Israel’s Defence Ministry plans to use software reportedly produced by spyware company NSO to analyse data from mobile phones that will help to identify likely carriers of the coronavirus.
Defence Minister Naftali Bennett said the “coronameter” would need approval from the Cabinet, which it is likely to be given.
It would also require an assessment of privacy issues from the attorney general, who has the power to block it.
But it could be operational within 48 hours of being approved.
Israel tests about 5,000 people a day for the virus, which can cause respiratory failure but can also be present for days without symptoms.
Strict quarantines are imposed on those who have it.
It hopes to double the number of tests soon and is using military-level surveillance to track civilians’ movements, prompting complaints from rights groups.
So far, Israel has recorded 4,831 cases of the virus and 17 deaths.
As of Monday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was isolating himself after a parliamentary aide tested positive for the virus.
Mr Bennett said the phone tracking and geolocation data now being used were no longer effective in finding the most probable carriers.
Israeli media reported that the system assigns a rating of 1 to 10 for the likelihood that a person is carrying the virus.
This is updated in real time and could, for example, increase if someone visited a shop where carriers had been identified.
Israeli media said the software was developed in co-operation with NSO.
The company declined to comment and Mr Bennett said he would not elaborate because “there are also complex elements in this context”.
The FBI is investigating NSO on suspicion of hacking US residents and companies, and gathering intelligence on governments.
WhatsApp sued the company in October after finding evidence it had abused a flaw in the platform to remotely hijack hundreds of smartphones.
Mr Bennett said that while not perfect, the new software was the best option available.
“All that is needed is to pour in the testing information, to link up the cellular tracking which we are making use of anyway, in the epidemiological tests,” he said.
A source said NSO’s first civilian product was being tested by about 15 governments around the world for use by health regulators.
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
Rock in a Hard Place: Music and Mayhem in the Middle East
Orlando Crowcroft
Zed Books
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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World Cup warm up matches
May 24 Pakistan v Afghanistan, Bristol; Sri Lanka v South Africa, Cardiff
May 25 England v Australia, Southampton; India v New Zealand, The Oval
May 26 South Africa v West Indies, Bristol; Pakistan v Bangladesh, Cardiff
May 27 Australia v Sri Lanka, Southampton; England v Afghanistan, The Oval
May 28 West Indies v New Zealand, Bristol; Bangladesh v India, Cardiff
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What sanctions would be reimposed?
Under ‘snapback’, measures imposed on Iran by the UN Security Council in six resolutions would be restored, including:
- An arms embargo
- A ban on uranium enrichment and reprocessing
- A ban on launches and other activities with ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons, as well as ballistic missile technology transfer and technical assistance
- A targeted global asset freeze and travel ban on Iranian individuals and entities
- Authorisation for countries to inspect Iran Air Cargo and Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines cargoes for banned goods
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Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
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India cancels school-leaving examinations
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
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The specs: 2019 Mercedes-Benz GLE
Price, base / as tested Dh274,000 (estimate)
Engine 3.0-litre inline six-cylinder
Gearbox Nine-speed automatic
Power 245hp @ 4,200rpm
Torque 500Nm @ 1,600rpm
Fuel economy, combined 6.4L / 100km
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, (Leon banned).
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
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Volunteers offer workers a lifeline
Community volunteers have swung into action delivering food packages and toiletries to the men.
When provisions are distributed, the men line up in long queues for packets of rice, flour, sugar, salt, pulses, milk, biscuits, shaving kits, soap and telecom cards.
Volunteers from St Mary’s Catholic Church said some workers came to the church to pray for their families and ask for assistance.
Boxes packed with essential food items were distributed to workers in the Dubai Investments Park and Ras Al Khaimah camps last week. Workers at the Sonapur camp asked for Dh1,600 towards their gas bill.
“Especially in this year of tolerance we consider ourselves privileged to be able to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers in the Actco camp," Father Lennie Connully, parish priest of St Mary’s.
Workers spoke of their helplessness, seeing children’s marriages cancelled because of lack of money going home. Others told of their misery of being unable to return home when a parent died.
“More than daily food, they are worried about not sending money home for their family,” said Kusum Dutta, a volunteer who works with the Indian consulate.
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Range: 400 kilometres
COPA DEL REY
Semi-final, first leg
Barcelona 1 (Malcom 57')
Real Madrid (Vazquez 6')
Second leg, February 27
