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As we look back on the previous year, a assortment of exceptional long-form stories stands out. These pieces explore intricate subjects ranging from political machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly human sagas.

A Mysterious Writer and the Soul of a Nation

A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with sharp commentaries on authoritarianism. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or left the country, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. It raises a key question: Has he turned into an defender for the Kremlin?

Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Conflict

The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his only path to escape incarceration was to join the government forces. After fourteen long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might now get him killed.

The Bitter Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was hailed as completely rewriting the story of our human race. However, not everyone was in agreement. The ensuing bitter argument has taken over the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.

A UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the shocking scale of mistreatment it had carried out.

The Prime Minister's Unexpected Record on International Law

Numerous supporters anticipated that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to human rights. However, the record over the past year has been notably mixed.

Breaking a Nation's Myth

A film featuring a repentant master criminal as she records unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras poses thorny queries: Is she really changed, and what are the filmmaker's own methods?

The Man Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Stains

From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their stickiest moments, individuals depend on him to bring back normalcy.

Can an Renowned Institution Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?

Burdened by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?

Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Extreme Pregnancy

Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries been without an consistent medical remedy – up until potentially now.

The Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Government

A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas permeate the highest levels of the state.

An British Gentleman With a Dishonest Side

With his brilliant mind and flawless credentials, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become wary.

A Tiny Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital

An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a major force on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are behind this unprecedented project?

An Inside View at a Leader Preparing for Global Battle

Extremely disliked at home, the French leader enjoys the international stage, where he presents himself as the leader most equipped to handle a particular former US president. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.

Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story

What led to the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn baby?

An Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Not Universal Mourning

When efforts were made to wind down a major US aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.

The Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers

When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was immense shock. But the precise truth of the procedures remains somewhat contested.

A "Mozart" of the Online Economy

He's spent 24 hours in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and given away vast sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or works of daring genius?

Life in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean

With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is grappling with the prospect that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The urgent issue is: To where are they going to relocate?

A Sorrowful Story of Childhood Homelessness

When I met a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might turn around. I was tragically mistaken.

A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move

In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he might hold the secret to which nation prevails in the global AI race.

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