A local resident named James, who is a teacher for the first time celebrated Diwali and called the experience “absolutely incredible.” He called Diwali an amazing festival...reports Asian Lite News
London Mayor Sadiq Khan organised the annual Diwali celebration at Trafalgar Square on Sunday.The free public event held from 1 pm to 7 pm (local time) featured Indian traditional dances, music, activities, and food from various parts of India that captured the festival’s spirit.Attendees enjoyed performances by London’s Hindu, Sikh and Jain communities, yoga workshops, puppet shows and more. Sadiq Khan hailed the event as embodying Diwali’s symbolic victory of light over darkness.
The landmark Diwali celebrations drew residents not only from London but also people and visitors of all backgrounds from various parts of the UK.A local resident named James, who is a teacher for the first time celebrated Diwali and called the experience “absolutely incredible.” He called Diwali an amazing festival.”Its my first time at Diwali. Absolutely incredible experience. Everyone in London here has come together to celebrate this amazing festival. I love the dancing, but also the reenactments of the story of Ram and Sita, which I think teach us all from every background, every place, teach us something very important and very special.
So really beautiful to experience this together as one global community,” James told ANI.Artists performed dance on folk songs and Bollywood songs like ‘Jai Ho’ and ‘Jo Hai Albela.’ People who attended the Diwali celebration also enjoyed Indian food.Speaking to ANI, an Indian-origin girl said, “This is the first time, I am experiencing Diwali outside of India. So, it feels great and it feels like home away from home. And it is a very great experience to have here. And we are enjoying all of us getting to meet new people. And also I was craving Indian food and I finally got to eat here. And the festive atmosphere is like the perfect beginning for Diwali. So, yeah, this is very a good time.”One Indian-origin boy who attended the Diwali celebration at Trafalgar Square said, “The Londoners who are not Indians, who are not Indian, it’s lovely to see them celebrate what we consider like best festival of light for us. So it’s been, like, amazing. I love the enthusiasm. Not just ours, but theirs as well. And we got to see the mayor speaking. He was an amazing guy.
“Speaking to ANI, a local resident named Vivian who attended the Diwali celebration said, “This is my first time here. This is my first Diwali at Trafalgar Square. I really enjoyed it. I love to dance and I came with my friend and we danced all the time. It (Diwali) is the festival of lights. The atmosphere here is wonderful and people are very friendly…” This year, Diwali will be celebrated on Sunday, November 12. (ANI)
Reflecting on his personal journey, Sadiq Khan, born to a British-Pakistani family in South London, wrote, “My grandparents were from India…reports Asian Lite News
London mayor Sadiq Khan appealed to Hindu and Muslim communities to “not allow the politics of the sub-continent to spill over” into the UK.
“We should be eternally on our guard against extremist forces who seek to stoke up tensions between our communities for their own selfish ends. Everyone in the UK and around the world should have the right to live in peace and to practice their religion without fear or threats,” the London mayor said.
The appeal came after a spate of violent clashes between Hindu and Muslim communities in the eastern England city of Leicester following an India-Pakistan cricket match.
Sadiq Khan urged against letting “current or past tensions, and the wider politics of the region, be used as a pretext to stir up trouble on our streets”. “British Muslims and British Hindus should always be allies, not adversaries,” he added.
Reflecting on his personal journey, Sadiq Khan, born to a British-Pakistani family in South London, wrote, “My grandparents were from India. My parents from Pakistan. I was born and raised in London and am proud to call Britain my home. But like many Londoners who can trace their family history to different parts of the world, I feel a strong connection with my heritage, which means both India and Pakistan are dear to me and hold a special place in my heart.”
Night Time Enterprise Zones to be created to help revive the capital’s high streets after 6pm. Zones will support councils and businesses to boost high streets and help drive forward the economic recovery…reports Asian Lite News
Mayor Sadiq Khan unveiled a £500,000 programme to create Night Time Enterprise Zones in the capital to help support London’s economic recovery.
