While we reflect on the previous year, a assortment of outstanding in-depth pieces shines. Such pieces explore complex topics ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human stories.
The Enigmatic Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the nineties with biting commentaries on authoritarianism. While several of his writer peers have faced censorship or left the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of books. This prompts a key query: Has he turned into an supporter for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his sole path to escape incarceration was to join the government forces. After 14 years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers may now put him in mortal danger.
A Acrimonious Argument Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally changing the narrative of our human race. Yet, some scholars was persuaded. The ensuing bitter scholarly debate has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the shocking breadth of abuse it had committed.
A Leader's Puzzling Record on International Law
A great many supporters hoped that the prime minister would reaffirm the Britain's dedication to human rights. However, the record over the first year in office has been notably ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Identity
A film following a repentant master criminal as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording poses complex questions: Is this person really changed, and what are the director's own intentions?
The Man Who Remediates the UK's Darkest Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – everything. In their most challenging times, families rely on him to bring back normalcy.
Will an Iconic Institution Endure an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by debates over its collection, strained funding and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's premier cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it restore its legacy?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Suffering of Extreme Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an reliable treatment solution – up until potentially now.
The Spectre of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A militant extremist and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideas shape the highest levels of government.
An English Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his sharp intellect and sterling background, it's little wonder that affluent clients entrusted him with their wealth. Until they started to get wary.
The Small State That Became the Global Mediation Hub
An extremely wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major player on the international scene, working to solve some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are behind this ambitious role?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader thrives on the world stage, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a particular former American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old infant?
The Dismantling of a Global Aid Organization: Not Universal Mourning
When actions 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 disappointment was not unforeseen.
A Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women
When details about a medical study in the sixties became public, there was widespread outrage. But the exact story of the events remains somewhat unclear.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and given away vast sums of money to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde genius?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is facing the possibility that their home may soon cease to exist. The critical question is: Where are they supposed to go?
One Sorrowful Case of Childhood Homelessness
As I met a young boy he was 13 and homeless. Even then hoped his situation could change for the better. That hope was devastatingly wrong.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection
In 2020, after spending decades in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he might hold the key to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.
The most impactful journalism
