World's longest suspension bridge set to connect beautiful island to mainland
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni 's right-wing administration has prioritised the bridge, allocating 13.5 billion euros over the next decade for its construction and surrounding facilities.
The Strait of Messina Bridge Project was awarded to the Eurolink consortium, led by Italy's largest construction company Webuild, with preliminary works expected to commence after government and audit court validation.
The project faces strong criticism due to its location in an earthquake zone, potential environmental damage, and fears of infiltration by organised crime groups such as the Cosa Nostra and 'Ndrangheta.
Despite opposition, supporters believe the bridge will provide a much-needed fast rail and road connection, boosting the economy of Sicily and Italy's poorer southern regions, with Webuild estimating over 100,000 jobs could be created.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The Italian dash! Wealthy London bankers are being lured to Milan by VERY generous tax incentives
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Despite slight fluctuations between 2019 and 2023, those moving to the south of Italy could pay tax on just 10 per cent of their income, while those in the north pay it on 30 per cent. And Britons who have taken advantage of it say it has given them a marked increase in the quality of their life, with some taking home 80 per cent of the gross pay. Even with a slight change to the scheme after December 2023, which saw those moving to Italy now charged tax on 50 per cent of their income, the move remains hugely popular among top earners. According to the Italian ministry of finance, by 2023 around 50,000 people were signed up to the tax break scheme - with experts saying there is a 50:50 split between returning Italians and new non-Italian residents. Meanwhile, the nation's flat-tax scheme has only seen around 4,000 people applying for the €200,000 (£173,000) relief initiative. Many are still benefitting from the more generous pre-2023 version of the 'return of the brains' tax scheme. Among them is 36-year-old Daria, who did not want to share her surname. She had been living in Hackney, east London, for 13 years before making the shift south. She moved to the picturesque historic town of Bari, in the south-east Italian region of Puglia, with her partner - a commodities trader - to benefit from a 90 per cent exemption for 10 years just before the rules changed. 'When travelling we met people who were optimising their finances. Some were going to Dubai, but my work is in Europe and we heard about the "impatriati" scheme and realised it was a bit of a well-kept secret,' Daria told the Sunday Telegraph. The naturalised British citizen is now living in a two-bedroom flat she rents out for €1,400 a month, with her and her partner now enjoying regular swim or paddle-board trips past the city's historic waterfront before work. 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BBC News
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Reuters
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- Reuters
Kuwait signs contracts for $3.27 billion power plant project
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