While we look back on the previous year, a curated list of exceptional feature-length articles shines. These accounts probe multifaceted topics ranging from political machinations and historical revelations to deeply human sagas.
The Enigmatic Writer and the Conscience of a Nation
An author became known in the post-Soviet era with scathing critiques on power. While numerous of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the country, he still move vast numbers of books. It poses a key question: Has the author evolved into an supporter for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole route out of prison was to enlist in the government military. After fourteen long years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers could now get him killed.
A Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Origins
The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was hailed as completely re-writing the story of our species. But, not everyone was persuaded. The resulting heated controversy has taken over the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The UK Sect That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an adult, she helped reveal the disturbing extent of exploitation it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Curious Record on Human Rights
Many followers anticipated that the prime minister would renew the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the performance over the past year has been notably ambiguous.
Breaking a Nation's Identity
A film following a repentant con artist as she ensnares corrupt clients with covert recording raises complex questions: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the filmmaker's true intentions?
A Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Difficult Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has encountered – and restored – everything. In their most challenging times, individuals turn to him to bring back normalcy.
Will an Iconic Museum Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by restitution claims, precarious funding and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's premier museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it repair its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an consistent treatment remedy – until potentially now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A violent fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideology shape the highest echelons of the state.
The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his brilliant mind and impeccable credentials, it's little wonder that affluent individuals entrusted him with their assets. Until they started to get wary.
The Small State That Became the Global Diplomatic Center
An incredibly rich Gulf state has transformed into a major force on the world stage, striving to solve some of the most complex disputes. What are fueling this ambitious project?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to manage a particular sitting American leader. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
An End of a Major Aid Agency: Far From Widespread Mourning
When actions were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.
A Unethical Mid-Century Study on Indian Mothers
When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was immense shock. But the full nature of the events remains partially unclear.
The "Master" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and distributed vast sums of money to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or works of artistic genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is facing the possibility that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The critical question is: To where are they supposed to go?
One Heartbreaking Story of Youth Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still believed his situation might change for the better. I was sadly misplaced.
A Global AI Competition and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he might possess the key to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.
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