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While we look back on the past year, a assortment of remarkable in-depth articles shines. These accounts probe intricate topics ranging from political intrigue and historical revelations to profoundly personal sagas.

A Enigmatic Author and the Moral Fabric of a Country

Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with sharp satires on power. Whereas several of his writer peers have encountered censorship or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of books. This raises a pressing question: Has he become an apologist for the regime?

Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict

The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his only way to escape incarceration was to join the government forces. Following fourteen years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could now get him killed.

The Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings

The discovery of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as completely changing the story of our species. However, a faction was persuaded. The resulting bitter controversy has dominated the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.

The British Cult That Operated in the Open

Philippa Barnes was just a child when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing scale of mistreatment it had carried out.

A Statesman's Puzzling Stance on International Law

A great many followers hoped that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to international law. But, the record over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.

Shattering a Country's Identity

A film tracking a repentant fraudster as she sets up corrupt individuals with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the director's own intentions?

The Man Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Stains

From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest hours, families rely on him to bring back normalcy.

Will an Famous Museum Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?

Plagued by debates over its collection, strained finances and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it repair its legacy?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Torture of Extreme Pregnancy

Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an reliable medical end – until perhaps now.

The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Government

A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideology permeate the very highest levels of government.

An English Professional With a Fraudulent Side

With his brilliant mind and impeccable reputation, it's no surprise that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their assets. Until they began to become wary.

The Tiny Nation That Became the Global Mediation Center

An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has become a key force on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most complex disputes. What are fueling this ambitious endeavor?

An Close-Up Look at a President Preparing for International Summitry

Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader relishes the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to manage a particular former US president. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.

Inside the Trial of a Tragic Case

How did the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby?

An Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning

When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest letdown was far from unexpected.

The Unethical Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women

When information about a scientific study in the sixties were revealed, there was immense anxiety. But the full nature of what happened remains somewhat shrouded.

A "Mozart" of the Online Age

He's spent a full day in slime, 48 hours underground – and showered enormous sums of money to selected contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever clickbait – or works of artistic brilliance?

Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean

With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the reality that their islands may soon be submerged. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?

A Tragic Case of Youth Homelessness

When I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. Even then thought his life could change for the better. That hope was devastatingly wrong.

A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection

In 2020, after spending decades in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he may hold the secret to who prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.

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