🔗 Share this article

As we look back on the year gone by, a curated list of exceptional long-form stories emerges. These narratives delve into complex subjects ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply human stories.

The Puzzling Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country

An author became known in the nineties with biting satires on power. Although several of his literary peers have encountered censorship or left the nation, he still sell millions of books. This raises a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an defender for the Kremlin?

Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Conflict

The account of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only route to escape prison was to enlist in the government military. After fourteen years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now put him in mortal danger.

The Bitter Feud Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings

The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was heralded as completely changing the story of our human race. However, a faction was in agreement. The resulting intense controversy has taken over the lives of researchers ever since.

The British Cult That Hid in the Open

One woman was just a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the appalling breadth of mistreatment it had perpetrated.

A Prime Minister's Unexpected Record on Human Rights

Numerous voters anticipated that the prime minister would renew the UK's dedication to international law. Yet, the performance over the past year has been curiously inconsistent.

Challenging a Country's Self-Image

A film featuring a repentant master criminal as she records corrupt individuals with hidden cameras poses difficult questions: Is she truly a new person, and is the filmmaker's own motives?

The Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes

From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest hours, individuals turn to him to restore normalcy.

Will an Renowned Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?

Beset by restitution claims, strained funding and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's leading museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to restore its legacy?

More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Extreme Pregnancy

Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable treatment solution – until possibly now.

The Legacy of Extremism in Modern Government

A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideology shape the very highest levels of the state.

The British Professional With a Fraudulent Secret

With his keen mind and flawless reputation, it's no surprise that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to become suspicious.

The Small State That Became the Global Diplomatic Hub

An incredibly wealthy country has transformed into a significant actor on the international scene, working to mediate some of the most intractable conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious role?

An Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry

Deeply disliked at home, the French leader relishes the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.

Inside the Trial of a Tragic Story

What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their newborn infant?

An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Widespread Regret

When efforts were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was far from unforeseen.

The Shocking 1960s Experiment on South Asian Women

When details about a scientific study in the 1960s came to light, there was immense shock. But the precise truth of the events is still somewhat contested.

A "Genius" of the Attention Age

He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and distributed huge sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever clickbait – or works of avant garde genius?

Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Seas

With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is confronting the prospect that their home may soon cease to exist. The critical question is: To where are they going to relocate?

One Tragic Story of Childhood Homelessness

As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still believed his life could turn around. That hope was devastatingly mistaken.

The International AI Competition and a Pivotal Defection

In 2020, after living half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he may possess the key to which nation prevails in the global technological rivalry.

The most impactful journalism