Latest news with #SadiqKhan
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Business
- BBC News
Mayor to host London-Africa summit to boost capital's economy
The first Africa-London business summit will be held next year, Sir Sadiq Khan has announced during a trade mission to the continent. The mayor said the summit will be hosted in London with the aim of tapping into the "huge economic opportunities that a strong, mutual relationship with the continent can bring". Sir Sadiq Khan began his investment trip in Lagos, Nigeria, this week and will also see him visit Accra in Ghana, and Johannesburg and Cape Town in South Conservative shadow chancellor Mel Stride acknowledged that while cultural links "are very important", he feels the mayor should be in London "with his hands on the tiller" to tackle issues such as shoplifting. The summit would bring together entrepreneurs and investors, state officials and trade groups from across the 54-nation aim is to attract foreign investment to the capital and boost trade links, a City Hall spokesperson currently accounts for for 1.25% of foreign direct investment into London, according to figures from the mayor's office."Expanding ties with Africa will be key to delivering our international trade ambitions, creating thousands of good jobs in the next five years and beyond," Sir Sadiq said. "London has a rich history with the continent through our diaspora communities." Kolawole Ajayi, a Nigerian chef with a food stall and two restaurants in Peckham, south London, welcomed the prospect of strengthening ties. "We have a lot of brains [in Nigeria] that if London can nest that and create an opportunity, there will be a big growth," he told BBC London. "Gone are the days it's only India you can outsource to. There are brains in Nigeria, I promise you." Foreign Secretary and Tottenham MP, David Lammy, also welcomed the event, calling London a "global city where the world comes to do business".Nationally, trade with the African continent amounted to £49bn in 2024, according to the Office for National is a key sector for the growth in trade, the mayor told BBC News in Nigeria."Lagos is the number one tech city in Africa and London is the number one tech city in Europe."I'm hoping to create partnerships that leads to wealth, prosperity and jobs".
Spectator
8 hours ago
- Spectator
Save us from the Lime bike invasion
I'm a Londoner born and bred, and I love this city, even though it's slowly being destroyed by the insidious antics of Sadiq Khan. Do his repeated failures explain why his hair is going prematurely white? Why are the roads closed all the time, for no apparent reason? Why are there endless roadworks, yet no men working on them? Why do we have filthy streets and graffiti everywhere? Visiting Majorca, I was impressed by the pristine streets and pavements of Palma. 'How come you have no litter or graffiti?' I asked the driver. 'Everyone is very proud of our city, and we respect it,' he replied. 'No one is allowed to litter or paint graffiti – it is considered a crime – and our citizens shame anyone who does it.' Are you listening, Sadiq? Several news outlets are reporting the surge in the dangerous crossings of immigrants coming to our shores, and the cost of giving them succour. But I'm seeing an invasion of a different sort: the proliferation of rental bikes and powered scooters that litter our pavements. I've recently been almost run over twice by 'Lime bikes'. I've also tripped over a bunch of discarded cycles on the streets of Belgravia. Everyone I know has experienced the rudeness and sloppiness of most of these bike riders. They seem to care not for road rules, pedestrians, safety, or anyone but themselves. The bikes dart recklessly between vehicles. Moreover, there seem to be an inordinate number of food delivery personnel using these bikes. They are the most dangerous, considering the number of deliveries they must make in a day. The irony is that many of these delivery people are allegedly the same immigrants washing up on our shores and – so I was told – have use of these bikes for free. Can the most unpopular Prime Minister in living memory resolve these problems? Probably not. How have we arrived at this terrible state of affairs? I have a vague memory as a little girl of my parents talking in hushed tones about how 'No Nazi will ever be able to cross the Channel and invade us'. My father stalked around the house brandishing a bayonet stained with what looked like dried blood (but was probably rust) from the first world war, announcing he would defend his family from the intruders 'with my final breath'. Whenever I hear the grating tones of our Prime Minister rattling on about what he's going to do for 'working people', I cringe. As a working actress filming The Bitter End, a movie about the Duchess of Windsor's latter days, I woke up every morning between 5.30 and 6.30 to drive to 'work' – shooting in Hertfordshire and Ealing studios. When I arrived, everywhere was already a hive of activity as the cast and crew were setting up. I observed daily how incredibly hard actors, film technicians and artisans work in a job that has little or no security, but that they love. Many movie people may be paid good money, but they work extremely punishing schedules – often 14- to 16-hour days – and they may not get another job for several months afterwards. Actors' careers, unless you are in the 1 per cent of Brads, Toms and Georges, often hang by a thread. I was delighted when Mike Newell, the film's director, told me that the brilliantly talented Italian actress Isabella Rossellini had agreed to play opposite me as the Duchess's nemesis, Suzanne Blum. Isabella embodies the (oft overused and wrongly ascribed) term 'Hollywood royalty'. Her mother was Ingrid Bergman and her father, Roberto Rossellini, was one of the most innovative and radical film directors of the 1940s and 1950s. Isabella, knowing I had arrived in Hollywood at the end of the Golden Age (when the 'gilt was beginning to tarnish' – ha ha!) insisted that I must have met 'Mama'. 'Darling, when I arrived in Hollywood, she had already left for Rome to have you,' I said. 'But I met your father…' I showed her a picture I had posted on Instagram (@joancollinsdbe if you'd like to follow me) of Signor Rossellini and me. 'Your father was in Jamaica preparing to shoot Sea Wife with Richard Burton and me,' I said. 'Wrecked on a desert island, your father insisted on having a love scene between the innocent novice nun – me – and rascally scoundrel Richard Burton. The studio head, Darryl F. Zanuck, agreed, but the censor staunchly refused, so your father left the island and returned to Rome and my chance to work with him sadly ended in the sand.' On the final day of shooting, Isabella and I had to film the denouement – a furious angry scene in which I berated her. Staring intently into her eyes as I delivered venomous vituperations, I was suddenly disturbed by the realisation that I was telling Ingrid Bergman's daughter to bugger off.
