As we reflect on the past year, a selection of outstanding long-form articles shines. These pieces probe multifaceted subjects from geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to deeply personal stories.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Soul of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist became known in the post-Soviet era with biting satires on autocratic rule. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the country, he still move millions of books. It poses a key query: Has the author turned into an apologist for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole way out of prison was to enlist in the government forces. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of ancient bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was proclaimed as completely re-writing the narrative of our human race. However, a faction was convinced. The ensuing heated scholarly debate has dominated the careers of scholars ever since.
A British Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her household became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the shocking extent of mistreatment it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Curious Record on Human Rights
Many voters hoped that the prime minister would renew the the nation's dedication to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Challenging a Nation's Myth
A documentary featuring a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with covert recording raises difficult queries: Is she genuinely reformed, and what are the filmmaker's own methods?
A Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes
From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest hours, people depend on him to restore peace.
Will an Iconic Institution Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by debates over its collection, strained funding and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Is it possible to restore its reputation?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an reliable medical end – until possibly now.
A Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Government
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas shape the highest levels of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his sharp intellect and flawless background, it's little wonder that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their assets. Then they started to get uneasy.
A Small State That Became the World's Diplomatic Capital
An extremely rich country has transformed into a key player on the international scene, striving to solve some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are behind this unprecedented endeavor?
An Inside Look at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron relishes the world arena, where he positions himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to manage a certain former American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was far from unexpected.
The Unethical 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the sixties came to light, there was immense anxiety. But the precise story of the procedures is still partially unclear.
A "Master" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and showered huge sums of cash to selected contestants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or works of daring brilliance?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the possibility that their home may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: Where are they going to go?
One Tragic Case of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still hoped his situation could turn around. I was sadly wrong.
The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he could hold the key to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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