Latest news with #V&AMuseum
Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Prime Minister says UK will ‘work ever more closely' with Germany
Sir Keir Starmer has hailed the 'closeness' of the UK and Germany, as the two nations signed a treaty that is set to free up school exchange visits and passport e-gates. The Prime Minister and German chancellor Friedrich Merz signed the deal – to be known as the Kensington Treaty – at the V&A Museum on London, as Sir Keir said they will look to 'work ever more closely' on issues such as trade, security and defence. The leaders agreed to 'reinforce Euro-Atlantic security' and support their defence forces, in an agreement was also signed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul. Speaking at the ceremony, the Prime Minister told Mr Merz: 'It's a privilege to have you here today, particularly to sign this Kensington Treaty, which is a very special treaty, because it's the first of its kind ever, if you can believe it, between our two countries.' Sir Keir described it as 'evidence of the closeness of our relationship as it stands today' as well as a 'statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together'. The document details the UK and German agreement to 'reinforce Euro-Atlantic security and ensure effective deterrence against potential aggressors' through their defence forces, as well as looking to improving defence cooperation in the future. It also reaffirms support for Nato and Nato allies. As part of Thursday's deal, Berlin has agreed to allow some arriving UK passengers to use passport e-gates. The move will initially be available for frequent travellers and is due to be in place by the end of August. The treaty also includes the UK and Germany agreeing to establish a taskforce aimed at paving the way for direct train services between the countries. It is hoped services could begin within the next decade. The treaty also says that the two nations 'value bilateral school and youth exchanges' and will help make them work. Elsewhere in the treaty it says that the UK and Germany will: – Cooperate in the joint fight against organised cross-border crime' in an effort to end migrant smuggling. – Work towards more bilateral work on defence – Pursue 'deep exchanges' on security issues such as arms policy, and chemical biological radiological and nuclear threats as well as counter-terror and space security The treaty comes as part of a wider visit by Mr Merz as Downing Street looks to boost ties on defence and tackling people smuggling, after Germany committed last year to make facilitating the smuggling of migrants to the UK a criminal offence Mr Merz is expected to commit to adopting the law change by the end of the year. Downing Street has described the move as a 'significant step'. Asked if Sir Keir was frustrated by the slow pace of change in Germany, the Prime Minister's official spokesman said that people smuggling is 'an international issue that requires international solutions'. 'And over the last year, you've seen the Prime Minister working tirelessly to reset relationships across Europe, and you've seen a number of examples of the progress of that, not least with the French last week,' he added. 'This is a significant step that will give law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to address this scandal of small boats which are destined to cross the Channel being stored and concealed in Germany.' After the signing ceremony, the two leaders then travelled to Downing Street for a further meeting. Mr Merz said he had been 'surprised' to learn that the agreement was the first UK-Germany treaty since the Second World War. 'We had you in the European Union and we thought that was enough,' he said. 'But we are now learning that it's not enough so we have to do more on that.'
