Theresa May has announced a £100m deal for the development of fighter jets for Turkey, following trade talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Speaking after discussions with Mr Erdogan in Ankara, Mrs May said Britain and Turkey will "prepare the ground" for a post-Brexit trade deal by setting up a joint working group.
It came as the UK-based BAE Systems and Turkish Aerospace Industries signed a Heads of Agreement document establishing a £100m partnership for the continued development of the Turkish Fighter Programme.
Mrs May said: "We both want to build on our existing links and I believe that doing so will be to the benefit of both our countries and for the prosperity of both our nations.
"What has underpinned our conversations has been the opportunity for Turkey and the UK to build on our existing relations, to our mutual benefit for the future."
Speaking alongside Mrs May at the presidential palace, Mr Erdogan said relations between Turkey and the UK would "enjoy a very different nature and position".
He added his hope that annual trade between the two countries could be increased from $15.6bn (£12.4bn) to $20bn (£15.9bn).
:: Donald Trump '100% behind NATO' after Theresa May talks
Talks between the pair came before a meeting between Mrs May and Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim.
Ahead of her arrival in Ankara, Mrs May had been under pressure to confront Mr Erdogan over human rights, as his crackdown on dissent following last summer's failed coup has seen thousands of officials jailed and several media outlets closed.
The Turkish President said the pair discussed social issues, while Mrs May also made a brief reference to alleged human rights violations.
She said: "I'm proud that the UK stood with (Mr Erdogan) on July 15 last year in defence of your democracy.
"Now it is important Turkey sustains that democracy by maintaining the rule of law and upholding its international human rights obligations, as the government has undertaken to do."
Before being taken the presidential palace, Mrs May laid a wreath at the mausoleum of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk - the leader of the Turkish War of Independence and founder of the Republic of Turkey.
She signed her name in the visitors' book and left a message which read: "It is a great honour to visit this special place of remembrance to the founding father of modern Turkey.
"Let us together renew our efforts to fulfil Ataturk's vision of peace at home and peace in the world."
Saturday, January 28, 2017
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Threat of losing iconic music venues 'a real tragedy'
Britain's "precious" music scene needs protecting at a grassroots level, according to singer Suggs.
His band Madness sells out arenas nowadays but back when they were starting out they cut their teeth playing gigs in the back room of Camden's Dublin Castle.
"Playing eyeball to eyeball with a crowd is where you really learn how to entertain," the singer says. He's back at the pub to speak about Independent Venue Week.
"There used to be 10 or 12 of these spaces around Camden and now there are two or three left.
"When you hear about all the venues we've lost, I think it's a real tragedy.
"If you think about the amount of pop music this country has produced - and we don't produce much else these days - I think it's something we need to be quite precious about."
:: January - Vinyl sales at 25-year high as David Bowie's Blackstar leads revival
Oasis, Blur, The Libertines - ask pretty much any older British rock group how they learnt to play and they'll tell you stories of sweaty rooms, sticky floors and music so loud your ears would be ringing for days.
In the last decade, however, many small music venues have struggled to stay open.
"We're dealing with a whole range of issues," said Mark Davyd, chief executive of the Music Venues Trust.
His organisation is currently trying to help more than 20 iconic music venues that are under threat.
"All the way across the UK there's problems with licensing, planning, development and local authorities who don't really understand how important a music venue is, both to the town and the community.
"Oasis played 25 of these shows around the UK, nearly all of them lost money when they were breaking through in that tour, they then became the biggest band in the world.
"Do you know what's happened to those venues?
"Only 12 of them are still open - only 12 out of 25. That's not good enough."
For decades The Square in Harlow has been a stomping ground for up-and-coming bands.
Blur played one of their very first gigs at the venue, back when they were calling themselves Seymour. It will shut for good after one final gig on Saturday.
Venue manager Dave Bennett says he has exhausted all options.
"It is very sad.
"For me a piece of Harlow has been given away to a developer and the return on that is minimal."
Houses are going to be built on the site where The Square currently stands. The music venue can't afford to re-open anywhere else.
