Since Draper’s last appearance at Wimbledon, he has reached a Grand Slam semi-final at the US Open, won one of the biggest titles on the ATP Tour in Indian Wells and become only the fourth British man to crack the world’s top five.
That means he is widely regarded as the fourth favourite – behind Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic – at this year’s grass-court major.
A big reason why left-handed Draper can thrive on the slicker surface is his serve.
The power and variety of his opening shot enables him to start points strongly.
When he lands his first serve, it is effective. His first-serve percentage is only the 43rd best on the ATP Tour this year, but he is 14th in terms of points won after it.
Against 38th-ranked Baez, Draper broke in the first game of the match and the strength of his first serve meant the Argentine had little chance of responding.
He landed 78% of his first serves in the first set, winning 86% of those points with the help of four aces.
By the time Baez decided he could not continue, Draper had won 23 of his 25 first-serve points (93%).
“I served well, although I could have been a bit cleaner off the ground,” said Draper.
A recent study led by researchers at SapienCE has revealed that ochre—previously considered primarily a symbolic pigment—played a crucial role in the production of sophisticated stone tools by early modern humans in Blombos Cave, South Africa, during the Middle Stone Age (MSA), between 90,000 and 70,000 years ago.
The seven ochre retouchers from the MSA layers of Blombos Cave (BBC). Credit: Velliky et al., Science Advances (2025)
While examining previously excavated artifacts at the SapienCE laboratory in Cape Town, archaeologist Elizabeth Velliky discovered an ochre fragment bearing wear patterns distinct from the typical grinding marks used for pigment production. Intrigued, she presented the artifact to colleagues Francesco d’Errico, Karen van Niekerk, and Christopher Henshilwood. Their examination confirmed the fragment had been deliberately shaped and used in a previously undescribed way. As they continued to sort through more discoveries, further ochre artifacts with the same marks appeared—seven in total—resulting in a reassessment of the use of ochre in early human life.
Published in Science Advances, the study reports the initial direct archaeological evidence that ochre was specifically crafted into retouching tools for lithic implements. Experimental research and replication studies by d’Errico and colleagues revealed that these ochre “retouchers” were used for pressure flaking and direct percussion—advanced methods in shaping stone tools. These methods are highly dexterous and mentally demanding, especially for the production of the Still Bay points: bifacial tools renowned for their symmetry and refined forms.
Notably, the ochre artifacts show signs of rejuvenation, indicating that they were maintained in good condition over time, a characteristic typical of personal or curated tools. “The sophistication of these pressure flakers implies that they were the personal property of expert toolmakers,” d’Errico said. “They may have functioned not only as practical instruments but also as indicators of identity and technical prowess.”
Macro-images of use traces on some artifacts. Credit: Velliky et al., Science Advances (2025)
This discovery contradicts common assumptions that ochre’s primary role in the cultures of ancient people was symbolic—ritual, or body painting. Instead, it speaks to the pigment’s functional versatility. Earlier ethnographic and experimental studies had hinted at ochre’s use in such processes as hide tanning or hafting adhesives, but definitive archaeological evidence had remained elusive—until now.
Henshilwood, director of SapienCE, emphasized the significance of the find: “We now have evidence that ochre was not only a medium for symbolic expression but also a key material in specialized tool production, reflecting a level of technological sophistication previously associated with much later periods.”
Van Niekerk, a co-author and director of the Blombos Cave excavations, commented that this discovery adds another piece of evidence to how early Homo sapiens were behaviorally modern. “This discovery will add another layer to our understanding of the behavioral modernity of early Homo sapiens in southern Africa,” she said.
Publication: Velliky, E. C., d’Errico, F., van Niekerk, K. L., & Henshilwood, C. S. (2025). Unveiling the multifunctional use of ochre in the Middle Stone Age: Specialized ochre retouchers from Blombos Cave. Science Advances, 11(26), eads2797. doi:10.1126/sciadv.ads2797
“After the first 15 minutes, we started getting good control. We did very professionally and very well.”
During cooling break, he made an adjustment to start to pull the game wider.
On Garcia: “That’s what a striker is meant to do.”
On Mbappe: “He will have more training, he will have more days to recover, so we’ll check.”
NOW I’ll bid farewell. Thanks all.
With that, I’ll bid farewell. Enjoy the Real Madrid-Monterrey match after Monterrey’s upset win over Borussia Dortmund this evening. (Look, if Al-Hilal can beat Manchester City …)
Thanks for checking in with us today.
