Upon reflect on the previous year, a assortment of outstanding in-depth pieces shines. Such accounts explore complex themes including political intrigue and historical revelations to profoundly human stories.
The Puzzling Author and the Soul of a Country
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on authoritarianism. Although several of his literary peers have faced censorship or left the country, he still sell vast numbers of copies. It raises a pressing question: Has the author evolved into an defender for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. Following 14 long years, his former role as one of Assad's fighters could now get him killed.
The Bitter Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as radically rewriting the story of our human race. However, a faction was persuaded. The resulting heated scholarly debate has dominated the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The British Cult That Operated in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped uncover the disturbing extent of exploitation it had carried out.
The Statesman's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
Many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would restore the Britain's dedication to human rights. However, the record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Breaking a Country's Identity
A film featuring a remorseful con artist as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with covert recording asks complex questions: Is she really changed, and is the filmmaker's true methods?
The Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and cleaned – it all. In their most challenging hours, individuals turn to him to bring back peace.
Will an Renowned Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's number one museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it repair its reputation?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Extreme Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long been without an consistent medical end – until perhaps now.
A Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Today, his ideology shape the uppermost echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Fraudulent Secret
With his sharp mind and sterling background, it's understandable that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become wary.
The Tiny State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a major actor on the world stage, working to mediate some of the most complex disputes. What are behind this unprecedented endeavor?
A Inside View at a President Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, President Macron relishes the international arena, where he positions himself as the leader best placed to deal with a particular former US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old infant?
An Dismantling of a Major Development Organization: Far From Widespread Regret
When actions were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was not unexpected.
The Unethical 1960s Study on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the sixties became public, there was immense anxiety. But the exact truth of the events remains partially shrouded.
The "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and showered vast amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply very clever clickbait – or works of artistic genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the possibility that their home may soon be submerged. The critical question is: To where are they supposed to go?
One Tragic Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his situation could improve. That hope was devastatingly wrong.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might hold the secret to who prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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