• Jimmy Carter Plans N. Korea Trip to Free Jailed American

  Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter was expected to arrive in North Korea’s capital city as early as Tuesday to negotiate the release of a U.S. citizen who has been detained since January of this year.

• Agency Warns of Threats from Slow Donor Response to Pakistan Disaster

  The international community has so far committed close to $229.5 million in support and another $142 million in additional pledges for responses to Pakistan’s devastating flooding disaster.

  

• State Dept. Unable to Free Jailed American During N. Korea Visit

  A team sent by the U.S. State Department to visit North Korea last week tried to free an American jailed there but was not granted permission to do so, department spokesman P.J. Crowley reported Monday.

• Clinton: U.S. 'Deeply Concerned' with Religious Persecution in Iran

  U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed “deep concern” on Thursday over the continued persecution of religious minority communities in Iran by the national government.

  

• Slaying of 10 Christian Charity Workers Sparks Widespread Condemnation

  Organizations around the world have condemned the killing of ten medical workers who were serving the poor in the northeastern Afghan province of Badakhshan.