Tech & Finance
Israeli tech, startups, markets, and the shekel economy.
Model Breached Restrictions - OpenAI Halted Training
An OpenAI artificial intelligence agent managed to exploit a vulnerability and communicate with an external service. Following the incident, the company temporarily froze training of advanced models.
Red Flag: Two Signs That Could Herald a Market Turmoil
Bank of America points to a combination that could precede a sharp shift of investors to a Risk Off mode: a surge in bond market volatility alongside weakness in financial stocks • This at a…
Storm in Serbia: Does Elbit Systems Not Own the New Drone Factory?
An examination of the ownership structure of the company operating the new drone manufacturing facility in Serbia has raised some unexpected questions.
Nine Israeli innovations that helped shape the world, from Waze to the Iron Dome
Zionism challenged Jews to take the initiative, and almost eight decades later, Israeli innovations are improving the world and enriching lives everywhere.
Israel Tightens Mortgage Rules: Which Applicants Will Banks Reject from October 1
Starting October 1, 2026, new restrictions on mortgage lending come into effect in Israel. Banks will be required to take into account all of a borrower's housing obligations, not just payments on the new mortgage.…
Barred from entering the U.S. for a second straight year, Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN General Assembly by pre-recorded video. He called Washington's visa denial and sanctions…
Barred from entering the U.S. for a second straight year, Mahmoud Abbas addressed the UN General Assembly by pre-recorded video. He called Washington's visa denial and sanctions unlawful, and said the PA has kept its…
Meta revealed new glasses – and you won't believe what they can do
At the annual Meta Connect conference, Meta revealed virtual reality glasses weighing only 100 grams, Ray-Ban models without cameras, and a dedicated pocket device for the AI agent. The system offers hologram calls, 5K display,…
Nvidia strengthens its presence in Israel
Nvidia inaugurates a new artificial intelligence research team in Israel, aiming to accelerate medical and scientific advances through innovative collaborations
Fintech used in Africa to help with growing food, water challenges, and population growth
Israeli innovators adapt climate tech for African markets
Are we on the way to losing control of artificial intelligence?
In the last two weeks, a storm erupted around the loss of control over artificial intelligence, after a researcher who worked at OpenAI and Anthropic published a warning that was exposed to hundreds of millions…
Carnegie Mellon says it will take ‘swift action’ against professor’s social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s murder
Carnegie Mellon University, a private school in Pittsburgh, said on Monday that it will take “swift action” in response to controversial social media posts by Uju Anya, an associate professor of second language acquisition, about…
Prices keep rising: What got more expensive - and what got cheaper?
The Consumer Price Index rose 0.7% in August, bringing annual inflation to 1.5%, while rents continued to climb and home prices fell 1.2% year-on-year
The AI debate has taken a turn in recent days as some of the industry’s biggest names are publicly arguing that the pace of development may be outrunning the safeguards needed t…
The AI debate has taken a turn in recent days as some of the industry’s biggest names are publicly arguing that the pace of development may be outrunning the safeguards needed to control increasingly capable…
Israeli economy grows despite ongoing war as inflation drops
GDP grew by 3.2 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with the second half of 2025
The representative dollar was set at 3.047 shekels
The representative dollar rises 0.99% and its rate was set at 3.047 shekels. The representative euro rises 0.70% and closed at a representative rate of 3.466 shekels
Between Eyal Waldman's 'miss' and CyberArk investors' bonanza: stocks have become a strong currency in acquisition deals
The stock prices that have risen in recent years have made them a convenient currency for making acquisitions - but experts do not identify a clearcut trend in the structure of deals, many of which…
Forged Documents and False Information: The Israeli Woman's Massive Fraud in the US
Eilit Raz, who headed the AI company Joonko, admitted to committing securities fraud. According to the prosecution, she presented certain companies as clients of the startup, while these claims were not true at all.
Jerusalem inaugurates renewed Har Hotzvim Hi-Tech Park, projects it will generate 10,000 new jobs
"It is an investment in thousands of employees, leading companies and the next generation of Jerusalem’s high-tech entrepreneurs," said Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion
Fuel prices in Israel to rise sharply — how much will you have to pay?
