Upon look back on the past year, a selection of exceptional in-depth stories emerges. Such accounts explore multifaceted topics including geopolitical machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly personal stories.
A Puzzling Author and the Soul of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the nineties with sharp satires on power. Whereas many of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of books. It poses a pertinent query: Has the author become an supporter for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Civil War
The account of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole way out of prison was to join the regime military. Following 14 years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could still put him in mortal danger.
The Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient remains in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was hailed as radically rewriting the narrative of our human race. However, some scholars was persuaded. The subsequent bitter scholarly debate has dominated the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the shocking breadth of mistreatment it had carried out.
The Statesman's Curious Stance on International Law
A great many supporters expected that the prime minister would restore the the nation's commitment to international law. Yet, the track record over the past year has been notably mixed.
Breaking a Country's Myth
A documentary featuring a repentant fraudster as she sets up corrupt clients with covert recording raises difficult questions: Is she truly reformed, and is the filmmaker's own intentions?
The Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – everything. In their stickiest times, people depend on him to bring back order.
Can an Famous Institution Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's premier cultural institution is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries been without an reliable treatment solution – up until possibly now.
A Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics
A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Today, his teachings permeate the very highest levels of government.
The English Professional With a Crooked Side
With his keen mind and impeccable reputation, it's no surprise that wealthy clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to become wary.
The Tiny State That Became the World's Diplomatic Center
An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a significant player on the international scene, working to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. What are behind this ambitious endeavor?
An Close-Up View at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Extremely unpopular at home, President Macron relishes the world arena, where he positions himself as the leader best placed to manage a particular former US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the child of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with killing their newborn infant?
The End of a Global Aid Organization: Not Universal Mourning
When actions were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was far from unforeseen.
A Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When information about a medical experiment in the sixties became public, there was immense anxiety. But the precise story of the events is still somewhat unclear.
The "Genius" of the Online Age
He's endured a full day in slime, two days underground – and distributed vast amounts of cash to selected participants. But are these productions simply very savvy entertainment – or works of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the possibility that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing question is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
One Tragic Story of Youth Destitution
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his situation might turn around. I was sadly misplaced.
The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move
In 2020, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he could hold the key to which nation wins the worldwide technological rivalry.
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