While we reflect on the year gone by, a selection of outstanding long-form stories emerges. These pieces delve into intricate themes ranging from political machinations and historical revelations to profoundly personal sagas.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Soul of a Country
An author became known in the nineties with scathing commentaries on authoritarianism. Although many of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the country, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. It prompts a pressing query: Has the author turned into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Collaboration in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only way out of incarceration was to join the government forces. Following 14 years, his history as one of Assad's fighters could now get him killed.
A Acrimonious Feud Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically rewriting the narrative of our human race. However, not everyone was persuaded. The ensuing intense controversy has dominated the careers of scholars ever since.
A UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the appalling scale of abuse it had committed.
The Leader's Puzzling Record on International Law
Many voters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to human rights. But, the record over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A documentary featuring a repentant master criminal as she records unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras asks thorny questions: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the director's true intentions?
A Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest times, people depend on him to bring back peace.
Will an Famous Museum Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by debates over its collection, difficult funding and the exposure of an internal thief, Britain's premier museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Can it salvage its legacy?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has long lacked an consistent medical end – up until possibly now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast 35 years ago. Now, his ideas shape the highest echelons of government.
An British Gentleman With a Dishonest Secret
With his sharp mind and flawless background, it's no surprise that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their wealth. Then they started to become wary.
A Tiny Nation That Became the World's Mediation Center
An extremely rich country has become a key force on the world stage, striving to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are driving this ambitious project?
An Close-Up Look at a President Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, President Macron thrives on the international arena, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to deal with a particular former US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with killing their newborn baby?
The End of a Global Development Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was not unforeseen.
The Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Women
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact truth of what happened remains partially unclear.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in slime, two days buried alive – and given away enormous sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of artistic brilliance?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's people is confronting the possibility that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent issue is: Where are they going to relocate?
One Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and homeless. I still thought his life might improve. That hope was sadly misplaced.
The International AI Competition and a Crucial Move
In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he might hold the key to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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