While we reflect on the previous year, a selection of remarkable in-depth stories emerges. These pieces explore intricate subjects from geopolitical machinations and historical revelations to profoundly human stories.
The Enigmatic Author and the Conscience of a Nation
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the 1990s with sharp satires on power. Whereas numerous of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the country, he continues to sell millions of copies. This poses a key query: Has he evolved into an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Conflict
The account of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only way out of incarceration was to join the government forces. After 14 long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers could now cost him his life.
A Acrimonious Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was hailed as fundamentally rewriting the history of our species. However, a faction was convinced. The subsequent heated controversy has consumed the careers of researchers ever since.
The British Religious Group That Operated in the Open
One woman was only a child when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the shocking breadth of mistreatment it had carried out.
The Statesman's Curious Stance on International Law
Numerous followers anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would renew the Britain's dedication to human rights. But, the record over the first year in office has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Identity
A film tracking a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares corrupt individuals with covert recording raises complex questions: Is she genuinely a new person, and is the director's own motives?
The Man Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and restored – everything. In their most challenging hours, individuals rely on him to bring back order.
Can an Famous Museum Endure an "Perfect Storm"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, precarious finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's number one museum is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries lacked an consistent medical end – until perhaps now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his teachings permeate the uppermost levels of government.
The British Professional With a Fraudulent Side
With his brilliant intellect and flawless reputation, it's little wonder that wealthy clients trusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to become wary.
A Tiny State That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Center
An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a major player on the international scene, attempting to solve some of the most complex conflicts. What are behind this unprecedented role?
An Inside View at a President Preparing for Global Battle
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Major Development Organization: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest disappointment was not unforeseen.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When information about a medical experiment in the 1960s became public, there was widespread outrage. But the exact truth of the procedures is still somewhat shrouded.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and given away huge amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or works of daring genius?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's people is confronting the reality that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The critical issue is: To where are they going to go?
One Heartbreaking Case of Youth Destitution
As I met Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still believed his situation could improve. I was sadly wrong.
The Global AI Competition and a Crucial Move
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he could possess the key to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.
The most impactful narratives
