New Mayor Sadiq Khan Bodes Well For London's Global Financial Status

Capital choice. Stefan Rousseau / PA Wire

By Nafis Alam, University of Nottingham

Promoting economic development and “wealth creation” is one of the London mayor’s three main functions – alongside taking care of the city’s social and environmental development. The fact that London regularly tops major rankings of global financial centres is a key pillar of the city’s wealth. It’s a reason why international companies establish headquarters in London, providing jobs and wealth to the UK capital. And the election of Sadiq Khan as mayor bodes well for maintaining London’s status as a global financial centre.

Khan’s manifesto gave some insights into his plans for London’s economic development. He emphasised infrastructure as his main priority – the need to work closely with Westminster to secure big projects and improve the transport networks that will be key for London’s expansion and economic growth.

#CelebratingArabWomen: The First Arab Women Empowerment Campaign

#CelebratingArabWomen: The First Arab Women Empowerment Campaign (PRNewsFoto/HALA AJAM)

Celebrity makeup artist Hala Ajam sends a message to Arab women with latest work

"Only yesterday, women were being told what to do and who to be. Today, here we are celebrating women's independence and individuality," says Hala Ajam about her latest campaign titled #CelebratingArabWomen 

The campaign features over twenty different Arab women from different social classes, occupations, religions, and walks of life, who all share a strong independence and freedom. The campaign aims to shed light on the diversity and solid individuality of Arab women.

Fact Check: Will UK Living Wage Cause Rampant EU Migration?

Stampede imminent? Lukasz Stefanski

By Ross Brown, University of St Andrews

The living wage is an excellent policy, but how will you stop it being a big pull factor for uncontrolled EU migration, given that it is far higher than minimum wages in other EU countries?

Boris Johnson speech from May 9

George Osborne’s living wage announcement in July of last year substantially increased the national minimum wage from £6.70/hour for over-25s then to £7.20/hour since April, with a target of £9.00/hour by 2020.

Minimum wages are now in operation in 26 out of the 34 OECD countries, and 22 out of 28 EU member states. Germany only joined the list in January 2015 with a minimum wage of €8.50 (£6.69), while some of the EU members without one – that’s Austria, Cyprus, Italy, Sweden, Finland and Denmark – have sector level collective agreements and wage floors.

'My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2' Will Be Available On Blue-Ray & DVD On June 21!

“The love and laughs are all back!” WGN AMERICA

The lovable and funny Portokalos family is back and as uncontrollable as ever in
My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2, the long-awaited follow-up to the highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time, coming to Digital HD on June 7, 2016, and Blu-ray, DVD and On Demand on June 21, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. 

Written by Academy Award nominee Nia Vardalos (My Big Fat Greek Wedding, My Life in Ruins), My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 reunites the entire beloved clan as they celebrate the biggest, Greekest wedding yet in a film that FOX-TV calls, “Hilarious and heartwarming…A big fat great time!” 

My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital HD also features a hysterical gag reel and never-before-seen bonus features including a sit down with the stars to hear what really happened behind the scenes.

Let's Shut Down The Yulin Dog Meat Festival!

Image via Avaaz

Dogs are beaten or bled to death, then eaten at the Yulin dog meat festival. Thousands of Chinese citizens have protested the festival, but authorities won't act until they see how badly it's hurting China's global image. That's where we come in. 

>> Click here to add your name to the petition to stop this puppy slaughter, then tell everyone <<

Britain Should Stop Trying To Pretend That Its Empire Was Benevolent

The defence of Rorke’s Drift. Alphonse-Marie-Adolphe de Neuville

By Alan Lester, University of Sussex

The recent debacle of David Cameron’s filmed condemnation of Nigerian and Afghan corruption and the Queen’s remark on Chinese officials’ rudeness highlights the persistence of imperial thinking in Britain. There seems to be a continuing assumption within the British establishment that it sets an example for others to follow and that the British are owed deference by others.

Sound The Alarm - Brad Goreski And Melissa Rivers Are Policing For A Good Cause

"QVC Presents Super Saturday LIVE" PSA (PRNewsFoto/QVC, Inc.)

Hosts of the E! hit show Fashion Police to appear in public service announcements for "QVC Presents Super Saturday LIVE" benefitting the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance

Both Brad Goreski and Melissa Rivers know a thing or two about fashion, but this June the duo will strive to prove that teal is the new black and fighting cancer is just one stylish step away. The dynamic pair will appear in both the print and television public service announcements promoting "QVC Presents Super Saturday LIVE" to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund Alliance (OCRFA).

Brexiters Need To Stop Scaremongering About Turkey Joining The EU

Esin, CC BY-NC-SA

By David Phinnemore, Queen's University Belfast and Erhan İçener, Bursa Orhangazi University

The anti-immigration rhetoric of the Leave campaign in the Brexit debate has brought to the fore the question of further enlargement of the European Union.

#Brexit: Does Britain Get Its Way At The European Top Table?

By Sara Hagemann, London School of Economics and Political Science

The UK has never been on the winning side when we have challenged the commission in a vote in the council.

Chris Grayling, leader of the House of Commons and Vote Leave campaigner, in a speech on March 10.

Chris Grayling says that our country is never on the winning side whenever there’s a vote at the Council of Ministers when the facts show that we get our way on the vast majority of occasions.

Alan Johnson, former home secretary and leader of Labour In for Britain, the Labour party’s remain campaign, in a speech to the USDAW Annual Delegate Conference, Blackpool on April 26.

The UK is currently the country which most often votes “no” in the EU’s Council of Ministers. But it is wrong to suggest that the UK doesn’t generally “win” in the EU Council; recorded opposition in the council is very rare in the first place, and in most cases governments are able to find compromise solutions. This means that all governments – including the UK – are able to support the vast majority of legislation that comes through the council.

Sadiq Khan: British Dream Now A Reality For London's First Muslim Mayor

Stefan Rousseau/PA Images

By Parveen Akhtar, University of Bradford

In Pakistan, the chances that the son of a bus or rickshaw driver could secure a high-ranking political position in the country’s capital city are minuscule. But now, the people of London have elected Sadiq Khan – the son of an immigrant Pakistani bus driver – to be their first Muslim mayor.

London's New Mayor Needs To Lobby For More Powers – Or Risk Being Left Behind

from www.shutterstock.com

By Andrew Blick, King's College London

The people of Greater London have placed their votes in the 2016 mayoral elections, and now await the results.

Whoever has won will gain command of a budget worth £17 billion to be spent mainly on fire services, transport and policing. They will also take on responsibilities for culture and the environment, addressing health inequalities, urban regeneration and development. The new mayor also has a duty to issue strategy documents covering each of these fields, as well as performing the function of London’s police commissioner.

Trump-Spoofing Card Game Is A Big Deal

TrumpIt! The "Art of the Dealer" game combines strategy and satire. Game package includes custom deck with orange Hearts and Diamonds, tokens, rules, and collectible metal box. (PRNewsFoto/ROSUSANA, LLC)

TrumpIt! puts a playful spin on political gamesmanship and turns the (card) tables on the presidential election

The wild 2016 presidential campaign has inspired a new card game that captures the colorful personality of the haystack-haired GOP nominee