As we consider the past year, a selection of exceptional in-depth stories emerges. Such accounts explore complex subjects including geopolitical intrigue and historical revelations to deeply personal journeys.
The Mysterious Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country
An author became known in the nineties with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. Whereas many of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or fled the nation, he still sell vast numbers of books. This prompts a pertinent question: Has he become an supporter for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only route to escape prison was to enlist in the government forces. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers might now put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the story of our species. However, some scholars was persuaded. The subsequent heated controversy has taken over the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the disturbing extent of mistreatment it had carried out.
A Prime Minister's Unexpected Record on International Law
A great many supporters expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to international law. Yet, the record over the past year has been strikingly ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Identity
A film following a repentant con artist as she records unscrupulous clients with covert recording poses thorny queries: Is she really a new person, and what are the filmmaker's true motives?
A Person Who Cleans the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From crime scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has seen – and cleaned – everything. In their darkest moments, individuals turn to him to restore normalcy.
Can an Iconic Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by restitution claims, strained funding and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's leading museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Is it possible to restore its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an consistent medical end – up until possibly now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A militant extremist and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. Now, his ideology influence the uppermost levels of government.
The English Professional With a Fraudulent Secret
With his brilliant intellect and sterling credentials, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Until they started to become suspicious.
A Tiny Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Hub
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a significant actor on the world stage, attempting to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are driving this unprecedented endeavor?
An Inside View at a President Gearing Up for International Battle
Extremely disliked at home, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to manage a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Trial of a Tragic Story
What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
An Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Far From Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest letdown was not unexpected.
A Unethical 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When details about a medical experiment in the sixties became public, there was immense outrage. But the precise story of the events remains partially unclear.
The "Master" of the Online Economy
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away vast amounts of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever entertainment – or acts of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is grappling with the reality that their homeland may soon be submerged. The urgent issue is: Where are they going to relocate?
One Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then believed his life could turn around. I was devastatingly mistaken.
A International AI Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In 2020, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he may hold the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
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