The Embassy in Colombo and Eastern Province Chief Secretary Sarath Abeygunawardena signed the agreement in the presence of US representatives. The National Congress of the opposition MDP decided to break off talks with the government. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang presided over a special session of the State Council in Zhongnanhai on August 28.
The Korea Peninsula
Russia
Russia: Domestic
Share of Russian medical drugs in the domestic market up to 28 percent; Russian law allows blocking of any website; Russian food prices rise by 11 per cent. The number of migrants in Russia fell by 20 percent; Russia's fifth-generation fighter jets begin missile tests. According to the assessment of the Russian Ministry of Economic Development, Russia's GDP fell by 4.6 percent year-on-year in July, while growth decreased by 3.6 percent year-on-year since the beginning of 2015.37
A representative Russian pipeline operator Transneft Robert Galiev has said that "the branch pipeline construction means the implementation of the ESPO goal of not only exporting oil to the Asia-Pacific region, but also connecting refineries in the Far East with the main oil pipeline". Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said on August 29 that the share of Russian manufacturers of medical drugs in the domestic market has increased to 28 percent in 2015. Russia's statistics service Rosstat said on August 26 that food prices have increased by 10.6 percent in the first seven months of the year compared to the same period last year.
The president of the Federation of Migrants in Russia (FMS), Mohammed Madjumder said on August 26 that the number of migrants in Russia decreased by 20-25 percent in 2015. Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Air Force Colonel General Viktor Bondarev said on August 26 that Russia's fifth-generation PAK FA (T-50) fighter jet began test flights with missile launch exercises in which it showed excellent results.
Russia: International
He added that Russia will not accept restructuring or any changes in the rules of securing funds from the National Wealth Fund. This is precisely what lies at the center of most of the problems in the European region". 53. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that China is a priority partner for Russia for cooperation in the Arctic region.
In the first half of 2015, trade turnover fell by 30 percent to just over $31 billion. A working delegation of experts from the UAE is expected to arrive in Chechnya in the near future.62. The Russian company Rosatom is expected to build two 1,000 megawatt nuclear power plants in the north of the country by 2022.63
They also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and North Africa, the prospects for a solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the fight against international terrorism. Sisi also stated that Egypt is ready to offer the best conditions to Russian investors who want to work in the Suez Canal region.65.
India-Russia Relations
West Asia
Iran
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on August 25, 2015 that Iran would welcome dialogue and cooperation with Saudi Arabia to help restore peace and security in the Middle East region. Ali Akbar Salehi, director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), held talks with senior Chinese officials, including China Atomic Energy Authority chairman Xu Dazhe. The officials called for the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) - the official name of the nuclear deal between Iran and major powers - and cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear energy.
Iraq
Syria
Israel and Palestine
It is a fundamental fact of modern Zionism." In addition to being illegal, the building of settlements has also been a major obstacle to peace negotiations between Israel and Palestine.
The Gulf
India and West Asia
The United State of America
National
Hurricane Katrina struck the US Gulf Coast on August 29, 2005, causing initial devastation from Texas to Florida. The Northern Command was not quite 3 years old when it was thrust into the rescue and recovery phase of Katrina's aftermath. Tim Russell, deputy director of future operations at the command's Colorado Springs, Colo., headquarters said the lessons learned from the storm continue to resonate at Northcom.
He said the command has thorough plans on how to respond to a disaster in the United States. Polls continue to show Donald Trump leading in all the usual groups within the Republican Party. 85 “Obama Announces Clean Energy Initiatives,” VOA News, August 24, 2015 at http://www.voanews.com/content/obama-to-announce-clean-energy-initiative/2930277.html.
86 Garamone, Jim, “Remembering Hurricane Katrina a Decade Later,” DoD News, August 28, 2015 at http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/615149/remembering-hurricane-katrina-a-decade -later; “Special Report: Hurricane Katrina – The Department of Defense Looks Back”, DoD News, 28 August 2015 at http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/615297/special-report-hurricane-katrina-die- defense-department- look-back. 87 Garamone, Jim, “Northern Command Applies Lessons Katrina Taught,” DoD News, August 28, 2015 at http://www.defense.gov/News-Article-View/Article/615143/northern-command-applies-lessons- katrina - learned.
International: Asia
Since taking up his post three months ago in the Pacific Fleet, Admiral Swift has been to the Philippines, South Korea, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia to meet with their navy counterparts.
India-US Relations
Defence Reviews
Indian Army releases book on 1965 Indo-Pak war; Sixth joint military training exercise between Indian Army and Maldives National Armed Forces to be conducted in Kerala. The Indian Army has released a book on the 1965 Indo Pak war, written by Rachna Bisht Rawat. The book '1965: Stories from the Second Indo-Pak War' is an authoritative account of the 1965 Indo-Pak War.
