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As we look back on the previous year, a assortment of remarkable long-form pieces emerges. Such accounts delve into complex topics including geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply human journeys.

A Puzzling Novelist and the Soul of a Nation

Victor Pelevin became known in the nineties with biting commentaries on authoritarianism. Although many of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or fled the nation, he still sell vast numbers of copies. This raises a pertinent question: Has he evolved into an apologist for the regime?

Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict

The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his only route out of prison was to join the regime forces. After 14 long years, his former role as one of Assad's fighters may still put him in mortal danger.

The Acrimonious Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The discovery of ancient bones in the Chadian sands in 2001 was hailed as completely changing the story of our human race. But, a faction was convinced. The subsequent heated controversy has consumed the lives of researchers ever since.

The British Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight

One woman was only a child when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the disturbing breadth of exploitation it had perpetrated.

The Leader's Curious Stance on Human Rights

A great many supporters expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to human rights. But, the record over the first year in office has been notably ambiguous.

Challenging a Country's Identity

A film tracking a repentant con artist as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with covert recording raises difficult questions: Is she really reformed, and what are the director's own motives?

A Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes

From murder scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and cleaned – everything. In their darkest times, individuals rely on him to restore peace.

Will an Iconic Museum Endure an "Perfect Storm"?

Plagued by restitution claims, difficult finances and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its standing?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Severe Pregnancy

Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an consistent medical solution – up until possibly now.

A Spectre of Radicalism in Modern Politics

A violent extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah 35 years ago. Now, his ideology influence the uppermost echelons of government.

An British Gentleman With a Crooked Side

With his keen mind and flawless credentials, it's little wonder that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get uneasy.

The Tiny Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Center

An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a significant force on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most intractable disputes. What are fueling this unprecedented project?

An Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for International Battle

Extremely unpopular at home, President Macron 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 accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story

What led to the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby?

An End of a Global Aid Organization: Not Widespread Regret

When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was far from unexpected.

A Unethical Mid-Century Study on Indian Mothers

When information about a medical experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the precise truth of the events is still partially shrouded.

A "Mozart" of the Attention Age

He's spent a full day in slime, two days underground – and distributed enormous sums of cash to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde genius?

Life in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Seas

With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is facing the possibility that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The pressing issue is: To where are they going to relocate?

One Tragic Case of Youth Homelessness

When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. Even then thought his situation could change for the better. I was tragically mistaken.

The Global AI Competition and a Key Defection

In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he may possess the secret to who prevails in the global AI race.

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