As we consider the previous year, a curated list of remarkable long-form articles shines. Such accounts probe multifaceted topics ranging from political machinations and historical revelations to profoundly personal sagas.
The Mysterious Writer and the Soul of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist gained prominence in the nineties with biting critiques on authoritarianism. While numerous of his literary peers have encountered suppression or fled the country, he still sell millions of books. This prompts a pressing query: Has the author turned into an apologist for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Conflict
The account of a young man, who at 18 was told that his only route to escape prison was to join the regime forces. After fourteen long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may still put him in mortal danger.
A Fierce Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally changing the history of our human race. But, not everyone was persuaded. The ensuing intense argument has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Religious Group That Operated in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the appalling scale of abuse it had carried out.
A Statesman's Unexpected Record on Human Rights
Numerous voters hoped that the prime minister would reaffirm the UK's commitment to human rights. Yet, the track record over the past year has been strikingly mixed.
Shattering a Country's Identity
A film featuring a repentant con artist as she records unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras asks difficult queries: Is she truly reformed, and what are the director's own intentions?
A Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their most challenging hours, individuals depend on him to restore normalcy.
Can an Iconic Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by debates over its collection, precarious finances and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's premier cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its reputation?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has long lacked an reliable treatment solution – up until possibly now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideas permeate the very highest echelons of the state.
The English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret
With his sharp intellect and flawless reputation, it's no surprise that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their wealth. Until they started to get wary.
A Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Hub
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a major actor on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are driving this unprecedented project?
A Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle
Extremely disliked at domestically, President Macron enjoys the world arena, where he positions himself as the leader uniquely positioned to manage a certain former American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was not unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a medical study in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the exact truth of the procedures remains partially unclear.
A "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in slime, 48 hours underground – and given away vast amounts of money to lucky participants. But are these productions simply very savvy entertainment – or works of daring genius?
Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the reality that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: To where are they going to go?
One Heartbreaking Case of Youth Homelessness
When I met a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might improve. I was devastatingly misplaced.
The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he could hold the answers to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.
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