As we consider the previous year, a selection of outstanding long-form stories shines. These accounts delve into intricate themes ranging from geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply human stories.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country
A certain Russian novelist became known in the nineties with sharp satires on power. Although numerous of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or left the nation, he still sell millions of copies. This prompts a pertinent query: Has he become an apologist for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was told that his sole way to escape prison was to join the government military. Following fourteen years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers might now get him killed.
The Acrimonious Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The finding of ancient remains in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was heralded as completely changing the history of our species. However, not everyone was convinced. The resulting heated scholarly debate has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Cult That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was just a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped reveal the shocking scale of mistreatment it had carried out.
The Leader's Unexpected Record on International Law
A great many voters hoped that the prime minister would renew the the nation's commitment to human rights. Yet, the performance over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Identity
A documentary featuring a repentant con artist as she ensnares corrupt clients with hidden cameras asks complex queries: Is this person truly a new person, and what are the director's true intentions?
The Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest hours, families depend on him to bring back normalcy.
Will an Famous Institution Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by debates over its collection, strained funding and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's number one museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has long lacked an effective treatment remedy – until potentially now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Modern Government
A militant fanatic and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Today, his ideas permeate the uppermost echelons of government.
The British Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his sharp mind and sterling background, it's little wonder that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get uneasy.
A Tiny Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Capital
An incredibly rich Gulf state has become a major actor on the world stage, striving to broker peace in some of the most intractable conflicts. What are fueling this unprecedented endeavor?
A Inside View at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Extremely disliked at home, President Macron thrives on the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader uniquely positioned to manage a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Trial of a Tragic Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Not Universal Regret
When efforts were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was far from unforeseen.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Study on Indian Mothers
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread shock. But the full truth of the events remains partially unclear.
A "Genius" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away huge amounts of cash to selected contestants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or works of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's people is grappling with the reality that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The pressing issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and without a home. Even then believed his life might change for the better. That hope was devastatingly mistaken.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move
In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he may hold the key to which nation wins the global AI race.
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