Italy Draghi’s Meeting with US President Biden Set To Bolster Common Anti-Russia Transatlantic Energy Strategy – Italian Coalition Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi’s upcoming trip to the US will seek to bolster the anti-Russia transatlantic energy strategy as Italy takes on a leadership role in Europe in moving toward “gradual” independence from Russian oil and gas, said ruling coalition sources. On May 10 Draghi will meet with […]
Rome Coalition Sources Warn of Fallout from Possible Le Pen Victory for EU, NATO, Italy
Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – A potential victory in France of far-right presidential candidate Marie Le Pen would jeopardize prosperous Italy-France ties and boost Italy’s own far-right populists, warned Italian coalition sources. By extension, a Le Pen victory would weaken the European Union‘s integration process and NATO unity in opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin. The […]
Italy Expected To Place Two New US-Denominated Bonds in Q2 To Complete Yield Curve – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s government plans to issue two more US dollar-denominated bonds in the second half of this year likely with medium-term maturities which would extend average debt maturities and consolidate Italy’s role as a frequent issuer on the US market, said ruling coalition sources. “Our plan, since we returned to […]
Italy Raises Pressure on EU To Cap Gas Import Prices, Ready to Adopt National Measures If EU Deal Is Delayed – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Rome’s government is raising pressure on European Union institutions to place a EU-wide cap on imported gas prices to shield families and business from an extraordinary spike in energy bills that is weakening the bloc’s economy, according to ruling coalition sources. The proposal faces opposition from Germany and Holland. […]
Italy To Raise Defense Budget To 2% of GDP, But EU Common Funding Needed – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s parliament is expected to clear on Thursday a defense budget increase to reach 2% of GDP following the Ukraine crisis, though the goal is to achieve at European level a common funding mechanism for military expenditures, according to ruling coalition sources. “We have pledged, as per NATO agreements […]
US Nat’l Security Adviser Sullivan: Pres Biden to Consult w/Allies on Potential Russia Use of Nukes
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Tuesday answered a reporter’s question about Russia’s use of possibly smaller nuclear weapons in Ukraine: by saying President Biden will this week, in his visit to Brussels, be consulting with allies on ‘that potential contingency.” Sullivan’s verbatim response follows: “President Putin, in the early days of […]
Rome Resumes Role On Euro-Atlantic Stage, Common Stance with US ‘Key’ In Ukraine Crisis Exit – Sources
–Ukraine’s Zelensky to address Italian lower house ROME (MaceNews) – Italy has resumed a ‘key role’ on the Euro-Atlantic stage in working on an exit from the Ukraine crisis after hosting the US-China meeting, according to sources comprising the ruling coalition. Monday’s meeting in Rome between US national security adviser Jake Sullivan and top Chinese […]
German Economic Sentiment Plunges on Ukraine, Sanctions, ZEW Reports
ZURICH (MaceNews) – Economic sentiment in Germany fell by a historic margin in March, as the war in Ukraine and resulting sanctions against Russia pushed the ZEW institute’s measure of economic sentiment into sharply negative territory. The ZEW measure of economic sentiment plunged 93.6 points in March to a reading of -39.3 from the February […]
Text: G7 Details Current and Future Sanctions Vs Russia
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the joint statement statement Friday by the Group of Seven countries, detailing new current sanctions and anticipated future sanctions being imposed on Russia: We the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) remain resolved to stand with the Ukrainian people and government who heroically resist Russian President Vladimir Putin’s […]
ECB Cuts Asset Purchases, Could Exit QE in Q3
— Rate Hikes to Come ‘Some Time After’ Asset Purchases End LONDON (MaceNews) – The European Central Bank surprised forecasters, announcing a reduction in asset purchases over the second quarter and raising the possibility of a rate hike this year, following the conclusion of Thursday’s governing council meeting. Purchases under the long-running Asset Purchase Programme will […]