By empty (2/4/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)

A district governor is among 25 people killed after a fierce battle between Afghan troops and Taleban fighters in Afghanistan, officials say. Abdul Qoudoas, the district chief of Musa Qala, was killed by Taleban fighters fleeing after a 12-hour battle in the neighbouring Sangeen district. Helmand\'s deputy governor told the BBC that at one point, he and 100 soldiers were surrounded by 200 Taleban.

By empty (2/3/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Georgia\'s NATO ambitions have put a strain on relations with Russia, Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili said at a Berlin forum sponsored by the German Society of International Politics. \"Georgian-Russian relations have soured after Georgia openly announced its aspirations for NATO membership,\" he said. \"We told the Russians openly that we want to join NATO.

By empty (2/3/2006 issue of the CACI Analyst)

Recent reductions in pensions and other social benefits in Turkmenistan have caused widespread anxiety among retirees and other beneficiaries of social programs. Deutsche Welle reported that the social-security minister spoke on national television on 30 January, explaining that 100,000 retirees will no longer receive pensions while the pensions of 200,000 others have been reduced. \"Vremya novostei\" reported that the reductions began in January, although the government provided incomplete information and many pensioners only learned of the changes once they tried to pick up discontinued payments.