EU warns Italy over budget +++ Kandahar elections postponed +++ Trump says Khashoggi is likely dead

19. November 2018, 02:00

EU warns Italy over budget

The European Union has handed a letter to Italy - warning it that its proposed budget could lead to disaster for the Eurozone. Italy's populist coalition wants to raise its budget deficit to 2.4% of GDP in order to finance its election promises to cut taxes, increase pensions, reform social welfare, and end poverty. But the third largest economy in the Eurozone already has a massive overall debt of 131% of GDP - second only to Greece. And Brussels says Italian overspending poses a huge threat to all EU countries. Nina Trentmann is from the Wall Street Journal:“It’s not as if the EU can change it but it could enforce rules that are forcing the Italian government to bring down debt. And if it doesn’t do that, then of course there is this reaction that you within markets – and you see then quite an impact there.”

Kandahar elections postponed

Parliamentary elections in the southern Afghan province of Kandahar, which were due to be held tomorrow, will be delayed by one week - following yesterday’s assassination of the powerful provincial police chief. The Taliban have claimed responsibility for the death of General Abdul Raziq, who was shot dead by a rogue bodyguard. The Independent Election Commission says the postponement is in line with the wishes of the people of Kandahar. Elections are still due to be held across most of the rest of Afghanistan tomorrow.

Trump says Khashoggi is likely dead

President Trump says he now believes the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi is dead after seeing, what he calls, “intelligence from every side.” Khashoggi was last seen over two weeks ago, entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul and Turkish officials say he was murdered inside the building. The U.S. president told reporters that the consequences for Saudi Arabia could be – quote - “very severe” if its leaders are found to have ordered the killing: “We’re waiting for some investigations. We’re waiting for the results. And I think we’ll be making a statement – a very strong statement. But we should be able to get to the bottom fairly soon. But it’s bad, bad stuff.”

Mexican police sent to meet migrant caravan

Mexico has sent hundreds of police to its southern border as a caravan of thousands of Central American migrants approaches from Guatemala. The move came after President Trump threatened to use military force to completely close the US-Mexico border over the issue. He also said aid could be cut to countries who allow the caravan to pass.

The weather

The weather: widespread sunshine throughout the afternoon. Some cloud and a few showers in Carinthia and Styria. Top temperatures are ranging from 14 to 22 degrees. The outlook for the weekend: more overcast and cooler.

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