Britain

The BBC reports: The UK will leave the EU at 23:00 GMT, ending 47 years of membership. In a video message to be released an hour earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson will call Brexit – which follows more than three years of political wrangling – a “new dawn”. A series of events including marches, celebrations and candlelit vigils will be …

The Scotsman reports: A controversial US preacher has threatened legal action against the 14,000-capacity SSE Hydro after a prayer meeting was cancelled due to homophobia and hate speech concerns. Franklin Graham was due to come to Glasgow in May as part of an eight day tour of the UK. Graham said he would still be coming to Glasgow, and urged …

A Brexit battle has unfolded on Britain’s pop charts: Comedian Dominic Frisby is in a singles chart race as the UK prepares to leave the European Union. On the eve of the UK’s multiple-times-delayed exit from the bloc, he is currently sitting at both number 2 and number 3 in download singles charts with different versions of the same song, …

The European Review reports: A new survey has found that 87 percent of pharmacists are concerned about the supply of medicines to the UK after Brexit on 31 January. Conducted by Medicspot and supported by the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), the findings show that 84 percent of pharmacists believe that their pharmacy will be impacted by the UK’s departure from …

The Guardian reports: Britain’s departure from the EU on 31 January was set in stone in a historic moment for the nation as MEPs in Brussels ratified the withdrawal agreement before breaking out in a rendition of Auld Lang Syne. As the president of the European parliament, David Sassoli, announced the result of the vote, with 621 in favour to …

The BBC reports: A commemorative 50p coin marking the UK’s departure from the EU has been unveiled by Chancellor Sajid Javid. The coins bear the inscription “Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations” and the date of 31 January. Mr Javid had first ordered production of the coins in advance of the UK’s original 31 October departure date. But the …

The Guardian reports: Boris Johnson “reiterated the need” for the suspect charged with causing the death of Harry Dunn to return to the UK during a phone call with Donald Trump, a Downing Street spokeswoman said. Dunn, 19, died after a crash outside a US military base in Croughton, Northamptonshire, on 27 August 2019. Anne Sacoolas, 42, was charged with …

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 …