"It has got to be a balance, you know," Mr Bennett said.
"It can't all be what the figures at the bottom of a balance sheet say, it has to be an investment in your community."
His band Madness sells out arenas nowadays but back when they were starting out they cut their teeth playing gigs in the back room of Camden's Dublin Castle.
"Playing eyeball to eyeball with a crowd is where you really learn how to entertain," the singer says. He's back at the pub to speak about Independent Venue Week.
"There used to be 10 or 12 of these spaces around Camden and now there are two or three left.
"When you hear about all the venues we've lost, I think it's a real tragedy.
"If you think about the amount of pop music this country has produced - and we don't produce much else these days - I think it's something we need to be quite precious about."
:: January - Vinyl sales at 25-year high as David Bowie's Blackstar leads revival
Oasis, Blur, The Libertines - ask pretty much any older British rock group how they learnt to play and they'll tell you stories of sweaty rooms, sticky floors and music so loud your ears would be ringing for days.
In the last decade, however, many small music venues have struggled to stay open.
"We're dealing with a whole range of issues," said Mark Davyd, chief executive of the Music Venues Trust.
His organisation is currently trying to help more than 20 iconic music venues that are under threat.
"All the way across the UK there's problems with licensing, planning, development and local authorities who don't really understand how important a music venue is, both to the town and the community.
"Oasis played 25 of these shows around the UK, nearly all of them lost money when they were breaking through in that tour, they then became the biggest band in the world.
"Do you know what's happened to those venues?
"Only 12 of them are still open - only 12 out of 25. That's not good enough."
For decades The Square in Harlow has been a stomping ground for up-and-coming bands.
Blur played one of their very first gigs at the venue, back when they were calling themselves Seymour. It will shut for good after one final gig on Saturday.
Venue manager Dave Bennett says he has exhausted all options.
"It is very sad.
"For me a piece of Harlow has been given away to a developer and the return on that is minimal."
Houses are going to be built on the site where The Square currently stands. The music venue can't afford to re-open anywhere else.
"It has got to be a balance, you know," Mr Bennett said.
"It can't all be what the figures at the bottom of a balance sheet say, it has to be an investment in your community."
Syrian opposition factions join Ahrar al-Sham
Six armed opposition factions in Syria have announced that they are joining the ranks of Ahrar al-Sham, one of the country's largest rebel groups.
Their decision came after Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, attacked their positions in Idlib and Aleppo provinces. The six factions include Alwiyat Suqour al-Sham, Kataib Thawar al-Sham, Jaish al-Mujahideen and Tajamo Fastaqim Kama Umirat, along with Jaish al-Islam's Idlib branch and al-Jabha al-Shamiya's west Aleppo branch.
Ahrar al-Sham issued a statement on Thursday welcoming the factions and warning that any attack on them would be considered "a declaration of war".
Tensions between Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and armed opposition groups, including the Free Syrian Army (FSA), escalated on Tuesday evening after Jabhat Fateh al-Sham attacked factional headquarters across the two provinces.
INTERACTIVE: What's left of Syria?
A commander of one FSA faction, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Al Jazeera that Jabhat Fateh al-Sham continued to attack the six armed groups, even after the announcement. According to him, sporadic clashes occurred between Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham throughout the day.
He also said that Jabhat Fateh al-Sham had attacked FSA positions in Idlib province and captured a number of its fighters, but cited no casualties in the clashes.
He denied media reports that Jabhat Fateh al-Sham had wiped out a number of FSA factions, but confirmed that the group had captured the headquarters of Jaish al-Mujahideen, Jaish al-Islam and al-Jabha al-Shamiya.
The commander told Al Jazeera that the situation remained tense in Idlib province and that Ahrar al-Sham and a number of senior religious figures were involved in negotiations to restore calm.
Nusra is trying to present it as though the FSA factions want to surrender, to have the Assad regime stay in power and reach a settlement with Russia.