Valverde speaks on goal-scorer Garcia: He moves very well, he’s a player from the academy, he sees an opportunity.
Valverde on his play: I tried to do the best for all my teammates.
The translator then laughed at something that was clearly lost in translation.
Last word from the mailbag: Kurt Perleberg asks why we haven’t seen any US players for Real Madrid.
Because they’re not that good, maybe?
Google’s AI tells me the record for most La Liga appearances by a US player is 94 by Yunus Musah, all at Valencia. Then Luca de la Torre with 59 at Celta Vigo. After that, Kasey Keller (Rayo Vallecano) and Sergiño Dest (Barcelona) are tied with 51.
But seriously – it’s all about the right fit. And even then, the team and their supporters might not appreciate you. Looking your way, Chelsea.
We have not been presented any postgame comments yet. Lots of beer promotion.
Full time: Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus
If you were expecting Real to dominate this encounter, you were right. Only a series of stellar saves by Di Gregorio kept this close. Juve had some bright moments early on but nothing that screamed, “yes, this team deserves an equalizer” for the last 60-75 minutes.
Next up: the winner of Borussia Dortmund vs. Monterrey, which will take place in the nice air conditioning of Atlanta this evening. I’m picking Monterrey. Concacaf are overdue.
90 min +5: Last chance for Juve, and is that a call for a penalty? No, our referee says with emphatic waves of his arms. Replay shows Kolo Muani was basically headed for the ground the whole time, hoping for a miracle.
The ball is recycled out and hit from a long way away out of desperation. Courtois collects, and …
80 seconds left … throw-in for Real. Juve players showing some long faces.
Justin Kavanagh writes: “Infantino will be happy that Mbappe is back now that Messi is out of the tournament. If Juve could sneak an equalizer, though, you’d fancy Di Gregorio to provide the heroics in a shootout.”
I would predict Real would win a shootout 1-0.
90 min +3: Offside on Juve.
90 min +1: Real play keepaway for a while, then blast the ball downfield for no apparent reason.
The crowd, having finished saluting Valverde, are silent. Expectations for the remaining 210 seconds are low.
We’ll have five minutes of stoppage time, starting … oh, 30 seconds ago.
90 min: Ceballos replaces Valverde, who receives a well-earned ovation as he departs. He wipes his sweaty face, then claps to acknowledge the crowd.
89 min: Valverde springs forward and loses control of the ball but manages to knock it off a defender to earn a corner kick. That’ll keep Juve pinned back a bit more as time starts to run out.
Quick word from krishnamoorthy v: “If you have done refereeing for U 14, you are qualified for Manchester derby.”
I still have a lot to live for, so no thanks.
87 min: YELLOW to Jude Bellingham. That’s our first card of the day, and there have been no incidents to this point at which it was even a question. Fair play indeed.
Referee Szymon Marciniak shows the yellow card to Jude Bellingham. Photograph: Lynne Sladky/AP
85 min: At last, it’s Juve’s last window, and we’ll see Weston McKennie along with Federico Gatti. The sad figures of Locatelli and Rugani stroll out past their own goal for the long walk around the field to their bench.
83 min: Bellingham combines with Vinicius Junior, and the ball is sprayed wide to Tchouaméni, who shoots back across the grain, and forces a 10th save, this one a fingertip save at full extension, from Di Gregorio. He’s entering Tim Howard territory here.
80 min: It would appear that Igor Tudor changed his mind about using his third substitution window right now, and Juve are indeed on the attack. Real regain control, but that was a helpful reminder that this game is still just 1-0, thanks in large part to Di Gregorio’s nine saves.
Game reset at the cooling break …
Real lead 1-0 on a powerful short-range header by Garcia.
Mbappe is in for Real, and Modric is about to join him, even though they really need people at the back to keep things calm for another 15-20 minutes.
Speaking of calm, the Weather Channel now says “expect dry conditions for the next 6 hours,” and the precipitation on the radar is all north of Miami.
Modric takes the captain’s armband as he replaces Güler.
We haven’t seen confirmation that McKennie is actually on.
76 min: So we WILL see Weston McKennie in this game!
After the cooling break …
72 min: CHANCE for Real, and how did THAT stay out?!
Precise passing in the penalty area, including a couple of touches for Mbappe, and it goes back to the top of the area for Güler, who launches a brutal shot toward the lower corner that Di Gregorio somehow keeps out. Fine game by the Italian keeper.
70 min: CHANCE for Juve. Not over yet!
But they’re taking out Yildiz, so maybe it is. Off the bench, it’s US cornerstone Weston McKenn- … oh, no, it’s Teun Koopmeiners.
69 min: Valverde seems determined to get on the scoresheet, no matter how many times he has to shoot. Di Gregorio scoops this one off the ground.
67 min: To underscore the point, Real shoot twice in three seconds, each time bouncing back off a wall of defenders.
Mbappe officially makes his way in, which means we see plenty of picture of people wearing his shirt. He replaces Garcia, scorer of the lone goal so far.
Here comes Mbappe …
Into a game in which, honestly, Real probably don’t need him. Juve haven’t looked like equalizing in a while.
On comes Kylian Mbappe. Photograph: Allstar Picture Library Ltd/Richard Sellers/Apl/Sportsphoto
66 min: Patient possession for Real, and why not?
63 min: Nicolas Gonzalez is the man replacing Kelly.
The Weather Channel is still saying “thunderstorms will end at 5:30” while we have no thunderstorms and no lightning on the radar.
The game continues.
60 min: BICYCLE KICK by Valverde, and it’s only the alertness of the in-form Juve keeper Di Gregorio that keeps us from being at 2-0.
59 min: Conceição departs, replaced by Filip Kostic. Also, English defender Lloyd Kelly, signed permanently by Juve after a successful loan spell, is out.
56 min: Conceição bids for an immediate answer with a worm-burning shot that Courtois has to dive to slap away.
We have now reached the part of the game in which players sit down with cramps.
GOOOOOALLLL! Real Madrid 1-0 Juventus (Garcia 54)
That was coming, like a storm front passing across the peninsula.
And this time, Alexander-Arnold takes a touch, looks up and puts in a high cross that drops where Garcia has enough space for an uncontested 6-yard header that he knocks straight under the bar and into the net.
Gonzalo Garcia scores for Madrid! Photograph: Marta Lavandier/AP
51 min: Corner for Juve, as we’re again starting brightly. Real defend well and break quickly with Vinicius Junior down the left, stopped by Locatelli deep in his own half.
Garcia then draws a foul from Conceição. Nothing interesting from the free kick, but the ball is worked back out to Bellingham, who blasts a shot from 20 yards that stings Di Gregorio’s hands.
And another chance for Real as Di Gregorio sprawls to stop a dipping shot with some menace.
50 min: Trent Alexander-Arnold runs on to the ball in an acre of space near the corner of the penalty area. He has all day to settle it, and he picks out a spot …
No, I’m kidding – he blasted it several dozen rows into the stands.
Row-Z botherer Trent Alexander-Arnold. Photograph: Richard Sellers/Getty Images/Allstar
49 min: A cross gets through for Juve, but the ball goes beyond the attacker. Also, the flag was up. And there are probably other reasons it wouldn’t have been a goal.
For the record – there were no halftime subs.
48 min: Courtois and a defender can’t agree on who should be clearing the ball, and the resulting awkward clearance eventually yields a Juve corner.
47 min: Valverde tries curling a shot within the penalty area, and he doesn’t miss by that much.
No sign of weather issues yet.
Second half is underway. Still 0-0.
Ian Copestake writes: “Are you the first MBMing referee in the Guardian’s history? And does your full name suggest a penchant for French symbolist poetry? So many questions and so few minutes.”
All that I know about French is that my name roughly translates to “pretty hard.” As far as referees go … maybe? To be fair, I’ve never done any level higher than Under-16 low-level travel, Under-14 higher-level travel and Under-19 rec league. I’m too old to keep up with anyone else.
The ever-knowledgeable Peter Oh checks in: “It’s interesting that RM fans are watching in Athens, GA, but frankly I would be more impressed if REM fans were watching in Athens, GA. Or maybe even the band themselves. Anyway, this tournament makes me wonder if I’m Losing My Religion.”
One of my bands played an R.E.M. tribute recently, but we didn’t do that one, due in part to the lack of a mandolin player.
When drummer Bill Berry left one of the two Big Bands from Athens (the other being the B-52s), the headline font in the local newspaper was about the same size as the end of World War II.
