While we consider the previous year, a selection of exceptional in-depth pieces emerges. Such narratives probe intricate topics from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly personal stories.
A Enigmatic Writer and the Soul of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist became known in the post-Soviet era with biting commentaries on power. Although numerous of his writer peers have encountered censorship or left the country, he still sell millions of books. This poses a key query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his sole path out of incarceration was to join the government forces. Following 14 long years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers might now get him killed.
The Acrimonious Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally rewriting the narrative of our human race. However, some scholars was convinced. The ensuing intense scholarly debate has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the appalling extent of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
The Leader's Curious Record on International Law
A great many supporters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would renew the the nation's commitment to human rights. Yet, the performance over the first year in office has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Myth
A documentary following a remorseful master criminal as she records corrupt clients with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is this person truly reformed, and is the filmmaker's true intentions?
The Man Who Cleans the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – everything. In their most challenging hours, people rely on him to bring back order.
Will an Famous Institution Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by colonial controversy, strained finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Severe Condition
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an effective treatment end – until possibly now.
A Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics
A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings shape the very highest levels of the state.
An British Gentleman With a Dishonest Secret
With his brilliant intellect and impeccable background, it's understandable that wealthy clients trusted him with their assets. Until they started to become wary.
A Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Hub
An astonishingly wealthy country has transformed into a key actor on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. What are driving this ambitious project?
An Inside View at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely disliked at home, President Macron thrives on the international arena, where he presents himself as the leader most equipped to manage a particular former US president. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?
An End of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was not unforeseen.
The Shocking Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact story of what happened is still partially contested.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered enormous amounts of cash to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or acts of daring brilliance?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the prospect that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to go?
A Sorrowful Case of Childhood Homelessness
As I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his situation could change for the better. That hope was sadly wrong.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Race 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 could hold the answers to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
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