One reason that the US government, politicians and people don’t have a clear idea of the situation in Israel/Palestine is that any criticism or complaint about Israel, no matter how well-researched and moderate, is swiftly attacked by lobbies in the US as being anti-semitic.

A Russian expedition has just reopened the quiet struggle over the Arctic by planting its flag deep beneath the North Pole. Global warming will make new economic activities possible in the Arctic, and the US, Canada, Denmark and Norway are also competing to prove their rights to energy and mineral resources.

A rare astronomical event in 1882 – the passage of Venus in front of the sun – resulted in the first International Polar Year (IPY). It was the inspiration of the Austrian explorer and scientist (...)