As we reflect on the previous year, a selection of outstanding long-form stories emerges. Such accounts probe complex topics including political intrigue and historical revelations to profoundly personal sagas.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
An author gained prominence in the 1990s with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. While several of his literary peers have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he still move millions of books. This prompts a pressing query: Has he turned into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Horrific Conflict
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole way to escape prison was to join the regime military. After 14 long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might now get him killed.
A Acrimonious Feud Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of fossilised remains in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as completely re-writing the story of our species. However, some scholars was persuaded. The subsequent intense controversy has consumed the lives of researchers ever since.
The British Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was just a child when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the appalling breadth of mistreatment it had carried out.
The Leader's Curious Record on Human Rights
Many supporters expected that the prime minister would renew the Britain's dedication to human rights. Yet, the track record over the past year has been curiously inconsistent.
Breaking a Nation's Identity
A documentary featuring a repentant con artist as she records unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras asks difficult questions: Is she really changed, and what are the director's own methods?
A Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From crime scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their most challenging moments, families turn to him to bring back normalcy.
Will an Renowned Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Burdened by restitution claims, difficult funding and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's number one museum is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it repair its reputation?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an consistent medical solution – until potentially now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings influence the uppermost levels of the state.
The English Professional With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen mind and sterling reputation, it's no surprise that affluent individuals trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to become wary.
The Tiny Nation That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Hub
An astonishingly rich country has risen as a key player on the world stage, striving to solve some of the most complex disputes. Which factors are fueling this ambitious project?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader enjoys the international arena, where he presents himself as the leader uniquely positioned to deal with a certain former American leader. 7 years after their previous meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Global Development Agency: Not Universal Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest letdown was far from unexpected.
A Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the full truth of the events is still somewhat shrouded.
A "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and distributed huge sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever entertainment – or acts of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Seas
With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's people is confronting the possibility that their home may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: To where are they going to go?
A Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Homelessness
As I met Craig he was 13 and without a home. Even then thought his situation could turn around. I was tragically wrong.
A International AI Competition and a Crucial Move
In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he may possess the secret to which nation wins the global AI race.
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