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While we look back on the year gone by, a curated list of outstanding long-form stories stands out. These accounts delve into intricate topics ranging from political intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly human sagas.

A Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation

Victor Pelevin became known in the 1990s with sharp critiques on autocratic rule. While many of his writer peers have faced suppression or fled the country, he still sell millions of books. This poses a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an supporter for the regime?

Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict

The story of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole way out of incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. After fourteen years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers might still get him killed.

A Bitter Argument Over Our Ancient Origins

The discovery of ancient bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was hailed as fundamentally rewriting the history of our human race. Yet, not everyone was convinced. The ensuing heated controversy has taken over the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

A British Cult That Hid in the Open

Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the shocking scale of abuse it had committed.

The Leader's Curious Record on International Law

Many supporters hoped that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's commitment to international law. However, the record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.

Challenging a Country's Myth

A film featuring a repentant fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with covert recording poses difficult queries: Is she really a new person, and what are the director's true motives?

A Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes

From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – it all. In their darkest times, families turn to him to restore order.

Will an Iconic Institution Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Plagued by colonial controversy, difficult finances and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's number one cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it restore its standing?

Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Pregnancy

Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an consistent medical solution – up until potentially now.

A Legacy of Extremism in Modern Politics

A violent extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings influence the uppermost echelons of government.

The English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret

With his sharp intellect and sterling reputation, it's understandable that affluent clients trusted him with their assets. Then they started to get wary.

The Tiny Nation That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Capital

An extremely rich Gulf state has transformed into a key player on the world stage, striving to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this ambitious role?

A Inside View at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry

Deeply disliked at home, President Macron enjoys the world arena, where he positions himself as the statesman best placed to manage a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.

Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case

How did the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?

The Dismantling of a Global Development Organization: Not Universal Regret

When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was not unforeseen.

The Disturbing 1960s Experiment on Indian Women

When details about a medical experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the precise nature of what happened is still partially unclear.

A "Mozart" of the Online Economy

He's spent a full day in slime, 48 hours underground – and distributed huge amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of artistic genius?

Life in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Seas

With the ocean increasing, 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: Where are they going to go?

One Heartbreaking Case of Youth Homelessness

As I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then believed his life might turn around. I was tragically wrong.

The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move

In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Today, he may hold the answers to which nation wins the global AI race.

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