Archive | 2012 | March | 27

Public Diplomacy Ministry implements paperless meetings protocol, aims to cut paper use even further

Minister of Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Yuli Edelstein has decided to run a greener office, and has instated paperless meetings protocol, Yedioth Ahronoth reported.

The first step, put in place in February, saw the minister order all senior staff meeting be conducted electronically: A staff member now uploads the meetings’ schedules and agenda to a secure website, and those participating in the meeting can observe it by scanning a special barcode that downloads the information to their smartphones.

The initiative has so far saved he ministry hundreds of kilograms of paper, and Edelstein is reportedly considering expanding it to include all professional meetings, on all staff levels.

“Government ministries have been striving to decrease their environmental impact for years, by implementing electronic signatures, installing fax software, using computerized archives and more,” Edelstein said

“On top of not being environmentally friendly, I think it’s practically immoral to use paper in meetings,” he added. “I hope other companies and private businesses adopt this method, which is efficient, cost effective and environmentally friendly.”

Some two years ago, the Government Secretariat did away with its “weekly envelope” protocol – which saw every minister get an envelope containing hundreds of printed briefs to review ahead of the weekly government meetings. the “envelope” now comes in the form of an email, and the ministers print out only the pages they deem necessary.

Source: Ynetnews.com

Programs will give viewers behind-the-scenes glimpse into Israeli fashion industry

Israel’s first fashion channel, dedicated exclusively to Israeli fashion has started airing on HOT.

The channel will offer viewers programs featuring Israeli designers, stylists and celebrities discussing all the latest trends in Israeli fashion and giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the local fashion industry.

Viewers will also be introduced to the lives of renowned fashion designers and senior executives as well as young and up-and-coming designers making their first steps in the glamorous but brutal business.

The channel will be broadcast free on HOT and its programs will also be accessible on Xnet, Yedioth Ahronoth’s lifestyle site.

Source: Ynetnews.com

Bank of Israel says market indicators favorable, support updating growth forecast from initial 2.8%

Three months after downgrading Israel’s 2012 growth forecast to 2.8% the Bank of Israel announced Monday that it was revising it yet again, this time to 3.1%.

The Bank also published its first growth forecast for 2013, saying the Israeli market is likely to add 3.5%.

The Bank’s forecast now parallels that of the Treasury, which predicted 3.2% growth in 2012. Still, both projections are slightly higher than those put forward by the OECD, which stands at 2.9%.

According to the abstract, presented by the Bank’s Research Department, macroeconomic developments will see the inflation rate over the next four quarters arrive at 2.6%.

The Bank of Israel further predicted that interest rate in Q1-2013 is expected to be 2.5%, and that Israel’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to grow by 3.1% in 2012 and by 3.5% in 2013.

However, the Bank further predicts that unemployment in 2012 will reach 5.8%, and that it will note a slight decrease to 5.7% in 2013.

Source: Ynetnews.com

Ten-time Grammy Award winning musician Bobby McFerrin will be headlining the Tel Aviv White City Music Festival. McFerrin is best known for his late 1980′s hit Don’t Worry Be Happy. He will play four concerts as part of his Bobby Meets Israel tour.

After three years of caring for thousands of sick patients in southern continent, Dr. Avigail Maayani returns to Israel to treat African refugees in Tel Aviv

Three years ago Dr. Avigail Maayani left for Africa to care for the sick and lead medical training courses. Now she has returned to Israel, but Africa is still on her mind.

The good doctor chose to continue caring for Africans at the Israel Medical Association (IMA) refugee clinic in Tel Aviv.

When she first left for Africa, Mayani, a trained-gynecologist, left behind her husband and three children and joined the international Global Youth Partnership for Africa (GYPA) delegation, in cooperation with Brit Olam, an international Israeli Jewish Volunteer Movement, on a three month volunteer program.

On her first journey to the southern continent, she visited a small city near Uganda. There she cared for sick patients and trained locals in the fields of hygiene, proper nutrition, baby care, sexually transmitted diseases and children’s illnesses.

Maayani met nearly a 1,000 patients throughout her initial journey, an experience which affected her so deeply she began dreaming of moving to Africa and saving more lives.

In the meantime, many African refugees have arrived in Israel, and Maayani is there to provide them with proper medical care.

“Helping people is giving love without conditions, without wanting anything in return. It makes you whole and enriches you as a person,” she explained.

The refugee clinic was founded some three years ago by the IMA and Israel’s Health Ministry. Dozens of doctors care for hundreds of patients there every month.

Source: Ynetnews.com

International DJ sensation, AVICII, will be performing for the first time in Israel in Tel Aviv this May. AVICII, whose full name is Tim Bergling, was ranked in 2011 as the 6th best DJ in the world, and his music has been well received around the world. He will be performing in Tel Aviv on May 31, 2012 as part of the XL Nightlife Festival at the Bitan 1 club in Tel Aviv.

Tickets are on sale for NIS 180 for standard seating, or NIS 220 for VIP seating and can be purchased from theEventim booking agency.

Source: TouristIsrael.com

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