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 Wed, 13 May 2026 22:21:27 +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 The war and its global ripple effects are a through line influencing many of the issues that the two leaders will discuss in Beijing, from rare earth minerals to Taiwan. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-xi-meeting-taiwan/33756180.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-trump-xi-meeting-taiwan/33756180.html Wed, 13 May 2026 18:34:43 +0200 VideosIranThe Rundown StoriesChina The resignation of the UN High Representative to Bosnia-Herzegovina, Christian Schmidt, has exposed deep divisions among key international actors over the future of international oversight in the country more than three decades since the end of the 1990s Bosnian war. https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-eufor-un-christian-schmidt-/33756125.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bosnia-eufor-un-christian-schmidt-/33756125.html Wed, 13 May 2026 17:37:01 +0200 Bosnia-HerzegovinaFeaturesThe Rundown Stories The conflict involving Iran is revealing new lessons about how artificial intelligence is being weaponized in modern warfare and statecraft. https://www.rferl.org/a/lego-hip-hop-deepfakes-iran-ai-propaganda/33756098.html https://www.rferl.org/a/lego-hip-hop-deepfakes-iran-ai-propaganda/33756098.html Wed, 13 May 2026 17:14:34 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Power has become increasingly decentralized in Iran following the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the selection of his son as the new supreme leader. So, who holds power in the Islamic republic now? https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-khamenei-qalibaf/33756085.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-irgc-khamenei-qalibaf/33756085.html Wed, 13 May 2026 16:37:57 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iranian women have been disproportionately affected by the Internet blackout that authorities have imposed since the war broke out. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-blackout-women-brunt-labor-market/33755949.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-internet-blackout-women-brunt-labor-market/33755949.html Wed, 13 May 2026 13:25:12 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown Stories A corruption scandal closes in on Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff Andriy Yermak. How badly could it hurt Ukraine’s wartime president? https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-yermak-corruption-gray-cardinal-graft/33755369.html https://www.rferl.org/a/zelenskyy-yermak-corruption-gray-cardinal-graft/33755369.html Tue, 12 May 2026 20:29:24 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Pakistan’s role as a mediator between Washington and Tehran is drawing renewed scrutiny after reports of Iranian aircraft at a Pakistani airbase. https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-us-iran-mediation-role-under-scrutiny-aircraft-reports/33751877.html https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-us-iran-mediation-role-under-scrutiny-aircraft-reports/33751877.html Tue, 12 May 2026 19:50:26 +0200 News AnalysisPakistanThe Rundown Stories 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 Robots and drones were used by Ukrainian forces to capture a Russian position without an infantry assault in what Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described as a historic first in the war. Speaking to Current Time, troops involved in the operation are now revealing details. https://www.rferl.org/a/robots-alone-captured-a-russian-position/33755254.html https://www.rferl.org/a/robots-alone-captured-a-russian-position/33755254.html Tue, 12 May 2026 14:56:26 +0200 UkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Has the moment arrived to start Ukraine’s EU accession talks? https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-jozwiak-ukraine-moldova-eu-accession/33754585.html https://www.rferl.org/a/wider-europe-jozwiak-ukraine-moldova-eu-accession/33754585.html Tue, 12 May 2026 12:55:54 +0200 Wider EuropeThe Rundown Stories In an interview with RFE/RL, Ken Moriyasu, a senior fellow at Hudson Institute, says Beijing may tactically help ease tensions between Washington and Tehran, but will resist any effort that could threaten the survival of Iran’s regime. https://www.rferl.org/a/china-regime-survival-iran-moriyasu-trump-xi-summit/33755145.html https://www.rferl.org/a/china-regime-survival-iran-moriyasu-trump-xi-summit/33755145.html Tue, 12 May 2026 12:49:55 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesChina The two leaders are expected to negotiate over rare earth exports and economic tensions while navigating growing friction over Tehran and security in Asia. https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-trade-rare-earths-minerals-taiwan/33755104.html https://www.rferl.org/a/trump-xi-summit-iran-war-trade-rare-earths-minerals-taiwan/33755104.html Tue, 12 May 2026 11:30:28 +0200 ChinaFeaturesIranRussiaThe Rundown Stories The latest exchange between Washington and Tehran over a proposed path toward de-escalation has raised new questions about what comes next in the growing crisis around the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-talks-markets-diplomacy/33754690.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-talks-markets-diplomacy/33754690.html Tue, 12 May 2026 01:08:04 +0200 News AnalysisIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East 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 Migrant workers from India, Bangladesh, and elsewhere are taking up manual labor jobs inside the warring countries as Moscow and Kyiv struggle to offset shortages in their labor forces. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-migrant-workers-india-demographic-crisis/33754530.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-migrant-workers-india-demographic-crisis/33754530.html Mon, 11 May 2026 18:44:06 +0200 FeaturesRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Iranian outlets with ties to the IRGC have floated the idea that Tehran assert control over undersea fiber-optic cables running under the Strait of Hormuz. Experts say the proposal has little legal merit but warn that Iranian sabotage remains a threat. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-undersea-cable-hormuz-toll-internet/33754408.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-undersea-cable-hormuz-toll-internet/33754408.html Mon, 11 May 2026 14:49:50 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East 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 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