Assange: MPs write letter, Moreno claims spying charge

The BBC says that 70 British parliamentarians have sent a letter to home secretary Sajid Javid urging him to extradite Julian Assange to Sweden if prosecutors there reopen charges of rape against the Wikileaks founder. Meanwhile, Ecuador’s president Lenín Moreno told The Guardian that Assange tried to use the Ecuadorian embassy in London as a “centre for spying”. Moreno also denied he had allowed British police to arrest Assange as a reprisal for the way in which documents about his family had been leaked by an anonymous website linked to WikiLeaks. But ABC reports that Assange’s lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, has said her client had undergone “a very difficult time” since Moreno came to power in 2017 and that allegations about his behaviour in the embassy were “pretty outrageous”.

Woods wins Masters

In what commentators are hailing as one of sport’s greatest comebacks, 43-year old Tiger Woods won his fifth golf Master’s title on Sunday. The BBC reports on “raucous celebrations” as Woods claimed his 15th major title some 11 years after his last one. The Guardian has a great photo gallery capturing key moments of the final round at Augusta. CNBC takes the business angle and claims that Woods’ win is worth roughly $22,540,000, to chief sponsor Nike, according to Apex Marketing.

Finland faces coalition talks

It may take some time to form a government in Finland following election results on Sunday that left no party with over 20% of the vote. The BBC reports that Antti Rinne’s left-wing Social Democratic Party won the most votes, with a 17.7% share, closely followed by the far-right eurosceptic Finns Party on 17.5%. The Guardian says Rinne could be Finland’s first left-wing prime minister since 2003, but that he faces some tough choices in forming a coalition.

Sudan’s political crisis

The BBC reports that the military council in Sudan has said it is “ready to implement” a civilian government chosen by the opposition parties. The statement follows demonstrations against the military’s initial declaration that it would remain in power for a two year transitional period. Aljazeera has a more comprehensive analysis of the current situation.

China may get to continue subsidies

It looks as though the United States is going to accept that its attempts to rein in Chinese government subsidies for industry will be sacrificed as trade negotiations between the two countries continue. Reuters cites sources saying that the US negotiators are ready to focus on other demands that they believe are more achievable.

Trump 2020 well funded

Donald Trump’s re-election campaign raised more than $30 million in the first quarter of 2019, Reuters reports. That puts it way ahead of what any Democrat has raised, and when coupled with $45.8 million raised by the Republican National Committee in the same period it represents a significant war chest.

Man sues parents over porn collection

A 40-year-old man from Indiana has filed a lawsuit in federal court in Michigan because they threw out his vast pornography collection, which he estimates was worth $29,000, The Guardian reports.

Today's breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts