Travelore News: Israel Set To Approve New International Airport In The Negev

As of February 5, 2026, Israel has reached a major milestone in its aviation history. The government has just announced that a formal resolution to establish a new international airport in the Negev will be brought to the Cabinet for final approval this coming Sunday.

For years, the debate over where to build Israel’s second major international gateway has been a tug-of-war between the North and the South. Today, the desert has won. The Prime Minister’s Office, alongside the Ministries of Transport and Finance, has announced that the new supplementary airport will be built at Ziklag in the northern Negev. Why the Negev? Why Now? The decision to move forward with the Ziklag site (located near the Ziklag archaeological site between Rahat and Netivot) is more than just a logistical fix for a crowded sky. It is a strategic pivot for the entire nation. Alleviating Ben-Gurion: Israel’s main gateway, Ben-Gurion International Airport, is rapidly approaching its capacity of 40 million passengers per year. With projections suggesting up to 80 million travelers by 2050, the need for a secondary hub has become a "national necessity."

Ending the "Periphery": Transport Minister Miri Regev has hailed this as a "historic decision" that will transform the south from a "periphery" into a central growth hub. The project is expected to create thousands of new jobs and attract massive investment to the region.
Security & Resilience: In the wake of recent conflicts, diversifying Israel's aviation entries is seen as vital for national security. The site is symbolically located just miles from the areas affected by the October 7th attacks, signaling a commitment to long-term prosperity and recovery for southern communities.

The Ziklag Project: By the Numbers

The new airport is designed to be a modern, high-tech facility that complements rather than replaces the central hub.
Feature-Estimated Impact
Annual Capacity: Up to 10 million passengers
Estimated Cost: 7 billion shekels
Projected Timeline: Approximately 10 years for completion

Job Creation: Thousands of direct and indirect roles

A Hard-Fought Decision

The road to Ziklag wasn’t easy. For a long time, the Nevatim airbase was the frontrunner for a southern airport, but it faced significant pushback from the Defense Ministry due to its proximity to sensitive F-35 fighter jet operations. Simultaneously, residents in the Jezreel Valley campaigned heavily against a northern alternative at Ramat David to protect the region’s agricultural landscape.

By choosing Ziklag, the government has found a middle ground that balances military needs with the urgent demand for civilian aviation growth.

What’s Next?

The formal vote by the Cabinet on Sunday, February 8, 2026, is expected to be a "green light" for the planning phases to begin in earnest. While experts suggest it will be a decade before the first flight departs from Ziklag, the message is clear: the Negev is no longer just a desert—it is the future of Israel’s connection to the world.

Travelore Tips: What You Should Never Order On A Plane–According To Flight Attendants

You'll think twice the next time you look at the menu onboard...

Airplane food and drinks have improved over the years, but there are still a few in-flight orders that even seasoned travelers think twice about. After spending a heavy travel month bouncing between early-morning departures and long-haul flights, I decided to ask the people who know airline cabins best: flight attendants.

Rather than focusing on any one airline, I asked a simple question during multiple flights: what are the items passengers are better off skipping in the air? Their answers were candid, consistent, and surprisingly practical. While none of these suggestions are meant to alarm travelers, they do shed light on how flying changes everything from hygiene to how your body processes food and alcohol.

Here’s what flight attendants recommend avoiding—and why.

Don’t use ice in your drinks

Several flight attendants noted that ice can be a gray area onboard. While aircraft are cleaned regularly, the tools used to scoop ice aren’t always washed between flights in the same way galley equipment is. That doesn’t mean every airline operates the same way, but if cleanliness is top of mind for you, ordering beverages without ice is an easy workaround. Bottled drinks or canned seltzers poured directly into a cup avoid the issue altogether.

Diet Coke with extra foam

This one surprised me, but it came up more than once. Diet Coke, in particular, tends to foam excessively at altitude. Cabin pressure causes carbonation to behave differently, and Diet Coke is notorious for producing long-lasting foam when poured onboard. That’s why it often takes flight attendants longer to serve — and why some quietly dread the order. If you’re craving soda, other options tend to be quicker and less messy.

