Connect with us

International News

Industrial Action Cripples Geneva Airport

Published

on

Scores of ground personnel at Geneva airport initiated a strike on Sunday due to a salary disagreement with their employer, the Dubai National Air Travel Agency.

This action resulted in flight delays amidst the bustling holiday period.

Employees from Dnata, accountable for roughly a fifth of Cointrin airport’s traffic, commenced the strike at 4:00 am (0300 GMT), according to the SSP public sector union on X formerly known as Twitter.

The strike was organized to advocate for “dignified working conditions and fair wages,” the union stated.

Approximately 80 strikers assembled at the airport donning vivid yellow safety vests, displaying union flags, and showcasing posters bearing slogans such as “Dnata is killing me” and “Precarious work means grounded flights.”

The airport confirmed that the halt in work was causing flight delays amid the bustling Christmas rush.

“Some employees of a service provider are on strike today, affecting our operations,” the statement read, expressing apologies to passengers for the inconvenience.

Ignace Jeannerat, the airport spokesman, informed the ATS-Keystone news agency that three flights encountered delays early on Sunday, two of which were inter-continental and long-haul.

He noted the possibility of these flights needing to land at alternative airports.

Jeannerat mentioned that Dnata had plans to assist with 85 out of the 419 scheduled flights for Sunday, a day during which Geneva airport anticipated 52,000 passengers to pass through its terminals.

Dnata is reported to employ approximately 600 personnel at the airport, responsible for diverse ground operations, encompassing ticketing services and baggage handling, for several international airlines like British Airways, Air France, and KLM.

The union indicated that approximately half of the Dnata workforce had consented to participate in the indefinite strike.

The 20minutes online news site conveyed that the duration of the halt would be assessed “hour by hour,” as stated by the union.

The workers are advocating for a five percent increase in salaries from Dnata, an Emirati airport service provider.

The workers are also pushing for the company to introduce a bonus for physically demanding roles and additional compensation for night and Sunday shifts, which Dnata has declined to implement, as per union representative Jamshid Pouranpir’s statement to 20minutes.

Dnata has proposed a three percent salary increase and has retracted a controversial plan to reduce contributions to staff retirement funds. However, this hasn’t met the workers’ expectations.

According to Dnata representative Alexandre Koenig speaking to 20minutes, the company remains “committed to reaching an agreement” but would consider any work stoppage as “illegal.”

Meanwhile, SSP voiced concerns about alleged “pressures” imposed by the company, claiming that Dnata has threatened to terminate employees participating in the strike, as reported by the news site.

International News

Samsung Electronics Co-CEO, Han Jong-hee Dies At 63

Published

on

Han Jong-hee, co-CEO of Samsung Electronics and a driving force behind the company’s dominance in the global television market, has died of a heart attack at the age of 63, the company confirmed on Tuesday.

“He died from cardiac arrest today,” a Samsung spokesperson stated, adding that Han is survived by his wife and three children.

Having joined the company in 1988, Han played a significant role in shaping Samsung’s television business.

READ MORE: Samsung Reports Worst Quarterly Profits In 14 Years

His leadership was instrumental in the launch and success of the company’s high-end LED TVs, which helped establish Samsung as a global leader in the industry.

“Han was central in the unveiling of Samsung’s world-class LED TVs,” the company noted in a biography published earlier this month. “His numerous other innovations enabled the company to continually demonstrate its technology leadership.”

His efforts ensured that Samsung maintained its position as a dominant force in the global television market.

Han’s death comes at a time when Samsung Electronics is grappling with challenges in the AI chip sector.

The company has been facing difficulties in meeting Nvidia’s standards, while its South Korean competitor, SK Hynix, has emerged as the leading supplier of high-bandwidth memory (HBM) chips for Nvidia’s AI processors.

Chairman Lee Jae-yong recently underscored the urgency of the situation, urging Samsung to adopt a “do-or-die” approach to overcome the growing challenges in the AI industry.

Last October, the company acknowledged it was facing a “crisis,” citing concerns over its “fundamental technological competitiveness and the future of the company.”

 

Continue Reading

International News

Pope Francis To Return To Vatican After Month-Long Treatment

Published

on

Pope Francis To Undergo Emergency Hernia Surgery

Pope Francis will on Sunday be discharged from Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he has been receiving treatment since February 14 for breathing difficulties and pneumonia.

The 88-year-old pontiff will return to his residence at Saint Martha’s House in the Vatican, where doctors have advised that he undergo “a long convalescence… of at least two months.”

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, Dr. Sergio Alfieri explained that while the pope’s health is improving, further recovery is best achieved at home.

READ ALSO: Pope Francis’ Condition Improving, Says Vatican

“Further progress will take place at his home, because a hospital — even if this seems strange — is the worst place to recover because it’s where one can contract more infections,” Alfieri said.

Dr. Luca Carbone, another physician at Gemelli, added that there are positive signs in the pope’s condition. “We hope that he will soon be able to resume his normal activities,” he stated.

Before leaving the hospital, Pope Francis is expected to greet the public and offer a blessing from a hospital balcony after the Angelus prayers on Sunday, marking his first appearance in weeks.

Speculation about a possible resignation has been circulating due to the pope’s prolonged absence from public duties, but Vatican officials have firmly denied such claims.

When asked if the topic had been discussed, Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin was clear in his response: “No, no, no, absolutely not.”

The pope, who had part of a lung removed in his youth, has received an outpouring of prayers and well-wishes from Catholics worldwide.

Supporters have been gathering outside Gemelli hospital, leaving flowers, candles, and messages of encouragement.

His hospitalization, the longest of his papacy has led to questions about how Easter celebrations will be handled in his absence.

However, Vatican officials remain optimistic about his gradual return to his duties in the coming weeks.

Continue Reading

International News

Memphis Man Accidentally Shot By His Own Dog

Published

on

A Memphis man was accidentally shot by his own dog after the pet jumped onto his bed and triggered a loaded firearm, police confirmed on Wednesday.

The incident occurred early Monday morning while the man was asleep alongside his female partner.

According to police reports, the couple’s one-year-old pit bull, Oreo, inadvertently discharged the weapon after getting its paw stuck in the trigger guard.

READ ALSO: Nigerian Woman Mauled To Death By Stray Dogs In Italy

The bullet grazed the man’s left thigh, causing a minor injury that was treated at a local hospital.

The victim’s girlfriend, who spoke to Fox 13 Memphis, described Oreo as a playful dog and recounted the shocking moment the firearm discharged.

“The dog is a playful dog, and he likes to jump around and stuff like that, and it just went off,” she said. Reflecting on the incident, she added: “Keep the safety on or use a trigger lock.”

Police have classified the case as an “accidental injury” and have not disclosed the type of firearm involved.

Although gun-related incidents are frequent in the United States, cases involving animals firing weapons are rare.

In a similar case in 2023, a Kansas man was killed when his German shepherd stepped on a hunting rifle.

A comparable incident in 2018 saw an Iowa man accidentally shot in the leg by his pit bull-Labrador mix.

Authorities are using the Memphis case as a reminder of firearm safety, urging gun owners to secure their weapons properly to prevent unintended discharges.

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.