As we reflect on the past year, a selection of exceptional long-form articles stands out. These pieces explore intricate subjects from geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to profoundly personal stories.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Soul of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the 1990s with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. While numerous of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the country, he still sell vast numbers of books. It poses a pressing query: Has the author turned into an defender for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was informed that his only path to escape incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After fourteen years, his history as one of Assad's fighters may still get him killed.
The Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The finding of ancient bones in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was heralded as radically changing the story of our human race. However, a faction was convinced. The ensuing bitter scholarly debate has taken over the careers of scholars ever since.
A British Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the appalling breadth of abuse it had carried out.
A Leader's Curious Stance on International Law
A great many followers expected that the prime minister would renew the Britain's commitment to international law. But, the record over the first year in office has been notably mixed.
Challenging a Nation's Identity
A documentary tracking a remorseful fraudster as she records corrupt individuals with hidden cameras poses complex questions: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the director's true intentions?
A Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Darkest Scenes
From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and restored – it all. In their most challenging hours, people depend on him to restore normalcy.
Will an Renowned Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, strained funding and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's premier museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it repair its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Severe Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries been without an consistent treatment remedy – until potentially now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Today, his teachings shape the very highest levels of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Side
With his keen intellect and impeccable background, it's no surprise that affluent individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to become suspicious.
A Small State That Emerged as the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a major player on the world stage, working to solve some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are driving this ambitious project?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry
Extremely unpopular at home, the French leader thrives on the world stage, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to manage a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he readied himself for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Story
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old infant?
An End of a Global Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning
When actions were made to dismantle a major US aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Experiment on South Asian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the precise nature of the procedures remains somewhat unclear.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in slime, 48 hours underground – and distributed enormous sums of cash to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or works of artistic genius?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is confronting the possibility that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing issue is: Where are they going to relocate?
A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Homelessness
As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still thought his life could change for the better. I was tragically wrong.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he could possess the answers to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.
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