Upon consider the previous year, a assortment of remarkable long-form stories shines. These narratives explore intricate subjects ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly human journeys.
The Puzzling Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country
An author rose to fame in the nineties with sharp satires on power. While numerous of his literary contemporaries have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of books. It prompts a key query: Has the author become an defender for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his sole way out of prison was to join the regime military. Following 14 years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might now cost him his life.
The Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Origins
The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was hailed as fundamentally changing the story of our species. But, not everyone was in agreement. The resulting heated argument has taken over the careers of scholars ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped uncover the appalling extent of mistreatment it had committed.
A Statesman's Unexpected Record on Human Rights
Numerous followers hoped that the prime minister would renew the the nation's dedication to international law. However, the track record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Challenging a Nation's Identity
A documentary featuring a repentant fraudster as she records unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras raises complex questions: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the filmmaker's own methods?
A Man Who Cleans the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their stickiest times, families turn to him to bring back order.
Can an Iconic Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, strained finances and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it salvage its legacy?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Torture of Severe Condition
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has long lacked an reliable treatment solution – until potentially now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A violent extremist and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideas influence the very highest levels of the state.
An British Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his sharp intellect and impeccable reputation, it's no surprise that wealthy clients entrusted him with their assets. Then they started to get wary.
A Tiny Nation That Became the World's Diplomatic Center
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a major player on the world stage, working to broker peace in some of the most complex disputes. Which factors are behind this unprecedented project?
An Inside View at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader thrives on the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to handle a particular former US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the child of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unexpected.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When information about a medical experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was immense anxiety. But the full nature of the procedures remains somewhat unclear.
The "Master" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed vast sums of money to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever entertainment – or acts of daring genius?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
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 urgent question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
A Tragic Story of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then thought his life could turn around. I was devastatingly mistaken.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Pivotal Move
In 2020, after spending decades in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he may hold the key to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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