Over the past year, fuel prices in Israel have experienced many sharp fluctuations. The cost of gasoline has either risen significantly or unexpectedly dropped, making it impossible to maintain a stable level. Last evening, on…
Pilgrim, a startup building technology to detect airborne biological threats including Ebola and anthrax, has raised $25 million at a $150 million valuation. Two Anthropic leade…
Pilgrim, a startup building technology to detect airborne biological threats including Ebola and anthrax, has raised $25 million at a $150 million valuation. Two Anthropic leaders are among the investors. The company works with the…
After the declines last night in New York: The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange weakens sharply
All Tel Aviv indices weaken by more than one percent, with TA-90 falling by more than 2% • The sharp declines come against the backdrop of a surge in US bond yields to record levels…
Israir brings forward launch of New York flights to September 15
The move comes as U.S. carriers, led by Delta and United, return to Israel during the busy fall holiday season after months when service was frozen due to the Iran war, sending airfares soaring
From New York City Hall to Israeli tech: Eric Adams joins TurboGen
Former NYC Mayor Eric Adams joins Israeli energy company TurboGen’s Advisory Board, helping drive US expansion and new opportunities for its power technology
For approximately 35 million shekels: The mega deal of the Haredi entrepreneur
Former CEO of 'Yesh Chesed', Daniel Verdiguer, continues to expand the marketing network he founded and purchases 11 branches of City Market for approximately 35 million shekels
Diamond Prices at Historic Low: Plunged 51% Within Five Years
The index tracking investment-grade diamond prices fell in August to its lowest level ever • Meanwhile, the average price of a one-carat natural diamond plunged from over $8,000 in 2021 to about $3,900 today •…
Expanding foothold in Israel, Ondas acquires three more defense tech companies
Ondas said the deal is intended to strengthen its “systems‑of‑systems” approach, combining sensing, connectivity, navigation, and autonomy across aerial and ground systems
iPhone 18 Price Drop in Israel – Chain's Decision
The Israeli electronics market has faced another round of fierce competition. The well-known retail chain Osher Ad announced a massive sale on the latest flagship smartphones, dropping prices on popular devices below the market standards…
Elon Musk on the dangers of AI:
"It's pretty obvious at this point that AI can be very dangerous. Basically any sufficiently smart model seems like it will want to escape its constraints." Musk pointed to the Hugging Face incident, calling it…
The Settlement Offered: Harel Will Pay Millions to Policyholders – Who Will Get the Money?
If you have previously received money from an insurance company with a delay, the amount you received may not have been the full amount you were entitled to. The reason: in certain cases, when the…
Quentin Tarantino: From honorary Israeli to cinema nuisance?
The legendary director has long been a familiar face in Israel. But according to several moviegoers, Tarantino may now have acquired a new reputation: the guy you really don't want sitting in front of you…
The shekel strengthens against foreign currencies
The representative dollar rate falls 0.36% compared to the last representative rate from Friday, and is set at 3.017 shekels. The representative euro loses 0.51% and closes at a representative rate of 3.458 shekels.
Two companies that shook the Korean economy are creating a new problem for it
South Korea has discovered it has a new problem - a lack of electricity is preventing the country's two chip giants from increasing production • While the government seeks solutions, the companies are considering opening…
Israeli-led firm developing AI-guided cardiac sonography raises $24 million to expand in US market
"We are entering this next stage as our FDA-cleared portfolio continues to expand to support broader cardiac imaging workflows,” said Davidi Vortman, the company's CEO and co-founder
Court strikes at largest banks — what now with customers' money
A high-profile dispute is brewing in the Israeli banking system: the Central District Court in Lod allowed a class-action lawsuit for alleged damages of more than 15 billion shekels against four of the country's five…
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang:
Nobody in China is saying that there’s end of this and end of that, and cataclysmic this and doom or that. We're making it up. The part that is frustrating is, if it was true,…
First Publication: Shufersal Will Begin Selling iPhone 18, and It's Not the Only One
The competition over iPhones returns to the grocery chains. Just like in the previous round, where Osher Ad was the first to bring the iPhone to the shelves, and later Victory, Rami Levy, and Yohananof…
Adir Capital and SLING Capital Selected to Establish Venture Capital Funds with State Guarantee
The Accountant General's Division in the Ministry of Finance and the Directorate of Defense Research & Development (DDR&D) in the Ministry of Defense announced the selection of Adir Capital from Idan Financial Instruments and SLING…
The scenario that the 'Bond King' warns about - and 4 more articles on the market situation
Is 6% the new 5%? The black scenario of the 'Bond King' that is scaring Wall Street • Skepticism on Wall Street is growing: why is the world's largest stock trading at a historically undervalued…
Shifting to physical AI, Cognex to acquire Intel spinoff RealSense in $500 million deal
With the acquisition, the company is expected to generate between $80m.and $90 m. in revenue in 2026, representing more than 50% growth over the previous year
Drivers, save your shekels – a useful app has appeared
