A two-day strike at Munich Airport results in most flights being canceled

BERLIN (AP) — A two-day strike by workers at Munich Airport, Germany's second-biggest, started Thursday and resulted in most flights being canceled.

The airport operator said airlines had canceled about 80% of their flights to and from Munich and further cancelations were not ruled out.

The ver.di service workers' union called the “warning strike,” a tactic often used in German pay negotiations, on Monday as it seeks to step up pressure in ongoing talks with the federal government and municipal authorities on wages and working conditions for public-sector employees.

The industrial action is set to end at midnight on Friday. Workers at ground handling services are among those taking part.

Public sector workers also walked off the job in various other locations and services in Germany. Those included some workers at Hamburg Airport, though the airport said the only flights canceled were those to and from Munich, German news agency dpa reported.

Hamburg Airport advised travelers to arrive early and, if possible, with only hand baggage.

A Lufthansa aircraft stands at a gate at the Munich Airport in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb 27, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

A passenger walks past closed security gates security at the Munich Airport in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb 27, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

Passengers arrive with their luggage at a Lufthansa check-in counter at the Munich Airport in Munich, Germany, Thursday, Feb 27, 2025. (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A gas cylinder explosion early Sunday after a wedding reception at a home in Pakistan’s capital killed at least eight people, including the bride and groom, police and officials said.

The blast occurred as guests who had gathered to celebrate the couple were sleeping at the house, causing part of the house to collapse, according to the Islamabad police. Seven people were injured.

In a statement, police said the explosion occurred in a residential area in the heart of the city. A government administrator, Sahibzada Yousaf, said authorities were alerted about the blast early Sunday and officers are still investigating. He said some nearby homes were also damaged.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the victims’ families, according to a statement from his office. He directed health authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible treatment and ordered a full investigation.

Many Pakistani households rely on liquefied petroleum gas cylinders because of low natural gas pressure, and such cylinders have been linked to deadly accidents caused by gas leaks. Police said investigations were ongoing.

Government officials survey the damage of a home caused by a gas cylinder explosion hours after a wedding reception, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Sunday, Jan. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Ehsan Shahzad)