Top story: ‘I can finally feel safe’

Hello, it’s Warren Murray helping you launch into a new week.

The government has announced plans to scrap “no-fault evictions” in a move welcomed by housing campaigners. Private landlords in England would no longer be able to evict tenants from their homes at short notice and without good reason.

One tenant – who was turfed out of a succession of homes under the “section 21” process – has told the Guardian the proposed law “means I can finally feel safe … I turned 73 this year and I don’t want to move again”. Shelter called it “an outstanding victory” for renters, meaning they will not face snap evictions with as little as eight weeks’ notice if they complain about the poor quality of their accommodation.

On the flip side, landlords are being promised a speedier eviction process if a tenant has failed to pay the rent, has damaged the property, or if the landlord wants to sell or move in. Labour’s shadow housing minister, John Healey, said the government must also protect against landlords forcing tenants out by stealth via unaffordable rent rises.

Gatwick ‘inside job’ claim – The drone attack that brought Gatwick airport to a standstill in December might have been carried out by someone working there, according to police. They say the perpetrator picked a drone that was invisible to a detection system the airport was testing. Gatwick’s chief operating officer, Chris Woodroofe, told Panorama the attacker was also familiar with the airport’s operations, and had a clear view of the runway or possibly access to internal communication networks. He dismissed criticism that closing the airport was an overreaction: “It was terrible that 140,000 people’s journeys were disrupted, but everyone was safe.”

Hillsborough horror lingers – Liverpool is remembering the victims of Hillsborough today as it marks the 30th anniversary of the stadium disaster. Silence will fall on the city from 3.06pm, the time of the crush that killed 96 men, women and children. A public service will be held at the city’s Anglican cathedral, and bereaved families will have a private service at Liverpool’s home stadium, Anfield. Traffic will stop in the Mersey tunnels, ferries will sound their horns and the town hall bells will toll 96 times. It all comes 12 days after a jury at Preston crown court convicted Graham Mackrell, Sheffield Wednesday’s then secretary and safety officer, of failing to take reasonable care of Liverpool supporters’ safety. Prosecutors are seeking a retrial of the match commander, Ch Supt David Duckenfield, in whose case the jury failed to reach a verdict.

Row over Assange arrest – Julian Assange tried to use the Ecuadorian embassy in London as a “centre for spying”, Ecuador’s president, Lenín Moreno, has told the Guardian. Ecuador’s previous president, Rafael Correa, has accused his one-time political ally of “a crime humanity will never forget” in handing Assange over to UK authorities. But Moreno said Assange’s activity had violated asylum conditions: “Our decision is not arbitrary but is based on international law.” Assange’s lawyer, Jennifer Robinson, disputed allegations of poor behaviour on Assange’s part. Moreno said he received written undertakings from Britain that Assange would not be sent anywhere to face the death penalty, torture or ill treatment. The WikiLeaks co-founder faces up to 12 months in prison for breaching UK bail when he entered the embassy in 2012 to avoid extradition to Sweden over allegations including rape, which he denies. The US is seeking his extradition for allegedly conspiring with Chelsea Manning to break into a classified government computer.

Brexit, money, property, you – Dividends paid on UK shares jumped to a record high in the first three months of the year, putting investors on track for £100bn in payouts this year. Bosses remain pessimistic about Brexit, though, according to Deloitte – eight out of 10 finance leaders expect the long-term business environment to get worse. Rightmove is optimistic, hailing signs of a Brexit delay “relief rally” in the property market (bear in mind though, that the chartered surveyors don’t share this view). If you can but dream of totting up share dividends and planning your ascent of the property ladder, here are some tips on reducing financial anxiety.

Game on – Game of Thrones is back for its finale season. The Briefing is not out to spoil anything, but if you stayed up to watch, here is a recap by Sarah Hughes, and we would also like to know what you thought of S08E01.

Today in Focus podcast: Radical economist who rocked Davos

Rutger Bregman became a social media sensation after his onstage tirade at the gathered elite in Davos. But can his utopian ideas be translated into realistic policy changes? Plus: J Oliver Conroy on David Buckel, a year on from the climate protester’s death in New York.

Lunchtime read: Louise Redknapp’s new life goals

For 19 years Louise Nurding, the former star of the pop group Eternal, gave up everything to play housewife to her famous footballer husband, Jamie Redknapp. And while the British public is very used to footballers leaving their wives, no one seemed to know what to make of it when, in 2017, the narrative was reversed.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Louise Redknapp. Photograph: Matt Alexander/PA

The now single Louise Redknapp is playing Violet, the character made famous by Lily Tomlin, in 9 to 5 The Musical – the West End production of the classic 1980 film. “Redknapp herself is very enjoyable to watch, stomping around the stage, furiously pointing out that men get promotions for laughing at the boss’s jokes while she is not even thanked for making the coffee,” writes Hadley Freeman. “I like Redknapp … it is impossible not to cheer for a woman who for so long was defined in relation to others – first a pop group, then a husband – taking the risk to strike out on her own.”

Sport

An emotional Tiger Woods admitted feeling he has “come full circle” after winning his fifth Masters green jacket, 11 years after his last major, winning by one stroke as Italian Francesco Molinari fell away.

Play Video 1:49 ‘I’m just lucky to be able to do this again': Tiger Woods on fifth Masters win – video

The 43-year-old has endured a rollercoaster 14 years since his last Masters win, with multiple back surgeries just one of the adversities overcome, writes Andy Bull.

Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp has confessed himself as “blown away” by Mohamed Salah’s incredible 2-0 winner against Chelsea. The German was relieved to maintain title pressure on Manchester City, admitting “the biggest challenge for us is always facing the world outside.” And Ferrari have defended team orders that compelled young driver Charles Leclerc to cede his place to teammate Sebastian Vettel at the Chinese Grand Prix, despite the move failing to help catch the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas.

Business

Asian shares have neared nine-month highs after the US treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, said he hoped US-China trade talks were approaching a final lap. Strong Chinese export and bank loan data boosted confidence in the global economy. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan climbed 0.6% to its highest since late July. The Shanghai Composite index gained 1.7% while the Nikkei 225 jumped 1.5% and the Kospi in South Korea added 0.7%. The Hang Seng picked up 1.1% while Australia’s S&P ASX 200 lost 0.1%. Stocks rose in Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia but fell in the Philippines. Sterling has been trading at $1.310 and €1.158 while the FTSE looks set to open slightly higher.

The papers

Theresa May is in varying degrees of trouble, according to the front pages today. The i says: “Tories plot to bring down PM”, with quote from Iain Duncan Smith who has said she must go next month. But the Times reports: “Leadership rivals urge PM to linger for months”. The Telegraph carries a speech from the Chancellor about Gove, Johnson and Leadsom’s 2016 bids to become leader: “Hammond mocks Brexiteer ‘suicide pact’”.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Guardian front page, Monday 15 April 2019.

The Daily Mail has: “Jihadi bride is handed legal aid”, the Mirror leads with a report from Afghanistan: “On the terror frontline”, while the Express says that “44,740 weapons seized at court” over a five-year period.

The Guardian reports “Short-notice evictions face axe in tenant rights victory”, the FT has “NHS hands doctors cash top-ups to halt wave of early retirements” and the Sun’s splash is “Benedict Cumberbash” with claims that the actor was involved in a road accident.

Sign up

The Guardian Morning Briefing is delivered to thousands of inboxes bright and early every weekday. If you are not already receiving it by email, you can sign up here.

For more news: www.theguardian.com