DW
6 days ago
- Business
- DW
Germany and UK sign historic post-Brexit friendship treaty – DW – 07/17/2025
The UK and Germany have agreed a friendship treaty aimed at resetting the countries' post-Brexit relations. The treaty comes nearly a decade after Britain's vote to leave the European Union. Germany and Britain on Thursday signed a landmark friendship treaty, 80 years after the end of World War II. Chancellor Friedrich Merz and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sealed the agreement — largely negotiated by the previous German government — during a meeting in London on Thursday. The accord — dubbed the "Kensington Treaty" — includes plans for close security and defense cooperation, a mutual assistance clause in crises, and visa simplifications for school exchanges. On defense, the two sides vowed to "pursue joint export campaigns" to secure international orders for equipment they co-produce, including the Typhoon Eurofighter jet and the Boxer armored vehicle. The agreement also includes plans to boost connectivity by establishing a new direct rail connection, aiming to deepen economic and people-to-people ties. Critically for the UK, it also features a pledge by Germany to assist in combating illegal immigration. The agreement was signed at London's V&A Museum, which is named after Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert. "This is a historic day for German-British relations," Merz said after the signing. "We want to work more closely — especially after the UK's departure from the European Union." He called the treaty long overdue and said cooperation would deepen across defense, foreign policy, and economic and domestic affairs. Merz has repeatedly emphasized the need to keep Britain close to the EU following its 2020 exit. Growing concern over Russian threats and doubts about the reliability of the US under President Donald Trump have added urgency to strengthening ties. Starmer praised the pact as "the first of its kind," saying it was evidence of "the closeness of our relationship as it stands today." He said the agreement was a "statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together." The British premier had also hosted French President Emmanuel Macron the week before to agree on closer Franco-British cooperation. The three nations have been deepening ties through the E3 format — a diplomatic coordination mechanism between France, Germany, and the UK in recent months and traveled together to Kyiv in Merz's first week as chancellor. The two countries already signed a defense deal in October, the "Trinity House Agreement" to strengthen their ability to cooperate and conduct exercises on NATO's eastern flank. In May, they also agreed on the joint development of precision weapons with a range of more than 2,000 kilometers (about 1,200 miles), which other European countries can also take part in.
South Wales Guardian
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Nile Rodgers to guest-curate display at new David Bowie Centre
London's V&A Museum, which is behind the new David Bowie Centre, said Rodgers has also selected a bespoke Peter Hall suit worn by Bowie during the Serious Moonlight tour for the Let's Dance album. Photographs of Bowie, Rodgers and guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan recording Let's Dance in New York will also feature. The David Bowie Centre will open within the museum's new East Storehouse in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in Stratford, east London, on September 13, where it will host items including costumes worn during the singer's Ziggy Stardust period. Rodgers said: 'My creative life with David Bowie provided the greatest success of his incredible career, but our friendship was just as rewarding. 'Our bond was built on a love of the music that had both made and saved our lives.' Rodgers produced Bowie's single Let's Dance and the 1983 album of the same name, as well as his 1993 album Black Tie White Noise, with the personal correspondence in the exhibition relating to the latter. Brit Award-winning indie rock band The Last Dinner Party have also curated part of the exhibition, describing Bowie as a 'constant source of inspiration to us'. Their items include Bowie's elaborate handwritten lyrics for his song Win, and notes and set lists for his 1976 Isolar tour. The band said: 'David Bowie continues to inspire generations of artists like us to stand up for ourselves. 'It was such a thrill to explore Bowie's archive, and see first hand the process that went into his world-building and how he created a sense of community and belonging for those that felt like outcasts or alienated – something that's really important to us in our work too.' Access to the David Bowie Centre will be free, with tickets released nearer its opening. The David Bowie archive, which boasts more than 90,000 items, was acquired by the V&A with the help of the David Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group. The centre will be spread across three zones, which will include curated displays, audio visual installations and quieter study areas, allowing visitors to view the Bowie archive on their own, from musical instruments to stage models. Small displays will tell the stories behind the singer's albums and also look at his multi-dimensional creative approach, including unrealised projects, collaborations and influences. The East Storehouse opened at the end of May, and features the Order An Object initiative, allowing visitors to pre-book to see an item from its entire collection. The V&A will also open the V&A East Museum in spring 2026, in an area named East Bank. Its main museum is in South Kensington, west London, and it also runs the Young V&A in Bethnal Green, east London.
