While we consider the previous year, a curated list of remarkable long-form stories emerges. Such pieces probe intricate themes including geopolitical machinations and historical discoveries to deeply human stories.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the 1990s with biting critiques on power. While several of his writer peers have encountered censorship or left the country, he still sell vast numbers of copies. This poses a key question: Has he become an defender for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Conflict
The story of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only path out of incarceration was to enlist in the regime forces. After fourteen long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might now get him killed.
The Fierce Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The finding of ancient remains in the Chadian desert in 2001 was hailed as completely re-writing the history of our human race. However, not everyone was convinced. The subsequent bitter controversy has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the disturbing breadth of abuse it had carried out.
The Leader's Curious Record on International Law
Numerous followers expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to international law. Yet, the performance over the first year in office has been notably inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Identity
A film featuring a remorseful fraudster as she records unscrupulous clients with covert recording raises thorny queries: Is this person genuinely reformed, and what are the director's true methods?
The Man Who Cleans Britain's Darkest Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and restored – everything. In their stickiest moments, individuals rely on him to restore normalcy.
Will an Iconic Museum Survive an "Perfect Storm"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it restore its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries lacked an effective treatment solution – up until potentially now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings influence the very highest levels of the state.
The English Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his keen mind and sterling credentials, it's no surprise that affluent clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to become uneasy.
The Small Nation That Became the Global Mediation Center
An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a key force on the world stage, attempting to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this unprecedented endeavor?
A Close-Up View at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to handle a certain former American leader. 7 years after their last encounter, a journalist joined him as he readied himself for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Global Development Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a major US aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was not unexpected.
A Unethical 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread outrage. But the full story of the procedures is still partially unclear.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered huge amounts of money to lucky participants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever clickbait – or acts of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is facing the possibility that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: To where are they going to relocate?
A Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Destitution
When I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his situation could change for the better. That hope was sadly wrong.
A International AI Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In 2020, after living half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Now, he might possess the answers to who prevails in the global AI race.
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