International News
Strike At Geneva Airport Resolved With Agreement
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
Miracle in Venezuela: Toddler Rescued Alive Six Days After Deadly Earthquakes
A three-year-old child has been rescued alive from beneath the rubble in Venezuela, six days after two powerful earthquakes devastated parts of the South American nation, offering a glimmer of hope amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.
The remarkable rescue took place in La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, which struck less than a minute apart on June 24.
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Rescue workers have continued round-the-clock search operations despite the challenges posed by repeated aftershocks.
The United Nations described the rescue as a powerful reminder that every life matters as emergency teams continue combing collapsed buildings for survivors.
According to Venezuelan authorities, the earthquakes have claimed nearly 2,000 lives, while more than 6,400 people have been rescued since the disaster struck.
Tens of thousands of survivors remain without adequate shelter, with humanitarian agencies warning that urgent needs continue to grow.
The UN refugee agency said the scale of the disaster has left thousands of families in desperate need of emergency assistance, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that national and international rescue teams remain active in the affected communities.
UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams are also assessing the extent of the destruction and identifying communities most in need of humanitarian support.
Officials said about 1,000 buildings, including hospitals, have either been damaged or completely destroyed.
More than 400 schools and water systems have also been severely affected, worsening living conditions for residents.
To support relief efforts, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered an initial 47-tonne shipment of humanitarian supplies, including emergency medical kits, water purification materials, safe birth supplies, wheelchairs, child-friendly tents and educational materials. The shipment follows an earlier consignment that arrived from Panama.
UNICEF said the combined aid will support more than 100,000 children and their families over the next three months.
Speaking from La Guaira, UNICEF representative Gabriel Vockel said the organisation is working around the clock to reach as many children and families as possible, while appealing for more donations to expand its life-saving operations.
UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Roberto Benes, said many affected families are sleeping outdoors for fear of continued aftershocks and remain in urgent need of clean water, healthcare and safe shelter.
The agency estimates that about 680,000 children across six affected states require humanitarian assistance following what has been described as Venezuela’s most significant earthquake disaster in more than a century.
Authorities also reported that more than 600 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, increasing concerns over further damage and risks to survivors.
UNICEF is seeking $52 million to respond to the earthquake emergency as part of its broader 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal for Venezuela, which remains significantly underfunded.
International News
Panic in Europe as France Records First-Ever Ebola Case
France has confirmed its first-ever case of Ebola virus disease, triggering concern across Europe as health authorities move swiftly to contain the deadly infection.
The French Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently battling a major Ebola outbreak, tested positive for the virus after arriving in France.
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According to officials, the patient was immediately isolated upon arrival, even before laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis, helping to reduce the risk of transmission.
In a statement, the ministry confirmed the identification of “a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory,” marking the first time the virus has been detected in France.
The development also represents the first confirmed Ebola case recorded outside Africa during the current outbreak, which has affected both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
French authorities disclosed that the case was detected in mainland France, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is closely monitoring the situation as health agencies intensify surveillance and response measures.
The current outbreak in the DRC was officially declared on May 15 following a series of unexplained deaths in the eastern Ituri Province.
The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Despite growing concerns, public health experts have stressed that the risk of widespread global transmission remains low because Ebola is less contagious than many airborne infectious diseases.
The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials.
Ebola is a severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever that can cause symptoms including high fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.
French health authorities have assured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken to contain the case and prevent any further spread of the disease.
The announcement has nevertheless sparked anxiety across Europe, given the deadly nature of the virus and its emergence outside the African continent during the ongoing outbreak.
International News
“He Failed Badly” — Trump Says Starmer Will Step Down as UK PM
U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down from office, accusing the Labour leader of failing on two critical issues — immigration and energy policy.
Trump made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed Starmer’s leadership had fallen short in addressing challenges facing the United Kingdom.
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“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”
The U.S. president did not provide any evidence to support his claim, nor did he reveal the basis for his prediction that Starmer would leave office.
Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, became Prime Minister after securing victory in the UK’s general election.
Since taking office, his government has faced criticism over a range of issues, including migration policies, energy security, and the cost-of-living challenges confronting many Britons.
Trump’s comments come as debates over immigration and energy continue to dominate political discussions in the UK.
However, there has been no official statement from Starmer, his office, or the British government suggesting that he plans to resign.
As of the time of filing this report, Starmer remains in office and continues to lead the government despite the claims made by the American president.





