Sam Quilty, a warden at St Mary’s Church said the island with 130 people told Premier has been cut off from the mainland since Tuesday evening.

“People have been prepared and got quite a lot of supplies but I think we will begin to notice it if it goes on for another two or three days,” she said.

“We still have power which is good because that tends to go off in weather like this.”

Strengthening winds have caused blizzards and drifting snow in some parts of the country, spelling travel problems for the fourth day in a row.

Flood warnings were also issued in several coastal regions by the Environment Agency, which published seven warnings and 20 alerts for south west and north east England.

A1 lindisfarne will probably remain closed for rest of the day. @northumbriapol @N_landCouncil Everyone is doing their best to clear the road and keep people safe. pic.twitter.com/FuTpImFqPf

— Andy Huddleston (@AndyHuddleston3) March 2, 2018

Quilty said many people on the island are elderly and people have been checking on each other to make sure they’re safe.

She asked that people pray for them as they ride out Storm Emma.

“Just pray we will be able to get some supplies form the mainland at some point,” she said. “Pray for us that people keep safe and we don’t have any accidents because of course that would be quite a challenge for us at the moment.”

However, she explained that…

Ministers were warned during a debate in Parliament this week over a host of countries and minorities affected by persecution.

Organised by Christian and Democratic Unionists MP Jim Shannon, the meeting coincides with a month-long UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) summit in New York.

Speaking to Premier before Thursday’s debate, he said: “We want to bring to the floor of that chamber [at the UNHRC] – through our minister and through our Government officials – [information] that there are many people across the world who – because of their faith – are being persecuted.”

During the debate, Mr Shannon set out five areas of concern: violence against Christian farmers by herdsmen in Nigeria, controversial blasphemy and religious conversion laws in Nepal, persecution of the Baha’i people in Iran, forced conversions in Pakistan and abuses of religious freedoms in Eritrea.

He urged the UK’s UN minister, Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon, to use the UNHRC meeting to help advance rights for freedom of religion and belief.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon was also urged to hold talks with his counterparts from Nepal and Pakistan to discuss concerns raised by religious freedoms campaigners.

Responding to the debate, Mark Field, the Minister for Asia and the Pacific said the UK Government was committed to…

Leonardo Rodríguez Alonso was detained on 28th February in Villa Clara, and is being held in the Provincial Unit for Investigations in the city of Santa Clara.

According to CSW, Alonso is a regional coordinator for the Patmos Institute, an independent civil society organization that promotes inter-religious dialogue and freedom of religion or belief for all.

It’s been reported that he was arrested on his way home from the town of Caibarién, where he was leading meetings with human rights campaigners who were discussing responses to a series of religious violations affecting Apostolic Movement churches in central and eastern Cuba.

Rev Mario Felix Lleonart Barroso, a founder of the Patmos Institute, said Captain Erick Francis Aquino Year, the regional Head of Confrontation (Jefe de Enfrentemiento) dealt directly with Alonso.

Year reportedly told members of Rodríguez Alonso’s family that the government considers the Patmos Institute to be a counter-revolutionary organization, and that if charges are brought against him they will be serious.

Rev Barroso told (CSW) that the government is unhappy with their work raising religious freedom concerns in and outside Cuba, including through the submission of a report by the Patmos Institute to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Cuba at the United Nations.

Anna-Lee Stangl, Americas Team Leader at CSW, said the…

Blackpool Pride has cancelled plans to hold a two-day festival at the town’s Winter Gardens in June, three months before the US evangelist is due to speak at the complex.

Co-ordinator, Callum Gillies told the Blackpool Gazette: “The community was not happy with the event going ahead in the Winter Gardens because Franklin Graham goes totally against everything a gay pride event stands for.

“We can’t be seen to be putting money into a venue that, eight weeks later, will support an event which is totally opposite to what we are doing.”

An alternative location is being sought for Blackpool Pride.

Franklin Graham, the oldest son of late preacher Billy Graham, has spoken openly in support of traditional marriage and against homosexuality.

Nearly 8,000 have signed a petition which brands Franklin Graham a “hate preacher” and calls upon the UK Government to deny him a visa.

Responding to the petition, Mr Graham told Premier in January (video below): “I don’t think I’ve been to any country where everybody was supportive – there’s always churches or groups who don’t like my theology or that we associate with this group or that group.

“I’m not coming to preach hate, I’m here to preach about a saviour – Jesus Christ who can make a difference in our lives if we put our faith and trust in him.”

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