While we consider the previous year, a curated list of outstanding in-depth pieces stands out. Such narratives probe intricate topics from political machinations and historical revelations to deeply human journeys.
A Puzzling Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the nineties with biting critiques on power. Whereas numerous of his writer peers have encountered censorship or left the country, he still sell vast numbers of books. It raises a pressing question: Has he turned into an apologist for the regime?
Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his only way to escape prison was to join the regime military. Following 14 long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might still cost him his life.
The Fierce Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was heralded as radically changing the history of our human race. However, not everyone was convinced. The subsequent intense controversy has taken over the lives of researchers ever since.
The UK Cult That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing scale of mistreatment it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Curious Stance on Human Rights
Many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the Britain's commitment to international law. But, the record over the past year has been notably inconsistent.
Breaking a Nation's Self-Image
A documentary tracking a remorseful con artist as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses thorny queries: Is this person really changed, and is the director's own intentions?
The Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and cleaned – everything. In their stickiest times, people rely on him to restore normalcy.
Can an Famous Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's premier museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Severe Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an effective medical solution – up until perhaps now.
The Legacy of Extremism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings permeate the very highest echelons of government.
The British Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his brilliant mind and flawless credentials, it's little wonder that high-net-worth individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they started to get wary.
The Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has risen as a major player on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this unprecedented endeavor?
A Inside View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, President Macron relishes the world arena, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to handle a certain former American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for battle.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
The Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Far From Widespread Mourning
When actions were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest letdown was not unforeseen.
A Shocking 1960s Study on Indian Women
When information about a medical experiment in the sixties became public, there was widespread shock. But the exact truth of the procedures remains somewhat unclear.
The "Master" of the Attention Economy
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground – and given away huge sums of cash to selected participants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of daring genius?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is facing the possibility that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: To where are they going to go?
A Tragic Case of Childhood Homelessness
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his life might change for the better. I was devastatingly wrong.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might possess the answers to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.
The finest narratives
