Kurdish Protesters Clash with Police in Paris

A man holds a flag of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during protests in Republic Square in Paris, in protest against the killing of 3 Kurds in the French capital (Reuters)
A man holds a flag of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during protests in Republic Square in Paris, in protest against the killing of 3 Kurds in the French capital (Reuters)
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Kurdish Protesters Clash with Police in Paris

A man holds a flag of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during protests in Republic Square in Paris, in protest against the killing of 3 Kurds in the French capital (Reuters)
A man holds a flag of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) during protests in Republic Square in Paris, in protest against the killing of 3 Kurds in the French capital (Reuters)

Clashes broke out for a second day in Paris on Saturday between police and members of the Kurdish community angry at the killing on Friday of three members of their community.

Cars were overturned, at least one vehicle was burned and small fires set alight near Republic Square, the traditional venue for demonstrations in the city where Kurds earlier held a peaceful protest.

Clashes broke out as some demonstrators left the square, throwing projectiles at police who responded with tear gas. Skirmishes continued for around two hours before the protesters dispersed.

A gunman carried out the killings at a Kurdish cultural center and nearby cafe on Friday in a busy part of Paris' 10th district, stunning a community preparing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the unresolved murder of three activists, Reuters reported.

Police arrested a 69-year-old man who the authorities said had recently been freed from detention while awaiting trial for a saber attack on a migrant camp in Paris a year ago.

Following questioning of the suspect, investigators had added a suspected racist motive to initial accusations of murder and violence with weapons, the prosecutor's office said on Saturday.

After an angry crowd clashed with police on Friday afternoon, the Kurdish democratic council in France (CDK-F) organized a gathering on Saturday at Republic Square.

Hundreds of Kurdish protesters, joined by politicians including the mayor of Paris' 10th district, waved flags and listened to tributes to the victims.



Asian Airlines Re-route, Cancel Flights Due to India-Pakistan Fighting

Smoke billows after an artillery shell landed in the main town of Poonch district in India's Jammu region on May 7, 2025.  (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
Smoke billows after an artillery shell landed in the main town of Poonch district in India's Jammu region on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
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Asian Airlines Re-route, Cancel Flights Due to India-Pakistan Fighting

Smoke billows after an artillery shell landed in the main town of Poonch district in India's Jammu region on May 7, 2025.  (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)
Smoke billows after an artillery shell landed in the main town of Poonch district in India's Jammu region on May 7, 2025. (Photo by Punit PARANJPE / AFP)

Several Asian airlines said on Wednesday they were re-routing or cancelling flights to and from Europe because of fighting between India and Pakistan.
India attacked Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir and Pakistan said it had shot down five Indian fighter jets in the worst fighting in more than two decades between the nuclear-armed enemies, Reuters reported.
More than two dozen commercial flights were diverted to avoid Pakistan airspace. By Wednesday morning local time, airlines had cancelled 52 flights to or from Pakistan, according to FlightRadar24.
Taiwan's EVA Air said that it will adjust its flights to and from Europe to avoid airspace affected by the fighting between India and Pakistan for safety reasons. Shares were down about 1.7%.
One flight from Vienna will be diverted back to that city, while a flight from Taipei to Milan will be diverted to Vienna for refueling before continuing on to its destination, the airline said in a statement to Reuters.
Korean Air said it had begun rerouting its Seoul Incheon–Dubai flights on Wednesday, opting for a southern route that passes over Myanmar, Bangladesh, and India, instead of the previous path through Pakistani airspace.
Thai Airways said that flights to destinations in Europe and South Asia would be rerouted starting early on Wednesday morning, warning this could cause delays to some flights.
Vietnam Airlines said that the tensions between India and Pakistan had affected its flight plans and would provide details regarding re-routing schedules later.
Taiwan's China Airlines said it had activated its contingency plan and "taken a series of measures to ensure the safety of its passengers and crew". It did not elaborate. Its shares were down more than 2%.
The website of Taiwan's main international airport at Taoyuan, outside Taipei, showed that Wednesday's China Airlines non-stop flight to London had been cancelled.
Some flights from India to Europe were also seen taking longer routes. Lufthansa flight LH761 from Delhi to Frankfurt turned right towards the Arabian Sea near the western Indian city of Surat, taking a longer path compared to Tuesday, according to FlightRadar24.
Before Russia's invasion of Ukraine many Europe-bound flights from Taiwan overflew Russia, but Taiwanese airlines are now banned after Taipei joined in Western sanctions on Moscow and generally fly over India, Pakistan and Central Asia.