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A selection of stories from today's press and other media that relate to Ekklesia's work, produced daily by James Vincent and covering papers such as The Times, Daily Telegraph, Independent and Guardian.

Peace & War

Armistice Day memorial service: nation falls silent to honour war dead
The nation fell silent at 11am today as the passing of the First World War generation was marked at a moving Westminster Abbey memorial service for Armistice Day.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/6543599/Armist...

Ex-ministers call for vote on war in Afghanistan
The challenge to Gordon Brown's authority from within his own party grew last night as four former ministers joined calls for a Commons vote on the war in Afghanistan. They are pressing for an early parliamentary debate on Britain's military role and objectives in the country, and a timetable for pulling out of the region.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/exministers-call-for-vote-...

US envoy opposes Afghan troop increase
The US envoy in Afghanistan, a former Army general who once commanded troops in the country, has objected strongly to emerging plans to send tens of thousands of additional forces to the country, a senior US official said last night.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/us-envoy-opposes-afghan-tro...

Mahmoud Abbas rejects US call for unconditional talks with Israel
Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, has underscored the deadlock in the Middle East peace process by issuing a categorical rejection of a US call for unconditional negotiations with Israel.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthorit...

Iran issues tacit warning to Saudi Arabia over attacks on rebels
Iran warned Saudi Arabia yesterday not to become further entangled in supporting the Yemen Government’s drive to put down Shia Muslim rebels.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6913256.ece

Comment: Is Yemen the most dangerous new front in the war on terror?
The multiple crises afflicting Yemen are not a surprise to anyone who has been watching, and certainly not to those in Washington, says Richard Spencer.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/6542612/Is-Ye...

Comment: The UN is losing credibility by keeping Karzai in power
The election fraud in Afghanistan which has brought President Hamid Karzai back for a second term next week has not only shaken the confidence of Nato governments in the whole project.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/peter-galbraith-the-un...

Comment: Time for an arms trade treaty
Governments are getting closer to a new treaty to regulate weapons exports, but civil society groups have a vital role to play.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/nov/11/arms-trade-treaty

Economy & Politics

Arrogant! Now 37 MPs battle for a £100,000 pay deal
MPs risked reviving public fury over the Westminster gravy train last night by backing a Commons motion to demand a bumper salary rise.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/139788/Arrogant-Now-37-MPs-battle-fo...

One in three MPs abused expenses: 200 will be forced to repay £1m of public money
One in three MPs have been found guilty of abusing their expenses, laying bare the true scale of the scandal.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1227053/One-MPs-abused-expenses-...

MEP jailed for £39k exes scam
A former MEP who fiddled a whopping £39,000 in expenses was jailed for two years today.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2725011/MEP-jailed-for-39k-exe...

'Plot' to give Harriet Harman's husband a safe seat
The selection of a candidate in a safe Labour seat has been delayed for at least two months amid claims that it is part of an effort to “parachute in” the husband of Harriet Harman, the party’s deputy leader.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/6547724/Plot-to-give...

Religion & Society

Man sacked for belief in psychics backed by judge (but, of course, he knew that would happen)
A police worker who was sacked because he believed psychics can help solve criminal investigations is to go to court today to defend his right to legal protection from religious discrimination.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/man-sacked-for-belief-in-...

Top of the Popes... Benedict XVI releases his first album by Snoop Dogg's record company
Pope Benedict XVI is hoping to be Top of the Popes this Christmas after an album of him singing is released at the end of this month.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1226706/Top-Popes--Ben...

Google and Facebook teach Vatican the mysteries of the internet
Two very different worlds collide this week when web-savvy executives of Google, Facebook, YouTube and Wikipedia meet representatives of the Vatican to explain the mysteries of the internet.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/6544060/Google-and-Facebook...

Comment: Christianity ended the cold war peacefully
Religion brought down communism and it is religion which will help us resist naked capitalism, too.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/nov/10/religion-chri...

Ecology & Environment

Nuclear power industry may benefit from climate change levy exemption
The Government is considering fresh tax breaks for Britain’s nuclear power industry that could smooth the way for the construction of a new generation of UK reactors, The Times has learnt.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/utilitie...

Koalas 'extinct in 30 years'
Conservation groups have warned that cuddly koala bears like these could be extinct within just 30 years.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2724499/Koalas-extinct-in-30-y...

Comment: Climate change is not a feminist issue
Western eco-feminism that blames men for environmental destruction and women for overpopulation is misguided.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cif-green/2009/nov/11/population...

Race & Identity

PM tightens rules to cut migration
Hospital consultants from outside Europe will no longer be able to take up jobs in the UK under a tightening of immigration rules being announced by Gordon Brown to cut numbers of migrant workers.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/139879/PM-tightens-rules-to-cut-migr...

150,000 migrants set to pass the 'too-easy' UK citizen test
Home Office ministers faced fresh fury over soft-touch border controls last night after new figures showed more than 150,000 immigrants are expected to pass the Government’s controversial citizenship test this year.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/139800/150-000-migrants-set-to-pass-...

Comment: Citizens, do your civic duty
The UK citizenship test looks like crude social engineering – and is an appropriation of rights that existing citizens shouldn't accept.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/libertycentral/2009/nov/11/the-g...

Crime & Justice

Crime soars among "tweenage" youngsters aged 10 to 12 - exclusive
The full scale of lawlessness among tearaway youngsters aged 10 to 12 is exposed today in shocking figures seen by the Mirror.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/11/09/tweenage-rampage-115...

UN denies complicity in Congo war crimes
The UN head of peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of the Congo today rejected accusations that the organisation is complicit in war crimes Congolese troops allegedly committed in an offensive against rebel groups.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/nov/11/congo-un-rebels-rwanda-kimia

People & Power

Kidnapped Irish priest freed in Philippines
An Irish priest kidnapped in the southern Philippines a month ago was freed unharmed on Thursday, a senior church official and members of a Muslim rebel group said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/philippines/6547699/Kidna...

Kalashnikov awarded Hero of Russia: Lavish reception for gunmaker's 90th birthday
The designer of the Kalashnikov, otherwise known as the world's most lethal weapon, was today named a Hero of Russia.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1226705/Kalashnikov-aw...

Sex & Gender

Clinton, Merkel and me in a global war on sexism, by Harriet Harman
Harriet Harman has spoken of her ambitions to sit alongside Hillary Clinton and Angela Merkel in a global crusade against sexism.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1227006/Clinton-Merkel-global-wa...

Gay unions made legal in Australian territory
The Australian Capital Territory has become the first region in Australia to legalise civil partnership ceremonies for same-sex couples.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/austral...

Education & Culture

New not-for-profit private school chain is a class apart
A private education that doesn't break the bank is the stuff of many parents' dreams. Genevieve Fox visits a chain of no-frills primary schools that offer a model for the future.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/6543637/New-not-for-profit-private-...

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