As we look back on the previous year, a assortment of outstanding long-form stories emerges. Such narratives delve into intricate themes including geopolitical machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly human stories.
A Mysterious Author and the Conscience of a Nation
Victor Pelevin became known in the nineties with biting commentaries on power. Although numerous of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or fled the nation, he continues to move vast numbers of copies. This prompts a pressing question: Has the author evolved into an defender for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Civil War
The account of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only path to escape incarceration was to join the government military. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may now cost him his life.
The Acrimonious Dispute Over Our Ancient Origins
The finding of ancient bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was hailed as fundamentally changing the story of our human race. However, a faction was convinced. The ensuing heated controversy has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped expose the shocking scale of abuse it had committed.
A Statesman's Unexpected Record on International Law
A great many voters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would renew the Britain's commitment to international law. Yet, the track record over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Shattering a Country's Identity
A film tracking a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras poses complex questions: Is she genuinely changed, and what are the director's own motives?
The Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their darkest hours, people rely on him to restore normalcy.
Can an Renowned Institution Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it repair its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has long lacked an consistent medical remedy – until perhaps now.
A Legacy of Extremism in Modern Government
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his teachings permeate the highest levels of the state.
The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his sharp intellect and flawless reputation, it's little wonder that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their wealth. Until they started to get suspicious.
The Small State That Became the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly wealthy country has become a key player on the world stage, attempting to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented endeavor?
A Close-Up View at a President Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader relishes the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a particular former American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for battle.
During the Trial of a Tragic Story
What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old infant?
The End of a Major Development Agency: Not Widespread Regret
When actions were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was far from unexpected.
The Disturbing 1960s Study on South Asian Mothers
When details about a medical experiment in the 1960s became public, there was immense shock. But the exact nature of what happened is still partially shrouded.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's endured a full day in slime, two days underground – and showered huge amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply very clever clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's population is confronting the reality that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical question is: Where are they going to go?
One Tragic Story of Youth Destitution
When I met a young boy he was 13 and without a home. I still thought his situation could change for the better. I was sadly mistaken.
A International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he could hold the secret to who wins the worldwide technological rivalry.
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