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.

The Times

“Inquiry into claims British troops executed Iraqi prisoners” - A fresh investigation is to be launched into allegations made in 2004 that British troops killed twenty Iraqi prisoners and tortured nine other detainees after a battle with insurgents.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/iraq/article6649682.ece

“Britain in battle for its soul, says Sydney Archbishop Peter Jensen” - Britain is facing a “battle for the soul of the nation”, an archbishop warned yesterday at the inaugural meeting of a group that threatens to split the Church of England.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6653096.ece
“NHS not ready to take advantage of breakthroughs in genetic sequencing” - The health service is not ready for an impending genetic revolution in medicine and requires urgent reform to turn scientific advances into better patient care, a parliamentary inquiry declares today.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article6653139.ec...

“Natural England 'must act over neglectful owners of wildlife habitats'” - Landowners and farmers who fail to look after important wildlife habitats should face tough legal action, according to a parliamentary inquiry.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6652495.ece

“Great Barrier Reef will be gone in 20 years, says Charlie Veron” - The Great Barrier Reef will be so degraded by warming waters that it will be unrecognisable within 20 years, an eminent marine scientist has said.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6652866.ece

“Three police officers charged over soldier 'assault'” - Three police officers have been charged with assaulting a soldier who had been praised for bravery against the Taliban in Afghanistan, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said today.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6650961.ece
“Blood on the streets of Urumqi after 156 people are killed in riot” - Armed riot police, armoured personnel carriers and guard dogs patrolled the capital of China’s only Muslim majority region yesterday after scores died in the bloodiest clashes in the country since the Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6653133.ece

“US and Russia to cut nuclear warheads - but no deal on missile defence” - A much anticipated “reset summit” between Russia and the United States produced a deal to cut their nuclear arsenals by as much as a third yesterday — but exposed continued divisions over missile defence.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6651160.ece

“Teenager killed in Honduras as soldiers fire on Zelaya supporters at airport” - Shoes from the wounded marked the trail to the makeshift shrine at Honduras international airport, where flowers and an icon of Jesus lay in a pool of blood.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article66529...

“Joe Biden speech sparks fierce response from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei” - The Iranian Supreme Leader, assailed by some of his country’s most prominent clerics and detested by millions of his ordinary citizens, has received a boost from an unlikely quarter: Joe Biden.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6653069.e...

“Gordon Brown and Nicolas Sarkozy issue joint demand against tax havens” - France and Britain warned today against the danger of complacency in the face of continuing world recession and they joined a call for progress over the climate and oil prices at the G8 summit which opens in Italy on Wednesday.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6651145.ece

“Germany has finally regained trust of international community” -

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6652255.ece

“Iranian dissenters embark on campaign of covert civil disobedience” - Forced to stop demonstrating by police brutality, a Tehran nurse called Mojgan has found a new way of expressing her hatred of a regime which, she believes, stole the election from Mir Hossein Mousavi then ruthlessly stifled dissent.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6653179.e...

The Guardian

“MI5 accused of bribe offer in Rangzieb Ahmed torture case” - The security service MI5 is being accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice by offering a man inducements to drop his allegation that its officers colluded in his torture.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/06/mi5-accused-bribe-offer-tort...

“Britain seeks to shame G8 over aid to Africa” - Britain is to try to shame G8 leaders during this week's summit into agreeing to publish tables setting out whether they are meeting their solemn commitments to double aid to Africa.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/06/britain-g8-aid-africa-figure...

“Inquiry agreed into alleged torture of Iraqis by UK soldiers” - An independent inquiry is to be held into allegations that British soldiers mutilated and murdered civilians in Iraq – and the government has been forced to admit that key documents had not been disclosed.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/06/basra-iraq-torture-inquiry

“Police fear far-right terror attack” - Scotland Yard's counter-terrorism command fears that right-wing extremists will stage a deadly terrorist attack in Britain to try to stoke racial tensions, the Guardian has learned.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/jul/06/far-right-terrorism-threat-poli...

“House of Lords to vote on right to die issue” - Former cabinet ministers, senior lawyers and a prominent campaigner for older people will today try to lift the threat of imprisonment hanging over relatives accompanying loved ones who go abroad to kill themselves.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/jul/07/house-lords-vote-assisted-...

“Poor face more hunger as climate change leads to crop failure, says Oxfam” - Hunger may become the defining human tragedy of the century as the climate changes and hundreds of millions of farmers already struggling to grow enough food are forced to adapt to drought and different rainfall patterns, a report warns.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/05/crops-farmers-climate-...

COMMENT: “Crunch time for expanding prisons” - In a bid to please the red-top press, prisons have become dumping grounds for people with problems. It is time to take stock.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/02/prisons-expanding

“Fresh protests flare in China as hundreds confront police” - Chinese armed police and Uighurs clashed in extraordinary scenes in the capital of the north-western region of Xinjiang this morning – two days after at least 156 people were killed in vicious ethnic violence.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/07/fresh-protests-break-out-chi...

“Obama and Medvedev offer to cut nuclear arsenals” - Framework signed on US president's Russia visit would leave each side with as few as 1,500 warheads capable of launch.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/06/obama-russia-nuclear-medvede...