The pandemic has had a devastating impact on the capital as businesses and cultural venues faced months of temporary closures and restrictions, but the new Night Time Enterprise Zones will enable boroughs to encourage more people to use their high streets after 6pm and boost the local economy.
The funding, in partnership with the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), will create at least three zones across the capital where boroughs will work with businesses and local communities to develop ideas to make their high streets more accessible, inclusive and welcoming at night.
They will be supported to develop a range of ideas, such as extending opening hours or holding special events, taking measures to improve women’s safety and supporting good work standards for those working at night.
It follows the success of a Night Time Enterprise Zone pilot in Waltham Forest in 2019 where extended opening times, events, increased promotion and repurposing council-owned buildings helped to increase footfall on Walthamstow High Street by 22 per cent, improved safety perceptions and widened local participation.
The Night Time Enterprise Zone programme supports the Mayor’s ambition to make London a 24-hour city and work to drive the capital’s economic recovery. It builds on the Mayor’s wider work to support the capital at night, including the first-of-its-kind Women’s Night Safety Charter for councils, businesses and venues to prioritise women’s safety at night, world-leading guidance for councils to develop Night Time Strategies, a Night Time Data Observatory to provide insight to help in decision making, The High Streets for All Challenge Fund to reimagine high streets, and the Culture and Community Spaces At Risk programme which provides dedicated advice and guidance for the most at risk night time spaces, including grassroots live music and LGBTQ+ venues.
“High streets are the lifeblood of our communities and have a key role to play in our economic recovery from the pandemic,” said the mayor. “Our Night Time Enterprise Zone pilot showed what is possible for our town centres at night and by expanding the zones to more areas we will help local authorities and businesses make their high streets more welcoming and inclusive after 6pm. It’s another example of how we are working to build a better London for everyone after the pandemic.”
Amy Lamé, Night Czar, said: “Our city is incredibly active at night, but too often our high streets shut down from 6pm, offering no reason for people to be there. We have an opportunity to work in partnership to boost local businesses, communities and the wellbeing of night workers across the capital. Through our Night Time Enterprise Zone programme we want to help reimagine our high streets with innovative ideas and help councils, communities and businesses to pioneer better ways of living, working and doing business.”
Last week, Khan spent five days in the US on a visit to promote tourism…reports Asian Lite News
The killer who shot dead 10 people in a US supermarket on Saturday called for the death of London’s Muslim Mayor Sadiq Khan, the Mirror has reported.
Payton Gendron, 18, penned a manifesto in which he listed “high-profile enemies,” calling for their assassination.
The list included Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Khan.
Gendron wrote that the mayor is “an open sign of the disenfranchisement and ethnic replacement of the British people in the British isles.
“This Pakistani Muslim invader now sits as representative for the people of London. Londinium, the very heart of the British isles. What better sign of the white rebirth than the removal of this invader?”
Last week, Khan spent five days in the US on a visit to promote tourism.
Gendron traveled two hours to the site of the attack in Buffalo, New York state. He wore body armor and livestreamed the ensuing violence online.
Mayor Sadiq Khan sets out new plan to make London safer and rebuild trust in Met. The mayor’s new Police and Crime Plan hinges on four key priorities: reducing and preventing violent crime, rebuilding trust and confidence in the police; supporting victims, and protecting people from criminal exploitation
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan published his new plan for policing in London over the next three years. Following consultation with nearly 4,000 Londoners, victims of crime, community groups, businesses and others, the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan sets out the key priorities and objectives for policing, which will help to make London safer – and feel safer – for all Londoners.
Sadiq's new Police and Crime plan sets out the key priorities and objectives for policing in the capital over the next three years https://t.co/vvnucqUBok
“Tackling crime and making London safer is my number one priority. Thanks to our relentless efforts over recent years and record investment from City Hall, violent crime continues to fall. But there’s still much more to do to prevent violence and to stop the terrible loss of young lives in our city,” said the mayor. “My new Police and Crime Plan outlines how I will continue to be both tough on crime and tough on the complex causes of crime, taking the action needed to make our city safer and to ensure victims of crime are supported.
