CTech’s Weekly Roundup of Israeli Tech News

U.S. and Israel to form a joint team to enforce tech-related sanctions on Iran. In May, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his withdrawal from the nuclear agreement signed with Iran in July 2015, and the renewal of U.S.-imposed economic sanctions. Read more

Israelis registered fewer patents, scientific discoveries in 2017. According to a new report by Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, the number of newly registered patents in 2017 was down 5% compared with the year before. Registered scientific discoveries were down 19%. Read more

 

 

People are calling this 240-meter solar tower "The Eye of Sauron." Social media users in Israel are posting about the unnerving sight of a solar power station that was recently connected to the grid. Read more

In a push to enter IoT market, Check Point develops a mini-firewall. CEO Gil Shwed repeatedly stated that the next generation of cyber attacks—and consequently, the next demand for security products—will focus on the Internet of Things. Read more

To Get People Off Phones, Tel Aviv Will Send Highschoolers to Hand Candy to Strangers. Ahead of the upcoming school year, Tel Aviv wants to decrease use of mobile phones among parents, students and the general public. The campaign was launched Sunday with a Facebook live stream, an Instagram hashtag and a plethora of billboards calling people to stay “out of the screen.” Read more

China's Sanan optoelectronics in talks to buy Israeli communication chips company ColorChip. The negotiated deal values the Israeli designer and manufacturer of communication components at around $300 million. Read more

In market manipulation case, Israeli Supreme Court ruling goes back to 1814. On Wednesday, Israel's Supreme Court rejected the appeal submitted by Israeli businessman Nochi Dankner and upped his jail time from two years to three. Read more

Gett a taxi from London to Dubai. Gett is developing a new service that will enable business clients to hail a taxi to the airport, input their flight number, and then book a ride that will be waiting for them at their destination—all within the same order. Read more

Hit commercial song jabs Israelis (almost) everywhere It hurts. A commercial for Israeli satellite television provider Yes has gone viral in Israel, topping the country's radio playlists. Read more

Israel’s beloved chocolate-coated treat loses its bling. After five decades, popular Israeli chocolate-coated egg foam treat, Krembo, will be sold without its shiny aluminum foil wrapping, saving over 13 tons of aluminum per year. Read more

In Tel Aviv mayoral race, young opposition contests well-entrenched veteran. Deputy mayor for the past ten years Asaf Zamir and comedian turned entrepreneur Assaf Harel are contending against former fighter pilot and mayor of Tel Aviv for the past 20 years Ron Huldai. Read more