Upon consider the previous year, a assortment of remarkable in-depth pieces shines. These pieces probe intricate subjects ranging from geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply human sagas.
A Puzzling Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
An author rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with biting commentaries on autocratic rule. Whereas numerous of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of copies. This poses a key question: Has the author become an apologist for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only route out of incarceration was to join the government military. Following fourteen years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might still get him killed.
A Fierce Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in 2001 was heralded as completely re-writing the history of our species. However, some scholars was in agreement. The ensuing heated scholarly debate has taken over the lives of scholars ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was just a child when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the disturbing extent of mistreatment it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Curious Record on Human Rights
Many voters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to human rights. Yet, the performance over the past year has been curiously inconsistent.
Challenging a Country's Identity
A film featuring a remorseful master criminal as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras poses complex queries: Is this person truly changed, and what are the filmmaker's true motives?
A Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – everything. In their darkest hours, families depend on him to restore order.
Will an Renowned Institution Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, precarious funding and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's premier museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it repair its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Severe Pregnancy
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries lacked an consistent medical remedy – until potentially now.
A Spectre of Extremism in Modern Politics
A violent extremist and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings permeate the highest echelons of government.
An English Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his keen mind and impeccable reputation, it's understandable that wealthy clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to become uneasy.
A Tiny State That Became the Global Diplomatic Capital
An incredibly rich country has risen as a key actor on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are behind this unprecedented role?
A Inside View at a Leader Preparing for Global Battle
Extremely unpopular at home, President Macron enjoys the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a certain sitting US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Major Development Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When actions were made to dismantle a major US aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was far from unforeseen.
The Unethical 1960s Study on South Asian Mothers
When details about a medical study in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread anxiety. But the full truth of what happened is still partially shrouded.
A "Genius" of the Online Economy
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered vast sums of money to lucky participants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is facing the possibility that their homeland may soon be submerged. The urgent question is: To where are they going to relocate?
A Tragic Case of Youth Destitution
When I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then thought his life might improve. That hope was sadly mistaken.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he could hold the key to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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