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From Australia: Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is requiring the members of his parliamentary caucus to visit homeless shelters in or near their constituencies. One assumes this follows from his Christian belief in the obligation to care for the poor.

From Cyprus: The island nation is suffering through a severe drought. The Church of Cyprus is ordering its priests to pray for rain.

From Ontario: Could it be that the United Church has really run afoul of political correctness? It seems so: LUV UR PL8? 2BAD4U, cleric told. (Hat tip: Jonathan Weverink)

From Russia: Reuters carries three "FACTBOX" articles about sunday's parliamentary elections in the Russian Federation: Key facts about Russia parliamentary election, New rules for Russia's parliamentary election, and The runners in Russia's parliamentary vote.