Lesbos. And well take an in depth look at the continuing row between australia and china with journalists expelled from beijing and now chinese academics having their visas withdrawn in australia. The European Union is threatening to take legal action against the uk over its controversial new brexit bill. The uk government wants to ignore parts of last yea rs Withdrawal Agreement, specifically on issues concerning Northern Ireland. The eu says that would be unacceptable. This is the European Commissions Vice PresidentMaro Sefcovic in london today. He flew in for emergency talks with the senior uk cabinet minister michael gove. They dont appear to have resolved anything. When those talks concluded the European Commission issued a very sternly worded statement, saying. The Commission Says the proposed legislation. Well explain why the eu believes that to be the case in a moment, but first, heres chris morris on that statement. The message from the eu is very clear. And i spent several years covering the eu in brussels, wading through statements of incredibly dense and dull prose. This was pretty strong. When it comes to the eu, that is a strong, that was Strong Language as strong as they normally use. The row here is all over Northern Ireland and a protocol that comes with the Withdrawal Agreement that the uk signed. Northern ireland, is part of the uk and the republic of ireland is in the eu. And there have been no border checks or any type since a peace deal in 19905 that ended decades of violence. And avoiding a hard border is seen as key to maintaining the peace. The eu thought both sides had agreed on a solution to that problem last year. Now its all in jeopardy again. Our chief Political Correspondent vicki young explains. It is agreed that Northern Ireland would continue to follow some eu customs rules. That would mean extra paperwork, checks and tariffs for some goods moving between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Now the government is introducing its own law so that uk ministers can decide how to apply the rules without the eus agreement. Earlier today the uk government published a legal opinion saying. And the cabinet minister involved in todays emergency talks, michael gove, has spoken briefly to the media. This is what he had to say. I hope that across the house of commons there will be a recognition that we have an obligation to Northern Ireland in order to make sure that they can continue to have unfettered access, but of course we as a government have an obligation and to the joint agreement of her car and permitted in such a way the implement the games of the good friday belfast agreement are absolute secured and enhance in the future. The European Union disagrees on this point completely. As our brussels correspondent nick beake put it this was the most scathing part of the eus statement. Heres katya adler with more on the mood in brussels. There is a sense in brussels that they were trying to push the eu into they were trying to push the eu into the corner. Not going to give them a subsection of walking out of these trade negotiations is how one eu deponent put it to me. Make no mistake, the mood here is very bad indeed. In reading and blood that did not go as the eu had hoped. The you wanted to get reassurances, guarantees from the government that in the end it with respect that Withdrawal Agreement, that breaks a divorce deal signed last year in full. It did not get that. So now the eus chief trade negotiator in london today is starting conversations with eu leaders come out with the European Parliament to see exactly what they want to do next. Although this is reasonably predictable. It would have known this kind of reaction was coming. So there would have known this coming so there would have known this coming so why have they chosen to go this route . A very good question. I think they will have to assume they did know this was by design, not by accident because of course they had also as the warnings from their own legal department, the chief legal officer resigned. So if it is by design what is all about . I think are two theories basically amongst watchers at westminster and thats number one this was an attempt by the uk to try and put pressure on brussels in the trade talks that have been continuing about the future relationship, and if so that pressure does not seem to be working very well. The other theory of course is that the uk and four shots and in some of those around him want to collapse the talks, they dont wa nt to to collapse the talks, they dont want to post brexit trade deal with the European Union, it would rather go for something much more pure, a harder brexit as it has been termed in the past. We talked many times about those in the uk to support borisjohnson about those in the uk to support Boris Johnson and his about those in the uk to support borisjohnson and his brexit agenda, i would imagine many of them are overly concerned with this approach, it matches previous moves by Boris Johnson earlier on in the process. Of course, i mean, im fully aware that lots of people, particularly around the world would think what on earth is going on . The uk government must have known it was going to upset the eu, there would upset allies of the United States, for Goodness Sake also of that two former prime ministers who were also conservatives and supporters of brexit saying goodness gracious, we are trashing our reputation abroad for being reliable and law abiding. So why is it all happening . Its a bit like in other countries, and the key is domestic british politics. That is simply that mrjohnson and some of those around him that were pa rt some of those around him that were part of the Vote Leave Campaign are thoroughly aware that the vast majority of people who voted leave in 2016, and who voted