Metro
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Metro
Giant Donald Trump baby blimp will float above London again when President visits UK
Activists are plotting to relaunch the Donald Trump baby balloon when the President jets to the UK for his historic second official visit in September, Metro can reveal. The blimp, a giant, six-metre-long inflatable depicting Trump as a baby in a nappy grasping a mobile phone, became a symbol of protests against the controversial leader on his first state visit as President in July 2018. It was flown in the skies above Parliament as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets. During the parade, it was flanked by a group of campaigners in red flying suits who were dubbed 'Trump babysitters'. The balloon later spawned copycat versions of London Mayor Sadiq Khan and former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, which were flown in 2018 and 2019, as well as counterfeit merchandise, including t-shirts and bobblehead figures. Leo Murray, who came up with the idea of the blimp to mock the President, has now revealed he is considering re-launching the inflatable or commissioning another for the visit later this year. Leo, from north London, told Metro: 'We will consider getting the blimp up again. It was very effective last time. The way it made fun of him worked. It certainly was eye-catching and gave everyone a smile. But the danger of Trump is worse than ever now. 'The original one is now in the Museum of London so we would have to speak to them. We crowdfunded the first one so maybe we could do that again and get a new one. It's too early to say but we will have plans. 'It's more vital than ever to protest. He should not be coming for a second visit the way Britain's sucking up to him is not what people here want to see, it's very poor. 'His first presidency was bad enough but in the end he didn't get to do much. This time round he is much more dangerous- we have to oppose this visit and make ourselves heard.' To create the blimp, Leo worked with designer Matt Bonner. It was then built by Leicestershire-based company, Imagine Inflatables. While the majority of people praised the inflatable, it faced some criticism, including from the President himself. Trump said at the time the blimp made him feel unwanted, adding: 'I guess when they put out blimps to make me feel unwelcome, no reason for me to go to London. 'I used to love London as a city. I haven't been there in a long time. But when they make you feel unwelcome, why would I stay there?' Nigel Farage also described it at the time as 'the biggest insult to a sitting US President ever.' In response to the criticism, the office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the balloon was recognised as a legitimate form of demonstration, which is why it was allowed to fly. It was later flown in Ireland during protests in 2019 but plans to launch it over Trump's Turnberry golf course in Scotland that year were halted after the authorities refused permission. The Museum of London has since bought the original blimp and has it on display in its protest collection. It described the blimp as an 'extraordinary and imaginative idea' and a 'response from Londoners'. The Museum's director, Sharon Ament, said the blimp was an example of the British love of satire. She said: 'We use humour a lot. And we poke fun at politicians. This is a big – literally – example of that.' Leo added: 'Last time the blimp was very effective and could be again. 'The world is a much more dangerous place because of Trump winning the presidency again. We need to make our voices heard.' In February, Trump was invited to visit the UK for a second unprecedented state visit by King Charles. Buckingham Palace confirmed on Tuesday that Trump and his wife, First Lady Melania Trump, will be in the UK from 17 to 19 September and will be hosted at Windsor Castle. A full schedule for the visit is yet to be released. The House of Commons breaks up the day before so he will not be making an address to Parliament as is the usual protocol for a state visit. Trump said ahead of his visit: 'I think I want to have a good time and respect King Charles because he's a great gentleman.' He added that the UK was a 'great place'. check our news page.
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
What is actually in Trip CBD drinks?
