The 18-year-old who attends Queensway Methodist Church in Bletchley will help be the voice of young people within the Methodist Church listening and raising concerns on issues young Methodists have.

She said she decided to stand for Youth President to help “spread the Good News and encourage other young people to become involved in the life of the Church”.

Thelma said: “I decided to stand for Youth President because I am passionate about the work of God and would love to encourage young people to get involved. My campaign, entitled ‘Jesus Loves All’, focused on presenting Jesus Christ as a saviour, through the talents of young people.

Thelma told Premier: “I’m very excited to be serving as president this year. There’s so many amazing things you get to do as president. What I am most excited about is the opportunity to go around the whole country and visit different young people and listen to their stories that they have and hear what God is doing in their life.

“I would like to thank the young people of the Methodist Church for voting for me and tell them that God loves them so much, as do I. I honestly feel so blessed and I am very grateful for this opportunity. I pray that God will guide me throughout the year to be the best I can be at this role.”

Every year the new president chooses a theme that shapes what they do throughout the year; Thelma…

Organisers are backing the use of civil disobedience during the wave of protests, in which demonstrators will “resist the parliament shutdown” in dozens of towns and cities.

Protests are taking place in Newcastle, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Bristol, Glasgow and Swansea, among more than 80 planned demonstrations due to take place over the next week.

Canon for music and liturgy at Newcastle Cathedral, Clare McLaren, is backing the protests and told Premier why she is demonstrating today in Newcastle, she told Premier: “I thought it was really important to come to the demonstration today because I’m appalled by what seems to be going on.

“As Christians we are called to pray for our city, to contribute to our democratic procedures, and also to pray for our leaders. I am certainly praying for our leaders at this time, but also really appalled that the parliamentary democracy that we’re so proud of in this country seems to be being flouted in the way that the prorogation of parliament is doing.

“The people needs to have a say in our future and that’s being removed from us and that doesn’t seem right to me. So, we have to stand up as Christians for what we believe to be true, and to be good and to be God’s well, and for me, where we are at at the moment just is wrong.”

The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, will be among high-profile speakers…

The black-shirted protesters have already taken over parts of major roads and intersections.

Authorities had previously turned down an application for a march to the Chinese government office to mark the fifth anniversary of a decision by China’s ruling Communist Party against fully democratic elections in Hong Kong.

Police have erected barriers, brought out two water cannon trucks and deployed at various locations in riot gear in anticipation of unauthorised protests.

The march was not permitted by authorities, but protesters took to the streets anyway in the 13th straight weekend of demonstrations.

A protester holds a cross and poster which reads ” Stop black police disrupting Hong Kong, implement five demands” during a pro-democracy protest in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019. 

Democratic Party MP Lam Cheuk-ting said Hong Kong citizens would keep fighting for their rights and freedoms despite the arrests of several prominent activists and politicians in the past two days, including activist Joshua Wong.

The protests were sparked by a now-shelved extradition bill. Protesters are demanding its full withdrawal, as well as democratic elections and an investigation into alleged police brutality in pitched battles with hard-line demonstrators.

Mr Lam said: “I do believe the government…

Police spokesman Ruwan Gunasekare said the court on Friday ordered police to exhume and relocate the head of the suicide bomber buried at Kalliyankadu cemetery in the eastern town of Batticaloa.

The head is the only known remains of the bomber who attacked the Zion church in Batticaloa.

Hundreds of residents including relatives of those killed protested this week against the burial of the remains of the Islamic extremist, who along with others attacked three churches and three luxury hotels on Easter Sunday, killing 263 people.

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