As we reflect on the past year, a selection of remarkable feature-length articles emerges. These pieces probe multifaceted topics ranging from geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply human journeys.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the nineties with sharp critiques on power. Whereas several of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or fled the country, he still sell vast numbers of books. This prompts a pertinent query: Has he turned into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Civil War
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was informed that his sole route out of incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may now get him killed.
The Fierce Feud Over Our Earliest Origins
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in 2001 was proclaimed as radically changing the narrative of our species. However, not everyone was persuaded. The ensuing intense scholarly debate has taken over the lives of researchers ever since.
The British Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the appalling extent of abuse it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Unexpected Record on Human Rights
A great many followers expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's dedication to human rights. Yet, the track record over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Self-Image
A film following a repentant master criminal as she ensnares corrupt clients with hidden cameras asks thorny questions: Is she really changed, and what are the filmmaker's true motives?
A Man Who Cleans Britain's Most Traumatic Stains
From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest times, people rely on him to bring back peace.
Will an Famous Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, precarious finances and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's leading cultural institution is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries been without an reliable medical remedy – up until potentially now.
A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A militant extremist and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas influence the very highest levels of government.
An British Gentleman With a Dishonest Side
With his keen mind and sterling reputation, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their assets. Until they started to get suspicious.
The Small Nation That Became the World's Diplomatic Hub
An incredibly wealthy country has transformed into a major actor on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this unprecedented endeavor?
A Inside View at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a certain former US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for battle.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Major Aid Agency: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.
The Unethical Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific study in the sixties became public, there was immense outrage. But the precise nature of what happened is still somewhat contested.
The "Genius" of the Online Economy
He's spent a full day in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed enormous sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is confronting the prospect that their home may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: To where are they going to go?
One Sorrowful Story of Youth Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still hoped his situation might turn around. That hope was sadly misplaced.
The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he might possess the answers to which nation wins the worldwide technological rivalry.
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