As we look back on the previous year, a selection of exceptional in-depth stories shines. These accounts explore complex topics including geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply human stories.
The Puzzling Writer and the Conscience of a Country
An author rose to fame in the 1990s with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. Although numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the country, he still sell vast numbers of books. This prompts a pertinent query: Has he evolved into an supporter for the regime?
Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Horrific Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his only route to escape prison was to enlist in the government forces. Following fourteen years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now get him killed.
The Bitter Argument Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally rewriting the story of our species. However, a faction was convinced. The ensuing heated argument has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking scale of mistreatment it had carried out.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on International Law
Many voters expected that the prime minister would renew the the nation's dedication to international law. However, the track record over the past year has been notably inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Myth
A film tracking a repentant master criminal as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses thorny queries: Is this person really reformed, and what are the filmmaker's true methods?
The Man Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their stickiest times, families depend on him to bring back normalcy.
Will an Renowned Museum Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, strained funding and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's leading museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries been without an reliable medical solution – up until perhaps now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings shape the uppermost levels of the state.
The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen intellect and flawless background, it's understandable that affluent individuals trusted him with their wealth. Until they started to get uneasy.
A Tiny Nation That Became the World's Mediation Hub
An astonishingly rich country has transformed into a major actor on the world stage, striving to broker peace in some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are behind this unprecedented project?
A Inside View at a President Preparing for International Battle
Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to manage a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.
During the Trial of a Tragic Case
How did the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
The Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to wind down a major US aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.
The Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Women
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties became public, there was immense outrage. But the precise nature of what happened is still partially unclear.
The "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered enormous amounts of money to lucky participants. But are these stunts simply very clever clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's people is grappling with the possibility that their islands may in the near future be submerged. The critical question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered a young boy he was 13 and without a home. I still believed his life could change for the better. That hope was tragically misplaced.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Move
In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he could possess the secret to who wins the worldwide AI race.
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