https://www.rferl.org/z/651 RFE/RL journalists report the news in 23 countries where a free press is banned by the government or not fully established. We broadcast in 27 languages to 22 countries, including Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Russia. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/651 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 03:47:19 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL The question now confronting negotiators is what should happen to that stockpile as part of a broader agreement between Tehran and Washington. In recent weeks, Kazakhstan has been mentioned as a possible third-party custodian. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-uranium-stockpile-kazakhstan-united-states-iaea/33782975.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-uranium-stockpile-kazakhstan-united-states-iaea/33782975.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 13:45:32 +0200 IranFeaturesKazakhstanThe Rundown Stories In an interview with RFE/RL in Washington on June 16, Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, warned that the West risks “giving away” Georgia to Moscow’s interests through inattention, even as Tbilisi becomes increasingly central to the wider strategic balance across the Caucasus. https://www.rferl.org/a/with-georgia-sliding-toward-russia-former-president-appeals-for-renewed-us-attention/33782876.html https://www.rferl.org/a/with-georgia-sliding-toward-russia-former-president-appeals-for-renewed-us-attention/33782876.html Wed, 17 Jun 2026 11:00:05 +0200 GeorgiaFeaturesRussiaThe Rundown Stories RFE/RL spoke with Gina Abercrombie-Winstanley, a former US diplomat and current distinguished fellow at the Atlantic Council focusing on Middle East security and strategy, to unpack the framework deal between Iran and the US, what remains unsettled, and what the world should watch for next. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-framework-agreement-memorandum-of-understanding/33782127.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-framework-agreement-memorandum-of-understanding/33782127.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 11:00:56 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Iranians say they have been warned by security officials not to speak to US-funded Persian-language media, such as RFE/RL’s Radio Farda, amid a crackdown in which the Iranian authorities say they have charged increasing numbers with espionage for “cooperation with the enemy.” https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-fear-crackdown-protests-dissent-media/33781430.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 15:32:46 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East The detention of a Tajik activist in Germany and the threat of his expulsion have sent shockwaves through opposition circles in exile, reviving fears of the dangers that await activists forced to return home. https://www.rferl.org/a/germany-immigration-deportation-tajikistan-asadullo-boboev/33781392.html https://www.rferl.org/a/germany-immigration-deportation-tajikistan-asadullo-boboev/33781392.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 14:59:45 +0200 TajikistanFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesEurope For nearly three months, Nartai Zhengis, who lives in Kazakhstan, has not heard directly from his father, Zhengis Reskhan a prominent ethnic Kazakh writer and satirist from China’s Xinjiang region. https://www.rferl.org/a/family-seeks-answers-after-prominent-kazakh-writer-disappears-xinjiang/33781302.html https://www.rferl.org/a/family-seeks-answers-after-prominent-kazakh-writer-disappears-xinjiang/33781302.html Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:27:11 +0200 KazakhstanFeaturesLocked up in China China In EurasiaThe Rundown StoriesChina The European Union is preparing to host the Taliban in Brussels for the first time for "technical talks" on the repatriation of Afghans despite sharp criticism from rights groups and signs Afghanistan's rulers are cracking down further on women. https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-taliban-meeting-further-crackdown/33780057.html https://www.rferl.org/a/eu-taliban-meeting-further-crackdown/33780057.html Sun, 14 Jun 2026 11:14:54 +0200 AfghanistanNewsFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesEurope WASHINGTON -- US President Trump heads into next week’s Group of Seven summit in France with a packed agenda covering trade, artificial intelligence, and Ukraine -- and the shadow of the conflict with Iran hanging over all of it. https://www.rferl.org/a/33779774.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33779774.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 18:33:05 +0200 FeaturesIranUkraineThe Rundown Stories Ukraine’s ramped-up attacks on Russia's oil sector this year have led to production cuts and shortages, highlighting improved tactics and successes for Kyiv. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fuel-crunch-ukraine-refineries-strikes/33778225.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fuel-crunch-ukraine-refineries-strikes/33778225.html Sat, 13 Jun 2026 09:39:11 +0200 UkraineFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The Russia Day concert, an annual tub-thumping Red Square performance, is canceled for the first time in 23 years. The marquee annual air show is canceled. The Victory Day parade was notably lower key. Ukraine’s expanding drone campaign is taking its toll on big, splashy Kremlin-backed events. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-psychological-warfare-russia-day/33779219.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-psychological-warfare-russia-day/33779219.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 18:40:25 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Two suspects in a corruption scandal that has shaken Ukraine and cut close to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke of a prominent lawmaker as someone who could advance their interests and protect cash flows, audio recordings obtained by Schemes reveal. The lawmaker and suspects deny any wrongdoing. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-graft-corruption-midas-war-energy/33779031.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-graft-corruption-midas-war-energy/33779031.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:32:10 +0200 Schemes: Investigating UkraineFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Data compiled by RFE/RL reveals how a surge in high-level diplomacy, economic engagement, and regional initiatives has elevated Beijing from a neighboring power to Central Asia’s leading economic partner. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-xi-jinping-central-asia-trade-russia/33777593.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-xi-jinping-central-asia-trade-russia/33777593.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 11:19:22 +0200 ChinaFeaturesKazakhstanKyrgyzstanRussiaTajikistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanThe Rundown Stories Matt Reisener, senior national-security adviser at the Center for Maritime Strategy, talks to RFE/RL about why diplomacy and military pressure are likely to continue, what Iran and the United States each believes it has to gain from talks, and why any agreement may actually hinge on Israel. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-israel-us-maritime-security-reisener/33778403.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-war-israel-us-maritime-security-reisener/33778403.html Fri, 12 Jun 2026 09:50:35 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Protests in Albania over a proposed luxury resort linked to US President Donald Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, have unexpectedly morphed into a very public brawl between Albania and Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/tehran-tirana-flamingo-revolution-kushner/33778450.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tehran-tirana-flamingo-revolution-kushner/33778450.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 17:49:39 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranKosovoThe Rundown Stories Despite warnings from the EU, Serbia’s government has granted citizenship to four times as many Russian nationals as to all other foreign citizens combined this year -- including individuals under international sanctions, an RFE/RL investigation has found. https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-passports-citizenship-sanctioned-russians/33778410.html https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-passports-citizenship-sanctioned-russians/33778410.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 16:25:52 +0200 FeaturesRussiaSerbiaThe Rundown Stories The closure of Afghanistan and Pakistan borders since October has severely impacted millions of residents and thousands of businesses. https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-pakistan-border-closure-crisis/33777637.html https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-pakistan-border-closure-crisis/33777637.html Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:16:02 +0200 FeaturesAfghanistanPakistanThe Rundown Stories What’s the latest brick in Russia’s effort to build its Great Internet Firewall? A proposal to create a government-run Virtual Private Network, co-opting a tool that has been widely embraced by Russians trying to avoid government censorship. Industry insiders are reportedly unimpressed. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-tech-internet-vpn-super-app-digital/33777612.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-tech-internet-vpn-super-app-digital/33777612.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 17:36:41 +0200 RussiaFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline With the Iran war disrupting traditional energy supply routes and the West seeking to lessen reliance on Russian transit networks, Trans-Caspian corridors have again emerged as a focus of international diplomacy and investment. https://www.rferl.org/a/dream-of-trans-caspian-pipeline/33776802.html https://www.rferl.org/a/dream-of-trans-caspian-pipeline/33776802.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:46:59 +0200 FeaturesAzerbaijanTurkmenistan The Rundown Stories The US strikes on Iranian air defense and radar systems appear intended as a limited warning to Tehran rather than the opening salvo of a broader military campaign, according to senior US officials and regional security experts. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-helicopter-military-strikes-diplomacy/33777296.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-helicopter-military-strikes-diplomacy/33777296.html Wed, 10 Jun 2026 06:40:13 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranThe Rundown Stories China has overtaken Russia as the largest source of foreign direct investment in Central Asia, according to the Eurasian Development Bank. China’s accumulated investment in the region exceeded $35 billion in 2025, it said. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-investment-central-asia-kazakhstan-uzbekistan-turkmnistan-kyrgyzstan-tajikstan/33776911.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-russia-investment-central-asia-kazakhstan-uzbekistan-turkmnistan-kyrgyzstan-tajikstan/33776911.html Tue, 09 Jun 2026 20:52:43 +0200 ChinaFeaturesKazakhstanKyrgyzstanRussiaTajikistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanThe Rundown Stories