Upon consider the previous year, a selection of outstanding long-form pieces shines. Such pieces probe complex themes including political intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human journeys.
The Mysterious Author and the Conscience of a Country
Victor Pelevin became known in the nineties with scathing satires on power. Although several of his writer peers have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of copies. It poses a pertinent question: Has the author evolved into an supporter for the Kremlin?
Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Devastating Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole path to escape prison was to join the regime military. Following fourteen long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers might now put him in mortal danger.
The Fierce Argument Over Our Earliest Origins
The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the narrative of our species. Yet, not everyone was convinced. The subsequent intense scholarly debate has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Operated in the Open
One woman was just a child when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the disturbing breadth of exploitation it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Curious Stance on International Law
A great many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the Britain's dedication to human rights. However, the record over the first year in office has been strikingly mixed.
Breaking a Country's Identity
A documentary tracking a remorseful con artist as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras raises complex queries: Is she truly changed, and is the director's own methods?
A Man Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their darkest times, people rely on him to restore order.
Can an Renowned Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by colonial controversy, strained funding and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its reputation?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an reliable medical remedy – until perhaps now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Modern Government
A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideology influence the uppermost echelons of government.
An British Professional With a Fraudulent Side
With his sharp mind and flawless credentials, it's understandable that wealthy individuals trusted him with their assets. Then they started to get suspicious.
The Tiny State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Center
An extremely wealthy Gulf state has become a major player on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious role?
A Inside View at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader relishes the world arena, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to handle a certain sitting US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?
The Dismantling of a Major Aid Organization: Not Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was not unforeseen.
A Disturbing 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was widespread outrage. But the full nature of the procedures remains somewhat contested.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's endured a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and distributed huge amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever entertainment – or works of daring genius?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is facing the prospect that their homeland may soon be submerged. The critical issue is: To where are they going to go?
One Heartbreaking Story of Youth Destitution
As I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. I still thought his situation could change for the better. That hope was tragically wrong.
A International AI Competition and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he may hold the key to who prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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