On January 31, the United Kingdom, under the leadership of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, officially left the European Union. It had taken Parliament over three years to implement the results of the 2016 special election. In that election, a majority of British voters opted to leave the European Union in a movement that would become known as Brexit.
“If we want trade, friendship, reciprocity, we don’t need a European Commission, we don’t need a European court,” said Nigel Farage, a U.K. delegate in his final speech to the E.U., “We don’t need these institutions and all of this power.”
Fox News reported that new negotiations over trade will now commence between Britain and the E.U. over the next 11 months.
In Nigeria, many Christians are still facing the threat of violence from radical Islamists. The Morning Star News, an organization specifically covering Christian persecution, reported that in the last week of January, in villages throughout the Plateau State, Muslim Fulani herdsmen killed around 32 Christians, including a pregnant woman. This included the January 27th burning of a Church of Christ in Nations church.
“My heart again bleeds by this tragedy as lives of innocent citizens are cut short for no reason,” Plateau Governor Simon Lalong said in a public statement. “Security agencies must go after those who are behind these attacks and their sponsors so they can face the law and be taught a lesson.”
In the Middle East, it is believed that the U.S. has killed Qasim al-Raymi, an al-Qaeda section leader in Yemen. Though not officially confirmed, Foreign Policy reports that inside sources and President Trump seem to indicate that a strike on al-Raymi by the CIA was carried out.
From involvement with the 2008 U.S. embassy attack in Sanaa, Yemen to the 2009 “underwear bomber”, al-Raymi appears to have clear connections with terrorism and counter-U.S. efforts in the region.
Further north, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have announced a new peace plan between Israel and Palestinians, according to the New York Post. The plan includes the creation of a new Palestinian state. This new state would gain around double the amount of territory currently under Palestinian control and base its capital in East Jerusalem. Several Israeli settlements in the West Bank would be officially given to Israel in the plan as well.
“Our proposal finds precise technical solutions to make Israelis, Palestinians and the region safer and much more prosperous,” President Trump said. “My vision presents a win-win opportunity for both sides, a realistic two-state solution.”
However, as ABC reported, most Palestinians did not find the plan acceptable. It was heavily criticized both by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and spokesmen for Hamas, a Palestinian terror group. Photos of Trump and Netanyahu were also burned in protest by Palestinians.
Panic over the coronavirus outbreak, originating in Wuhan province in China, continues to build around the world. As CNN reports, nearly 560 people have been killed by the virus so far. Around 28,000 people have been infected with the virus in China.
Twenty-five additional countries are now reporting occurrences of the coronavirus, with cases appearing in Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Australia. This virus has impacted shipping and travel with China as well. In the coming weeks, international leaders and medical professionals will continue trying to prevent the spread of this deadly virus.