While we look back on the past year, a selection of exceptional long-form stories emerges. These accounts explore multifaceted themes ranging from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply personal sagas.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Soul of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist became known in the 1990s with biting satires on authoritarianism. Whereas several of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the country, he continues to move vast numbers of books. It prompts a pertinent question: Has he evolved into an apologist for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his sole path out of prison was to join the government forces. Following fourteen years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers may now put him in mortal danger.
A Acrimonious Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient remains in the Chadian sands in 2001 was proclaimed as radically rewriting the narrative of our human race. But, a faction was persuaded. The ensuing intense argument has consumed the lives of researchers ever since.
The British Sect That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped reveal the shocking breadth of abuse it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
A great many followers expected that the prime minister would renew the UK's dedication to international law. However, the performance over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Challenging a Nation's Myth
A documentary tracking a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares corrupt clients with hidden cameras raises difficult queries: Is she really changed, and is the filmmaker's true motives?
The Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest moments, families rely on him to restore order.
Will an Renowned Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by debates over its collection, precarious finances and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it repair its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Severe Condition
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an reliable treatment end – until possibly now.
A Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Government
A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas permeate the uppermost levels of the state.
The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen intellect and impeccable credentials, it's no surprise that affluent individuals trusted him with their wealth. Then they started to get suspicious.
A Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Hub
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a major force on the world stage, attempting to solve some of the most complex conflicts. What are behind this ambitious role?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply unpopular at domestically, the French leader thrives on the world arena, where he presents himself as the leader best placed to deal with a certain former US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Organization: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was not unexpected.
A Disturbing 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s became public, there was widespread outrage. But the exact nature of what happened remains somewhat shrouded.
A "Genius" of the Attention Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground – and distributed huge sums of money to lucky participants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever clickbait – or works of artistic brilliance?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is confronting the reality that their home may in the near future be submerged. The critical issue is: Where are they supposed to go?
One Heartbreaking Case of Youth Homelessness
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. I still hoped his situation might improve. I was devastatingly mistaken.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he may hold the answers to which nation wins the global AI race.
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