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Upon look back on the past year, a assortment of outstanding long-form stories stands out. Such accounts delve into complex themes including geopolitical machinations and historical revelations to profoundly human stories.

A Mysterious Author and the Moral Fabric of a Nation

Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the nineties with sharp commentaries on power. Although several of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the nation, he still move vast numbers of books. It poses a pressing query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?

Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Conflict

The tale of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole way out of incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. Following 14 long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may now get him killed.

The Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Origins

The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically re-writing the story of our human race. However, not everyone was persuaded. The resulting bitter controversy has dominated the careers of scholars ever since.

A British Religious Group That Hid in the Open

Philippa Barnes was just a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the disturbing scale of abuse it had committed.

A Statesman's Unexpected Record on International Law

Numerous supporters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would restore the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the track record over the past year has been curiously mixed.

Shattering a Nation's Identity

A documentary following a repentant con artist as she records corrupt clients with hidden cameras poses difficult questions: Is this person really changed, and what are the filmmaker's true intentions?

A Person Who Cleans Britain's Darkest Scenes

From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has seen – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging times, people rely on him to bring back peace.

Will an Renowned Museum Endure an "Perfect Storm"?

Beset by colonial controversy, strained funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its reputation?

Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Severe Pregnancy

Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries lacked an consistent treatment end – until potentially now.

A Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics

A violent fanatic and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideology influence the very highest echelons of the state.

The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Side

With his keen intellect and sterling background, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals trusted him with their assets. Then they began to become uneasy.

A Small State That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Capital

An astonishingly rich Gulf state has risen as a significant force on the world stage, working to mediate some of the most intractable disputes. What are fueling this unprecedented project?

An Close-Up View at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry

Deeply unpopular at domestically, the French leader enjoys the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader uniquely positioned to handle a particular former US president. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case

How did the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their newborn baby?

An Dismantling of a Global Development Agency: Not Widespread Regret

When actions were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest disappointment was far from unexpected.

A Shocking 1960s Experiment on Indian Mothers

When details about a scientific experiment in the 1960s became public, there was widespread shock. But the precise story of the procedures is still partially unclear.

The "Genius" of the Attention Economy

He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and showered enormous sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde genius?

Existence in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Seas

With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the possibility that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?

One Sorrowful Case of Childhood Destitution

When I met a young boy he was 13 and without a home. I still believed his situation could improve. That hope was devastatingly wrong.

The Global AI Race and a Crucial Move

In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he might hold the answers to who wins the worldwide technological rivalry.

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