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As we consider the past year, a selection of outstanding in-depth pieces emerges. Such accounts delve into complex themes including political intrigue and historical discoveries to profoundly human sagas.

The Puzzling Author and the Conscience of a Country

An author became known in the post-Soviet era with biting satires on autocratic rule. Although many of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he continues to move millions of copies. This poses a pressing question: Has he evolved into an defender for the regime?

Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Civil War

The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole way to escape prison was to join the government forces. After 14 years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers could still get him killed.

The Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings

The finding of ancient bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was proclaimed as radically rewriting the story of our human race. However, a faction was convinced. The subsequent bitter scholarly debate has consumed the careers of researchers ever since.

The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was just a child when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the appalling extent of abuse it had committed.

The Statesman's Unexpected Stance on Human Rights

Many supporters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's commitment to international law. But, the performance over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.

Breaking a Nation's Myth

A film featuring a remorseful fraudster as she records corrupt individuals with hidden cameras poses complex questions: Is this person really changed, and what are the director's true methods?

A Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Stains

From crime scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has seen – and dealt with – it all. In their stickiest hours, individuals turn to him to restore peace.

Can an Famous Institution Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?

Burdened by restitution claims, strained finances and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's leading museum is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its reputation?

Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Extreme Condition

Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long been without an reliable medical end – up until perhaps now.

The Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Government

A violent fanatic and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideas influence the uppermost levels of the state.

The English Professional With a Crooked Secret

With his sharp mind and impeccable credentials, it's little wonder that affluent individuals trusted him with their assets. Until they began to get suspicious.

The Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Center

An extremely wealthy Gulf state has risen as a key force on the international scene, attempting to solve some of the most intractable disputes. Which factors are driving this ambitious endeavor?

An Inside Look at a Leader Preparing for International Summitry

Deeply unpopular at home, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a certain sitting US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the summit.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story

What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?

An End of a Global Aid Agency: Not Widespread Regret

When efforts were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unexpected.

The Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers

When details about a scientific experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was immense shock. But the full nature of the procedures is still partially contested.

The "Master" of the Online Economy

He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and given away huge sums of money to selected contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever entertainment – or works of artistic brilliance?

Life in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean

With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is confronting the prospect that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent issue is: To where are they supposed to go?

A Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Destitution

When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still believed his life could turn around. That hope was tragically wrong.

A International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Move

In 2020, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he might possess the secret to who wins the global AI race.

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