COUNTRY REVIEWS

South Asia

Bangaldesh

• Inflation declined in July, 2013

Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka police imposes a curfew in the Grandpass area of Colombo following violent incidents; US, UK express concerns over violent clash in Sri Lanka; United States Air Force Pacific Command and the Sri Lankan Air Force conduct joint training Mission in Sri Lanka; Sri Lankan High Commissioner Prasad Kariyawasam summoned by Joint Secretary of India; GL Peiris visits Iran; Colombo South Port was inaugurated

Maldives

• 66 individuals and 22 international monitors from different international parties are scheduled to observe the Presidential election in September; President made unofficial visit to Malaysia

East Asia

China

(JULY 29-AUGUST 11)

• China confirms that a fleet of ships from the China Coast Guard (CCG) recently patrolled the country's territorial waters surrounding the Diaoyu Islands; Beijing rejects Japanese protest over Diaoyu patrol; China expels former senior official from the Chinese Communist Party; Chinese foreign minister meet Vietnam’s party leader; China-Russia joint drill enters the battle planning phase; Chinese foreign minister calls for an increased China-ASEAN cooperation; China "strongly" opposes a US Senate resolution on disputes in the East China Sea and South China Sea; Irish Deputy Prime Minister meets China’s political advisor; Akitaka Saiki, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister visits China; China and Britain express desire to advance military ties

West Asia

Saudi Arabia

• Two Al Qaeda suspects arrested in Saudi Arabia

Yemen

• Seven Saudi Al Qaeda militants killed by drones in Yemen

Iran

• Iran’s inflation rate touches 34 per cent; French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius: France prepared to work with Iran’s new administration

Iraq

• 64 people killed in a series of bomb attacks in Baghdad

Russia

• Russia and Italy discuss developments in Syria and Afghanistan; Gas production in Russia goes down in 2013; Russia’s Supreme Court reduces the jail terms of Khodorkovsky and Lebedev; Russian and American diplomats discuss a range of bilateral issues; US President Obama cancels his visit to Moscow scheduled for September 2013; Russia urges the Syrian government and opposition to make an effort to oust terrorists from Syria; Prime Minister Medvedev calls for direct talks to settle the conflict between Georgia and South Ossetia; Russia looking to further strengthen ties with Vietnam; Russia’s Foreign Minister and UN Head discuss developments in Syria and Israel; Russia and US plan to expand list of arms, services taking part in joint military exercises

DEFENCE REVIEW

National

• Defence Institute of Psychological Research undertakes study on stress levels among army officers; Indo-US talks on joint production of military equipment

International

• United Kingdom and Bahrain in early talks over Eurofighter Typhoon fighter deal; US U.S. intelligence reforms will not curtail American people’s freedom