The Israeli government was accused of piracy today after it invaded and seized the MV Rachel Corrie aid ship heading for blockaded Gaza, arresting the activists on board.

The Accord Coalition for inclusive schooling has issued a stark warning over the lack of proper regulation for the government’s proposed new Academies.

Pope Benedict XVI has sent a formal greeting to delegates, visitors and staff attending the Edinburgh 2010 event exploring world Christianity and its mission in the modern world.

Channel Four Television has announced that human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell will present an hour-long documentary on the Pope, to be broadcast before his state visit.

D.C. police officers have threatened to arrest people praying and counseling on the public sidewalk in front of Planned Parenthood.Contact: Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney, 540-538-4741, 202-547-1735WASHINGTON, June 4 /Christian Newswire/ -- For many years, the pro-life community has been allowed to pray, counsel and have a peaceful witness on the public property surrounding the Planned Parenthood Clinic in Washington, D.C. Photo: Pro-Lifers Peacefully Praying on Public Property Surroundin Source: Christian Defense Coalition

Contact: Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator, 267-210-8278, Annee@ChinaAid.org; Jenny McCloy, Directory of Advocacy in Washington, DC, 202-213-0506, Jenny@ChinaAid.org; www.ChinaAid.org, www.MonitorChina.orgWASHINGTON, June 3 /Christian Newswire/ -- Born and raised in China, Capt. Xiong Yan will never forget standing in Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, watching the tanks alter his future forever. Targeted as one of the 21 Most Wanted Student Leaders by the Chinese Government after June 4, Xiong Source: China Aid Association, Inc.

Contact: Michelle Selesky, 202-587-5710, mselesky@newt.orgMEDIA ADVISORY, June 2 /Christian Newswire/ -- Newt and Callista Gingrich, in partnership with Citizens United Productions and Peace River Company, will premiere their new documentary, Nine Days that Changed the World, next week in Krakow, Warsaw and Rome.The film will premiere at the Lagiewniki Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in Krakow on June 8, at the Royal Castle in Warsaw on June 9, and finally at the Pontifical North American Co Source: Gingrich Communications

Contact: Annee Kahler, Media Coordinator, 267-210-8278, Annee@ChinaAid.org; Jenny McCloy, Directory of Advocacy in Washington, DC, 202-213-0506, Jenny@ChinaAid.org; www.ChinaAid.org, www.MonitorChina.orgWASHINGTON, May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- After the Tiananmen Square Massacre in 1989, many student leaders lost hope. Some suffered extreme physical abuse, forced exile, and personal pain; others saw their families suffer for their involvement in the movement. On June 3, the eve of the 21s Source: China Aid Association, Inc.

"For many Western church elites, there will always be harsh criticism of America, and endless excuses for tyrannies like North Korea."-- Mark Tooley, IRD PresidentContact: Jeff Walton, Institute on Religion and Democracy, 202-682-4131, 202-413-5639 cell, jwalton@TheIRD.orgWASHINGTON, May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Despite a high level of engagement with North Korea, including the 2009 visit of an official delegation to the isolated country, the Geneva-based World Council of Churches Source: Institute on Religion&Democracy

Contact: Dr. Gary Cass, Christian Anti-Defamation Commission, 954-551-9770; Woody Woodrum, Eagle Forum San Diego (USN-Ret), 858-227-4290SAN DIEGO, May 28 /Christian Newswire/ -- Preparing to celebrate Memorial Day, we do so knowing brave veterans and our shared faith have been maliciously attacked, first by thieves and now by our own Federal Government.The recent theft and desecration of the Mohave Cross, serving as a WWI veterans war memorial since 1934, was more than a symbol of grati Source: CADC

Contact: Daniel Morgan, Christian Citizens against Corruption, 423-519-6540, stopdcsabuse@gmail.comTELLICO PLAINS, Tenn., May 26 /Christian Newswire/ -- On May 6, 2010 Scott Morgan was arrested by Sergeant John Acuff of the Monroe County Sherriff's Department. A cash only bond was set at $15,480.46.Mr. Morgan's former wife Deborah Morgan Everett and ACLU Affiliate attorney Peter Alliman prompted the warrant for Mr. Morgan's arrest on March 31, 2010 in another on going scheme to extor Source: Christian Citizens against Corruption

Contact: Jerry Dykstra, Open Doors USA, 616-915-4117, jerryd@odusa.orgSANTA ANA, Calif., May 25 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today more than 100 million Christians face unwarranted arrest, imprisonment, beatings, torture and even execution in restrictive countries around the world. Their crime? They are followers of Jesus Christ.Rarely will the public watch and hear about their plight on television in the United States; they are almost invisible to many Americans.B Source: Open Doors USA

Iranian Christian Women Who Refused to Recant Their Faith Now Safe in Another Country Contact: Jerry Dykstra, Media Relations Director, Open Doors USA, 616-915-4117, JerryD@odusa.org SANTA ANA, Calif., May 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- Acquitted and free. That's the report this weekend from Elam Ministries regarding Iranian Christians Maryam Rostampour, 28, and Marzieh Amirizadeh, 31. Fourteen months after they were arrested for their Christian faith and activities Source: Open Doors USA

Contact: Jeff Field, Director of Communications, Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, 212-371-3191, catalyst@catholicleague.org NEW YORK, May 24 /Christian Newswire/ -- Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Day 9 of the protest campaign on behalf of Mother Teresa: Today I am writing to the U.S. bishops in the West notifying them that Anthony Malkin, the owner of the Empire State Building, has decided not to overrule those who have chosen to deny a tribu Source: Catholic League

Amnesty International has called on Mexican authorities to release three hungers strikers protesting against their detention for taking part in a campaign against high electricity prices.