As we consider the past year, a curated list of remarkable in-depth stories emerges. Such pieces explore complex themes from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply personal sagas.
A Mysterious Writer and the Conscience of a Nation
An author rose to fame in the 1990s with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. Whereas numerous of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the country, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. It prompts a pertinent query: Has the author become an apologist for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Civil War
The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was informed that his sole path out of incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After 14 years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may still get him killed.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The finding of ancient bones in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally changing the story of our species. Yet, a faction was in agreement. The ensuing heated controversy has dominated the lives of researchers ever since.
The UK Cult That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing scale of exploitation it had carried out.
A Prime Minister's Unexpected Stance on International Law
A great many followers anticipated that the prime minister would renew the UK's commitment to international law. Yet, the performance over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Self-Image
A film tracking a remorseful con artist as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras asks complex queries: Is this person really reformed, and is the filmmaker's own motives?
The Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and restored – everything. In their most challenging moments, people depend on him to bring back normalcy.
Will an Renowned Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, difficult finances and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it salvage its legacy?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Torture of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long lacked an reliable medical end – until potentially now.
The Legacy of Extremism in Modern Politics
A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas shape the highest echelons of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Side
With his keen mind and sterling background, it's understandable that affluent clients trusted him with their wealth. Until they started to get wary.
A Small State That Emerged as the Global Mediation Capital
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has become a major force on the world stage, working to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are driving this ambitious role?
A Close-Up Look at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, President Macron relishes the international arena, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to deal with a particular sitting US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he readied himself for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?
The Dismantling of a Global Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was not unforeseen.
A Shocking 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the sixties came to light, there was immense anxiety. But the precise truth of the events is still partially shrouded.
A "Mozart" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and distributed huge sums of cash to selected participants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or works of daring brilliance?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is facing the reality that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
A Sorrowful Story of Childhood Homelessness
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. Even then thought his situation might improve. I was sadly wrong.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he may hold the secret to who wins the global technological rivalry.
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