While we reflect on the past year, a selection of outstanding feature-length articles emerges. Such accounts probe multifaceted subjects ranging from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply personal sagas.
The Enigmatic Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country
A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the nineties with biting satires on power. While many of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. This prompts a pressing question: Has the author become an apologist for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Conflict
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only path out of prison was to enlist in the regime forces. Following 14 long years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers may now cost him his life.
The Acrimonious Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of ancient bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was proclaimed as fundamentally changing the history of our species. Yet, not everyone was persuaded. The subsequent intense argument has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the appalling scale of exploitation it had committed.
A Leader's Curious Record on Human Rights
Numerous voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the the nation's dedication to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Challenging a Nation's Self-Image
A film featuring a remorseful fraudster as she sets up unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras raises complex questions: Is she genuinely reformed, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?
The Man Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest times, individuals turn to him to bring back peace.
Will an Renowned Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by restitution claims, difficult finances and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's premier museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Can it salvage its reputation?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable medical end – until possibly now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Government
A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings permeate the uppermost levels of the state.
An British Professional With a Dishonest Side
With his brilliant intellect and sterling background, it's little wonder that wealthy clients trusted him with their assets. Then they began to get wary.
A Small Nation That Became the World's Mediation Capital
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has become a key actor on the international scene, attempting to solve some of the most complex conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious role?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle
Deeply unpopular at home, President Macron relishes the international arena, where he presents himself as the leader best placed to handle a particular sitting US president. 7 years after their previous encounter, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Tragic Case
What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old infant?
An End of a Major Development Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a major US aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.
The Disturbing 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s were revealed, there was immense shock. But the full story of the events is still partially unclear.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's spent a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and distributed huge amounts of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the possibility that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical question is: To where are they supposed to go?
A Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. Even then hoped his situation could change for the better. That hope was tragically wrong.
The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Move
In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Today, he could possess the key to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
The best narratives
