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While we look back on the year gone by, a assortment of remarkable long-form stories shines. These accounts explore multifaceted themes from political intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human sagas.

A Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation

An author gained prominence in the 1990s with scathing critiques on autocratic rule. Although numerous of his writer peers have faced censorship or left the nation, he still sell millions of books. This prompts a pressing query: Has he evolved into an apologist for the regime?

Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Civil War

The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only route out of prison was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers could still put him in mortal danger.

A Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings

The discovery of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in 2001 was heralded as radically re-writing the history of our human race. Yet, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent heated scholarly debate has taken over the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.

A British Sect That Hid in the Open

One woman was only a young girl when her household became part of the a religious community. As an adult, she helped uncover the appalling breadth of abuse it had carried out.

The Statesman's Puzzling Record on Human Rights

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

Breaking a Nation's Myth

A film featuring a repentant master criminal as she records unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras raises difficult questions: Is this person really changed, and is the director's own methods?

The Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Traumatic Stains

From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – it all. In their stickiest moments, people depend on him to bring back normalcy.

Will an Famous Museum Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?

Plagued by colonial controversy, strained funding and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's leading cultural institution is in deep trouble. The question remains: Is it possible to restore its standing?

Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Extreme Pregnancy

Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an reliable treatment end – up until possibly now.

A Ghost of Extremism in Contemporary Government

A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas influence the highest levels of government.

The English Gentleman With a Crooked Side

With his keen mind and flawless reputation, it's no surprise that affluent clients trusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become uneasy.

A Tiny Nation That Became the Global Mediation Hub

An incredibly wealthy country has transformed into a key player on the international scene, attempting to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are driving this ambitious endeavor?

An Inside View at a President Preparing for International Battle

Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader relishes the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader uniquely positioned to handle a particular former American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.

Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Case

How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with killing their newborn infant?

An End of a Global Development Organization: Not Widespread Regret

When actions were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest disappointment was far from unexpected.

The Shocking 1960s Experiment on Indian Women

When information about a medical experiment in the sixties became public, there was widespread anxiety. But the full nature of the events remains partially contested.

A "Master" of the Attention Age

He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and distributed enormous amounts of cash to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?

Existence in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean

With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the prospect that their islands may soon be submerged. The urgent issue is: Where are they going to go?

A Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Homelessness

As I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. I still thought his life could improve. I was sadly misplaced.

The Global AI Race and a Key Defection

In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he could possess the secret to who wins the worldwide AI race.

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