https://www.rferl.org/z/23311 The main stories of the day from the RFE/RL Central Newsroom. https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org/z/23311 en Copyright 2026 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Sun, 19 Apr 2026 08:36:40 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Iran's powerful parliament speaker said there was "progress" in talks with Washington but that "fundamental" differences remain, while US President Donald Trump rejected what he called "blackmail" by Tehran after it again closed the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-qalibaf-negotiations-trump-blackmail-hormuz/33735255.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-qalibaf-negotiations-trump-blackmail-hormuz/33735255.html Sun, 19 Apr 2026 02:39:50 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories Six people were killed and 14 others injured in a daylight incident in Kyiv on April 18, Ukrainian authorities said. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that the shooter had been eliminated after barricading himself in a local supermarket and taking hostages. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-shooting-incident-video/33735242.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-kyiv-shooting-incident-video/33735242.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 22:16:22 +0200 VideosUkraineThe Rundown Stories A shooter killed six people in Kyiv before being eliminated by Ukraine's special forces in a daylight incident on April 18, according to local officials. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-shooting-incident-kyiv/33735226.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-shooting-incident-kyiv/33735226.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:14:04 +0200 UkraineNewsThe Rundown Stories The brother of jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi has told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that her life is "in serious danger" following a heart attack she suffered in prison last month. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-nobel-peace-prize-jailed-narges-mohammadi/33735225.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-nobel-peace-prize-jailed-narges-mohammadi/33735225.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 19:13:23 +0200 NewsIranThe Rundown Stories Before-and-after images capture the breakneck demolition and development drive that is leaving some locals of the Tajik capital unable to recognize their own city. https://www.rferl.org/a/dushanbe-tajikistan-demolition-architecture-development-soviet/33732917.html https://www.rferl.org/a/dushanbe-tajikistan-demolition-architecture-development-soviet/33732917.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:42:51 +0200 TajikistanPhoto GalleriesPicksPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown StoriesChina Frontline mobile fire units of Ukraine's 100th Brigade report they are seeing more daytime attacks by Russian-launched Shahed drones while still keeping busy at night, using machine guns and night vision gear to intercept a variety of incoming strikes. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-donetsk-drone-frontline-mobile-fire-machine-gun-defense/33734628.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-donetsk-drone-frontline-mobile-fire-machine-gun-defense/33734628.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 16:42:26 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories As the US-Israeli war with Iran continues to impact and shape the region, journalists from RFE/RL deliver ongoing updates and analysis. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog-trump-khamenei/33640284.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-protests-live-blog-trump-khamenei/33640284.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 09:05:00 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories The United States has again temporarily eased sanctions on Russian oil, issuing a new waiver that allows certain shipments already at sea to be delivered and sold, even as Washington publicly insists it is maintaining pressure on the Kremlin. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-oil-sanctions-waiver-treasury-iran/33735009.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-oil-sanctions-waiver-treasury-iran/33735009.html Sat, 18 Apr 2026 05:12:42 +0200 RussiaNewsIranThe Rundown Stories Ilya Remeslo, a longtime pro-Kremlin blogger who was admitted to a psychiatric hospital after abruptly directing strongly worded criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin, says he has been released after a month in the facility in St. Petersburg. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-criticism-remeslo-released-psychiatric/33734732.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-putin-criticism-remeslo-released-psychiatric/33734732.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 22:52:30 +0200 NewsRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories In an interview with RFE/RL on April 17, Ryan Kirkley, CEO of blockchain payments company Global Settlement Network, explained the worldwide economic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, why markets are moving at varying paces, and why oil prices may already be turning. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-hormuz-oil-bitcoin-economy-markets/33734697.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-hormuz-oil-bitcoin-economy-markets/33734697.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 21:47:50 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories A little-known Islamist group has claimed a string of attacks on Jewish sites and Western financial institutions across Europe since early March. https://www.rferl.org/a/hayi-iran-attacks-europe-jewish-centers/33734573.html https://www.rferl.org/a/hayi-iran-attacks-europe-jewish-centers/33734573.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:07:16 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesEurope China is Iran’s most important ally, but it lacks the full diplomatic and economic leverage to force Tehran to make concessions, according to experts who spoke to RFE/RL. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-trump-xi-oil-middle-east-peace-cease-fire-talks/33734488.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-iran-trump-xi-oil-middle-east-peace-cease-fire-talks/33734488.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 15:38:43 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina A senior Republican lawmaker has raised concerns over continued US-origin components appearing in Russian weapon systems amid Ukrainian reports that recent drone strikes show evidence of Western microelectronics manufactured as recently as 2025. https://www.rferl.org/a/us-lawmaker-wilson-flags-western-chips-russian-iranian-drones/33734451.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-lawmaker-wilson-flags-western-chips-russian-iranian-drones/33734451.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:58:52 +0200 IranNewsFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Prayers for peace, cease-fires, and an ongoing energy crisis dominated the seventh week of the conflict in the Middle East. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-war-week-seven-photos/33734337.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-israel-war-week-seven-photos/33734337.html Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:41:21 +0200 Photo GalleriesIranPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories Easter celebrations in the western Turkmen city of Balkanabat were overshadowed by a coordinated security operation near the only Christian church, with dozens of local Turkmen converts detained during Catholic and Orthodox services. https://www.rferl.org/a/33733767.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33733767.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:13:17 +0200 NewsTurkmenistan The Rundown Stories Russian influencer Victoria Bonya made a personal address to Russian President Vladimir Putin: In a country where political debate and criticism of the authorities is tightly controlled, she brought up problems people face in their everyday lives. Except the war in Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-influencers-make-up-ukraine-war/33733737.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-influencers-make-up-ukraine-war/33733737.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 17:09:01 +0200 FeaturesRussiaThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump said the United States and Iran are "very close" to a deal to end the war and that US and Iranian negotiators could meet for a second round of talks this coming weekend. https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-lebanon-leadership-talks-peace/33733502.html https://www.rferl.org/a/israel-lebanon-leadership-talks-peace/33733502.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:28:37 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Beijing-brokered meetings ease tensions on paper, but deep disputes over militancy and cross-border attacks threaten to derail the fragile progress. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-pakistan-afghanistan-border-war-diplomacy-urumqi-iran/33733560.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-pakistan-afghanistan-border-war-diplomacy-urumqi-iran/33733560.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:09:02 +0200 ChinaFeaturesAfghanistanIranPakistanThe Rundown Stories Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's commissioner for sanctions policy, told RFE/RL in an interview that any relief for Moscow and Russian oil only serves to extend the war. https://www.rferl.org/a/waivers-russia-oil-us-sanctions-ukraine/33733519.html https://www.rferl.org/a/waivers-russia-oil-us-sanctions-ukraine/33733519.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:25:47 +0200 IranFeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Beatings, torture, rape, not to mention corruption, are commonplace in the Russain armed forces. Artyom Bykov’s ordeal as a contact soldier with the 273rd Artillery Brigade provides a small window into a system of institutionalized violence. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-army-hazing-brutal-violence-deserter/33732979.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-army-hazing-brutal-violence-deserter/33732979.html Thu, 16 Apr 2026 10:45:41 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories