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Geography · Science · Society
As recently as 10,000 years ago, Greenland was joined to Eurasia by a land bridge; today that stretch of land is the submerged Lomonosov Ridge, which extends for roughly 1,800 km from the New Siberian Islands to Ellesmere Island in…
For the past several decades this has been one of the key and most contentious themes of the Arctic dialogue. And now, in connection with the discussions about Greenland, the ridge that divides the Eurasian and Amerasian parts of the Arctic Ocean basin is again being talked about. The limits
Museums · Observations · Heritage · Society · Paris
The string of absurd updates to the file on the disgraceful Louvre robbery seems destined never to end
The string of absurd updates to the file on the disgraceful Louvre robbery seems destined never to end. New glaring details have come to light, but the chief detail remains unchanged: so far, we have not seen a single resignation. How about this? A month and a half before the
Museums · Society
Dresden State Art Collections hit by cyberattack on 21 January 2026
The Dresden State Art Collections were hit by a cyberattack on 21 January 2026. As a result, online services have stopped working: the web shop, ticket sales and visitor services. The museums remain open, the security systems are functioning, and tickets purchased before the attack remain valid. The police and
Geography · Society
Among the possessions of the Danish West Indies that the USA bought from Denmark were 3 large islands and several dozen small ones, including Little Saint James, which Jeffrey Epstein acquired in 1998
Among the political terms of the sale were a US guarantee of Denmark's neutrality and US recognition of Danish sovereignty over Greenland. The islands, now known as the Virgin Islands, cost the USA a mere 25 million dollars. For Denmark these colonial territories, with a population of around
Faith · Madrid · Society · Nature · Ethnography
Last Saturday Spain held festivities marking the feast of Saint Anthony the Great, patron saint of domestic animals
Near Madrid, in the village of San Bartolomé de Pinares, which has a population of about 500, the rite of Las Luminarias has been held every year for centuries. Riders lead their horses through bonfires lit right in the streets; the ritual is believed to purify the animals and protect
NB! · Observations · Mores · Society · Humour
I seem to have missed the moment when the politicians' dress code for official appearances began to admit such items as sunglasses
Faith · Books · Society
The Bible becomes the best-selling book of 2025, setting a sales record in the US and Britain
Around 6.3 million Bibles were sold in Britain, a new record for the whole history of the book's sales and 134% more than in 2019. The number of people attending church in England and Wales has risen by 50% since 2018. In the US, sales have reached
Books · Society · People
Bank of Russia issues a 2-rouble coin to mark the 200th anniversary of Saltykov-Shchedrin
The coin is struck in 925 sterling silver, is circular in form with a diameter of 33 mm, and contains 15.55 grams of pure precious metal. The mintage will be 3,000 pieces. The reverse of the coin bears relief images of the writer's portrait and of
Archive · Education · Society
Russia's Ministry of Education plans to give marks for conduct in Years 1 to 11 from 1 September
The proposal to introduce such marks was voiced at the Human Rights Council as long ago as 2024. On a trial basis, conduct marks have been awarded since the start of the 2025/26 school year in 89 schools in seven regions of Russia, each of which has chosen one
Architecture · Moscow · Heritage · Society
The double-headed eagles soared above the Moscow Kremlin for a very long time: until October 1935
The double-headed eagles soared above the Moscow Kremlin for a very long time: until October 1935. It turns out that they witnessed not only the shelling of the Kremlin by artillery, the first parades in honour of the revolution, Lenin's speeches and Party mobilisations, but also the
Books · Observations · Society
In 2005, Kurt Vonnegut wrote that Susan Sontag, when asked about the Holocaust, said the following:
10% of any population are cruel, whatever the circumstances, and 10% are merciful, whatever the circumstances, and the remaining 80% can be swayed in either direction.