🔗 Share this article

While we reflect on the past year, a assortment of outstanding long-form stories stands out. These accounts explore multifaceted subjects from political machinations and historical discoveries to deeply human journeys.

The Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Country

A certain Russian novelist gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with biting critiques on authoritarianism. While several of his literary contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the country, he still move millions of books. This prompts a pressing question: Has he become an defender for the establishment?

Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Conflict

The story of a young man, who at 18 was informed that his sole path to escape prison was to join the government military. Following fourteen years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could still cost him his life.

A Acrimonious Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings

The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in 2001 was proclaimed as completely re-writing the history of our human race. But, not everyone was persuaded. The resulting intense argument has taken over the lives of researchers ever since.

The UK Sect That Operated in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was just a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the shocking scale of exploitation it had committed.

A Statesman's Unexpected Stance on Human Rights

Many voters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would restore the Britain's commitment to international law. Yet, the performance over the first year in office has been curiously mixed.

Breaking a Nation's Myth

A documentary following a repentant fraudster as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with covert recording asks thorny questions: Is this person genuinely changed, and what are the director's true intentions?

The Person Who Remediates Britain's Darkest Stains

From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and cleaned – it all. In their darkest hours, families turn to him to bring back normalcy.

Will an Iconic Museum Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Plagued by restitution claims, strained funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's number one museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it salvage its reputation?

Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Extreme Pregnancy

Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an effective medical remedy – up until potentially now.

The Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics

A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideas permeate the highest echelons of government.

The English Professional With a Fraudulent Secret

With his brilliant intellect and flawless credentials, it's understandable that wealthy individuals trusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get uneasy.

A Tiny State That Became the Global Diplomatic Center

An astonishingly wealthy country has transformed into a key actor on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are fueling this ambitious endeavor?

An Inside View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry

Extremely disliked at home, President Macron enjoys the international stage, where he presents himself as the leader uniquely positioned to deal with a certain former American leader. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.

During the Trial of a Tragic Case

What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their newborn baby?

An Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Far From Universal Regret

When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was not unforeseen.

The Unethical Mid-Century Study on South Asian Mothers

When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was immense anxiety. But the exact story of the procedures is still partially shrouded.

The "Master" of the Online Economy

He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and showered huge amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or works of daring genius?

Life in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean

With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is facing the prospect that their islands may soon cease to exist. The pressing question is: To where are they going to go?

A Tragic Case of Childhood Homelessness

As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then thought his life could improve. That hope was sadly wrong.

A International AI Competition and a Crucial Defection

In 2020, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Now, he could possess the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.

The best journalism