RTÉ News
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Nile Rodgers guest-curates at new David Bowie Centre in London
Chic star Nile Rodgers has guest-curated a display for the new David Bowie Centre, including personal correspondence between the two singers. London's V&A Museum, which is behind the new David Bowie Centre, said Rodgers has also selected a bespoke Peter Hall suit worn by Bowie during the Serious Moonlight Tour for the Let's Dance album. Photographs of Bowie, Rodgers, and guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan recording Let's Dance in New York will also feature. The David Bowie Centre will open within the museum's new East Storehouse in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in Stratford, east London, on 13 September, where it will host items including costumes worn during the singer's Ziggy Stardust period. Rodgers said: "My creative life with David Bowie provided the greatest success of his incredible career, but our friendship was just as rewarding. "Our bond was built on a love of the music that had both made and saved our lives." Rodgers produced Bowie's single Let's Dance and the 1983 album of the same name. He also produced Bowie's 1993 album Black Tie White Noise, and the personal correspondence in the exhibition relates to the latter. Brit Award-winning indie rock band The Last Dinner Party have also curated part of the exhibition, describing Bowie as a "constant source of inspiration to us". Their items include Bowie's elaborate handwritten lyrics for his song Win and notes and set lists for his 1976 Isolar tour. The band said: "David Bowie continues to inspire generations of artists like us to stand up for ourselves. "It was such a thrill to explore Bowie's archive and see first-hand the process that went into his world-building and how he created a sense of community and belonging for those that felt like outcasts or alienated - something that's really important to us in our work too." Access to the David Bowie Centre will be free, with tickets released nearer its opening. The David Bowie Archive, which boasts more than 90,000 items, was acquired by the V&A with the help of the David Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation, and Warner Music Group. The centre will be spread across three zones, which will include curated displays, audiovisual installations, and quieter study areas, allowing visitors to view the Bowie archive on their own, from musical instruments to stage models. Small displays will tell the stories behind the singer's albums and also look at his multi-dimensional creative approach, including unrealised projects, collaborations, and influences. The East Storehouse opened at the end of May and features the Order An Object initiative, allowing visitors to pre-book to see an item from its entire collection.
Leader Live
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leader Live
Nile Rodgers to guest-curate display at new David Bowie Centre
London's V&A Museum, which is behind the new David Bowie Centre, said Rodgers has also selected a bespoke Peter Hall suit worn by Bowie during the Serious Moonlight tour for the Let's Dance album. Photographs of Bowie, Rodgers and guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan recording Let's Dance in New York will also feature. The David Bowie Centre will open within the museum's new East Storehouse in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, in Stratford, east London, on September 13, where it will host items including costumes worn during the singer's Ziggy Stardust period. Rodgers said: 'My creative life with David Bowie provided the greatest success of his incredible career, but our friendship was just as rewarding. 'Our bond was built on a love of the music that had both made and saved our lives.' Rodgers produced Bowie's single Let's Dance and the 1983 album of the same name, as well as his 1993 album Black Tie White Noise, with the personal correspondence in the exhibition relating to the latter. Brit Award-winning indie rock band The Last Dinner Party have also curated part of the exhibition, describing Bowie as a 'constant source of inspiration to us'. Their items include Bowie's elaborate handwritten lyrics for his song Win, and notes and set lists for his 1976 Isolar tour. The band said: 'David Bowie continues to inspire generations of artists like us to stand up for ourselves. 'It was such a thrill to explore Bowie's archive, and see first hand the process that went into his world-building and how he created a sense of community and belonging for those that felt like outcasts or alienated – something that's really important to us in our work too.' Access to the David Bowie Centre will be free, with tickets released nearer its opening. The David Bowie archive, which boasts more than 90,000 items, was acquired by the V&A with the help of the David Bowie Estate, the Blavatnik Family Foundation and Warner Music Group. The centre will be spread across three zones, which will include curated displays, audio visual installations and quieter study areas, allowing visitors to view the Bowie archive on their own, from musical instruments to stage models. Small displays will tell the stories behind the singer's albums and also look at his multi-dimensional creative approach, including unrealised projects, collaborations and influences. The East Storehouse opened at the end of May, and features the Order An Object initiative, allowing visitors to pre-book to see an item from its entire collection. The V&A will also open the V&A East Museum in spring 2026, in an area named East Bank. Its main museum is in South Kensington, west London, and it also runs the Young V&A in Bethnal Green, east London.
