CTech's Sunday Roundup of Israeli Tech News

Looking death in the eye: why your brain is convinced you’ll live forever. At 17, Yair Dor-Ziderman encountered death, and it was not what he expected. Years later, he is researching the complex mechanisms that make us certain that mortality is something that happens to other people. Read more

Teva up 25% on NYSE since third quarter reports. The Israeli drugmaker closed 8.74% up on Friday after a Cleveland County District judge reduced the fine placed on Johnson and Jonhson in Oklahoma by $107 million, citing a math error made in the original ruling. Read more

Microsoft announces probe into Israeli facial recognition startup’s West Bank activity. Microsoft has hired former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to look into the operations of Tel Aviv-based AnyVision, to see if the use of its technology by Israeli forces in the West Bank violates Microsoft’s ethical principles. Read more

Ribbon communication to acquire ECI Telecom for around $455 million. Israeli businessman Shaul Shani is the controlling shareholder in ECI, having bought his stake in two deals in 2007 and 2014. Read more

Opinion | How to get a speeding ticket from the comfort of your own home. Israeli traffic laws state the owner of a vehicle is responsible for any related traffic violations, even when they are not the one behind the wheel. The country's widespread use of traffic cameras makes this an even bigger concern. Read more

 

Check Point acquires IoT security company Cymplify. Founded earlier this year, Cymplify develops a firmware analysis engine for IoT security that provides highly detailed cybersecurity posture reports. Read more

 

Israeli VAT refund startup ReFundit raises $10 million. ReFundit develops an app that digitizes and simplifies the process of obtaining tax refunds for tourists. Read more

 

Sports analytics startup Track160 raises $5 million. Track160 uses artificial intelligence technologies to monitor team sporting events and collect performance data on teams and players. Read more

 

Finnish food delivery app Wolt expands to beyond Tel Aviv. The company has signed agreements with approximately 50 restaurants in the Herzliya area, and is set to launch its service there next week. Read more