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The Star
34 minutes ago
- Business
- The Star
Climate-sceptic policies 'imperil' aviation decarbonisation by 2050: IATA
NEW DELHI (AFP): Climate-sceptic policies will "imperil" the success of decarbonisation of the aviation sector to which airlines have committed by 2050, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Sunday. The emergence of leaders favouring fossil fuels, such as US President Donald Trump, and recent regulatory rollbacks, are "obviously a setback... it does imperil success on the 2050 horizon", Marie Owens Thomsen, IATA's senior vice president sustainability, told reporters. "But I don't think it's going to halt or reverse progress. I think it will just slow progress," she said at the IATA annual industry conference in India. UN aviation agency members, from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), have set the year 2050 as their goal for achieving net-zero carbon emissions for air travel -- an industry often criticised for its outsized role in climate change. The air transportation industry has faced growing pressure to deal with its contribution to the climate crisis. Currently responsible for 2.5 percent to three percent of global CO2 emissions, the sector's switch to renewable fuels is proving difficult, even if the aeronautics industry and energy companies have been seeking progress. To achieve net-zero emissions, airlines rely on non-fossil sources known as Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). IATA members preceded ICAO by a year, at their 2021 General Assembly, in setting this ambitious goal, which requires colossal investments. But SAF fuels are still three to four times more expensive than petroleum-based jet fuel. Washington's new Republican administration is also however supporting the development of fossil fuels, in contrast to the preceding Democratic one of Joe Biden. - AFP
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Indian aviation market emerging stronger, says IATA's Amitabh Khosla
Indian aviation market is emerging stronger with growth in connectivity, networks and airport infrastructure, and the country also has the potential for producing sustainable aviation fuel, global airlines' grouping IATA said on Sunday. However, the grouping also said that there is a high cost environment in India and also high uncertainty for tax planning. Amitabh Khosla, Country Director India, Nepal & Bhutan at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) on Sunday said the Indian aviation market is witnessing a significant improvement on the back of emergence of stronger airlines within the country, the growth of connectivity and networks. "We are also seeing significant increase in the airport infrastructure, so it gives a good foundation, a base on which India will build further," he said. At a briefing in the national capital on the sidelines of the World Air Transport Summit (WATS) being organised by IATA, Khosla also said India is one of the largest producers of ethanol. India has the potential to produce Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). "We understand from our discussions with some of the oil companies in the country that we are looking at India SAF production coming about in 2026," he said. IATA represents about 350 airlines comprising over 80 per cent of the global air traffic. Around 1,700 participants are expected to attend WATS and the grouping will also be holding its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in India for the first time after 42 years. According to IATA, India's aviation industry directly employs 3,69,700 people and generates USD 5.6 billion of GDP. When indirect, induced and tourism impacts are included, the totals rise to 7.7 million jobs and USD 53.6 billion of GDP (1.5 per cent). (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leaders
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Drones Fly over Port Sudan as New PM Takes Oath
The Sudanese city of Port Sudan, the seat of power for the government, has seen the firing of anti-aircraft missiles in response to drones flying over the city, reported the AFP citing eye witnesses. This came as the country's new Prime Minister, Kamil Idriss, sworn in before the Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council and the Commander-in-Chief of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF), Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan. Drones over Port Sudan On Saturday, citizens reported the sighting of drones flying over Port Sudan and hearing anti-aircraft missiles fired after nearly a week-pause in drone strikes. According to one witness, the city's residents heard 'the sound of anti-aircraft missiles north and west of the city and drones flying in the sky.' Port Sudan, which has become the country's de-facto capital since the eruption of the war between SAF and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), has become the target of RSF's drone strikes since early May. RSF Drone Campaign The RSF targeted Port Sudan with drones for the first time in the war in early May, hitting the city's only functioning airport and the country's main entry point in the last two years. The drone strikes also hit critical infrastructure, including a military ammunition