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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.

Religion & Society

Church of England to push ahead with plan for women bishops
The Church of England is to go ahead with the plan to create women bishops without giving in to demands from traditionalists for a separate structure of bishops and archbishops untainted by the hands of a woman.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article7018594.ece

Archbishop of York dismisses Pope's call for conversions to Roman Catholicism
The Archbishop of York is likely to face criticism from traditionalists in the Church of England this week after he dismissed those who want to take up the Pope's offer of converting to Roman Catholicism.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7183331/Archbishop-o...

Church set for new row over gay clergy
The Church of England is set for a new row over homosexuality with bishops divided over moves to recognise a breakaway movement in the US.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7174792/Church-set-f...

Pope Benedict XVI criticises 'tide of secularism' in UK and support for euthanasia
Pope Benedict XVI has criticised the “increasing tide of secularism” in Britain, in his second comments on the country in a week.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7166200/Pope-Benedic...

Church of England is 'living in the past', says BBC's head of religion
The BBC's head of religion has accused the Church of England of "living in the past" and said that the corporation should not give Christianity preferential treatment.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/7174716/Church-of-En...

Comment: Our vital contribution in Zimbabwe
The Anglican church in Zimbabwe has an uneven record. But now we are leading reconstruction.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/07/zimbabwe-angl...

Comment: These amendments should stay
The equality bill must not be used to undermine the right of religious organisations to govern themselves.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2010/feb/06/equality-bill...

Peace & War

More troop casualties 'likely'
Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth warned of likely British casualties as troops prepared to take part in a major international offensive against insurgents in Afghanistan.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156886/More-troop-casualties-likely-

We are already talking to the Taliban, Defence Secretary says
British forces in Afghanistan are already talking to disaffected members of the Taliban, Bob Ainsworth, the Defence Secretary, has said.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/7183439/We-a...

US plays down chances of atomic deal with Iran
US Defense Secretary Robert Gates said today he saw no sign a deal was close between Iran and Western powers on exchanging some of its low-enriched uranium for higher-grade fuel it can use in a reactor producing medical isotopes.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/us-plays-down-chance...

Iran faces sanctions after raising the nuclear stakes
Iran's President sparked a fresh row with the West yesterday when he told his country’s nuclear scientists to make higher grade uranium.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156807/Iran-faces-sanctions-after-ra...

Comment: Empty diplomacy in Afghanistan
Negotiating with the Taliban is too little, too late – western allies need to fix the socioeconomic mess started long before 9/11.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/08/taliban-negotiations...

Comment: Parliament is finally cleaning up its act? Don't count on it
Optimists in politics hope that public trust can be regained. But it'll take more than a few MPs in the dock and an election.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2010/feb/07/andrewe-rawnsley-mps...

Ecology & Environment

Think-tanks take oil money and use it to fund climate deniers
An orchestrated campaign is being waged against climate change science to undermine public acceptance of man-made global warming, environment experts claimed last night.
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/climate-change/thinktanks-take-...

Global warming to become global cooling, claims expert
Global warming is set to become global cooling this century, a leading analyst claimed yesterday.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156811/Global-warming-to-become-glob...

Dr R.K. Pachauri: Indian climate chief endures attacks at home
Indian environmentalists have joined critics of Dr R.K. Pachauri, the head of the UN's Intergovernment Panel on Climate Change, accusing him of damaging the country's environment and protecting "polluter" corporations who fund his research institute.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/climatechange/7182567/Dr-R....

Comment: We might err, but science is self-correcting
If claims about climate change need to be debunked, you can rely on scientists to do it. Scepticism is what we are all about.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/a...

Race & Identity

Immigrants handed 1.3m jobs in Britain
More than 1.3 million immigrants have been given the right to work and claim benefits in Britain since Gordon Brown promised “British jobs for British workers”.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156885/Immigrants-handed-1-3m-jobs-i...

Threat from 'Generation Jihad' could last 20 years
Britain is facing a generation of 'jihad' from extremists which could last up to 20 years, one of the country's top police officers warned last night.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1249254/Threat-Generation-Jihad-...

Muslims 'must do more to identify terror suspects'
Muslims in Britain must do more to inform police of potential terrorists, one of the country’s top officers will warn tonight.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156806/Muslims-must-do-more-to-ident...

Comment: Still no hope of common sense in the war against anti-Semitism
These defenders to the end of all Israeli actions knowingly mix politics and race.
http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/yasmin-alibhai-brown/y...

Economy & Politics

Cameron: PM must kick out exes scandal 3
David Cameron will today challenge Gordon Brown to axe his three expenses scandal MPs.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2843576/Cameron-PM-must-kick-o...

Harriet Harman accused of double standards of shortlist
Equalities Minister Harriet Harman has been accused of double standards after reportedly failing to back an all-women shortlist for a seat contested by her husband, Jack Dromey.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/156818/Harriet-Harman-accused-of-dou...

Comment: Fewer MPs would be fairer to all parties
If Gordon Brown wants electoral reform, he should make constituencies the same size, argues Philip Johnston.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7186104/General-Election-2...

Crime & Justice

Third of criminals in the dock already have 15 convictions
Labour was accused of presiding over 'revolving door' justice last night after a massive increase in the number of serial criminals walking the streets.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1249285/Third-criminals-dock-15-...

'Hold inquiry into Army abuse in Iraq'
Ministers have been told by a senior judge to consider opening an independent inquiry into all allegations of abuse made by Iraqi civilians against the British Army.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/hold-inquiry-into-army-ab...

Life & Death

Lethal jab mum in court appeal
A mother jailed for killing her brain-damaged son to end his "living hell" is appealing against her conviction and sentence, it emerged today.
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/2842574/Lethal-jab-mum-in-cour...

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