We know you're busy and probably don't have the time to read all of our coverage each and every day. That's why we've put together The Week's Best. Here are some of the highlights produced in English by RFE/RL's team of correspondents, multimedia editors, and visual journalists over the past seven days.
Why So Many Hungarians Are Staying Child-Free
Despite government incentives, many Hungarians are choosing not to have children -- and are increasingly vocal about it. By Lili Rutai
Central Asian Returnees Struggle To Find Work Amid Russia’s Record-High Deportations
Russia has deported about 100,000 foreigners in the first half of this year, 53 percent more than in the same period last year. Some 143,00 were denied entry in a campaign mainly targeting Central Asian migrants. Back home they struggle to find jobs, despite government promises of new opportunities. By Farangis Najibullah, Current Time, and RFE/RL's Central Asian Migrant Unit
Tense Times For Ukraine As Pressure Mounts On The Battlefield And Beyond
Russian forces push forward in the Donbas, diplomatic pressure on Kyiv increases, and the U.S. election looms. It's all adding up to one of the toughest points for Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. By Steve Gutterman
'Friendship Bridge' Highlights Gulf Between NATO's Estonia And Russia
At the Friendship Bridge, once a busy crossing between Russia and Estonia, vehicles are no longer allowed to cross. Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Estonia has had to beef up its security along the border, but keeping Russia out is proving difficult. Most ethnic Russians in Narva watch Kremlin TV, and Moscow has ramped up cyberattacks on its NATO neighbor. By Austin Malloy, Anton Zolotykh, Krenare Cubolli, Arben Hoti, and Ulanbek Asanaliev
Would An All-Out Israel-Iran War Send Oil Prices Skyrocketing?
A wider regional war in the Middle East could rattle the global energy supply and trade routes, experts warn. By Abubakar Siddique
Photo Archive Offers Rare Glimpse Into Daily Life In Communist Bulgaria
Two Bulgarians are building an archive that reveals what life for ordinary people was like in their country throughout the 20th century. By Amos Chapple
U.S.-Georgian Relations Are At Rock Bottom Ahead Of Critical Elections
The United States has recently undertaken harsh measures against the ruling party in Georgia. The moves come in response to increasing authoritarian steps and heightening anti-Western rhetoric from the government. By Joshua Kucera
On Pokrovsk's Front Lines As Russian Forces Close In On 'Fortress City'
A major battle is looming for the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, home to vital industrial and transport infrastructure in the Donetsk region. By RFE/RL
Abandoned In Wartime, Wild Horses Now Thrive In Bosnian Mountains
A growing population of wild horses is drawing visitors to the rugged mountains of western Bosnia-Herzegovina. Local people abandoned agricultural horses during the 1990s war, but the animals have thrived in the wild. In the last 15 years, their numbers have grown from around 150 to more than 1,000. By Edib Bajrovic, Almir Biber, RFE/RL's Balkan Service, and Ray Furlong
