Rome has given final approval to a €13.5bn ($15.6bn) project to build the world's longest suspension bridge, connecting the island of Sicily to the region of Calabria, on the tip of Italy's boot.

Italy has given the green light to a long-debated infrastructure project: a €13.5 billion ($15.7 billion) suspension bridge that will connect Sicily to the Italian mainland, marking a significant step forward in a plan that has languished for decades.

PM Meloni's coalition hailed the project as an economic boost, while critics worry about its impact and cost, which comes in at over €13 billion. If completed, the bridge would be the world's longest.