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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, Guardian, and the tabloids.

Economy & Politics

MPs await CPS expenses decision
MPs and peers who have had their expenses claims investigated by the police are to learn whether they will face criminal charges.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156426/MPs-await-CPS-expenses-decision

60 MPs still not paid back expenses
Some 60 MPs have still not paid back expenses they wrongly claimed off taxpayers.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156363/60-MPs-still-not-paid-back-ex...

PM is worst exes offender in cabinet
Gordon Brown was yesterday exposed as the worst Cabinet offender in the MPs' expenses scandal - as he was ordered to give back £12,888.03 of taxpayers' cash.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2840162/PM-Gordon-Brown-is-wor...

Comment: They tried to kill it off, but this horror show will run and run
Commenting on the report ordering MPs to repay more than £1million in expenses, Speaker Bercow said: 'We are witnessing the last remaining reels of a particularly grisly horror movie. It's been painful to observe, but the pain has been necessary.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1248636/RICHARD-LITTLEJOHN-The...

Comment: The smell from Westminster hasn’t gone away
MPs’ behaviour has been unforgivable. Although many are leaving, we must watch the class of 2010 with an eagle eye.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/a...

Comment: Change the voting system and we'll change our world
What animates British politics is the fear of losing a general election.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/andreas-whittam-smith/...

Comment: Brown's radical reforms
Gordon Brown's plan to reform the voting system was the least impressive part of his exciting proposals for political reform.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/04/rowns-radical-politi...

Religion & Society

BBC Director-General discusses coverage of Pope’s visit at Vatican amid criticism from clergy
The Director-General of the BBC has had high-level discussions about coverage of the Pope’s forthcoming visit to Britain, amid criticism of the quality of the corporation’s religious broadcasting.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/7149032/BBC-Director...

Comment: Chilcot will change the way Muslims see the west
If there is any hint of whitewash in the Iraq inquiry, it will only exacerbate an already inflamed situation.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/05/chilcot-iraq-...

Comment: Cherie Booth unfair to atheists?
Cherie Booth has been accused of discrimination against atheists after letting a Muslim off with a suspended sentence.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2010/feb/04/religion...

Comment: More Catholic than the pope
The real fighting over the equality bill was done by the C of E, with Anglican bishops at the forefront.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/04/equality-bill...

Comment: Equality: a two way street
Religious minorities rightly demand freedom from discrimination. But they must offer the same in return.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/04/equality-legi...

Comment: Atheists are more annoying than believers
The Cherie Blair case makes me dislike the National Secular Society.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/hugo_rifkind/article...

Ecology & Environment

No one believes us, admits global warming scientists
Britons are not convinced that mankind has caused global warming, three leading climate scientists admitted yesterday.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156355/No-one-believes-us-admit-glob...

India forms new climate change body
The Indian government has established its own body to monitor the effects of global warming because it “cannot rely” on the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the group headed by its own Nobel prize-winning scientist Dr R.K Pachauri.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7157590/India...

Prince Charles hits back at global warming sceptics after 'Climategate' scandal
Prince Charles dismissed critics of climate change science yesterday.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1248513/Prince-Charles-hits-clim...

Life & Death

Turkish teenager buried alive because friendship with boys shamed family
The father and grandfather of a Turkish teenager are to face trial for burying her alive because they were concerned that her friendship with boys had brought dishonour on their family.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article7015758.ece

Poker champion 'eligible for US death penalty'
A British poker champion accused of killing his wife then spending her money during a "playboy" weekend in Las Vegas fears he faces the death penalty in the US, a court heard today.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/poker-champion-eligible-for-u...

Peace & War

British and US poised to launch 'overwhelming' offensive in Afghanistan
British and American forces are poised to launch an 'overwhelming' assault on the last remaining Taliban stronghold in Helmand, according to the UK commander leading the operation.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/7159542/Briti...

Hamas wants talks with the Europe and the US
Hamas is ready for dialogue with the international community, including the United States and European Union, according to the leader of the Palestinian Islamist movement, Ismail Haniya.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/7154279/Hamas-wants-talks-wit...

Race & Identity

Hate attacks on Jewish targets hit record high
Politicians of all parties yesterday condemned the extremists, racists and hate preachers behind a record number of anti-Semitic attacks.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156352/Hate-attacks-on-Jewish-target...

Comment: 'The BNP tap into people’s frustrations': Margaret Hodge on her plans to introduce a points system for immigrants
In 2007, I was criticised from across the political spectrum for saying I thought recently arrived economic migrants' rights cannot come before people who were born or lived here for many years.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1248372/Margaret-Hodge-plans-i...

Sex & Gender

Cameron: Gay refugees from Africa should be given asylum in UK
Gay refugees from Africa should be granted asylum in the UK, David Cameron has said.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1248484/Cameron-Gay-refugees-Afr...

Colin Powell joins the Obama movement backing gays in military
“You don’t have to be straight in the military,” Barry Goldwater said in 1994. “You just have to be able to shoot straight.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article70158...

Crime & Justice

Secular society upset by Judge Cherie decision
A senior judge could be called on to investigate a complaint that Cherie Blair handed down a more lenient sentence to a man who had been convicted of fracturing a person’s jaw because he was religious.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/secular-society-upset-by-...

Education & Culture

Girls to receive pregnancy tests at school
Pregnancy tests available to girls as young as 11 at school health clinics have been criticised by campaigners, as local authorities try to widen their availability.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7157482/Girls-to-rece...

People & Power

Thailand to kick out Burmese refugees
Thousands of refugees who fled Burma for safety in Thailand after their country's junta launched a military offensive could be forced to return home where they could face torture or even death, campaigners believe.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/thailand-to-kick-out-burmes...

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