Source: CNN International
Security & Justice
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Lebanon’s army chief, General Joseph Aoun, detailed to Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati how Israeli forces likely exploited gaps in the country's coastal radar system during the recent raid carried out in Batroun. The briefing comes as Lebanese officials seek answers on how Israel’s elite Shayetet 13 unit carried out the landing undetected.
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“Large numbers of people continue to flee their homes every day, as Israel’s military operations in Lebanon have been going on unabated.” These disturbing words could be from almost any news report about Israel’s invasion of its northern neighbour over the past month. However, they can be found in a report by the Norwegian Refugee Council’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre issued on July 27, 2006.
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A Future Without Hezbollah
At the end of September, when Israel’s campaign to destroy Hezbollah was reaching its height, I met one of the group’s supporters in a seaside café in western Beirut. He was a middle-aged man with a thin white beard and the spent look of someone who had not slept for days. He was an academic of sorts, not a fighter, but his ties to Hezbollah were deep and long-standing.
Thursday, October 31, 2024
Sports
Tottenham Forward Son Heung-min Crowned Asia’s International Player of the Year
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Real Madrid Launch Investigation into Racist Insults After El Clasico Defeat
Real Madrid has launched an investigation into racist insults directed at players during Saturday’s 4-0 home loss to Barcelona in LaLiga, it said on Sunday.
Monday, October 28, 2024
Tuesday 4 August 2020 16:45:41
EVA Air Introduces Special Flight to Nowhere on a Hello Kitty Plane
Taiwan continues to cater to the needs of its travel-starved population by offering yet another aviation experience that doesn't actually take you anywhere.
Following up on an offer in July, in which the public was able to check in and board a grounded airplane in Taiwan's Songshan Airport, one airline has just upgraded the faux travel experience by offering an actual flight -- to nowhere.
EVA Air, one of the biggest carriers in Taiwan, is offering the special journey on August 8 (Father's Day in Taiwan) to help satisfy its customers' travel itch.
The trip will take around three hours, with the flight taking off from Taipei Taoyuan Airport, then circling the skies before returning to the same airport.
"The international travel market has been suspended for more than half a year," states a news release (in Chinese) on EVA Air's website. "Citizens' cries for going abroad is getting stronger. To satisfy travelers' wishes, EVA Air has decided to introduce an 'alternative travel experience' on August 8, Father's Day."
If it's a clear day, passengers will be able to take in views of several Taiwan attractions including Guishan Island and the scenic Huadong coastline, as well as other nearby islands.
Passengers will be flying on the "super popular" Hello Kitty Dream jet.
The plane bears EVA Air's special Sanrio-themed livery. An A330, it features many Sanrio characters including Hello Kitty, My Melody (Hello Kitty's BFF), as well as Little Twin Stars' Kiki and Lala.
Passengers can expect themed Hello Kitty in-flight amenities, free WiFi for texting and an inflight entertainment system that is usually reserved for long-haul flights.
Michelin-starred inflight meal
Inflight dining is another highlight of the trip.
The main courses are a choice of chirashi don (assorted sashimi over rice) created by three-Michelin-star chef Motokazu Nakamura, or a classic braised beef noodle dish.
The flight, departing at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, will be operated under flight number BR5288. Why the number 5288? When spoken, it sounds like "I love dad" in Chinese.
An economy class ticket is TWD5,288 ($180). Passengers can choose to upgrade their seats to business class for an additional TWD1,000 ($34).
International tourism has been effectively stopped in much of the world as countries shut their borders to stem outbreaks of Covid-19 and Taiwan is no exception. The island locked down its borders in March amid the growing coronavirus pandemic.
