Brexit moves to next crisis
The rejection of Theresa May’s latest Brexit deal in parliament by a margin of 149 votes dominates headlines this morning. Bloomberg says an extension of the Article 50 process is now “seen as inevitable”. The BBC and CNBC have explainers on what happens next. The Guardian has extensive coverage, including an article that suggests Eurosceptic Conservatives could still force a no-deal Brexit, a roundup of business leaders expressing dismay at the whole mess, and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn’s call for a general election. In an editorial, ABC News says May’s strategy is “either political genius or a massive miscalculation.” Meanwhile, Politico has a good summary of EU reaction to the Commons vote, And what would a Brexit roundup be without mention of Nigel Farage? The Associated Press cites the former UKIP leader as saying, disingenuously in our opinion, that he expects Brexit to be delayed by at least a year.
Europeans join grounding of Boeing737 MAX 8
CNN reports that the European Aviation Safety Agency has decided to suspend “all flight operations of all Boeing Model 737-8 MAX and 737-9 MAX aeroplanes in Europe.” But the BBC says that the US Federal Aviation Authority has found no reason to ground the planes. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Association says its members are “extremely confident” that the aircraft is safe. Meanwhile, CNBC was among the media reporting on a tweet from US president Donald Trump in which he said planes are becoming “far too complex to fly”.
EU allows whistleblower protection
The European Commission and members states have approved a provisional rule that allows “safe reporting channels” for individuals to report information about wrongdoing in their company. The Whistleblower Protection Blog reports on the ruling and the Andalou Agency cites Commissioner Frans Timmermans saying it will “help tackle fraud, corruption, corporate tax avoidance and damage to people's health and the environment.”
Pell jailed for sexual abuse
The BBC, The Guardian and Reuters all report on the sentencing in Australia of Cardinal George Pell. He has been jailed for six years after being found guilty two weeks ago of abusing two 13-year-old choir boys in a Melbourne cathedral in 1996.
US limits transgenders in military
Reuters reports on news that the U.S. Defense Department has issued a memo that will bar most transgender individuals from serving in the US military if they require hormone treatments or transition surgery.
Uber to go public
Uber Technologies Inc is preparing to launch on the stock market, according to sources cited by Reuters. The report claims that Uber has enlisted more than half a dozen investment banks to underwrite its IPO.
US college admissions scandal
Actress Felicity Huffmann is the most prominent name among 50 or so wealthy individuals caught up in what Reuters calls the “most sweeping college admissions fraud scheme” ever unearthed. The Guardian reports that the scheme allowed parents to buy their children’s admission to elite universities “including Yale, Georgetown and Stanford”.
Happiness is a death metal tune
A study at Macquarie University's music lab in Sydney has revealed that death metal music inspires joy not violence, according to a BBC report. The study compared reactions to Bloodbath's “cannibalism-themed” track, ‘Eaten’ and Pharrell Williams’s ‘Happy’. “[Death metal] fans are nice people,” said Professor Bill Thompson, adding that study’s conclusions should be “reassuring to parents or religious groups.”
Chickens peck fox to death
A group of chickens in France acting with “herd instinct” is suspected of attacking and killing a fox using their beaks, The Guardian reports.
Today's breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts