Upon look back on the previous year, a selection of remarkable in-depth stories shines. These accounts delve into multifaceted subjects from political intrigue and scientific discoveries to deeply human sagas.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation
An author became known in the 1990s with biting critiques on authoritarianism. While several of his writer contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the country, he continues to move millions of copies. This poses a key query: Has the author evolved into an defender for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole way out of prison was to enlist in the government military. After 14 years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now get him killed.
The Fierce Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally rewriting the story of our human race. But, a faction was persuaded. The ensuing intense argument has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was just a child when her household became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the appalling extent of abuse it had perpetrated.
The Statesman's Unexpected Stance on International Law
Many voters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the Britain's dedication to international law. But, the record over the first year in office has been strikingly inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Self-Image
A documentary tracking a remorseful master criminal as she records corrupt clients with covert recording poses difficult queries: Is this person truly reformed, and is the director's own motives?
A Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Difficult Stains
From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their stickiest times, people rely on him to restore normalcy.
Can an Famous Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by restitution claims, difficult finances and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's leading cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it restore its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has long lacked an consistent treatment remedy – until perhaps now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideology shape the uppermost echelons of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen intellect and flawless credentials, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to become suspicious.
The Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Center
An incredibly rich Gulf state has transformed into a significant force on the world stage, working to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are driving this unprecedented project?
An Inside View at a President Preparing for Global Battle
Extremely unpopular at home, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a particular former US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Trial of a Tragic Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their newborn infant?
An End of a Global Development Organization: Not Universal Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was far from unforeseen.
The Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the full truth of the procedures remains partially shrouded.
The "Master" of the Online Age
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and given away vast sums of money to selected participants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the possibility that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to go?
A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Destitution
When I met a young boy he was 13 and without a home. Even then believed his life could improve. I was sadly wrong.
The Global AI Competition and a Key Move
In the recent past, after living decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he could possess the key to who prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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