As we consider the previous year, a selection of exceptional long-form pieces stands out. Such accounts delve into multifaceted subjects ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to deeply personal stories.
A Mysterious Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the nineties with sharp commentaries on authoritarianism. Whereas numerous of his writer peers have encountered censorship or fled the nation, he continues to move millions of books. This prompts a pertinent query: Has he evolved into an defender for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Civil War
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his only route to escape prison was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could still cost him his life.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as completely re-writing the history of our human race. However, a faction was persuaded. The subsequent intense scholarly debate has consumed the lives of researchers ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was just a child when her household became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the appalling breadth of abuse it had carried out.
A Statesman's Unexpected Stance on Human Rights
Numerous voters expected that the prime minister would restore the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the performance over the past year has been notably ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Myth
A documentary tracking a repentant con artist as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with covert recording poses thorny questions: Is this person truly a new person, and what are the director's true methods?
A Person Who Remediates Britain's Darkest Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging moments, families rely on him to restore peace.
Will an Famous Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Burdened by restitution claims, strained finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's premier museum is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it restore its reputation?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an consistent medical solution – until potentially now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideology influence the very highest echelons of government.
The British Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his keen intellect and flawless credentials, it's no surprise that affluent clients trusted him with their wealth. Until they started to get uneasy.
The Small Nation That Became the World's Mediation Center
An astonishingly rich country has risen as a key actor on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this ambitious role?
A Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader enjoys the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader uniquely positioned to manage a particular sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for battle.
During the Court Case of a Tragic Case
How did the child of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old infant?
An End of a Major Development Organization: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Experiment on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was immense anxiety. But the exact truth of the procedures is still partially unclear.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and distributed huge amounts of money to selected participants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or works of artistic genius?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the prospect that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The critical question is: To where are they going to go?
A Sorrowful Story of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his life could turn around. I was tragically wrong.
A International AI Competition and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might possess the key to who wins the global AI race.
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