conservative in 2019, and some remainders as well, they are not bothered by any of the stuff. The idea of the eu issuing threats to the uk that its not living up to its agreements, i think mrjohnson tends to take the view that an awful lot of his supporters just wont care. Whether thats a wise approach to governance and diplomacy is another matter, but i think that is driving a sense that an awful lot of their supporters will still be perfectly onside society here in the uk. Stay with me. The British Government is also facing criticism not only at home but abroad as well. Top legal spokesperson for the labour party has released this statement. As the opposition from the uk. We are seeing some evidence of that in the us. The speaker of the us house of representatives has issued her own strongly worded statement. Have a listen. Dont mess with the good friday accords. This is something that as americans we are very proud of our participation in, recognition of nobel status given to what happened there, president clinton being so much a part of it. George mitchell and others on both sides of the atlantic. Nancy pelosis party, the democrats, currently control the house. Ifjoe biden wins novembers election they will hold the white house too. And shes issued this warning to the uk. What were they thinking . Whatever it is, i hope they are not thinking of aukus is, i hope they are not thinking of a uk us bilateral trade agreement to make up for what they might lose. Its up to the people of the uk, for them to decide if they want to belong to the eu and the rest. Thats their judgement, thats belong to the eu and the rest. Thats theirjudgement, thats their decision thats to be respected. But dont think you were going to get a reward if you undermine. Evidently the stakes are pretty high with this approach were Boris Johnson. The stakes are pretty high with this approach were borisjohnson. I wonder if your recession the interactions of conservative mps, do any of them have concerns about this 01 any of them have concerns about this or believe in their man . What an interesting question. Its well known that the politics and Public Opinion in most countries is immensely parochial. People are focused on the kind of local backlogs, who is up and down it was going to win the next election. The fa ct going to win the next election. The fact that britain reputation around the world to stick a lot of damage asa the world to stick a lot of damage as a result of the way brexit has been handled since we 16 does not tend to percolate through that. That said, i mean several conservative mps but dont worry im not coordinating them if they happen to be watching, are absolutely livid and that includes brexiteers. Why . Because they do think this idea that britain should be seen around the world as not reliable, that does not stick to agreements, they think that that in itself would not work very well for brexit. If youre going to try and strike new trade agreements, we heard from nancy pelosi there, you can see how that would be problematic. I dont think theres any doubt that the majority of conservative mps are still behind borisjohnson. Are the extremely worried about the government performance and what comes next . And this truly astonishing dagger drawn stand with the eu, you bet they are worried. Is the idea that this legislation will be passed and then in place should the uk needed, or is the idea that legislation will only be voted on if the trade talks between the uk and the eu completely collapse . Tricky question. Let me try and answer and as i understand that the process of passing it into law will begin next tuesday. We will see what level of opposition there is inside the governing conservative party. As i understand it the idea behind this is that you would only have to enact this legislation if there was not a trade deal between there was not a trade deal between the European Union and the uk, but of course the real difficulty that the British Government is in his presentation only and the reason so much fun of it was made on social media, if you didnt like this agreement and contents were happen in case of a no deal. Why did you sign up to it and passing through parliament, and why did you campaign . But as i say at this moment theres no sign of the opinion that its really causing the conservative party immense damage. So watch this space. Thank you for taking the tricky questions on. Helping us out as ever to understand the twists and turns of the brexit story. More now on these shocking wildfires on the us west coast. At least seven people have died, and tens of thousands have had to evacuate. And were seeing some terrifying and extraordinary images. This is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The smoke and ash has turned the sky this apocalyptic shade of orange. Heres one resident. 1115. Crazy. 11 15am and its like the middle of the night, almost. There are still a number of fires in california that are not under control. These pictures are near the town of el dorado. This is the fire that was started by a firework at a gender reveal party. Well this ones is far from over less than 20 of the fire has been contained. From california to oregon further up the coast. Were told several small towns have all but been destroyed. The fires are being driven by strong winds and record temperatures. And this satellite image gives you an idea of the scale of whats happening across the coastal region. In california, these are already the worst fires ever recorded in a single year remember last year there was a really serious fire season . The fires in 2020 have burnt an area twenty times the size of where wed reached on this date in 2019. This graphic tweeted by the states Firefighting Agency cal fire is also helpful. There have been more than 7,500 fires and