https://www.rferl.org Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty is an international news organization serving Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia, Russia, the Middle East and Balkan countries https://www.rferl.org/Content/responsive/RFE/en-US/img/logo.png https://www.rferl.org en Copyright 2025 - RFE/RL, Inc. 60 Thu, 02 Jan 2025 06:28:55 +0000 Pangea CMS – RFE/RL A gunman opened fire in a bar just outside the city of Cetinje in western Montenegro, killing at least four people before fleeing the scene, police confirmed on January 1. https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegro-shooting-search-cetinje/33260540.html https://www.rferl.org/a/montenegro-shooting-search-cetinje/33260540.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 20:35:31 +0000 NewsMontenegro Shi’ite and Sunni leaders in northwestern Pakistan on January 1 signed a peace agreement to end ongoing tensions and establish a permanent cease-fire after deadly clashes believed to be linked to a tribal land feud killed more than 100 people in the past 90 days. https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-loya-jirga-ceasefire-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-province-land-dispute/33260519.html https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-loya-jirga-ceasefire-khyber-pakhtunkhwa-province-land-dispute/33260519.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 18:53:04 +0000 NewsPakistanThe Rundown HeadlineThe Rundown Stories Bulgarians and Romanians celebrated the lifting of European Union visa restrictions, as the two EU members gained full entry into the bloc’s Schengen Zone. https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-romania-join-eu-schengen-zone-visa-restrictions-lifted/33260426.html https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-romania-join-eu-schengen-zone-visa-restrictions-lifted/33260426.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 14:30:54 +0000 NewsRomaniaBulgariaThe Rundown Stories Hungary has been officially denied some $1 billion dollars in European Union funding that the bloc had frozen because of corruption allegations. https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-denied-1-billion-euros-eu-funding-corruption-allegation/33260399.html https://www.rferl.org/a/hungary-denied-1-billion-euros-eu-funding-corruption-allegation/33260399.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 13:20:52 +0000 NewsHungaryThe Rundown Stories Russia targeted Ukraine with scores of drones overnight, and Ukrainian officials claimed most were downed or jammed by air defenses. At least one person was killed in Kyiv. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-strike-january-1-kyiv-air-defenses-/33260019.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-drone-strike-january-1-kyiv-air-defenses-/33260019.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 09:55:54 +0000 NewsUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Xi Jinping’s headwinds for 2025, Ukraine and Taiwan’s linked future, China’s business expansion in Central Asia, EU’s tightrope 2.0, and much more. https://www.rferl.org/a/xi-putin-taiwan-ukraine-2025-central-asia/33259380.html https://www.rferl.org/a/xi-putin-taiwan-ukraine-2025-central-asia/33259380.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 09:42:08 +0000 China In EurasiaFeaturesKazakhstanKyrgyzstanUkraineUzbekistanThe Rundown Stories RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's ongoing invasion, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. The Live Briefing presents the latest developments and analysis, updated throughout the day. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-crisis-crosshairs-live-briefing/31668477.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-crisis-crosshairs-live-briefing/31668477.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 09:05:05 +0000 UkraineFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades Ukraine A group of Tajik migrant workers claim they are being forced to work on a remote farm in Russia's Far East, with little food or pay and no way to get home. https://www.rferl.org/a/tajik-migrants-russia-slave-labor-central-asia/33257850.html https://www.rferl.org/a/tajik-migrants-russia-slave-labor-central-asia/33257850.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 08:55:25 +0000 TajikistanFeaturesThe Rundown Stories Evidence that a Russian missile may have shot down an Azerbaijani passenger jet has sparked anger in the Caucasus and beyond. Putin issued an apology of sorts, a move that was unprecedented but may not eliminate the effects of the disaster on Russia’s already damaged reputation in the region. https://www.rferl.org/a/plane-crash-russia-influence-caucasus/33259438.html https://www.rferl.org/a/plane-crash-russia-influence-caucasus/33259438.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 08:47:11 +0000 RussiaFeaturesAzerbaijanKazakhstanRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on January 1 that the end of natural gas supplies to Europe via a major pipeline traversing Ukraine is a major defeat for Russian President Vladimir Putin. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-gas-gazprom-supplies/33259941.