DAILY NEWS IN ENGLISH
Pope Francis honors martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador After years of stagnant discussion over honoring martyred bishop Oscar Romero in the Catholic Church, things suddenly moved very quickly. The urgency began when Argentinaʼs Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis in 2013. Two years later, he beatified Archbishop Romero, who was gunned down in El Salvador in 1980. On Sunday, Romero was one of six to be canonized as a saint in a ceremony led by Pope Francis in St. Peterʼs Square. Romero has been considered a national hero and a champion of peace and human rights in his native El Salvador for years. His grave in the Cathedral of San Salvador is a place of pilgrimage for many Latin Americans. When Romeroʼs canonization was announced, El Salvadorʼs president, Salvador Sanchez Ceren, was clear about the significance of the moment: "Latin America finally has a saint! May his example help bring change to our country."
Italy ends beacon ʼRiace modelʼ for migrant integration The interior minister has ordered migrants in Riace be redistributed across Italy after its mayor was arrested. The mayorʼs vision was hailed across the globe as a model for reviving towns and integrating refugees. Italian authorities will begin transferring some 200 migrants on Monday from the small Calabrian town of Riace, according to Italyʼs interior ministry. Riace gained international fame in the wake of the migration crisis when Mayor Domenico Lucano welcomed migrants to the sparsely populated town in a bid to boost local development. However, Italianpolice arrested Lucano earlier this monthon suspicion of mismanagement of public funds and facilitating sham marriages — allegations he has staunchly denied.
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EU-UK Brexit agreement deal set to be announced Even so, deep divisions remain in the UK over the terms of the divorce
EU and British officials are expected to confirm they have reached a provisional Brexit deal. As diplomats from both sides scrambled to reach a deal on Brexit before an EU leadersʼ summit in Brussels on Wednesday, Welt am Sonntag and Süddeutsche Zeitung reported they had obtained details of a schedule for an announcement. According to the reports, backed by sources in Brussels, a confirmation of a tentative Brexit deal could be made in the Belgian capital on Sunday, allowing British Prime Minister Theresa May to present the proposals to her cabinet in London on Monday. If May has agreement from her ministers, a joint EUUK press conference could take place in Brussels on Monday evening, followed by a meeting of EU ministers on Tuesday and then the EU summit on Wednesday. British Brexit minister Dominic Raab was due in Brussels later on Sunday for talks with EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier, sources in London and Brussels confirmed. Meanwhile, ambassadors for the 27 remaining EU member states (excluding Britain) were summoned to a separate Brexit meeting on Sunday evening, diplomatic sources told the Reuters news agency. Neither Ger-
man newspaper gave specific details of the provisional Brexit deal. But on Saturday, business website Bloomberg reported that British and UK officials had agreed to extend the 21-month transition period that kicks in following Brexit day in March 2019. The transitional phase keeps Britain within the EUʼs single market and customs union but London would lose its direct influence in policy making in Brussels. Citing diplomats familiar with the situation, Bloomberg said the transition extension until the end of 2021 — which would only be enacted if trade talks slowed — would help overcome the last major hurdle in Brexit talks,namely the Irish border issue. Theresa Mayʼs Conservative government and the EU have spent months trying to find a solution to ensure frictionless trade post-Brexit at the UKʼs only land border with the EU, between the British territory of Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. During 18-months of Brexit negotiations, Brussels has demanded abackstop to ensure the border would remain openeven if the EU and the UK were unable to agree a new permanent trade deal.
Portugal issues red alert for rare Atlantic hurricane Hurricane Leslie has left 27 people injured in Portugal, as high winds and rain brought down trees and cut power. It is one of the most powerful storms ever to hit the Iberian peninsula. Powerful winds of up to 180 kilometers per hour (118 miles per hour) uprooted hundreds of trees and left thousands of homes in Portugal without electricity, as Hurricane Leslie struck overnight into Sunday. Authorities urged residents in the capital, Lisbon, along with central and northern parts of the country not to venture outdoors, after 27 people were injured. They also warned of possible flooding in coastal areas. Dozens of people were forced to leave their homes, and a number of flights were canceled. "I have never seen anything like it," one witness told SIC television in Figueira da Foz, 200 kilometers north of Lisbon, adding that several cars had been damaged there by falling debris.
Bavaria elections: Polls open in divisive vote Bavarians headed to the polls on Sunday ina historical vote to elect a regional parliament and government that could seethe long-ruling Christian Social Union(CSU) lose their absolute majority in the state legislature. The election could spelltrouble for German Chancellor Angela Merkelʼs fragile coalition government, which comprises her Christian Democrats (CDU), their Bavarian sister party, the CSU, and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).
weather today BUDAPEST
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