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has banned an ad for Trip drinks following unauthorised claims they can "help you feel calm" and reduce stress and anxiety. The self-proclaimed "No. 1 CBD brand" in the UK has since removed this messaging from its marketing material – which included a statement on its website, seen in December, about how the drinks could be used to help people "unwind when work is over" or could be consumed in the morning "before a long day." The brand also claimed that its blend of ingredients – including magnesium citrate – "has been crafted for calm." Following an investigation, which examined complaints over three key issues, the watchdog concluded that the messaging around certain health claims were "not authorised." Yahoo UK has contacted Trip for comment. View this post on Instagram A post shared by TRIP (@ So, what is in Trip? Depending on the flavour, the ingredients vary from drink to drink. However, the base ingredients in all flavours are: Sparkling water Fruit juices from concentrate Flavour enhancers Botanical extracts L-theanine CBD extract Citric acid Sweetener Soya Some blends, such as the raspberry orange blossom and chamomile drink, also include magnesium citrate (according to its site, one 250ml can contains 24mg). Magnesium citrate, specifically, can help relieve constipation by increasing the amount of water your intestines absorb. The mineral magnesium, meanwhile, is important for bodily function and contributes towards healthy nerves, muscles, bones and cardiovascular system. It has also been linked to improved sleep and reduced anxiety. As for the CBD extract present in Trip drinks, the brand states that there is 25mg in each can. The rise of CBD products Cannabidiol (CBD) products have become increasingly popular – not just in the UK, but around the world. According to a 2023 report by the Food Standards Agency (FSA), there were 100 CBD products on its public list, on sale across England and Wales – with more than 12,000 CBD products linked to food applications. Samples included everything from sprays and oils, to beverages and even dog treats. CBD doesn't cause a high, though it is a chemical derived directly from the hemp plant. While there are various health claims associated with the active ingredient, further research is needed to determine its benefits and safety. In conjunction with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, aka, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis), it is used in medicine to treat multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms. Similarly, there are traces of CBD in certain epilepsy medications, too. Read more about health: Are nicotine pouches as bad as vaping and smoking? (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read) 11 side-effects of cannabis, as Sadiq Khan calls for partial decriminalisation (Yahoo Life UK, 6-min read) Eight foods that have the additive glycerol in, as experts warn against slushies (Yahoo Life UK, 4-min read)
Daily Mail
18 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Sadiq Khan goes to war with Keir Starmer over foreign student clampdown with London mayor telling PM UK should keep universities 'open'
Sadiq Khan today hit out at Keir Starmer 's plan to cut the number of foreign students coming to Britain in his latest clash with the Labour leadership. The London mayor used a visit to Ghana to say UK universities should remain 'open' to overseas students, after a new immigration clampdown was announced in May. It will see the amount of time post-graduate students can spend in the UK after completing their course cut from two years to 18 months. A new levy on income that universities generate from international students could also be introduced. It follows changes introduced by the former Conservative government in January 2024 that banned almost all international students from bringing dependents like spouses and children with them. In a written article for the radio station LBC's website, Sir Sadiq said the levy risked 'putting off young people from coming to cities like London and piling yet another burden on our strained higher education sector'. 'Closing our country to global talent would be a pointless act of immense economic self-harm, slowing down growth and leaving working people in every part of the UK worse off,' he said. 'Instead, we must make the argument for openness, confident in the immense contribution that international students make to our prosperity.' It is Sir Sadiq's latest attempt to distance himself from the Labour government, having also supported recent demands from backbench MPs to water down benefit cuts. He also criticised the PM for using the phrase 'island of strangers' in an immigration speech earlier this year. The difference between the number of people moving to the UK and leaving the country is estimated to have halved, in the biggest fall in net migration since the pandemic. The figure stood at an estimated 431,000 in the year ending December 2024, down 49.9 per cent from 860,000 a year earlier, the Office for National Statistics said. This is the biggest calendar-year drop since the early stages of the pandemic when net migration fell from 184,000 in the year ending December 2019 to 93,000 in the year ending December 2020. The latest decrease is the largest numerical drop on record and the ONS said the decline has been driven by falling numbers of people coming to work and study in the UK. Long-term immigration fell below one million for the first time in around three years. But Sir Sadiq said: 'Whilst we can and must make the economic argument for keeping our country open to global talent, I don't think it quite captures all that is at stake in this debate. The students who come to London don't just bring billions for our economy. They come with something that cannot be measured in currency alone: new ideas, different cultures and diverse perspectives. When they return, they bring a bit of Britain back with them, too. In an increasingly divided world, there is strength to be found in this kind of collaboration, not least with a continent home to the youngest and fastest-growing population on Earth.
