threatens homeless eviction in Washington as National Guard deployment weighed
President Donald Trump has pledged to evict homeless people from Washington, D.C., and jail offenders, with a U.S. official saying the administration ...
Thousands marched in Messina, Sicily, on August 9, 2025, protesting 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 meters 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 defense-related infrastructure, supporting Italy’s NATO goal to raise defense 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 EU 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.”
The world’s biggest dance music festival faces an unexpected setback as a fire destroys its main stage, prompting a last-minute response from organisers determined to keep the party alive in Boom, Belgium.
According to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ), a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck the Oaxaca region of Mexico on Saturday.
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.
China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations will send an upgraded ‘version 3.0’ free-trade agreement to their heads of government for approval in October, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Saturday after regional talks in Kuala Lumpur.
A resumption of Iraq’s Kurdish oil exports is not expected in the near term, sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, despite an announcement by Iraq’s federal government a day earlier stating that shipments would resume immediately.
President Donald Trump has pledged to evict homeless people from Washington, D.C., and jail offenders, with a U.S. official saying the administration is preparing to deploy National Guard troops to the capital.
A Colorado prison was evacuated Saturday as the Lee Fire, one of the largest wildfires in the state’s history, continued to spread across Garfield and Rio Blanco counties. The fire has burned over 167 square miles (433 square kilometres) with just 6% containment.
SpaceX postponed the Falcon 9 launch of Amazon’s KF-02 satellite mission scheduled for Sunday because of adverse weather conditions, the company announced.
North Korea condemned a planned joint military exercise by South Korea and the U.S. as a “direct military provocation” and warned of countermeasures, despite signs of easing tensions across the border under South Korea’s new leadership.
Greek police seized 271.15 kilograms of drugs confirmed to be cocaine, valued at over 5.5 million euros, and arrested three men in connection with the shipment, authorities said on Sunday.
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