Upon reflect on the year gone by, a selection of outstanding in-depth pieces emerges. These pieces explore complex themes including political intrigue and historical revelations to profoundly personal stories.
A Mysterious Author and the Moral Fabric of a Country
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the nineties with biting commentaries on authoritarianism. Although numerous of his writer peers have faced suppression or left the country, he still sell vast numbers of copies. It prompts a pertinent question: Has the author evolved into an defender for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Conflict
The account of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only way to escape prison was to join the regime military. Following fourteen years, his history as one of Assad's fighters could still get him killed.
The Fierce Feud Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Chadian desert in 2001 was hailed as fundamentally changing the history of our human race. Yet, a faction was convinced. The subsequent intense scholarly debate has dominated the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Sect That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the shocking scale of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
The Leader's Curious Stance on Human Rights
Many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to human rights. But, the record over the first year in office has been strikingly mixed.
Breaking a Country's Identity
A film following a remorseful master criminal as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with covert recording poses difficult questions: Is she genuinely reformed, and what are the filmmaker's true methods?
A Person Who Cleans the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and cleaned – it all. In their darkest hours, families depend on him to bring back normalcy.
Will an Famous Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, precarious finances and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's number one cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has long been without an effective treatment solution – until possibly now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Government
A violent extremist and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings shape the highest echelons of the state.
An English Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his brilliant mind and sterling reputation, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to become uneasy.
A Small Nation That Became the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a major actor on the world stage, working to broker peace in some of the most complex disputes. What are driving this ambitious project?
An Close-Up Look at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely disliked at home, President Macron thrives on the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a particular former US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was far from unexpected.
The Shocking 1960s Experiment on Indian Women
When information about a medical study in the 1960s became public, there was immense shock. But the precise story of what happened remains partially shrouded.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away enormous amounts of money to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or works of artistic brilliance?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the prospect that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
One Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution
When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still hoped his life might improve. That hope was tragically wrong.
The Global AI Competition and a Crucial Defection
In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he may hold the answers to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
The best narratives
