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 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 05:31:24 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL Recent photos from a key Russian logistics route highlight the growing impact of Ukraine's efforts to stifle Russian operations. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-logistics-drone-highway-crimea/33786426.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-logistics-drone-highway-crimea/33786426.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 18:41:30 +0200 UkraineRussiaPhoto GalleriesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain this week on his first official visit to the Gulf since the outbreak of the Iran war and just days after Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement aimed at bring peace to the region. https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-gulf-us-iran-framework-hormuz/33786331.html https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-gulf-us-iran-framework-hormuz/33786331.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:02:04 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East 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 Mon, 22 Jun 2026 09:01:00 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories The Taliban has begun restricting the use of smartphones by government employees, although the order appears to be unevenly enforced across the country. In some areas, civilians' mobile devices have reportedly been targeted as well, sparking concern that the ban may eventually extend nationwide. https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-smashes-smartphones-as-restrictions-deepen-in-afghanistan/33785685.html https://www.rferl.org/a/taliban-smashes-smartphones-as-restrictions-deepen-in-afghanistan/33785685.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 17:46:11 +0200 VideosAfghanistanVideo ArchiveThe Rundown Stories Russian-installed authorities in occupied Crimea have suspended fuel sales to private individuals and businesses amid a severe fuel shortage and a weak tourist season, as Ukrainian drone strikes continue to disrupt Russia's oil and transport infrastructure. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-crimea-fuel-shortage-drone-strikes/33785662.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-crimea-fuel-shortage-drone-strikes/33785662.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 15:58:23 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories A Tajik couple was forced to abandon the name they chose for their newborn child after officials said it was not on an approved registry. The case highlights Tajikistan's controversial effort to promote Persian-rooted names and curb visible Islamic influences. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-baby-names-approved-list/33784703.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajikistan-baby-names-approved-list/33784703.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 09:59:20 +0200 TajikistanFeaturesThe Rundown Stories An art initiative is reminding the world of the political prisoners held in Belarus through traditional cross-stitch embroidery. https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-cross-stitch-prisoner-art/33782331.html https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-cross-stitch-prisoner-art/33782331.html Sun, 21 Jun 2026 09:59:08 +0200 BelarusPhoto GalleriesThe Rundown Stories After briefly appearing to falter, US-Iran implementation talks are back on track, with senior American and Iranian delegations converging on Switzerland for what could prove a decisive phase in turning a fragile wartime memorandum into a broader political settlement. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-burgenstock-ceasefire-vance-witkoff-kushner-araqchi/33785268.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-burgenstock-ceasefire-vance-witkoff-kushner-araqchi/33785268.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 23:39:53 +0200 News AnalysisNewsIranThe Rundown Stories Israeli strikes have killed dozens in south Lebanon despite the US-Iran memorandum's first clause calling for an end to the war there. Tehran is facing a rising chorus from hard-liners demanding a response. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-lebanon-israel-war-us-agreement-pressure/33785116.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-lebanon-israel-war-us-agreement-pressure/33785116.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 12:16:43 +0200 IranFeaturesThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East A soldier who goes by the call sign Kiwi was still a teenager in Wellington, New Zealand, when he saw Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on the news in February 2022. As the war dragged on, he learned that he could enlist and receive training to fight alongside the forces defending Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/new-zealand-volunteer-ukraine-military/33783528.html https://www.rferl.org/a/new-zealand-volunteer-ukraine-military/33783528.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 10:33:15 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian ‌President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned neighboring Belarus -- a close ally of Russia – to remove signaling equipment used by the Kremlin to target Ukraine or, he said, Kyiv would do the job itself. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-belarus-zelenskyy-lukashenko-russia-signal-relay/33784778.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-belarus-zelenskyy-lukashenko-russia-signal-relay/33784778.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:12:12 +0200 NewsBelarusRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories What was supposed to be the first face-to-face technical engagement between the US and Iran after their surprise memorandum of understanding (MOU) has instead become an early test of whether the fragile diplomatic opening can survive the pressures of a wider regional war. https://www.rferl.org/a/burgenstock-switzerland-vance-us-iran-mou-war/33784777.html https://www.rferl.org/a/burgenstock-switzerland-vance-us-iran-mou-war/33784777.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 00:00:17 +0200 News AnalysisNewsIranPakistanThe Rundown Stories Pulling up at a gas station with no fuel for sale, a Russian woman is aghast: “What’s going on in this country?” What’s going on is that in the fifth year of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine is fighting back with strikes on oil refineries, part of a bid to bring the war to citizens across Russia. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-gasoline-fuel-crisis-refinery-attacks-ukraine/33784529.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-gasoline-fuel-crisis-refinery-attacks-ukraine/33784529.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 16:19:30 +0200 RussiaFeaturesUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Hundreds of people in Turkmenistan staged a protest over power outages in the energy-rich Central Asian country, which is grappling with a deepening economic crisis. https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-protest-electricity-economy/33784533.html https://www.rferl.org/a/turkmenistan-protest-electricity-economy/33784533.html Fri, 19 Jun 2026 14:52:09 +0200 NewsTurkmenistan The Rundown Stories Ukrainian workers are conducting emergency repairs to a historic cathedral, part of a UNESCO-protected monastery, which was damaged in an overnight attack on June 15. While priceless items were moved to safety, experts warn that soot and moisture continue to threaten other historic artifacts. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-cathedral-monastery-damaged-air-strikes/33783975.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-cathedral-monastery-damaged-air-strikes/33783975.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 19:42:42 +0200 UkraineRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The Iran framework agreement gave an immediate boost to markets, with shares rising and oil prices dipping. But whether this translates into durable economic gains will largely depend on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-hormuz-shipping-revival-trump/33783948.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-hormuz-shipping-revival-trump/33783948.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:13:29 +0200 News AnalysisFeaturesIranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East While the U.S. and Iran have reached a historic agreement to restore stability in the Strait of Hormuz, the path to a full global energy recovery is dangerously lopsided https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-energy-prices/33783923.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-deal-energy-prices/33783923.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 18:12:51 +0200 IranThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East Iranian authorities have sentenced singer Parastoo Ahmadi to a punishment of 74 lashes for performing in a YouTube video that has racked up 2.9 million views over the last two years. Ahmadi sang the well-known patriotic song From The Blood Of the Youth to an empty theater space in 2024. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-singer-sentence-flogging-morality-police-ban-women-life-freedom-hijab-concert-youtube/33783873.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-singer-sentence-flogging-morality-police-ban-women-life-freedom-hijab-concert-youtube/33783873.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:26:54 +0200 IranVideo ArchiveVideosThe Rundown Stories A massive Ukrainian strike on a Moscow oil refinery on June 18 is set to exacerbate a worsening fuel shortage that is spreading throughout Russia. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fuel-crisis-ukraine-war-drone-campaign-oil/33783797.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-fuel-crisis-ukraine-war-drone-campaign-oil/33783797.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:52:06 +0200 RussiaUkrainePhoto GalleriesPhoto GalleriesRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on the morning of June 18 that drones had attacked the Moscow Oil Refinery, the largest fuel supplier to the Moscow region. https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-oil-refinery-ukraine-drones-strikes-sobyanin/33783593.html https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-oil-refinery-ukraine-drones-strikes-sobyanin/33783593.html Thu, 18 Jun 2026 08:53:35 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories