Upon consider the year gone by, a assortment of outstanding long-form articles shines. These accounts probe intricate subjects ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to deeply personal stories.
The Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
A certain Russian novelist gained prominence in the nineties with biting commentaries on power. Whereas many of his writer peers have faced censorship or fled the nation, he still move millions of books. It prompts a pertinent question: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his only way out of prison was to join the regime military. After 14 long years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers may now get him killed.
The Fierce Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically re-writing the history of our human race. But, not everyone was in agreement. The ensuing heated argument has consumed the careers of researchers ever since.
A UK Cult That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the appalling scale of abuse it had committed.
A Leader's Puzzling Stance on International Law
Numerous voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would restore the Britain's commitment to international law. However, the track record over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Breaking a Nation's Identity
A documentary tracking a remorseful master criminal as she records unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras asks complex questions: Is this person really reformed, and what are the director's own methods?
A Person Who Remediates Britain's Darkest Stains
From homicide sites to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest hours, families rely on him to restore order.
Can an Iconic Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Burdened by debates over its collection, difficult funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's premier museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Is it possible to restore its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Extreme Condition
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries been without an effective medical remedy – until potentially now.
A Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings shape the highest echelons of government.
The English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant mind and sterling credentials, it's understandable that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their assets. Then they started to get suspicious.
The Small Nation That Became the World's Mediation Center
An incredibly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a key actor on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most complex disputes. What are fueling this unprecedented role?
A Inside Look at a Leader Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, the French leader thrives on the world stage, where he presents himself as the leader uniquely positioned to handle a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for battle.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Global Development Agency: Not Universal Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was not unforeseen.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties became public, there was immense outrage. But the full truth of the procedures is still somewhat contested.
The "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and showered vast sums of money to lucky participants. But are these videos simply very clever clickbait – or acts of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is grappling with the reality that their home may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent issue is: Where are they going to go?
One Sorrowful Case of Youth Homelessness
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his life could change for the better. That hope was sadly mistaken.
The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Move
In the recent past, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might hold the key to which nation prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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