Business

Washington, Dec 17 (AFP/PTI) The US Senate voted Tuesday to slap sanctions on companies working on Russia's Nord Stream pipeline, sending a bill to President Donald Trump that is sure to antagonize European nations counting on the project's natural gas.

The measure, inserted into a huge annual defense spending bill, passed 86 to eight after easily clearing the House of Representatives last week.

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 17 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The revival of the Bandar Malaysia development project, following the “detoxification” exercise by the Pakatan Harapan government, is expected to generate economic impact on the country’s urban development, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.

ISTANBUL, Dec 18 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Discussions on the construction of an artificial waterway, which would divide Turkey’s most populous city Istanbul, have lately polarised the Turkish society over its environmental and financial impacts.

Canal Istanbul was first brought out by then Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in 2011, as a “crazy project” with a view to easing the heavy traffic of the 30-km-long Bosphorus Strait, one of the world’s busiest waterways that divides the Asian and European parts of Istanbul.

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Dec 18 (NNN-BBNEWS) – China and Brunei signed a protocol on the phyto-sanitary requirement, to allow export of muskmelon from Brunei to China, Brunei’s Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, said.

The signing was made in Beijing on Monday, between the General Administration of Customs of China and the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism of Brunei. Brunei was represented by the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Haji Ali, and on behalf of China was Vice Minister of General Administration of Customs, Zhang Jiwen.

SEPANG , Dec 18 (NNN-BERNAMA) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has arrived in Malaysia to attend the ongoing Kuala Lumpur Summit (KL Summit) 2019 in the Malaysian capital.

The special aircraft carrying the president landed at the KL International Airport (KLIA) here at at 1.30 pm today. 

On hand to welcome the Turkish president was Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. 

AMMAN, Dec 18 (NNN-PETRA) – Jordan said, the European Parliament approved with a vast majority, to grant Jordan a soft loan of 500 million euros (557 million U.S. dollars) with a low-interest rate.

According to a statement by Jordan’s Foreign Ministry, the loan seeks to support Jordan’s economy and alleviate the burdens of regional crises.

The ministry said, the EU’s decision is a big appreciation for Jordan’s role in the region.

17 Dec 2019; MEMO: Energy Minister Yuval Steinitz has signed the permits required for Israel to begin exporting natural gas to Egypt, the Jerusalem Post reported on Monday. The exports, it noted, are expected to start next month.

“The permits were granted after all the required procedures were completed, including the approval of the Israel Competition Authority,” added the Israeli newspaper.

17 Dec 2019; MEMO: Secretary of the PLO’s Executive Committee Saeb Erekat yesterday called on Arab states to take serious action against Brazil after it opened a trade office in Jerusalem, Al-Watan Voice reported.

WASHINGTON, Dec 17 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved the release of about $368m to the Democratic Republic of Congo.

It’s the IMF’s first resumption of lending to the country since 2012.

The IMF had previously suspended a loan programme as the government failed to provide sufficient details about the sale of state mining assets.

President Félix Tshisekedi has sought to mend frayed relations with foreign donors since taking office in January.

KUWAIT, Dec 17 (NNN-XINHUA) – NATO secretary general, said that, NATO seeks to increase cooperation with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Jens Stoltenberg made the remarks, during the celebration of the 15th anniversary of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative (ICI) held in Kuwait City.

During the 70 years since its establishment, NATO has never experienced such a complex security environment as it does today, Stoltenberg said.