Upon reflect on the year gone by, a curated list of remarkable in-depth stories emerges. These accounts delve into intricate topics ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal sagas.
A Puzzling Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
Victor Pelevin became known in the 1990s with biting commentaries on power. While several of his writer peers have faced suppression or fled the country, he continues to move millions of copies. This prompts a key query: Has he turned into an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was informed that his sole route to escape incarceration was to join the government military. Following fourteen long years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers might now get him killed.
A Acrimonious Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally rewriting the story of our human race. However, some scholars was in agreement. The resulting heated controversy has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household became part of the a religious community. As an adult, she helped reveal the disturbing extent of abuse it had carried out.
A Statesman's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
A great many voters expected that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to international law. Yet, the record over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Shattering a Nation's Self-Image
A film tracking a repentant con artist as she sets up corrupt clients with covert recording asks complex questions: Is this person truly a new person, and is the director's own motives?
The Person Who Cleans the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their most challenging hours, people depend on him to restore normalcy.
Will an Famous Institution Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by debates over its collection, difficult finances and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's number one museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Is it possible to restore its legacy?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long lacked an consistent medical solution – up until potentially now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings shape the highest echelons of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Dishonest Secret
With his sharp mind and flawless reputation, it's little wonder that wealthy individuals trusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to get wary.
A Small Nation That Became the Global Mediation Center
An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has become a significant actor on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most complex disputes. What are driving this ambitious role?
A Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely disliked at home, the French leader enjoys the world arena, where he positions himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a certain former American leader. 7 years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Case
How did the child of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby?
The End of a Global Aid Organization: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was not unexpected.
A Shocking 1960s Experiment on Indian Mothers
When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the precise truth of the procedures is still partially unclear.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away vast sums of cash to selected participants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever entertainment – or acts of avant garde genius?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the possibility that their home may in the near future become uninhabitable. The pressing question is: Where are they supposed to go?
A Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his life might improve. I was tragically misplaced.
The International AI Race and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he might hold the key to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.
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