The Methodist Church in Britain has joined other churches and NGOs in calling for urgent support and prayer for thousands of hard-pressed Christians in India as violence flares across the state of Orissa.

The World Council of Churches and the Lutheran World Federation have called on the Prime Minister of India requesting his intervention to end the violence in the state of Orissa. They are also backing Christian prayer and solidarity.

Church leaders and anti-gun charities have paid tribute to Ms Pat Regan, a mother who became a prominent campaigner against violence after she lost her son in what was dubbed 'an underworld style shooting' in 2002.

After weeks of violence, Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has announced that he is pulling out of Friday's presidential election run-off, fearing massacres of his supporters and a rigged poll outcome.

Ten years on from a terrible act of violence in conflict-torn Colombia, the UK-based international development agency Christian Aid is supporting the victims' families in their quest for justice.

More than 40 foreigners have been killed in gang attacks in South Africa in the last week. Several thousand terrified immigrants are now reported to have fled the country, says Christian development agency World Vision.

A closer look at the Sri Lankan experience may throw some light on other situations where struggles supposedly based on ethnicity or religion turn out to be more complex – and where human rights are of critical importance, says Savi Hensman.

The Methodist and United Reformed Churches have together voiced their concern about increasing levels of violence and political intimidation, linked to the delay in announcing the result of Zimbabwe’s presidential election.

In New York at 9.30 am local time on Sunday 20 April 2008, the Pope visited Ground Zero, the name now used to refer to the site once occupied by the twin towers of the World Trade Centre. He prayed for peace and an end to hatred.

Recent religious conflict in the Indian state of Orissa has been aided by the aggressive evangelising of missionaries from outside the region, says an official with the largest traditional Protestant denomination in northern India.