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A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 15 November 2019

EU takes legal action against UK over commissioner dispute

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN The new commission led by
Associated Press Ursula von der Leyen was
BRUSSELS (AP) — The Eu- initially scheduled to take
ropean Union is piling office Nov. 1, the day after
pressure on Britain and Britain was scheduled to
has launched legal ac- leave the bloc. But Euro-
tion against the departing pean lawmakers rejected
member of the 28-country three commission candi-
bloc over its decision not to dates from other countries,
name a candidate for the delaying the process, and
EU’s executive arm. the EU agreed to delay Brit-
The EU Commission said in ain’s departure from the
a statement Thursday that bloc until Jan. 31. Sending a
it sent a letter of formal no- letter of formal notice is the
tice to U.K. authorities after first step in a lengthy legal
Britain’s envoy to Brussels procedure if the EU Com-
confirmed the U.K. would mission deems a member
not present a candidate state to be in contraven-
to the bloc’s executive European Commissioner designate for Transport Adina Valean listens to a question during her tion of EU rules. In the final
arm before the country’s hearing at the European Parliament in Brussels, Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019. stages of an infringement
Dec. 12 general election, Associated Press procedure the EU Commis-
despite its obligation to do sion can refer such a case
so and repeated requests British authorities have un- said. the next Commission must to the bloc's highest court,
from the next president of til Nov. 22 “to provide their “This short time period is enter into office as soon as which can in turn impose
the commission. views,” the commission justified by the fact that possible,” it added. financial penalties.q

Toll rises in Australian wildfires with more danger ahead

South Wales, police said. it's so dry," Rural Fire Service more help if needed.
He is suspected to be a Deputy Commissioner Rob At least 50 homes were
58-year-old man who lived Rogers told the Seven Net- damaged or destroyed in
in a nearby shed and had work television. New South Wales on Tues-
not been seen since Friday "Conditions starting to day by wildfires that had
when ferocious wildfires warm up tomorrow, into the burnt into the suburbs of
across New South Wales weekend and then heat- Sydney, Australia’s largest
killed three other people ing up early next week, a city.
and destroyed at least 150 return to more gusty condi- A weeklong state of emer-
homes. tions. We're in for the long gency was declared for
About 60 fires were burning haul," he added. New South Wales because
around New South Wales U.S. Ambassador to Aus- of the extraordinary fire
on Thursday morning, with tralia Arthur Culvahouse Jr. danger. The emergency
27 uncontained while be- said firefighting Tanker 911, declaration gives the Rural
In this image made from video, forest trees are on fire in Kilkivan, ing battled by more than a converted McDonnell Fire Service sweeping pow-
Queensland state, Australia, Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019. 1,000 firefighters, the Rural Douglas DC-10 jet that can ers to control resources and
Associated Press Fire Service said. drop 35,600 liters (9,400 gal- direct other government
"We had a better day yes- lons) of fire retardant, was agencies.
Associated Press day of worsening weather terday, only one fire got to on its way from New Mex- The annual Australian fire
SYDNEY (AP) — The death conditions to come. emergency warning, but ico to the Australian east season, which peaks during
toll for wildfires raging A body was found late even in these pretty benign coast to help. He said in a the Southern Hemisphere
across Australia’s most pop- Wednesday in a scorched conditions we're seeing statement he would reach summer, has started early
ulous state has risen to four forest near the town of quite a lot of aggressive fire out to Australian national after an unusually warm
as authorities warned Thurs- Kempsey in northeast New behavior simply because and state leaders to offer and dry winter.q