Finding a free parking spot in central Tel Aviv invariably takes drivers a lot of time and effort, and the final cost of parking depends on dozens of hidden factors. To save motorists from unnecessary…
Trump rejected calls for new AI guardrails, arguing regulation would hurt U.S. innovation and that AI only needs "a strong and smart president." The comments came after Altman,…
Trump rejected calls for new AI guardrails, arguing regulation would hurt U.S. innovation and that AI only needs "a strong and smart president." The comments came after Altman, Elon Musk and Anthropic's Dario Amodei called…
After Firing 30,000 People: Amazon Tries to Bring Employees Back to the Company
The tech giant is reaching out to employees who left or were fired and offering them a fast-track hiring process. The goal: to win the war for AI experts against Google and Meta. This comes…
Cyber Directorate Warns: Phishing Messages Impersonating Booking
The National Cyber Directorate warns of phishing messages containing a link to a site impersonating Booking and a request to confirm a hotel reservation. The Directorate recommends not clicking on the link and checking the…
Gas deal of 6.7 billion shekels canceled due to concerns over NewMed's market power
NewMed, the gas company that holds about 45% of the Leviathan gas reservoir, notified the stock exchange that it is canceling the mega deal (6.7 billion shekels) to supply gas to Dalia's power stations. Dalia…
Israeli AI English-learning startup Loora raises $22m. in Series B
The company, founded by former Sayeret Matkal soldiers Roy Mor and Yonti Levin, says it has more than 15 million users worldwide and has more than doubled revenue over the past year
Compensation and New Icons: The Outcome of the Lawsuit Against Bank Hapoalim
Israel's largest bank, Hapoalim, has settled a legal dispute arising from the incorrect display of stock market quotes on its digital platforms. The Haifa District Court officially approved the settlement agreement, under which the plaintiff…
Putin at the BRICS summit:
"Over the past 5 years, more than 40% of world GDP has been produced by the BRICS states. Whereas the contribution of the so-called 'Big Seven' -- why it's big, I don't understand -- well,…
Significant Breakthrough: Has the Greatest Threat to Bitcoin Been Removed?
In the crypto world, it is estimated that quantum security is the last obstacle on Bitcoin's path to a value of one million dollars. The threat to the encryption methods of the crypto market has…
Shekel strengthens against foreign currencies
The representative dollar lost 0.52% and its rate was set at 3.033 shekels. The representative euro lost 0.50% and closed at a representative rate of 3.499 shekels.
Hot commodity: The senior executives leaving the bank and earning much more than its CEO
In recent years, a number of senior bank executives have made their way to companies in the finance and real estate sectors, while enjoying much higher compensation. • 'If you reach the status of a…
AI poses a less dramatic threat than in movies, but still cannot be ignored - analysis
Absent some kind of new major regulatory campaign, experts are debating whether the next phase of potential AI messes will only hurt more but will still be "in time" to prevent meltdowns
Cartel collusion in AI – what the creators of ChatGPT, Claude were accused of
Leading players in the American artificial intelligence market have faced serious legal claims. A massive antitrust lawsuit has been filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing key technology companies…
Russia and India's central banks are developing a mechanism to settle bilateral trade using digital currencies, Sberbank CEO Herman Gref says.
The move could speed cross-border payments and cut reliance on SWIFT. Both countries aim to grow bilateral trade to $100 billion by
A month after the CEO's departure: New CEO for Microsoft Israel R&D
Ohad Yassin, who led the company's international sovereign cloud operations, will step into the shoes of Michal Braverman-Blumenstyk, who is retiring after 6.5 years in the role • The appointment joins the appointment of Nati…
The new role of former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen
Former Mossad chief Yossi Cohen has been appointed president of the scientific council of the Israeli quantum technology company Quantum X Lab, which is traded on Nasdaq. Following the announcement, the company's stock jumped 11%.…
Tomer Mazon: Net Profit Last Year Will Decrease by 3 Million Shekels Due to Inventory Inflation
Following concerns about irregularities in the company, the independent committee appointed to examine the data found an inflation of the company's inventory values, and that the chairman and CEO Doron Kimmelov influenced them. The committee…
US defense tech company Ondas buys GATE in latest Israeli company acquisition
The acquisition includes GATE, which develops, manufactures, and licenses advanced electronic safe and arm devices (ESADs), as well as its European partner, Bron Technologies
Frozen Accounts in Israel: Billions of Shekels Await Heirs
Israel's financial system is facing a large-scale crisis of unclaimed assets, affecting tens of thousands of families. According to official statistics from the Bank of Israel, presented in an analytical report by Bizportal, approximately 86,000…
Reuters: Iran acquired millions of dollars in Chinese air defense systems over the past year. The purchases ran through a barter mechanism: Iran shipped oil to China and receive…
Reuters: Iran acquired millions of dollars in Chinese air defense systems over the past year. The purchases ran through a barter mechanism: Iran shipped oil to China and received credit for Chinese goods instead of…
Beware: Meta's agent can take over your camera without warning
A cybersecurity researcher has exposed a severe security vulnerability in Meta's Muse AI agent that allows takeover of Mac computers and activation of the camera without alert • Meanwhile, Amazon announced it is blocking the…
