Upon look back on the year gone by, a assortment of exceptional long-form pieces shines. These pieces delve into multifaceted topics ranging from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply personal sagas.
A Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country
An author became known in the post-Soviet era with scathing critiques on authoritarianism. Although several of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the country, he still sell vast numbers of books. This poses a pressing query: Has he evolved into an defender for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only path out of incarceration was to join the regime forces. After 14 years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might still cost him his life.
A Fierce Argument Over Our Earliest Origins
The unearthing of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally rewriting the narrative of our human race. However, not everyone was persuaded. The resulting intense scholarly debate has dominated the lives of scholars ever since.
A UK Cult That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped uncover the appalling breadth of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Unexpected Record on Human Rights
Many supporters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's commitment to human rights. Yet, the track record over the past year has been notably inconsistent.
Shattering a Nation's Identity
A film featuring a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with covert recording raises difficult questions: Is this person really reformed, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?
The Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and cleaned – it all. In their darkest moments, individuals depend on him to bring back normalcy.
Can an Famous Institution Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by restitution claims, precarious funding and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it salvage its reputation?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Extreme Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable medical remedy – until potentially now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A militant fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a political pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings influence the very highest echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his sharp mind and flawless credentials, it's understandable that affluent individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Then they started to become wary.
A Tiny State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Center
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a significant actor on the international scene, working to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are fueling this ambitious role?
An Inside View at a President Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to manage a certain former US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Story
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with killing their newborn baby?
An End of a Major Aid Agency: Not Widespread Mourning
When actions were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was not unexpected.
The Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Women
When information about a scientific study in the sixties became public, there was immense shock. But the full truth of the procedures is still somewhat shrouded.
A "Genius" of the Attention Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and given away vast sums of money to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or acts of daring genius?
Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's people is grappling with the possibility that their home may soon cease to exist. The urgent issue is: To where are they going to go?
One Tragic Case of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still believed his situation could turn around. That hope was devastatingly misplaced.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Move
In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he might possess the answers to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
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