Weather watch
Justin Kavanagh writes: “The Forecast called for pain at the start, but the weather now Feels Like Rain in Miami, so I think you need some of the great John Hiatt at halftime. “
Unfortunately, yes, it appears that some of the green blobs on the radar in and around Florida are now passing over Miami. The Weather Channel says “thunderstorms likely to continue through 6 p.m. (two hours and change from now),” but there’s no lightning on the map. Maybe we’ll just have a good soaking rain.
Halftime: Real Madrid 0-0 Juventus
After a promising start at both ends, Real have had the better of things since the cooling break, but honestly, neither of these teams can finish as well as Al-Hilal.
Just saying.
45 min +3: Bellingham, Valverde and Alexander-Arnold form a potent passing triangle and work their way forward, where Trent unleashes a powerful cross that could easily have caromed into the net off any of the players from either side lined up across the 6-yard box.
45 min: Impressive turn from Güler, but his cross is blocked away.
Real reset, and it’s a CHANCE for Real as Valverde laces a shot from 18 yards that Di Gregorio impressively knocks wide with a mighty sideways leap. That might have been goal-bound.
Four minutes of stoppage time, still 0-0.
43 min: Thuram has it on the left for Juve, but his cross finds no one in Juve’s dark shirts.
41 min: Quickly taken free kick at midfield for Juve. They continue even after one of their players rolls around on the grass for a bit. Real win the ball back thanks to, of all people, Vinicius Junior, tracking back to help out at the back.
39 min: Juve now seem to have seen enough of Real’s patient and nearly effective attack. They swarm to win the ball back.
Stephanie McMahon is a name closely associated to WWE. She is an American businessman and is the daughter of former WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon and Linda McMahon. Stephanie also happens to be the wife of WWE Chief Content Officer Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque. From championship gold to executive goals, the duo has been instrumental in shaping the modern WWE landscape. They are WWE’s ultimate power couple, a real-life tag team ruling from both the ring and the C-suite.Stephanie has also been a part of the wrestling industry and has proven herself as one of the finest players of WWE. She started off in the industry as a model at the age of 13, and then made her debut inside the ring in 1998 when she was only 21 years old. After 20 years as a pro wrestler, she bade adieu to the ring. Following her exit, McMahon became a WWE board member in 2013, holding various positions in the company. Over the years, the former WWE legend has amassed a humongous wealth from the company and her multiple ventures. Let’s take a look at her net worth in 2025, source of income, WWE relations, and more.
Net worth of Stephanie McMahon in 2025
According to Celebrity Net Worth, Stephanie McMahon’s 2025 net worth is estimated at $250 million, all thanks to her WWE stakes, executive roles, and strategic business ventures. Reports suggest that most of their wealth comes from Stephanie’s significant investments in WWE’s common stock. When WME bought WWE, Stephanie had about 2.5 million shares of WWE’s common stock. The value of those shares fluctuated between $40 million and $225 million. WWE was sold for $106 a share, which meant her shares were valued at $265 million.
The current source of income of Stephanie McMahon
Stephanie McMahon’s primary source of income in 2025 is her role as a board member of WWE and her ongoing involvement in various business ventures. The current salary is expected to be around $2.5 million. Besides, being the board member of WWE, the former WWE star also hosts a talk show named ‘Stephanie’s Places’ on ESPN+, where she interviews professional wrestlers about their journeys into WWE.
Personal life
Stephanie has been married to WWE superstar and executive Paul “Triple H” Levesque. The couple started dating in 2000, when they were involved in a scripted storyline together. After dating each other for 3 years, they got engaged on Valentine’s Day in 2003 and tied the knot that October in Sleepy Hollow, New York. After their wedding, Stephanie adopted her husband’s last name and changed her middle name to McMahon. The couple has three daughters: Aurora Rose Levesque, Murphy Claire Levesque, and Vaughn Evelyn Levesque.
Stephanie McMahon rings in the Paul “Triple H” Levesque era: WrestleMania XL Sunday highlights
Business ventures
Stephanie has made quite a name for herself in the wrestling world, having held the title of Women’s Champion and even stepping in as the SmackDown General Manager. Over the years, McMahon has worn many hats, starting as an Account Executive and Receptionist from 1998 to 2002, to becoming the Director of Creative Television from 2002 to 2006.She later went on to become the Senior Vice-President of Creative Writing from 2006 to 2007, followed by her role as Executive Vice-President of Creative Development and Operations from 2007 to 2013. Later, she took on the title of Chief Brand Officer in 2013.In May 2022, she announced she would be taking a leave of absence from her responsibilities. However, when Vince retired in July, Stephanie was named the new chairwoman, alongside Nick Khan. Also Read: Drew McIntyre graces former WWE star Jinder Mahal’s wedding ceremony in traditional Indian attireIn January 2023, she made headlines again by resigning from WWE after her father’s return as chairman. Throughout her career, McMahon has earned two Slammy Awards and the prestigious Vincent J. McMahon Legacy of Excellence Award.
