Ifi Reporter

Preliminary data from the Leumitech and IVC report for the third quarter of the year in the Israeli high-tech sector reveals intriguing insights into the industry's recent performance. While headline figures indicate a significant decline in investments, a closer look reveals encouraging signs of stabilization and recovery

US State Department declared on Wednesday that Israel has been officially accepted into the Visa Waiver Program. This historic announcement has been eagerly awaited by many Israelis, giving rise to both anticipation and inquiries. Under the new regulations, Israeli travelers intending to visit the United States will need to register online through the US government's Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). ESTA is an automated system designed to determine eligibility for entry into the US under the visa waiver program. Applicants will be required to complete an online...

Israel's investment in civilian research and development (R&D) witnessed a substantial surge in 2022, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The national expenditure on civilian R&D soared by 14.7%, reaching a remarkable NIS 106.1 billion for the year

In a dramatic turn of events on Yom Kippur, clashes and protests erupted in various parts of Israel as members of the "Jewish Head" organization attempted to enforce gender segregation in public spaces during religious prayers. The incidents resulted in a political storm and brought to light the ongoing battle for public space in the country

In a highly anticipated address at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed a range of topics, including the potential for peace with Saudi Arabia, the Palestinian issue, and mounting tensions with Iran. Simultaneously, outside the UN building, hundreds of protesters gathered to voice their discontent with the government

On Saturday evening, as the eve of Yom Kippur approached, thousands gathered at Tel Aviv's Kaplan intersection for the 38th week of demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Simultaneously, a separate demonstration occurred at the Western Wall for the annual forgiveness evening. This year, the religious holiday of Yom Kippur seems to symbolize the nation's deepening divide

Ministry of Health has issued a resounding recommendation for universal COVID-19 vaccination amid the emergence of new substrains of the Omicron variant. This announcement comes as a proactive measure to safeguard public health and curb the spread of the virus

In a recent cybersecurity incident, Iranian hackers have brazenly targeted Israeli job search websites, compromising the personal information of job applicants. This alarming breach was uncovered by the National Cyber Network, which detected an ongoing cyberattack campaign with a malicious agenda to steal and publish sensitive user data

Jerusalem is gearing up for the most complex project in its history, the Blue Line Light Rail project. This groundbreaking initiative will be established using the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) method, and it is set to revolutionize the city's transportation infrastructure

In a move that has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy, the Ministry of Finance has submitted a request to the finance committee for substantial budget transfers, totaling hundreds of millions of shekels. The funds are primarily intended to bolster ultra-Orthodox education and yeshivas, along with other religious initiatives

Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has reported a significant downward trend in new apartment construction starts in Israel. The latest data reveals a stark decline, with only 13,290 new apartments commencing construction during the second quarter of this year

In another alarming incident of cyber insecurity plaguing the Israeli healthcare sector, Kfar Shaul Itanim Hospital in Jerusalem has fallen victim to a suspected ransomware attack, marking the second such assault on a medical organization in just over a month

Israel's unemployment rate plummeted to 3.1% in August, down from 3.4% the previous month, as reported by the Central Bureau of Statistics. This unexpected decline comes at a time when the nation faces a slew of economic challenges, including a weakening shekel, high-interest rates, a slowing economy, and a high-tech crisis, all while grappling with inflation exceeding government targets

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States took an unexpected turn as he publicly criticized Justice Minister Yariv Levin's original proposal for legal legislation, sparking controversy within the Likud party. During his visit, Netanyahu met with Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, at the Tesla factory in Fremont, California. In response to Musk's questions about the legal revolution in Israel, Netanyahu expressed his concerns about Levin's legislative plan presented in January

Israel's financial markets have experienced a notable shift in recent months, with the initial public offering (IPO) market witnessing a sharp decline while the corporate bond market is undergoing a resurgence. This transformation has been primarily attributed to rising interest rates both in Israel and worldwide.

Amidst a legal revolution that has been brewing in Kaplan for weeks, protesters took to the streets to bid farewell to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he embarked on a trip to the United Nations Assembly in New York. This Saturday, in a departure from previous demonstrations, there were no speeches or stages; instead, demonstrators marched from Rothschild Street to Kaplan, where they boarded shuttles to the planned demonstration in Israel

In an unexpected turn of events, Israel's Consumer Price Index (CPI) for August surged beyond initial forecasts, registering a 0.5% increase. Early predictions had indicated a more modest rise of 0.3%-0.4%. This sharp uptick has pushed the country's inflation rate to 4.1%, exceeding the previously estimated 3.9%. The announcement was made by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) on Friday

Moody's, the international rating agency, is set to release a report next month that paints a concerning picture of Israel's economy, hinting at a possible negative turn in its trajectory. While the agency is not expected to immediately lower Israel's credit rating, the likelihood of a significant rating downgrade in the future is increasing

Israeli gaming company Playtica made a significant announcement this morning, revealing its acquisition of gaming start-up Innplay Labs (Innplay) for an initial sum of $80 million. The deal includes potential milestone payments that could eventually total approximately $300 million