Hamza al-Mustafa, researcher at the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies in Doha
In an earlier statement, Ahrar al-Sham had said that it was sending its forces to prevent Jabhat Fateh al-Sham attacking or committing injustices against other factions.
Ahrar al-Sham was among the seven armed groups that Russia declared as "moderate opposition", which were part of the ceasefire announced on December 30, 2016. However, Ahrar al-Sham opted not to participate in the recent Astana talks, while the FSA, Jaish al-Islam and other armed opposition groups sent a delegation.
"Nusra is trying to present it as though the FSA factions want to surrender, to have the Assad regime stay in power and reach a settlement with Russia. By attacking them, it supposedly is preventing such a settlement from taking place," Hamza al-Mustafa, a researcher at the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies in Doha, told Al Jazeera.
Mustafa said that Jabhat Fateh al-Sham's attacks on the FSA and other armed opposition groups were prompted by the group's desire to prevent a military union between the FSA, Ahrar al-Sham and various other rebel factions. The current standoff has its roots in a long-term rivalry between the two groups, and in the refusal of Ahrar al-Sham to join Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in establishing an Islamic emirate, Mustafa said.
Their decision came after Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al-Nusra, attacked their positions in Idlib and Aleppo provinces. The six factions include Alwiyat Suqour al-Sham, Kataib Thawar al-Sham, Jaish al-Mujahideen and Tajamo Fastaqim Kama Umirat, along with Jaish al-Islam's Idlib branch and al-Jabha al-Shamiya's west Aleppo branch.
Ahrar al-Sham issued a statement on Thursday welcoming the factions and warning that any attack on them would be considered "a declaration of war".
Tensions between Jabhat Fateh al-Sham and armed opposition groups, including the Free Syrian Army (FSA), escalated on Tuesday evening after Jabhat Fateh al-Sham attacked factional headquarters across the two provinces.
INTERACTIVE: What's left of Syria?
A commander of one FSA faction, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Al Jazeera that Jabhat Fateh al-Sham continued to attack the six armed groups, even after the announcement. According to him, sporadic clashes occurred between Ahrar al-Sham and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham throughout the day.
He also said that Jabhat Fateh al-Sham had attacked FSA positions in Idlib province and captured a number of its fighters, but cited no casualties in the clashes.
He denied media reports that Jabhat Fateh al-Sham had wiped out a number of FSA factions, but confirmed that the group had captured the headquarters of Jaish al-Mujahideen, Jaish al-Islam and al-Jabha al-Shamiya.
The commander told Al Jazeera that the situation remained tense in Idlib province and that Ahrar al-Sham and a number of senior religious figures were involved in negotiations to restore calm.
Nusra is trying to present it as though the FSA factions want to surrender, to have the Assad regime stay in power and reach a settlement with Russia.
Hamza al-Mustafa, researcher at the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies in Doha
In an earlier statement, Ahrar al-Sham had said that it was sending its forces to prevent Jabhat Fateh al-Sham attacking or committing injustices against other factions.
Ahrar al-Sham was among the seven armed groups that Russia declared as "moderate opposition", which were part of the ceasefire announced on December 30, 2016. However, Ahrar al-Sham opted not to participate in the recent Astana talks, while the FSA, Jaish al-Islam and other armed opposition groups sent a delegation.
"Nusra is trying to present it as though the FSA factions want to surrender, to have the Assad regime stay in power and reach a settlement with Russia. By attacking them, it supposedly is preventing such a settlement from taking place," Hamza al-Mustafa, a researcher at the Arab Centre for Research and Policy Studies in Doha, told Al Jazeera.
Mustafa said that Jabhat Fateh al-Sham's attacks on the FSA and other armed opposition groups were prompted by the group's desire to prevent a military union between the FSA, Ahrar al-Sham and various other rebel factions. The current standoff has its roots in a long-term rivalry between the two groups, and in the refusal of Ahrar al-Sham to join Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in establishing an Islamic emirate, Mustafa said.
High Court blocks Nigeria oil spill case against Shell
A British court has blocked pollution claims against Anglo-Dutch energy giant Shell by many residents of Nigeria's Niger Delta region demanding action over decades of oil spills there.