“We have a long-standing tradition in this country of policing by consent. But a series of deeply concerning incidents have seriously damaged public trust and confidence in our police. When trust is eroded, it makes it harder to tackle crime, with victims failing to report crime and witnesses discouraged from coming forward when they see criminal activity. That’s why my plan is also focused on ensuring the Met and the next Commissioner urgently make the changes and reforms necessary to rebuild trust and confidence with Londoners.
“As Mayor, I’m determined to ensure that we restore trust in the police and that we continue to build on the progress we have made in tackling violent crime across our city.”
“The role of Commissioner is to lead the Metropolitan Police Service in keeping Londoners safe. The Met is operationally independent but gives due regard to the Mayor’s Police and Crime Plan for the provision of policing in London,” said Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick.
“Over the course of the last Plan, the men and women of the Met have worked hard to keep London safe. Last year compared to before the pandemic, murders were down by 13%, knife crime with injury was down 20%, and the number of young people being stabbed was down 27%. Met officers seized almost two thirds of the guns seized nationally and gun crime was down 35%. From 2018 we have delivered sustained reductions in violent crime following many years of increases.
“We reintroduced dedicated ward officers with PCSOs in all 629 wards to help us to connect further with neighbourhoods and tackle local problems. We are boosting local presence with Town Centre Teams in areas where they are needed most. Our Predatory Offender Units have arrested thousands of high harm offenders who pose a risk to vulnerable adults or children. And officers have continued to bear down on County Lines, gangs, drug dealers and organised crime – while safeguarding those who the criminals exploit.”
Thanks to a relentless effort by police and record funding from City Hall, violent crime continues to fall—but there is still more to do. Today, my latest Police & Crime Plan outlines how we’ll continue to be tough on crime and its causes, keep our city safe and support victims:
— Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan (@MayorofLondon) March 24, 2022
Cllr Jas Athwal, London Councils’ Executive member for Crime and Public Protection, said: “London needs a police service that is fair, trusted, diverse and effective. We welcome the new Plan’s expectations on radically improving the Metropolitan Police’s culture and practices to urgently build back trust and confidence, particularly among women and ethnic minority communities.
“London boroughs are a key partner of the Metropolitan Police when it comes to cracking down on crime and I welcome improvements to collaborative working and the Basic Command Unit (BCU) structure.
“Reducing and preventing violence is a top priority for boroughs right across London, especially tackling violence against women and girls, and it is positive to see this reflected in the Plan. An increased emphasis on understanding and tackling the underlying causes of drug-related crime – which can have a devastating impact on communities – is also promising.”
Claire Waxman, London’s Independent Victim Commissioner said: “I strongly welcome the Mayor’s new Police & Crime Plan, which rightly prioritises the rights and needs of victims. It is now more important than ever that victims receive the right treatment and can easily access effective support, to help them navigate the complex justice system and ensure they can make informed decisions.
“I am also pleased to see clear acknowledgement that public trust and confidence have been damaged and urgently need to be rebuilt. It is crucial for the individual wellbeing and protection of victims and for wider public safety that victims feel able to come forward to report and the Mayor’s new Police & Crime Plan will help us achieve this in London.”
The enlarged zone is an extension of what was the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covering mainly central London, reports Asian Lite News
Europe’s biggest ultra-low emission zone, spanning about 380 square km of London, has come into operation.
Around 3.8 million people live within the zone which extends to the north and south circular roads around the British capital, reports Xinhua news agnecy.
London City Hall expects around 110,000 vehicles are likely to pay a 12.50 pounds ($17.22) charge for driving within the new zone.
Drivers who don’t pay face a penalty charge of 160 pounds, reduced to half if paid within 14 days.
