No deal damage forecast
British based thinktank UK in a Changing Europe has published a 30-page updated assessment of the impact of no deal Brexit, The Guardian reports. It claims the immediate consequences for Britain’s economy would be “chaotic and severe”. The study reckons that food supplies could be temporarily disrupted, there would almost certainly have to be a “hardening of the border” between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, and increased border checks on goods would force firms to rethink their supply chains.
Pro-EU Kaczynski
Claiming that Poland’s membership of the EU has benefited the country economically, Law and Justice party Jaroslav Kaczynski on Sunday launched the campaign for October’s local elections with a defiantly pro-European speech. "The Poles want to be in the European Union because that is the shortest way to bring earnings to the European level and to raise the living standards," he said.
Fire engulfs Brazil National Museum
Firefighters in Rio de Janeiro were tackling a huge blaze at the National Museum in the north of the city on Sunday night. The 200-year old museum is the oldest scientific institution in the country, according to the BBC. It houses a collection of more than 20 million artefacts.
Aston Martin to float
Iconic car maker Aston Martin plan to float on the London Stock Exchange. The Guardian says the firm wants to sell at least 25% of its shares, valuing it at about £5bn, before Brexit. The paper cites the company’s chief executive Andy Palmer saying he believes Aston Martin is “insulated from Brexit” because only “around 25% of our production goes to the EU” and “a weak pound is good for exporters like us.”
Coke buys coffee
Reuters was among many sources that reported Coca-Cola’s deal to buy coffee chain Costa for $5.1 billion from Britain’s Whitbread. Costa has almost 4,000 outlets, and Reuters suggests Coca-Cola, which it reckons paid around $ 1.3 billion more than some analysts had expected, is trying to compete with Starbucks.
Naked at Lourdes
Luxembourg artist Déborah de Robertis has landed in trouble again after posing nude at Lourdes. An image on her Instagram page shows the artist standing in front of a statue of the Madonna wearing nothing but a blue veil. De Robertis called her piece “L'Origine de la vie” and on Instragram cited a new testament passage, Luke XI, 27 : “Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked.”
Sports roundup
Lewis Hamilton won the Italian Grand Prix at Monza and has extended his lead in the F1 championship to 30 points over Sebastien Vettel. British rider Sean Yates has taken the lead at the Vuelta, the tour of Spain that concludes pro cycling’s big three tours. England’s cricketers beat India by 60 runs in the 4th test match to win the 5-match series 3-1.
Today's breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts