Russia's Putin arrives in China's Tianjin for security summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Sunday for a regional security summit, Chinese and Russian st...
Thousands of people marched in Messina, Sicily, on Saturday (9 August) protesting against a government plan to build the world’s longest suspension bridge connecting the Italian mainland to Sicily.
The €13.5 billion ($15.5 billion) project, approved recently by a government committee overseeing strategic public investments, faces strong opposition due to concerns over its massive scale, earthquake risks, environmental impact, and potential mafia interference.
Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, the project’s main supporter, called it “the biggest infrastructure project in the West,” citing studies that predict up to 120,000 annual jobs and economic growth for southern Italy, boosted by billions invested in related road and infrastructure upgrades. The bridge would span nearly 3.7 km (2.2 miles), with a suspended section of 3.3 km (over 2 miles), surpassing Çanakkale Bridge by 1,277 metres to become the longest suspension bridge worldwide.
Preliminary work could start as early as late September or October pending Italy’s Court of Audit approval, with full construction set for 2026 and completion aimed between 2032 and 2033. The bridge, featuring three lanes each way and a double-track railway, would cut ferry crossing times from up to 100 minutes to just 10 minutes by car, while trains would save about 2.5 hours.
The government also plans to classify the bridge as defence-related infrastructure, supporting Italy’s NATO goal to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP. The bridge would serve as a strategic corridor for rapid military movement and equipment deployment.
Opponents remain unconvinced, angered that around 500 families must be expropriated, despite Salvini’s promises of compensation.
Environmental groups have filed complaints with the European Union over threats to migratory birds, while Italy’s president insists on strict anti-mafia legislation for the project.
Protesters in Messina carried banners reading “No Ponte” (“No Bridge”), chanting that the Strait of Messina “can’t be touched.”
A powerful eruption at Japan’s Shinmoedake volcano sent an ash plume more than 3,000 metres high on Sunday morning, prompting safety warnings from authorities.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
The UK is gearing up for Exercise Pegasus 2025, its largest pandemic readiness test since COVID-19. Running from September to November, this full-scale simulation will challenge the country's response to a fast-moving respiratory outbreak.
A Polish Air Force pilot was killed on Thursday when an F-16 fighter jet crashed during a training flight ahead of the 2025 Radom International Air Show.
Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the northern Chinese port city of Tianjin on Sunday for a regional security summit, Chinese and Russian state media reported.
China’s largest city and global financial hub, Shanghai, has set a new heat record, state media reported on Saturday. Temperatures in the city exceeded 35°C (95°F) for 25 consecutive days, breaking the previous record set in 1926.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Japan on Thursday to meet his Japanese counterpart, Shigeru Ishiba, with trade and security high on the agenda.
Spain has condemned the U.S. decision to revoke visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and 80 other officials, calling it “unacceptable” and urging the European Union to take a leading role in defending Palestinian representation at the UN.
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