The enlarged zone is an extension of what was the world’s first Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) covering mainly central London.
NEW: Our world-leading Ultra Low Emission Zone has now expanded – helping get polluting vehicles off our roads & bringing cleaner air to millions of Londoners.
Every single Londoner deserves to breathe clean air – and this is a landmark day for our city.pic.twitter.com/SGS70SZfwf
A City Hall spokesperson said: “The new zone covers one quarter of London and is the largest zone of its kind in Europe. It will bring the health benefits of cleaner air to millions more Londoners. The scheme will operate 24 hours a day, every day of the year except Christmas Day.”
The ULEZ is also a crucial step towards London’s ambitions to tackle the climate emergency and put the city on the path to be a net zero carbon city by 2030.
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “This is a landmark day for our city. Expanding the Ultra Low Emission Zone today will clean up London’s toxic air pollution and help tackle the global climate emergency by reducing emissions.
(Photo: Twitter@MayorofLondon)
“In central London, the ULEZ has already helped cut toxic roadside nitrogen dioxide pollution by nearly half and led to reductions that are five times greater than the national average. But pollution isn’t just a central London problem, which is why expanding the ULEZ today will benefit Londoners across the whole of the city and is a crucial step in London’s green recovery from this pandemic.”
According to Khan, pollution leads to 4,000 London residents dying early each year and children in the capital growing up with stunted lungs.
Khan has provided 61 million pounds in funding for grants for small businesses, charities operating minibuses, and low-income and disabled Londoners to scrap older, more polluting vehicles.
It took decades before action was taken to protect children from toxic cigarette smoke.
We can't make the same mistakes by turning a blind eye to the evidence showing the dangers of toxic air pollution.
Sarah Woolnough, CEO of the charities Asthma UK and the British Lung Foundation welcomed the move.
“Whilst this is a huge step in the right direction, we mustn’t be complacent against this invisible threat. The fact of the matter remains that the majority of people living in London, are still living in areas where pollution levels are dangerously high.”
Alex Williams, TfL’s Director of City Planning, said: “London’s toxic air is a crisis that requires bold action right now. The expanded Ultra Low Emission Zone is vital if we are to help prevent more premature deaths and serious health conditions, as well as tackle the pressing issue of the climate emergency. The central ULEZ that launched in April 2019 was a world first and has already seen harmful nitrogen dioxide slashed by 44 per cent. Today’s expansion of the zone will see the whole city breathing cleaner air.
(Photo: Twitter@MayorofLondon)
“More than 20 million motorists have already checked the compliance of their vehicle since 2018, and if you still unsure please use our checker. We are now seeing 87 per cent vehicles in the zone meeting the standard, this is much than we would have expected if the scheme hadn’t been introduced, and it highlights how the scheme has already been effective in cleaning up London’s air. For those liable for the charge, we would ask them to consider walking and cycling where possible, or using public transport. If they do need to drive, car clubs with ULEZ-compliant vehicles, or switching to a cleaner vehicle, are the best options.”
Rosamund Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, founder of the Ella Roberta Family Foundation and World Health Organization Advocate for Health and Clean Air, said: “The coroner’s inquest into my daughter Ella’s death made clear that all levels of government must work to get dirty cars off the road, to protect human health. Children suffer the most from air pollution, as their lungs develop until they are ten. The ULEZ is helping to clean up the air that London’s children breathe from the moment they step out of their homes.”
(Photo: Twitter@MayorofLondon)
Anjali Raman-Middleton, 17, Co-founder of Choked Up, said: “We’ve already seen the impact that the ULEZ has had on our air and are thrilled to be supporting its expansion. This is a significant step in cleaning our air and meeting London’s target of carbon-neutrality by 2030. Whilst there is still work to be done to ensure that every Londoner breathes easy, ULEZ expansion will improve the health of millions.”
