Upon look back on the previous year, a assortment of remarkable long-form articles emerges. Such accounts explore intricate topics including political machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly personal stories.
The Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the nineties with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. While many of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the nation, he continues to sell millions of copies. It raises a pertinent question: Has the author evolved into an supporter for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his only way out of incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After fourteen years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might still get him killed.
The Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was heralded as radically changing the story of our human race. However, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent heated argument has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.
The UK Cult That Operated in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped uncover the appalling scale of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
A Leader's Unexpected Record on Human Rights
A great many voters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's dedication to human rights. However, the performance over the first year in office has been notably mixed.
Breaking a Nation's Identity
A film tracking a repentant con artist as she sets up unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses complex queries: Is this person genuinely reformed, and what are the filmmaker's own intentions?
A Man Who Cleans Britain's Darkest Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their most challenging hours, families rely on him to bring back order.
Can an Famous Institution Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's leading museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Severe Condition
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has long lacked an effective medical end – until perhaps now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Government
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings influence the highest levels of government.
The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Side
With his sharp intellect and sterling background, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to become uneasy.
A Small State That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Center
An incredibly wealthy country has risen as a key player on the world stage, working to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are fueling this ambitious project?
A Close-Up View at a President Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader relishes the world arena, where he projects himself as the leader uniquely positioned to handle a certain sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
An End of a Major Aid Organization: Far From Universal Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest disappointment was far from unexpected.
A Shocking 1960s Study on Indian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread anxiety. But the full nature of what happened remains somewhat contested.
The "Master" of the Attention Economy
He's endured a full day in slime, two days underground – and given away vast amounts of money to lucky participants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever entertainment – or works of artistic genius?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is grappling with the possibility that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The pressing issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Homelessness
As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his situation could change for the better. That hope was devastatingly misplaced.
A Global AI Competition and a Crucial Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he could possess the secret to who prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
The most impactful stories
