🔗 Share this article

Upon look back on the year gone by, a curated list of outstanding long-form articles shines. Such narratives explore intricate subjects ranging from political machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly human journeys.

A Puzzling Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country

An author became known in the nineties with biting satires on power. While several of his literary peers have faced censorship or fled the country, he still move millions of books. This prompts a pressing question: Has he evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?

Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Devastating Conflict

The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was informed that his sole path out of incarceration was to join the government forces. Following 14 long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could now cost him his life.

The Acrimonious Argument Over Our Earliest Origins

The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in 2001 was heralded as completely changing the history of our human race. But, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent heated argument has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

The British Sect That Operated in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was only a child when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing breadth of exploitation it had carried out.

A Leader's Unexpected Stance on Human Rights

A great many supporters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the Britain's dedication to international law. But, the performance over the first year in office has been notably ambiguous.

Breaking a Nation's Myth

A film featuring a remorseful fraudster as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with covert recording raises thorny queries: Is she genuinely changed, and is the filmmaker's true motives?

A Man Who Remediates the UK's Darkest Stains

From homicide sites to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their stickiest hours, people rely on him to bring back normalcy.

Can an Famous Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Burdened by colonial controversy, strained funding and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it repair its legacy?

Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Pregnancy

Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries lacked an reliable medical remedy – up until possibly now.

A Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics

A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideas influence the very highest levels of government.

An British Gentleman With a Dishonest Secret

With his keen mind and impeccable background, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become wary.

A Tiny State That Became the World's Diplomatic Center

An extremely rich Gulf state has transformed into a major actor on the world stage, working to mediate some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious endeavor?

An Close-Up Look at a President Preparing for Global Battle

Deeply unpopular at domestically, the French leader relishes the world stage, where he presents himself as the leader best placed to manage a particular sitting US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for battle.

During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case

How did the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?

An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Mourning

When actions were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was far from unforeseen.

The Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers

When information about a medical experiment in the sixties became public, there was immense anxiety. But the exact nature of the procedures is still partially shrouded.

A "Master" of the Attention Economy

He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and distributed huge sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or acts of avant garde genius?

Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean

With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the reality that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to go?

A Heartbreaking Case of Youth Homelessness

When I met a young boy he was 13 and without a home. I still believed his situation might turn around. I was sadly misplaced.

A International AI Race and a Key Move

In the recent past, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he could hold the secret to which nation prevails in the global technological rivalry.

The most impactful stories