While we consider the year gone by, a assortment of exceptional in-depth stories emerges. Such pieces explore multifaceted subjects from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly human stories.
The Puzzling Author and the Conscience of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist became known in the 1990s with sharp satires on authoritarianism. Whereas several of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of copies. This prompts a pertinent question: Has the author become an supporter for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his sole way out of incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. Following 14 long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might now put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The finding of ancient bones in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was heralded as radically changing the history of our species. But, not everyone was convinced. The resulting intense controversy has dominated the careers of researchers ever since.
A UK Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was just a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking extent of mistreatment it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Curious Record on International Law
A great many voters hoped that the prime minister would renew the the nation's dedication to international law. But, the performance over the past year has been curiously inconsistent.
Shattering a Nation's Myth
A documentary featuring a remorseful master criminal as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording poses thorny questions: Is this person truly a new person, and is the filmmaker's true motives?
The Man Who Remediates Britain's Darkest Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and cleaned – everything. In their most challenging moments, people depend on him to restore peace.
Can an Famous Museum Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by restitution claims, strained finances and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's number one cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries been without an effective medical end – up until possibly now.
A Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A militant fanatic and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings permeate the very highest levels of government.
An British Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant intellect and sterling background, it's understandable that affluent clients entrusted him with their assets. Until they started to become suspicious.
A Small State That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a significant actor on the international scene, working to solve some of the most intractable disputes. Which factors are behind this unprecedented project?
A Inside Look at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a certain sitting US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for battle.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old infant?
The Dismantling of a Global Aid Organization: Not Universal Regret
When actions were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Experiment on Indian Women
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact story of the events remains partially contested.
A "Genius" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed vast sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's people is facing the prospect that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent question is: Where are they going to relocate?
A Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then believed his life might improve. That hope was sadly wrong.
The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Move
In 2020, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Today, he may hold the secret to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.
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