Researchers using cardiac MRI have found that long-term exposure to air pollution is associated with early signs of heart damage, according to a study that was published today in Radiology, a journal of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). The research indicates that fine particulate matter in the air may contribute to diffuse myocardial fibrosis, a form of scarring in the heart muscle that can precede heart failure.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. There is a large body of evidence linking poor air quality with cardiovascular disease. However, the underlying changes in the heart resulting from air pollution exposure are unclear.
We know that if you’re exposed to air pollution, you’re at higher risk of cardiac disease, including higher risk of having a heart attack. We wanted to understand what drives this increased risk at the tissue level.”
Kate Hanneman, M.D., M.P.H., study’s senior author, Department of Medical Imaging at the Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto and University Health Network in Toronto
Dr. Hanneman and colleagues used cardiac MRI, a noninvasive imaging technique, to quantify myocardial fibrosis and assess its association with long-term exposure to particles known as PM2.5. At 2.5 micrometers in diameter or less, PM2.5 particles are small enough to enter the bloodstream through the lungs. Common sources include vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and wildfire smoke.
The researchers wanted to evaluate the effects of air pollution on both healthy people and those with heart disease, so the study group included 201 healthy controls and 493 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy, a disease that makes it more difficult for the heart to pump blood.
Higher long-term exposure to fine particulate air pollution was linked with higher levels of myocardial fibrosis in both the patients with cardiomyopathy and the controls, suggesting that myocardial fibrosis may be an underlying mechanism by which air pollution leads to cardiovascular complications. The largest effects were seen in women, smokers and patients with hypertension.
The study adds to growing evidence that air pollution is a cardiovascular risk factor, contributing to residual risk not accounted for by conventional clinical predictors such as smoking or hypertension.
“Even modest increases in air pollution levels appear to have measurable effects on the heart,” Dr. Hanneman said. “Our study suggests that air quality may play a significant role in changes to heart structure, potentially setting the stage for future cardiovascular disease.”
Knowing a patient’s long-term air pollution exposure history could help refine heart disease risk assessment and address the health inequities that air pollution contributes to both in level of exposure and effect. For instance, Dr. Hanneman said, if an individual works outside in an area with poor air quality, healthcare providers could incorporate that exposure history into heart disease risk assessment.
The air pollution exposure levels of the patients in the study were below many of the global air quality guidelines, reinforcing that there are no safe exposure limits.
“Public health measures are needed to further reduce long-term air pollution exposure,” Dr. Hanneman said. “There have been improvements in air quality over the past decade, both in Canada and the United States, but we still have a long way to go.”
In addition to illuminating the links between air pollution and myocardial fibrosis, the study highlights the important role that radiologists will play in research and clinical developments going forward.
“Medical imaging can be used as a tool to understand environmental effects on a patient’s health,” Dr. Hanneman said. “As radiologists, we have a tremendous opportunity to use imaging to identify and quantify some of the health effects of environmental exposures in various organ systems.”
Source:
Radiological Society of North America
Journal reference:
Du Plessis, J., et al. (2025) Association between Long-term Exposure to Ambient Air Pollution and Myocardial Fibrosis Assessed with Cardiac MRI. doi.org/10.1148/radiol.250331.
In the mood to party like it is the 1970s? | Dazed and Confused
Return to the ‘70s with Richard Linklater’s American classic Dazed and Confused. On the last day of classes, the students of Lee High School—played by an extraordinary cast that includes Milla Jovovich, Adam Goldberg, Parker Posey, Renée Zellweger, Cole Hauser, Ben Affleck, and Matthew McConaughey—throw a blow-out party to say good-bye to the year that was. From embarrassing initiation rites to thoughtful meditations on the meaning of life, the film depicts the joys and sorrows of high school in hilarious detail. Entertainment Weekly wrote, “Once every decade or so, a movie captures the hormone-drenched, fashion-crazed, pop-song-driven rituals of American youth culture with such loving authenticity that it comes to seem a kind of anthem, as innocently giddy and spirited as the teenagers it’s about.”
