International News
Industrial Action Cripples Geneva Airport
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
DOJ Confirms Federal Criminal Investigation After Agents Raid Ilhan Omar’s Home
Federal agents raided the Washington, D.C., home of Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar early Monday morning as part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation, the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has confirmed.
Homeland Security Investigations agents arrived at the Minnesota congresswoman’s residence at about 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time, according to a report by Fox News.
SEE MORE: Trump Sparks Outrage With Shock Proposal to Rename New Mexico
The report said both the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DOJ are involved in the investigation.
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed the operation, stating: “Today in the Washington, D.C. area, Homeland Security Investigations executed a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice.”
The spokesperson added: “This enforcement action is part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation.”
Details later……….
International News
Bangkok Underwater: Nearly 4,900 Evacuated as Floods Hit Thailand Capital
Heavy rains have triggered severe flooding across parts of Bangkok, Thailand, forcing nearly 4,900 residents to evacuate to shelters as floodwaters swept through roads and residential areas.
The flooding has disrupted movement across parts of the Thai capital, with motorists and pedestrians forced to navigate submerged roads and seek alternative routes.
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According to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, about 52,000 households have been affected by the flooding, prompting authorities to declare a flood disaster and intensify emergency response efforts.
Emergency teams have been deployed to assist affected communities and move residents from vulnerable areas to safer locations as water levels rise.
Bangkok is accustomed to seasonal heavy rainfall, but intense downpours can overwhelm drainage systems, particularly in low-lying areas, resulting in widespread flooding and disruption.
Authorities are continuing to monitor affected locations while coordinating evacuations and other emergency measures.
For thousands of residents, the immediate priority remains securing safe shelter and protecting homes and livelihoods as authorities work to manage the situation and restore normal activities once the floodwaters recede.
International News
‘They Are Dying’ — Trump Explains Why He Rejected Iran’s Hormuz Proposal
US President Donald Trump has explained his decision to reject Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, saying Tehran was seeking an agreement because it was losing revenue.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said Iran wanted to immediately reopen the strategically important waterway but argued that the proposal was not acceptable to his administration.
“They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable,” Trump said.
SEE ALSO: How the Strait of Hormuz Attack Could Trigger a Fresh Global Oil Shock
According to the US president, Iran’s push to reopen the strait was driven by the economic pressure it was facing.
“What they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. Do you know why? Because they are dying,” Trump said.
“You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in, because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait.”
Trump also claimed that the US had established an unprecedented naval blockade against Iran, describing it as “a wall of steel.”
“So they outsmarted themselves. We put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel,” he said.
“And guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy shipping route, and disruption to traffic through the waterway has significant implications for international oil markets and countries that depend on energy imports.
Trump’s remarks came amid continued tensions between Washington and Tehran over the reopening of the strategic waterway and negotiations involving Iran.





