Tag: Sadiq Khan

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London Launches Emerging Tech Charter

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. 

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.”    

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London Mayor Joins Charity Day To Commemorate 9/11 Victims

(Photo - twitter@SadiqKhan)

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.

ALSO READ – Sadiq launches new ‘London Refugee Response’ fund

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Fresh review to improve London’s terror preparedness

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 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.”

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Sadiq offers warm welcome to HK migrants

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.

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Mural to pay tribute to England’s EURO2020 performance

Urban street artists MurWalls created the artwork to help Londoners and visitors celebrate the capital’s role in hosting the European championships…reports Asian Lite News.

Following England’s journey to the UEFA EURO2020 final, the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced that a work of art will be painted in central London to pay tribute to the team’s performance.

The mural of manager Gareth Southgate, captain Harry Kane and boy-from-Brent Raheem Sterling will be unveiled at Vinegar Yard in London Bridge this morning.

Urban street artists MurWalls created the artwork to help Londoners and visitors celebrate the capital’s role in hosting the European championships.

The Mayor said: “What an amazing month the England team have given us during the EURO2020 tournament.

“On behalf of all Londoners, I want to congratulate the magnificent England football team and their wonderful manager Gareth Southgate on making it to the final of the competition.

“The mural created by MurWalls unveiled today is a wonderful celebration of a team that have inspired and united our nation in our time of need. I encourage as many people as possible to take a look and get out and about in our wonderful capital this summer,” he added.

Marc Silver, founder of MurWalls, said: “Football may not quite have come home but pride in our national team certainly did – and that’s in no small part down to the leadership of Gareth Southgate. On and off the field, he and his players are true role models for young Londoners and we’re delighted to be working with the Mayor to celebrate their historic achievement on home turf. We look forward to honouring them going one better next year!”

Neil Benson, Vinegar Yard said: “It’s been amazing seeing fans and friends get together again at Vinegar Yard and support the England team in the Euros. We’re proud to have these murals on display at Vinegar Yard to show our support for Gareth Southgate and the team who inspired the nation.”

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Mayor, Met set out plans to tackle violence in London

(Source twitter@MayorofLondon)

Londoners will see an increased police presence in areas of the city this summer, as the Met steps up its targeted enforcement activity, reports Asian Lite News

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Met Police have set out plans for the police, City Hall, local authorities and criminal justice partners to work more closely across London to drive down violence ahead of the summer.

ALSO READ – New investment for green spaces across London

The Met and City Hall have set out their continued partnership approach and a strong plan to tackle violence, focusing on enforcement to bear down on offenders, and early intervention to provide positive opportunities and prevent violence from happening in the first place. 

Met
(Source twitter@MayorofLondon)

Londoners will see an increased police presence in areas of the city this summer, as the Met steps up its targeted enforcement activity.

Alongside that, the Mayor has also announced £2.4 million of additional investment through London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU), for up to 4,000 school-aged children both during the summer and beyond.

The investment, which is on top of the record £20m Sadiq has invested in the VRU, is focused on programmes running in areas including Brent, Enfield, Barking & Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge, Waltham Forest and Camden.

The Mayor on Friday joined Met police officers on patrol in Kentish Town, to see first-hand the work neighbourhood officers are doing to keep the area safe and to bear down on violence. 

(Source twitter@MayorofLondon)

“Tackling violence and making our city safer is my number one priority and I’m determined to be tough on crime with support for the Met Police, and tough on the complex causes of crime, with support for our communities,” Sadiq Khan said. 

“As lockdown restrictions continue to ease ahead of the summer holidays, it’s really important we work together to address concerns about a potential rise in violence.

“Working with the Met Police, the National Probation Service, London’s Violence Reduction Unit, local authorities and other criminal justice partners across London, we have a strong plan in place to suppress violence with targeted enforcement of violent offenders, combined with support to help divert people away from crime and a programme to provide positive opportunities for young Londoners,” he added.

(Source twitter@MayorofLondon)

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave of the Met Police said: “The Met is stepping up its operations to suppress and deal with violence as much as we can over the summer with a large scale multi layered operations that will target the six strands of the Serious Violence Strategy. Working closely with our partners and the Mayor to explore opportunities and take action through meaningful interventions to prevent violence from occurring in the first place.

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New investment for green spaces across London

Mayor visited the Cookbook Edible Library project in Tottenham, which is enabling the local community to grow and cook their own food and providing positive opportunities for young people, reports Asian Lite News

Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has announced a further £6 million of fresh investment in improving green spaces across London.

The £1.2m Grow Back Greener fund, with £500,000 provided by Thames Water, will offer grants to dozens of community-led projects to help more Londoners access green space in their neighbourhoods, the Mayor’s Office said.

It will focus on the most disadvantaged areas, supporting community gardens, food growing projects, pocket parks and cleaner waterways.

Separately, the new £4m Green and Resilient Spaces Fund will support large-scale green space projects, helping to tackle the climate emergency by reducing the risk of floods and keeping the city cool, it said.

This could include restoring rivers, creating new wetlands, opening up new green connections between parks, or creating new woodlands.  

Funding will be targeted where it is most needed, using cutting-edge data, including new climate risk mapping, that highlights where Londoners are most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. It will also target areas with the least access to public open space.  

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the vital importance of London’s green spaces for Londoners’ health and wellbeing. London’s parks saw the highest increase in usage of anywhere in the country during the first lockdown last spring.

Yet it has also brought into sharp focus the inequalities in access to green space across our city. The Mayor believes this is a matter of fairness, and wants all Londoners to live within a 10-minute walk of a green space.   

The Mayor on Wednesday visited the Cookbook Edible Library project – a partnership between Haringey Council, Edible London and Volunteer It Yourself – awarded funding through the first round of the Mayor’s Grow Back Greener Fund in December 2020.

The project has transformed an unused piece of land to create a community kitchen and a garden at St Ann’s Library, which is helping local families and young people learn to grow and cook their own food, as well as giving 14-24 year olds the chance to learn new skills whilst participating in outdoor activities, including construction and gardening.

The Mayor’s Office said approximately one in six Haringey pupils are known to be eligible for and claiming free school meals (16 per cent), but provisions are not available out of school hours. This project aims to be up and running in time for their planned summer holiday food programme for children and young people who often have little or no access to healthy food, it said.

“As Mayor, I want London to lead the way in tacking the climate emergency and for all Londoners to be have access to great green spaces close to where they live,” Mayor Khan said.

He said the new funding announced during London Climate Action Week is “just the start of even more investment in green spaces, nature and projects to help tackle the climate emergency.”

“The community-led projects that benefit from this programme provide so much more than just improved green space for local communities,” he added.

He also said the Cookbook Edible Library project provides an “educational, safe space for young people to develop new skills – providing positive opportunities and alternatives to those who might be vulnerable to getting drawn into gangs.” 

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#LetsDoLondon: Sadiq launches campaign for domestic tourism

The 50-year-old politician from Britain’s main opposition Labour Party has allocated 6 million pounds ($8 million) to directly support the new campaign…reports Asian Lite News.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a domestic tourism campaign to kick-start the British capital’s economy as restrictions on international travel will likely continue this year, local media reported.

In his signing-in speech for a second term as Mayor, Khan on Monday announced the new “Let’s Do London” campaign to attract domestic visitors to the city and bring its economy back to life, reports Xinhua news agency.

A pedestrian walks by a pub, The Hope, shuttered in London due to coronavirus regulations. Thousands of British pubs have not survived the pandemic, according to an industry association, and the ones that have will need financial support “for years if they are to recover.” Photo: Yui Mok/PA

The 50-year-old politician from Britain’s main opposition Labour Party has allocated 6 million pounds ($8 million) to directly support the new campaign.

The campaign and events program will bring together London’s world-leading hospitality, culture, night-life and retail venues to promote all that the city has to offer.

“With restrictions on international travel likely to continue this year, Londoners and visitors from the UK have a unique opportunity to experience all the capital has to offer without the queues.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan

“In doing so you’ll be providing vital support for our world-leading venues as they start to re-open and need our help more than ever.

“My mission over the next three years is to put the dark days of the pandemic behind us and to deliver a better and brighter future for London, creating a fairer, greener and more prosperous city, where everyone gets the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential,” he added.

Khan confirmed that a top priority for his second term will be jobs, standing up for the Londoners who lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic and helping to skill up the city’s residents to get back into work.

He also confirmed he will continue to prioritize the long-standing issues that matter most to Londoners, including safer streets, more affordable housing and action to tackle air pollution and the climate emergency.

During the May 6 local elections, more than 5,000 seats were up for grabs in city hall and town hall elections, with the Mayor of London and 12 provincial mayors along with police and crime commissioners also being elected.

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London Mayor to rebuild domestic tourism

Sadiq Khan on Monday launched the new campaign “Let’s Do London” to bolster economic recovery…reports Asian Lite News

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has launched a domestic tourism campaign to kick-start the British capital’s economy as restrictions on international travel will likely continue this year, local media reported.

