Council in Israel, was part of the second BIRAX Regenerative Medicine conference, and focused on furthering joint research on stem cell therapies. The conference’s guest of honor was David Willetts, UK’s minister of state for universities and science.
An innovative self-cleaning solar park
At Kibbutz Ketura, operates the world’s first ever autonomously-cleaned solar energy production facility. Each night, the 20-acre facility is cleaned by 100 Israeli-made robots, which brush and clean the hundreds of solar panels, generating 9 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year.