Obrador named as Mexican president

The former Mexico City mayor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, (pictured) will be Mexico’s next president, exit polls suggested early on Monday. Reuters reports that the 64-year-old is the first left-winger to rule the country in decades and has pledged to reduce economic independence on the US. One exit poll suggested a 20 percent lead, with up to 59% of the vote. Results from an official “quick” count was expected at midnight.

France prison break

A notorious armed robber serving 25 years for murdering a police officer escaped prison in France on Sunday, in a helicopter. According to The Guardian, Rédoine Faïd was in a visiting room of the prison talking to family when a helicopter landed in the courtyard. Men then let off gas canisters and used a machine to force open the door. No-one was injured or taken hostage. Faïd blasted his way out of another prison in 2013 using explosives smuggled in tissue packets. He was arrested six weeks later.

Seehofer threatens to step down

The future of Germany’s coalition government was brought into question when the interior minister announced his intention to resign over migration issues. Horst Seehofer, leader of the Christian Social Union, has become one of Merkel’s biggest adversaries since taking up post. If he were to be replaced with a similarly adversarial candidate, it could push the coalition government to the point of collapse, The Guardian reports.

Portland rally clashes

Four people were hospitalised when right-wing militant demonstrators and counter protestors clashed in a park in Portland on Saturday. Reuters reports that police seized knives, clubs and pepper spray at the face-off between the right-wing Patriot Prayer group and anti-fascist demonstrators. Four people were arrested in connection with investigations that began before the protests, Reuters reported.

Tariffs tested

It is expected to be a critical test of President Donald Trump’s tariffs as Canada imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on $12.6 billion of US products and China levies $34 billion of taxes on American goods. The tariffs will make it harder for US manufacturers and farmers to sell their goods abroad and will raise the cost on many imported products used in US manufacturing, The Washington Post reported. Trump told Fox News in an interview on Sunday that the European Union was just as bad as China on Trade and he didn’t intend to sign the North American Free Trade Agreement until after the November midterm elections.

Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Jess Bauldry