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After 10 weeks of bitter campaigning that deeply divided the United Kingdom, British voters went to the polls to decide whether the country would remain a member of the European Union.

The referendum result shocked the world, caused markets to tumble, bankers to scramble, dramatic political upheaval and widespread anxiety over economic uncertainty. Here are some of the significant developments over the week that shook the world.

Remain supporters celebrate a result at a referendum party at the Lexington pub in London.

Remain supporters celebrate a result at a referendum party at the Lexington pub in London.

Andrew Testa/The New York Times

Friday, June 24

While the world eagerly awaited the results, most people – in some cases even Leave voters themselves – did not expect the U.K. to decide to leave the EU. But by early Friday morning, the results were clear. Leave had defeated Remain by 52 per cent to 48 per cent with a turnout of more than 70 per cent of eligible voters.

The official arrival of the so-called Brexit prompted Prime Minister David Cameron, who called the in-or-out referendum to deliver on a re-election promise, to announce his upcoming resignation just hours after the results came in.

The vote left the country divided, Scotland considering a second independence referendum over its own exit from the U.K, and the European government worried about anti-EU sentiment in other countries across the continent.

Meanwhile, the economic backlash was swift, wreaking havoc on markets around the world. Stock markets plummeted in Britain, Canada, the United States and Asia, while the British pound fell to a 31-year low against the U.S. dollar. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney sought to calm the panic over economic uncertainty, saying the U.K. is well prepared for market volatility and has extensive contingency plans in place.

Quote of the day

Prime Minister David Cameron:

I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.

Read more from Friday's coverage:


A protester holding a European Union (EU) flag, addresses a crowd as he demonstrates against the European Union (EU) referendum result, in London, U.K., on Saturday, June 25, 2016. The U.K. voted to quit the European Union after more than four decades in a stunning rejection of the continent's postwar political and economic order.

A protester holding a European Union (EU) flag, addresses a crowd as he demonstrates against the European Union (EU) referendum result, in London, U.K., on Saturday, June 25, 2016. The U.K. voted to quit the European Union after more than four decades in a stunning rejection of the continent's postwar political and economic order.

Jason Alden/Bloomberg

Saturday, June 25

Concerned with the political and economic uncertainty surrounding the Brexit decision, senior EU politicians urged Britain to act quickly and trigger the formal exit process immediately, something the country said wouldn't happen for several months at least. Britain's most senior EU official, Jonathan Hill, stepped down saying he was disappointed by the referendum result but "what's done cannot be undone."

Quote of the day

French Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, at a meeting in Berlin of the EU's six founding nations:

There is a certain urgency … so that we don’t have a period of uncertainty, with financial consequences, political consequences.

Read more from Saturday's coverage:


The British Union Jack flag (R) flies amongst European Union member countries' national flags in front of the European Parliament on June 9, 2016 in Strasbourg, eastern France. Major central banks will attempt to limit market volatility as much as possible in the wake of Britain's decision to leave the European Union.

Sunday, June 26

Political upheaval continued during the weekend, with both the governing Conservatives and opposition Labour Party experiencing infighting in the Brexit aftermath. In the Tory camp, no one had yet put their name forward for the leadership, but many viewed MP Boris Johnson – one of the leaders of the Leave bloc – to be the front-runner.

On the opposition side, eleven senior Labour MPs quit their shadow cabinet posts, calling for leader Jeremy Corbyn's resignation. Mr. Corbyn refused.

Meanwhile, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said Parliament would consider blocking legislation on Britain's exit from the EU in order to protect the interests of the Scottish, who voted overwhelmingly to remain in the EU.

Quote of the day

Nicola Sturgeon

, First Minister of Scotland:

Don’t get me wrong, I care about the rest of the U.K., I care about England, that’s why I’m so upset at the U.K.-wide decision that’s been taken. But my job as First Minister, the Scottish Parliament’s job, is to judge these things on the basis of what’s in the interest of people in Scotland.

Read more from the Sunday's coverage:


U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron addressed members of Parliament on the EU referendum result on Monday, saying it was not the outcome he wanted but that the result must be respected and implemented in

U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron addressed members of Parliament on the EU referendum result on Monday, saying it was not the outcome he wanted but that the result must be respected and implemented in "best possible way." (June 27)

AP Video

Monday, June 27

Two days after announcing he would resign as prime minister, Mr. Cameron tried to reassure the nation that it could withstand the challenges of leaving the EU. He also told the House of Commons the country would not begin negotiations with the EU until a new prime minister was in place.

World markets continued to plummet after Friday's selloff that saw about $2.1-trillion (U.S.) wiped from global equity markets. Many investors looked for traditional safe havens such as gold, causing the price to climb sharply.

Quote of the day

MP Boris Johnson, appearing to back away from some campaign promises, in his weekly column in the Telegraph:

I cannot stress too much that Britain is part of Europe, and always will be. There will still be intense and intensifying European co-operation and partnership in a huge number of fields. … EU citizens living in this country will have their rights fully protected, and the same goes for British citizens living in the EU.

Read more from Monday's coverage:


People gather for an anti-Brexit protest in Trafalgar Square in central London.

People gather for an anti-Brexit protest in Trafalgar Square in central London.

Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

Tuesday, June 28

The European Parliament held an emergency session to discuss Britain's decision to leave the EU. Nigel Farage, one of the leaders of the Leave campaign, was booed and heckled during the raucous session.

While European leaders continue to call for a quick divorce with Britain, Mr. Johnson said the U.K. is in no hurry to trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty, the formal withdrawal mechanism that would start exit negotiations lasting at least two years.

Quote of the day

Nigel Farage

, U.K. Independence Party leader to the EU Parliament:

“Isn’t it funny? When I came here 17 years ago and I said that I wanted to lead a campaign to get Britain to leave the European Union, you all laughed at me. Well I have to say, you’re not laughing now, are you?”

Read more from Tuesday's coverage:


Boris Johnson's muddled response to the Brexit victory is bound to cause him problems unless he comes up with a strong plan to redefine Britain's relationship with the EU.

Boris Johnson's muddled response to the Brexit victory is bound to cause him problems unless he comes up with a strong plan to redefine Britain's relationship with the EU.

ADAM FERGUSON/NYT

Wednesday, June 29

The EU shut down the possibility of informal discussions over the U.K.'s exit after Mr. Cameron suggested in the House of Commons that such negotiations could take place.

Ms. Sturgeon also met with European officials in Brussels, pleading her case for Scotland to stay with the EU. Spain quickly rejected the idea.

Quote of the day

Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, to reporters in Brussels:

We reconfirmed that Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union must be orderly and there will be no negotiations of any kind until the U.K. formally notifies its intention to withdraw.

Read more from Wednesday's coverage:


Britain is delaying a decision on a new runway at London's Heathrow Airport until a new leader of the governing Conservative party is elected. As Grace Pascoe reports, the news comes along with data showing consumer confidence tumbling in the days after the Brexit vote.

Britain is delaying a decision on a new runway at London's Heathrow Airport until a new leader of the governing Conservative party is elected. As Grace Pascoe reports, the news comes along with data showing consumer confidence tumbling in the days after the Brexit vote.

Reuters

Thursday, June 30

Mr. Johnson, considered a front-runner since the moment Mr. Cameron announced his resignation, shocked the U.K. by announcing he would not enter the Conservative leadership race.

It had been expected that Mr. Johnson would run with the backing of Justice Minister Michael Gove, a fellow Leave campaigner. Instead, Mr. Gove will run against Home Secretery Theresa May, a supporter of the Remain bloc, who also announced her candidacy Thursday.

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney also announced the central bank would need to pump stimulus into the economy over the summer after the Brexit shock.

Quote of the day

Justice Minister Michael Gove:

Events since last Thursday have weighed heavily with me. I have come, reluctantly, to the conclusion that Boris cannot provide the leadership or build the team for the task ahead. I have, therefore, decided to put my name forward for the leadership.

Read more from the Thursday's coverage:

With reports from Associated Press and Reuters


CORRECTION: A previous version of this article referred to Mark Carney as the governor of the Bank of Canada. Mark Carney is the Governor of the Bank of England.