Meyer Shank Racing (MSR) is turning up the volume for its home race – The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport – with the No. 60 SiriusXM Honda set to debut a bold new look for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES event July 4-6.
Felix Rosenqvist and MSR are bringing heavy metal to the track, teaming up with legendary rocker Ozzy Osbourne and SiriusXM’s Ozzy’s Boneyard (channel 38). The No. 60 Honda will sport a striking purple livery inspired by the channel, which features hard rock and heavy metal classics curated under the influence of Ozzy himself.
The special livery also celebrates a monumental moment in music history: Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s upcoming “Final Show at the Back to the Beginning” concert on July 5 in Birmingham, England. The concert will feature icons like Metallica, Slayer, Alice in Chains and more.
“I can’t wait to represent Ozzy and Ozzy’s Boneyard at Mid-Ohio,” Rosenqvist said. “The livery is totally different than anything we have ever done before and having Ozzy on the car – literally, his face is on the car, will be pretty epic.”
For fans who cannot attend “Back to the Beginning” in person, the show will host a livestream. Tickets can be purchased at www.backtothebeginning.com.
The Honda Indy 200 at Mid-Ohio Presented by the All-New 2026 Passport starts at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, July 6 (FOX, FOX Sports app, INDYCAR Radio Network).
Araghchi reported that he had emphasized Tehran’s deep mistrust of the United States during the call. He also condemned the “destructive approach” that “some European countries” and IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had taken to the recent conflict between Israel and Iran. Their support for Israel and the United States complicates diplomatic efforts, Araghchi said, although he didn’t specify which countries he meant.
The call between Kallas and Araghchi came amid heightened international concern over Iran’s nuclear ambitions following the collapse of its 2015 nuclear deal with the U.S. and Washington’s dramatic June 21 strikes on its nuclear enrichment facilities. That strike snuffed out a nascent effort by European politicians to defuse tensions in talks with Araghchi.
Hostilities between Iran and Israel have also escalated over the past fortnight with a series of strikes and counterstrikes, culminating on Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration of victory in the country’s “Rising Lion” operation to curb Iran’s nuclear capabilities. However, some reports suggest Iran’s nuclear program has been delayed by a few months at most.
A ceasefire announced last week by U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be holding. Netanyahu’s office announced on Tuesday that the Israeli leader will visit the U.S. next week to meet with Trump, underscoring ongoing diplomatic efforts to keep the peace.
Italy’s hard-right government has agreed to issue 500,000 visas for non-EU workers over the next three years, but a top trade union warned Tuesday that only structural change would tackle labour shortages.
The government of far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said a total of 497,550 workers would be allowed in over the 2026-2028 period, starting with around 165,000 in 2026.
This is up from the 450,000 quota set by Meloni’s government for 2023-2025 period — itself a sharp increase on the 75,700 quota for 2022 and around 70,000 for 2021.
Meloni, the leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, has sought to reduce the number of undocumented migrants to Italy.
But her government has also increased pathways for legal migration for non-EU workers to tackle labour shortages in an ageing country with a sluggish birth rate.
The greatest number of visas over the next three years — some 267,000 — will be given for seasonal work in the agricultural and tourism sectors.
Italy’s main agricultural lobby, Coldiretti, welcomed the new visa plan as an “important step forward to ensure the availability of workers in the fields, and with it, food production”.
But a top official in the CGIL trade union — Italy’s oldest and largest — said Tuesday the new quotas did not address migration dynamics and labour needs.
Maria Grazia Gabrielli pointed to the number of applications that were far lower than the available quotas, with the exception of domestic work.
In 2023 and 2024, only 7.5-7.8 percent of the quotas actually resulted in a residence permit, she said in a statement, pointing to their ineffectiveness.
Gabrielli criticised the government’s policy of prioritising applicants from countries who discourage their nationals from illegally migrating to Italy.
A 2023 decree allowed preferential quotas from countries, such as those in North Africa, who help Italy fight human traffickers and conduct media campaigns warning of the dangers of crossing the Mediterranean.
She called it a system “that takes no account whatsoever of the reasons for migration dynamics and the need for a response that does not focus on punitive logic and rewards for some countries”.
Italy’s foreign worker policy is fraught with loopholes and possibilities for fraud, with criminal gangs exploiting the system and even foreign workers already in Italy applying for visas.
The union leader said structural work was needed — including regularising workers already in Italy — to help employers struggling to find labour and to try to keep foreign workers out of irregular situations.
