White House Transcript of Biden-Xi Backgrounder Briefing
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is the White House transcript of the late Tuesday background teleconference in which reporters were briefed on the three-hour virtual meeting of Pres Biden and China’s President Xi: Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on President Biden’s Virtual Meeting with President Xi of the People’s Republic of China Via […]
Facing Debt Buildup, Italy Pressing for More Lenient EU Fiscal Rules Post-Covid – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy is pressing its European Union partners to define new, more relaxed fiscal rules for the post-Covid era and warns of financial instability ahead unless the EU acts quickly, according to ruling Italian coalition sources. The debate at EU level on the need to reform the Stability and Growth […]
US Data Preview Commentary: Retail Sales, Housing Starts, and More Angst About Threats of Partisan Violence
By Denny Gulino WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – A week of ordinary and not too consequential economic data, like October retail sales and housing starts, a US-China summit chat, the signing of BIF (Amtrak fans rejoice) and more socioeconomic angst reflected in a flurry of essays about America’s threatened civil war. No one needs to be told […]
MaceNewsViews: Commentary – Democrats Celebrating (Perhaps Fleeting) Victory
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – On Monday, President Biden will sign into law the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, a cornerstone of the president’s agenda, in a lavish ceremony with many supporters and even a few Republicans present. The bill provides billions for roads and bridges across the nation and much more, for instance […]
Italy’s Parliament Battle Against the ‘Citizenship Wage’ Will Open Further Cracks in Ruling Majority – Sources
By Silvia Marchetti ROME (MaceNews) – Italy’s parliament attempt to ‘dismantle’ the controversial citizenship wage will open further cracks in the governing coalition and is likely to raise political instability, according to ruling party sources. The citizenship wage – a monthly income granted to the jobless as long as they have an Italian passport – […]
US House-Passed Infrastructure Bill Gets Presidential Signature in Coming Days
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – After months of wrangling and tense back-and-forth negotiations, the House of Representatives finally passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure spending bill shortly before midnight Friday. Saturday morning President Biden hailed it as an inflection point toward winning “the competition of the 21st century., The legislation passed 228-206 with 13 Republicans […]
FOMC: Tapering to Begin This Month at the Expected Pace
WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The Federal Open Market Committee Wednesday fulfilled expectations that tapering will get underway, starting the process this month while making no reference to the timeline of eventual liftoff other than the usual goals of maximum employment and 2% inflation. The policy announcement follows: With progress on vaccinations and strong policy support, indicators […]
Japan Oct Tokyo Core CPI Posts Only Small Gain, Led by Higher Energy Costs
— Electricity Charges, Gasoline Prices Pick Up Pace of Y/Y Gains— Mobile Communication Fees Show Deeper Drop, Limiting CPI Rise By Max Sato (MaceNews) – The core reading of consumer prices in Tokyo, a leading indicator of the national average, posted the second consecutive but small year-over-year gain in October as higher electricity bills and […]
Japan Sept Factory Output Slumps; Autos, Others Hit by Supply Delays
–Output Posts Larger-than-Expected M/M Drop, 1st Y/Y Fall in 7 Months–METI Keeps View After Downgrade Last Month: Factory Output Pausing–METI Repeats: Watch Effects of Rising COVID Cases, Global Chip Shortages By Max Sato (MaceNews) – Japan’s industrial production posted the third straight monthly decline in September, coming in weaker than expected, as protracted global semiconductor […]
US FCC Targeting More Chinese Telecom Companies
By Eric Ham WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The United States continues its crackdown on Chinese Telecom companies that began with severe U.S.restrictions imposed on commerce with Huawei. China Telecom, the largest Chinese telecommunications company, Tuesday had its license revoked by the Federal Communications Commission after operating in the United States for almost 20 years. The FCC […]