While we look back on the previous year, a selection of remarkable long-form stories stands out. Such accounts delve into multifaceted subjects from geopolitical intrigue and historical revelations to deeply personal sagas.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Soul of a Country
An author rose to fame in the nineties with biting satires on autocratic rule. Although many of his writer peers have encountered suppression or left the nation, he still sell millions of copies. This poses a pressing question: Has the author become an defender for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his only route out of prison was to enlist in the government forces. After fourteen long years, his past as one of Assad's fighters may now put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically rewriting the story of our species. However, a faction was convinced. The ensuing heated argument has dominated the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Operated in the Open
One woman was just a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an adult, she helped reveal the shocking scale of abuse it had carried out.
A Statesman's Unexpected Stance on Human Rights
Many supporters hoped that the prime minister would reaffirm the Britain's commitment to human rights. Yet, the performance over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A documentary tracking a remorseful con artist as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras asks difficult questions: Is this person truly changed, and what are the filmmaker's own methods?
The Person Who Remediates Britain's Darkest Stains
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging times, individuals rely on him to restore normalcy.
Can an Iconic Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Burdened by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": 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 reliable medical remedy – until potentially now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast 35 years ago. Now, his ideology influence the uppermost levels of government.
The British Professional With a Dishonest Side
With his keen intellect and impeccable credentials, it's no surprise that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to get suspicious.
A Tiny Nation That Became the Global Mediation Hub
An extremely rich country has become a key actor on the world stage, working to solve some of the most intractable disputes. What are driving this ambitious endeavor?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for Global Battle
Extremely disliked at home, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to handle a certain former US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Court Case of a Tragic Story
How did the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
An End of a Global Development Agency: Not Widespread Regret
When actions were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was not unforeseen.
The Disturbing 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When information about a medical experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense anxiety. But the full story of what happened remains partially shrouded.
The "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's spent 24 hours in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and showered huge amounts of cash to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever clickbait – or acts of artistic genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is grappling with the prospect that their homeland may soon cease to exist. The pressing question is: To where are they going to go?
A Tragic Case of Youth Destitution
When I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. Even then hoped his life might change for the better. I was devastatingly wrong.
A International AI Competition and a Pivotal Move
In 2020, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he may possess the answers to who prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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