Innovation Funding: Israel Innovation Authority launched a NIS 100m national quantum computing R&D infrastructure to let academia and industry test, compare and adopt quantum platforms. Energy R&D: A separate NIS 6m Blue-Tech call backs ocean-based renewables, from wave energy to AI-managed offshore systems. EU Trade Pressure: Belgium’s veto on imports from Israeli settlements drew a Palestinian push for more countries to follow, framing it as aligned with international law. West Bank Cash Crunch: In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, banks are overwhelmed with shekels they can’t deposit back, disrupting payments and pushing some businesses to refuse cash. Tech Deal Watch: Playtika is in talks to sell SuperPlay to Tencent for an estimated $1b–$1.5b, with SuperPlay’s fast growth raising Playtika’s future payout liabilities. Tax Corruption Probe: Israel Tax Authority employees were arrested over alleged bribes tied to about NIS 80m in false tax rebates. High-Tech Resilience: A report says Israel’s high-tech output and fundraising rose in 2025 and tech hiring picked up in early 2026 despite war and layoffs. Geopolitics & Markets: Escalating US-Iran strikes and Strait of Hormuz disruption pushed oil above $90, lifting commodity currencies and adding inflation risk. Diplomacy Calendar: The Jerusalem Post Diplomatic Conference returns to Jerusalem, spotlighting Israel’s security, economy and innovation.