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Islamic Banking in Russia

According to Interfax, Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed the law on conducting an experiment to introduce Islamic banking in Russia in the period from September 1, 2023 to September 1, 2025. The experiment will be conducted on the territory of Dagestan,

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The Great Un-resignation

By Ben Winck* American workers have given up on quitting. Amid last month’s financial results from Wall Street was a warning from some firms that staff has not exited at the rate employers expected. The U.S. economy has weathered inflation without widespread

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U.S. Strengthens Defense Industrial Base

The United States Departments of Commerce (DoC) and Defense (DoD) have signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to expand collaboration to strengthen the U.S. semiconductor defense industrial base. The agreement will increase information sharing between the Departments to facilitate close coordination on

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Niger coup opens Pandora’s Box

The 15-nation ECOWAS bloc’s response to the Sahel region’s seventh coup of recent years came as crowds in Niger’s capital Niamey burned French flags and stoned the former colonial power’s mission, drawing tear gas from police. At an emergency summit in Nigeria to discuss

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Canada buys Airbus tankers

The Government of Canada has awarded Airbus Defence and Space with a contract for four newly-built Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport aircraft (MRTT) and for the conversion of five used A330-200s in a quest to strengthen Canada’s continental defence capabilities. The

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EU-Chile: Strategic deal

Speaking to reporters in a joint press conference with Chilean President Gabriel Boric, Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission said the two parties reached an agreement to develop a strategic association to develop lithium and strengthen supply chains. Chile

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Travel changes to Israel

An initial agreement opens the road for Israel to become part of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. The U.S. State Department announcement on the matter: “The United States welcomes Israel’s announcement today that it is changing travel procedures for U.S. citizens travelling

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New Secretary-General in IMO

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) Council has appointed Arsenio Antonio Dominguez Velasco of the Republic of Panama, for an initial 4-year term as the next Secretary-General. Mr. Valesco will start his tenure as of 1 January 2024, subject to the Assembly’s approval.

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Britain joins major trade alliance

Britain on Sunday 16 July 2023 formally signed the treaty to join a major trans-Pacific trade pact, becoming the first new country to take part since its inception in 2018 and opening the way for members to consider other applications including from

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Vilnius Summit Communiqué

Issued by NATO Heads of State and Government participating in the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Vilnius 11 July 2023 1.           We, the Heads of State and Government of the North Atlantic Alliance, bound by shared values of individual liberty,