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While we reflect on the previous year, a selection of outstanding long-form stories emerges. These narratives explore intricate subjects including political machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly human stories.

A Enigmatic Novelist and the Conscience of a Country

An author gained prominence in the nineties with biting critiques on power. While several of his literary peers have faced censorship or left the country, he still sell millions of books. It poses a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?

Survival and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Conflict

The account of a young man, who at 18 was informed that his only path to escape prison was to enlist in the government forces. Following 14 long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could now get him killed.

A Bitter Argument Over Our Ancient Beginnings

The discovery of fossilised bones in the Djurab desert in 2001 was heralded as completely re-writing the history of our species. However, not everyone was persuaded. The ensuing heated scholarly debate has taken over the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

The UK Sect That Operated in Plain Sight

One woman was only a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the shocking breadth of mistreatment it had committed.

A Statesman's Unexpected Record on Human Rights

Many followers anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would restore the Britain's dedication to human rights. However, the track record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.

Breaking a Country's Myth

A film featuring a repentant fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with covert recording asks complex questions: Is this person truly a new person, and is the filmmaker's true motives?

The Man Who Cleans Britain's Darkest Scenes

From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and cleaned – it all. In their darkest moments, families turn to him to restore peace.

Will an Iconic Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?

Plagued by debates over its collection, difficult funding and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its reputation?

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

Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an effective medical end – until perhaps now.

A Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics

A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideology permeate the very highest echelons of the state.

The English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret

With his keen intellect and sterling background, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to get uneasy.

The Small State That Became the World's Diplomatic Hub

An incredibly rich Gulf state has risen as a key force on the world stage, working to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are fueling this ambitious project?

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

Deeply disliked at home, President Macron enjoys the international arena, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to manage a certain former American leader. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.

Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case

How did the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their newborn baby?

An Dismantling of a Global Development Agency: Not Universal Regret

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

The Unethical 1960s Study on Indian Mothers

When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties became public, there was widespread shock. But the full truth of the procedures remains partially contested.

A "Master" of the Online Economy

He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and showered huge amounts of cash to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or acts of avant garde genius?

Existence in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean

With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is facing the possibility that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to go?

A Sorrowful Case of Childhood Homelessness

As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and homeless. Even then thought his life could turn around. That hope was devastatingly misplaced.

The Global AI Competition and a Key Move

In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he may possess the secret to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.

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