Christians are calling for calm, and for prayers of peace, amid rising tensions in Zimbabwe after Emmerson Mnangagwa of the Zanu-PF party was declared the winner of the country’s national elections.

Six anti-Mnangagwa demonstrators were killed, and many others injured after MDC Alliance supporters – who backed the opposition candidate Nelson Chamisa – clashed troops in the days that followed the election on 30 July.

Zimbabwe has long established links with the United Reformed Church through Commitment for Life and the global partnership between the Eastern Synod and the Presbytery of Zimbabwe within the Uniting Presbyterian Church of Southern Africa.

The World Council of Churches (WCC) has unveiled a new design for its ongoing ‘Thursday’s in Black’ campaign.

Thursdays in Black is a campaign of solidarity and advocacy against all forms of sexual and gender-based violence. The new design aims to give new momentum to a movement that recognises the resistance and resilience of women, children, and men in the face of violence.

Terry Waite was a former envoy for the Archbishop of Canterbury in the 1980s, and successfully negotiated the release of numerous hostages in Iran, Libya and Lebanon.

But on the 20 January 1987, he was taken hostage in Beirut and held for 1,763 days, spending four of these five years in captivity in solitary confinement.

An initiative to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War  – with 100 days of prayer – will begin across the UK on 4 August.

Remembrance 100 – organised by Hope Together, a Christian charity – will run until Armistice Day on 11 November upon which the centenary falls.

The United Reformed Church is a partner in the initiative, which encourages local churches, schools and communities to observe the centenary in different ways. On each of the 100 days, those who sign up are invited to spend just a few minutes taking part in prayers and other activities.