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Added on the 01/12/2014 17:19:14 - Copyright : Reuters EN
Lufthansa pilots may extend a two-day strike that started on Tuesday. As Sara Hemrajani reports, the German pilots' union wants to step up pressure on management in their long-running dispute over cost cuts, retirement benefits and pay.
Lufthansa pilots begin a two day long strike in an attempt to bring an end to a row over early retirement benefits that has been running for two years. Rough cut (no reporter narration).
Lufthansa vows not to let up on cost cutting despite an 11 percent fall in profits in 2014. But as Grace Pascoe reports the German airline is facing tough competition from budget airlines and is still struggling to reach an agreement with pilots to prevent further costly strikes.
The United States says an Israel-Hamas deal to free hostages in return for a pause in fighting remains possible and would have "tremendous" benefits, after a deadly Israeli operation freed two captives. "We do believe that a deal is possible and we're going to continue to pursue it," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller tells reporters during a briefing. "We think the benefits of a pause and a deal for hostages are tremendous, not just obviously for the hostages who would be released but also for the humanitarian effort in Gaza and for our ability to begin to pursue a real and lasting, sustainable resolution of this conflict," he adds. SOUNDBITE
"A ceasefire right now really only benefits Hamas. That's where we are right now," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby tells reporters. SOUNDBITE
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