remember september and october are the most serious months so these are early days. This is what it looks like on a map also from cal fire. The agency says around 3 million of the states 12 million homes are at high risk. Over 2 million acres have been affected in total. There are more than 111,000 firefighters tackling the fires across california, but the sheer number and ferocity is taking a toll. Itsjust stretched its just stretched resources thin across the state. So with the worst conditions ive seen in my career, its going to be an historic season in california. Not much we can do to stop them, we are really any protection mode trying to protect the life and property because they are burning down homes, and so all the manpower is protecting those structures and the life, and helicopters and air tankers are doing what they can to slow the fire down. To 0regon now, where the situation is also dire. This is a map from the state authorities in oregon there are 37 active fires, and nearly 700,000 acres have been burned through. And there still could be worse to come. Oregons governor has said. I have no complaints. Unhealthy, my family is healthy. And with this 66 years old guy i have gone through ups and down so many times, this is just one more time. The shares coming through going to a level three can we get out to make grab some papers. This is what ive got. This is what ive got. Needless to say as were watching all of this play out the issue of Climate Change is central. Heres what one bioclimatologist quoted in the new york times. Then theres barack 0bama. Hes tweeted. And heres what the governor of california said earlier this week. I quite literally have no patience for Climate Change deniers. It is simply follows completely inconsistent. The point of view with the reality on the ground, the facts as we are experiencing them. You may not believe in intellectually, but your own eyes and experiences tell a different story, particularly out here on the west coast of the United States, and particularly here in the state of california. President donald trump declared the fires in california major disaster at the end of august that freed up federal aid money. But hes also been critical of the states forestry practices in 2018 he said poor Forest Management was responsible for the fires. This week, as the situation has escalated, hes had little to say. Lets go live now to cbss Lilia Luciano who is in phoenix, 0regon. Thank you very much forjoining us. Tell us what youve seen please. Thank you for having me. I am standing right in the middle of an rv park, it part of trailers a bunch of people who lived here in this area have lost absolutely everything. This is one of five towns that was completely leveled. Almost to its entirety. The federal government is estimating now that the fire that caused this cost about 600 homes were destroyed about 600 homes and we just met some folks that a single mother who is living with her son in this trailer for about 20 years, and she has nowhere to go. There was a lot of hispanic, latino families here. Working that have nothing to start with her to start from. I met a have nothing to start with her to start from. I meta man have nothing to start with her to start from. I met a man that does not have access to his property to see its conditions so you can start taking photos to provide to his insurance. To taking photos to provide to his insurance. T0 even taking photos to provide to his insurance. To even get that process started. And whats interesting is all of these people ive spoken with are staying with family members because they have family members or access to some to go. Of course you add to the trauma and tragedy of the property loss and the loss of life thats been happening, the pandemic. Their shelters both provided by the state and by the counties. Where people are going to do because they we re people are going to do because they were evacuated oi people are going to do because they were evacuated or because they know they lost everything. But you are grouping people in these areas in the middle of a pandemic so the situation is worse than i think any time before that ive covered wildfires. It looks absolutely terrifying from the scene behind you is one of complete destruction. What have you heard about the moments as the fire approached . Have you heard about the moments as the fire approached . How quickly it came upon the people. It takes 15 minutes, that the time that people have to evacuate and to think about what to bring with them. To decide and most people have told me i grabbed my child or my dog, i spoke with them, an elderly woman yesterday who lived in a nursing home where about a0 people had to be evacuated. It was completely burned to the ground and she was telling me about the photos of her husband, her late husband that now she regrets not having been able to take. But over here people were being told by police to get out, to get out and they were still trying in this area where im standing, still trying with buckets of water and fire hoses to do the best they could to protect their property or to stop the fire. Of course thats inevitably a com pletely of course thats inevitably a completely destroyed the area. Most people ran out with the shoes they we re people ran out with the shoes they were wearing, the clothes they had on. Itsjust no were wearing, the clothes they had on. Its just no time to decide. 15 minutes maximum. Thank you very much for bringing us up to date. Lilia from phoenix, 0regon for bringing us up to date. Lilia from phoenix, oregon with cps. China has accused the United States of Racial Discrimination after washington said it had revoked the visas of 1000 Chinese Students and researchers. The us said the visa holders had ties to the Chinese Military something china contests