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Strike At Geneva Airport Resolved With Agreement

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Geneva airport’s ground staff strike, disrupting flights during the holiday rush, has now concluded following an agreement reached to end the hours-long standoff.

Recall that the workers commences their strike at 4 am (0300 GMT), eight hours prior, urging for “dignified working conditions and fair wages” from their employer, the Dubai National Air Travel Agency (dnata).

At nearly midday, the SSP public sector union on X, proclaimed “Victory!” in response to the situation.

He said “The employees have succeeded in repelling attacks on their retirement fund and in obtaining improved salaries, indemnities and overtime compensation.

In a statement, Dnata, an Emirati airport service provider, acknowledged “the resolution of the industrial action,” stating that its employees had resumed work by noon.

Before dawn, approximately 80 strikers congregated in front of the airport donning bright yellow safety vests, holding union flags, and displaying posters bearing messages such as “Dnata is killing me” and “Precarious work means grounded flights.”

However, Geneva airport on Sunday emphasized its non-involvement in the dnata-employee dispute, expressing regret that the strike proceeded despite ongoing negotiations.

The airport disclosed six flight cancellations and several other flights experiencing delays of over an hour due to the strike’s impact.

Furthermore, the statement highlighted that “a number of flights were operated without loading or offloading luggage.”

Before the resolution, airport spokesman Ignace Jeannerat informed AFP that solely flights aided by dnata staff encountered issues. “A majority of operations are going very smoothly,” he remarked.

Dnata employs approximately 600 personnel at the airport, responsible for diverse ground operations like ticketing services and baggage handling for various international airlines such as British Airways, Air France, and KLM.

According to Jeannerat, dnata was assigned to assist 85 out of the 417 scheduled flights for Sunday, a day when Geneva airport anticipated 52,000 passengers.

He highlighted that all flights managed by dnata’s competitor, Swissport, were operating smoothly without any issues.

The union reported that approximately half of dnata’s staff participated in Sunday’s strike, advocating for a five-percent salary raise.

Following multiple negotiation rounds, the company’s proposed three-percent wage increase was agreed upon by both parties, as stated by SSP in a release.

The agreement also includes a 500-Swiss-franc ($584) bonus set for January, resulting in an average total increase of over four percent.

SSP revealed that dnata, previously accused of applying “pressure” and threatening dismissal of striking employees, withdrew these threats. The company also committed to compensating the workers for the duration of the strike.

On Sunday, dnata expressed that the agreement reached “reinforces our commitment to nurturing a robust social partnership, cultivating a collaborative work atmosphere, and securing the ongoing prosperity of our company.”

International News

‘Only Two Genders’ – Trump Vows To Tackle Transgender Lunacy

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President-elect Donald Trump has announced plans to take sweeping actions against what he described as “transgender lunacy,” signaling a push to reverse policies protecting transgender individuals in schools, sports, and the military.

Speaking at the AmericaFest conference in Phoenix, Trump outlined his administration’s priorities, stating, “I will sign executive orders to end child sexual mutilation, get transgender out of the military, and out of our elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.”

READ MORE: Ex-IMF Chief, Rodrigo Rato Jailed For Money Laundering, Fraud

He also vowed to “keep men out of women’s sports” and asserted, “It will be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”

The president-elect’s remarks come amid growing national debate over transgender rights, with states divided over issues such as gender-affirming medical care and the inclusion of books addressing transgender topics in schools.

The controversy escalated last week when Congress passed a defense budget provision blocking funding for certain gender-affirming care for the children of service members.

Trump’s speech drew strong reactions, with critics warning that his policies could strip essential protections from transgender individuals.

Civil rights advocates have raised concerns about the implications of these proposals on marginalized communities.

In addition to his focus on cultural issues, Trump used the event to outline his vision for the nation under his leadership.

He described his presidency as a turning point, promising to address international conflicts and restore American dominance.

“On January 20, the United States will turn the page forever on four long, horrible years of failure, incompetence, national decline, and we will inaugurate a new era of peace, prosperity, and national greatness,” Trump declared, referring to his upcoming swearing-in.

He pledged to end the war in Ukraine, stabilize the Middle East, and avert global conflict. “I will stop the chaos in the Middle East, and I will prevent, I promise, World War III,” he said.

The president-elect also reiterated his commitment to reclaiming control of the Panama Canal and combating crime linked to illegal immigration.

“I can proudly proclaim that the golden age of America is upon us,” Trump concluded.

 

 

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Ex-IMF Chief, Rodrigo Rato Jailed For Money Laundering, Fraud

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A Madrid court on Friday handed down a sentence of more than four years in prison to Rodrigo Rato, the former chief of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Spain’s ex-economy minister.

Rato was convicted of multiple charges, including tax crimes, money laundering, and corruption.

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The court found Rato guilty of “three offences against the treasury, one offence of money laundering, and one offence of corruption between individuals,” according to an official statement.

Details shortly………..

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South Korean President Banned From Travel Amid Martial Law Backlash

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South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol has been banned from leaving the country, the Justice Ministry confirmed Monday, following a week of political chaos triggered by his brief declaration of martial law.

The ban marks the first time a sitting president has faced such a restriction in the nation’s history.

Recall that on December 3, Yoon ordered special forces and helicopters to the National Assembly in an attempt to impose martial law.

RELATED NEWS: Martial Law: South Korea Opposition Files Impeachment Motion Against President Yoon

Lawmakers swiftly overturned the decree, forcing Yoon to rescind the order. Although he survived an impeachment motion on Saturday, public anger has continued to mount, with large protests demanding his resignation.

Authorities are now investigating Yoon and his close allies for their roles in last week’s events, including allegations of insurrection.

Among those facing travel bans are former Defense Minister Kim Yong-Hyun, who is in custody, and former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min.

General Park An-su, who led the martial law operation, and Defence Counterintelligence Commander Yeo In-hyung have also been barred from leaving the country.

General Park was questioned by investigators on Monday as the probe intensified.

Yoon’s impeachment failed after members of his ruling People Power Party (PPP) walked out of the National Assembly, denying the opposition the required two-thirds majority.

In exchange for their support, Yoon reportedly agreed to delegate his powers to the prime minister and the PPP chairman.

“This is an unlawful, unconstitutional act of a second insurrection and a second coup,” said Park Chan-dae, floor leader of the opposition Democratic Party.

Critics argue that Yoon’s decision to hand power to unelected officials violates the constitution.

“It seems to resemble an unconstitutional soft coup,” said Kim Hae-won, a constitutional law professor at Pusan National University.

“Their attitude of placing themselves above the constitution mirrors that of insurrectionist Yoon Suk Yeol,” added Park Chan-dae.

Despite Yoon’s apology for the “anxiety and inconvenience” caused by his martial law order, his approval rating has plummeted to 11%, according to a recent Gallup poll.

Opposition leaders have announced plans for a second impeachment vote on Saturday, with massive protests expected outside the National Assembly.

The PPP’s claim that Yoon can remain in office while delegating his powers to party officials has also been widely criticized.

“If there are issues with the president, the constitution lays out clear procedures, such as suspension or impeachment,” said Professor Kim Hae-won.

The ongoing crisis has raised concerns about South Korea’s leadership amid tensions with nuclear-armed North Korea.

The Defense Ministry confirmed Monday that Yoon remains the official commander in chief, despite questions about his authority.

“Legally, (control of military forces) currently lies with the commander in chief,” said Defense Ministry spokesperson Jeon Ha-Kyou.

 

 

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