Upon reflect on the year gone by, a assortment of remarkable long-form pieces shines. Such pieces explore multifaceted topics including political intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human stories.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. Whereas many of his literary peers have faced censorship or left the nation, he still move vast numbers of copies. It poses a pertinent query: Has the author become an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Civil War
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his sole way to escape incarceration was to join the regime military. After 14 years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may still put him in mortal danger.
The Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was proclaimed as fundamentally re-writing the story of our human race. However, a faction was in agreement. The subsequent intense scholarly debate has taken over the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The British Cult That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the appalling extent of abuse it had perpetrated.
The Prime Minister's Curious Stance on Human Rights
A great many followers hoped that the prime minister would renew the the nation's dedication to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been strikingly ambiguous.
Challenging a Nation's Identity
A film featuring a repentant master criminal as she records unscrupulous clients with covert recording raises thorny queries: Is she really a new person, and is the filmmaker's own motives?
The Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and restored – everything. In their stickiest hours, people depend on him to restore order.
Will an Iconic Institution Survive an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by restitution claims, precarious finances and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's premier museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its standing?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Suffering of Severe Pregnancy
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries been without an consistent medical end – up until potentially now.
A Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A violent extremist and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his teachings permeate the highest levels of government.
An English Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his sharp mind and sterling credentials, it's understandable that wealthy clients entrusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become suspicious.
A Tiny Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a significant player on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented project?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for International Battle
Deeply disliked at domestically, the French leader thrives on the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader best placed to manage a particular sitting US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Case
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
An End of a Major Development Organization: Not Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest letdown was far from unforeseen.
The Shocking Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When information about a medical study in the sixties became public, there was immense anxiety. But the exact truth of the events is still somewhat contested.
The "Genius" of the Attention Age
He's endured a full day in slime, two days underground – and distributed huge amounts of money to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of daring genius?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's people is facing the possibility that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The pressing question is: To where are they going to go?
A Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution
When I met a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still believed his life might change for the better. That hope was tragically wrong.
The International AI Competition and a Key Move
In 2020, after living decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Now, he could possess the key to who wins the worldwide AI race.
The finest narratives
