The international rule is intended to lessen the risk of lithium battery fires on airplanes.
By Elena Malykhina
Starting Jan. 1, airline passengers will no longer be allowed to pack loose lithium batteries in checked luggage, the U.S. Transportation Department's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration warned late last week.
Instead, passengers will be required to take loose batteries with them in carry-on baggage, packed in plastic bags. The new regulation, which will go into effect in order to lessen the risk of lithium battery fires, won't apply to lithium batteries that are already installed in electronic devices, such as laptops, cell phones, and cameras. Those can be checked in.
Additionally, only two spare rechargeable lithium batteries will be allowed on airplanes per passenger in carry-on bags.
The international rule will become U.S. law on Tuesday.
"Doing something as simple as keeping a spare battery in its original retail packaging or a plastic zip-lock bag will prevent unintentional short-circuiting and fires," said Krista Edwards, deputy administrator of the PHMSA, in a statement.
The administration is treating lithium batteries as hazardous materials since they're known for overheating and catching fire in some conditions. Tests conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration show ...   more »

By Amy Thomson and Susan Decker
Jan. 2 (Bloomberg) -- Qualcomm Inc., the second-biggest maker of mobile-phone chips, fell 2.4 percent in Nasdaq trading after a court barred it from selling semiconductors that infringe three Broadcom Corp. patents.
Qualcomm said today that it will appeal the decision and offer phone makers substitutes for some of the components. The San Diego-based company is reviewing the Dec. 31 ruling and will also request further clarification from the federal court in Santa Ana, California.
Broadcom has been challenging Qualcomm in federal and state courts for more than two years, seeking a bigger share of the market for Internet and multimedia mobile-phone chips. Qualcomm ranked second in sales of mobile chips last year, after Texas Instruments Inc.
``Other companies are going to try to use this court's order to gain some advantage,'' Qualcomm Chief Executive Officer Paul Jacobs said in a conference call. ``While there may be some near- term impact of the ruling, I think we can continue to execute extremely well.''
Qualcomm fell 96 cents to $38.39 at 4 p.m. New York time on the Nasdaq Stock Market. The shares have climbed 2.5 percent in the past 12 months. Irvine, California-based Broadcom ...   more »

Mark Sweney
Guardian Unlimited, Wednesday January 2 2008 The FBI is to use a nationwide network of digital billboards to flash "hot pursuit" alerts and "most wanted" bulletins to help catch criminals.
In a deal with Clear Channel Outdoor, the US law enforcement agency will use billboards to run messages about wanted criminals, crime in progress and "high security" alerts about homeland security.
The agreement, which follows a successful trial in Philadelphia that led to the swift arrest of three criminals, will primarily be used to run "most wanted messages" on more than 150 digital billboards in about 20 US cities.
Billboards will also be used to display "high security messages to relevant communities" and the FBI also plans to establish a "protocol" for high priority "hot pursuit" messages to run straight after crimes are committed.
"The success of our 'wanted' messages on Clear Channel's digital billboards in Philadelphia was an impressive testament to this new technology's effectiveness in aiding law enforcement," said Brett Hovington, community relations unit chief at the FBI.
He added that a key benefit of the billboards is that they allow a "degree of separation between the tipster and the authorities", helping the FBI to protect ...   more »

By Chris Flood in London
Commodity markets made a flying start to 2008 with gold, oil and platinum setting records during the first trading session of the new year.
Gold led the initial advance, rising 3.3 per cent to $861.10 a troy ounce, surpassing the previous high of $850 reached in January 1980. The metal later eased back to $858.10 in late London trading.
EDITOR’S CHOICE
Dollar fear sparks rush to oil and gold - Jan-03Energy Filter: Ed Crooks - Jan-03Lex: Peak no evil - Jan-02Oil chiefs told to focus on reinvestment - Jan-02Analysis: US faces prospect of recession - Jan-02Independent trader claims $100 oil record - Jan-03Traders said there was consistent selling pressure on gold in December as investors booked profits before the year-end, but that drag had cleared and Wednesday’s price rise indicated the strength of underlying sentiment.
Gold also found support from renewed dollar weakness after the influential ISM manufacturing survey indicated that industrial activity contracted in December, fuelling fears that the US economy could be dragged into recession as weakness in the housing market spreads into other sectors.
Gold’s strength spilled over into platinum, which rose 1.6 per cent to $1,544 a troy ounce.
Oil hit ...   more »

Up To Zion Tour                                             
Battalion of Deborah
Feb.16-26
Come join the Battalion of Deborah in the most unique tour of the Land of Israel. Not only discover the ancient Biblical sites, but discover the modern day Israel just as the prophet Isaiah foretold thousands of years ago. You will see this scripture come to life when you enter the Independence Hall where the place remains just as it was in 1948 where Ben Gurion made the announcement that traveled across the world,  Israel was born today. You can visit the site here Click Here
Then from there we will see a  a major player who lead up to this event that few Christians have ever heard of, "Ze'ev Jabotinsky - Historical Life-Span".  The Jabotinsky Museum.
On display is Jabotinsky's life within its historical connection, emphasizing his political and educational activities in service of Zionism, as well as his Hebrew cultural and literary heritage.Click Here
We will go to the hospital, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center where we will have lunch, meet staff, and see first hand the medical side of Israel that we support.
This tour will cover all facets of Israel in their unique setting.
We will leave the ...   more »

"Even if it is not your intention, the slanted media in Israel is interpreting your visit as applying pressure to accelerate the implementation of "Disengagement II" a move that will place in mortal danger all residents of Israel," the Rabbis wrote.  
Shturem.net
The Rabbinical Congress for Peace (RCP) comprised over over 350 leading rabbis in Israel have sent an urgent letter to U.S.President George Bush requesting that he cancel his upcoming trip to Israel next week.
"Even if it is not your intention, the slanted media in Israel is interpreting your visit as applying pressure to accelerate the implementation of "Disengagement II" a move that will place in mortal danger all residents of Israel," the Rabbis wrote.
The RCP move came came after Prime Minister Ehud Olmert sent an official letter on Sunday to the ministers of defense, housing and agriculture with an order to refrain from authorizing any construction in the West Bank without his and Defense Minister Ehud Barak's prior approval.
Officials in the PM's Office said that the order was a follow-up to the announcement he made in the cabinet meeting before the Annapolis peace conference, that Israel would not build additional settlements and would evacuate ...   more »

Even slightest 'sign' of Jewish worship prohibited at Judaism's holiest site
By Aaron Klein
Temple Mount in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM – Jews are not allowed to pray on the Temple Mount in any way whatsoever, even if they only move their lips or demonstrate other "signs" of prayer on Judaism's holiest site, ruled Avi Dichter, Israel's public security minister.
Dichter was responding to a recent decision by two Knesset members who said they would ascend the Temple Mount quietly – without informing the media or making any protest – and attempt to pray on the holy site.
The lawmakers, Uri Ariel and Aryeh Eldad from Israel's National Union Party, said Muslim prayer services take place throughout the day in the many mosques and Islamic religious schools situated on the holy site, and Jews should be able to pray as individuals on the Mount.
In a letter to the lawmakers, Dichter, Israel's highest ranking public security officer, wrote that while police cannot generally arrest a person "conversing with his maker ... however it is possible to carry out an arrest for expressions of outward and demonstrative signs [of prayer on the Temple Mount]."
Dichter's use of the phrase "conversing with his maker" ...   more »

By Stan Goodenough
Jan 01, 2008
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said Monday he believes he can almost see "the hand of God" in the coming together of purportedly Israel-friendly countries which are working to create a Palestinian state on the historical homeland of the Jewish people.
In an exclusive interview timed to coincide with the start of 2008, Olmert told The Jerusalem Post he believed the current constellation of key international personalities who were "favorably disposed" to Israel created "comfortable conditions" for negotiations that may not exist again in the future.
The prime minister, a secular Jew, said it is "a coincidence that is almost 'the hand of God' that Bush is president of the United States, that Nicolas Sarkozy is the president of France, that Angela Merkel is the chancellor of Germany, that Gordon Brown is the prime minister of England and that the special envoy to the Middle East is Tony Blair."
"What possible combination could be more comfortable for the State of Israel?"
Olmert maintained that it was imperative that Israel make every effort towards progress in the land-for-peace process as long as this lineup of friendly faces remains in place.
It is an historical irony ...   more »

