Latvia's volunteer National Guard, the Zemessardze, has taken on a growing role in the country's defense since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Following ordinary Latvians as they take part in military exercises, Current Time looks at why they give up their weekends to train, how the force has changed in four years, and the role it could play in defending Latvia alongside NATO. #latvia #latvianews #natorussia #russianatoconflict #russianato #

Families who lost loved ones in the 1995 Srebrenica massacre and in the siege of Sarajevo say the death of former Bosnian Serb military commander Ratko Mladic on August 27 does little to ease decades of grief. But one man says what matters most is that Mladic was held accountable for his crimes, which included genocide and crimes against humanity. Mladic died in prison at the age of 84 while serving a life sentence for his role during the 1992-95 Bosnian War. #butcherofbosnia #ratkomladic #bosnia #yugoslavia #news #bosniaherzegovina

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. #water #geopolitics #serbia #kosovo #shorts

For four years in Russian captivity, Ukrainian POW Oleksandr Ivanov retold the entire Harry Potter series from memory to his fellow prisoners. The defender of Mariupol says the stories gave them something to look forward to. After his release in a prisoner exchange, Ivanov received a letter from the author of the books, J.K. Rowling. But, he says, he wishes he had never had a reason to receive it. #harrypotter #harrypotterfan

As Ukraine marked the 35th anniversary of its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hosted a summit of world leaders from the so-called Coalition of the Willing -- a group of countries that has pledged military and security support for Ukraine. He appealed to the heads of those 34 countries to bolster Ukraine's air defenses amid ongoing Russian missile strikes. #ukrainenews #ukrainewar #ukrainerussiawar #russiaukrainewar

Iranian singer Hiwa Seyfizade says she has been sentenced to four years in prison after being charged with "encouraging corruption and prostitution" following her arrest at the Emarat-e Rooberoo cultural complex in Tehran on February 27, 2025. She has appealed the verdict and expressed hope that her case would be reviewed independently based on the law and the evidence.

A Russian drone attack on a shopping mall in the south-central Ukrainian city of Kryviy Rih on August 21 killed at least 16 people and left more than 130 others injured, including 23 children, some of them in critical condition.

An unauthorized Iranian film released for free on YouTube is stirring debate by openly challenging restrictions on women singing and Iran’s compulsory hijab rules. Bidad, or Outcry, directed by Soheil Beiraghi, was made without government approval and features the voice of Parastoo Ahmadi, a singer who was sentenced to 74 lashes after performing publicly without a head scarf. Parisa Sohbati from RFE/RL's Iran Tomorrow program explains.

Can Ukraine hold elections during wartime? Popular former defense minister Mykhaylo Fedorov whose dismissal last month sparked protests, has delivered a videotaped address to Ukrainians in which he assailed wartime corruption, warned of a systemic crisis of governance, and said Ukraine elections must happen despite the continuing Russian invasion. #ukrainenews #ukrainewar #russiaukrainewar #ukrainerussiawar