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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.

Religion & Society

Church of England blocks sale of church to ultra-conservative Catholic group

The Church of England has blocked the sale of one of its churches to an ultra-conservative Catholic breakaway group, it has been announced.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5837695/Church-of-En...

Comment: The comfort of your convictions

Anyone who values the truth should be wary of throwing a protective cloak over ideas, making them immune from criticism.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/15/belief-dennet...

Comment: The folly of pretence

We must not preserve the myth of God – it was a useful crutch, but we've outgrown it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/jul/16/daniel-dennet...

Comment: Spare us a Thought please, Radio Four

As Radio Four revamps its prestigious Thought for The Day slot, George Pitcher suggests room for improvement and nominates the best thinkers - and stinkers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/5836492/Spare-us-a-Thought...

Peace & War

Israeli navy in Suez Canal prepares for potential attack on Iran

Two Israeli missile class warships have sailed through the Suez Canal ten days after a submarine capable of launching a nuclear missile strike, in preparation for a possible attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6715412.ece

Breaking the Silence: Israeli soldiers 'used human shields' in Gaza

A group of Israeli soldiers who fought in the recent war in Gaza have testified that the military allowed them to use reckless force.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article6715417.ece

Militants declare 60-day Niger Delta ceasefire

Nigeria's main militant group has declared a 60-day ceasefire in its offensive against the country's oil industry to provide a chance for peace talks with the government.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/militants-declare-60day-n...

Comment: How many more will die in vain before we withdraw?

The attempt to exploit soldiers' deaths to win support for the shameful war in Afghanistan thankfully isn't working.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/15/afghanistan-propagan...

Comment: Even here, the war on terror is over. And few feel it has left them safer

Terrorism is now one threat among many – including the legacy of conflicts and tactics that were supposed to end it.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/jul/15/september11-war-terr...

Ecology & Environment

Low-carbon energy will cost every household £249 a year

Household gas and electricity bills will rise by up to £249 a year to pay for a seven-fold increase in energy from low-carbon sources by 2020, according to the Government’s Renewable Energy Strategy.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6715131.ece

Lord Mandelson’s claims of 880,000 ‘green jobs’ in UK a sham

Government claims that Britain already supports nearly one million “green-collar” jobs have been exposed as a sham after the figures were found to include North Sea gas industry workers as well as some petrol station attendants and skylight manufacturers.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article6715515.ece

Labour orders green energy revolution

Miliband takes control of power grid and lays out plan for low-carbon UK.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/jul/15/labour-green-energy-revol...

Comment: Green 'revolution' left blowing in the wind

Lord Mandelson and Ed Miliband's measures yesterday are too little and too late, argues Geoffrey Lean.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/personal-view/5836941/Green-revolutio...

Economy & Politics

Revealed: BNP man 'secretly' attended Queen's party at the Palace

Buckingham Palace and the Greater London Authority are under pressure to explain why a BNP member was last week allowed to attend a garden party hosted by the Queen.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1200001/Secrecy-row-BNP-man-atte...

Police force calls time on stop and search - after using power 3,400 times but failing to make single terror arrest

A police force has suspended searches of people under controversial anti-terror laws after figures exposed the futility of the legislation.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1199878/Force-uses-stop-search-p...

Comment: Anti-abortion activists fall out of favour

Republicans are distancing themselves from the anti-choice lobby as they chase Sonia Sotomayor over her views on race.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2009/jul/15/anti-abor...

Crime & Justice

Legal aid for prisoners to be capped as Jack Straw criticises lawyers

Prisoners are to be blocked from seeking legal aid to bring “trivial” cases against the Prison Service under plans to be announced by the Government today.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/law/article6715157.ece

Human rights activist Natalya Estemirova shot dead in Russia

An award-winning Russian human rights activist was murdered today after dedicating much of her life to investigating abuses by the Chechen regime.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article6715074.ece

Community & Family

Customs discover British-bound illegal immigrants stacked three-deep in plastic boxes

Twelve immigrants crammed into five plastic boxes have been discovered in Calais on their way to Britain.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1199891/Customs-discov...

Globalisation & Development

Letters: Africa and us

Aid, trade and cheap decking from Africa.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/letters/letters-africa-and-us-17449...

Race & Identity

White supremacist Neil Lewington guilty of 'non-British' bomb plot

A white supremacist who wanted to ignite racial violence by bombing “non-British” people was found guilty of terrorism and explosives offences yesterday.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6714985.ece

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