logo
Air France resumes flights to Israel weeks after Houthi attacks near Ben Gurion airport

Air France resumes flights to Israel weeks after Houthi attacks near Ben Gurion airport

The Star27-05-2025

JERUSALEM, May 27 (Xinhua) -- Air France on Tuesday resumed flights to Israel, the company said, with a service departing Paris Charles de Gaulle and landing at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv in the evening. The move comes as other international carriers continue to adjust their schedules to the region.
The French flag carrier, along with numerous other airlines, had suspended its Tel Aviv route effective May 4 after a missile launched from Yemen by the Houthi group exploded near Ben Gurion Airport.
"Air France is constantly monitoring developments in the geopolitical situation in the region to ensure the highest level of flight safety and security," the airline said in a statement.
Germany's Lufthansa Group, which includes Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, and Eurowings, announced on Monday it would maintain its suspension of flights to Israel until at least June 15.
On Friday, British Airways said that all its flights to Israel will remain canceled until the end of July. Ryanair, United Airlines, and Air India have also delayed their return, with plans to resume flights no earlier than mid-June.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

No tensions with New Zealand, says Xi
No tensions with New Zealand, says Xi

The Star

time3 hours ago

  • The Star

No tensions with New Zealand, says Xi

High-table diplomacy: Luxon (second from right) meeting Xi (not pictured) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. — AFP The leaders of China and New Zealand discussed the role of trade in boosting ties, while New Zealand also pressed its interests for peace and security in the Pacific, government statements showed. President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon met in the capital's Great Hall of the People yesterday as China's influence grows in the Pacific, challenging the traditionally stronger security foothold many Western nations have had there. On his first visit to China since taking office in November 2023, Luxon discussed the need for stability, less tension in the Indo-Pacific and New Zealand's 'enduring support for Pacific-led priorities', his government said in a statement. Luxon's meeting with the leader of New Zealand's biggest trade partner was 'constructive', he said in a post on X. 'We discussed the depth of the New Zealand-China relationship – from trade and people-to-people ties to our shared global responsibilities,' he said. 'In a complex world, open dialogue is more important than ever.' Luxon also backed up the role of the Pacific Islands Forum, an inter-government body seeking to foster cooperation among Oceanic countries and territories. Without making specific reference to any issue, Xi called for both countries to seek common ground and view differences 'accurately', state news agency Xinhua said. 'There are no historical grudges or conflicts of interest between China and New Zealand, so we should respect each other, seek common ground,' Xi told Luxon, it said, adding that both must precisely tackle disagreements. During his four-day visit to the commercial hub of Shanghai and the capital, Beijing, Luxon has championed an agenda of boosting business, travel and education for New Zealand. Xi also talked about deepening trade and investment ties, as well as scope to work on science and technology, climate change response and infrastructure along with education exchanges – echoing most of Luxon's goals. Luxon documented his meetings on Instagram, posting video messages to fellow citizens reinforcing his mission of getting 'money into your back pocket'. He clinched travel-related pacts and pushed New Zealand's tertiary education as well as its exports of meat, a key item of trade with China after dairy. Chinese tourists are New Zealand's third-largest group of international visitors, though official data show their numbers are still nearly a fifth lower than in 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic. China Eastern Airlines will launch more flights with New Zealand from December, New Zealand said on Wednesday. Days before the visit, New Zealand unveiled a 12-month trial of visa waivers from November for Chinese passport holders arriving from Australia with valid visas from its neighbour. — Reuters

Luang Prabang charts bold tourism vision to become regional standout
Luang Prabang charts bold tourism vision to become regional standout