Jordan Cummins, CBI London Head of Policy, said: “The CBI recognises and welcomes the Mayor’s continued commitment to improving London’s air quality. The extension of the Ultra-Low Emission Zone comes at a critical moment, as the UK hosts COP26, and the capital continues to set a world-leading example to global cities on emissions reduction. To achieve this, with business as a partner, it is also critical that we look to secure a cohesive London-wide set of clean air policies – supporting consumers and businesses to make the shift to cleaner vehicles and delivering the charging and refuelling infrastructure that is required to reach the capital’s net zero ambitions.”
(Photo: Twitter)
Professor Sir Stephen T Holgate, MRC Clinical Professor at Southampton, UKRI Clean Air Champion and Special Advisor to the RCP on Air Quality, said: “Air pollution is a scourge on society, especially harming the young and old as well as those with pre-existing diseases. With the expansion of the ULEZ today, the Mayor of London has taken a vital step that will deliver major reductions in toxic pollutants across London. Reductions that will have significant benefits for the health of all Londoners.”
Jane Burston, Executive Director, Clean Air Fund, said: “London continues to be a world leader in developing and implementing ground-breaking clean air policies, designed to improve the health of everyone who lives, works and learns in the city. Where London leads, others will follow. We look forward to seeing more cities in the UK and around the world, inspired by London’s can-do attitude, introducing similar schemes to make our cities healthier, happier places in which to live and grow.”
(Photo: Twitter@MayorofLondon)
Simon Birkett, Founder and Director of Clean Air in London, said: “The ULEZ expansion is a vital step on the path to achieving zero tailpipe emissions from vehicles and a beacon of hope in the days before COP26.”
Richard Dilks, Chief Executive of CoMoUK said: “The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone is a symbiotic fit with shared transport options such as car clubs, bike and e scooter share schemes as they all enable Londoners to step away from car ownership. Doing that cuts people’s transport emissions and costs while cleaning up London’s air and delivering more liveable neighbourhoods.”
The Charter will cover technology such as driverless cars, facial recognition software, drones, sensor networks, robotics etc., reports Asian Lite News
As part of London Tech Week, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Wednesday laid out plans to simplify how technology that relies on data is used by public services and in the public realm.
London’s Emerging Technology Charter, the first of its kind in any UK city, is a set of practical and ethical guidelines focussed on openness, digital rights, use of data and sustainability of technology which is aimed at setting common expectations to tech buyers and makers to innovate successfully.
It will give Londoners and their elected representatives a clear framework to ask questions about the technologies proposed or deployed in London. It will also establish enhanced transparency for Londoners on products and services that data protection law considers potentially high risk to privacy.
The Charter will cover technology such as driverless cars, facial recognition software, drones, sensor networks, robotics, mobility services, augmented and virtual reality, and automated and algorithmic decision-making.
The Charter is voluntary, but local government and public services, makers, innovators, technologists, elected representatives and interested Londoners are all encouraged to adopt it to improve how technology is implemented in the capital.
London’s tech sector is at the forefront of our country’s economic recovery. That’s why today at @LDNTechWeek I've announced London’s new Emerging Tech Charter—a practical and ethical guide to trialling and deploying smart city technologies in the capital. https://t.co/PzkI7qNNuc
The Mayor launched his Charter speaking at London Tech Week’s Future of Work summit, where he also celebrated London as a leading global tech city and reaffirmed his commitment to boost the city’s clusters of exciting and game-changing tech companies that call London home.
“London is and always will be open to business and innovation. In the face of Brexit and the global pandemic, our capital has proven itself to be one of the best global cities for tech,” Sadiq Khan said.
“The tech sector in London has a huge role to play in rebuilding a fairer city for everyone as we recover from the pandemic. My new Emerging Tech Charter will play a significant part in that recovery, making sure both Londoners and tech businesses are using data efficiently to get the most out of technological innovation,” he added.
The Emerging Tech Charter will establish a register of Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs), which are legally required in any data processing with a high risk to individuals’ privacy.
