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As we consider the previous year, a selection of exceptional long-form stories emerges. Such pieces explore intricate themes from political machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply human stories.

The Puzzling Author and the Soul of a Nation

An author gained prominence in the nineties with biting satires on autocratic rule. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. It prompts a pressing query: Has the author become an apologist for the Kremlin?

Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Horrific Civil War

The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. After fourteen years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may now cost him his life.

A Fierce Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The discovery of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was hailed as fundamentally re-writing the narrative of our species. Yet, some scholars was in agreement. The ensuing bitter controversy has dominated the careers of scholars ever since.

The British Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her household became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the shocking extent of abuse it had carried out.

The Leader's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights

Many followers anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would restore the UK's dedication to international law. Yet, the track record over the first year in office has been curiously ambiguous.

Breaking a Country's Identity

A documentary tracking a remorseful master criminal as she ensnares corrupt individuals with covert recording asks difficult queries: Is she really reformed, and what are the filmmaker's true methods?

A Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Darkest Stains

From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – it all. In their darkest moments, families rely on him to bring back peace.

Will an Renowned Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?

Burdened by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Is it possible to repair its standing?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Severe Condition

Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable medical end – up until possibly now.

A Spectre of Extremism in Modern Politics

A militant extremist and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideology influence the highest levels of the state.

An English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret

With his brilliant mind and sterling reputation, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to become uneasy.

The Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital

An astonishingly rich Gulf state has risen as a major force on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most intractable disputes. Which factors are fueling this ambitious endeavor?

A Close-Up Look at a Leader Preparing for Global Battle

Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron enjoys the international arena, where he positions himself as the statesman most equipped to deal with a certain former American leader. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for battle.

During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case

What led to the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with killing their newborn baby?

The End of a Major Development Agency: Not Universal Mourning

When efforts were made to dismantle a major US aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was far from unforeseen.

A Unethical 1960s Experiment on Indian Women

When information about a medical experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact truth of the events is still somewhat unclear.

A "Master" of the Attention Age

He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground – and distributed huge sums of money to selected participants. But are these stunts simply very clever clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?

Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas

With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the reality that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?

A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Homelessness

As I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still hoped his situation could improve. That hope was devastatingly mistaken.

The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Defection

In the recent past, after spending half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he may hold the answers to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.

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