While we reflect on the past year, a curated list of remarkable in-depth pieces emerges. Such accounts explore multifaceted themes from geopolitical machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly human sagas.
A Puzzling Writer and the Soul of a Country
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the 1990s with biting satires on autocratic rule. Although many of his literary peers have encountered censorship or left the country, he still move millions of books. It poses a pressing question: Has the author evolved into an defender for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The account of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only path to escape prison was to join the government military. Following 14 years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may still put him in mortal danger.
A Acrimonious Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of ancient bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally rewriting the history of our species. However, some scholars was persuaded. The resulting intense argument has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Cult That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing scale of exploitation it had perpetrated.
The Leader's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
Numerous followers hoped that the prime minister would renew the Britain's commitment to human rights. But, the performance over the first year in office has been strikingly mixed.
Challenging a Nation's Identity
A film tracking a remorseful master criminal as she records unscrupulous clients with covert recording raises thorny queries: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the filmmaker's own motives?
A Man Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – it all. In their stickiest times, individuals rely on him to restore normalcy.
Will an Iconic Museum Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by debates over its collection, difficult finances and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Condition
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries been without an effective medical end – until possibly now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings permeate the highest levels of government.
The British Gentleman With a Fraudulent Side
With his sharp intellect and sterling credentials, it's understandable that affluent individuals entrusted him with their assets. Until they started to become suspicious.
The Small State That Became the Global Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a key actor on the world stage, striving to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. What are behind this ambitious role?
A Close-Up Look at a President Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron thrives on the world arena, where he positions himself as the statesman best placed to handle a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer joined him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Case
How did the child of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?
An End of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest letdown was not unexpected.
The Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was widespread shock. But the exact truth of the events is still partially shrouded.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's spent a full day in slime, 48 hours underground – and showered huge sums of money to selected participants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of daring brilliance?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's population is grappling with the reality that their islands may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent issue is: Where are they going to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then believed his situation could turn around. That hope was devastatingly wrong.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he may hold the answers to who wins the global AI race.
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