International
Migrants, cheap labor to work in the fields in the south of Rome
Before dawn, Shoda, a 29-year-old Indian, goes out by bike to go to work in the countryside in Latina, an important agricultural province in the south of Rome and one of the most productive in Italy. It is one of the many migrants exploited as cheap labor in the area, the vast majority, according to the unions.
This young Indian from the Punjab region – like a large part of the migrants in Latina – travels every day the 20 kilometers between his rural neighborhood of the town of Aprilia and the green fields of Latina, where he collects seasonal fruit and vegetables since his arrival in Italy two years ago.
Shoda, one of the 30,000 members of the Indian community in the area, claims to be happy with his work, although he only charges about 6 euros an hour – below the about 10 that the agricultural agreement marks – but is outraged by the death last week of his compatriot Satnam Singh after a serious accident on a farm in the region.
After being run over by a machine that cut his arm, Singh was abandoned on the street next to his member amputated by his boss, who let him die from a hemorrhage that would have been contained if he had received the necessary medical attention.
“They treated him like an animal,” he denounces to EFE Shoda, who in recent days went out to protest a tragedy that has once again focused on the labor exploitation of migrants, very common in Latina, an area with about 30,000 agricultural workers, 70% of them foreigners and many irregular and without a contract.
Andrea Coinu, a member of the CGIL union, the largest in Italy, leaves these early morning days to talk to the migrants who leave at dawn to go to work.
In a van with a dozen more trade unionists, he walks through the fields and villages full of fruit trees and crops to inform them of their labor rights in the face of the “extended impunity” of agricultural owners and entrepreneurs that, he says, culminated in Singh’s tragic death last week.
Since that incident, in the area “there is a lot of tension and fear, both on the part of workers and entrepreneurs,” says Coinu, who distributes pamphlets and talks to Indian day laborers of the Sikh religion with the support of a translator shortly before they are picked up to go to the countryside.
Even in the early hours of the morning, other vans with more workers pass by. According to the CGIL, they go to work accompanied by foremen, one more sample of the ‘caporalato’, a system very widespread in Italian agriculture – it would affect 40% of employees in the center and south of the country – and that has been prevailing in Latina despite being vetoed by law for years.
It is based on employing cheap labor through foremen – part of them from the migrant community – who choose the workers and keep part of the money that the employer offers as a daily wage.
Faced with the controversy over the death of the Indian day laborer, a new victim of the ‘caporalato’, the far-right government of Giorgia Meloni insisted in recent days on its rejection of that system, while unions, part of the migrant community and the political opposition accused the Executive of inaction.
“There are people who only charge four euros an hour despite the strenuous work in the countryside,” says Coinu, who hopes that, after Singh’s tragedy, “the authorities will really invest time in changing things” in a sector “very based on exploitation.”
According to the complaint, the bosses of Latina profit from all this, an area of fascist tradition populated by settlers from northern Italy in a project launched by Benito Mussolini in the 1930s.
The area has many water resources, which makes Latina one of the large areas of kiwi production in Europe, as well as vineyards and crops of melons, tomatoes or cucumbers.
“It’s a tiring job, but it needs to be done to support the family,” another Indian migrant of about 50 years old who goes by bike to work and complains about the bad conditions.
As he explains, he changes crops and pattern according to the seasonal harvest, although unlike many others who must work clandestinely, he has a work permit and a stable situation.
That’s what three young Tunisians are looking for, hoping to improve their future in Italy, while the sunlight rises and they wait on the corner of a rural road for a vehicle to pick them up to go to work on a foreign land.
International
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
The Chinese government emphasized on Monday the importance of “creating the conditions to return to the proper path of dialogue” between Iran and Israel, which have exchanged attacks in recent days resulting in more than 20 Israeli and over 220 Iranian deaths.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun expressed deep concern at a press conference over the Israeli attacks on Iran and the “sudden escalation” of the military conflict.
Guo called on all parties to “take immediate measures to ease tensions and prevent the region from descending into further turmoil,” stating that “force cannot bring lasting peace.”
“If the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to intensify or even expand, the countries of the Middle East will be the first to suffer the consequences,” he added, while noting that China “will continue to maintain communication with the relevant parties, promoting peace and dialogue.”
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke last Saturday with his Iranian and Israeli counterparts to condemn the Israeli airstrike on Iranian territory, which he described as a “violation of international law” with the potential to trigger “disastrous” consequences.
In both calls, Wang reiterated China’s rejection of the use of force, defended diplomacy as the only solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute, and offered China’s mediation to prevent further destabilization in the Middle East.
International
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz announced on Sunday the arrest of Vance Luther Boelter, 57, the main suspect in the killing of Democratic legislator Melissa Hortman and her husband in a Brooklyn Park suburb on Friday night.
Boelter, who also reportedly shot State Senator John Hoffman and his wife early Saturday morning, was apprehended in Sibley County following an intensive manhunt involving hundreds of law enforcement officers.
In a public statement, Governor Walz condemned Boelter’s “unthinkable actions,” which resulted in the death of a woman who “shaped the core of who we are as a state.”
“We cannot become numb to this. We are a deeply divided nation,” Walz said in a statement posted on his X account.
“We move forward not with hatred or violence, but with humility, grace, and civility,” he added.
Expressing solidarity with the victims’ families, Walz said the entire state of Minnesota is in mourning. He also thanked law enforcement for their bravery and professionalism: “They have saved lives,” he emphasized.
“As we heal, we will not let fear win,” Walz concluded. “We must honor Melissa by moving forward with understanding, service, and above all, humanity.”
Throughout Sunday, police and sheriff units searched a rural area in Minnesota for Vance Luther Boelter, a security company director and preacher who, according to Governor Walz, acted out of politically motivated violence.
International
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
Approximately 40,000 tourists are stranded in Israel following the closure of the country’s airspace amid escalating hostilities with Iran, the Israeli Ministry of Tourism reported on Monday.
The ministry has set up a virtual office to provide information via email (virtual@goisrael.gov.il) and phone (+972-53-583-5808), as well as a Facebook page called Israel Virtual Tourist Office.
Israeli Tourism Minister Haim Katz is in contact with hotels and accommodations across the country to offer support to tourists in need, the ministry added.
Many stranded travelers are considering crossing overland into Jordan or Egypt to seek flights from those countries. The Israel Airports Authority reminded the public that land border crossings remain open.
Three German tourists stranded in Jerusalem told EFE today that they have not received any assistance from their country’s embassy in Israel, and their primary option currently is to cross into Jordan to catch a flight from there.
Since early Friday morning, Israel launched operations against Iran, targeting military personnel and infrastructure, including energy and nuclear facilities, as well as numerous residential areas in Tehran.
In response, Iran has fired hundreds of ballistic missiles at Israel, some of which have struck various locations across the country, leaving at least 24 dead so far, according to Israeli authorities.
Iranian health officials report at least 224 deaths, mostly civilians, including at least 17 senior military officials—nine from the Revolutionary Guard—and more than a dozen nuclear scientists.
The Israeli military has warned that many more “targets” remain, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guard declared on Monday that it will continue missile attacks against Israel until its “destruction.”
China calls for dialogue amid rising Iran-Israel conflict
Suspect arrested in killing of Minnesota legislator and husband, governor Says
40,000 tourists stranded in Israel amid airspace shutdown over Iran conflict
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