As we consider the previous year, a curated list of exceptional in-depth pieces stands out. These pieces probe complex themes including geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to deeply human sagas.
The Puzzling Author and the Conscience of a Nation
An author became known in the nineties with sharp commentaries on power. Whereas several of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of copies. It raises a pertinent query: Has he become an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his only way to escape prison was to join the regime forces. After 14 years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could now cost him his life.
The Fierce Dispute Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings
The finding of ancient remains in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically re-writing the history of our human race. However, some scholars was persuaded. The subsequent bitter argument has taken over the careers of researchers ever since.
A UK Cult That Operated in the Open
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the appalling extent of abuse it had carried out.
The Prime Minister's Curious Record on International Law
A great many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would restore the the nation's dedication to international law. However, the performance over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Challenging a Country's Self-Image
A documentary tracking a remorseful con artist as she sets up unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses thorny questions: Is this person really changed, and is the director's own intentions?
A Person Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging times, people turn to him to restore normalcy.
Will an Iconic Museum Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, difficult finances and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's leading museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to restore its standing?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Severe Condition
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable treatment remedy – until potentially now.
The Spectre of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah 35 years ago. Now, his ideology influence the very highest echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Fraudulent Secret
With his brilliant intellect and flawless credentials, it's no surprise that affluent individuals trusted him with their assets. Then they began to become uneasy.
The Small State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital
An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major player on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are behind this ambitious endeavor?
A Inside Look at a Leader Preparing for International Summitry
Extremely unpopular at home, President Macron relishes the international arena, where he positions himself as the statesman best placed to manage a particular former US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?
The End of a Major Aid Agency: Far From Universal Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was far from unexpected.
The Shocking 1960s Experiment on Indian Women
When details about a scientific experiment in the 1960s became public, there was immense outrage. But the exact nature of the procedures remains partially contested.
A "Master" of the Attention Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered enormous amounts of money to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of daring genius?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is facing the reality that their islands may soon be submerged. The urgent question is: To where are they going to relocate?
A Sorrowful Case of Childhood Destitution
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then believed his situation might turn around. I was devastatingly mistaken.
The International AI Race and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he could hold the answers to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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