🔗 Share this article

Upon look back on the previous year, a curated list of remarkable in-depth pieces emerges. These accounts delve into complex themes ranging from geopolitical intrigue and historical revelations to deeply human journeys.

The Enigmatic Writer and the Conscience of a Country

An author became known in the nineties with biting satires on authoritarianism. While numerous of his literary peers have encountered suppression or fled the country, he still move vast numbers of copies. This poses a pressing query: Has the author become an apologist for the establishment?

Survival and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War

The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his sole path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. After 14 years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could now get him killed.

A Bitter Feud Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings

The discovery of ancient remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically changing the story of our human race. However, a faction was in agreement. The resulting intense controversy has dominated the lives of scholars ever since.

The UK Cult That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was just a child when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the appalling breadth of exploitation it had carried out.

The Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights

Many supporters anticipated that the prime minister would reaffirm the UK's dedication to international law. Yet, the record over the first year in office has been notably ambiguous.

Shattering a Country's Myth

A documentary featuring a repentant fraudster as she records corrupt clients with covert recording asks difficult queries: Is she genuinely changed, and is the director's true methods?

A Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes

From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and cleaned – everything. In their most challenging times, individuals turn to him to restore order.

Will an Famous Institution Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?

Burdened by restitution claims, precarious finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to repair its legacy?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Extreme Pregnancy

Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has long lacked an effective treatment remedy – until perhaps now.

A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics

A militant fanatic and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas permeate the uppermost echelons of the state.

The English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret

With his keen mind and sterling reputation, it's understandable that wealthy clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to get suspicious.

A Small State That Became the Global Mediation Hub

An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a significant actor on the international scene, striving to solve some of the most intractable disputes. What are behind this unprecedented project?

A Inside View at a President Gearing Up for International Battle

Extremely disliked at home, the French leader thrives on the international stage, where he positions himself as the statesman most equipped to deal with a particular former US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the summit.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story

What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?

An End of a Global Aid Organization: Not Universal Regret

When efforts were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was not unexpected.

A Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers

When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was immense anxiety. But the full truth of what happened remains somewhat shrouded.

A "Genius" of the Attention Economy

He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and distributed enormous amounts of money to lucky participants. But are these productions simply very clever entertainment – or works of daring brilliance?

Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas

With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's population is grappling with the possibility that their homeland may soon cease to exist. The critical question is: Where are they supposed to go?

One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution

When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then believed his situation could turn around. I was sadly misplaced.

The Global AI Race and a Crucial Defection

In 2020, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he could possess the answers to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.

The finest stories