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While we look back on the year gone by, a selection of outstanding long-form stories emerges. Such pieces probe intricate subjects ranging from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply human sagas.

A Mysterious Author and the Moral Fabric of a Nation

An author became known in the post-Soviet era with sharp satires on authoritarianism. Although many of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or left the nation, he still sell vast numbers of books. This prompts a key query: Has the author turned into an defender for the Kremlin?

Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Civil War

The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his sole route out of incarceration was to join the government military. After fourteen long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could still get him killed.

A Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings

The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was heralded as completely re-writing the history of our species. Yet, some scholars was in agreement. The subsequent intense argument has taken over the careers of scholars ever since.

The UK Cult That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing breadth of abuse it had committed.

The Leader's Curious Record on International Law

A great many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the the nation's dedication to international law. Yet, the record over the first year in office has been curiously inconsistent.

Shattering a Nation's Identity

A film following a repentant fraudster as she records corrupt clients with covert recording asks thorny queries: Is she really a new person, and what are the filmmaker's true motives?

A Man Who Remediates the UK's Darkest Scenes

From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has seen – and dealt with – everything. In their most challenging moments, individuals rely on him to bring back normalcy.

Will an Iconic Institution Survive an "Perfect Storm"?

Plagued by restitution claims, precarious funding and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's premier cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it restore its legacy?

More Than "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Severe Condition

Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long been without an reliable treatment remedy – until potentially now.

The Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics

A militant fanatic and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas influence the uppermost echelons of government.

An British Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret

With his brilliant intellect and impeccable reputation, it's no surprise that affluent individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get uneasy.

The Tiny State That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Hub

An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a major player on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most intractable disputes. Which factors are fueling this ambitious role?

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

Extremely unpopular at home, President Macron enjoys the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to manage a particular sitting US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.

During the Court Case of a Tragic Case

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

The End of a Major Development Agency: Far From Universal Regret

When actions were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was far from unforeseen.

The Unethical Mid-Century Study on Indian Women

When details about a medical study in the sixties came to light, there was widespread outrage. But the precise story of the procedures is still partially shrouded.

The "Mozart" of the Attention Age

He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away vast amounts of cash to lucky participants. But are these productions simply very clever entertainment – or works of avant garde genius?

Existence in a Country Threatened by the Rising Seas

With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the possibility that their islands may soon cease to exist. The urgent issue is: To where are they supposed to go?

A Sorrowful Case of Childhood Destitution

As I met Craig he was 13 and without a home. Even then thought his situation might turn around. I was tragically wrong.

The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection

In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Now, he may hold the answers to which nation wins the global AI race.

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