The book release is part of the celebrations organized by the Indian Army and the government to mark the occasion of fifty years of the war. Rare photos of the battles from the army archives add to the value of the book.98. The sixth joint military training exercise between the Indian Army and the Maldives National Defense Forces, EXERCISE EKUVRIN – VI, will be conducted in Kerala from 31 August to 13 September 2015.
A total of 45 soldiers each from the Maldivian National Army and the Indian Army will participate in this exercise. 97 “Indo-US cooperation needed to fight climate change, food security: Verma”, The New Indian Express, 25 August 2015 at http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Indo-US-Co-operation-needed -to-fight-climate-change-food-security-Verma-article2992026.ece.
International
Internal Security Reviews
Jammu & Kashmir
The bodies of three militants were later recovered from the site and handed over to the police,” he said. The defense spokesperson said security forces recovered three AK-47 rifles and ammunition from the encounter site.102. Another Pakistani militant was captured and four others were shot dead in a fierce gun battle deep in the jungles of Baramulla in Rafiabad as the Jammu and Kashmir Army and Police concluded a four-day joint operation on August 27.
Security agencies said the five formed a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) module from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Sajjad was forced to come out of his hiding place in a natural cave when the army threw “chili grenades”. Three civilians were killed and 17 injured in RS Pura sector of Jammu when Pakistan shelled border areas with mortar shells on August 28 - the 50th anniversary of the 1965 Indo-Pak war.
Meanwhile, Pakistan summoned Indian High Commissioner TCA Raghavan to register a protest over alleged ceasefire violations by India and said eight civilians were killed and over 46 injured in the "unprovoked firing" from the Indian side.104.
Northeast India
The government will soon introduce bills in the state assembly regarding the protection of the people of Manipur as required by JCILPS.105. Seven NSCN-K cadres and an unidentified person were killed in a heavy gunfight with security forces between International Trade Center under Noklak unit in Tuensang district of Nagaland and Hemphu village forest in Myanmar on August 28. A defense release said security forces neutralized seven NSCN-K cadres, including one cadre, while three ground workers were injured in the exchange of fire at Pangsha town in Tuensang district.
One soldier of the security forces was also injured in the firing by NSCN-K cadres. The Defense statement said that the slain militants were from the NSCN-K camp in Ponyu village under Myanmar and belonged to the group led by the group's self-styled Lieutenant General Niki Sumi.106. He was accused of murdering Adivasis in December 2014 and a schoolgirl, Priya Basumatary, on August 20 last year, claimed LR Bisnoi, IGP (BTAD).107.
Left-wing Extremism
United Nations Reviews
India and the UN
However, the Ministry clarified that it did not agree with this view.118 According to it, India will hold a meeting of like-minded developing countries (LMDC) in September 2015.119 Meanwhile, Niti Aayog and FICCI jointly launched a web portal of India Energy Security Scenarios (IESS) 2047 Version 2.0 which will help assess India's energy needs and provide input in formulating the country's INDCs.120. The President-elect of the UN General Assembly, Mogens Lykketoft, arrived on a two-day visit to India on 30 August 2015. 118 “Climate Change: Environment Ministry, Subramanian At Odds”, 26 August 2015, at http: // www.livemint.com/Politics/RF5ttQqsk3ZyUozk0TtuUI/Climate-change-Environment-ministry-Subramanian-at-odds.html.
119 “Climate Talks: India to Hold Meeting of LMDCs,” The New Indian Express, August 27, 2015, at http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/Climate-Talks-India-to-Hold-Meeting-of- . 120 “NITI Aayog's Arvind Panagariya launches online portal to assess and forecast India's energy needs,” DNA News, August 29, 2015, at http://www.dnaindia.com/money/report-niti-aayog-s -arvind-panagariya -launches-online-portal-to-assess-India's-energy-needs-2119721. 121 “Pakistan Contacts United Nations Over Cancellation of NSA-Level Talks,” Indian Express, August 27, 2015, at http://indianexpress.com/article/world/neighbours/pakistan-contacts-united-nations-over-cancellation- van -nsa-level-conversations/.
122 "UN team visits Sialkot to observe border damage by Indian forces," August 29, 2015, at http://en.dailypakistan.com.pk/headline/un-team-visits-sialkot-to-observe- border-damages -by-indian-forces/. 123 "Maternal Tetanus elimination in India will save lives: UN," NDTV News, August 28, 2015, at http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/maternal-tetanus-elimination-in-india-will-save -lives-un-1211897.