Members of the Ogale and Bille communities, who say thousands of lives have been devastated by environmental disasters from the global company, had applied for the case to be heard in Britain, arguing that rampant corruption in their home country prevents them from achieving justice in courts there.
But the High Court in London on Thursday said that it did not have jurisdiction in the case, ruling that it should be settled in Nigeria.
"Our community is disappointed but not discouraged by this judgement," King Emere Godwin Bebe Okpabi, ruler of the Ogale Community, said in a statement.
"This decision has to be appealed, not just for Ogale but for many other people in the Niger Delta who will be shut out if this decision is allowed to stand.
"Shell is simply being asked to clean up its oil and to compensate the communities it has devastated," he said.
The company's lawyer, Peter Goldsmith, told judge Peter Fraser during a hearing in November that the cases concerned "fundamentally Nigerian issues", and should not be heard in London.
Members of the Ogale and Bille communities, who say thousands of lives have been devastated by environmental disasters from the global company, had applied for the case to be heard in Britain, arguing that rampant corruption in their home country prevents them from achieving justice in courts there.
But the High Court in London on Thursday said that it did not have jurisdiction in the case, ruling that it should be settled in Nigeria.
"Our community is disappointed but not discouraged by this judgement," King Emere Godwin Bebe Okpabi, ruler of the Ogale Community, said in a statement.
"This decision has to be appealed, not just for Ogale but for many other people in the Niger Delta who will be shut out if this decision is allowed to stand.
"Shell is simply being asked to clean up its oil and to compensate the communities it has devastated," he said.
The company's lawyer, Peter Goldsmith, told judge Peter Fraser during a hearing in November that the cases concerned "fundamentally Nigerian issues", and should not be heard in London.
President Adama Barrow arrives in The Gambia, at last
Jubilant Gambians have welcomed home President Adama Barrow, who was elected almost two months ago but forced to flee to Senegal when his predecessor refused to step aside.
Dressed in flowing white robes and a cap, Barrow stepped off the plane on Thursday, with heavily-armed troops from Senegal and Nigeria standing by as he flew in from neighbouring Senegal, where he had taken shelter on January 15.
Barrow, who was accompanied by his two wives and some of his children, was welcomed by military officials and senior members of his coalition government.
His return marks The Gambia's first democratic transfer of power and capped days of waiting in the tiny former British colony after longtime leader Yahya Jammeh had refused to leave after losing a December 1 vote.
PROFILE: Adama Barrow, The Gambia's new president
Dressed in flowing white robes and a cap, Barrow stepped off the plane on Thursday, with heavily-armed troops from Senegal and Nigeria standing by as he flew in from neighbouring Senegal, where he had taken shelter on January 15.
Barrow, who was accompanied by his two wives and some of his children, was welcomed by military officials and senior members of his coalition government.
His return marks The Gambia's first democratic transfer of power and capped days of waiting in the tiny former British colony after longtime leader Yahya Jammeh had refused to leave after losing a December 1 vote.
PROFILE: Adama Barrow, The Gambia's new president
Barrow took the oath of office at his country's embassy in Dakar a week ago and a multinational African force then entered The Gambia to ensure his safe return home and Jammeh's departure.
Hundreds gathered at the airport awaiting Barrow's arrival, with drummers and dancers firing up the crowds as Nigerian and Senegalese soldiers looked on.
Hundreds gathered at the airport awaiting Barrow's arrival, with drummers and dancers firing up the crowds as Nigerian and Senegalese soldiers looked on.
British-made films dominate UK box office in 2016
British-made films dominated the UK box office in 2016, taking the three top spots for highest-grossing movies.
Figures published by the British Film Institute show Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Bridget Jones' Baby were the three most successful films of last year.
The Star Wars spin-off topped the bill with £64m, while the Harry Potter prequel and Bridget Jones sequel took £54m and £48m respectively.
Together, the three blockbusters - all shot at Pinewood Studios in London - generated 27.5% of the overall market share in the UK.
In total, £1.2 billion was spent at the box office, making 2016 the second most profitable year on record for UK cinemas.
"These record-breaking production statistics demonstrate that the UK's world-leading film sector continues to thrive and that Britain remains open for business," said the Minister for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock.
"With inward investment levels for film and television at new highs, we will continue to build on this tremendous success."
It was also a good year for British-made independent films, with Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Eddie The Eagle and Dad's Army giving home-grown independent releases a 7.4% share of the box office.
Amanda Nevill of the BFI said the figures show Britain's position as "a global leader for film and TV production is stronger than ever".
She added: "Nevertheless, there is much to be done to ensure British independent films are able to better capitalise on opportunities in this economically and creatively buoyant environment."
Figures published by the British Film Institute show Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Bridget Jones' Baby were the three most successful films of last year.
The Star Wars spin-off topped the bill with £64m, while the Harry Potter prequel and Bridget Jones sequel took £54m and £48m respectively.
Together, the three blockbusters - all shot at Pinewood Studios in London - generated 27.5% of the overall market share in the UK.
In total, £1.2 billion was spent at the box office, making 2016 the second most profitable year on record for UK cinemas.
"These record-breaking production statistics demonstrate that the UK's world-leading film sector continues to thrive and that Britain remains open for business," said the Minister for Digital and Culture Matt Hancock.
"With inward investment levels for film and television at new highs, we will continue to build on this tremendous success."
It was also a good year for British-made independent films, with Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie, Eddie The Eagle and Dad's Army giving home-grown independent releases a 7.4% share of the box office.
Amanda Nevill of the BFI said the figures show Britain's position as "a global leader for film and TV production is stronger than ever".
She added: "Nevertheless, there is much to be done to ensure British independent films are able to better capitalise on opportunities in this economically and creatively buoyant environment."
Wall row: Trump says US and Mexico mutually agreed to scrap talks
Donald Trump has suggested he and Mexico's president both agreed to cancel next week's meeting amid a deepening row over US plans for a border wall.
The American leader suggested the scheduled talks in Washington DC on Tuesday would have been "fruitless" as Enrique Pena Nieto is still refusing to pay for the controversial barrier.
Mr Trump has said US taxpayers will initially fund the wall, while insisting its southern neighbour will eventually "100%" foot the bill as he accused Mexico of not treating America "fairly" and "with respect".
The Republican billionaire wants to pay for the barrier with a border tax that would be part of a tax reform package, according to the White House.
The war of words saw Mr Pena Nieto saying he would scrap the meeting after Mr Trump himself earlier threatened to cancel the talks.
:: Executive powers: What Trump can and can't do
The US President, who flew to Philadelphia to meet leading Republicans at a party retreat, tweeted: "The U.S. has a 60 billion dollar trade deficit with Mexico. It has been a one-sided deal from the beginning of NAFTA with massive numbers...
"... of jobs and companies lost. If Mexico is unwilling to pay for the badly needed wall, then it would be better to cancel the upcoming meeting."
The American leader suggested the scheduled talks in Washington DC on Tuesday would have been "fruitless" as Enrique Pena Nieto is still refusing to pay for the controversial barrier.
Mr Trump has said US taxpayers will initially fund the wall, while insisting its southern neighbour will eventually "100%" foot the bill as he accused Mexico of not treating America "fairly" and "with respect".
The Republican billionaire wants to pay for the barrier with a border tax that would be part of a tax reform package, according to the White House.
The war of words saw Mr Pena Nieto saying he would scrap the meeting after Mr Trump himself earlier threatened to cancel the talks.
:: Executive powers: What Trump can and can't do
The US President, who flew to Philadelphia to meet leading Republicans at a party retreat, tweeted: "The U.S. has a 60 billion dollar trade deficit with Mexico. It has been a one-sided deal from the beginning of NAFTA with massive numbers...
"... of jobs and companies lost. If Mexico is unwilling to pay for the badly needed wall, then it would be better to cancel the upcoming meeting."
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