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Upon look back on the year gone by, a selection of outstanding long-form pieces stands out. Such pieces delve into intricate themes from geopolitical machinations and historical revelations to deeply personal journeys.

A Enigmatic Writer and the Conscience of a Nation

An author became known in the 1990s with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. While many of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of books. This prompts a key question: Has the author evolved into an supporter for the Kremlin?

Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Conflict

The story of a young man, who at 18 was informed that his sole route to escape prison was to enlist in the regime forces. Following fourteen long years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers may still put him in mortal danger.

A Acrimonious Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings

The discovery of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the history of our species. However, a faction was in agreement. The subsequent heated scholarly debate has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

A British Sect 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 expose the appalling scale of exploitation it had perpetrated.

A Prime Minister's Curious Record on Human Rights

A great many voters hoped that the prime minister would renew the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the performance over the past year has been strikingly ambiguous.

Challenging a Nation's Identity

A film following a remorseful master criminal as she sets up corrupt individuals with covert recording raises thorny questions: Is she really reformed, and what are the director's own motives?

The Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Stains

From homicide sites to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and cleaned – it all. In their darkest moments, families depend on him to restore order.

Will an Iconic Institution Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?

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

Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Extreme Condition

Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an reliable medical solution – up until perhaps now.

A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics

A violent fanatic and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings shape the highest echelons of the state.

An English Professional With a Fraudulent Secret

With his sharp intellect and impeccable reputation, it's understandable that high-net-worth individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become uneasy.

A Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Center

An incredibly rich country has risen as a key player on the world stage, striving to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. What are driving this ambitious role?

An Inside Look at a President Preparing for International Summitry

Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to handle a particular former US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story

How did the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?

An End of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Mourning

When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.

A Disturbing Mid-Century Study on South Asian Mothers

When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the exact truth of the events is still partially contested.

The "Mozart" of the Online Age

He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and given away vast amounts of money to lucky participants. But are these videos simply very savvy entertainment – or works of daring brilliance?

Life in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean

With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is facing the possibility that their homeland may soon cease to exist. The urgent issue is: To where are they supposed to go?

One Heartbreaking Story of Youth Homelessness

As I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. Even then hoped his life could turn around. I was tragically wrong.

A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection

In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he may hold the answers to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.

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