Terrorist Attacks against Christians increase 309% in Africa

A statement by Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations in Geneva explains the terrorist attacks against Christians have increase to 309% in Africa, Middle East and Asia.
In a speech given by the Vatican's permanent observer to the United Nations in Geneva, Mons. Silvano Tomasi, he noted that 2.2 billion people face this problem worldwide.

He says that Christians are not the only victims, but the numbers are hard to ignore. About 70 percent of the world's population faces religious restrictions. Terrorist attacks on Christians in Africa, the Middle East and Asia have increased 309 percent between 2003 and 2010.Tomasi said religion is not a threat, but a resource. The problem, he says, rises when governments and extremists consider minority religions harmful and offensive because they differ from a country's main religion.

When it comes to developed countries, mostly in the West, the persecution is not necessarily violent, but cultural. It's usually seen when people face hostility, scorn and even ridicule for their beliefs. It's a situation faced by many, but above all, says Tomasi, by Christians.

IAF choppers to provide live demonstration of terror hit

Planning to offer a real-time picture on ground during terrorist attacks to security forces, the Indian Air Force has arranged two of its Mi-17 helicopters in Mumbai and Delhi. These helicopters have been equipped with imaging systems and sensors to allow live video footage of terror attacks to the command and control centers, IAF officials said.

As per IAF's plans, the footage will be used to give a holistic picture to the troops and security forces on ground who can then take synergized action against terrorists, the officials said. The plan to deploy these choppers was initiated in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, they said. India has taken several measures after the attacks to protect vital installations and points against any hit from the sea or aerial route.The Air Force is also planning to deploy its frontline fighter aircraft such as the SU-30MKI in the National Capital region (NCR) to ward off any possible aerial threat.
During the Commonwealth Games last year, the IAF had deployed its unmanned aerial vehicles to provide security cover to the mega event. IAF has also procured the C-130J Special Operations aircraft which can be used to airlift and deploy quick reaction teams at any location in the country in case of any such attack.

Yemen wants much more US aid to fight terrorism

Yemen wants far more military aid than the U.S. has promised in the fight against escalating terrorism - billions of dollars more than Washington has in mind.And yet Yemeni authorities have little to show for the significant Western aid that has already poured into the impoverished country.

In fact, the al-Qaida offshoot that claimed responsibility for the failed plot to send mail bombs from Yemen to the U.S. appears more emboldened than ever. And Yemen's government seems to feel more threatened by an increasingly restless secessionist rebellion in the south, where it has little control, than by militants linked to Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula.
Since the Oct. 28 discovery of the two mail bombs, U.S. officials are pressing Yemen for more and faster cooperation on intelligence-sharing and more opportunities to train Yemeni counterterrorism teams. Yemen is the poorest country in the Arab world and the government's authority is weak in areas outside the capital of San'a.