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As we consider the year gone by, a assortment of remarkable long-form articles emerges. These pieces delve into complex topics from geopolitical intrigue and historical revelations to profoundly personal stories.

A Enigmatic Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Nation

Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. Whereas numerous of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or fled the country, he continues to move vast numbers of copies. It poses a key query: Has he evolved into an defender for the establishment?

Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Civil War

The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his sole route out of prison was to join the government military. Following 14 long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now cost him his life.

The Fierce Argument Over Our Earliest Beginnings

The finding of fossilised bones in the Djurab desert in 2001 was hailed as radically re-writing the story of our human race. Yet, some scholars was in agreement. The subsequent heated argument has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.

The British Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight

One woman was just a child when her household joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the appalling scale of abuse it had perpetrated.

A Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on Human Rights

Numerous supporters anticipated that the prime minister would restore the UK's commitment to international law. However, the performance over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.

Challenging a Country's Self-Image

A documentary following a repentant fraudster as she ensnares corrupt clients with hidden cameras poses thorny queries: Is this person truly a new person, and what are the director's true methods?

The Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Traumatic Stains

From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – everything. In their darkest times, people turn to him to restore peace.

Can an Renowned Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?

Beset by restitution claims, precarious finances and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's premier museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it repair its legacy?

Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Extreme Pregnancy

Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an reliable medical end – until perhaps now.

The Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Government

A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas permeate the highest levels of government.

An British Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret

With his keen mind and sterling credentials, it's no surprise that high-net-worth individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Then they began to get suspicious.

A Tiny Nation That Became the Global Mediation Center

An astonishingly rich country has risen as a major force on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are behind this unprecedented project?

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

Extremely disliked at home, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to deal with a particular former US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story

What led to the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?

The Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Widespread Mourning

When actions were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was not unexpected.

A Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women

When information about a medical experiment in the 1960s became public, there was widespread outrage. But the precise story of the events is still partially shrouded.

A "Genius" of the Attention Economy

He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered enormous amounts of cash to selected participants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or acts of artistic brilliance?

Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas

With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is confronting the reality that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The critical question is: To where are they supposed to go?

One Heartbreaking Case of Youth Homelessness

As I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. I still believed his life could turn around. I was sadly misplaced.

The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection

In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he might hold the answers to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.

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