While we reflect on the year gone by, a selection of outstanding long-form stories shines. Such narratives probe intricate subjects including political intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply personal sagas.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country
An author became known in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. While several of his writer peers have encountered censorship or fled the nation, he still move vast numbers of books. This raises a pressing query: Has he turned into an supporter for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Conflict
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his only route out of incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. After 14 long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could still get him killed.
A Fierce Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Origins
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was proclaimed as radically rewriting the narrative of our human race. But, a faction was persuaded. The resulting heated scholarly debate has taken over the lives of researchers ever since.
The British Sect That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a child when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped expose the disturbing breadth of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
A Statesman's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
Many followers hoped that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's commitment to human rights. Yet, the track record over the first year in office has been strikingly mixed.
Shattering a Country's Identity
A film tracking a repentant fraudster as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording poses difficult queries: Is she genuinely changed, and is the director's true motives?
A Person Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest hours, individuals turn to him to restore peace.
Will an Iconic Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by restitution claims, difficult finances and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Severe Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an consistent treatment solution – until perhaps now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideology influence the uppermost levels of government.
An English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret
With his sharp intellect and sterling credentials, it's understandable that affluent individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious.
A Small State That Became the World's Diplomatic Hub
An incredibly rich Gulf state has become a key player on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious role?
A Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he positions himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to manage a certain sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Case
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with killing their newborn infant?
The Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When actions were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was not unforeseen.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women
When information about a medical experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense anxiety. But the precise nature of the events is still somewhat unclear.
The "Master" of the Attention Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed enormous sums of money to lucky participants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the possibility that their islands may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
One Tragic Story of Youth Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. I still thought his life could turn around. That hope was sadly wrong.
The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move
In 2020, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he could hold the key to who wins the global technological rivalry.
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