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 vast team of correspondents, multimedia editors, and visual journalists over the past seven days.
Did The September 11 Attacks Start And End U.S. 'Forever Wars'?
The U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks ended in failure after a costly and nearly 20-year war and effort to establish a democracy. Did it leave Washington forever wary of getting involved in such efforts again? By Michael Scollon
Ukrainians Express Dismay Over Trump's Debate Comments
Ukrainians say they are troubled by ex-U.S. President Donald Trump's comments during the televised debate with Vice President Kamala Harris on September 10. In the closely watched ABC News face-off, held in Philadelphia, Trump refused to commit when asked, "Do you want Ukraine to win this war?" By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service and Will Tizard
Serbia's First Sex-Trafficking Case Involving Chinese Citizens Set For Court
A criminal indictment obtained by RFE/RL shows that two Chinese women were trafficked to Serbia from China and forced under the threat of death to have sex with men. The alleged trafficker, a Chinese man, was arrested and will begin his pretrial hearing on September 12. By Mila Manojlovic
Ukraine Introduces Curfew In Pokrovsk With Russians Just Kilometers Away
The Ukrainian authorities have introduced a curfew and shut down rail connections in the city of Pokrovsk in Ukraine's Donetsk region. Russian forces are now just kilometers away. An estimated 26,000 residents remain. By Borys Sachalko and Current Time
The Making Of The World Nomad Games
The fifth World Nomad Games is currently being held in Kazakhstan's Astana. But the celebration of nomadic culture showcasing competitors nearly 90 different countries originated in Kyrgyzstan, proving that "a small country without resources can do something global." By Chris Rickleton
Meet The Pakistani Teacher With 5 Classes In 1 Room
Bibi Rafia has taught for 24 years at a girls' school in Pakistan where there is just one room for five classes. Rafia says it's hard for the children to learn in the crowded environment -- and adds that if they need the bathroom they have to use a neighbor's house. Yet the makeshift arrangements are far from unique in Pakistan, where many schools are held in tents. By Ahmad Shah Azami, Samad Shabnam, RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, and Ray Furlong
Wartime Imitation: Russia Holds Illegitimate Elections In Occupied Crimea
Amid its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia held another illegitimate election in occupied Crimea. The voting, which was denounced by Ukraine and not recognized by most countries of the world, will most likely solidify the local elites' grip on power. By Aleksander Palikot, RFE/RL's Crimea.Realities, and RFE/RL's Russian Service
'No One Is Safe': Life Under The Rule Of The Pakistani Taliban
Locals in northwestern Pakistan, where the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan extremist group is seeking to reclaim its former strongholds, say it has imposed extortion, banned music, and shut down some girls’ schools. By Abubakar Siddique and Abdul Hai Kakar
Olympic Boxing Dispute Leaves Russia-Tied Central Asia In A Tight Corner
Having starred at the Summer Olympics in Paris, Central Asia’s boxers find themselves caught between the embrace of a Russian-led governing body kicked out of the Olympic movement and their own potential exclusion from the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. By Chris Rickleton and Gulzhan Turdubaeva
Wine Business In Kosovo Has Deep Roots, But Growers Struggling To Hold Their Ground
The town of Rahovec in Kosovo is the heart of an agricultural region with a centuries-old tradition of cultivating grapes. But winegrowers say it's difficult to turn a profit and need government support to help expand their access to foreign markets. By Doruntina Baftiu, Ibrahim Berisha, and RFE/RL's Kosovo Service
