While we consider the year gone by, a assortment of remarkable long-form pieces shines. Such narratives probe multifaceted subjects from geopolitical intrigue and historical revelations to deeply human journeys.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Soul of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the 1990s with biting commentaries on power. Whereas many of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the nation, he still move millions of books. It raises a pertinent query: Has he become an apologist for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was informed that his only way out of incarceration was to join the government forces. After 14 years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could now put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Ancient Origins
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in 2001 was hailed as fundamentally rewriting the history of our species. Yet, not everyone was convinced. The resulting heated argument has taken over the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Sect That Hid in the Open
One woman was only a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she helped reveal the shocking extent of mistreatment it had carried out.
A Statesman's Curious Record on International Law
A great many voters expected that the prime minister would restore the Britain's commitment to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Self-Image
A film following a repentant master criminal as she records corrupt individuals with hidden cameras asks thorny queries: Is this person really a new person, and what are the filmmaker's true motives?
A Man Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – everything. In their most challenging hours, people turn to him to restore normalcy.
Can an Renowned Museum Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, strained finances and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's number one museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it repair its legacy?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Torture of Extreme Pregnancy
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an effective treatment solution – up until potentially now.
A Spectre of Extremism in Modern Politics
A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah 35 years ago. Today, his ideology shape the uppermost levels of the state.
An British Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his keen intellect and impeccable credentials, it's no surprise that affluent individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious.
A Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Center
An incredibly wealthy country has become a key actor on the world stage, striving to mediate some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious endeavor?
A Inside View at a President Preparing for International Battle
Deeply disliked at home, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he presents himself as the leader best placed to handle a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he readied himself for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby?
The End of a Major Aid Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to wind down a major US aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest disappointment was far from unexpected.
A Unethical 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact nature of the procedures remains somewhat unclear.
A "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground – and distributed huge amounts of cash to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or works of artistic brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's population is grappling with the possibility that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The pressing issue is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
One Sorrowful Case of Youth Homelessness
As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his life could turn around. That hope was sadly misplaced.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Defection
In 2020, after spending decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Today, he might possess the answers to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.
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