London, United Kingdom | AFP | Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised a “new era of friendly cooperation” with the European Union on Friday as Britain prepared to leave the bloc after almost five decades. In a public address broadcast one hour before Brexit, Johnson acknowledged there may be “bumps …
Read More »Spain’s ‘Little Britain’ braces for Brexit
Orihuela, Spain | AFP | On the sun-drenched eastern coast of Spain, British retirees, workers and small business owners are braced for an uncertain future after Britain leaves the European Union on Friday. “It is worrying what happens now,” said Karen Watling, 73, who moved to the Orihuela Costa in Alicante …
Read More »For some, Brexit means nailing your colours to a new flagpole
Madrid, Spain | AFP | For years, he criss-crossed the globe almost weekly, travelling on a British passport without a second thought, raising funds for international non-profit organisations and working for the likes of Elton John and Nelson Mandela. But when Britain voted to leave the European Union, something changed inside …
Read More »EU’s Barnier warns of inevitable Brexit ‘damage’
Belfast, United Kingdom | AFP | The European Union’s chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Monday warned Britain that its departure from the bloc later this week would have “negative consequences” and only ever be an exercise in “damage limitation”. In a speech at Queen’s University Belfast, the Brussels diplomat charged …
Read More »Carney swansong may see Bank of England cut rate
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Bank of England governor Mark Carney steers his final interest-rate meeting this week that could end with a cut on the eve of Brexit to boost Britain’s stalled economy. The BoE announces its rate decision on Thursday after a meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee …
Read More »Brexit’s new chapter: the ‘impossible’ trade deal
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | With just days to go before Brexit, European diplomats are already hard at work for the next phase: negotiations to hammer out a future with Britain after its EU divorce. In the words of EU negotiator Michel Barnier, during the next phase of Brexit, Brussels and …
Read More »Britain’s years-long battle over Brexit
London, United Kingdom | AFP | The curtain comes down on Britain’s membership of the European Union on January 31 after more than three and a half years of disagreements and delays. Here are the milestones in the rocky process. – Leave wins – In a referendum on June 23, 2016 …
Read More »UK PM raises visas in pitch for post-Brexit trade with Africa
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Prime Minister Boris Johnson told African leaders Monday that Britain would be more open to migrants from their continent after Brexit as he hosted a summit intended to boost trading ties. He also promised an end to direct UK state investment in thermal coal mining …
Read More »Brexit’s new chapter: the ‘impossible’ trade deal
Brussels, Belgium | AFP | With just two weeks to go before Brexit, European diplomats are preparing for the next phase: intense negotiations to hammer out a future with Britain after its EU divorce. Brussels is braced for new rounds of Brexit battles, aware that a bullish Prime Minister Boris Johnson is …
Read More »British lawmakers finally seal historic Brexit deal
London, United Kingdom | AFP | Britain’s parliament finally approved Brexit on Thursday, allowing it to become the first country to leave the European Union by the end of this month, ending years of arguments that toppled two governments and divided a nation. The House of Commons erupted in cheers …
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