š Share this article The Best Long-Form Stories of the Year: A Collection of Profound Narratives As we consider the year gone by, a assortment of remarkable long-form pieces shines. Such narratives delve into complex themes from geopolitical machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly human stories. The Enigmatic Writer and the Conscience of a Country Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the nineties with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. Whereas numerous of his literary peers have faced suppression or fled the nation, he continues to move millions of books. It prompts a pressing question: Has the author become an apologist for the regime? Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Civil War The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole path out of incarceration was to enlist in the regime forces. Following 14 years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now cost him his life. The Acrimonious Dispute Over Humanity's Ancient Origins The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally rewriting the story of our species. Yet, not everyone was convinced. The resulting heated argument has consumed the lives of scholars ever since. The British Sect That Operated in Plain Sight Philippa Barnes was only a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking scale of mistreatment it had perpetrated. A Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights A great many followers hoped that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's dedication to human rights. But, the performance over the past year has been curiously ambiguous. Shattering a Country's Self-Image A film following a repentant master criminal as she records unscrupulous individuals with covert recording asks complex questions: Is she truly a new person, and what are the director's true motives? The Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered ā and dealt with ā everything. In their most challenging moments, individuals depend on him to restore order. Can an Famous Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"? Beset by restitution claims, strained finances and the exposure of an internal thief, Britain's number one museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Can it repair its standing? More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Agony of Extreme Condition Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long lacked an consistent medical end ā until potentially now. A Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Government A violent extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Today, his ideology influence the very highest echelons of government. The English Professional With a Fraudulent Side With his sharp intellect and impeccable background, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their assets. Then they started to get uneasy. The Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Capital An astonishingly wealthy country has risen as a major actor on the world stage, striving to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. What are fueling this unprecedented endeavor? An Close-Up Look at a Leader Preparing for Global Battle Deeply disliked at home, the French leader enjoys the world arena, where he positions himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the summit. During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby? An End of a Global Development Organization: Not Widespread Mourning When actions were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unexpected. The Unethical 1960s Experiment on South Asian Mothers When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense shock. But the full nature of what happened is still partially contested. A "Genius" of the Online Economy He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground ā and showered huge amounts of cash to lucky participants. But are these productions simply very clever clickbait ā or works of avant garde brilliance? Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the prospect that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The critical question is: Where are they going to relocate? A Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Homelessness When I met a young boy he was 13 and homeless. Even then believed his life might change for the better. That hope was sadly wrong. A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he may possess the key to who prevails in the global AI race. The finest stories