This article examines the complex and enduring nature of Israel's conflicts with its neighboring states and actors. Based on an analysis of historical events, political declarations, international agreements, and contemporary geopolitical analyses, the article reconstructs the multifaceted reasons behind the persistent state of war and tension. Particular attention is devoted to the foundational ideological and territorial disputes, the impact of the 1967 War, the role of the Palestinian issue, the rise of non-state actors, and the recent resurgence of the "Greater Israel" discourse. The analysis also covers the strained relations with traditional peace partners Egypt and Jordan, as well as the challenges to the Abraham Accords framework in the context of the 2023–2026 war.

In this article, the phenomenon of anti-personnel mines as a type of weapon that poses a particular humanitarian threat is examined. Based on an analysis of international conventions, statistical data, and historical evidence, a comprehensive picture is reconstructed of the impact of this weapon on the civilian population, the international community’s efforts to ban it, and current trends related to the withdrawal of a number of states from the Ottawa Treaty. Special attention is given to defining anti-personnel mines, their classification, the history of their use, and the current state of the problem.

This article examines the complex and painful question of how the historical memory of the Holocaust influences the policies of the State of Israel toward the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip. Based on an analysis of public discussions, political statements, human rights organizations' positions, and academic debates, the article reconstructs the multifaceted problem of the relationship between the collective trauma of the Jewish people and the actions taken by Israel during the military campaign that began after October 7, 2023. Particular attention is devoted to the phenomenon of using historical analogies, disputes over the applicability of the term "genocide," and the moral dilemma facing a society that has experienced catastrophe.

In this article, a complex and painful issue is examined: the influence of the historical memory of the Holocaust on the policy of the State of Israel toward the Palestinian population of the Gaza Strip. Based on an analysis of public debates, statements by politicians, positions of human rights organizations, and academic debates, the multifaceted problem of the relationship between the collective trauma of the Jewish people and the actions taken by Israel during the military campaign that began after October 2023 is reconstructed. Special attention is given to the phenomenon of using historical analogies, the debates about the applicability of the term 'genocide,' and the moral dilemma facing a society that has endured catastrophe.

This article examines the complex question of whether Russia could successfully capture Latvia, a NATO member state since 2004. Based on analysis of current intelligence assessments, military simulations, and geopolitical dynamics as of February 2026, the article reconstructs the multifaceted nature of the threat, ranging from hybrid warfare to conventional invasion scenarios. Particular attention is devoted to the balance between Russian capabilities, NATO's defensive commitments, and the specific vulnerabilities of the Baltic region. The consensus among Western intelligence agencies indicates that while Russia poses significant hybrid and cyber threats, a conventional military invasion capable of capturing Latvia faces formidable obstacles, primarily Latvia's NATO membership and the alliance's collective defense guarantee under Article 5.

In which countries is Maslenitsa celebrated?

This article presents a comprehensive biography of Sir Isaac Newton, one of the most influential scientists in human history whose work fundamentally transformed humanity's understanding of the physical universe. Based on analysis of historical documents, scientific treatises, and biographical accounts, this article reconstructs Newton's trajectory from a solitary Cambridge scholar to President of the Royal Society and Master of the Mint. Particular attention is devoted to his groundbreaking contributions to physics, mathematics, optics, and astronomy, as well as his lesser-known pursuits in alchemy, theology, and chronology. The complex personality of Newton—secretive, intensely focused, and intellectually relentless—emerges as inseparable from the revolutionary ideas that laid the foundation for classical mechanics and dominated scientific thought for three centuries.

This article examines the phenomenon of exacerbations of chronic adenoiditis as a common disease of the upper respiratory tract, predominantly occurring in childhood. Based on an analysis of pathogenic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and modern treatment methods, a comprehensive picture of this pathological condition is reconstructed. Particular attention is given to differential diagnosis, factors provoking exacerbations, and therapeutic intervention strategies that enable resolution of the acute process and prevention of its relapses.

This article examines freestyle skiing as a dynamic winter sport that combines traditional skiing techniques with aerial acrobatics and high-speed maneuvers. Based on analysis of Olympic history, disciplinary specifications, and competitive developments, the article reconstructs the evolution of freestyle skiing from its countercultural origins in the 1960s to its current status as one of the most spectacular disciplines of the Winter Olympics. Particular attention is devoted to the seven distinct disciplines comprising the sport, their scoring methodologies, the technological evolution of equipment, and the star athletes who have shaped the sport's development. The upcoming Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Games, featuring the debut of dual moguls and the addition of a fifteenth medal event, serve as the focal point for examining contemporary freestyle skiing.

This article presents a detailed chronological biography of Jeffrey Epstein, the American financier and convicted sex offender whose life and death continue to reverberate through global politics and elite circles. Based on comprehensive analysis of court documents, investigative journalism, and official records, this chronology reconstructs Epstein's trajectory from a middle-class Brooklyn upbringing to the heights of Wall Street and international power networks. Particular attention is devoted to the critical junctures that enabled his decades-long criminal enterprise, the controversial 2008 plea deal, his 2019 arrest and mysterious death, and the ongoing release of documents that has exposed the breadth of his connections.

This article examines the question of the causes of Jeffrey Epstein's long-standing impunity, an American financier accused of organizing a network for the sexual exploitation of minors. Based on an analysis of the chronology of investigations, court documents, and expert conclusions, the mechanism that allowed the offender to avoid real punishment for more than a decade and a half is reconstructed. Special attention is given to the factors that ensured his impunity: privileged social status, connections to the elites, corrupt deals with the prosecutor's office, and systemic shortcomings of the American justice system.

In this article, the mountainous system of Kyrgyzstan is considered as a unique geographical object that determines the hydrographic, climatic, and cultural landscape of the region. Based on analysis of orographic data, glaciological studies, and historical evidence, the complex structure of the Tian Shan and Pamir-Alay is reconstructed, forming more than ninety percent of the republic's territory. Special attention is paid to the highest peaks — Pobeda Peak and Khan-Tengri, to glacier complexes, as well as to the processes that link the cryosphere with the water security of the entire Central Asian region.

In this article, the question of the number of human casualties associated with the use of the Kalashnikov assault rifle throughout its entire history is examined. Based on an analysis of available statistical estimates, historical evidence, and expert conclusions, a range of probable figures is reconstructed, and the methodological difficulties of such counts are also explored. Special attention is given to comparing different sources, annual fatality rates, and the Kalashnikov's position among other weapons according to the criterion of lethality.

In this article, we examine the complex of Georgia's attractions formed at the intersection of geological processes, historical epochs, and cultural influences. Based on an analysis of tourist routes, archaeological data, and architectural monuments, the country’s unique character is reconstructed, where a relatively small area concentrates UNESCO World Heritage sites, relict landscapes, and active sacred centers. Special attention is given to the phenomenon of cave cities, the winemaking tradition, and the contrast between the urban aesthetic of Tbilisi and the rugged landscape of the Greater Caucasus.