While we look back on the previous year, a curated list of exceptional feature-length articles stands out. These accounts delve into complex topics from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply personal journeys.
The Mysterious Author and the Conscience of a Country
A certain Russian novelist became known in the 1990s with sharp commentaries on power. Whereas several of his literary peers have encountered censorship or fled the nation, he still sell vast numbers of copies. It prompts a pertinent question: Has the author turned into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Horrific Conflict
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his only path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government forces. After 14 long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might still get him killed.
The Fierce Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of fossilised remains in the Chadian desert in 2001 was heralded as completely changing the story of our human race. Yet, some scholars was persuaded. The subsequent intense argument has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped expose the shocking scale of abuse it had committed.
The Statesman's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
Many followers expected that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to human rights. Yet, the record over the first year in office has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A film featuring a repentant fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras asks complex questions: Is she genuinely changed, and is the director's own intentions?
The Man Who Cleans Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and dealt with – it all. In their stickiest hours, people rely on him to restore normalcy.
Will an Iconic Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by debates over its collection, difficult funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it restore its reputation?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Suffering of Severe Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an consistent medical remedy – until perhaps now.
A Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings shape the very highest levels of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant intellect and flawless reputation, it's understandable that affluent clients entrusted him with their assets. Then they started to get suspicious.
A Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital
An extremely rich Gulf state has risen as a significant actor on the world stage, working to broker peace in some of the most intractable conflicts. What are fueling this unprecedented project?
An Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for International Battle
Deeply disliked at home, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Tragic Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was far from unexpected.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact story of the procedures is still partially shrouded.
A "Master" of the Attention Economy
He's spent a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and given away vast sums of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the possibility that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing issue is: Where are they going to relocate?
A Sorrowful Case of Childhood Destitution
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his situation might turn around. I was devastatingly misplaced.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he may hold the key to which nation wins the global AI race.
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