11.   Russian and Japanese officials held talks Wednesday on possible naval cooperation as part of efforts to avoid confrontation in the Sea of Japan and surrounding regions.

12.   Russian troops have controlled Gudermes and surrounding regions for more than two years, but the town continues to be targeted frequently in mine explosions and other rebel attacks.

13.   Scores of people have been kidnapped in Chechnya and surrounding regions by armed gangs for ransom.

14.   The end of the war also brought an onset of violent crime in Chechnya and surrounding regions, and hundreds of people have been kidnapped, usually for ransom.

15.   The first attempt on Wednesday was forced to turn back less than two hours from the frozen continent as a blizzard whiteout cloaked the airfield and surrounding region.

16.   The strike was extended to Berlin and surrounding region this week.

17.   The town and surrounding region revert to Croatian control this summer.