The Star

time5 hours ago

  • The Star

Luang Prabang charts bold tourism vision to become regional standout

Kuang Si Waterfalls is one of Luang Prabang's most popular tourist attractions. Recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1995, Luang Prabang is famed for its blend of traditional Lao architecture, French colonial charm, ancient temples and scenic beauty along the Mekong River. - Pixabay VIENTIANE: Authorities in Luang Prabang have unveiled an ambitious five-year development strategy (2026–2030) aimed at transforming the Unesco-listed town into a premier tourist destination that blends modern comforts with cultural integrity and environmental sustainability. Deputy Governor of northern Luang Prabang province, Bounleua Sinxayvoravong told local media recently that the core of the plan is a sweeping improvement of tourism infrastructure and services designed to meet the expectations of both domestic and international travellers. From upgraded hotels and guesthouses to enhanced logistics and hospitality standards, the initiative seeks to boost visitor satisfaction, encourage longer stays and drive repeat visits to the internationally acclaimed town. The Laos-China Railway, which runs through the province, will be leveraged as a key transport route to drive the logistics and tourism industry. Bounleua stated that the province will promote investment in tourism-related businesses and develop new attractions to expand choices for visitors and enhance their overall experience. 'A key component of the plan is the development of Ngoy township, a popular destination, into a model of eco-tourism that celebrates natural beauty while also promoting environmental conservation.' 'In addition, Luang Prabang International Airport will be upgraded to meet global standards, enabling better access to neighbouring countries such as China and Vietnam, as well as key markets with potential like Japan and the Republic of Korea,' Bounleua said. The airport is set for a major upgrade under a public-private partnership. The Ministry of Public Works and Transport recently received prequalification documents from eight companies interested in bidding for the upgrade project designed as one of the key boosters to drive toruism in the region. Another feature of the plan includes establishing a new transport link with Dien Bien province in neighbouring Vietnam, which will help boost cross-border travel and strengthen the tourism network across northern Laos, Bounleua added. Recognised as a Unesco World Heritage Site since 1995, Luang Prabang is famed for its blend of traditional Lao architecture, French colonial charm, ancient temples and scenic beauty along the Mekong River. The town has long been the cultural and spiritual heart of Laos, attracting millions of visitors with its tranquil atmosphere and rich heritage. The province welcomed more than two million domestic and foreign visitors in the first five months of 2025, representing a 129.44 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN

Interview: NATO is global driver of conflicts, U.S. activist says at pre-summit protest
Interview: NATO is global driver of conflicts, U.S. activist says at pre-summit protest

The Star

time12 hours ago

  • The Star

Interview: NATO is global driver of conflicts, U.S. activist says at pre-summit protest

THE HAGUE, June 22 (Xinhua) -- NATO has become a driver of global conflict rather than a force for peace, prioritizing military expansion at the expense of public welfare, a U.S. anti-war activist said here on Sunday during a protest ahead of the alliance's annual summit. "The wars are multiplying, the military spending is escalating, and NATO is instructing nation after nation to take money out of education, retirement, health care, and green energy, and put it into weapons and wars," said David Swanson, executive director of the non-profit group World Beyond War, in an interview with Xinhua. Swanson, who traveled from the United States to join the protest near the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, said NATO's presence in the city was "ironic," given what he described as the alliance's role in fueling conflicts around the globe. "NATO should have come to The Hague because the International Criminal Court is here, and its leaders should present themselves for prosecution. But it should not be here to organize the world for more wars and more military spending," he said. "NATO can be abolished and the world (would) be safer without it." The protest, attended by hundreds, took place two days before the NATO summit, where member states are expected to push for increased defense spending. While the demonstration was billed as opposing NATO and the war in Gaza, it also drew participants holding banners reading "No Iran War," following U.S. airstrikes on three of Iran's nuclear facilities a day earlier. Swanson said NATO's expansion since the Cold War, with 32 members currently, has only worsened global insecurity. "NATO is expanding globally and adding partners around the world, and has become the single biggest distributor of weapons, promoter of wars, and creator of military bases around the world," he said, adding that it certainly should have disbanded when the Cold War ended. He also criticized NATO member countries for following U.S. directives without regard for domestic public opinion or international law. "NATO countries are servants of the U.S. government, colonies of the U.S. government, and obedient to the U.S. government," Swanson said. "They need to start listening to the people of their countries, to international law, and to the United Nations."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store