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Azerbaijan and the US discussed cooperation in the financial sector, Trend reports.

According to the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA), a meeting was held with representatives of the Bank of New York Mellon.

The CBA noted that during the meeting the macroeconomic situation in Azerbaijan, issues of development of the banking sector, as well as prospects for cooperation between the financial systems of both countries were discussed.

In 2024, Georgian authorities plan to hold „Trojan Footprint“ special forces exercises and „Noble Partner“ multinational maneuvers on their territory together with the United States. This is stated in the government program of the candidate for prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze, sent to parliament. 

If Turkmenistan does not act before the EU lines up alternate sources of gas, the Trans-Caspian Pipeline project will become unviable, Allan Mustard, co-founder and co-head of the Trans-Caspian Resources energy startup, Former US Ambassador to Turkmenistan, told Trend.

Over the course of the country's invasion of Ukraine, beliefs about who is a friend and who is a foe of Russia have consolidated among its population. There is one surprising exception, however - Ukraine itself.

Today marks 60 years since the first woman launched into space. On June 16, 1963, the 26-year-old Russian cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova set off on the Soviet Union's Vostok 6 expedition. Some 20 years later, the U.S. followed suit with Sally Ride launching off on June 18.

Ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the United States, Washington has urged the country to overcome bureaucratic hurdles in a planned deal for large armed drones. The contract would be worth $2 billion to $3 billion, according to Livemint.

Released today, the latest figures from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) reveal an annual increase in the global number of stockpiled nuclear warheads. As this infographic shows, China is at the forefront of this upwards tick, adding an estimated 60 weapons to its collection of deployed or stored nukes between January 2022 and January 2023.

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Venezuela on Monday for the start of a visit to “friendly countries” that also include Cuba and Nicaragua, all under sanctions from a common adversary, the United States.

Raisi was welcomed in Caracas by Foreign Minister Yvan Gil and was due to meet President Nicolas Maduro later in the day.

The United States and Taiwan signed a trade agreement on Thursday to strengthen their economic ties, amid rising tensions with China. The U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade hopes to improve customs and border procedures as well as other policies between the two countries. While Washington and Taipei have no formal diplomatic ties, the two governments are connected through unofficial relations and have $105.7 billion dollars in annual trade.

The Russian-Iranian military cooperation and the aid to Ukraine were discussed at a meeting in Washington between US President National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, his Israeli counterpart Tzachi Hanegbi and Israeli Strategic Planning Minister Ron Dermer, the White House reports.

Sullivan has expressed concern about deepening military ties between Russia and Iran and has also stressed the importance of supporting Ukraine.