Rome

PM’s most senior civil servant now has task of rewriting civil service code and ‘making it recognised for improved productivity’ Antonia Romeo, Keir Starmer’s most senior civil servant, has been handed a powerful new mandate to deliver his priorities, while Darren Jones, the No 10 chief secretary, has shifted to a less hands-on role.Romeo, who was promoted last month, took over the job of cabinet secretary and head of the civil service after an unsuccessful year in charge by her predecessor Chris Wormald, who was not considered effective enough by No 10. Continue reading...

• Kevin Warsh was nominated as the next Federal Reserve Chair, set to succeed Jerome Powell in May 2026. • Warsh, a critic of the Fed’s quantitative easing policies, is viewed by markets as a steady hand amid economic uncertainties. • The nomination comes as PCE inflation rose to 2.9% and core PCE to 3.0% year-on-year in March, aligning with consensus expectations.

A federal judge on Friday threw out two Justice Department subpoenas issued to the Federal Reserve, ruling them improper in U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro's criminal investigation into Chair Jerome Powell. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, stated in a 27-page opinion that the subpoenas' dominant purpose appeared to harass Powell into yielding to President Trump or resigning. The decision represents a significant setback for the Trump administration's efforts to pressure the independent central bank amid public attacks on Powell. Legal experts anticipate appeals, potentially escalating tensions between the executive branch and judicial oversight of monetary policy.

The U.S. Embassy in Rome issued an alert regarding a planned demonstration scheduled for March 14, 2026, in the Italian capital. While specific details about the demonstration's organizers and stated objectives were not fully disclosed in the alert, media reports suggested the protest may be related to U.S. foreign policy decisions, potentially including the ongoing Iran conflict. Embassy alerts of this nature typically precede large-scale protests in major European cities and serve to notify American citizens and diplomatic personnel of potential public disorder. The timing of the demonstration coincides with escalating international tensions and anti-war sentiment in several allied nations.

The US Embassy in Rome issued an alert on March 14, 2026, for a planned demonstration in the city, with media linking it to opposition against US strikes on Iran and support for Palestinian causes. The event coincides with Al-Quds Day observances globally amid the 14-day-old war entering its third week. US officials urge citizens to avoid the area due to potential disruptions and violence, reflecting waning domestic tolerance for prolonged conflict. Italian authorities expect thousands of participants protesting American foreign policy.