Suicide Bombing Kills 16 in Russia

Sixteen people were killed in a suicide bombing in Volgograd, Russia.

Sunday's bombing targeted a train station, injuring forty-three people.

Witnesses say that a woman approached the metal detectors and refused to go through them.

As a police moved towards her she blew herself up.

No one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

Saudi Arabia Announces $3 Billion in Military Aid for Lebanon

President Michel Suleiman

On Sunday, it was announced that Saudi Arabia is granting Lebanon three billion dollars in military aid.

They will be doing this partially by buying weapons from France, to give Lebanon.

Michel Suleiman, Lebanon's president, made the announcement and added that he hoped France would move quickly on shipping the weapons.

He also stated his hope that France would consider aiding in training Lebanon's forces.

French President Francois Hollande responded that he was sure his country would be willing to assist an ally.

Saudi Arabia's goal is to allow the Lebanese military to become more powerful than Hezbollah, within Lebanon's borders.

Hezbollah, which is recognized as a terrorist group by several countries, currently wields much greater power than the military can.

This often allows the group to control national policy.

Israel Struck by Rockets From Lebanon

A Lebanese soldier inspects a shell remnant

Four rockets flew out of Lebanon and two of them struck Israel, on Sunday morning, with one falling near the town of Kiryat Shmona.

The other two rounds failed to cross the border, and fell into Lebanon.

Israel responded by firing thirty-two artillery rounds into the area that the rockets came from.

No injuries were reported from either incident.

Lebanese troops later found the remnants of the rocket launchpads, which were fired at Israel.

After bring relatively quiet, Israel's border with Lebanon has had several incidents of attacks on Israel, during December.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks.

Bangladesh Cracks Down on Protesters

Hundreds were arrested in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Sunday as the government cracked down on opposition protests.

Opposition leaders had planned a large protest to take place today, but police blocked leaders from leaving their homes.

Water cannons and tear gas were used against their supporters who tried to break through police lines, to get to them.

The government also closed down public transportation to make it difficult for people to come in large numbers.

One protester was killed in the clashes with police, on Sunday.

The opposition is demanding that the government step down, accusing them of trying fix elections scheduled for January 5.

US Air Force: Captain David I. Lyon

Captain David I. Lyon, twenty-eight of Sandpoint, Idaho, died on Decmber 27.

He and two other NATO troops were killed when their vehicle was struck by an improvised explosive device, in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Lyon was assigned to the 21st Logistics Readiness Squadron out of Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.

3 Killed in Clashes in Egypt

Three people were killed in clashes in Egypt.

Protesters demanding that Mohammed Morsi be returned to power clashed with police.

In a dramatic change, the military turned to militia groups and asked them to protect buildings which are often targeted by Islamist groups.

Most of the protesters are supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was officially listed as a terrorist organization, on Wednesday.

3 NATO Troops Killed in Afghanistan

A suicide bomber struck a military convoy, just outside of Kabul, on Friday.

Three NATO soldiers were killed and six civilians wounded, in the blast.

At this time, NATO has not released the nationality of the soldiers lost.

The Taliban quickly claimed responsibility for the attack, though as usual they exaggerated the destruction it caused.

USMC: Sergeant Daniel M. Vasselian

Sergeant Daniel M. Vasselian, twenty-seven of Abington, Massachusetts, died on December 23.

He was killed during combat in Helmand province, Afghanistan.

Vasselian was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Egypt Declares Muslim Brotherhood a Terrorist Organization

Egypt moved another step against the Muslim Brotherhood on Wednesday.

They once again declared the Brotherhood to be an illegal organization.

On top of that, the Egyptian government has announced that the Muslim Brotherhood shall from now on be known as a terrorist organization.

Despite having been illegal for much of it's history, the group had never before been considered terrorists.

The announcement came the day after a car bombing struck in Mansoura, killing fifteen.

US Embassy Attacked in Afghanistan

Four Taliban rockets struck in Kabul, early Wednesday morning.

Two of them struck the US embassy, chasing everyone into bunkers, for Christmas.

One of the rockets failed to explode on impact, but exploded while police were trying to deuse it, wounding three officers.

None of the explosions caused any damage to their surroundings.