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☆ Italy open to supplying air defence systems to Ukraine -official
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/2] People demonstrate against Russia's invasion of Ukraine during a rally in Rome, Italy, November 5, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File PhotoROME, Nov 8 (Reuters) - The Italian government is readying a new arms package for Ukraine including air defence systems, a governing coalition official said on Tuesday. The Italian coalition official, who declined to be named, said Rome was ready to provide Ukraine with a variety of air-defence systems, including the medium-range Franco-Italian SAMP/T and Italian Aspide, as well as portable Stinger missiles. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto spoke by phone on Monday with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and pledged to support Ukraine against Russia's invasion for "as long as necessary", a statement said. On Monday, Kyiv said it had received its first delivery of NASAMS air defence systems from the United States.

☆ Telecom Italia CEO sticks to turnaround plan as govt weighs alternatives
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Unveiled in July, TIM Chief Executive Pietro Labriola's plan is mostly based on a potential multi-billion euro sale of its fixed network infrastructure to state lender CDP. Alessio Butti, responsible for telecoms policies in Meloni's Brothers of Italy party, has criticized TIM's plan to sell its landline grid. Sponsored by the previous government of Prime Minister Mario Draghi, the single network project is now being reviewed by the centre-right government that took office last month. Newly-appointed cabinet undersecretary Butti on Saturday said he would start talks with state lender CDP, TIM and other stakeholders over his plan, reigniting speculation of a government-sponsored takeover. Under the Minerva project, TIM would retain the network while hiving off its services operations and its Brazil-listed unit.

☆ Migrant rescue ship refuses to leave Italy port in standoff with Meloni
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +6 min

The captain of a charity-run migrant rescue ship refused Italian orders to leave a Sicilian port Sunday after authorities refused to let 35 of the migrants on his ship disembark — part of directives by Italy’s new far-right-led government targeting foreign-flagged rescue ships. On Sunday, Italy ordered the Humanity 1 to vacate the port of Catania after disembarking 144 rescued migrants, including with children, more than 100 unaccompanied minors and people with medical emergencies. “Free all the people, free them,″ Italian lawmaker Aboubakar Soumahoro said in an emotional appeal directed at Meloni from the Humanity 1 rescue ship. Aboard the Humanity 1, doctors in Italy identified people needing urgent medical care after the ship’s doctor refused to make a selection, said SOS Humanity spokesman Wasil Schauseil. SOS Humanity said it plans to file a civil case in Catania to ensure that all 35 survivors on board have access to formal asylum procedures on land.

☆ What to watch on Monday at COP27
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

But their messages will likely differ a lot on key points, and their soaring rhetoric will at times clash with performances that have lagged past promises. U.S. President Joe Biden will arrive next week, as will newly elected Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Chinese President Xi Jinping is not scheduled to attend COP27, but he will have an envoy at the conference. Other things to watch will include a World Trade Organization report expected Monday about the role of trade policy in climate change, and some expected announcements about forests as climate sinks. Reporting by Valerie Volcovici; Editing by Lisa ShumakerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ TIM top investor Vivendi keen to discuss network plan with government, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MILAN, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Telecom Italia's (TIM) (TLIT.MI) top investor Vivendi (VIV.PA) is keen to start talks with Italy's new right-wing government on a new plan to create a national broadband company, people close to the French media conglomerate said on Sunday. The potential sale was part of a plan sponsored by the previous government to combine TIM's fixed network assets with those of smaller broadband operator Open Fiber in order to create a national network champion under CDP control. However, regulatory and valuations issues have thwarted efforts so far and the project to create a single network company is now being reassessed by the new government, which was sworn in last month. Butti had previously called on CDP to pursue the single network project taking over TIM, under a plan dubbed "Minerva". Under the plan, TIM would retain the network while hiving off its services operations and its Brazil-listed unit to cut its debt pile.

☆ French far-right party chooses 27-year-old to replace Marine Le Pen as leader
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +5 min

Bardella, 27, won an internal party vote with 85% support, marking a symbolic changing of the guard at the resurgent National Rally party. Marine Le Pen is still expected to wield significant power in the party’s leadership and run again for France’s presidency in 2027. Le Pen said Bardella’s main challenge will be pursuing the party “roadmap” of taking power in France. Bardella had been the interim president of the National Rally since Le Pen entered the presidential race last year. Le Pen lost to French President Emmanuel Macron on her third presidential bid in April but earned her highest score yet.

