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New photos show severely damaged tankers and cargo vessels being towed through the Bosphorus.

An unfinished stadium in Bishkek played host to an Olympic-scale opening of the sixth World Nomad Games as world leaders -- barring one notable exception -- networked in the stands. #kyrgyzstan #russia #us #iran

Chinese humanoid robots carrying weapons in Serbia’s military? President Aleksandar Vucic has said the Serbian Armed Forces will demonstrate their first use of Chinese robots within 15 days, and promised they would be seen “using weapons -- and very serious weapons.” The announcement comes as Serbia opens Europe’s first mass-production facility for Chinese-designed humanoid robots, with plans to assemble and later produce more than 5,000 a year. Meanwhile, the US has gone in the opposite directi

They once proudly supported Russia’s war in Ukraine. Then they deserted, and eventually decided their best chance of escape was a kayak across the Black Sea. Alisa and Sergei Sadovnikov say they spent more than 18 months hiding from Russian military police before setting out on the extraordinary journey. Over eight days, they paddled more than 330 kilometers, survived four storms and went three days without food before reaching Turkey. But their odyssey isn’t over. They could now face up to 10 y

They have ordinary jobs during the week. On weekends, they train to defend Latvia. Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Latvia's volunteer National Guard has taken on a growing role in the country's defense. @currenttime.tv joined its members during military exercises to find out why they volunteer, and how they're preparing for a conflict they hope never comes. #latvia #latviantiktok #russianato #balticstates

A letter seen by RFE/RL reveals growing concern about Russian aggression in the Baltic States, speaking of a "deteriorating security environment" amid an "increased frequency of airspace violations and drone incursions." #estonia #latvia #lithuania #russia

For four years in Russian captivity, Ukrainian marine Oleksandr Ivanov gave his fellow prisoners something to look forward to: Harry Potter. A defender of Mariupol, Ivanov retold the entire series from memory, night after night, at first "in a whisper so the guards wouldn’t hear.” After his release in a prisoner exchange, J.K. Rowling sent him a letter. Ivanov says he was touched, but wishes he had never had a reason to receive it. #harrypotter #jkrowling #harrypotterbooks #harrypottertiktok #uk

The Ibar River feeds Lake Gazivode, providing drinking water as well as water for crop irrigation and cooling power plants across Kosovo. But after recent local disputes, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has raised the prospect of altering the river's course upstream. By @radioslobodnaevropa

The authorities in Belarus appear to be suppressing images that emerged from a Taliban delegation's visit that included a tour of a cheese-making plant. Commentators pointed out the striking optics of officials from a regime notorious for gender-based repression listening to Belarusian women showcasing food and baby formula. #belarus #afghanistan #genderequality

A mysterious radio message was caught on the first day of the US-Iran war. It was a man calmly reading random numbers in Persian. What is it? And who's behind it? #iranwar #irannews #espionage #spying #foryou

They met online. One lived in Russia, the other served in Ukraine. What started as a long-distance romance turned into a risky attempt to meet in real life. Now, the Russian woman is facing serious charges back home, while her mother says she was punished simply for falling in love. #russiaukraine #forbiddenlove #onlinedating #foryou

Military graveyards are rapidly expanding in Ukrainian cities as Ukrainians reflect emotionally on what’s been lost. "When you stand here, next to our boys and girls, there’s a lump in your throat -- no words,” a woman in Kharkiv said. RFE/RL’s Ukrainian service @Радіо Свобода filmed with drones the scale of Kharkiv’s graveyard, showing the cost of the conflict. #ukraine #ukrainevsrussia #graveyard #cemetery #dronevideo