Say no to double alcoholic drinks

Alcohol affects the body differently at cruising altitude. Lower oxygen levels can intensify its effects, meaning a drink or two may hit harder than expected. Flight attendants also pointed out that getting overly buzzed in a confined cabin isn’t enjoyable for the person drinking — or the people seated nearby. Long flights can make it easy to feel both intoxicated and dehydrated before you even land.

Save Bloody Marys for land

While tomato juice is famously popular on planes, flight attendants warned that drinks with high sodium content can contribute to bloating and swelling, especially on longer flights. Sitting for extended periods already causes fluid retention, and salty cocktails may make that discomfort worse. For travelers prone to puffy ankles or post-flight fatigue, it might be worth saving celebratory drinks for after landing.

Avoid fish entrées

In-flight meals are reheated rather than freshly cooked, and fish doesn’t always fare well in that process. Several flight attendants said fish dishes are among the least forgiving when it comes to texture and smell. Since meals are typically heated using steam or convection methods, proteins that rely on precise cooking temperatures can easily dry out or become unpleasant.

What to order instead

If you want to keep things simple, flight attendants generally recommend sealed beverages, lighter meals, and options that don’t rely heavily on reheating. Sparkling water without ice, packaged snacks, and straightforward meals tend to be the safest bets. These choices minimize surprises and help you feel better when you arrive.

Flying already puts stress on your body in subtle ways. Making a few small, informed choices about what you order onboard can go a long way toward a more comfortable trip, and fewer regrets at 35,000 feet.

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Callaghan Horiuchi Shares Interior Renderings Of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art Redesign In Bentonville, Arkansas

Callaghan Horiuchi is redesigning key interior spaces at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas. The New York–based firm led by Christian Callaghan and Haruka Horiuchi will reimagine the guest experience inside both the original museum building from 2011 and its expansion, expected to open this year. The goal is to create a more cohesive journey between the old and new.

Callaghan Horiuchi is designing a new cafe at Crystal Bridges Museum of Art, and other features. (Courtesy Callaghan Horiuchi)

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art’s expansion was unanimously approved by the Bentonville Planning Commission in 2021, and construction started shortly after. The same team behind the original building, Safdie Architects and Buro Happold, designed the expansion, which increases the museum’s size by 50 percent. The interior redesign at Crystal Bridges by Callaghan Horiuchi entails the creation of new galleries, lobbies, gathering spaces, and learning environments within the museum and its expansion.

Renderings show an upgraded courtyard with verdant plantings and trees and a redesigned and expanded main lobby crowned with Safdie’s glass dome. A whimsical, floral art piece by the Haas Brothers will bloom in the room’s center, underneath the circular skylight.

A new cafe will be located within a main circulation path amid the building’s signature ceilings lined with curved slabs of wood and large spans of angled glazing.

The revamped lower lobby will feature new immersive book stacks and furniture for leisure. Here, the rounded book shelves double as seating to form a “campfire,” Callaghan Horiuchi said. Wood from the site was repurposed into furnishings throughout the interiors.

An art piece from the Haas Brothers will be inserted in the revamped and expanded main lobby. (Courtesy Callaghan Horiuchi)

“A central challenge of the project was accommodating a diverse variety of spaces, our interior design strategy seeks to unify the lobbies, circulation areas, and ancillary spaces with the galleries, creating a seamless visitor journey,” said Christian Callaghan in a statement.

Architects note the museum will be reconfigured into seven “signature moments,” designed to leave a lasting impression on visitors; and ten “key areas,” interstitial zones that create a cohesive guest journey.

“Our goal was to design interiors that feel both inspiring and deeply connected to place,” Haruka Horiuchi added. “Throughout the museum, new furniture enhances comfort and accessibility, including repurposed original benches with new cushions and armrests alongside custom pieces crafted from on-site wood slabs, celebrating creativity and craftsmanship.”

Construction has already begun on the interior redesign and will complete alongside the museum expansion in June 2026. It’s happening parallel to other transformative projects underway at Crystal Bridges, including a new nature trail by Studio Bryan Hanes.

Polk Stanley Wilcox and OSD completed the Alice L. Walton School of Medicine at Crystal Bridges last summer, as reported by AN. Marlon Blackwell Architects finished the new multifunctional Heartland Whole Health Institute and a creative parking complex in June.

https://www.archpaper.com/author/danroche/

Travelore News: Germany Issues Formal Travel Advisory For US

Germany has issued a travel advisory to its citizens travelling to the United States, citing risks linked to immigration enforcement and public-order situations.

Germany’s Federal Foreign Office said on Tuesday that German citizens should be aware of demonstrations and clashes with American migration and security authorities.

The advisory is not a political statement about the U.S. but aims to give impartial information for German citizens travelling to the country at a time of increased tensions during President Donald Trump's aggressive deportation drive.

Protests have been held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and other cities against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol officers enforcing Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Federal agents deployed to the city under the Trump administration's "Operation Metro Surge" shot and killed U.S. citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.on Saturday and fellow American Renée Good on Jnauary 7.

The statement said, according to a translation, that in Minneapolis and other cities, demonstrations sometimes lead to violent clashes with the migration and security authorities and warns people to be vigilant and stay away from crowds where violence might occur.

The advisory asks people to check out local media, stay away from crowds of people in which violence could possibly occur and note existing ID requirement in several states. "Keep calm and follow the instructions of the authorities and local security forces," added the statement.

Last March, Germany updated its travel advisory for the U.S. to emphasize that a visa or waiver allowing entry does not guarantee citizens to enter the U.S. after several of its citizens were detained at the border.

What People Are Saying

Germany’s Federal Foreign Office on its website: “In Minneapolis and other cities, demonstrations sometimes lead to violent clashes with the migration and security authorities.”

Journalist Olga Nesterova posted on X: “The update follows recent incident in which reporters from RAI, Italy’s state broadcaster, reported being threatened by ICE while working.”

By Brendan Cole

New Lufthansa Group Collaboration With Starlink: High-speed Internet On All Fleets Across All Airlines

The Lufthansa Group continues investing in its premium customer experience and will equip all of the Group's approximately 850 aircraft with high-speed broadband internet access from 2026 onwards. This will occur within the existing fleet, as well as on all new aircraft. Lufthansa Group’s partner for this comprehensive upgrade is Starlink, a leading provider that offers the fastest in-flight internet connection in the industry today. The system is based on satellite technology and enables internet access in the air.

In the near future, higher bandwidth and speed will enable streaming, cloud-based working, and other high-speed applications during flights. The new internet service will be free-of-charge for all status customers and Travel ID users - across all travel classes. This makes Lufthansa Group the largest airline group in Europe to upgrade its fleet with state-of-the-art broadband internet – no other airline will equip more aircraft with Starlink technology.

The cooperation is part of the Lufthansa Group's extensive investments in new aircraft and premium product and service innovations along the entire travel chain.

"In our anniversary year, in which we are celebrating Lufthansa's 100th birthday, we have decided to introduce a new high-speed internet solution from Starlink for all our airlines. The Lufthansa Group is taking the next step and setting an essential milestone for the premium travel experience of our customers. Connectivity on board plays an important role today, and with Starlink, we are not only investing in the best product on the market, but also in the satisfaction of our passengers," said Dieter Vranckx, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lufthansa Group.

The gradual introduction of Starlink on board of Lufthansa Group aircraft will begin as early as the second half of 2026. By 2029, the entire fleet will be equipped with the new connectivity offering. Further details will be announced in the course of the year.

Travelore News: Saudi Arabia Shelves Mukaab 'The Cube' Project, World's Largest Skyscraper

Saudi Arabia has suspended planned construction of a colossal cube-shaped skyscraper at the center of a downtown development in Riyadh while it reassesses the project's financing and feasibility, four people familiar with the matter said.

The Mukaab, at the center of Riyadh's New Murabba development, is the latest fantastical gigaproject linked to Saudi's Vision 2030 to be curtailed or delayed as the kingdom's $925 billion sovereign wealth fund scales back ambitions to manage costs and prioritize spending.

The kingdom is pivoting from heavy expenditure on futuristic projects that have dominated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Vision 2030, such as NEOM's The Line, to initiatives seen as more pressing and potentially profitable.

Projects in focus now include infrastructure for World Expo 2030 and the 2034 World Cup, the sprawling $60 billion Diriyah mixed-use cultural zone and the Qiddiya tourism megaproject, five people familiar with the matter said.

The repositioning also reflects mounting fiscal pressures as oil prices remain well below levels needed to fund the ambitious transformation agenda.

WORK BEYOND SOIL EXCAVATION, PILINGS SUSPENDED

The Mukaab was planned as a 400-metre by 400-metre metal cube containing a dome with an AI-powered display, the largest on the planet, that visitors could observe from a more than 300-metre-tall ziggurat - or terraced structure - inside it.

"When you enter Mukaab, you enter another world," CEO Michael Dyke told attendees at a Riyadh conference in December, acknowledging difficulties realizing the project. "Trying to solve for something that doesn't exist today, that's quite challenging," he said.

Its future is now unclear, with work beyond soil excavation and pilings suspended, three of the people said. Development of the surrounding real estate is set to continue, five people familiar with the plans said. The sources include people familiar with the project's development and people privy to internal deliberations at the PIF.

Officials from PIF, the Saudi government and the New Murabba project did not respond to requests for comment.

PIF SHIFTING FOCUS TO LOGISTICS, AI, MINING

Reuters reported in October that the PIF was shifting strategy to focus on logistics, mining, AI and other sectors promising better near-term returns, as pressure mounted following an $8 billion writedown on gigaproject investments at the end of 2024.

The kingdom is currently conducting a comprehensive review of several Vision 2030 mega projects.

Saudi Economy Minister Faisal al-Ibrahim told Reuters last week: "We're very transparent. We're not going to shy away from saying we had to shift this project, delay it, re-scope it," without mentioning a specific project.

Over the weekend, Saudi Arabia said it would indefinitely postpone hosting the 2029 Asian Winter Games set to take place at Trojena, another NEOM megaproject that has faced delays.

But the Mukaab is the first project in the Saudi capital reported to be reassessed for feasibility.

The structure was billed as large enough to fit 20 Empire State Buildings, and feature around 2 million square meters of interior floor space, making it the world's largest single-built structure.

NEW MURABBA WOULD COST $50 BILLION, SAYS KNIGHT FRANK

Real estate consultancy Knight Frank estimated the New Murabba district would cost about $50 billion - roughly equivalent to Jordan's GDP - with projects commissioned so far valued at around $100 million. Initial plans for the New Murabba district called for completion by 2030. It is now slated to be completed by 2040.

The development was intended to house 104,000 residential units and add 180 billion riyals to the kingdom's GDP, creating 334,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2030, the government had estimated previously. The Mukaab's design drew some social media criticism when it was unveiled for its resemblance to the Kaaba, the sacred structure at the center of Masjid al-Haram in Mecca that serves as Islam's holiest site, towards which Muslims pray.

Reporting by Timour Azhari in Riyadh, and Hadeel Al Sayegh and Federico Maccioni in Dubai; Editing by Bernadette Baum

New Bakery Map Is A Sweet Way To Explore Philadelphia

From the brand new Bread Room in Washington Square to the nearly 140-year-old Bredenbeck's in Chestnut Hill, the new Bakery map is literally all over the map, showcasing 30 spots all over the city.

Ellen Yin, founder of High Street Hospitality Group and co-chair of Sisterly Love Collective came up with the idea.

Visit Philly quickly came on board and the hope is that locals, along with tourists visiting our city in this monumental year, will grab a copy and follow their nose.

CI Macarons & Cafe |https://www.instagram.com/icimacarons 11 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106

Tartes Pastry Shop |https://www.instagram.com/tartes_oldcity 212 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19106

Ba Le Bakery | https://www.instagram.com/balebakeryphilly 606 Washington Avenue, Philadelphia, Pa. 19147

Jezabel's | https://www.instagram.com/jezabels 206-208 S 45th St, Philadelphia, Pa. 19104

https://www.visitphilly.com/philly-bakeries/
By Wendy Daughenbaugh