☆ Italy to scrutinise sale of Lukoil-owned refinery, minister says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The ISAB refinery accounts for around 20% of Italy's refinery capacity and directly employs 1,000 workers in one of Italy's poorer regions. Rome has special anti-takeover regulations or so-called "golden powers" to shield companies deemed of strategic importance from foreign interest. Marking a break with previous administrations, Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government has used golden powers to set conditions on scores of deals. Urso has recently said that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's administration would continue to use such a rules to preserve the country's national interest. Last month Italian authorities provided Lukoil with a "comfort letter" to help ISAB refinery get bank financing to buy non-Russian oil but lenders have not yet unlocked the much-needed funds.

She told reporters she would spend more than nine billion euros on an anti-inflation package in a decree next week. The government raised Italy's GDP growth forecast for this year to 3.7% from 3.3% on the back of stronger expected expansion in the third quarter, while leaving the 2023 forecast unchanged at 0.6%. RECORD INFLATIONThe Treasury's targets will form the framework for the 2023 budget that Meloni will present to parliament this month for approval by the end of the year. Public finances this year have gone better than forecast, with value added tax revenues and excise duties boosted by inflation and surging energy prices. Giorgetti said Italy's public debt, proportionally the highest in the euro zone after Greece's, will fall steadily from the 150.3% of GDP level registered in 2021 to 141.2% in 2025.

☆ Grégoire de Fournas: French parliamentary session halted by lawmaker's shout "Go back to Africa"
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-03 | by ( Xiaofei Xu | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

A rightwing French lawmaker has caused uproar by shouting “Go back to Africa” during a Black lawmaker’s comments at a parliamentary session broadcast to the public on Thursday. Grégoire de Fournas, parliamentary representative from the National Rally (RN) party, interrupted Carlos Martens Bilongo, a representative from the far-left party France Unbowed (LFI) during a session of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. De Fournas interrupted, shouting “go back to Africa.”Chaos immediately ensued in the chamber, leading Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the National Assembly, to temporarily suspend the session. Bilongo and his party have described the shout as a racist personal attack, though de Fournas’ party has argued that the interjection was actually intended for the migrants under discussion. Mathilde Panot, leader of the far-left France Unbowed group at the National Assembly, has demanded that de Fournas face the toughest punishment for a French lawmaker — expulsion.

Labriola met Meloni's chief of staff Gaetano Caputi at the prime minister's office in Rome, the sources said, without providing further details. Under the potential deal, CDP, which owns a 10% stake in TIM, would merge TIM's infrastructure with that of smaller rival Open Fiber to create a national network champion under its control. Butti's appointment as cabinet undersecretary has sparked speculation over a potential bid, pushing TIM's shares to a two-month high on Wednesday. TIM's board is also expected to kick-off the process to select a minority partner for its enterprise service arm. It could use these to stop any deal for TIM's assets.

☆ Europe’s diverging prices complicate ECB’s task
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Pierre Briancon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

LONDON, Nov 1 (Reuters Breakingviews) - The euro zone monetary policy debate may soon become more tense. The region’s inflation rate, at 10.7% in October, masks wide disparities among member states. The recent dispersion in euro zone inflation rates began with the recession triggered by Covid-19. Retail energy prices in the euro area increased by 40% between August 2021 and August 2022. Monetary policy may become less predictable.

☆ Italy's economy grows stronger than expected 0.5% in Q3, easing pressure on new govt
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

* Q3 GDP 0.5% q/q, 2.6% y/y* Easily beats forecasts* Q3 growth founded on domestic demandROME, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Italy's economy grew by 0.5% in the third quarter from the previous three months, preliminary data showed on Monday, a much stronger reading than expected which takes some pressure off the new right-wing government. On a year-on-year basis, gross domestic product in the euro zone's third largest economy was up 2.6%, national statistics bureau ISTAT said. The Treasury said last month that is expected to see a GDP contraction in the third quarter. ISTAT said that assuming GDP was flat quarter-on-quarter in the fourth quarter, full-year growth would come in at 3.9% this year. ISTAT confirmed second quarter growth at 1.1% from the previous three months but revised the year-on-year rate to 4.9% from a previously reported 5.0%.

☆ Europe’s pain will be ultimately worth it
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

The combination of crises, caused by President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and hefty borrowing when interest rates were artificially low, will test the bloc. Then the European Central Bank was able to keep interest rates low and buy government debt. ENERGY SQUABBLESEU leaders congratulated themselves early in the year when they came together to condemn Putin’s invasion, impose sanctions on Russia and support Ukraine. EU leaders are already complaining about high interest rates, with Giorgia Meloni, the new Italian prime minister, criticising the ECB last week. But the central bank cannot avoid raising interest rates even if it wanted to.

☆ The party's over for illegal raves, Italy's new government says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ROME, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Italy's new right-wing government signalled on Monday it would crack down on unlicensed rave parties, with organisers risking jail terms of up to six years for staging such events. Under proposals agreed by her government, those behind such parties could in future face between three and six years in jail, and would have the equipment used at the raves confiscated. "Happy Halloween to everyone, apart from those from half of Europe who came to cause chaos in Modena in Italy with an illegal rave party," said Matteo Salvini, leader of the League party on Twitter. The League is part of Meloni's coalition, which extends to her hard-right Brothers of Italy party and the mainstream conservative Forza Italia of ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi. ($1 = 1.0118 euros)Reporting by Angelo Amante; Writing by Keith Weir; Editing by Alvise Armellini and Alison WilliamsOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Italy's Meloni picks Nazi-armband lawmaker as junior minister
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Galeazzo Bignami, a lawmaker of the rightist Brothers of Italy party who sparked outrage in 2016 after a newspaper published a picture of him wearing a Nazi swastika on his left arm, was named junior infrastructure minister on Monday. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who personally announced Bignami's appointment at a news conference, is the leader of Brothers of Italy, a group which traces its roots to the post-fascist Italian Social Movement (MSI). He has long been part of the Italian hard-right but has spent part of his political career in former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi's more moderate Forza Italia. Bignami will serve under the right-wing League party leader Matteo Salvini, who is the infrastructure minister and deputy prime minister. Reporting by Angelo Amante; Editing by Howard GollerOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

ROME, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Italy's new government on Monday delayed the application of a justice reform required to obtain European post-pandemic funds and scrapped a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for health workers. Both moves mark discontinuity from the previous administration of Mario Draghi, who imposed tough COVID curbs and pushed through the contested justice reform aimed at speeding up Italy's slow judicial proceedings. Speaking at a news conference after cabinet approved the measures, Meloni accused her predecessors, Draghi and Giuseppe Conte, of taking an "ideological" approach to COVID and said she would do things differently. It would have been hard to start in a worse way," said Enrico Letta, head of the centre-left Democratic Party. The decision to delay the reform, which Meloni said was taken at the request of all Italy's prosecutors' offices, sparked criticism from the opposition, lawyers, and experts.

Summary Energy prices continue to drive inflationBut "core" inflation accelerates as wellSome fear interest rate hikes could make slowdown worseBRUSSELS, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Euro zone inflation surged more than expected in October, data showed on Monday, fuelling expectations that the European Central Bank will press on with big interest rate hikes despite economic growth slowing. Some economists saw that continued growth as creating space for the central bank to keep taking strong inflation-fighting steps. The growth is important because many economists believe the ECB would not want to keep raising rates during an expected euro zone recession, heralded by the growth slow-down in the July-September compared with the 0.8% quarterly and 4.3% year-on-year growth in the April-June period. The surging inflation and slowing growth are mainly the result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent disruption of Russian gas deliveries to Europe. That has driven up energy prices and broader inflation, triggered rate rises and lead to a slowing of economic activity and falling confidence.

Gross domestic product grew by 0.5% in the third quarter from the second and 2.6% year on year, national statistics bureau ISTAT said. Both preliminary readings were around half a percentage point higher than expected in Reuters survey of analysts, while the Treasury had said last month it expected a third quarter contraction. The government plans to raise next year's budget deficit to 4.5% of GDP, up from the 3.4% projected last month under current trends, a senior official said. Italian inflation hit 12.8% in October, the highest level since the country's EU-harmonised index was launched in 1996. Full year growth this year will come in at 3.7%, Federico forecast, above Rome's official 3.3% target.