“We want to foster a trustworthy environment for innovation to flourish, and to do so responsibly.,” said Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer for London. “When a new technology is deployed it’s not easy for Londoners to find out about how privacy risks have been identified and managed.”
“Our principles create a central register of assessments organisations are required to carry out by law. We think it’s important for transparency and good practice that these are published in one place and open to scrutiny,” Blackwell added.
Rachel Coldicutt, technology strategist specialising in ethics, regulation and the social impacts of technology, said: “I’m so proud to be a Londoner and support this leadership from the Chief Digital Officer and the Mayor to make sure emerging technology in our city is open, trustworthy, inclusive, and sustainable – exactly how it should be.”
“It’s so important that people who live and work in London have this framework to help understand more about data and technology, and it’s particularly great to see the register of Data Impact Protection Assessments – a real step forward for London as a leader in responsible, rights-respecting technology.”
Sadiq Khan said violent extremism remains one of the biggest threats facing many cities around the world, including London, reports Asian Lite News
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan on Friday joined BGC Charity Day to raise cash for various charities ahead of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 attacks in US that killed 2,977 people.
BGC Partners, a global financial services company, held its annual charity day on Friday to remember its 658 colleagues and the 61 Eurobrokers employees who lost their lives in the World Trade Center attacks on September 11, 2001, the Evening Standard reported.
According to the report, all profits made on trades on Friday will go to charities including Blood Cancer UK, Help for Heroes, The Pret Foundation and Wellbeing For Women.
(Photo – twitter@SadiqKhan)
“Brilliant to be back on the phones for the BGC Charity Day. BGC Partners tragically lost hundreds of colleagues in the 9/11 terror attacks. To honour the memory of their colleagues – they’ve helped raise $180m in the last 20 years for charities – including the Mayor’s Fund,” Khan tweeted.
“My thoughts are with all those who lost friends and family members, and everyone who suffered life-changing injuries because of the horrific acts of terrorism on September 11 2001, Khan was quoted as saying. “Londoners stand united with our friends in America and remain determined to show the world that those who seek to destroy our way of life will never win.”
Khan, had earlier announced an additional £400,000 investment in a grassroots fund to empower communities to counter extremism, tackle the rise in hate crime offences and keep vulnerable Londoners safe from radicalisation.
(Photo – twitter@SadiqKhan)
Ahead of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Mayor reaffirmed his commitment to tackling violent extremism in all its forms and has made it clear that racism and hate crime have no place in the capital as London prepares to welcome more than 150 families from Afghanistan.
New City Hall investment builds on the work of the Mayor’s Shared Endeavour Fund, which has directly benefited 25,000 participants and reached more than 600,000 Londoners overall since it launched in 2020 – enabling community groups to deliver vital grassroots projects that tackle all forms of violent extremism, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and misogyny.
(Photo – twitter@SadiqKhan)
Projects have taken place in every London borough, including during lockdown, and the new funding will empower grassroots organisations to continue to engage with Londoners of all ages and backgrounds to tackle a broad array of issues, from right-wing extremism, racism, Islamophobia and anti-Semitism to extremist content online and misogyny.
Ahead of the 20th anniversary of the horrific 9/11 terrorist attacks, Sadiq Khan said violent extremism remains one of the biggest threats facing many cities around the world, including London.
“Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe. That’s why I asked Lord Harris to complete a new independent review into what can be done to improve our city’s preparedness for a major terrorist attack, and it’s why I’m announcing that we’ll be investing an additional £400,000 to do even more to help tackle violent extremism in all its forms,” he said.
“This new investment is about empowering communities to deliver grassroots projects that not only work to prevent violent extremism and to stop vulnerable Londoners from becoming radicalised, but to tackle racism and hate crime. Since last year, the projects we’ve supported have already directly benefited 25,000 people and reached more than 600,000 altogether. This additional investment will ensure we can reach many thousands more,” he added.