warehouse, fuel depots, and the maritime port. The attacks stopped for about a week before resuming on Saturday. After losing the capital Khartoum in March, the RSF has adopted a strategy that involves targeting SAF-controlled cities with long-range drone strikes, alongside counteroffensives to recapture territory in Sudan's south. Recapturing Khartoum In March, the SAF regained control over most parts of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, in a significant victory for the country's army after two years of fighting against the RSF. The civil war, which broke out in April 2023, has split Sudan in two, with the SAF controlling the center, north and east, and the RSF holding almost all of the western Darfur region and parts of the south. The UN described the war in Sudan as 'the world's most devastating humanitarian and displacement crisis,' killing tens of thousands of people and displacing around 13 million inside Sudan and to neighboring countries. Two weeks ago, the SAF declared it had successfully forced out the RSF from their final strongholds in Omdurman. 'We affirm that Khartoum state is completely free of rebels,' SAF spokesman, Nabil Abdallah, announced in a statement. New Prime Minister On Saturday, Sudan's new Prime Minister, Kamil Idriss, took the oath of office before Al-Burhan, reported Sudan News Agency. Idriss was appointed on May 19, 2025, by a constitutional decree. Idriss will begin consultations to form a new government, as the army has pledged it will not interfere in the Prime Minister's decisions. Moreover, Al-Burhan cancelled the Sovereign Council members' oversight over the ministries, according to Sudan Tribune. Idriss is a Sudanese politician from Omdurman, who served as director general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) from November 1997 to September 2008. He was also the secretary-general of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). Furthermore, Al-Burhan appointed two female figures, Salma Abdul Jabbar al-Mubarak and Nawara Abu Muhammad Taher, as members of the Sovereign Council, representing Eastern and Central Sudan. In February 2025, Al-Burhan said he would form a technocratic wartime government to help 'complete what remains of our military objectives, which is liberating Sudan from these rebels.' In the light of this, the Sovereign Council Chairman announced in late April the appointment of Dafallah Al-Haj Ali as the country's Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Acting Prime Minister, and Omar Seddik as Sudan's Foreign Minister. Short link : Post Views: 1
New Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Holistic steps needed to bring communities together in Coastal Karnataka
The state government, earlier this week, set up a Special Action Force (SAF) to curb communal violence in Coastal Karnataka. It is a welcome move to improve policing in the region that has witnessed many revenge killings and communal flare-ups. But the SAF alone will not be enough to ensure lasting peace and communal harmony. There is a need for a holistic approach to strengthen the social fabric. By constituting the special force, the government has shown its intent and resolve to tackle the serious issues impacting the districts that are otherwise doing remarkably well in various indices. As per the latest Economic Survey, Bangalore Urban's Gross District Domestic Product (GDDP) is Rs 9,98,659 crore with 39.1% contribution to State GDP, followed by Dakshina Kannada with 5.4%; Bangalore Urban district per capita income is Rs 7,38,910 is the highest among all the districts, again followed by Dakshina Kannada at Rs 5,56,059 and Udupi at Rs 5,33,469. In the Human Development Index, industry, and services sectors, Dakshina Kannada is the second place after Bengaluru Urban. The coastal districts in the state are also known for their top-quality higher education institutions that attract students from different parts of the state, even the country. However, on the flip side, this region remains communally hyper-sensitive, and that could impact its developmental prospects. Frequent communal incidents bring a sense of fragility to peace in the region, requiring constant vigil to maintain it. Even the Government Order (GO) constituting the SAF cites the state police chief's recent letter expressing concern over an increase in communal incidents in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, and the potential of smaller incidents quickly evolving into major challenges to maintain law and order.
Observer
17 hours ago
- Politics
- Observer
Military Haj Mission heads to the Holy Lands
MUSCAT: The military Haj mission departed the country on Saturday, heading to the Holy Lands to perform the blessed Haj pilgrimage. The mission was seen off at Seeb Air Base by Air Vice Marshal (Ret.) Mattar bin Ali al Obaidani, and a number of senior officers from the Sultan's Armed Forces (SAF) and other military and security agencies. At the ceremony, Al Obaidani delivered a speech in which he praised God and emphasised the significance of Haj as one of the pillars of Islam, which brings together Muslims from all over the world. He added that the dispatch of the military Haj mission is a noble gesture from His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tariq. — ONA
