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Jean-Claude Juncker and Donald Tusk after the special meeting of the European Council in Brussels on Wednesday at which the EU 27 agreed to offer the UK a 31 October extension to Article 50. Photo. European Union 

Brexit: October extension agreed

The EU 27 leaders and Brutish prime minister Theresa May have agreed to what Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has called a “flextension” of Article 50 for the UK to October 31, the BBC reports. “This extension is as flexible as I expected and a little bit shorter than I expect but it is still enough to find the best possible solution,” said EU Council president Donald Tusk, cited on Politico. “Please do not waste this time,” Tusk appealed to the UK at a press conference, as reported on CNBC. But the summit in Brussels was not plain sailing and The Guardian reports that French president Emmanuel Macron “enraged” other EU leaders over a dinner of scallop salad, cod loin and macadamia nut parfait by opposing a longer extension.

India begins voting

In what The Guardian says is the world’s largest-ever election, Indian voters have started to go to polling stations in more than 20 states. The BBC explains that the seven-phase election continues until 19 May, with some 900 million people eligible to vote. The New York Times has a “simple guide” to the elections. Aljazeera has some nice graphics explaining the election process, the parties and main issues and some economic background.

Australian set for “fair go” election in May

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison has announced a general election for 18 May in which all MPs in the House of Representatives and half the Senate will face re-election, says ABC. Morrison and opposition leader Bill Shorten both called it “a fair go” election, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, the BBC has a 10 things to know guide.  

US-China progress

Treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin has said the United States and China have “pretty much agreed on an enforcement mechanism” in the latest round of trade negotiations, according to CNBC. But the South China Morning Post, via Reuters, says Mnuchin declined to say when or if tariffs would be removed or provide any sort of deadline for a conclusion to the negotiations. Meanwhile, Reuters reports that U.S. companies have moved purchases of tariff-targeted products to countries such as Vietnam, South Korea, Taiwan and Mexico

Gantz concedes in Israeli election

Benjamin Netanyahu is all clear to start an unprecedented fifth term as prime minister of Israel after main rival Benny Gantz conceded defeat following a close election result, says the BBC. Gantz’s second in command, Yair Lapid, said the Blue and White party would “make Likud’s life hell in the opposition”, The Guardian reports.

Pentagon cloud contract down to big two

Amazon.com Inc and Microsoft Corp have been selected to continue competing for Pentagon cloud computing services, according to Reuters. Oracle Corp and IBM Corp have failed to make the final shortlist.

Lagarde wants digital currencies monitored

IMF chief Christine Lagarde has warned that distributed ledger technology must be regulated. Speaking to CNBC, she said that “we don’t want innovation that would shake the system so much that we would lose the stability that is needed.”

Barr spy remarks spark anger

US attorney general William Barr sparked controversy on Wednesday when he revealed he had requested a review of the FBI’s decision to secretly investigate Donald Trump’s 2016 election campaign, The Guardian reports. Democrats have accused Barr of promoting a conspiracy theory, says Reuters.

Later today

The 2019 US Masters golf tournament gets underway at the famous Augusta course. The official website allows you to follow the action. Sporting Life has betting tips on the favourites.

Coffee not vital for survival say Swiss

Swiss authorities are about to abolish the decades old policy of emergency stockpiling of raw coffee claiming it is not vital for human survival, The Guardian reports. A government statement reads: “Coffee has almost no calories and subsequently does not contribute, from the physiological perspective, to safeguarding nutrition.”

Today's breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts