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While we look back on the year gone by, a selection of outstanding in-depth stories stands out. Such pieces delve into multifaceted subjects from political machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly human stories.

The Mysterious Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country

An author rose to fame in the 1990s with biting satires on authoritarianism. While several of his literary peers have faced censorship or left the country, he still move millions of books. This raises a pressing question: Has the author become an defender for the establishment?

Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Horrific Civil War

The story of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only route to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After fourteen years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might now get him killed.

A Acrimonious Feud Over Our Earliest Origins

The unearthing of ancient bones in the Djurab desert in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally changing the history of our species. However, not everyone was persuaded. The ensuing intense argument has taken over the lives of researchers ever since.

A UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight

One woman was only a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an adult, she helped uncover the disturbing scale of mistreatment it had committed.

The Statesman's Unexpected Record on International Law

Many supporters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's commitment to international law. However, the track record over the past year has been strikingly mixed.

Challenging a Nation's Myth

A documentary featuring a remorseful master criminal as she sets up corrupt clients with covert recording asks complex questions: Is this person genuinely reformed, and is the filmmaker's true motives?

A Person Who Decontaminates Britain's Darkest Stains

From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their stickiest times, people turn to him to restore peace.

Will an Renowned Institution Endure an "Perfect Storm"?

Burdened by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's premier museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it salvage its reputation?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Torture of Extreme Pregnancy

Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an consistent treatment remedy – up until potentially now.

A Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Government

A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah 35 years ago. Today, his teachings shape the highest echelons of the state.

The British Gentleman With a Fraudulent Side

With his keen mind and impeccable reputation, it's understandable that affluent clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to become uneasy.

A Small Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Capital

An extremely rich Gulf state has transformed into a key player on the world stage, striving to solve some of the most complex disputes. What are behind this unprecedented endeavor?

An Close-Up Look at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle

Deeply disliked at home, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a certain former US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.

During the Trial of a Tragic Story

What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?

The Dismantling of a Major Aid Agency: Not Universal Regret

When actions 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 most recent letdown was not unexpected.

The Shocking Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women

When details about a medical experiment in the sixties became public, there was immense shock. But the exact nature of the procedures remains partially unclear.

A "Mozart" of the Attention Economy

He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground – and given away enormous amounts of cash to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or acts of avant garde brilliance?

Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas

With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is confronting the possibility that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent issue is: To where are they supposed to go?

A Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution

When I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his life might improve. That hope was devastatingly mistaken.

A Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Move

In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he could hold the answers to which nation prevails in the global technological rivalry.

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