As we look back on the past year, a assortment of remarkable long-form stories shines. Such pieces delve into complex topics from political intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply personal journeys.
A Mysterious Author and the Conscience of a Country
An author rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on authoritarianism. While many of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he still move vast numbers of copies. It poses a key question: Has the author turned into an apologist for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole way out of incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. After 14 long years, his past as one of Assad's fighters may now cost him his life.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally rewriting the history of our human race. But, a faction was persuaded. The subsequent heated argument has taken over the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Sect That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the shocking extent of exploitation it had perpetrated.
A Leader's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
Numerous voters anticipated that the prime minister would restore the the nation's commitment to human rights. But, the performance over the past year has been strikingly ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Identity
A film featuring a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with covert recording raises difficult questions: Is she genuinely reformed, and what are the director's own motives?
The Person Who Cleans the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and restored – everything. In their most challenging moments, individuals rely on him to bring back normalcy.
Can an Renowned Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by restitution claims, strained finances and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's number one museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to restore its reputation?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Torture of Severe Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has long lacked an consistent medical end – up until potentially now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideology influence the uppermost echelons of the state.
The British Gentleman With a Fraudulent Side
With his brilliant mind and flawless credentials, it's no surprise that wealthy clients trusted him with their assets. Then they started to become uneasy.
A Small State That Emerged as the Global Mediation Hub
An astonishingly wealthy country has transformed into a significant actor on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most complex disputes. Which factors are driving this unprecedented project?
An Inside View at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron thrives on the world arena, where he presents himself as the leader most equipped to handle a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Case
How did the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn baby?
An End of a Global Development Agency: Far From Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was far from unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When information about a medical experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread shock. But the precise story of the events remains partially unclear.
A "Genius" of the Attention Age
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and showered huge amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply very savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is confronting the reality that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: To where are they going to go?
One Sorrowful Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and without a home. I still thought his life might turn around. I was devastatingly misplaced.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he could possess the key to who wins the global technological rivalry.
The most impactful narratives
