Upon reflect on the past year, a selection of outstanding in-depth pieces shines. These accounts probe multifaceted topics from geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply human journeys.
The Mysterious Writer and the Soul of a Nation
Victor Pelevin became known in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. Whereas several of his writer peers have faced censorship or fled the nation, he continues to sell millions of books. It prompts a pressing question: Has he turned into an defender for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Civil War
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only path to escape prison was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may still cost him his life.
A Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The finding of ancient remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally changing the narrative of our species. Yet, some scholars was in agreement. The subsequent bitter argument has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.
A British Religious Group That Operated in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the shocking breadth of abuse it had carried out.
A Statesman's Unexpected Stance on International Law
Numerous supporters expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's dedication to international law. However, the record over the past year has been notably mixed.
Breaking a Country's Self-Image
A film tracking a repentant master criminal as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras raises difficult questions: Is this person truly reformed, and is the filmmaker's own motives?
The Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest hours, people turn to him to restore order.
Will an Famous Museum Survive an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by colonial controversy, precarious finances and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it restore its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable medical end – up until potentially now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Modern Government
A militant fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology shape the very highest levels of government.
The English Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his brilliant intellect and flawless background, it's little wonder that wealthy clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious.
The Small State That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Capital
An extremely rich Gulf state has become a major actor on the international scene, working to solve some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are behind this unprecedented project?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely disliked at home, the French leader thrives on the world arena, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to manage a particular sitting American leader. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Case
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
An End of a Global Development Organization: Not Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was not unforeseen.
A Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a medical study in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread outrage. But the exact nature of the events is still partially shrouded.
The "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away enormous sums of money to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the prospect that their home may in the near future be submerged. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to go?
A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Destitution
When I met Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still hoped his situation might turn around. That hope was devastatingly misplaced.
The International AI Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he might hold the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
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