I have the opportunity to travel to Israel and the Middle East with President Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and the White House press corps from January 8 to 17. The trip will include stops in Jerusalem, Jericho in the Palestinian territories, Kuwait, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
I will travel on the White House press charter and will be departing in what may be one of the most important times in the history of Israel and the Middle East. Many are praying that doors would open and that I might have the opportunity to share my heart with President Bush, Secretary Rice, and others as to the importance of America’s position on the land of Israel.
Moreover, the volatile issues that have arisen in Pakistan in recent days make the region even more stressful and dangerous. It is said that security for President Bush's trip will be unprecedented. In Israel, 8,000 policemen will provide security during the visit in addition to members of the US Secret Service.
According to Haaretz, President Bush has changed the itinerary of his trip to Israel in order to fit in a visit to Capernaum, on the northern end of ...   more »

A new campaign by Israel's Ministry of Interior to revoke the citizenship of believers highlights an urgent need for reform.
By Michael Decker
The Law of Return, in its current wording, grants every Jew the right to immigrate to Israel. Moreover, the Law of Return also grants the family members of Jews the right to immigrate to Israel, even if they themselves are not Jewish. As a result, a situation has been created whereby, as of today, there are many citizens in Israel who are related to Jews, yet hold to different religious beliefs. There are also citizens who are devoid of any religion whatsoever. What's more, among mixed families who immigrated into Israel, there are many people who have grown up with a mixed religious worldview. Nonetheless, the uniting factor is that all of the abovementioned are Israeli citizens.
Lately, a troubling situation has arisen. Certain faithful citizens of the nation of Israel have been receiving letters whereby they have been summoned into the offices of the Ministry of Interior in order to review their civil status. What was the transgression of those who received these strange letters from the Ministry of Interior? Have they betray the nation? Do ...   more »

Behind the growing fascination with all things pagan, occult and magic
When the day's news is about "witches," many Americans reflexively conjure up images of ugly, wicked hags from stories like "Snow White" and "The Wizard of Oz" – or more recently, the smiling "good witches" of Harry Potter books and films. But none of these fictional fantasies has anything to do with the real thing.
The real thing – that is, the stunning phenomenon of more and more American housewives, students, professors, and even soldiers self-identifying as "witches" – is the topic of the January edition of WND's elite monthly Whistleblower magazine.  
Titled "WITCHCRAFT IN AMERICA," Whistleblower explores Wicca in particular, and the New Age movement in general, in this dramatic, entertaining, but powerfully eye-opening and mind-boggling investigation.
What is witchcraft? Is it the same as Wicca? Is it a form of Satan worship, as critics allege? Or can witches be good? Can they really cast spells that somehow call forth the spirits beyond the world of nature to help them accomplish their will – whether good or evil? Is magic real? Why do witches often perform their ceremonies naked? And most of all, why do so many ...   more »

US special forces snatch squads are on standby to seize or disable Pakistan's nuclear arsenal in the event of a collapse of government authority or the outbreak of civil war following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto.
The troops, augmented by volunteer scientists from America's Nuclear Emergency Search Team organisation, are under orders to take control of an estimated 60 warheads dispersed around six to 10 high-security Pakistani military bases.
Military sources say contingency plans have been reviewed over the past three days to prevent any of Pakistan's atomic weapons falling into the hands of Islamic extremists if the administration of President Pervez Musharraf appears threatened by civil unrest.
Some of the special forces are already believed to be in neighbouring Afghanistan and on alert for the mission. It is also understood that satellite surveillance of Pakistan has been stepped up to keep track of the possible movement of nuclear weapons and missile delivery systems.
According to a US Congressional report published in November, Pakistan's nuclear deterrent consists of warheads for missiles and bombs dropped from aircraft.
To maintain security, the weapons are not stored fully-assembled. Warheads, detonators and missiles are kept separately, but able to be married up "fairly quickly" ...   more »