In his signing-in speech for a second term as Mayor, Khan on Monday announced the new “Let’s Do London” campaign to attract domestic visitors to the city and bring its economy back to life, reports Xinhua news agency.

The 50-year-old politician from Britain’s main opposition Labour Party has allocated 6 million pounds ($8 million) to directly support the new campaign.

The campaign and events program will bring together London’s world-leading hospitality, culture, night-life and retail venues to promote all that the city has to offer.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan

“With restrictions on international travel likely to continue this year, Londoners and visitors from the UK have a unique opportunity to experience all the capital has to offer without the queues.

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“In doing so you’ll be providing vital support for our world-leading venues as they start to re-open and need our help more than ever.

“My mission over the next three years is to put the dark days of the pandemic behind us and to deliver a better and brighter future for London, creating a fairer, greener and more prosperous city, where everyone gets the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential,” he added.

Khan confirmed that a top priority for his second term will be jobs, standing up for the Londoners who lost their jobs during the Covid-19 pandemic and helping to skill up the city’s residents to get back into work.

He also confirmed he will continue to prioritize the long-standing issues that matter most to Londoners, including safer streets, more affordable housing and action to tackle air pollution and the climate emergency.

During the May 6 local elections, more than 5,000 seats were up for grabs in city hall and town hall elections, with the Mayor of London and 12 provincial mayors along with police and crime commissioners also being elected.

ALSO READ: Sadiq Khan Supports IPL in London

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Sadiq Khan Supports IPL in London

Sadiq Khan has promised, if re-elected on May 6, he will build on five years of innovation to confirm London’s status as the “undisputed sporting capital of the world.”

Sadiq Khan has vowed to work hand-in-hand with cricketing authorities to make the Indian Premier League (IPL) the latest global sports league to stage matches in London.

 The Labour candidate for Mayor has promised to ‘keep banging the drum’ for investment in the capital including through international sport, as he pursues his vision for a better, more prosperous London after the pandemic.

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“During his first term as London Mayor, Sadiq successfully brought Major League Baseball to the capital for the first time and extended London’s relationship with the NFL, helping to secure a ten-year commitment for the league to play regular season matches at the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium,” a press release said.

 Following its establishment in 2008, the IPL has achieved stratospheric global growth and is now commonly considered to be one the largest sports leagues in the world. Bringing matches to London would allow the capital to build on the legacy of the three global competitions in recent years that have seen both major cricket grounds in London (Lord’s and The Kia Oval) sold out months in advance.

London mayor Sadiq Khan and deputy mayor for business, Rajesh Agrawal at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury. (Photo: Mayor of London)

 Sadiq is an avid fan of cricket and had a trial for Surrey County Cricket Club as a teenager. He is also passionate about the power of all sports to bring people together which is why, throughout his first term as Mayor, he consistently invested in grassroots and community-based initiatives under the banner of ‘Sport Unites’.

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 Building on the success of the 2012 Olympic Games secured by Labour Mayor Ken Livingstone and Sadiq’s wider ‘Sport for All of Us’ strategy, under Sadiq, London has become the sporting capital of the world attracting major events including the ICC Cricket World Cups for both men and women, the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, the European Championships in men’s and women’s football and global competitions in diving and skateboarding.

 London also hosts the annual Wimbledon Championships, world title boxing matches including the seminal bout between Anthony Joshua and Wladimir Klitschko and is currently home to six Premier League football clubs, four Women’s Super League teams, two Rugby Union premiership clubs and two first-class cricket clubs.

Mayor Sadiq Khan speaks to NHS staff at the new vaccine hub at Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Kingsbury. (Photo: Mayor of London)

Speaking at a visit to watch young cricketers training at Kingstonian CC, Sadiq Khan said: “This is part of my plan to build a better London after the pandemic.

 “I know Londoners are hungry to see more of the likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Rishabh Pant and, with two of the world’s greatest cricket grounds in Lord’s and The Kia Oval, London is ideally placed to host IPL matches.

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 “The absence of live crowds at elite competitions has been hard for many sport-loving Londoners but I know we can build a better, more open and prosperous city after the pandemic and see our capital confirmed as the undisputed sporting capital of the world.

 “I will never stop banging the drum for investment in our city and bringing the Indian Premier League to London would not only guarantee a home crowd for every country but boost tourism and generate much-needed revenue to help get our capital back on its feet.”