CTech’s Sunday Roundup of Israeli Tech News

ZTE partners with content distribution company Taboola to deliver its own news feed. ZTE will offer Taboola-powered personalized content news aggregator on its devices, in a service similar to that of Apple News, Blinkfeed, and Flipboard. Read more

Hostel chain Selina raises $95 million, report says. Selina operates hostels that combine a hotel, a co-working space, curated tours, wellness and fitness classes, homegrown produce-based meals, and volunteer activities. The company has hostels in Latin American countries, including Mexico, Panama and Costa Rica. Selina was established in 2014 in Panama by Israel-born Rafael Museri and Daniel Rudasevski, and employs around 1,000 people and has offices in Panama, London, and New York. Read more

Porsche buys minority stake in mobility analytics startup Anagog. The Tel Aviv-based startup develops technology that tracks and predicts user behavior data from sensors embedded in mobile phones. Porsche said the deal will help the company expand its expertise in digital technology. Read more

Electric socks startup ElastiMed receives $1.6 million EU grant. ElastiMed develops and manufactures a leg compression device for daily wear that mimics natural muscle contraction and stimulates blood flow using electrical pulses. The device is meant to treat medical conditions like swelling, blood clots, chronic wounds and sports injuries. The two-year grant is being awarded through Horizon 2020, the EU's research and innovation program. Read more

Israel can open existing medical databases to supercharge homegrown startups. Four Israeli HMOs have a database of 5 million medical records. The country can help local startups by opening the database in a responsible way, writes Avner Halperin, CEO of medical devices company EarlySense. Read more

Direct flights between Brazil and Israel to begin in December. Chilean airline LATAM will offer three weekly flights inaugurating the only route connecting Israel and South America. Read more

India lifts “Restricted Procurements” designation from Israeli arms manufacturers Rafael, IAI, report says. The two Israeli defense manufacturers were placed on the restricted list after their names surfaced in a corruption investigation involving a former Indian Defense Minister. The designation did not prevent the companies from selling to India, but made closing a deal more bureaucratically complex. Read more