Upon reflect on the year gone by, a assortment of outstanding in-depth pieces shines. Such pieces delve into intricate subjects ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal sagas.
A Puzzling Writer and the Conscience of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist gained prominence in the 1990s with scathing satires on authoritarianism. Although numerous of his writer peers have encountered censorship or fled the nation, he still move vast numbers of books. It poses a key question: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Civil War
The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole way out of incarceration was to join the government military. Following 14 years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may still cost him his life.
A Bitter Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The finding of fossilised bones in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the narrative of our human race. Yet, a faction was in agreement. The ensuing intense argument has consumed the careers of researchers ever since.
The British Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
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 expose the shocking scale of exploitation it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Curious Stance on Human Rights
A great many voters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the Britain's commitment to human rights. Yet, the track record over the first year in office has been notably ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Myth
A documentary following a remorseful con artist as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is she truly reformed, and what are the filmmaker's true methods?
The Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and cleaned – everything. In their stickiest hours, people depend on him to bring back peace.
Will an Iconic Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by restitution claims, precarious funding and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it salvage its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Torture of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries lacked an reliable treatment remedy – up until potentially now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Modern Government
A violent fanatic and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings permeate the uppermost echelons of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his brilliant intellect and impeccable credentials, it's no surprise that wealthy clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious.
A Small Nation That Became the World's Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has become a key force on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this ambitious endeavor?
A Inside View at a President Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, President Macron thrives on the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to manage a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Case
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
An End of a Major Development Organization: Not Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was far from unexpected.
The Unethical 1960s Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread shock. But the precise truth of the events is still somewhat shrouded.
A "Genius" of the Online Age
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground – and distributed vast amounts of cash to selected participants. But are these productions simply very clever entertainment – or works of artistic genius?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is grappling with the prospect that their home may soon become uninhabitable. The critical question is: Where are they going to go?
A Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution
As I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still believed his life could change for the better. That hope was devastatingly mistaken.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he may hold the answers to which nation prevails in the global AI race.
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