Italian courtroom rejects Sicily bridge plan, tax evasion on the rise once more, and extra information from Italy on Thursday.
Italian courtroom rejects Messina Strait bridge plan
Italy’s Courtroom of Auditors rejected the federal government’s plan to construct a contested bridge connecting mainland Italy to Sicily, placing the €13.5 billion undertaking’s future doubtful.
The courtroom, which oversees public spending, has 30 days to publish its full reasoning after the announcement on Wednesday night.
READ ALSO : ‘Mindless undertaking’: Italy forges forward with contested Sicily bridge plan
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni slammed the choice as “an act of overreach,” in response to Italian media reviews, saying her authorities had addressed all technical issues.
It was unclear whether or not ministers would now push forward with plans to construct the three.7-kilometer bridge throughout the Messina Strait, set to be amongst Italy’s costliest public works.
The federal government can now both settle for the ruling and revise its proposal, or enchantment and proceed at its personal authorized and monetary threat.
Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini, who as soon as opposed the bridge earlier than turning into its main proponent, known as the courtroom’s choice a “political alternative” and a “severe blow.”
Tax evasion in Italy on the rise once more
Italy’s power downside with tax evasion began to worsen once more 4 years in the past, and is worse than thought, official knowledge appeared to point out this week.
The estimated most quantity of unpaid taxes and social contributions rose by 3.5 billion euros to 102.5 billion in 2022, from 99 billion in 2021, in response to a report from Reuters citing authorities knowledge.
Successive Italian governments had mentioned the tax evasion downside was easing, citing a downward pattern.
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However in response to the most recent figures, the entire enchancment from 2018 to 2022 was 5.9 billion euros at finest – a lot decrease than the 26 billion over 2017-2021 indicated within the earlier report revealed final 12 months.
The information primarily covers the interval earlier than Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni took workplace in October 2022, however reviews recommend it may impression discussions about how she handles the problem within the finances plan now going by parliament.
Italy aiming for ‘not less than’ 19 Milan-Cortina medals
The president of Italy’s Olympic committee (CONI) mentioned on Wednesday that the nation was aiming for not less than 19 medals, with 100 days to go till the beginning of the Milan-Cortina Video games.
“After the 17 medals received in Beijing in 2022 we’ve got to get 19 medals, not less than 19,” Luciano Buonfiglio advised AFP throughout an occasion in Milan marking the milestone day for the Winter Olympics, which run over February 6-22, 2026.
Italy’s winter sports activities stars embody alpine downhill specialist Sofia Goggia, former biathlon world champion Lisa Vittozzi, and velocity skater Arianna Fontana, the nation’s most embellished Olympian with 12 medals.
Buonfiglio’s objective is one lower than Italy’s document medal haul of 20 at a Winter Olympics, set on the Lillehammer Video games in 1994 when the nation claimed seven golds and completed fourth within the medals desk.
