Alabama, Business and Brexit

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2019/10/Brexit.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:2048;s:6:"height";i:1152;s:4:"file";s:18:"2019/10/Brexit.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Brexit-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Brexit-336x189.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:189;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:5:"large";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Brexit-771x434.jpg";s:5:"width";i:771;s:6:"height";i:434;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:16:"Brexit-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Brexit-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Brexit-300x300.jpg";s:5:"width";i:300;s:6:"height";i:300;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Brexit-553x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:553;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Brexit-470x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:470;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:18:"Brexit-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:11:{s:8:"aperture";i:0;s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";i:0;s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";i:0;s:3:"iso";i:0;s:13:"shutter_speed";i:0;s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";i:1;}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 0
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => error
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"sizes";a:1:{s:4:"full";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:52:"Backup failed: The backup directory is not writable.";}}s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:0;s:14:"optimized_size";i:0;s:7:"percent";i:0;}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => TheDitgitalArtist
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] =>  Pixabay
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

)
1662472237 
1570026724

There’s a lot of unrest around politics in Washington right now, and it’s the same in the United Kingdom as the clock is ticking on a Brexit deal. The UK is scheduled to leave the European Union on October 31st, which has put Prime Minister Boris Johnson and parliament in a state of turmoil. Andrew Staunton is the UK’s representative in the American South.  As the British Consul General in Atlanta, he oversees relations in six states, including Alabama.  On a recent trip to Birmingham he sat down with WBHM’s Andrew Yeager.

Interview Highlights

Alabama business that may see impacts from Brexit:

“In the short term, those industries are the ones that are just in time deliveries, where there are key parts the supply chain that could be affected because the United Kingdom is part of the single market within the European Union as things stand at the moment. So there are no customs procedures or tariffs. But we’ve not been idle while negotiating. The British government’s investing I think £6.3 billion, about $8 billion in contingency plans.”

Opportunities for British investment in Alabama:

“We don’t have a BMW. We don’t have a Mercedes. But the UK automotive industry is leading the world in the cutting edge, the bleeding edge technology, that’s going into all those cars of the future. They’re all thinking about electrification of vehicles. They’re all thinking about autonomous vehicles. UK scientist, UK innovators are at the forefront of that … How do we ensure that our British companies that are so successful in supporting BMW in the United Kingdom and supporting Hyundai in the United Kingdom can come here and support what’s happening in Alabama.”

Thoughts on the political chaos around Brexit:

“One of the things I often hear is people say, ‘Oh, I’ve been tuning into BBC Parliament channel and it’s fascinating.’ And I think as a British citizen it might be fascinating to watch, but it’s less fascinating to endure … Every time you switch on a radio or television program in the United Kingdom it’s dominated by Brexit and there’s so much more happening in our country. And what we need to do is find a way forward in Brexit that allows us to have as best a relationship as possible with the European Union, but to remain that country that we’ve always been: open to business, open for individuals, open for talent and open for debate.”

 

‘Twinless’ is a dark comedy that doubles up on the twists

Dylan O'Brien and James Sweeney craft a kind of chemistry that is equal parts funny and heart-wrenching.

Russ & Daughters in NYC celebrates ‘100 years of appetizing’ and family

At Russ & Daughters, it takes three months to learn how to slice salmon. NPR's Scott Simon visits the 100 year-old appetizing store to try his hand at the fine art and talk about their new cookbook.

As opposition to an Alabama medical waste treatment facility boils over, a  mysterious Facebook page weighs in

Dozens of residents opposed to Harvest Med Waste Disposal’s site in Remlap packed the Blount County courthouse to voice their concerns. Online, a paid campaign supporting the facility has been active, though its backers have remained anonymous.

20 years later, is it time to quit ‘Brokeback Mountain’?

Back in 2005, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal captured lust shading into love, and love decaying into heartbreak. The movie got a lot of things right — but not everything.

In April NPR profiled people who couldn’t get their HIV drugs. How are they faring now?

In Zambia, we met people who are HIV positive, couldn't get drugs to suppress the virus after U.S. aid cuts and were seeing symptoms. We checked in on them — and the man who's been their champion.

Amid debate about U.S. history, Harlem Hellfighters receive Congressional Gold Medal

The Harlem Hellfighters, who became legends for their service during World War I, were honored this week with a Congressional Gold Medal.

More Front Page Coverage