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.”
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.
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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……….
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.
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.
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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.
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