Articles by September, 2021

The huge improvement in the state budget data continues, along with increased activity in the economy - which has been open for seven months since the third closure. Although the state budget in August was again in deficit, the deficit is shrinking from month to month. In August, the deficit amounted to only NI 1.2%S 1.1 billion. The decrease in the cumulative deficit in August alone is the largest in all the 2000s - a decrease of to a level of 8%. In June, the budget deficit was 10% and in July 9.2%. Senior officials in the Ministry of Finance explained in the briefing on the budget data...

Itamar Medical is acquired for $ 538 million by American ZOLL Medical in a transaction that is entirely in cash. Itamar is a medical device company with a digital platform that focuses on diagnosing sleep apnea, which is traded in Tel Aviv and New York. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, which was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each of the companies, Zol Medical will purchase in full the full share capital of Itamar Medical at a price of $ 31 for each deposit certificate (ADS), equivalent to $ 1.03 (NIS 3.31) for an ordinary share of The company. The offer...

The second quarter of 2021 was better than expected: the increase in GDP in the second quarter reached an annual rate of 16.6%, compared to the initial estimate that growth was only 15.4% - the Central Bureau of Statistics announced today. This means that the total GDP reached NIS 360 billion in the second quarter - thus surpassing the data for the fourth quarter of 2019 - the last quarter before the outbreak of the corona crisis. However, had it not been for the crisis, Israeli GDP would still have been higher - and the gap has not yet closed

The consumer price index rose by 0.3% in August, the Central Bureau of Statistics announced today. In the last 12 months, the index has risen by 2.2%, an increase that reflects high inflation above the mid-range of the Bank of Israel. Price increases were recorded in volatile items, including fresh vegetable and fruit items, which rose by 2.6%. Culture and entertainment items, which were in high demand during the summer months, rose by 1.6%. Significant price decreases among the main items were recorded in the clothing and footwear item, which decreased by 1.7%. Apartment prices continued...

Classrooms in Israel are more crowded, teachers pay is less than in the OECD, students study more hours and still fail to achieve better academic results than their peers in OECD countries in the meantime - according to the 21Education at a Glance 20 report published today (Thursday) on the OECD. According to the report, Israel ranks third in the OECD in terms of its investment in education as a percentage of GDP, but the gaps between it and other countries are still high. In terms of the positive points - this year Israel also excels in its level of education. Israelis are much more...

The Ministry of Health updated the corona data in Israel, with the end of the Yom Kippur fast. According to the new data, 8,586 new positives were diagnosed in Corona on Wednesday and now the number of active patients in Israel stands at 83,652 patients. The percentage of positive tests yesterday was 5.93% and the coefficient of infection is 1.14. The number of severe patients is 654 patients, of whom 237 are defined as critical and 186 are respiratory. The number of deaths from the plague also increased during the holiday and now stands at 7,465. The fight against the plague continues all...

The Committee of Experts on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) last night (Friday) unanimously recommended that the third vaccine be given to people 65 and older and to high-risk groups for serious illness in the United States. This was at the end of a re-vote, after the panel of experts ruled out giving the booster sweepingly to all 16-year-olds and older. In a discussion that lasted about eight hours, the experts raised doubts about the need for a booster for all age groups - and claimed that there is still not enough information indicating the safety of the third dose, especially for...

The Knesset's Education Committee approved the curriculum, which the ministers voted on earlier on Thursday. The health system fears the decision to require all students to perform rapid home corona tests before returning to school after Sukkot, and to require their parents to make a statement regarding the test results. Back from the Sukkot holiday it is mandatory to present a statement on a negative corona test. A student who does not present the statement at the school gate will be admitted - but will be removed from the students. Teaching teams will be charged with a green mark or a...

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is expected to discuss in the coming weeks Pfizer's request to approve the corona vaccine it also developed for children ages 5 to 11. According to the U.S. company, Pfizer's vaccines have been found effective - and the trial in children in this age group has been successful. "I feel a great sense of urgency in allowing the vaccine to be given to children under 12," Dr. Bill Gruber, senior vice president at Pfizer, told the Associated Press. "There is a huge demand from parents to get their children's lives back to normal." Following the...

The crisis at El Al. Kenny Rosenberg, the controlling owner of the airline, is demanding $ 100 million in compensation from the state. In addition, it rejects the Treasury's claim that it did not meet the previous aid conditions and did not alienate the company with $ 43 million as part of the issuance of EL AL shares for $ 105 million, which did not materialize due to the fourth wave of the corona. El Al, which in its financial reports carries a living business note due to its debts, applied to the state following the fourth wave for additional assistance in the amount of $ 150 to 200...