While we consider the previous year, a curated list of remarkable in-depth pieces shines. These pieces probe complex topics ranging from political intrigue and historical discoveries to profoundly personal sagas.
The Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on power. While several of his literary peers have encountered censorship or fled the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of copies. It raises a key query: Has he become an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Civil War
The account of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only path out of incarceration was to join the regime forces. Following 14 long years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers could now cost him his life.
A Fierce Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was proclaimed as fundamentally rewriting the story of our species. However, some scholars was in agreement. The subsequent intense controversy has taken over the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Sect That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was just a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the shocking scale of exploitation it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Curious Stance on Human Rights
Numerous voters anticipated that the prime minister would restore the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the track record over the past year has been notably mixed.
Shattering a Country's Self-Image
A documentary tracking a remorseful fraudster as she records unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras raises difficult queries: Is this person truly reformed, and is the director's own intentions?
The Person Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Stains
From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and restored – it all. In their stickiest hours, people rely on him to bring back normalcy.
Will an Renowned Museum Endure an "Perfect Storm"?
Burdened by restitution claims, precarious finances and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's premier cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Is it possible to restore its legacy?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Suffering of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an reliable medical end – up until potentially now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah 35 years ago. Now, his ideology influence the very highest echelons of the state.
The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen intellect and sterling background, it's understandable that affluent clients trusted him with their fortunes. Until they started to become wary.
A Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Hub
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a significant actor on the world stage, working to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious role?
An Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely unpopular at home, the French leader enjoys the international arena, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to manage a particular former US president. Seven years after their previous encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her partner, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
An Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was not unforeseen.
A Shocking 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the precise story of the events remains somewhat contested.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's spent a full day in slime, two days underground – and showered huge sums of money to lucky participants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the possibility that their islands may soon cease to exist. The pressing issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Youth Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. I still believed his life could turn around. That hope was sadly mistaken.
A International AI Race and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he could hold the answers to who wins the worldwide AI race.
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