Three Gulf Arab states pledged $2.5 billion in aid to Jordan on Monday in an effort to stabilize the US-allied kingdom as it faces its worst protests in years over government austerity plans that include tax increases.
The money from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will go toward a deposit in Jordan’s Central Bank, cover World Bank guarantees for the kingdom, offer budget support and finance other development projects. Source: France24
German company ADL and Iran’s Sepahan Oil Company (SOC) have signed an agreement to cooperate in technology transfer in oil and gas industry lubricants. Source: Oil Price
Russia has moved one step closer to seeing its controversial Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline become a reality. On Wednesday, the consortium managing the pipeline said that it has all of the Russian permits needed for installation. Source: Oil Price
Turkey on Friday threatened to respond if the United States levied further sanctions over the detention of an American pastor which has sparked a diplomatic standoff and battered the Turkish currency. Source: Agence France Presse
