While we reflect on the previous year, a assortment of exceptional long-form articles shines. These accounts delve into intricate topics ranging from geopolitical machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly human stories.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Soul of a Nation
An author rose to fame in the nineties with biting commentaries on autocratic rule. While several of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or left the nation, he continues to move millions of copies. This poses a key question: Has he turned into an defender for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was informed that his sole path out of incarceration was to join the government forces. Following 14 years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may now cost him his life.
The Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Ancient Origins
The finding of ancient bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was proclaimed as completely re-writing the story of our species. Yet, a faction was convinced. The resulting intense scholarly debate has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was just a young girl when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the appalling extent of exploitation it had committed.
A Statesman's Puzzling Stance on International Law
Numerous supporters anticipated that the prime minister would restore the UK's dedication to human rights. Yet, the track record over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Challenging a Country's Identity
A documentary tracking a repentant con artist as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording poses difficult queries: Is she genuinely reformed, and what are the director's own methods?
A Person Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Stains
From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging moments, people rely on him to bring back peace.
Will an Renowned Museum Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by restitution claims, difficult finances and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its standing?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries lacked an effective medical remedy – up until perhaps now.
The Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideology shape the highest echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Dishonest Side
With his keen intellect and flawless reputation, it's no surprise that affluent individuals trusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get uneasy.
A Small Nation That Became the World's Diplomatic Capital
An extremely rich Gulf state has become a significant player on the world stage, striving to broker peace in some of the most complex disputes. What are driving this ambitious role?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely disliked at home, the French leader thrives on the world arena, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to handle a certain former American leader. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.
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 newborn infant?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was far from unforeseen.
The Unethical Mid-Century Study on South Asian Mothers
When information about a scientific study in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the precise truth of what happened is still partially contested.
A "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's spent 24 hours in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and showered enormous amounts of money to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde 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 home may soon be submerged. The critical issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution
When I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. I still thought his life could change for the better. That hope was sadly mistaken.
The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Now, he could possess the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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