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-gas-gazprom-supplies/33259941.html Wed, 01 Jan 2025 07:22:40 +0000 NewsRussiaUkraineThe Rundown Headline The United States has imposed sanctions against the Russian judge who sentenced human rights activist Alexei Gorinov to seven years in jail for speaking against the war in Ukraine. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-dissident-gorinov-mendeleeva-sanctions/33259509.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-war-dissident-gorinov-mendeleeva-sanctions/33259509.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 21:12:58 +0000 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades Ukraine Russian natural gas supplies to Europe via a pipeline traversing Ukraine are set to end on January 1 as a contract on the flow of gas that Ukraine refused to renegotiate is expires. https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-europe-natural-gas-pipeline-contract/33259466.html https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-ukraine-europe-natural-gas-pipeline-contract/33259466.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 19:56:28 +0000 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades Ukraine The United States on December 31 imposed sanctions on entities in Iran and Russia that it accused of attempting to “stoke socio-political tensions” and influence voters during the 2024 U.S. elections. https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-sanctions-election-interference/33259422.html https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-russia-sanctions-election-interference/33259422.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 16:59:08 +0000 NewsIranRussia Ukrainian's military said it has downed a Russian helicopter for the first time with a missile launched from a new-generation sea drone. In a December 31 statement, Ukraine said a water-based drone on the Black Sea was responsible for the attack. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-crimea-drone-sea-missile-helicopter-strike-military/33259364.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-crimea-drone-sea-missile-helicopter-strike-military/33259364.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 16:03:25 +0000 UkraineNewsRussiaVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Following Azerbaijan's president calling for Moscow to accept blame for downing an Azerbaijani plane, there is growing public anger toward Russia for its apparent attempts to sidestep responsibility for the incident. https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-russia-plane-anger-crash-putin-aliyev/33259203.html https://www.rferl.org/a/azerbaijan-russia-plane-anger-crash-putin-aliyev/33259203.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 12:57:31 +0000 AzerbaijanFeaturesRussiaThe Rundown Stories At least 63 kilometers of coastline in Russia's southern region of Kuban has been covered by heavy fuel oil from two oil tankers that ran aground in the ecologically sensitive waters off Ukraine's Moscow-annexed Crimean Black Sea coast. https://www.rferl.org/a/volunteers-race-to-clean-oil-covered-coastline-after-tanker-accident-in-kerch-strait/33259108.html https://www.rferl.org/a/volunteers-race-to-clean-oil-covered-coastline-after-tanker-accident-in-kerch-strait/33259108.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 10:14:50 +0000 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories A durable peace deal seems very distant. But a push for a cease-fire is almost a given in light of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s promises to end the war quickly. What are the chances the guns could go silent in 2025 -- and what would it mean for Ukraine? https://www.rferl.org/a/war-talks-peace-russia-ukraine/33258279.html https://www.rferl.org/a/war-talks-peace-russia-ukraine/33258279.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 08:57:15 +0000 UkraineFeaturesRussiaRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories The song known in English as The Carol of the Bells is widely recognized as a Christmas melody. But in the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, residents know it as Shchedryk, a work by a local composer. The tune is often heard in the city, but this year, it's competing with the sounds of Russian shells. https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-shchedryk-christmas-carol-bells-pokrovsk/33257565.html https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-shchedryk-christmas-carol-bells-pokrovsk/33257565.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 08:27:33 +0000 UkraineVideo ArchiveVideosRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Ukraine claims that for the first time, one of its sea drones has downed a Russian military target in the air during a day of intense attacks by both sides as the war edges closer to its three-year anniversary. https://www.rferl.org/a/air-raid-sirens-blare-across-ukraine-explosions-heard-in-kyiv/33258909.html https://www.rferl.org/a/air-raid-sirens-blare-across-ukraine-explosions-heard-in-kyiv/33258909.html Tue, 31 Dec 2024 06:41:29 +0000 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades UkraineThe Rundown Stories Anna Netrebko has withdrawn from her planned role debut in Johann Strauss's Ariadne auf Naxos at the Vienna State Opera, citing ill health earlier this month that limited her preparation. https://www.rferl.org/a/33258468.html https://www.rferl.org/a/33258468.html Mon, 30 Dec 2024 22:35:30 +0000 NewsRussiaUkraineRussia Invades Ukraine