Britain

The Irish Times reports: Companies in the North are continuing to stockpile as the UK’s official departure date from the EU on January 31st approaches and a significant percentage of companies view the “Boris Brexit deal” as “detrimental to business”, a new survey shows. The Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, which has a 1,200-strong membership that employs 100,000 people, said …

The Telegraph reports: Boris Johnson has been in communication with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince over WhatsApp, multiple former UK government figures have told The Telegraph, raising major security concerns in light of the Jeff Bezos hack. One source said they were “99 per cent sure” Mr Johnson sent messages over the platform to Mohammed bin Salman while others noted he …

The Guardian reports: Terry Jones, founder member of Monty Python and director of three of Python’s celebrated feature films, has died aged 77, his agent said. In 2016, Jones and his family revealed he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia a year earlier, and he became a public face of the illness – appearing at a Bafta Cymru awards ceremony …

Reuters reports: Britain’s Royal Mint has issued its first commemorative coin featuring a British rock group, in a tribute to the late Freddie Mercury and the three other band members of Queen. “This is a ‘who would’ve thought it’ moment. Here we have a coin of the realm, a five-pound coin in fact, made by The Royal Mint, in the …

Politico Europe reports: Boris Johnson has unveiled plans to mark January 31 with a light show, a countdown and a special address. No. 10 will mark the U.K.’s exit at 11 p.m. with a light display in Westminster, which will include a countdown clock projected onto the black bricks of Downing Street. Other buildings on Whitehall will also be lit …

NBC News reports: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will no longer use “royal highness” titles and won’t receive public money for their public duties, Buckingham Palace said Saturday. The announcement comes after the couple announced plans to “step back” from their roles as senior members of the British royal family and live a more independent life. “Harry, Meghan and Archie …

Reuters reports: The United States on Friday rejected a formal request from Britain for the extradition of a U.S. diplomat’s wife who left the country last year after a road collision that killed 19-year-old Briton Harry Dunn. British prosecutors are seeking the extradition of Anne Sacoolas over the crash last August in which Dunn was killed while riding his motorbike. …

NPR reports: Britain’s House of Commons has given final approval to the bill authorizing the country’s departure from the European Union, paving the way for Brexit at the end of the month. Lawmakers voted 330-231 on Thursday to pass the EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill. It will become law once it is approved by Parliament’s upper chamber, the House of Lords, …

The Washington Post reports: In his first big foreign policy test since his landslide election victory, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Monday that Britain will not support President Trump’s threat to target cultural sites in Iran. Johnson is trying to perform a balancing act. He is under pressure to support Trump and the United States, Britain’s closest ally. He very …

Politico Europe reports: Britain ordered Royal Navy warships to accompany U.K.-flagged commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz following the U.S. killing of Iran’s top military leader, Qasem Soleimani. U.K. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace [photo] tweeted the announcement on Saturday night, saying “the government will take all necessary steps to protect our ships and citizens at this time.” Speaking to …

Politico Europe reports: Boris Johnson called on Britons to put aside their differences and “turn the page” in his 2020 New Year’s message. The U.K. prime minister said it was time to end the “division, rancor and uncertainty,” in an acknowledgment of the public divide over Brexit. “Let’s make this the moment when we put the divisions behind us,” he …

The Associated Press reports: Queen Elizabeth II plans to acknowledge that both Britain and her family have endured a difficult year by saying during her Christmas message that it has been a “bumpy” time. The pre-recorded message will be broadcast in Britain and the Commonwealth nations on Christmas Day. She is thought to be referring both to Britain’s tortuous path …

Reuters reports: President Donald Trump has invited British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to visit him in the White House in the new year, British media reported on Sunday. Trump’s invitation was made after the British prime minister’s election win this month, The Sunday Times newspaper reported. Britain wants to strike a new trade deal with the United States after it …

The Guardian reports: The wife of a US intelligence officer has been charged with causing the death by dangerous driving of the 19-year-old motorcyclist Harry Dunn, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced. Anne Sacoolas was flown out of the UK by the US embassy days after the fatal collision in late August, with the US claiming she was covered by …

The Independent reports: MPs have approved the government’s EU Withdrawal Agreement Bill at the second reading stage, with 358 votes in favour, and 234 against. Boris Johnson’s Brexit deal has cleared its first Commons hurdle with a thumping majority of 124, putting the UK on course to leave the EU on 31 January. Boris Johnson has been accused of breaking …

Reuters reports: The British parliament will vote on Boris Johnson’s deal to leave the European Union on Friday, a move the prime minister described as delivering on his promise to “get the Brexit vote wrapped up for Christmas” after his landslide election victory. After suffering several defeats in the previous parliament, Johnson now enjoys a large majority and should face …

The Associated Press reports: Labour politicians have begun jostling to become the next leader of the British opposition party in the wake of its crushing defeat in last week’s national election. Keir Starmer, the party’s spokesman on Brexit issues, and senior lawmaker Yvette Cooper were among those suggesting Wednesday they were considering a run to replace Jeremy Corbyn in the …

Reuters reports: Prime Minister Boris Johnson will welcome 109 new Conservative lawmakers to parliament on Monday, promising to honour his election pledges to get Brexit done as soon as possible and boost funding to the state health service. After winning a commanding majority in last week’s election, Johnson will seek to speed up the approval by parliament of his withdrawal …

The New York Times reports: Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. conjured the prospect of headlines like, “Look what happens when the Labour Party moves so, so far to the left.” Former Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg said that “Jeremy Corbyn’s catastrophic showing in the U.K. is a clear warning.” And Mayor Pete Buttigieg spoke of the need to “build …

Reuters reports: Britain was speeding toward Brexit on Friday after Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a crushing election victory, ending three years of uncertainty since the country decided to leave the bloc. Johnson is now free to lead his country swiftly out of the vast trading bloc, but faces the daunting task of negotiating trade deals around the world, not …