WORLD’S SMALLEST LASER UNVEILED: Ten times smaller than the wavelength of light, the world’s smallest laser has been unveiled by its investors. The new laser, called a SPASER, "has utmost significance," said Mark Stockman of Georgia State University in Atlanta, who with David Bergman of Tel Aviv University in Israel proposed the spaser concept in 2003. Future developments of the tiny laser could produce 10 times more powerful sensors and microscopes that could see objects as small as DNA; computers and electronics that use light instead of electronic signals to process information thousands of times faster than the current microelectronic chips; more efficient solar collectors; and nanolithography etching patterns smaller than the width of a human hair. (INN)

ISRAEL SENDS EMERGENCY AID TO TAIWAN: In the wake of Typhoon Morakot, the deadliest storm to hit Taiwan in recorded history, Israel has sent a shipment of emergency aid to the area hardest hit. The shipment arrived in Taiwan on Friday, and the Israeli team was quick to bring the aid to where it was most needed. (J.Post) Israeli teams are regularly among the first on the scene after natural disasters across the world.

ISRAEL’S WONDERFUL WINES: Modern techniques imported from top wine making nations are now helping Israel’s wines to find space on shelves from Paris to New York. Robert Parker, among the world's most influential wine critics, has heaped praise and points on some 40 Israeli wines. Fourteen of them won more than 90 out of a maximum 100 points in Parker's rating system. (Ha’aretz)

OBAMA SEES PROGRESS ON SETTLEMENTS ISSUE: American President Obama said Tuesday he saw a softening of Israel's resistance to his call for a freeze on settlement-building in the disputed territories. Earlier on Tuesday, an Israeli government minister said no tenders had been issued for new housing projects in Israeli settlements since PM Benjamin Netanyahu's right-leaning government took office five months ago. Netanyahu has rebuffed Obama's push for a complete freeze, creating the most serious rift in US-Israeli relations in a decade. (Ha’aretz) "I will drive out nations before you and enlarge your borders." Ex 34:24

HUCKABEE: TWO-STATE SOLUTION UNREALISTIC: Palestinians have a right to a homeland, but not within the boundaries of Israel, former governor of Arkansas and 2008 GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee inferred at a meeting in Jerusalem on Tuesday. "The international community has already said Israel has a right to be here, that this is going to be their homeland," said Huckabee who is presently visiting Israel. He recommended the same international community should decide where Palestinians should establish their state. "Should it be in the middle of the Jewish homeland? That's what has to be assessed as virtually unrealistic," Huckabee said. (J.Post) "Has He not made with me an everlasting covenant, arranged and secured in every part?" 2 Sam 23:5

ARAB CRIME MUST BE CONFRONTED: Senior researcher Aryeh Ratner said Monday Israel must face the high rate of violent crime among Arab citizens. Professor Ratner, who specializes in the study of crime, said research conducted at Haifa University showed while Arab Israeli adults made up roughly 15% of Israel's total population, 42.7% of adult violent criminals were Arab. "Nobody wants to talk about this figure, it's uncomfortable, but this should be a red light," he warned. (Arutz-7)

HAMAS DIVERTS CEMENT FOR GAZA PROJECTS TO BUILD SMUGGLING TUNNELS: Defense Minister Ehud Barak has ordered a halt in shipments of cement to Gaza. Under pressure from the Obama administration, Barak authorized a large quantity of metal pipes and 300 tons of cement to be shipped to Gaza despite fears Hamas would use the building materials for smuggling tunnels and to build more Kassam rockets. The cement was to be used for a sewage system, a damaged flour mill and other improvements. Instead, Hamas diverted part of the shipment to rebuild its tunnels, used to smuggle terrorists, weapons, ammunition and black market merchandise that has become a staple of the Gaza economy. (INN) 

BRITISH POOLS ACCEPT MUSLIM DRESS CODE: Several British swimming pools now require non-Muslims to dress like Muslims to avoid offending them, even though the sessions are held separately for men and women. New rules ban anyone who does not wear the "burkini," a head-to-toe outfit. Officials explained the edict is to prevent Muslims from being offended. Male swimmers also must be covered from the navel to the knees. (INN)

ISRAELI SCIENTISTS DISCOVER WAY TO COUNTERFEIT DNA: Israeli scientists have shown it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence - calling into question the credibility of DNA as proof in criminal cases. In their tests, scientists fabricated blood and saliva samples that contained DNA taken from different people. Scientists also could take a DNA profile in a database and use it to make a DNA sample to match the profile without needing any tissue from the person. The author of the scientific paper, Dr. Dan Frumkin, said the study shows "you can just engineer a crime scene" adding "any biology undergraduate could perform this." (Ha’aretz)