Israel Active

The social media giant has acquired Israel’s Onavo for at least $100 million. Onavo has developed some unique marketing and data compression applications as well as operating a successful mobile security business. Onavo says that it will become Facebook’s Israeli office.

Israel’s foreign exchange reserves stood at a record $78.417 billion at the end of January 2013 - a rise of $2.511 billion from their level at the end of December 2012. The previous all-time record of $78.078 billion was recorded in August 2011.

After extracting 116,000 barrels of oil from Israel’s Meged 5 well, Givot Olam Oil Exploration upped their estimate of oil in the field by 60 per cent to 2.49 million barrels of oil.

(Thanks to Nevet – Broaderview.com) Japan has bought its first IceSense3 systems from Israel’s IceCure Medical. The systems are already approved in the USA and Europe. Now Kamada Medical Center will use two $50,000 IceSense3 systems to kill breast tumors by freezing them. www.al-monitor.com/pulse/business/2013/10/icecure-medical-japan-kameda-medical-center-cancer.html Apple buys Cue. 21-year-old Israeli entrepreneur Daniel Gross has just sold his personal assistant app Cue to Apple for a cool $40 million. Cue searches for keywords in a person’s Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter accounts without having to sign in to any of them. Apple could use Cue to help compete with Google Now.

The US Israel Business Council is introducing 15 Israeli startups to New York City. Curiyo, Viewbix, Augury Systems, Seebo, Brayola and ten others are facing 250 investors and business leaders who are providing advice and (hopefully) funding to the fledgling companies.

US giant Teleflex Inc. has acquired Israel’s InnoLap Surgical Ltd., which is developing a platform for scarless laparoscopic (keyhole surgery) procedures. In July, Teleflex bought Israeli microlaparoscopy developer Eon Surgical.

(Thanks to Israel21c) Business giant Warren Buffet made his 3rd Israeli acquisition when his electronics components distributor TTI bought Israel’s Ray-Q Interconnect. The Israeli company manufactures harnesses that can connect a vast range of electrical equipment.

A new aviation agreement between Israel and Canada will lead to a significant increase in flights between the two countries and allow other airlines to operate regular flights on the Tel Aviv to Toronto route. Currently El Al and Air Canada carry some 130,000 passengers on this route every year.

Israel’s August unemployment rate fell to 6.1%, the lowest in two decades. At the same time, participation in the labor market continues to expand, reaching 64% in August.

Japan-based robotics manufacturer Yaskawa Electric Corporation has invested in and formed a strategic partnership with Israel’s Argo Medical Technologies. Argo manufactures the ReWalk exoskeleton that enables paraplegics to walk. The investment will aid R&D to streamline manufacture.