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While we look back on the previous year, a selection of outstanding in-depth pieces emerges. These accounts delve into multifaceted subjects including political machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly personal stories.

The Mysterious Author and the Conscience of a Country

A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with sharp satires on authoritarianism. Whereas several of his literary peers have faced censorship or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of copies. It raises a key question: Has he become an apologist for the Kremlin?

Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Civil War

The account of Mustafa, who at 18 was informed that his sole way out of incarceration was to join the regime military. After 14 years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now cost him his life.

The Fierce Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The finding of ancient bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was heralded as completely changing the story of our species. However, not everyone was persuaded. The ensuing heated argument has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

A UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight

One woman was just a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the shocking extent of mistreatment it had carried out.

A Statesman's Unexpected Stance on Human Rights

Numerous voters hoped that the prime minister would reaffirm the Britain's commitment to international law. However, the track record over the first year in office has been curiously ambiguous.

Breaking a Nation's Myth

A documentary featuring a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras raises difficult questions: Is she truly reformed, and is the director's true intentions?

A Person Who Cleans Britain's Darkest Stains

From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging moments, families turn to him to restore order.

Will an Renowned Museum Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?

Plagued by debates over its collection, precarious finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's premier cultural institution is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it salvage its standing?

Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy

Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has long lacked an effective medical end – until possibly now.

The Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Government

A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideas shape the uppermost levels of government.

The British Gentleman With a Crooked Side

With his sharp intellect and impeccable reputation, it's no surprise that affluent clients entrusted him with their wealth. Then they began to get uneasy.

The Tiny Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Center

An extremely rich Gulf state has transformed into a key actor on the world stage, striving to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented project?

An Inside Look at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle

Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader relishes the world stage, where he positions himself as the leader best placed to deal with a particular sitting US president. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.

Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Case

What led to the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with killing their two-week-old infant?

An End of a Major Development Organization: Not Universal Regret

When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was far from unforeseen.

A Shocking Mid-Century Study on Indian Women

When information about a medical study in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact nature of the events is still partially contested.

A "Mozart" of the Online Economy

He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground – and given away huge sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde brilliance?

Existence in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean

With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is facing the prospect that their homeland may soon cease to exist. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to go?

A Tragic Story of Childhood Destitution

As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his situation might turn around. I was devastatingly wrong.

A Global AI Competition and a Crucial Defection

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

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