Georgian farmers face an unsellable surplus of wheat as cheaper Russian flour reduces domestic demand, leaving local mills idle and last year’s harvest still in storage. Rising land rental costs and dependency on Russian agricultural imports worsen the situation. With a new harvest approaching, farmers have no space to store crops, while authorities search for solutions that will avoid raising bread prices.

South Korea transformed its global standing through a deliberate strategy of institutionalized cultural production, turning K-pop, dramas, cinema and cuisine into tools of hybrid power. Beginning in the late 1990s, the government invested heavily in creative industries, enabling the rise of the “Hallyu” wave, which reshaped international perceptions and expanded Korea’s diplomatic, economic and strategic reach. Entertainment companies such as SM Entertainment created highly trained cultural ambassadors whose global appeal opened markets for major Korean brands. Korean culture strengthened relations with the United States, Europe and Southeast Asia, improved people‑to‑people ties with Japan, and raised concerns in China, which responded with censorship. Cultural influence now operates as a form of geopolitical leverage for South Korea, helping the country diversify alliances, boost trade and reframe its national image from a conflict‑prone peninsula to a dynamic global cultural leader.

Armenia is undergoing a major geopolitical and political transformation, shifting away from Russia and moving rapidly toward Western integration, including plans to apply for EU membership by 2026 and the adoption of a visa liberalization roadmap. This shift accelerated after Russia failed to support Armenia during the 2020 conflict, prompting the search for alternative security and political partnerships. A key milestone was the 2025 Washington declaration between Armenia and Azerbaijan, mediated by the United States, which outlined commitments to peaceful relations, border delimitation, communication reopening, and broader cooperation. Armenia is engaging more actively with Türkiye and pursuing economic reforms aligned with Western models. However, despite foreign policy progress, domestic concerns have emerged over Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s perceived authoritarian tendencies, including confrontations with the Church, pressure on institutions, and harsh responses to protests. This tension between democratic aspirations and centralizing tendencies forms the core challenge that will determine whether Armenia consolidates democracy or reverts to centralized power.