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Your daily media briefing - Thursday 2 January

  

In the Media is our daily collection of news and commentary related to secularism, available delivered to your inbox. You can also read the latest news and opinion and listen to our podcasts on our website.

Happy new year to all our readers.

  

Secularism in the media

 

New year honours for church servants

The secretary and chief executive of the Church Commissioners, Andrew Brown, and the former chief legal adviser for the C of E, Stephen Slack, were among the people recognised in the new year honours list. They were appointed OBE and CBE respectively.

Church Times

 

Civil partnerships: First mixed-sex unions take place

One of the first mixed-sex couples to become civil partners hailed it as a "unique, special and personal moment".

BBC

 

Landmark hearing to decide if veganism is a ‘philosophical or religious belief’

A landmark legal hearing begins today in Norwich, with a panel to decide if veganism is a "philosophical or religious belief" and thus protected in law.

LBC

 

Muslims treated differently by newspapers, says press watchdog

The portrayal of Islam and Muslims in the British press has been "the most difficult issue" facing the press watchdog in the past five years, according to its outgoing chief.

Financial Times

 

Church of England gives staff 'unconscious bias training' in attempt to have more female leaders

The Church of England is to use 'unconscious bias training' to help ensure half of its leaders are female by 2030.

Mail Online

 

Pope slaps woman’s hand

The pope has apologised for angrily striking the hand of a woman who reached out and yanked him towards her.

Sky News

 

Anti-Islamic slogans spray-painted near mosque in Brixton

Anti-Islamic slogans have been painted on a building close to a mosque and cultural centre in south London, the Metropolitan Police has said. The incident comes shortly after antisemitic graffiti was sprayed across a synagogue and shops in north London.

The Guardian

 

Teacher in Trojan horse scandal is back in classroom

A teacher who lost his job after making homophobic comments is back in the classroom giving advice to teachers.

The Times (£)

 

China jails underground pastor Wang Yi for nine years for inciting subversion

A Chinese court has sentenced the pastor Wang Yi to nine years in prison on charges of inciting subversion of state power and illegally operating a business.

The Guardian

 

Indian police officer tells citizenship law protesters to 'go to Pakistan' as death toll rises

A senior police officer in an Indian state which has seen 19 deaths in protests over a discriminatory citizenship law has been filmed telling demonstrators to "go to Pakistan".

The Independent

 

Messiah: Jordan calls on Netflix to ban ‘anti-Islamic’ drama series

The Royal Film Commission of Jordan has called on Netflix to ban a US drama series due to stream in the country this week.

The Independent

 

Far-right group claims responsibility for attack on comedy troupe behind ‘gay Jesus’ portrayal

A far-right group is claiming responsibility for a Christmas Eve attack on the headquarters of Porta dos Fundos, the comedy group behind the portrayal of a gay Jesus in Netflix's "The First Temptation of Christ."

The Hill

  

Latest from the NSS

 

NSS welcomes bill to end compulsory worship in non-faith schools

The NSS has welcomed a bill that proposes to scrap compulsory religious worship in non-faith schools in England.

  

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