Schengen to be re-launched

According to Ansa, the European Commission plans to re-launch the Schengen Area, strengthening external borders. It says the Brussels plan, to be unveiled on Wednesday, would be an “outline” of the legislative proposals for 30 months and would develop on three central points: the strengthening of the external borders, good internal coordination and an improvement of governance, with a more effective use of evaluations. The Schengen Area has been one of the EU’s main successes, but had been undermined by terrorism, crossed by barbed wire barriers with the migrant crisis, and ended up in resuscitation with the COVID pandemic. 

Brazilians protest against President Bolsonaro

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Brazil’s 16 largest cities to demand the impeachement of President Jair Bolsonaro over his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. Organised by leftist political parties, unions and student associations, Saturday’s protests in the capital Brasilia and in Rio de Janeiro were peaceful, but in the northeastern city of Recife, police threw tear gas at protesters. COVID-19 has killed more than 450,000 Brazilians as the far-right leader played down its severity, dismissed mask wearing and cast doubt on the importance of vaccines. 

Columbian army sent in to quell unrest

Radio Caracol reports President Ivan Duque of Columbia has ordered the deployment of the army in the streets of Cali, the scene of a month of violent protests, as at least ten people died yesterday. Since protests erupted in April, at least 43 protesters have been killed, with mounting reports of arbitrary detention, torture and sexual abuse of protesters by the police. 

Boris and Carrie wed in secret ceremony

The Sunday Express reports Prime Minister Boris Johnson has married his fiancèe Carrie Symonds in a secret ceremony at Westminster Cathedral in London. Only close friends and members of the families, including the couple’s  son Wilfred, attended. Downing Street had declined to comment. 

Chelsea shatter Guardiola’s dream

Football: UK nationals give prominence to Chelsea’s win of the Champions League for the second time as a Kai Havertz goal secured a tense 1-0 victory over Manchester City in Saturday’s all-English final in Porto. Havertz rounded Ederson to score three minutes before half-time. Coach Thomas Tuchel’s club may have finished fourth in the Premier League, a huge 19 points behind the champions City, but this, remarkably, was their third win over Pep Guardiola’s side in six weeks: they shattered City’s hopes of a domestic treble when they triumphed in the FA Cup semi-finals in April and then delayed their title celebrations with victory in Manchester. Now, in a final watched by a limited crowd of just over 14,000 fans who created a raucous atmosphere, they have denied City the first Champions League crown they and Guardiola so crave.