While we consider the previous year, a selection of exceptional feature-length articles emerges. Such accounts explore intricate topics ranging from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply personal stories.
The Enigmatic Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country
An author rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with sharp commentaries on power. Although several of his literary contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the nation, he continues to move millions of books. It raises a key question: Has the author turned into an defender for the establishment?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his only way to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may still get him killed.
A Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was hailed as radically changing the narrative of our species. Yet, some scholars was persuaded. The subsequent heated controversy has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Sect That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the appalling scale of abuse it had carried out.
The Leader's Unexpected Record on Human Rights
Many voters hoped that the prime minister would restore the the nation's commitment to international law. Yet, the performance over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Breaking a Country's Self-Image
A documentary featuring a repentant master criminal as she sets up corrupt clients with covert recording asks difficult queries: Is she really reformed, and what are the director's own motives?
A Man Who Cleans Britain's Darkest Stains
From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their most challenging times, individuals depend on him to restore order.
Can an Renowned Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, strained funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to repair its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an effective treatment end – up until perhaps now.
A Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideology shape the uppermost echelons of the state.
The British Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his brilliant mind and sterling credentials, it's no surprise that affluent individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to become suspicious.
A Tiny State That Emerged as the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly rich country has become a key force on the international scene, working to solve some of the most complex conflicts. What are driving this unprecedented project?
An Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle
Extremely disliked at home, President Macron relishes the world arena, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to manage a particular sitting American leader. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the summit.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old infant?
An End of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When actions were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was far from unexpected.
The Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was widespread outrage. But the precise story of the events remains somewhat contested.
A "Genius" of the Online Age
He's spent 24 hours in slime, two days buried alive – and given away huge sums of money to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever clickbait – or works of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is facing the possibility that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: Where are they going to relocate?
One Tragic Story of Youth Destitution
As I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. Even then hoped his situation could change for the better. That hope was tragically wrong.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he might possess the key to who wins the global AI race.
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