The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that China's Zijin Gold's proposed $5.5-billion acquisition of Allied Gold has cleared a national security review from Canada, removing a major impediment to the deal closing. The Globe's Niall McGee writes that Allied chief executive officer Peter Marrone told The Globe that the 45-day window for the federal government to raise concerns about the transaction had passed, meaning it was approved by default. Shareholders at Allied voted decisively in favour of the deal last week. Industry Minister Mélanie Joly reviews all proposed foreign takeovers of Canadian companies for national security, regardless of the size of the deal. Such reviews include assessing the impact on Canada's defence capabilities, the effect on the supply of critical goods and services to Canadians, and the potential for the deal to enable foreign espionage. Ottawa still has the power to block the Zijin acquisition of Allied if it fails to pass a net economic benefit review, which is continuing. That review addresses the deal's impact on factors such as the Canadian economy, jobs and domestic supply chains. Zijin, which is indirectly owned by the Chinese government, is offering $44 a share in cash.