https://www.rferl.org/z/645 The latest news from RFE/RL's broadcast region. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/645 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Wed, 13 May 2026 22:21:00 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's former chief of staff and a suspect in a major corruption scandal, Andriy Yermak, have consulted a fortune-teller when deciding on top government appointments, an anti-graft agency prosecutor said. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskyy-yermak-corruption-fortune-teller/33756160.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-zelenskyy-yermak-corruption-fortune-teller/33756160.html Wed, 13 May 2026 20:27:09 +0200 NewsUkraineThe Rundown Stories Trade tensions, Taiwan, and rare earth exports are expected to dominate talks, even as the war in Iran and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz raise the stakes for the Beijing summit. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-taiwan-energy-oil-minerals/33756013.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-taiwan-energy-oil-minerals/33756013.html Wed, 13 May 2026 14:43:15 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown HeadlineChina As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL's Central Newsroom and Iranian service, Radio Farda, deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-us-hormuz-oil-blockade-gulf-israel/33640284.html Wed, 13 May 2026 07:30:00 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Headline The brother of imprisoned Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi says doctors cannot yet offer a definitive prognosis on her condition, days after Iranian authorities released her on bail amid a health crisis that her family says nearly killed her. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-narges-mohammadi-hospital-tehran/33755284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-narges-mohammadi-hospital-tehran/33755284.html Tue, 12 May 2026 17:14:40 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories Ukraine's anti-corruption prosecutor will seek the detention of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's former chief of staff Andriy Yermak pending further investigation in a graft case that has rocked Kyiv as the country battles against the full-scale Russian invasion, now in its fifth year. https://www.rferl.org/a/yermak-zelenskyy-suspicion-ukraine-investigation/33754687.html https://www.rferl.org/a/yermak-zelenskyy-suspicion-ukraine-investigation/33754687.html Mon, 11 May 2026 23:58:47 +0200 NewsUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Former senior US diplomat Gordon Gray, who served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs under President George W. Bush, says indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran are likely to continue despite what he described as significant pain and pressure on both sides. https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ambassador-gray-iran-trump-negotiations-diplomacy/33754183.html Mon, 11 May 2026 09:52:53 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East US President Donald Trump described the cease-fire with Iran as being on "life support," adding he is considering restarting naval escorts -- dubbed Operation Enduring Freedom -- through the Strait of Hormuz amid a continuing a deadlock over how to bring the conflict to an end. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-iran-response-peace-proposal-unacceptable/33753884.html Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:37 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown HeadlineMiddle East A Russian drone hit a high-rise residential building in Ukraine's second-largest city, authorities said, injuring at least five people and straining a three-day cease-fire timed for Victory Day celebrations. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-war-cease-fire/33753723.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-attack-war-cease-fire/33753723.html Sun, 10 May 2026 09:49:17 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Iranian media said Tehran has sent its response to the latest US peace proposal, but the country's officials have maintained belligerent stance toward the United States. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-rubio-irgc-war-negotiations/33753414.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-rubio-irgc-war-negotiations/33753414.html Sun, 10 May 2026 01:30:02 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Iran blamed the United States for a recent escalation of skirmishes in the Persian Gulf as Washington awaits a response from Tehran over the latest proposal to end their war. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-peace-proposal-response/33752830.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-peace-proposal-response/33752830.html Sat, 09 May 2026 14:57:25 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Russian President Vladimir Putin said he thought the conflict with Ukraine is "coming to an end," but stressed that he would meet President Volodymyr Zelenskyy only once a final peace deal has been agreed. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ictory-day-parade-putin-speech-ukraine-war/33753222.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ictory-day-parade-putin-speech-ukraine-war/33753222.html Sat, 09 May 2026 11:47:28 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline US Secretary of State Marco Rubio sought to steady ties with Italy and the Vatican during a visit to Rome shaped by disputes over Iran, NATO, and migration. He also defended Washington’s military posture in the Middle East and warned Tehran against trying to assert control over the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-rome-vatican-iran-hormuz-ukraine-nato-troops/33752859.html https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-rome-vatican-iran-hormuz-ukraine-nato-troops/33752859.html Fri, 08 May 2026 18:52:11 +0200 IranNews US President Donald Trump announced a three-day cease-fire in the war between Russia and Ukraine, with both sides quickly confirming they had agreed to the truce along with a major prisoner swap. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-victory-day-cease-fire-drone-attacks/33752482.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-victory-day-cease-fire-drone-attacks/33752482.html Fri, 08 May 2026 08:39:19 +0200 UkraineNewsRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Iran said it was reviewing the latest US proposal that sources say would end the fighting but leave several key issues open, as US President Donald Trump claimed a deal was “very possible” but also warned of renewed fighting if Tehran rejected the deal. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-proposal-trump-ceasefire-hormuz/33751441.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-peace-proposal-trump-ceasefire-hormuz/33751441.html Thu, 07 May 2026 01:31:41 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Russia warned Kyiv-based diplomats and representatives of international organizations to prepare to evacuate the Ukrainian capital, saying its forces would launch a "massive" missile attack against the city if Ukraine disrupted its May 9 World War II commemorations. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-kyiv-ukraine-victory-day-wwii-attack-parade/33751440.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-kyiv-ukraine-victory-day-wwii-attack-parade/33751440.html Thu, 07 May 2026 00:20:24 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories A Russian drone hit a kindergarten in northern Ukraine, and Moscow launched scores of drones and missiles across the country, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of ignoring a Kyiv-proposed cease-fire. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-kindegarten-drone-cease-fire-attacks-war/33751265.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-kindegarten-drone-cease-fire-attacks-war/33751265.html Wed, 06 May 2026 19:34:41 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline US President Donald Trump has warned Iran it will face "a much higher level and intensity" of strikes if it fails to agree to a peace deal that the two sides are reportedly closing in on. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-warns-strikes-iran-refuses-deal/33751227.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-warns-strikes-iran-refuses-deal/33751227.html Wed, 06 May 2026 15:37:44 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Beijing has reiterated its call for a “comprehensive ceasefire” in the Iran-US conflict and for a return to normal passage through the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi kicked off his first visit to China since the conflict erupted at the end of February. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-ceasefire-iran-us-trump-xi-summit/33751180.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-ceasefire-iran-us-trump-xi-summit/33751180.html Wed, 06 May 2026 14:03:13 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesChina Russian forces hit at least three cities across Ukraine, using "glide bombs" and drones, killing more than two dozen people and wounding dozens of others, in one of the bloodiest attack on Ukraine in months. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-strikes-flamingo-drones-/33750580.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-strikes-flamingo-drones-/33750580.html Tue, 05 May 2026 18:12:47 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump has announced that the operation called Project Freedom to guide ships through the Strait of Hormuz will be “paused for a short period of time.” https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-war-cease-fire-shipping-blockade/33750501.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-iran-war-cease-fire-shipping-blockade/33750501.html Tue, 05 May 2026 16:39:57 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Headline