☆ Italy's Meloni tells Germany's Scholz measures to cut energy prices are urgently needed
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

ROME, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday told in a phone call to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz that measures to tackle rising energy prices were urgently needed, Rome's government said in a statement. "Prime Minister Meloni stressed the importance of the progress made at the European level and reiterated the urgency of arriving at concrete measures to reduce energy prices as soon as possible," the statement said. The two leaders also discussed the war in Ukraine and issues related to migration flows and economic growth, the statement added. Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing Federico MaccioniOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Giorgia Meloni, Italy's prime minister, says: 'Don't call me Mr.'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, Oct 28 (Reuters) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Friday she did not want to be called "mister", backtracking on a government circular that said this would be her official title. A statement issued by Meloni's office said that although the "mister president" title had been advised as the most suitable by the government's protocol experts, she did not want to use it so it should be ignored. Before Meloni's second thoughts, the government circular went a step further, declaring her official title should also include "Signor", or Mister. "The title to be used is ... Mr President of the Council of Ministers," said the circular issued by her office and distributed to all government ministries. While Meloni's rise to power shattered a glass ceiling for Italy's women politicians, she is not known as a feminist.

☆ ECB policymakers stick with hike plans even as recession looms
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-28 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

[1/2] Signage is seen outside the European Central Bank (ECB) building, in Frankfurt, Germany, July 21, 2022. But policymakers on Friday appeared to be on message that rates will keep going up. Investors now see ECB rates peaking at around 2.75%, above levels near 2.5% seen on Thursday after the ECB's rate hike and language tweaks. RECESSIONThe policymakers' reinforcement of the rate hike message comes as a recession now looks almost certain, and will likely prompt a barrage of further criticism from European leaders. But ECB chief Christine Lagarde pushed back on the criticism on Thursday, arguing that breaking inflation was the ECB's chief mission and governments could help by providing targeted support for the most vulnerable.

☆ Only way to peace is helping Ukraine fight, Italy's PM says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

ROME, Oct 26 (Reuters) - The only way to facilitate a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is helping Kyiv to defend itself militarily, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told parliament on Wednesday. "Peace can be achieved by supporting Ukraine ... it is the only chance we have for the two sides to negotiate," Meloni told the Senate ahead of a confidence vote on her newly appointed rightist government. Meloni has repeatedly pledged support to Kyiv, while her coalition allies Silvio Berlusconi and Matteo Salvini have been much more ambivalent on the issue due to their historic ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meloni said that while the arms Italy supplies to Ukraine are not decisive for the outcome of the war, they are vital for Italy to maintain its international credibility. Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Gavin JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Italy's windfall tax on energy companies needs to be rewritten - PM
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

ROME, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Italy needs to rewrite its windfall tax on energy companies that have benefited from surging oil and gas prices, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni told parliament on Wednesday. The previous government led by Mario Draghi expected to fund part of its measures to soften the impact of the energy crisis on firms and families through a 25% windfall tax on energy groups, but revenues have proved much lower than expected. Meloni also said her government was ready to work on national measures to separate gas price from those of other energy sources, provided rules could be agreed at the European level. Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Gavin JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Key moments from Italian PM Meloni's maiden speech
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

ROME, Oct 25 (Reuters) - New Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni unveiled her policy priorities in her maiden speech to the lower house of parliament on Tuesday. "It will be necessary to maintain and strengthen national measures to support households and businesses, both on bills and fuel. ECONOMY/TAXES/PENSIONS"The context in which the government will have to act is very complicated, perhaps the most difficult since World War Two." "Our firms are asking above all for less bureaucracy ... we need fewer rules but rules that are clearer for everyone." "We do not intend in any way to question the right of asylum for those fleeing war and persecution."

"Anyone who believes it is possible to trade Ukraine's freedom for our peace of mind is mistaken," Meloni said. The government is Italy's most right-wing administration since World War Two and former close ties between Moscow and both Berlusconi and Salvini have raised concerns over its foreign policy. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Deputy Prime Minister and Infrastructure Minister Matteo Salvini and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani attend the lower house of parliament ahead of a confidence vote for the new government, in Rome, Italy, October 25, 2022. Meloni's supporters gave her a standing ovation after her 70-minute speech, with some chanting: "Giorgia, Giorgia". A similar ballot is expected in the upper house Senate on Wednesday, where Meloni also enjoys a clear majority.

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