While we look back on the past year, a curated list of exceptional in-depth pieces emerges. Such narratives explore intricate subjects ranging from political machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly human stories.
The Mysterious Author and the Soul of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the nineties with scathing critiques on power. While many of his writer peers have encountered suppression or left the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of books. This poses a key query: Has the author turned into an supporter for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Collaboration in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The account of a young man, who at 18 was informed that his only way to escape incarceration was to join the regime forces. After fourteen years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could still cost him his life.
A Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was proclaimed as completely rewriting the history of our species. Yet, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent heated controversy has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Cult That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was only a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the appalling scale of mistreatment it had carried out.
A Statesman's Puzzling Record on International Law
Many supporters expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the Britain's commitment to international law. But, the track record over the first year in office has been strikingly mixed.
Shattering a Nation's Self-Image
A documentary featuring a repentant con artist as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording raises difficult questions: Is she truly changed, and is the director's true motives?
A Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and restored – it all. In their most challenging hours, families rely on him to restore order.
Will an Iconic Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's premier cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it repair its legacy?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Torture of Severe Condition
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries been without an effective medical solution – until possibly now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings shape the uppermost echelons of the state.
An English Professional With a Fraudulent Side
With his brilliant mind and impeccable credentials, it's little wonder that affluent individuals trusted him with their assets. Until they began to get suspicious.
The Tiny Nation That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Hub
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a key force on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most intractable conflicts. What are behind this ambitious role?
A Inside View at a President Preparing for International Battle
Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader thrives on the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a particular former American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Global Development Organization: Far From Universal Regret
When actions were made to dismantle a major US aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.
The Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the sixties came to light, there was widespread outrage. But the precise truth of what happened remains partially contested.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's endured 24 hours in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed enormous sums of money to selected participants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or works of artistic genius?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is facing the prospect that their homeland may soon cease to exist. The critical issue is: Where are they going to go?
A Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Homelessness
When I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still hoped his life could turn around. That hope was tragically wrong.
The International AI Race and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he might hold the answers to which nation wins the global AI race.
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