Mobile phones or tablets with flat batteries will not be allowed on flights as part of new security restrictions. All air passengers flying into or out of UK airports must ensure their electronic devices are charged, following updated guidance from the Department for Transport (DfT).  Advice issued at the weekend concerned passengers flying to the United States, but on Tuesday that instruction was widened to affect anyone flying into or out of the UK.  No specific routes have been highlighted, and the DfT spokesman said they hope to ‘minimise disruption as far as possible’.  The heightened security comes amid reports that two terror networks are working together on a bomb that could evade existing measures.   Last week Prime Minister David Cameron said decisions had been made based on ‘the evidence in front of us’ and in co-operation with America.  ‘The safety of the travelling public must come first. We mustn't take any risks with that,’ he told the BBC.

This week, beginning on Friday 11 July, the Church of England’s General Synod will be meeting in York.  This is always an occasion for the media to highlight debates or decisions which are seen to be controversial or eye-catching.  The main item on the agenda is the legislation to consecrate women bishops, which was narrowly defeated at the last Synod meeting in November 2012.  This time it is expected to be passed, mainly because of a great deal of behind-the-scenes consultation with those who were opposed on principle, to improve the wording.  Tom Sutcliffe (Diocese of Southwark) said, ‘The Measure which is before us this month makes much better provision for most of those who don't believe women can or should be bishops and priests. . . If this Measure were to fail, I think it would be a total disaster.’

The Salvation Army is 149 not out - and is using sport to help vulnerable people suffering from addiction problems and homelessness. The Salvation Army, which last week celebrated 149 years since it was founded by General William Booth, believes sport is a powerful tool in helping people recover from addiction problems and homelessness. The organisation has a number of programmes to get people involved in sport, including Partnership Trophy, a football tournament for homeless men and women, summer camps, weekly football matches, hill walking, badminton, tennis and many more. Captain Nick Coke, a Salvation Army minister, is working with people of all ages and backgrounds in east London, teaching them key life skills though sport. He explained: ‘Sport gives confidence, tackles stress, helps in treatment of people with addiction problems, and brings people into their community as well as keeping them healthy. We support them to get back on their feet and help them stay there; sport is a perfect tool for doing this.’

Just 20 years ago, Islam was a little known religion to most people in Western nations. At that time there were about 1.1 billion Muslims and efforts on the part of Christians to share their faith with them were scarce. Today, the number of Muslim people is estimated at 2.1 billion and endeavours to reach Muslims have increased ten-fold. From 28 June till 27July, Muslims all around the world will set aside thirty days to intentionally seek their god by abstaining from earthly pleasures. During this month of Ramadan, they will seek Allah, pursuing forgiveness and cleansing of their souls while fasting from sunrise to sunset and refraining from bad habits and spiritual distractions. Ramadan presents a unique opportunity for God to speak and move in the lives of millions of Muslims, introducing His son Jesus, their Saviour. Theological arguments or political manipulation may not impact Muslims, but we know prayer will.  See the thirty day prayer guide and other resources at http://www.30-days.net/ and the more link.

David Cameron has praised same-sex marriage as a ‘huge, historic change’ in a new video released last weekend. He was speaking to coincide with Pride – an annual homosexual event taking place in London. Mr Cameron said: ‘Since I recorded last year’s message there has been one huge, historic change in Britain: the institution of marriage is now open to all. Whether you’re a man and a man, a woman and a woman or a woman and a man, your love for one another is equal in the eyes of the law.’ He also said ‘the Foreign Office was pushing for pro-gay changes in other countries, and that Britain should ‘encourage the rest of our world to take our lead’. The Prime Minister also spoke of his desire to export same-sex marriage around the world at a Downing Street party last year.

A Christian health worker has begun a legal challenge after being disciplined by the NHS for praying with a Muslim colleague. Victoria Wasteney, a senior occupational therapist in one of the country’s most racially diverse areas, was also accused of bullying the colleague. In addition, senior managers told Miss Wasteney that it was inappropriate to invite the woman to a community sports day organised by her church. The complaints led to Miss Wasteney being suspended on full pay for nine months. A disciplinary hearing at her work in February found her guilty of three charges of misconduct – praying with the colleague, giving her the book and inviting her to church events. Andrea Williams, the chief executive of the Christian Legal Centre, said the case demonstrated that ‘the NHS is increasingly dominated by a suffocating liberal agenda that chooses to bend over backwards to accommodate certain beliefs but punishes the Christian’.

In his inaugural address as President of the Methodist Conference, the Revd Kenneth Howcroft spoke of the ‘desperate need’ for the Church to ‘speak biblically to serve the present age.’ He encouraged Conference representatives to turn outwards to face the world with renewed self-confidence in their Methodist identity. Addressing the opening of the annual Methodist Conference in Birmingham, Mr Howcroft spoke of the challenge of communicating the Gospel in contemporary society, saying; ‘We seem less and less able to speak the languages of the people and cultures round us. We are communities of very different people, sometimes multi-cultural and sometimes multi-national. We are for holiness and mission, and have been given the grace by God to speak biblically in order to serve the present age. Can we go on doing it? Since God has not given up on us yet, by God's grace yes, we can!’

Children receiving treatment for cannabis addiction is at a record level. Experts are blaming the huge rise in drug addiction on the popularity of a new stronger skunk, which is several times more potent than regular cannabis. Meanwhile police officers have been instructed to go soft on people caught using khat – a drug popular among the Somali community – as a ban came into force this week. More than 13,500 children under the age of 18 received medical treatment for drug addiction last year, with cannabis being cited as the ‘main problem drug’. The statistics were released by Public Health England, an executive agency of the UK’s Department of Health. A spokesman said: ‘Stronger cannabis strains may be causing more problems. The figures showed that in seven years there had been a 50 per cent rise in children receiving treatment. The report also revealed that 200 children aged 12 or below were treated for drug addiction last year.

This week, the Court of Appeal heard the case of Christian Legal Centre, regarding Nohad Halawi, who was dismissed from her job at Heathrow airport after her comments were incorrectly perceived by Muslim colleagues as being offensive to Islam. Judgment in the case has been reserved until a later date. Nohad Halawi, who worked for 13 years in World Duty Free (WDF) in Heathrow’s Terminal 3, spoke about Christianity and was perceived by Muslim colleagues to have given offence. The management, without any proper procedure, immediately took away her airside pass which meant she was prevented from working, despite an unblemished record. An Employment Tribunal ruled that Nohad had no protection under employment law as she was not technically employed, despite significant evidence to the contrary.  Nohad contacted the Christian Legal Centre and Standing Council, Paul Diamond, represented her.

Legislation stating schools must hold a daily ‘broadly Christian’ assembly is at risk of being abolished. The National Governors' Association (NGA) has declared the law, as set out under the 1944 Education Act, to be ‘meaningless’, and has urged the government to put an end to its application in non-faith schools. ‘Few schools can or do meet the current legislative requirement for a daily act of collective worship, partly because there isn't space in most schools to gather students together, and often because staff are unable or unwilling to lead a collective worship session. There is also the added issue that worship implies belief in a particular faith - if the 'act of worship' is not in your faith then it is meaningless as an act of worship,’ a policy statement from the NGA reads.