Upon reflect on the past year, a selection of remarkable in-depth pieces emerges. Such narratives explore complex topics from political intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal stories.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Soul of a Country
An author gained prominence in the 1990s with sharp commentaries on power. While several of his writer peers have encountered suppression or left the nation, he still sell vast numbers of copies. This prompts a pertinent question: Has the author evolved into an supporter for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The account of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only path out of incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. After fourteen long years, his past as one of Assad's fighters may still put him in mortal danger.
A Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings
The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was hailed as fundamentally re-writing the narrative of our species. However, some scholars was convinced. The subsequent bitter controversy has taken over the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The British Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the appalling extent of abuse it had committed.
The Prime Minister's Curious Record on Human Rights
Numerous followers expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the Britain's commitment to international law. Yet, the track record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A film tracking a repentant con artist as she records corrupt clients with covert recording poses complex questions: Is she genuinely changed, and is the director's own methods?
A Person Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Stains
From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – it all. In their darkest hours, people depend on him to restore order.
Will an Famous Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the exposure of an internal thief, Britain's leading cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an effective medical remedy – up until possibly now.
The Legacy of Extremism in Modern Politics
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideology influence the uppermost echelons of government.
The English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant intellect and impeccable background, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to become uneasy.
The Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Hub
An extremely rich country has transformed into a major actor on the world stage, working to broker peace in some of the most long-standing disputes. What are fueling this unprecedented endeavor?
An Inside Look at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, President Macron enjoys the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a particular former American leader. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to 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?
An Dismantling of a Global Development Organization: Not Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was not unexpected.
A Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women
When information about a medical experiment in the sixties came to light, there was widespread outrage. But the exact story of the events remains partially contested.
A "Mozart" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and distributed vast amounts of cash to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of daring genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's people is facing the prospect that their home may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing question is: Where are they going to go?
One Tragic Story of Youth Destitution
When I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. Even then thought his situation could change for the better. That hope was sadly wrong.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Today, he could hold the answers to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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