China's civil aviation sector is expected to handle 780 million passenger trips in 2025, the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) said on Thursday.
It is estimated that the cargo and mail transport volume handled by the sector is expected to reach 9.5 million tons in 2025, the CAAC added.
In addition, China plans to speed up the resumption of international flights, aiming to restore flight numbers this year to over 90 percent of 2019 levels. The country will focus on expanding routes to neighboring countries and those reaching the Belt and Road Initiative partner countries, with new connections to Africa, the South Pacific, Latin America, and other regions.
China aims to have 270 airports by the end of 2025. The construction efforts will focus on building airports in major transport hubs like Guangzhou in the south and Dalian in the northeast, as well as feeder airports in areas such as Kazak Autonomous County of Barkol, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in the northwest.
China's air passenger traffic expected to reach 780 million in 2025
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said on Tuesday that Israel's death penalty legislation targeting Palestinians violates international law.
In a statement, Turk said it is "deeply disappointing" that this bill has been approved by the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
"It is patently inconsistent with Israel's international law obligations, including in relation to the right to life. It raises serious concerns about due process violations, is deeply discriminatory, and must be promptly repealed," the statement said.
Israel's parliament on Monday approved a bill making the death penalty a punishment by default for Palestinians in the West Bank convicted of "terrorism," a move that has drawn international criticism.
Proposed by Israel's far-right coalition government, the new law mandates the death penalty for Palestinians convicted of killing Israelis with the intent to harm the state. It does not apply to Israelis who kill Palestinians.
Under the law, courts can impose the death penalty even if prosecutors do not request it, and a unanimous judicial decision is not required.
Israel's death penalty law targeting Palestinians violates international law: UN human rights chief
