Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Develops New Technology

Blast By Taliban in Kabul Kills 1 American, 2 Slovak Soldiers, Scores Wo...

Forces in Afghanistan are on high alert after officials say a suspected suicide bomber attacks a military convoy outside Kabul. Officials say the attack killed at least three foreign soldiers. It's unknown how many were injured. (SOUNDBITE) (Dari) BAKER AND EYEWITNESS, NIAMATULLAH, SAYING: "After the blast my bakery windows broke. Later on, smoke covered the area then Americans arrived and carried three bodies from the scene." The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack which comes as President Hamid Karzai deliberates over an agreement allowing U.S. forces to stay in the country beyond 2014. Many Afghans, including a number of tribal leaders, have urged Karzai to sign the U.S. pact quickly. Some are concerned about security in the country after 2014 when most foreign forces are leaving.

National Dress Festival Fashion Show ft Gulnara Karimova | Style.Uz Art ...

TASHKENT - FashionTV has a front row seat for the National Dress Festival fashion show at Style.Uz Art Week 2013. Gulnara Karimova, daughter of the Uzbekistan President, presents the designers to the audience. Women's and men's looks, many inspired by traditional Uzbek clothing, are showcased on the runway. 

Kyrie Irving's Top 10 Plays of 2013!

Συρία: Οι Χριστιανοί δημιούργησαν Δυνάμεις Αυτοάμυνας

Συρία: Οι Χριστιανοί δημιούργησαν Δυνάμεις Αυτοάμυνας

Η Ορθόδοξη Ένωση της Συρίας, ανακοίνωσε στις 27 Δεκεμβρίου 2013, το σχηματισμό μια ιδιωτικής πολιτοφυλακής- Δυνάμεων Αυτοάμυνας.

Η Ένωση σε ανακοίνωσή της  τονίζει ότι η στρατιωτική οργάνωση θα αγωνίζεται εναντίον κάθε μορφής απειλής για τους Χριστιανούς στο έδαφος της Συρίας.

Η ίδρυση του αστυνομικού σχηματισμού καθώς και οι προθέσεις του ανακοινώθηκαν  από τον εκπρόσωπο της Ένωσης, Μίλαντ Γεωργής στην Al-Sumaria News.

Το πρώτο τμήμα της χριστιανικής αυτοάμυνας αποτελείται, ήδη, από 300 άτομα- άνδρες και γυναίκες και η Ένωση ευελπιστεί ότι θα ενώσει τους εκπροσώπους όλων των χριστιανικών κοινοτήτων στην πολιτοφυλακή. Η ομάδα θα έχει πεδίο δράσης στην περιοχή Τζαζίρα.

Οι Χριστιανοί αποτελούν το 10,8 τοις εκατό του πληθυσμού της Συρίας. Οι περισσότεροι μιλούν αραβικά και ένα μέρος ομιλεί την αρμενική γλώσσα, γράφει το δημοσίευμα.

Stalled rescue for icebound ship in Antarctica

View from icebound Russian ship

Three ships had been headed toward the trapped Russian vessel. Two have now turned back, but a third is expected to reach the vessel late Sunday.

The group of 74 scientists, tourists and crew aboard a Russian ship stuck in ice off Antarctica are still stranded, although blizzard conditions that hit the ship on Thursday now appear to have eased somewhat. A Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon attempted to reach the ship on Saturday (December 28, 2013), and came within six-and-a-half nautical miles of the stranded vessel, but then encountered ice so heavy it could not break through.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is coordinating the rescue of the Russian passenger ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy. AMSA spokeswoman Andrea Hayward-Maher told AFP:

The Chinese vessel unfortunately encountered some heavy ice that it’s not capable of breaking through. The rescue… unfortunately has stalled.

The Russian ship has been icebound about 100 nautical miles east of the French base Dumont d’Urville since Tuesday, December 24.

Three vessels with icebreaking capability had been attempting to reach the stranded Russian ship. The Chinese icebreaker Snow Dragon had been expected to get there first, late Friday, but it had to turn back. The French icebreaker, L’Astrolabe, is now said to have been released by rescue authorities from having to continue with the mission around midday on Saturday.

Now only the Australian Antarctic Division’s Aurora Australis continues to head toward the trapped Russian ship. It’s not expected to reach the area until Sunday evening.

Those aboard the trapped ship are said to have plenty of supplies and remain comfortable at this time.

Read more at Yahoo News.

Map via Yahoo News.

View from the stranded Russian passenger ship MV Akademik Shokalskiy, via Australian Maritime Safety Authority Handout/EPA.

THAILAND ELECTIONS HAVE 'FEW SUPPORTERS' - BBC NEWS

The Thai government will seek the army's help to hold elections in February which the opposition is planning to boycott. In a national broadcast, the Deputy Prime Minister said he will ask the army chief to provide security for the polls. On Thursday the government rejected a call by the election commission to postpone the vote, after a policeman was shot dead during political violence in the capital. The BBC's Jonathan Head is in Bangkok - where he says the election has few supporters.