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 Mon, 07 Sep 2026 14:55:47 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Armenia is stepping up efforts to pull Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan into an ambitious trade corridor named after US President Donald Trump. While Bishkek has shown enthusiasm and Astana has voiced support, neither has so far committed to the project. https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-tripp-trump-route-kazakhstan-kyrgyzstan-russia/33847948.html https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-tripp-trump-route-kazakhstan-kyrgyzstan-russia/33847948.html Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:34:14 +0200 ArmeniaFeaturesKazakhstanKyrgyzstanThe Rundown Stories Tens of thousands of vulnerable Afghans, including journalists and activists, fled to neighboring Pakistan after the Taliban takeover. But many face deportation to their homeland, where they fear reprisals. https://www.rferl.org/a/at-risk-afghans-pakistan-deportation-taliban/33846365.html https://www.rferl.org/a/at-risk-afghans-pakistan-deportation-taliban/33846365.html Sat, 05 Sep 2026 10:19:45 +0200 AfghanistanFeaturesPakistanThe Rundown Stories An Iranian man was blinded by security forces during the mass nationwide Women, Life, Freedom protests in 2022. He fled the country but then returned and has now been sentenced to death by hanging. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-blinded-protester-death-sentence/33846311.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-blinded-protester-death-sentence/33846311.html Fri, 04 Sep 2026 07:46:37 +0200 IranFeaturesHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories A scientific facility on a secluded island that is closed to the public is affiliated with an institute accused of developing biological weapons for the Russian military, RFE/RL’s Russian Service and Systema, RFE/RL’s Russian investigative unit, have found. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-biological-weapons-systema-investigation/33845781.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-biological-weapons-systema-investigation/33845781.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 20:19:24 +0200 RussiaFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline A new draft bill designed to intensify online censorship and limit Internet access in Iran has been presented to lawmakers. Critics say the new proposed legislation mirrors an earlier bill that was abandoned after triggering controversy. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-bill-restriction-access/33845516.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-bill-restriction-access/33845516.html Thu, 03 Sep 2026 11:02:14 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Iran has claimed that a US strike hit a wedding party, killing several people. What do we know about the alleged incident? https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strike-wedding-minab/33845617.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-strike-wedding-minab/33845617.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 16:12:05 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Headline A US House hearing examined the Houthis' growing ties with Russia and China and how they could strengthen the Iran-backed militant group's threat to US interests and Red Sea shipping. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-backed-houthis-russia-china-ties-us-house-hearing/33845462.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-backed-houthis-russia-china-ties-us-house-hearing/33845462.html Wed, 02 Sep 2026 12:06:19 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories With Ukrainian drone attacks knocking out major Russian refineries, Moscow is looking abroad to fill its fuel shortfall. Russia has struck a deal to use the small private Kondensat refinery in Kazakhstan. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-refineries-fuel-shortage-kazakhstan/33843970.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-refineries-fuel-shortage-kazakhstan/33843970.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 14:16:57 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories How serious does intelligence have to be for a CIA director to personally travel to Moscow to deliver a warning? https://www.rferl.org/a/ratcliffe-cia-moscow-visit-week-later/33844588.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ratcliffe-cia-moscow-visit-week-later/33844588.html Tue, 01 Sep 2026 10:25:17 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesEurope The Shanghai Cooperation Organization turns 25 at a moment of extraordinary tension embroiling several of the regional security group’s most prominent members. For China, Russia, Iran, and others, it may be less about substance than a show of influence and independence in the face of the West. https://www.rferl.org/a/shanghai-security-rifts-show-russia-china-iran-west/33844272.html https://www.rferl.org/a/shanghai-security-rifts-show-russia-china-iran-west/33844272.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:12:44 +0200 FeaturesBelarusIranKazakhstanKyrgyzstanRussiaTajikistanUzbekistanPakistanChina In EurasiaThe Rundown StoriesChina The Russian military is deploying faster, remotely controlled, jet-powered drones to paralyze Ukraine’s energy and logistics infrastructure, creating a growing challenge for the country’s air defenses. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-jet-powered-drones-shahed-geran/33841747.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-jet-powered-drones-shahed-geran/33841747.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:37:09 +0200 UkraineFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Robotics company AGIBOT has begun producing humanoid robots as part of a Chinese/Serbian venture at a facility in western Serbia. The robots could appear in Serbia’s military within weeks, Belgrade claims. https://www.rferl.org/a/robotics-serbia-china-factory-us-ban-humanoid/33844101.html https://www.rferl.org/a/robotics-serbia-china-factory-us-ban-humanoid/33844101.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 16:21:58 +0200 FeaturesSerbiaPicksThe Rundown StoriesChina New US sanctions are creating new obstacles for Iranian students seeking to study abroad, disrupting access to English-language tests such as TOEFL and GRE. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-toefl-gre-english-students-sanctions/33844084.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-toefl-gre-english-students-sanctions/33844084.html Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:22:14 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Central Asia has lots to attract tourists but it’s difficult getting around. Efforts to make it easier for tourists to cross borders have been proposed -- but there are substantial obstacles. https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asia-seeks-open-borders-security-fears/33842373.html https://www.rferl.org/a/central-asia-seeks-open-borders-security-fears/33842373.html Sun, 30 Aug 2026 14:44:02 +0200 FeaturesKazakhstanKyrgyzstanTajikistanTurkmenistan UzbekistanThe Rundown Stories Serbia has become an oasis for Russian propaganda. Pro-Russian narratives are spread not only through official Russian media but also through a complex network of aggregator websites. https://www.rferl.org/a/how-kremlin-propaganda-is-spreading-through-serbia/33841742.html https://www.rferl.org/a/how-kremlin-propaganda-is-spreading-through-serbia/33841742.html Sun, 30 Aug 2026 12:55:53 +0200 SerbiaFeaturesThe Rundown Headline Ukraine's drone industry has boomed since Russia's invasion, but it still relies on critical Chinese components. A waiver of EU procurement rules underscores Kyiv's uncomfortable wartime dependence on Beijing. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-drones-china-chinese-components/33835808.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-drones-china-chinese-components/33835808.html Sun, 30 Aug 2026 06:28:49 +0200 UkraineFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesChina Officials in Belarus are pushing for a law requiring citizens to supply the state with DNA samples, but RFE/RL’s Belarus Service has learned that authorities in the tightly controlled country have already been quietly compiling a DNA database of people viewed with suspicion by the state. https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-dna-law-mandatory-saliva-dissident/33842635.html https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-dna-law-mandatory-saliva-dissident/33842635.html Sat, 29 Aug 2026 09:54:57 +0200 BelarusFeaturesThe Rundown Headline An "all-Russian" MC-21 passenger jet made its first test flight in early August, marking a step closer to full production, due to begin in 2027. But years of geopolitical turbulence have pushed the project far off-course, aviation insiders say. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-aviation-passenger-jet-mc-21-boeing-airbus-competition-sanctions/33841914.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-aviation-passenger-jet-mc-21-boeing-airbus-competition-sanctions/33841914.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:08:21 +0200 RussiaFeaturesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Cutting off SIM cards has emerged as one of the more effective tools available to Iranian authorities seeking to punish critics and civil society activists, with consequences that go well beyond losing phone service. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-sim-ban-punish-activists-disrupt-life/33841790.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-sim-ban-punish-activists-disrupt-life/33841790.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:45:07 +0200 IranFeaturesHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories Six months after US-Israeli strikes, the Iran conflict remains unresolved. Despite military losses, Iran retains leverage over the Strait of Hormuz. Experts say key questions involve economic pressure, diplomacy, shipping, and support from Russia and China. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-six-months-four-issues-experts/33842411.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-six-months-four-issues-experts/33842411.html Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:27:32 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranThe Rundown Headline