Brexit enters showdown week
After a dramatic weekend in the House of Commons, Brussels and on the streets of London, Brexit enters another phase of potential twists and turns this week. The government says it is confident of getting parliamentary approval for its Withdrawal Agreement Bill, with Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab telling the BBC that “notwithstanding the parliamentary shenanigans, we appear to have now the numbers to get this through”. But the main opposition Labour Party is seeking to force amendments to the bill with allies including the DUP, according to The Guardian. Shadow Brexit secretary Sir Kier Starmer has said this will include a call for a confirmatory referendum on the agreement and possibly a move to include the whole UK in a customs union after Brexit, the Mail reports. Reuters has an explainer of what could happen this week.
Chile protests claim lives
The BBC reports that five people died in a Santiago garment factory fire set by looters during the wave of protests in Chile over living costs. President Sebastián Piñera suspended a rise in metro fares that sparked the riots, and according to The Santiago Times said he had “heard with humility the voice of my compatriots.”
No quid pro quo on Ukraine: Mulvaney
Acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney used an interview on Fox News Sunday to deny he had suggested last week that Donald Trump had sought political favour from Ukraine in exchange for military aid. But Washington Post opinions editor James Downie reckons “Mulvaney only managed to make himself--and the White House--look even more foolish.” CNN says the White House was looking to fire Mulvaney back in September before the Democrats launched their impeachment inquiry.
Canada election too close to call
In what MacLeans calls the most uncertain federal election in decades, Canadians go to the polls today as Justin Trudeau seeks a second term as prime minister. The BBC has a guide and the FT looks at the main issues.
Greens make gains in Switzerland
Switzerland’s Green Party won 13.2% of the vote, an increase of 6%, in national elections on Sunday, The Guardian reports. The Green Liberals also took 7.8% of the vote. The far-right People's Party slipped 3.1 points to 26.3%, Euronews reports.
Kurds pull back as US troops leave Syria
Reuters reports that Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces claim they don’t have any more fighters in the border town of Ras al Ain. The Mail says that Kurds have been pleading with US troops as the withdrew from northern Syria, and that one US soldier was spotted wearing a YPJ patch in an apparent show of solidarity with the Syrian Kurdish Women's Protection Units.
Australian papers publish “redacted” front pages
In protest at national security laws they claim stifle reporting and create a culture of secrecy, newspaper mastheads in Australia on Monday showed blacked-out text beside red stamps marked "secret", ABC reports.
Crisis? What crisis?
The world is “sleepwalking towards a fresh economic and financial crisis” according to a report in The Guardian citing former Bank of England governor Mervyn King. But CNBC reports that a recession may be years away, according to Nobel-prize winning economist Robert Shiller, as consumers are inspired to spend by “our motivational speaker president [Donald Trump] who models luxurious living.”
Sports roundup
Rugby: England will face New Zealand and Wales play South Africa in the world cup semi-finals next weekend after the four teams won their quarter finals. World Rugby has highlights. Tennis: Andy Murray beat Stan Wawrinka at the European Open in Antwerp to claim his first singles title since returning from hip surgery, the BBC reports. In Luxembourg, Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko won the BGL BNP Paribas Open with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Julia Goerges. Highlights here. Baseball: José Altuve hit a home run in the ninth inning to send the Houston Astros to the World Series, where they will face the Washington Nationals The Guardian reports.
Mummies galore
The BBC has video of the 30 wooden coffins of men women and children, most likely the families of high priests, that were discovered in Luxor, Egypt.
Today’s breakfast briefing was written by Duncan Roberts