Kyrgyz Villagers Escape Raging Mountain Torrent
Floods and mudslides have killed at least eight people in Kyrgyzstan, authorities say. RFE/RL filmed Kyrgyz rescuers and troops evacuating people through a flooded canyon in the Nookat district on June 29. The area is located in the country's southern Osh region, which has been hit by heavy rainfall. According to the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry, four of the casualties are children from neighboring Kazakhstan.
Ukrainian City In Shock After Deadly Attack
Rescuers were removing dead bodies from the center of Vilnyansk in the evening of June 29. Ukrainian authorities say that Russia hit the city in the southern Zaporizhzhya region with two consecutive ballistic missile strikes. At least seven people were killed, including children aged 10, 15, and 17.
Reformist And Hard-Liner In Iranian Presidential Election Runoff Amid Record-Low Voter Turnout
Reformist lawmaker Masud Pezeshkian and hard-liner Saeed Jalili will head to a second-round, runoff vote in Iran's presidential election. In the first round on June 28, Pezeshkian won the most votes, some 42 percent of all ballots cast, while Jalili claimed almost 39 percent amid a record-low voter turnout. The runoff has been set for July 5.
Ten Ukrainian civilians arrived in Kyiv early on June 29 after years of imprisonment -- five had been held in Russia and five others in Belarus. Some of the returnees -- such as Crimean Tatar politician Nariman Dzhelyal, Greek Catholic priest Bohdan Heleta, and art historian Olena Pekh -- were detained on Ukrainian territory occupied by Russia. Their return home at Zhulyany airport in Kyiv was part of a prisoner swap mediated by the Vatican and the United Arab Emirates.
'Not Free At All': Iranians Voice Need For Change Amid Snap Presidential Election
Iranians are casting ballots in a snap presidential election following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Speaking with RFE/RL's Radio Farda from inside Iran, some listeners said they would boycott the vote, while others said they hoped their participation would bring about reforms.
What Will Happen With NATO And Ukraine If Trump Gets Reelected?
What will happen with NATO and Ukraine if Donald Trump gets reelected as U.S. president in November? This question will be on NATO leaders' minds as they gather for a summit on July 9-11.
Hero Or Terrorist? Bosnian Kids Learn Different Lessons About Gavrilo Princip
The assassination of the heir to the Austro-Hungarian Empire on June 28, 1914 in Sarajevo is widely regarded as the spark that ignited World War I. It is still a cause of division in Bosnia-Herzegovina 110 years later, with schools in the country taking different approaches to teaching about the man who pulled the trigger.
Ukraine Fighting To Hold Key Supply Lines, Russian Attacks Intensify
Ukrainian troops are fiercely defending a crucial road in the Donetsk region amid intensified Russian attacks as Moscow aims to seize more territory. Настоящее Время correspondent Borys Sachalko spent a day with a Ukrainian unit there:
Georgians Celebrate Sensational Win Over Portugal In Euro 2024
Massive celebrations erupted in the streets of Tbilisi after the Georgian national team staged the biggest upset of Euro 2024 with a 2-0 win over Portugal. The win is Georgia's biggest achievement at the Euro tournament since the country gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
'Our Only Joy': Afghan Cricket Fans Celebrate T20 Glory
Celebrations of Afghanistan's historic progress to the T20 cricket World Cup semifinals took place across the country, although residents in Taliban-stronghold Kandahar said they were prevented from joining in. One happy fan in Badakhshan Province told RFE/RL that amid the economic and social problems of Taliban rule, the cricket victory over Bangladesh was "our only joy."
Top Ukrainian General Replaced Amid Criticism Over Heavy Casualties
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has announced that the commander of the Joint Forces of the Ukrainian military, Yuriy Sodol, is to be replaced with Brigadier General Andriy Hnatov. The move came after Sodol had been criticized for excessive casualties and outdated tactics.
One Year After The Wagner Mutiny
💡 ICYMI: How has the rebellion by Yevgeny Prigozhin and his Wagner mercenary force changed Russia, and what effects may still be to come?
Kirill Shamiev, a fellow at the European Council of Foreign Relations and an expert on Russia and civil-military relations, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss. https://www.rferl.org/a/week-ahead-russia-gutterman-wagner-mutiny/33007074.html
Frontline Ukrainian Troops Cheer National Soccer Team At Euros
A Ukrainian artillery crew cheers for the national soccer team competing in the 2024 UEFA European Football Championship. The soldiers take advantage of small breaks in the fighting to watch games on a smartphone. But as soon as Ukrainian reconnaissance units find new targets, the soldiers return to battle to push back against Russian forces.
Shock And Devastation After Attacks In Russia's Daghestan Region
Russia's Daghestan region has begun three days of mourning following attacks by gunmen in multiple locations that claimed at least 20 lives.
Why Iran's Presidential Election Matters More Than Past Votes
Iranians will choose a new president on June 28, more than a month after the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Six candidates, including one lone reformist, have been handpicked by the Islamic republic's political establishment. The winner could play a major role in choosing the successor to aging Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. But some Iranians told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that they will boycott an election they see as being engineered.
Russian Strike On Kharkiv Apartment Building Leaves Dead, Injured
At least two people were killed and dozens wounded as a Russian aerial guided bomb hit a residential building, authorities in Kharkiv announced on June 22. More bombs struck other areas of Ukraine's second-biggest city on the same day. Serious structural damage forced rescuers to demolish part of the building.
'Love Is Love': Hundreds Rally In Sarajevo For LGBT Rights
Hundreds marched on June 22 through the center of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia-Herzegovina, in the fifth Pride parade in the country's history. Bosnia is a multicultural country, but conservative views prevail on gay rights. "Love is innate. Hate is acquired. People learn it in the family and society," one march participant told RFE/RL.
Afghan Refugee Hasn't Saved '5 Pennies' During Decades In Pakistan
On World Refugee Day, the plight of millions of displaced Afghans is illustrated by Abdul Raziq, a bricklayer at a kiln in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province. Having fled his homeland decades ago, Raziq has done backbreaking manual labor for years, but he still struggles to get by. But going back to Afghanistan would be worse, he said.
Did The EU's Russian Spy Problem Just Get A Lot Worse?
In recent months, there’s been a wave of Russian sabotage incidents in Europe. What's going on, and what could Brussels do about it?
Wife Of Kazakh Journalist Says Husband In 'Grave Condition' After Shooting
The Kyiv shooting of an opposition activist and journalist from Kazakhstan, Aidos Sadyqov, was no random street crime, according to his wife. Natalya Sadyqova was in the car when a shooter fired on him on June 18, and said the attack was an attempt to silence criticism of the Kazakh government. Ukraine's National Police said they were on the lookout for the assailant, who fired on the vehicle and then fled. Sadyqova believes the attack was related to reporting she and Sadyqov have done on Russian influence in Kazakhstan.
Азаттық радиосы Радіо Свобода Настоящее Время
