Latest news with #BenjaminSmith
Kuwait Times
31-07-2025
- Business
- Kuwait Times
Air France-KLM profits take off as fuel price drops
PARIS: Air France-KLM Chief Executive Officer Benjamin Smith addresses the group's general meeting in Tremblay-en-France, north of Paris.-- AFP PARIS: Air France-KLM said Thursday its net profits quadrupled in the second quarter as fuel prices fell and it flew more passengers. The net profit of 649 million euros ($742 million) was in large part thanks to an 11 percent drop in its fuel bill. Group revenues rose by 6.2 percent to 8.4 billion euros as it carried 5.9 percent more passengers. 'Although the external environment remains complex, Air France-KLM continues to demonstrate its resilience and is well positioned to achieve its targets,' said chief executive Benjamin Smith. However higher airport taxes at Amsterdam-Schiphol where KLM is based and an increase in the airline ticket tax in France are expected to weigh on annual operating results by as much as 170 million euros. Meanwhile, Air-France-KLM said it was dropping out of the running to acquire a majority stake in indebted Spanish carrier Air Europa. Earlier this month Air France-KLM moved to acquire a majority in SAS and it is interested in acquiring a stake in TAP Air Portugal. Air France-KLM's shares rose 4.8 percent in midday trading while the Paris CAC 40 index was down less than 0.1 percent. — AFP
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First Post
11-07-2025
- General
- First Post
Australia's Aboriginal delegation urges UNESCO to protect ancient rock art
Murujuga, a remote location in Western Australia, is one of the thousands of sites under consideration. According to estimates, there are over one million petroglyphs – engravings that might date back 50,000 years read more Aboriginal site preservation signs stand near the entrance to Deep Gorge on the Burrup Peninsula in the north of Western Australia, close to the site of some one million pieces of Aboriginal rock engravings several thousands of years old and considered by some to be the greatest concentration of such ancient art in the world. File image/ AFP A team of Aboriginal Australians has come to Paris to seek UN support for the conservation of a cultural monument in their native country, which they claim is under threat from damaging mining. Since the beginning of the week, the global Heritage Committee at UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural organisation, has been discussing on which sites to include in the most recent edition of the body's global heritage list. Murujuga, a remote location in Western Australia, is one of the thousands of sites under consideration. According to estimates, there are over one million petroglyphs – engravings that might date back 50,000 years. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'It's possibly the most important rock art site in the world,' said Benjamin Smith, a rock art specialist at the University of Western Australia. 'We should be looking after it.' The site is located on the Burrup peninsula, home to the Mardudunera people, and under threat from nearby mining developments. Making the UNESCO's heritage list often sparks a lucrative tourism drive, and can unlock funding for the preservation of sites. It does not in itself trigger protection for a site, but can help pressure national governments into taking action. 'It's absolutely crucial that the Australian government takes it more seriously and regulates industrial pollution in that area more carefully,' Smith said. Giant mining corporations have been active in the resource-rich Pilbara region for decades. 'Keep our culture thriving' Australian company Woodside Energy operates the North West Shelf, an industrial complex that includes offshore platforms, undersea pipelines, and hydrocarbon processing facilities. The project consistently ranks among Australia's five largest emitters of greenhouse gas, according to figures from the country's Clean Energy Regulator. 'These carvings are what our ancestors left here for us to learn and keep their knowledge and keep our culture thriving through these sacred sites,' said Mark Clifton, a member of the three-person delegation meeting with UNESCO representatives. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'This is why I am here.' Environmental and indigenous organisations argue the presence of mining groups has already caused damage with industrial emissions. They are 'creating hundreds of holes in the surface. And that is causing the surfaces with the rock art to break down,' Smith said. In an emailed statement to AFP, Woodside Energy said it recognises Murujuga as 'one of Australia's most culturally significant landscapes'. It added that, according to independent peer-reviewed studies, 'responsible operations' could help protect the heritage. Woodside had taken 'proactive steps', it said, 'to ensure we manage our impacts responsibly'. In May, the Australian government extended the operating licence for the liquefied gas plant by 40 years, with conditions. Australia insists that extending the plant – which each year emits millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas – does not tarnish a pledge to reach net zero by 2050. 'Measures of protection' But activists, saying the government is not taking their concerns seriously enough, demand that UNESCO make any decision to put the site on the world heritage list contingent on the government offering adequate protection. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Delegation leader Raelene Cooper told AFP she wanted guarantees. 'There needs to be, at the highest level, safeguards and measures of protection,' she said. The Australian government has sent a separate delegation to Paris, also comprising members of the region's Aboriginal population, to push for the site's recognition. Australia's strong presence at the heritage committee meeting 'is a meaningful opportunity to support the protection and conservation of some of the world's most important cultural and natural sites,' Environment Minister Murray Watt said. Icomos, a non-governmental organisation partnering with UNESCO, said it was urgent for the Australian government to oversee 'the complete elimination of harmful acidic emissions that currently affect the petroglyphs'. UNESCO is expected to announce its update to the list by Sunday.
France 24
11-07-2025
- France 24
Australia's Aboriginals ask UNESCO to protect ancient carvings site
The World Heritage Committee at UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural organisation, has been deliberating since the start of the week on what sites to include in the latest edition of the body's world heritage list. Among the dozens of sites under consideration is Murujuga, a remote area in the state of Western Australia that according to estimates houses around one million petroglyphs —-carvings that could date back 50,000 years. "It's possibly the most important rock art site in the world," said Benjamin Smith, a rock art specialist at the University of Western Australia. "We should be looking after it." The site is located on the Burrup peninsula, home to the Mardudunera people, and under threat from nearby mining developments. Making the UNESCO's heritage list often sparks a lucrative tourism drive, and can unlock funding for the preservation of sites. It does not in itself trigger protection for a site, but can help pressure national governments into taking action. "It's absolutely crucial that the Australian government takes it more seriously and regulates industrial pollution in that area more carefully," Smith said. Giant mining corporations have been active in the resource-rich Pilbara region for decades. 'Keep our culture thriving' Australian company Woodside Energy operates the North West Shelf, an industrial complex that includes offshore platforms, undersea pipelines, and hydrocarbon processing facilities. The project consistently ranks among Australia's five largest emitters of greenhouse gas, according to figures from the country's Clean Energy Regulator. "These carvings are what our ancestors left here for us to learn and keep their knowledge and keep our culture thriving through these sacred sites," said Mark Clifton, a member of the three-person delegation meeting with UNESCO representatives. "This is why I am here." Environmental and indigenous organisations argue the presence of mining groups has already caused damage with industrial emissions. They are "creating hundreds of holes in the surface. And that is causing the surfaces with the rock art to break down," Smith said. In an emailed statement to AFP, Woodside Energy said it recognises Murujuga as "one of Australia's most culturally significant landscapes". It added that, according to independent peer-reviewed studies, "responsible operations" could help protect the heritage. Woodside had taken "proactive steps", it said, "to ensure we manage our impacts responsibly". In May, the Australian government extended the operating licence for the liquefied gas plant by 40 years, with conditions. Australia insists that extending the plant -- which each year emits millions of tonnes of greenhouse gas -- does not tarnish a pledge to reach net zero by 2050. 'Measures of protection' But activists, saying the government is not taking their concerns seriously enough, demand that UNESCO make any decision to put the site on the world heritage list contingent on the government offering adequate protection. Delegation leader Raelene Cooper told AFP she wanted guarantees. "There needs to be, at the highest level, safeguards and measures of protection," she said. The Australian government has sent a separate delegation to Paris, also comprising members of the region's Aboriginal population, to push for the site's recognition. Australia's strong presence at the heritage committee meeting "is a meaningful opportunity to support the protection and conservation of some of the world's most important cultural and natural sites," Environment Minister Murray Watt said. Icomos, a non-governmental organisation partnering with UNESCO, said it was urgent for the Australian government to oversee "the complete elimination of harmful acidic emissions that currently affect the petroglyphs". © 2025 AFP
Arab News
11-07-2025
- General
- Arab News
Australia's Aboriginals ask UNESCO to protect ancient carvings site
PARIS: A delegation of Australia's Aboriginal people has traveled to Paris to win UN backing for the protection of a heritage site back home they say is threatened by harmful mining. The World Heritage Committee at UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural organization, has been deliberating since the start of the week on what sites to include in the latest edition of the body's world heritage list. Among the dozens of sites under consideration is Murujuga, a remote area in the state of Western Australia that according to estimates houses around one million petroglyphs – carvings that could date back 50,000 years. 'It's possibly the most important rock art site in the world,' said Benjamin Smith, a rock art specialist at the University of Western Australia. 'We should be looking after it.' The site is located on the Burrup peninsula, home to the Mardudunera people, and under threat from nearby mining developments. Making the UNESCO's heritage list often sparks a lucrative tourism drive, and can unlock funding for the preservation of sites. It does not in itself trigger protection for a site, but can help pressure national governments into taking action. 'It's absolutely crucial that the Australian government takes it more seriously and regulates industrial pollution in that area more carefully,' Smith said. Giant mining corporations have been active in the resource-rich Pilbara region for decades. Australian company Woodside Energy operates the North West Shelf, an industrial complex that includes offshore platforms, undersea pipelines, and hydrocarbon processing facilities. The project consistently ranks among Australia's five largest emitters of greenhouse gas, according to figures from the country's Clean Energy Regulator. 'These carvings are what our ancestors left here for us to learn and keep their knowledge and keep our culture thriving through these sacred sites,' said Mark Clifton, a member of the three-person delegation meeting with UNESCO representatives. 'This is why I am here.' Environmental and indigenous organizations argue the presence of mining groups has already caused damage with industrial emissions. They are 'creating hundreds of holes in the surface. And that is causing the surfaces with the rock art to break down,' Smith said. In an emailed statement to AFP, Woodside Energy said it recognizes Murujuga as 'one of Australia's most culturally significant landscapes.' It added that, according to independent peer-reviewed studies, 'responsible operations' could help protect the heritage. Woodside had taken 'proactive steps,' it said, 'to ensure we manage our impacts responsibly.' In May, the Australian government extended the operating license for the liquefied gas plant by 40 years, with conditions. Australia insists that extending the plant – which each year emits millions of tons of greenhouse gas – does not tarnish a pledge to reach net zero by 2050. But activists, saying the government is not taking their concerns seriously enough, demand that UNESCO make any decision to put the site on the world heritage list contingent on the government offering adequate protection. Delegation leader Raelene Cooper said she wanted guarantees. 'There needs to be, at the highest level, safeguards and measures of protection,' she said. The Australian government has sent a separate delegation to Paris, also comprising members of the region's Aboriginal population, to push for the site's recognition. Australia's strong presence at the heritage committee meeting 'is a meaningful opportunity to support the protection and conservation of some of the world's most important cultural and natural sites,' Environment Minister Murray Watt said. Icomos, a non-governmental organization partnering with UNESCO, said it was urgent for the Australian government to oversee 'the complete elimination of harmful acidic emissions that currently affect the petroglyphs.' UNESCO is expected to announce its update to the list by Sunday.
Euronews
04-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Air France-KLM to take majority control of Scandinavian airline SAS
Air France-KLM said on Friday that it plans to increase its stake in Scandinavian airline SAS to 60.5%, up from around 20% currently. The additional shares will be acquired from Castlelake and Lind Invest, for an amount that will be determined by SAS's financial performance at closing. The sale is expected to be completed in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The European Commission is likely to scrutinise the merger with care to ensure that it doesn't threaten fair competition. The Commission has already shown some opposition to airline consolidation. A merger between Ryanair and Aer Lingus was blocked on several occasions, while IAG abandoned plans to take over Air Europa due to expectations that the deal wouldn't receive the regulatory green light. Despite this, airlines in Europe continue to seek consolidation options in order to compete with overseas rivals, particularly from the US and the Middle East. Lufthansa, for example, has recently taken a stake in ITA Airways and airBaltic. 'As global interest in Scandinavia continues to grow, we believe this consolidation strengthens SAS' ability to connect Scandinavia with the world — and the world with Scandinavia — by positioning Copenhagen as our global hub for the region, while continuing to uphold strong and strategic operations in both Oslo and Stockholm,' said Anko van der Werff, president and CEO of SAS. Benjamin Smith, CEO of Air France-KLM, said: 'Following their successful restructuring, SAS has delivered impressive performance, and we are confident that the airline's potential will continue to grow through deeper integration within the Air France-KLM Group. This operation would benefit our customers and all Scandinavians who would enjoy enhanced connectivity.' Air France-KLM took an initial stake in SAS in 2023 as the struggling Scandinavian airline underwent a two-year restructuring process following its bankruptcy filing. The Danish government also holds a 26.4% stake in SAS and will retain its board seats if the sale to the Franco-Dutch carrier goes through. SAS has a fleet of 138 aircraft, carried more than 25 million passengers last year, and flies to over 130 destinations.