“Calls grow within G8 to expel Italy as summit plans descend into chaos” - While US tries to inject purpose into meeting, Italy is lambasted for poor planning and reneging on overseas aid commitments.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/06/g8-considers-expelling-italy

“Outrage over Muslim woman killed in court” - Thousands of Egyptian mourners marched behind the coffin of the "martyr of the head scarf" – a pregnant Muslim woman who was stabbed to death in a Dresden courtroom on Wednesday in front of her young son.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jul/07/muslim-woman-shot-germany-co...

COMMENT: “Anglican schism? Bring it on” - Some Anglicans sound liberal, but ultimately put the authority of priests and bishops first. At least the conservatives are honest.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/06/anglicans-con...

COMMENT: “Faith schools and evolution” - A thought experiment about a classroom full of chimpanzees casts light on the origins of human altruism.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/jul/04/religion...

The Independent

“Study 'ends myth' of housing for immigrants” - Claims that immigrants are given priority access to social housing have been dismissed as a myth by the equalities watchdog.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/study-ends-myth-of-housing...

“End of the Cold War” - The rancour and mistrust of Bush-era relations between Russia and the US were cast aside yesterday when presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev signed an agreement on nuclear weapons that could prove historic.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/end-of-the-cold-war-173...

“156 dead as Muslim uprising hits China” - Deep-seated ethnic tensions erupted into the deadliest outbreak of violence the country has seen since the Tiananmen Square massacre.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/156-dead-as-muslim-uprising...

“More than 1,400 arrested over China clashes” - Hundreds of Uighur protesters clashed with riot police in the capital of China's Muslim region of Xinjiang yesterday, two days after ethnic unrest left 156 dead and more than 800 injured.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/more-than-1400-arrested-ove...

“Were Iraqis tortured and killed by our soldiers?” - Five years after Tony Blair was informed of damaging evidence of abuse, Government finally agrees to inquiry into the alleged massacre of 20 civilians.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/were-iraqis-tortured...

“Israel deports British activists on Gaza mission” - Britons who were on a mercy mission to Gaza told today how it had been forcibly stopped by the Israelis.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/israel-deports-briti...

COMMENT: “Death, dignity and the darker side of family dynamics” - Many of the 114 British 'clients' of Dignitas were not suffering terminal illness at all.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/dominic-lawson/dominic...

Daily Telegraph

“July 7 victims still await compensation payouts” - Four years after the July 7 terrorist attacks on London, 24 victims are still awaiting a final compensation settlement.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/5765674/July-7-victims-still-awai...

“Almost 1,000 criminals who should be in jail are missing” - Up to 1,000 criminals, including murderers and rapists, who should have been recalled to prison are still at large, Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary has admitted.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/lawandorder/5762066/...

“MPs should work unpaid for five years, says Duncan Bannatyne” - Members of Parliament should work unpaid for five years to show that they are doing a job that helps people, according to Duncan Bannatyne, the entrepreneur.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5758563/MPs-shou...

“Bishop of Lewes: Fellowship of Confessing Anglicans formed to counter 'heartache'” - A controversial new group within the Church of England has been founded in response to the "heartache" caused by liberal bishops, one of its leaders said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5760407/Bishop-of-Le...

“US and Russia agree nuclear weapons cut” - Barack Obama, the US president, and his Russian host Dmitry Medvedev pledged to cut Cold War nuclear arsenals by up to a third.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/5760384/US-and-R...

“G8 countries shift from food aid to investing in agriculture” - The G8 countries are shifting their focus from providing food aid to creating long-term investments in farming in the developed world, in an attempt to combat the growing global food crisis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/g8/5754187/G8-countries-shift-...

COMMENT: “Doctors want nothing to do with assisted suicide - Lord Falconer's amendment is wrong. Doctors should not be involved in assisted suicides, says Ian McColl.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/5759447/Doctors-want-no...

International

“Israel summons EU envoy over settlements criticism” - The Foreign Ministry on Monday said the EU ambassador to Israel was called in for explanations after the European Commission said Israel's settlement policy helps strangle the Palestinian economy and makes the Palestinian government more dependent on foreign aid.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1098299.html

“U.S. denies giving Israel 'green light' to strike Iran” - Vice President Joe Biden's statement that Israel can decide on its own whether to strike Iran's nuclear sites should not be construed as an American "green light" for such an action, the State Department said on Monday.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1098211.html

“Muslim states 'silent' on Uighurs” - A leading Uighur rights activist has criticised Muslim-majority countries for not speaking out against decades of alleged repression and persecution from the Chinese government.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2009/07/20097725217198672...

“Italy targets illegal immigrants” - Amid shouts of "victory" and straight-armed salutes, the Movimento Sociale Italiano party (MSI), which believes Italy would be a better country if it stopped immigration and cracked down on those who sneak in illegally, is celebrating the fact that new legislation passed by the Italian senate has met many of their wishes.

http://english.aljazeera.net/focus/2009/07/2009767145577693.html

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 England & Wales License. Although the views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Ekklesia, the article may reflect Ekklesia's values. If you use Ekklesia's news briefings please consider making a donation to sponsor Ekklesia's work here.