After Viktor Orban’s defeat, Prime Minister Peter Magyar and the Tisza Party are using a two-thirds parliamentary majority to dismantle the institutional system built during Orban’s 16-year rule. Their measures include replacing Fidesz-aligned officeholders, reforming the judiciary, creating an anti-corruption authority, imposing legislative term limits and overhauling public media. The reforms have improved relations with the European Union and helped unlock €16.4 billion in frozen funds, but critics warn that abrupt constitutional changes and removals without broad consultation could reproduce the concentration of power they are intended to undo. Analysts and civil-society advocates broadly support the democratic objectives while cautioning that rebuilding institutions will take years and that public patience may turn to disappointment if the government fails to deliver.

Russian attacks have damaged or destroyed thousands of Ukrainian cultural sites, while museums and cultural officials struggle to evacuate collections, preserve records and protect local identity. The Khanenko and Odesa museums demonstrate that advance preparation can save artworks, but unclear responsibilities, limited resources and inadequate legal frameworks have left many institutions vulnerable. In Mariupol, Russian forces allegedly destroyed museums and removed more than 2,000 objects, while digital documentation from Kherson could support future recovery claims. Ukrainian legal experts argue that the destruction, looting and suppression of culture may form a broader pattern of cultural genocide, although that term is not a separate crime under the Genocide Convention. Ukraine is documenting thousands of incidents and seeking accountability while still working to evacuate millions of objects near the frontline.

Kyrgyzstan’s women’s horseback archery team competed at the World Nomad Games despite limited funding, equipment and training facilities. The games have helped revive traditional sports across Central Asia, professionalize competition and reinforce national identity. Aidana Usenbekova, Sezim Jumabekova and Eleonora Jumakanova did not win medals, but their performances—especially Usenbekova’s eighth-place finish in Hungarian-style archery—demonstrated the team’s potential and prompted calls for greater support for women’s participation.

The article provides an in-depth look at the life of prisoners serving life sentences in Russia's maximum-security prisons, known colloquially by names such as 'The White Swan' and 'The Black Eagle'. It discusses the moratorium on executions in Russia and the shift to life imprisonment for serious crimes. The author visits 'The Black Eagle' and interviews various inmates, including murderers and a terrorist, exploring their daily lives, feelings of guilt, and the role of religion and art in their rehabilitation. The piece also touches on the broader issues of the Russian penal system, including the legacy of the Soviet era, the necessity of prison labor, and the challenges faced by prisoners upon release. The article is a blend of interviews, observations, and reflections on the human condition within the penal system.