Cool Palms

17/07/2022

Farnborough Airshow: Aerospace deals set to fly
Well, it has been quite a while. But this week, a usually rather sleepy airfield in Hampshire will once again play host to the biggest names of the global aerospace and defence industry.

The Farnborough Airshow, being held for the first time in four years, is expected to feature some 1,200 exhibitors from 42 countries, and attract more than 80,000 visitors.

It will be noisy and colourful, with the Red Arrows, South Korea's Black Eagles Display Team, an RAF Typhoon and a US Air Force F-35 all dropping by during the flying displays.

Since the last show in 2018, the Covid pandemic has had a major impact on commercial aviation, while the war in Ukraine has dramatically changed the outlook for the defence industry.

Major 2020 air shows axed to free up emergency workers
That means this year's event offers an opportunity to gauge the mood of businesses, and assess how they are coping in a very different world.

Some things, though, have not changed.

The pressure to cut emissions and become less environmentally damaging is as strong as ever - and "sustainability" is likely to be one of the main buzzwords in the vast exhibition halls and plush chalets.

Airbus and Boeing go head to head for deals as sustainability takes centre stage, while defence firms focus on the Ukraine effect.

15/07/2022

Saudi Arabia: Biden set to meet Crown Prince amid criticism
US President Joe Biden will meet Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank on Friday before he flies to a controversial summit in Saudi Arabia.

His meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is likely to be strained, analysts say, after ties hit a low under the Trump administration.

Later, Mr Biden will travel to Saudi Arabia to meet its de-facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Mr Biden will meet both the prince and his father, King Salman.

Two years ago, Mr Biden had pledged to make Saudi Arabia a "pariah" over the 2018 murder in Turkey of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents.

The prince denies involvement, but US intelligence concluded he approved it.

Topics of discussion for the leaders will include energy supply, human rights, and security cooperation.

Mr Biden's meeting with President Abbas in Bethlehem earlier on Friday will be the highest-level meeting between the US and the Palestinians since the Palestinians froze ties in a dispute over the closure of the Washington office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) - the main representative body of the Palestinians - by the Trump administration in 2018.

The Palestinians want the US to do more to re-start peace talks with Israel, and to reopen the US consulate in Jerusalem, which served as a de facto embassy to the Palestinians before it was shut under President Trump in 2019.

Biden raises human rights in call with Saudi King Salman
Saudi human rights under new spotlight in Biden era
What happened to Jamal Khashoggi?
Saudi Arabia is the world's biggest oil producer, and the attempted reset of relations follows a spike in oil prices driven by Russia's war in Ukraine.

The US is expected to push Saudi officials to commit to increasing production.

Late on Thursday, Saudi Arabia announced it would open its airspace to commercial Israeli flights - a decision welcomed by the US.

The move will see the kingdom's airspace open to all carriers that meet its requirements for overflights, and paves the way for more flights to and from Israel.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said it "paves the way for a more integrated, stable, and secure Middle East region".

Mr Biden will become the first US president to fly directly to Saudi Arabia from Israel, which is seen as a small but significant sign of Riyadh's growing acceptance of Israel after decades of boycott in solidarity with the Palestinians.

The US leader will head to Saudi Arabia after meeting Palestinian leaders in the occupied West Bank.

14/07/2022

Bill Gates vows to drop off world's rich list

Billionaire Bill Gates has pledged again to give his wealth away, adding that he will eventually "drop off" the world's rich list.

It came as the Microsoft co-founder announced he would make a $20bn (£17bn) donation to his philanthropic fund.

The world's fourth richest man said he had an "obligation" to return his resources to society.

Mr Gates first pledged to give away his wealth in 2010 but his net worth has more than doubled since then.

He is currently worth $118bn, according to Forbes magazine, but that will fall significantly after his donation in July to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the charitable fund he set up with his ex-wife in 2000.

The Microsoft co-founder says he will move a further $20bn into his philanthropic foundation.

24/06/2022