While we reflect on the previous year, a selection of remarkable in-depth articles emerges. Such narratives delve into multifaceted topics ranging from political intrigue and historical revelations to deeply human sagas.
A Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the nineties with sharp commentaries on authoritarianism. Although numerous of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the country, he still sell millions of copies. It prompts a pertinent question: Has the author turned into an defender for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole way to escape incarceration was to join the regime forces. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might now put him in mortal danger.
The Acrimonious Argument Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally changing the history of our species. Yet, not everyone was persuaded. The resulting heated scholarly debate has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.
A British Sect That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a child when her household became part of the a religious community. As an adult, she helped reveal the appalling extent of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
The Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
A great many voters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the Britain's dedication to international law. But, the performance over the past year has been curiously inconsistent.
Shattering a Country's Identity
A documentary featuring a remorseful fraudster as she records unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras poses thorny queries: Is she genuinely reformed, and what are the filmmaker's true motives?
A Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and restored – everything. In their most challenging moments, people depend on him to restore peace.
Will an Iconic Museum Endure an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by restitution claims, strained finances and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's premier cultural institution is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Extreme Pregnancy
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries lacked an effective treatment solution – up until possibly now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Now, his ideology permeate the highest echelons of the state.
An British Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his keen mind and impeccable reputation, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get wary.
A Tiny Nation That Became the Global Mediation Capital
An incredibly wealthy country has become a major actor on the international scene, working to mediate some of the most complex disputes. What are fueling this unprecedented project?
An Close-Up Look at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron thrives on the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to manage a particular former US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
The End of a Global Aid Organization: Far From Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest letdown was not unforeseen.
A Shocking Mid-Century Study on Indian Women
When information about a medical experiment in the sixties became public, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact story of the procedures remains somewhat shrouded.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed huge sums of money to lucky participants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is confronting the prospect that their islands may in the near future be submerged. The critical issue is: To where are they going to go?
A Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and without a home. Even then believed his life might improve. That hope was devastatingly wrong.
The Global AI Race and a Pivotal Defection
In 2020, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he may hold the key to who prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
The most impactful stories
