Upon reflect on the past year, a curated list of remarkable long-form pieces shines. Such pieces probe intricate topics from geopolitical machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly personal stories.
A Puzzling Author and the Conscience of a Country
An author rose to fame in the 1990s with scathing critiques on authoritarianism. Although numerous of his writer peers have faced censorship or left the nation, he still sell vast numbers of copies. It poses a pressing question: Has the author turned into an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was informed that his sole path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now get him killed.
A Acrimonious Argument Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Chadian desert in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the history of our human race. Yet, a faction was convinced. The subsequent bitter argument has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Cult That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the appalling scale of abuse it had carried out.
A Statesman's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
Many voters anticipated that the prime minister would renew the Britain's commitment to international law. But, the record over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Shattering a Nation's Identity
A documentary featuring a repentant fraudster as she records unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses thorny queries: Is she truly changed, and is the director's own intentions?
A Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and dealt with – everything. In their stickiest moments, families rely on him to restore order.
Can an Renowned Museum Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, strained funding and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's premier cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an reliable medical remedy – until potentially now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Now, his ideology shape the uppermost echelons of the state.
An British Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen intellect and flawless background, it's little wonder that affluent individuals trusted him with their assets. Then they started to become uneasy.
The Tiny State That Emerged as the Global Mediation Capital
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has become a key actor on the world stage, working to broker peace in some of the most intractable conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious project?
An Inside Look at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he positions himself as the statesman most equipped to deal with a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the child of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old infant?
An Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was far from unforeseen.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the sixties came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact nature of what happened remains somewhat contested.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's spent a full day in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and showered huge amounts of money to lucky participants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of artistic genius?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's people is facing the possibility that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The critical issue is: Where are they going to relocate?
A Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might improve. That hope was tragically wrong.
The Global AI Race and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he could possess the answers to who prevails in the global AI race.
The most impactful stories
