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Upon look back on the previous year, a selection of remarkable in-depth articles emerges. These accounts explore multifaceted topics from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly personal sagas.

The Enigmatic Author and the Conscience of a Nation

Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the 1990s with scathing satires on autocratic rule. Whereas many of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or left the country, he still sell millions of books. It raises a pertinent question: Has he become an apologist for the Kremlin?

Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Civil War

The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only way out of incarceration was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might now put him in mortal danger.

The Acrimonious Dispute Over Humanity's Ancient Origins

The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as completely re-writing the history of our species. But, a faction was convinced. The resulting heated controversy has taken over the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

The UK Sect That Operated in the Open

One woman was only a child when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the shocking extent of exploitation it had perpetrated.

A Statesman's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights

A great many supporters expected that the prime minister would restore the Britain's dedication to international law. But, the track record over the past year has been strikingly mixed.

Breaking a Country's Myth

A documentary featuring a remorseful master criminal as she records corrupt individuals with hidden cameras raises thorny questions: Is she really reformed, and is the director's own motives?

A Person Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Scenes

From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has seen – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest hours, families depend on him to restore normalcy.

Can an Famous Museum Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Burdened by restitution claims, precarious finances and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's number one museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it restore its reputation?

More Than "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Condition

Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an reliable medical end – up until potentially now.

The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Politics

A militant fanatic and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology shape the highest levels of government.

The English Professional With a Dishonest Side

With his sharp intellect and flawless background, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious.

A Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Hub

An incredibly rich country has risen as a key force on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. What are fueling this unprecedented role?

A Inside Look at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry

Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader thrives on the world arena, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to manage a particular sitting US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.

During the Court Case of a Tragic Story

What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her partner, charged with killing their newborn baby?

An Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Far From Universal Mourning

When actions were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was far from unexpected.

The Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women

When information about a medical study in the sixties came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the full story of the events remains somewhat contested.

A "Mozart" of the Attention Economy

He's endured a full day in slime, 48 hours underground – and given away huge amounts of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever entertainment – or acts of artistic genius?

Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas

With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the prospect that their islands may soon be submerged. The critical issue is: To where are they going to go?

One Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution

When I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still hoped his life could turn around. That hope was tragically wrong.

A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection

In 2020, after spending 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 technological rivalry.

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