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 Fri, 07 Aug 2026 18:40:33 +0200 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL As regional security tensions continue to mount amid the protracted conflict between Iran and the US, the leaders of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Turkey came together on August 7 to sign a joint defense agreement in order to "strengthen collective deterrence against any act of aggression." https://www.rferl.org/a/saudi-turkey-pakistan-defense-agreement-iran-war/33824220.html https://www.rferl.org/a/saudi-turkey-pakistan-defense-agreement-iran-war/33824220.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 14:42:03 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories As the conflict in the Persian Gulf 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-live-blog-trump-middle-east/33803414.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-live-blog-trump-middle-east/33803414.html Fri, 07 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories German authorities are investigating two "very serious security incidents" at the Leipzig/Halle airport that temporarily suspended and diverted flights, raising suspicions of Russian involvement after similar incidents in recent years. https://www.rferl.org/a/german-police-probe-leipzig-airport-suspicious-flying-object/33822656.html https://www.rferl.org/a/german-police-probe-leipzig-airport-suspicious-flying-object/33822656.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:01:41 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories BROVARY, Ukraine -- Russian overnight drone and ballistic missile strikes killed at least 17 people in the Kyiv region, as Ukraine warned of critical air defense shortages and urged its allies to hasten deliveries of urgently needed air defense missiles. https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-drone-and-missile-barrage-on-ukraine/33822483.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-drone-and-missile-barrage-on-ukraine/33822483.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 07:50:58 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Prominent imprisoned political activist Mostafa Tajzadeh has issued a statement calling on Iranian authorities to "immediately end" executions warning that the accelerated pace of hangings risks pushing the country toward internal conflict and what he called the "Libyanization" of Iran. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajzadeh-iran-executions-end/33821603.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajzadeh-iran-executions-end/33821603.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:05:26 +0200 Human RightsNewsIranThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian drones struck two more warehouses used by the online retailer Wildberries, as well as a third in the Moscow region that killed five people as Russia and Ukraine continued exchanging cross-border strikes with US-mediated peace talks stalled. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-hits-wildberries-warehouses/33821556.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-hits-wildberries-warehouses/33821556.html Tue, 04 Aug 2026 12:40:16 +0200 NewsUkraineThe Rundown Headline Iran has hanged two men accused of spying for Israel as the Islamic republic’s execution spree since the start of the war with the United States and Israel shows no signs of slowing down. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execute-behzad-safvat-israel-spy/33820765.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-execute-behzad-safvat-israel-spy/33820765.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:31:28 +0200 IranNewsHuman RightsThe Rundown Stories Ukraine and Russia exchanged another wave of overnight drone strikes targeting logistics, energy, and civilian infrastructure, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced frustration with Western allies over delays in delivering urgently needed Patriot air defense systems and other military aid. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russian-drone-attack-wildberries/33820750.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russian-drone-attack-wildberries/33820750.html Mon, 03 Aug 2026 11:52:56 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineThe Rundown Stories Iranian authorities have executed a 19-year-old man who was arrested during nationwide protests that began in late December and spread across the country in January, according to a US-based rights group. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-executions-kheirkhahan-outcry/33820267.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-executions-kheirkhahan-outcry/33820267.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 15:51:07 +0200 Human RightsNewsThe Rundown Headline Russian authorities said on August 2 that an improvised explosive device was detonated at a restaurant in central Moscow, killing three people and wounding 21 others, as investigators worked to determine who was behind the bombing. https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-russia-restaurant-bombing--kudrinkskaya-square/33820153.html https://www.rferl.org/a/moscow-russia-restaurant-bombing--kudrinkskaya-square/33820153.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 10:47:27 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump said he has decided to "hold off" on any new attacks on Iran, saying "the perimeters" of a deal have been agreed to with Tehran and adding that Israel was joining him in the commitment. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-trump-attacks-hormuz/33820139.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-war-trump-attacks-hormuz/33820139.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 09:37:57 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown StoriesMiddle East In the wake of the latest deadly Russian air strikes on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed frustration with his Western allies, urging speedier delivery of urgently needed Patriot air defense missiles and other weapons. https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-kherson-ukraine-patriot-ballistic-missiles-zelenskyy/33819849.html https://www.rferl.org/a/kyiv-kherson-ukraine-patriot-ballistic-missiles-zelenskyy/33819849.html Sun, 02 Aug 2026 00:03:14 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories US President Donald Trump's decision to step back from his earlier pledge to allow Ukraine to manufacture Patriot missile interceptors has prompted renewed debate in Washington over the future direction of US military support for Kyiv. https://www.rferl.org/a/patriot-missile-trump-bacon-republicans-ukraine-zelenskyy/33819653.html https://www.rferl.org/a/patriot-missile-trump-bacon-republicans-ukraine-zelenskyy/33819653.html Sat, 01 Aug 2026 06:41:57 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Russia targeted the Ukrainian capital with ballistic missiles early on August 1 as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pressed for the Washington to grant licenses for Kyiv to produce its own Patriot air defense missiles amid apparent renewed reluctance by US President Donald Trump. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-kyiv-ballistic-missiles-trump-patriot-missiles/33819648.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-kyiv-ballistic-missiles-trump-patriot-missiles/33819648.html Sat, 01 Aug 2026 03:01:04 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline President Donald Trump said the United States should be "very careful" about granting Kyiv a license to produce Patriot missiles as Ukraine seeks greater air defense capabilities to protect itself against Russia's daily air attacks. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-drone-attack-wildberries-patriot-missile-license/33819054.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-drone-attack-wildberries-patriot-missile-license/33819054.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 12:07:03 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Russia said it had designated Telegram founder Pavel Durov a “terrorist” and “extremist,” further tightening the screws on the popular messenger app ahead of parliamentary elections in September. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-telegram-durov-terrorist-extremist-internet-crackdown/33818974.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-telegram-durov-terrorist-extremist-internet-crackdown/33818974.html Fri, 31 Jul 2026 11:45:17 +0200 NewsRussiaThe Rundown Stories When Human Rights Watch's Georgi Gogia heard that several independent journalists were handed lengthy sentences this week by a court in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, he didn't know what motivated the judge. But he does know the message is an "unmistakable warning." https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-independent-journalists-court-sentencing-crackdown/33818515.html https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-independent-journalists-court-sentencing-crackdown/33818515.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 19:58:56 +0200 NewsAzerbaijanThe Rundown Stories The US military said it launched dozens of strikes against targets linked to Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in response to Iranian attacks on American troops in Jordan after President Donald Trump had vowed to retaliate and "hit them very hard." https://www.rferl.org/a/us-strikes-target-iran-revolutionary-guards-corps/33818316.html https://www.rferl.org/a/us-strikes-target-iran-revolutionary-guards-corps/33818316.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 12:59:30 +0200 IranNewsThe Rundown Stories KRYVIY RIH -- Russian ballistic missile strike hit a home in the village of Radushne in Ukraine's southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, killing almost an entire family, as local officials reported at least nine people dead and dozens of others injured across the country. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-missile-deadly-strike-ukraine/33818229.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-missile-deadly-strike-ukraine/33818229.html Thu, 30 Jul 2026 10:46:18 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Headline Ukrainian drones struck targets in several places inside Russia on July 29, including an oil refinery and a logistics center belonging to Russia's largest online retailer, Wildberries, as Kyiv expands its long-range strike campaign to pressure Moscow into peace negotiations. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-drone-attack-wildberries-zelenskyy-trump/33817538.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-drone-attack-wildberries-zelenskyy-trump/33817538.html Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:02:31 +0200 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories