• Faith-Based Aid Group Presses Kyrgyzstan Gov't for Safe Access

  A global network of churches and related aid organizations is calling on the provisional Kyrgyz government to guarantee the safe transportation of life-saving assistance and access for aid workers to avert a humanitarian crisis in southern Kyrgyzstan, where the flaring of conflict has displaced an estimated 300,000 people from their homes.

• Pope Benedict Renews Call for Int'l Efforts in Middle East

  Pope Benedict XVI reiterated Sunday his call for an “urgent and concerted” international effort to resolve the ongoing tensions in the Middle East before the conflicts there lead to greater bloodshed.

• Over a Half-Million Affected by Floods in Sri Lanka

  Severe floods triggered by torrential rains have killed 24 people and affected over 524,000 in the south, west and central parts of Sri Lanka, the island nation’s government reported Friday.

  

• Bomb Attack on Iraqi Christian Students Spurs Thousands to Protest

  Thousands of Christians marched through the streets of Hamdaniyah in northern Iraq on Monday to protest against Sunday’s bomb attack that killed one and injured around 100.

  

• China Quake Efforts Shift to Reconstruction

  Post-quake efforts in China are shifting from rescue and relief to reconstruction and resettlement as the death toll from the April 14 temblor leveled out this past week at more than 2,200.