VISUAL REPORTS
Five States Sign Convention On Caspian Legal Status
Meeting in the Kazakh port city of Aqtau, the leaders of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan have signed a new convention on the legal status of the resource-rich Caspian Sea -- a matter of dispute among the five neighbors for more than 20 years.
Georgian Soldiers Fight In Ukraine To Avenge 2008 War With Russia
Ten years after Georgia fought a five-day war against Russia in the country's breakaway regions, some Georgians are seeking revenge, fighting against pro-Russia separatists in Ukraine.
Thousands Of Romanians Continue Protests Against Corruption
Romanian demonstrators, many of whom live abroad and have returned for the rallies, have gathered for three days in a row in Bucharest to protest the government, shouting “Justice, not corruption” and demanding that the left-wing government resign.
'This Is Huge': Unearthing Roman Ruins In Serbia
Archaeologists believe they have found an ancient Roman palace near the Serbian city of Sremska Mitrovica.
Czech Photographer 'Haunted' By 1968 Invasion
When Soviet tanks rolled into Czechoslovakia 50 years ago, crushing the period of liberalization known as the Prague Spring, a young photographer named Libor Hajsky captured scenes of violence and fear -- as well as moments of empathy and dark humor.
OTHER NEWS
Caspian Summit Delivers Less Than Expected
The leaders of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan met in Kazakhstan on August 12 for what was supposed to be the long-awaited signing of a convention on the legal status of the Caspian Sea, but after more than 20 years it was clear that long-standing stumbling blocks remain.
Russia To Continue Slashing U.S. Bond Holdings, May Stop Payments In Dollars
Russia’s finance minister says his country will continue to reduce investments in U.S. government bonds and may stop making global payments in dollars in response to new sanctions being imposed by Washington against Moscow.
OSCE Video Shows Russian Convoy Illegally Entering Ukraine’s Donbas
The OSCE monitoring mission in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region has unveiled drone footage that shows columns of Russian trucks crossing an unpatrolled border to and from the area on August 7. U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine Kurt Volker tweeted that this is one way “that Russia deliberately prolongs the conflict and sustains the fighting.” (in Russian, Current Time TV)
U.S. Warship Enters The Black Sea
The U.S. Navy Sixth Fleet has reported that on August 12, the U.S. warship USS Carney entered the Black Sea for “defense operations” and the expansion of opportunities and interaction with allies and partners in the region. The ship had taken part in joint exercises with Ukraine’s naval aviation in the Black Sea in January. (in Russian, Current Time TV)
U.S. Congressional Freedom of the Press Caucus Calls for Immediate Release of Blogger Stanislav Aseyev in Eastern Ukraine
Russian Prison Service Denies Sentsov Health At Risk
Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service (FSIN) has denied reports that imprisoned Ukrainian filmmaker Oleh Sentsov is perilously underweight and at risk as the result of a hunger strike. In a statement on August 11, the Service said, "As of today he is not seen to be underweight and a worsening in his state of health is not observed."
Yes Or No: Is A Referendum In The Cards Over Russian Pension Reform?
It has been a quarter century since the Russian government asked its citizens their opinion on anything in a formal national referendum. But a proposed referendum on the hot-button issue of raising retirement ages moved one step closer to reality last week when the Central Election Commission removed a major hurdle and approved the wording of three questions put forward for just such a vote.
Azerbaijani Opposition Leader Mammadov Released From Prison
Ilqar Mammadov, the leader of Azerbaijan's opposition Republican Alternative party, has been released from prison after serving more than five years of his seven-year term.