Luke Tress

Luke Tress is a video journalist and tech reporter for the Times of Israel

Refugees board buses that will take them to a processing center after they arrive at Dulles International Airport after being evacuated from Kabul following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan August 27, 2021 in Dulles, Virginia (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP)

August 28, 2021, 8:14 am

Jewish aid group: Afghan refugees face obstacles in US, community help is key

Challenge will continue for new arrivals in US, including finding housing and employment and getting work certification; but Jewish congregations’ support can be crucial, HIAS says

By Luke Tress

Researcher Brittany Robertson with a so-called 'Heisenberg cube' that she is analyzing to determine its origins. (Courtesy/Andrea Starr/PNNL)

August 27, 2021, 3:36 am

US researchers work to trace mystery uranium cubes back to Nazi nuclear program

Hundreds of radioactive ‘Heisenberg cubes’ were lost to history after war, but new forensic analysis on the material could fill historical gaps, boost nuclear safeguards

By Luke Tress

Shoppers at the Mahane Yehuda market in Jerusalem, on July 27, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 12, 2021, 7:22 pm

Bank of Israel reports low risk to financial sector, small business struggles

In periodic report on domestic financial stability, central bank says Israel’s economy in good shape despite virus and several ongoing risk factors

By Luke Tress

Illustrative: Amazon Prime packages sit in a delivery truck. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

August 12, 2021, 6:03 pm

Amazon reintroduces limited free shipping to Israel

Retail giant offers service on certain items for orders over $65, after ending no-cost deliveries during early months of pandemic

By Luke Tress

Illustrative image of Binah.ai's technology in use on a phone, a tablet and a laptop. (Courtesy/Binah.ai)

August 12, 2021, 3:55 pm

Israeli startup lets users check vital signs by looking at their smartphones

Binah.ai turns mobile devices, laptops into medical monitoring tools that can measure heartrate, oxygen saturation, stress levels

By Luke Tress

A signage of Microsoft is seen on March 13, 2020, in New York City. (Jeenah Moon/ Getty Images/AFP)

August 11, 2021, 9:38 pm

Microsoft acquires Israeli startup Peer5 to improve video streaming software

Tech giant says acquisition will aid businesses using its communication platform, Microsoft Teams; global real estate giant JLL snaps up Israeli analytics firm Skyline AI

By Luke Tress

OwnBackUp employees. (Courtesy/Buxa Photography)

August 11, 2021, 6:48 pm

Cloud protection startup OwnBackUp raises $240m, nearing $3.35b valuation

Company says its value has climbed by $2 billion in past six months, will expand services to Microsoft platform

By Luke Tress

Haifa bay, April 24, 2018. (Yossi Zamir/Flash90)

August 11, 2021, 6:00 pm

International bidders reportedly closing in on deal to acquire Haifa port

Acquisition of Israel’s busiest shipping hub will likely cost some $600 million and close by the end of 2021, Reuters reports

By Luke Tress

Governor of the Bank of Israel Amir Yaron attends a Finance committee meeting in the Knesset in Jerusalem, June 23, 2021. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

August 11, 2021, 11:02 am

Bank of Israel chief warns against lockdown, downplays inflation fears

Amir Yaron says bank estimates one-month lockdown would shave 0.5% off of GDP, sees no risk of ‘inflation eruption’ in Israel

By Luke Tress

Illustrative image of a Wix-made app. (Courtesy/Wix)

August 10, 2021, 7:12 pm

Wix rolls out tool for building apps without any coding

New product complements company’s drag-and-drop website builder, other web development services

By Luke Tress

Illustrative: Programming scripts on a computer monitor. (Motortion; iStock by Getty Images)

August 10, 2021, 6:53 pm

Chinese group carried out widespread cyber espionage campaign in Israel – report

Hackers infiltrated Israeli government bodies and companies in operations likely motivated by business and tech interests; Iran and UAE also targeted

By Luke Tress

Customers at restaurants at the Sarona market in Tel Aviv on April 21, 2021. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

August 9, 2021, 6:48 pm

Fearing fresh lockdown, business owners demand lawmakers cancel prior fines

Restaurateurs tell Knesset they cannot pay the financial penalties they owe, as labor shortages continue and new restrictions loom

By Luke Tress

Illustrative image of Amazon Kindle e-readers, April 28, 2016, in New York. (AP/Kathy Willens)

August 9, 2021, 10:43 am

Israeli cybersecurity firm Check Point uncovers Amazon security flaw

Now-closed vulnerability allowed attackers to breach and take control of Kindle e-readers, security company says

By Luke Tress

In this Sept. 24, 2019, file photo people walk by a Google sign on the campus in Mountain View, California (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

August 8, 2021, 6:08 pm

New Google project in Israel aims to use AI to help detect colon cancer

Verily Life Sciences opens R&D center in Israel, will partner with Jerusalem hospital to prevent and manage disease

By Luke Tress

A screenshot from the trailer for Super Stylist, a leading game from Israeli studio CrazyLabs. (Screenshot/YouTube)

August 8, 2021, 5:09 pm

Leading Israeli gaming firm CrazyLabs acquired by Swedish company

Developer of mobile games has over 110 million monthly active users, profited over $152 million last year; partner of Likud’s Amir Ohana was an early investor

By Luke Tress