Upon look back on the previous year, a assortment of remarkable long-form pieces shines. Such pieces explore complex topics including geopolitical machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly human sagas.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist gained prominence in the nineties with biting commentaries on power. Whereas numerous of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the country, he still sell vast numbers of copies. This poses a key question: Has he turned into an apologist for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Devastating Civil War
The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole way out of prison was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could now cost him his life.
A Fierce Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of ancient remains in the Djurab desert in 2001 was proclaimed as fundamentally changing the story of our human race. Yet, a faction was persuaded. The resulting bitter argument has taken over the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the appalling breadth of abuse it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
Numerous supporters anticipated that the prime minister would restore the the nation's commitment to human rights. But, the track record over the first year in office has been notably mixed.
Shattering a Country's Self-Image
A documentary following a repentant master criminal as she records corrupt individuals with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is this person genuinely changed, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?
A Man Who Cleans Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – everything. In their darkest hours, families rely on him to restore order.
Will an Renowned Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, precarious finances and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's leading museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an consistent medical end – up until possibly now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology shape the highest echelons of government.
An English Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his sharp intellect and sterling reputation, it's no surprise that affluent individuals trusted him with their assets. Until they began to get wary.
The Small State That Became the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly rich country has transformed into a key actor on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented role?
An Close-Up View at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron relishes the international arena, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to manage a certain former US president. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?
An Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When actions were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was far from unexpected.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread outrage. But the exact nature of the procedures is still partially unclear.
The "Mozart" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and showered enormous amounts of cash to selected participants. But are these stunts simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or works of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is facing the prospect that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical question is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Tragic Story of Childhood Destitution
When I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his situation could turn around. That hope was sadly wrong.
The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In 2020, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he could possess the key to who wins the global AI race.
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