As we consider the past year, a selection of exceptional long-form pieces shines. Such pieces explore multifaceted subjects including geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply human sagas.
The Enigmatic Writer and the Conscience of a Country
An author gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. Although many of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the country, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. It prompts a key query: Has the author evolved into an defender for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his only path out of prison was to join the government military. Following fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may still put him in mortal danger.
A Fierce Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically re-writing the history of our human race. However, a faction was in agreement. The resulting intense controversy has dominated the lives of researchers ever since.
A UK Sect That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the disturbing scale of abuse it had carried out.
The Statesman's Unexpected Stance on International Law
A great many supporters expected that the prime minister would renew the UK's dedication to international law. However, the track record over the first year in office has been notably ambiguous.
Breaking a Country's Identity
A film tracking a remorseful con artist as she sets up unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras raises thorny queries: Is this person really a new person, and is the director's true intentions?
A Man Who Cleans Britain's Most Difficult Stains
From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their darkest moments, families rely on him to bring back peace.
Can an Renowned Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by debates over its collection, strained finances and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its reputation?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Extreme Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has long been without an reliable medical end – up until potentially now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A violent fanatic and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings permeate the highest echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Dishonest Side
With his brilliant intellect and flawless background, it's no surprise that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their assets. Until they started to get suspicious.
A Tiny Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Hub
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a key player on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most intractable conflicts. What are driving this ambitious role?
An Close-Up View at a President Preparing for Global Battle
Extremely unpopular at home, President Macron thrives on the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a certain sitting US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Case
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with the death of their newborn infant?
The End of a Global Development Organization: Not Universal Mourning
When actions were made to wind down a major US aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest letdown was not unexpected.
The Unethical 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread shock. But the full truth of the procedures is still partially contested.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's spent 24 hours in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and given away vast sums of money to lucky participants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or works of daring genius?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Rising Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the prospect that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: To where are they supposed to go?
A Tragic Story of Childhood Homelessness
As I met a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still believed his situation could turn around. I was sadly misplaced.
A International AI Race and a Crucial Defection
In 2020, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he might possess the answers to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.
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