US: border talks break down

With federal funding set to end on Friday, the US government may well shut down again after talks between Republicans and Democrats on border security ended without agreement. They had hoped to have a deal by Monday so that Congress could pass legislation in time to avoid another shutdown the BBC reports. The latest disagreement is about Democrats wanting to cap the number of beds in detention facilities, Reuters says. President Trump tweeted that the Democrats were “behaving, all of a sudden, irrationally” Bloomberg reports.

Brexit vote unlikely before end February

British prime minister Theresa May has rejected opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn’s suggestion that the UK remain in a customs union with the EU. The Guardian has details of the exchange of letters between the two and also says that MPs will have an opportunity to vote on 27 February if a deal has not been presented. Bloomberg says this is an attempt by May to “mollify her critics and earn herself another two weeks’ of breathing space”.

Brexit boost for UK investment in EU

Meanwhile, Reuters has published research that shows there has been a 12% increase in foreign direct investment transactions from Britain into the EU since the Brexit referendum in June 2016. The study, by the LSE’s Center for Economic Performance, shows an 11% decline in investment the other way.

UK agrees trade deal with Switzerland

But there has also been some positive Brexit news for the UK, with Britain and Switzerland set to sign an agreement on Monday to continue trading on preferential terms after Brexit. Trade between the two countries is worth some £32 billion, Reuters reports.

Spaniards protest at Catalan talks

Police estimate that around 45,000 demonstrators joined a protest in Madrid on Sunday against government plans to hold talks with Catalan separatists, the BBC reports.

Thai princess may not get to stand

Reuters says an election commission in Thailand will on Monday rule whether Princess Ubolratana Rajakanya Sirivadhana Barnavadi can stand for election as president. The princess had made the unprecedented step of standing as the candidate for the populist party, much to the chagrin of her brother, King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

Saudis deny Bezos connection

Saudi Arabia has denied it had anything to do with the National Enquirer threatening to publish “dick picks” of Jeff Bezos, The Guardian reports. Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg, the Enquirer’s parent company has said there wasn’t “any blackmail, extortion or political motivation” involved in the dispute with Bezos.

“The Favourite” and “Roma” clean up a Baftas

Alfonso Cuaron’s “Roma” and Yorgos Lanthimos’s “The Favourite” won nearly all of the major prizes at the Baftas in London on Sunday. “Roma” win best film, best director, best cinematography and best non-English language film. “The Favourite” was voted best British film and won the best actress and best supporting actress prizes for Olivia Coleman and Rachel Weisz respectively. It also won for best original screenplay, best costume, production design and hair & make-up. The BBC has the full list of winners, and a picture gallery.

Grammy awards

The Guardian also has a list of the full Grammy Awards winners.

Sports roundup

England thrashed France, Ireland beat Scotland and Wales beat Italy in round 2 of the 6 Nations rugby tournament. Manchester City’s 6-0 win over Chelsea could spell trouble for the latter’s manager Maurizio Sarri. New Zealand won a T20 series against India after a thrilling match in Hamilton. And Kylian Mbappe has donated £27,000 to an appeal for fund to find missing pilot David Ibbotson who was flying footballer Emiliano Sala when their plane crashed.

Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts