IN BRIEF (Page 11)

European Union

EU urges legal action against Italy over debt

The European Commission is recommending that legal action be taken against Italy because it failed to respect EU debt rules last year and looks to do so again in coming years. The commission made the recommendation on Wednesday and EU member states must now assess whether to take action against Italy. It could face billions of euros in fines. Italy's public debt stood at more than 132 percent of GDP in 2018, far above the EU's 60 percent limit. The country only won EU approval for its 2019 budget plan after agreeing to reduce the deficit to acceptable levels.

Malta

271 migrants rescued from Mediterranean

Malta's navy said on Wednesday that it had rescued a total of 271 migrants from the Mediterranean in three separate operations. The navy rescued 63 migrants in distress after their dinghy started to take in water overnight, a statement said. A patrol boat rescued another 61 migrants after they made a distress call, and then 147 more in a third rescue, the navy said, without providing further details. The rescued migrants were taken to Malta for health checks. Malta has appealed to the European Union for help in dealing with the flow of migrants, which its much larger neighbor Italy has begun to turn away.

Indonesia

17 missing after cargo vessel sinks

Seventeen people were missing after a cargo boat sank off eastern Indonesia, authorities said on Wednesday, the latest maritime accident to hit the sprawling archipelago nation. The vessel overturned on Saturday afternoon with 18 people onboard. It was sailing from Bitung, on the northern tip of Sulawesi island, to Morowali regency in the south, rescue officials said. One 35-year-old survivor was found by a passing vessel floating in a life jacket on Tuesday and was now receiving medical treatment, authorities said. Search and rescue official Basrano, who goes by one name, said 17 crew members were still being sought. A rescue vessel has been deployed.

Uganda

5 dead, others missing in mudslides

The Uganda Red Cross said at least five people have died in mudslides triggered by heavy rains in the east. The group said on Wednesday that its search and rescue teams plowing through the mud had retrieved the bodies and handed them over to police. Julius Mucunguzi, a spokesman for the prime minister's office, says at least 10 people are missing and many are displaced. Several villages in the eastern district of Bududa, in the foothills of Mount Elgon, are prone to mudslides. Deaths are reported every year during the wet season.

AFP - AP

(China Daily 06/06/2019 page11)