At the time, the Harris Review made more than 100 recommendations, the vast majority of which have now been implemented, resulting in significant improvements to safety of the city…reports Asian Lite News.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has appointed Lord Toby Harris to complete a new and wide-ranging independent report into what could be done to improve London’s preparedness for a major terrorist incident.
The new review, which begins today, will consider the changing threat of terrorism facing London and any implications of the pandemic for London’s immediate and long-term preparedness for an attack.
In 2016, when Lord Harris published his Preparedness Review, commissioned by the Mayor, the backdrop of terrorism was shaped by marauding firearms attacks such as the terrible attacks at the Bataclan, Paris, and those in Brussels and Nice.
At the time, the Harris Review made more than 100 recommendations, the vast majority of which have now been implemented, resulting in significant improvements to safety of the city.
The final report will be delivered by the end of the year.
Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe. Londoners are right to expect us to be prepared for any attempt to attack on our city, which is why I’ve asked for a new review into our preparedness—strengthening our response to the ever-evolving threat of terrorism.
“Nothing is more important to me than keeping Londoners safe. Londoners have a right to expect us to be prepared for any potential attack on our city and that is why I have asked Lord Harris to undertake a fresh review into London’s preparedness,” Sadiq said.
“Whilst we have made some significant improvements since 2016, a lot has changed. The attacks on our city in 2017, the Manchester Arena bombing, and more recently, the attacks in Streatham and at Fishmongers’ Hall, means there’s much more to be learned. We know extremists are set on exploiting the uncertainty and hardship caused by the pandemic for their own gain and are adapting their tactics – including using the internet during lockdown to spread disinformation as well as attempting to radicalise the vulnerable to commit violent acts.
Lord Toby Harris said: “The nature of the terrorist threat has altered and we must also learn from the tragic events we have seen in London and elsewhere in the intervening five years. The purpose of this review is to take stock of where we are now and whether there are additional steps that should be taken to help ensure the safety of Londoners.”
The Mayor also pledged to launch crackdown on racist abuse and hate crime incidents in London…reports Asian Lite News.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has offered a warm welcome and a message of support to Hongkongers who have begun arriving in the capital.
London is expected to welcome the largest proportion of arrivals from Hong Kong to the UK this year after the Government introduced a new visa for Hong Kong British National (Overseas) status holders and their families. It is estimated that between 123,000 and 153,000 adults and their dependents will take up the visa this year to live, work and study in the UK.
The Mayor welcomed the move from Ministers and is working alongside the Government to ensure suitable support is available, the City Hall said.
City Hall will use more than £900,000 of Government funding as part of the integration work across the city to ensure new arrivals can settle in London, including advice on housing, education and employment.
“I want to be very clear to Hongkongers and their families who have begun arriving in the capital that they are very welcome in London,” Sadiq said.
“Our city has a proud history of being home to people from many different backgrounds, and I’m committed to doing all I can to help them settle in London. By working alongside the Government, local authorities, communities and community organisations we will ensure that suitable support is available right across the capital so that they can quickly feel part of our great city,” he added.
Sadiq will also be working with organisations, including Hong Kong Arc, Hongkongers in Britain, Hackney Chinese Community Services and Refugees Welcome to discuss how best to support the community and address any concerns they may have.
The Mayor also pledged to launch crackdown on racist abuse and hate crime incidents in London. He has already invested more than £6 million to support London’s diverse communities and tackle the scourge of hate crime, as well as funding grassroots community organisations and civil society groups.
“Government funding is helping to ensure that new arrivals from Hong Kong have the best start to their new lives – assisting them to find a home, a school place for their children and employment – here in London and across the country,” Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said.
“The Government is creating 12 virtual welcome hubs across the UK, backed by £43 million, to give BNO status holders the practical help they need to establish themselves. It’s my sincere hope that these families will find the UK a place they can call home,” he added.
