🔗 Share this article

While we look back on the previous year, a assortment of remarkable long-form stories emerges. Such accounts explore complex topics including geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply human stories.

A Enigmatic Writer and the Conscience of a Nation

A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on autocratic rule. While several of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the country, he still move millions of copies. It raises a pressing question: Has the author evolved into an defender for the Kremlin?

Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Devastating Civil War

The account of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole path out of incarceration was to join the regime forces. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could still cost him his life.

A Acrimonious Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins

The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Djurab desert in 2001 was heralded as completely rewriting the narrative of our species. Yet, a faction was convinced. The ensuing bitter argument has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

The UK Religious Group That Operated in the Open

Philippa Barnes was just a child when her household became part of the a religious community. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking extent of abuse it had committed.

The Prime Minister's Curious Stance on Human Rights

A great many supporters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's commitment to international law. Yet, the track record over the past year has been strikingly mixed.

Breaking a Nation's Identity

A film featuring a repentant fraudster as she records unscrupulous individuals with covert recording asks difficult queries: Is this person genuinely reformed, and is the filmmaker's true intentions?

A Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Scenes

From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging moments, people rely on him to restore peace.

Can an Famous Institution Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Plagued by debates over its collection, precarious finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?

More Than "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Condition

Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an effective medical remedy – until perhaps now.

A Legacy of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics

A militant fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideology permeate the highest levels of the state.

The English Gentleman With a Crooked Side

With his sharp mind and impeccable reputation, it's no surprise that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious.

A Small State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Hub

An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a key player on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most complex disputes. What are driving this ambitious endeavor?

A Inside View at a President Gearing Up for International Battle

Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader enjoys the world arena, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to deal with a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story

How did the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?

The Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Far From Widespread Mourning

When efforts were made to dismantle a major US aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was far from unexpected.

A Shocking 1960s Experiment on South Asian Women

When details about a scientific experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread shock. But the exact story of the procedures is still somewhat contested.

A "Master" of the Attention Economy

He's spent 24 hours in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and given away huge amounts of cash to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply very savvy entertainment – or acts of daring brilliance?

Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas

With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is grappling with the prospect that their islands may soon cease to exist. The pressing issue is: To where are they going to relocate?

A Heartbreaking Case of Youth Destitution

As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and homeless. Even then believed his life might improve. I was sadly wrong.

The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Move

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

The finest stories