Upon reflect on the year gone by, a curated list of remarkable in-depth pieces emerges. Such pieces explore complex themes including geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal stories.
A Puzzling Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country
An author became known in the 1990s with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. Although several of his literary peers have faced suppression or left the nation, he still move millions of books. It prompts a pertinent query: Has the author become an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only route to escape incarceration was to join the regime forces. Following 14 long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may now put him in mortal danger.
A Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically changing the history of our species. However, a faction was persuaded. The ensuing heated scholarly debate has consumed the careers of researchers ever since.
The UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the shocking breadth of mistreatment it had committed.
The Leader's Curious Stance on International Law
A great many followers expected that the prime minister would restore the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the performance over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Challenging a Country's Identity
A film following a remorseful master criminal as she records corrupt clients with covert recording poses thorny queries: Is this person genuinely reformed, and is the filmmaker's own methods?
A Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging moments, individuals turn to him to bring back normalcy.
Can an Famous Museum Survive an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by debates over its collection, difficult finances and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's number one cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Severe Condition
Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an consistent medical end – up until possibly now.
A Legacy of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology influence the uppermost levels of government.
The British Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his sharp mind and impeccable background, it's little wonder that high-net-worth individuals entrusted him with their assets. Until they started to get suspicious.
A Small Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly wealthy country has risen as a major force on the world stage, striving to broker peace in some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are behind this ambitious project?
An Close-Up Look at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle
Deeply unpopular at domestically, the French leader thrives on the world stage, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to handle a particular sitting US president. Seven years after their last encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Widespread Mourning
When actions were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was not unforeseen.
A Shocking 1960s Experiment on Indian Women
When details about a scientific study in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread outrage. But the exact nature of the procedures remains partially contested.
A "Mozart" of the Online Economy
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and distributed huge sums of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is facing the possibility that their homeland may soon cease to exist. The urgent issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Destitution
As I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. Even then thought his life might turn around. That hope was sadly wrong.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he might hold the secret to which nation prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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