News / News Bulletin

Air France workers go on week-long strike

Wednesday, 27 July 2016 2:12 PM [ Last Update: Wednesday, 27 July 2016 2:12 PM ]

The file photo shows aircraft of the French flag carrier, Air France.

Here is a round-up of global news developments:

Human Rights Watch has slammed the Bahraini regime for pressing charges against human rights defender Nabeel Rajab. The body says Rajab’s trial is a violation of his right to freedom of expression. The HRW wants Manama to release Rajab immediately.
Also in Bahraini, a court has adjourned the trial of top Shia cleric Ayatollah Isa Qassim until August 14 amid widespread protests. The Al Khalifa regime accuses the senior cleric of money laundering. A group of Bahraini scholars have denounced the trial as invalid and unconstitutional.
The Syrian army says its forces have cut off all supply lines into the militant-held parts of Aleppo. There has been fierce fighting between Syrian troops and extremist terrorists who control the eastern part of the city in recent weeks. The army has called on militants to put down their arms.
At least 48 people have been killed in a bombing that hit the north-eastern Syrian city of Qamishli on Wednesday. The bombing targeted a center for the local Kurdish police as well as nearby government buildings. The explosion also left some 140 injured. Daesh terrorists have claimed responsibility.
Workers at the French flag carrier Air France have begun a week-long strike over labor laws. Nearly one-third of flights to Europe and North Africa have been disrupted by the action. Talks between unions and Air France managers have collapsed.
Turkey has issued arrest warrants for nearly 50 journalists in relation to the recent failed army coup. The journalists worked for Turkey’s biggest newspaper, Zaman, which was seized by authorities in March. The opposition paper is linked to US-based ocleric Fethullah Gulen, who is accused of masterminding the coup.
The Venezuelan government demands election officials block the opposition’s bid for a recall referendum. An aide to President Nicolas Maduro says thousands of signatures gathered for the recall vote belong to the dead, convicts, and minors. The opposition denies the charges, saying the government is delaying the process.
China hits out at the United States, Japan, and Australia for their joint statement on the South China Sea. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi says the move will only escalate regional tensions. The statement urges Beijing not to construct military outposts and reclaim land in the disputed waters.