Boeing offers striking workers a wage increase
32,000 Boeing workers near Portland and Seattle have been on strike since Sept. 13 to advocate for better wages. These strikers called for a 40 percent wage increase over four years and for their performance bonuses to be restored. Boeing stated that their final offer is 30 percent raises over four years and “to reinstate a performance bonus, improve retirement benefits and double a ratification bonus to $6,000 if the workers accept the offer by Friday,” according to Reuters.
The union’s demand to resume direct talks or a mediated discussion has been rebuffed by Boeing. Union leaders will gather new input from members on the new offer. However, as of now, the workers are hesitant to accept the offer.
Over Sept. 21 and Sept. 22, Anura Kumara Dissanayake won the presidential election, becoming Sri Lanka’s new leader. He has been tasked with maintaining relations between China and India, the subcontinent Sri Lanka resides off the coast of. Sri Lanka has sustained better relations with China than India for years, but Dissanayake has resolved to make equal connections with both nations. He also promised to “improve Sri Lankans’ lives, clean up the government and ease austerity measures imposed by international lenders,” according to the Associated Press.
Maryland sues boat that broke Francis Scott Key Bridge
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, Maryland announced its lawsuit against the ship dubbed Dali, which broke the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, killing six people. Dali is owned and managed by Singaporean companies, Grace Ocean Private Limited and Synergy Marine Pte. Ltd., respectively. Recent filings found that alleged the ship’s Singapore-based owner and manager, Grace Ocean Private Ltd. and Synergy Marine Group, knowingly sent an unseaworthy ship into U.S. waters.
Maryland’s federal government is suing them for the cost of repairs, lost revenue, all fees involved with the Tariff, damage to Maryland’s natural resources, deterioration of infrastructure, economic loss and environmental contamination. Additionally they must pay for the costs of emergency response, salvaging materials and the benefits paid to affected workers, NPR reported. The bridge is set to be closed for repairs until June 2024.
Lebanon attacks worsen
Since Monday, Sept. 23, Lebanon has been bombarded with airstrikes from Israel. After months of conflict, Sept. 23 has become one of the deadliest days Lebanon has suffered since its civil war, according to the Washington Post. Israel claims it was attacking Hezbollah, a militant group backed by Iran — an archenemy, according to NPR.
Both Israel and the Hezbollah organization confirmed that a Hezbollah commander, Ibrahim Qubaisi, was killed on Wednesday, Sept. 19. The death toll from Sept. 23 to Sept. 25 is currently almost 570 people, in addition to over 1,800 injuries, the Washington Post reported. Currently, over 90,000 Lebanese civilians are fleeing the conflict.
Mpox outbreak in Africa
Mpox is a disease spread by close contact that results in flu-like symptoms and pus-filled lesions on the skin. According to US News Report, almost 30,000 cases of Mpox have emerged in numerous countries across Africa in the past year. Of these, 800 cases have led to death. The outbreak has led to shortages of necessities, such as Mpox tests.
Currently, the most affected country is the Democratic Republic of Congo, but it’s rapidly spreading to Burundi as well. In order to contain the outbreak, the World Bank’s pandemic fund said it would give $128.89 million (115 million euros) to ten African countries.
jamabil3@ramapo.edu
