Germany A labor union announces a two-day strike at a number of airports

The Verdi trade union in Germany announced on Tuesday a 48-hour strike for security staff at Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Cologne Bonn airports from the early hours of Thursday until midnight Friday.

The "Verdi" trade union in Germany announced, on Tuesday, that it will start a strike at a number of airports Thursday and Friday, amid an ongoing dispute over wages and working conditions.

The union said in a statement, posted on its website, that the 48-hour strike of security staff at Dusseldorf, Hamburg and Cologne Bonn airports will start in the early hours of Thursday and continue until midnight Friday.

Passengers have been notified about possible flight cancellations or delays at these airports.

The trade union is calling for an increase in overtime pay and additional pay for working on weekends, public holidays and during the night shift.

The latest round of negotiations between the labor union and the Federal Association of Aviation Security Companies (BDLS) ended without an agreement last week.

"We call on BDLS to finally make a negotiable offer during the negotiations to be held on April 27-28 to avoid further strikes," said Wolfgang Biber, Verdi's representative.

European Union: China should refrain from any military support to Russia

"China should refrain from any form of military support to Russia in its war against Ukraine," said European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, in conjunction with the meeting of the Group of Seven foreign ministers in Karuizawa, central Japan.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stressed that "China should refrain from any form of military support to Russia in its war against Ukraine."

This came in an interview with the Japanese newspaper "Yomiuri Shimbun", in conjunction with the meeting of the Group of Seven foreign ministers, in Karuizawa, central Japan.

Borrell said dealing with China was the main issue during the meeting, which began Sunday and continued into Tuesday.

"China has become resolute in its defiance of the West and the rules-based international order," he said.

He added that "dealing on the basis of European and national commercial and economic interests, as well as global challenges, must remain part of our approach."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and French President Emmanuel Macron met Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 6.

The EU wants to maintain dialogue with China, but also remain vigilant about its moves.

Borrell expressed the European Union's desire to deepen its involvement in the Indo-Pacific region, saying: "Showing strength and escalating tensions in regional hotspots such as the South and East China Seas and the Taiwan Strait may have a direct impact on Europe's security and prosperity."

He also reiterated the European Union's position on Taiwan that "the status quo should not be changed unilaterally or by force."

He pointed out that the European Union will enhance cooperation with Japan and South Korea in the economic and security fields.