Upon consider the year gone by, a selection of exceptional long-form articles emerges. These accounts probe intricate topics including geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to profoundly human journeys.
A Puzzling Author and the Soul of a Nation
An author became known in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on power. While many of his literary peers have faced suppression or left the country, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. It poses a pressing question: Has he become an defender for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Civil War
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his sole path to escape incarceration was to join the government forces. After fourteen long years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers might still get him killed.
The Fierce Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was heralded as completely re-writing the history of our human race. However, some scholars was persuaded. The ensuing intense controversy has consumed the careers of scholars ever since.
The UK Cult 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 disturbing scale of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on International Law
Numerous followers hoped that the prime minister would renew the UK's dedication to international law. But, the performance over the first year in office has been strikingly inconsistent.
Challenging a Country's Self-Image
A film following a repentant con artist as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is she truly changed, and is the filmmaker's own intentions?
A Man Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest hours, people rely on him to bring back order.
Will an Iconic Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by restitution claims, precarious funding and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's premier cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to restore its reputation?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Extreme Condition
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an consistent treatment end – up until possibly now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideology influence the highest levels of government.
The British Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his brilliant intellect and flawless credentials, it's little wonder that wealthy clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to get wary.
The Small Nation That Became the World's Mediation Hub
An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major force on the world stage, working to solve some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are behind this ambitious project?
An Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader enjoys the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a certain sitting American leader. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?
An Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Far From Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.
A Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the 1960s became public, there was immense shock. But the full truth of the procedures is still partially contested.
The "Master" of the Online Economy
He's spent 24 hours in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and showered enormous amounts of cash to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply very clever entertainment – or works of daring brilliance?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the prospect that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing question is: To where are they supposed to go?
A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Destitution
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. Even then hoped his life might improve. That hope was tragically wrong.
A International AI Race and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after living decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Now, he might possess the secret to who wins the worldwide technological rivalry.
The finest narratives
