Calcalist

Following the passing of Shmuel Harlap, Colmobil's board of directors approved the appointment of his son, Asaf Harlap, as chairman of Israel's largest vehicle importer holding a 19.5% market share.

The collapse of local importers like Automax and sudden franchise transfers of Chinese EV brands have left Israeli car owners without spare parts or service. Experts urge buyers to verify manufacturer stability and local sales figures.

The board of Colmobil, Israel's largest auto importer, has approved the appointment of Asaf Harlap as group chairman. He succeeds his father, Dr. Shmuel Harlap, who passed away last month.

Israeli rock icon and T-Slam member Yair Nitzani opens up about his upcoming album, his creative partnership with wife Alona Kimhi, and his reflections on growing older in Tel Aviv.

Nvidia reported Q2 revenue of $96.2 billion, up 106% year-on-year. Driven by massive AI infrastructure demand, the company expects annual revenue to reach $400 billion despite rising memory chip costs.

Wonderful AI has secured $550 million in a funding round valuing the company at $5 billion. Founded in 2025, the startup has scaled its annual recurring revenue from zero to $70 million through a service-led software model.

Carrefour Israel CEO Inbal Harson is expected to decline a six-month extension of the government-backed discount program. The 30% price cuts on 100 items led to a disappointing 7.6% drop in same-store sales during Q2.

A comprehensive mapping by the Israel Competition Authority reveals how major food suppliers like Tnuva and Coca-Cola exploit market dominance through illegal tying practices to keep prices high.

Israel's largest HMO Clalit exercises its right of first refusal to acquire a 10% stake in Herzliya Medical Center, blocking Wiz founders from entering and raising its ownership to 50%.

Zohar Levy's Summit acquired a 4.9% stake in Ashdod Refinery from Paz for 75 million NIS, raising its total holding to 16.9% and challenging Shapir's control ambitions.

A record-breaking outbreak of cyclosporiasis linked to imported Mexican lettuce has sickened thousands in the US, highlighting severe staffing and funding cuts at the CDC and FDA under the Trump administration.

The Seattle Times and Newsday have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft in a New York federal court. The publishers accuse the tech giants of using copyrighted articles to train AI models without permission.

US President Donald Trump announced that his Super PAC, MAGA Inc, plans to spend between $400 million and $500 million to assist Republican candidates in the upcoming November 3 midterm elections.

US investigators subjected 50 Joint Chiefs officials to polygraph tests following leaks about ammunition shortages. Meanwhile, intelligence reports suggest Iran is determined to sustain the military confrontation through the US midterm elections.

Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy Fold 8 Ultra, featuring a Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, a silicon-based 5,000 mAh battery, and a 200MP triple camera system. The device measures just 4.1 mm when unfolded.

US CD sales revenue jumped 58% to $171.1 million in the first half of 2026, driven by Gen Z interest in physical media. Vinyl records still dominate the market, generating $554 million.

AI giant Anthropic plans to market its historic IPO in mid-October and complete its public listing just days before the US midterm elections on November 3. The developer of Claude is seeking a valuation of up to $2 trillion.

A group of OpenAI agents took over a German website for programmers in the spring, using it to share methods for bypassing restrictions and hiding their activity, according to a Reuters investigation.

US President Donald Trump has renewed pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. He threatened to halt trade with countries that have a trade deficit with the US if the central bank does not comply.

Apple is preparing for the largest product launch wave in its history. The September 9 event will be the first major launch under new CEO John Ternus, signaling a significant transformation across all product lines.

The Chinese AI startup Moonshot has filed a confidential prospectus for an IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The company plans to raise $3 billion in the offering.

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has successfully completed the maiden flight of an Airbus A330-300 converted from a passenger plane to a freighter. This milestone marks the expansion of IAI's conversion operations into wide-body Airbus aircraft.

The US labor market strengthened significantly in August, adding 162,000 non-farm jobs, well above economists' forecasts. The unemployment rate remained steady at 4.1%.

Managers of the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund, which manages assets worth $2.3 trillion, are proposing to reduce US government bond holdings by $80 billion. The move aims to diversify the fund's sources of returns.

Tesla has begun offering rides in its new Cybercab in Austin, Texas. The two-seater vehicle, which lacks a steering wheel and pedals, has sparked interest from regulators and the NHTSA, who plan to review the company's operations.

An employee who worked at Shufersal for four decades was fired ten months before his retirement. The National Insurance Institute recognized his health issues following the dismissal notice as a work accident.

Migdal Insurance is acquiring a 50% stake in three major residential projects from the Prashkovsky company for 700 million shekels. The deal encompasses 800 housing units intended for rental.

Volkswagen has unveiled a major efficiency plan involving mass layoffs and factory closures. The company aims to streamline its model range and optimize production amid declining sales in China.

The dollar has fallen to 3.00 shekels, while the euro dropped to 3.49 shekels. Markets are awaiting US employment data, with forecasts of 55,000 new jobs and an unemployment rate of 4.1%.

The Volkswagen board has approved a restructuring plan involving approximately 50,000 potential layoffs. German reports indicate that the group intends to fully phase out the Seat brand by 2029, with Cupra taking its place.

The pressure exerted by the USA on its allies to join the fight against Iran is beginning to have an effect. The European Union has officially joined the sanctions, and South Korea is considering military support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The European Union is set to vote on the approval of Tesla's FSD systems, a move that would pave the way for their deployment in Israel. Taxation issues regarding the technology remain unresolved.

A new study has found that catching up on sleep on weekends is beneficial for the body. Experts suggest that an extra 1 hour and 27 minutes of sleep is the ideal amount to reduce health risks.

The Chinese company Qiaodan, featuring a logo and name strikingly similar to Michael Jordan's brand, continues to pose a significant challenge to Nike in China. Nike's sales in the country plummeted by 17% in the last quarter.

Idit Silman is set to leave the Ministry of Environmental Protection. There are growing concerns that the next Knesset will lack dedicated lawmakers to champion environmental issues, potentially allowing destructive policies to proceed unchecked.

The Volkswagen supervisory board has unanimously approved a comprehensive efficiency plan that could lead to the reduction of approximately 50,000 jobs. The move aims to bolster the group's competitiveness.

OpenAI has begun the rollout of GPT-6 Astra, its new advanced AI model. It represents a significant leap in software engineering, cybersecurity, and autonomous computer usage.

Paz is selling its entire 4.9% stake in the Ashdod Oil Refinery for approximately 75 million shekels. The sale is being conducted through the brokerage firm Leader amid a surge in trading volume.

Rosh Hashanah is the time when Israelis drink the most wine. Ahead of the holiday, we have put together a selection of ten local wines from the north and south of the country that are worth trying in the new year.

A photographer has filed a lawsuit against the fashion house Comme il Faut over the unauthorized use of his photos in an AI-generated campaign. The plaintiff is seeking 100,000 shekels in damages.