While we reflect on the past year, a selection of remarkable feature-length articles stands out. These pieces delve into intricate themes from geopolitical machinations and historical revelations to deeply human stories.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on autocratic rule. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the nation, he still sell millions of copies. This raises a pertinent question: Has he evolved into an supporter for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only way to escape prison was to join the regime military. Following 14 long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might now put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Feud Over Humanity's Ancient Origins
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as completely rewriting the narrative of our human race. Yet, a faction was persuaded. The resulting intense argument has dominated the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Cult That Operated in the Open
One woman was only a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the shocking breadth of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
A great many followers expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the performance over the first year in office has been strikingly mixed.
Challenging a Nation's Myth
A documentary following a remorseful fraudster as she records unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras asks thorny questions: Is this person really a new person, and what are the director's true intentions?
A Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From crime scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has seen – and restored – it all. In their darkest moments, people rely on him to restore order.
Will an Iconic Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, precarious finances and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's premier museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an consistent medical solution – up until possibly now.
A Ghost of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A violent fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideology permeate the very highest echelons of government.
The English Professional With a Crooked Side
With his brilliant mind and flawless background, it's understandable that affluent individuals trusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to become wary.
A Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Center
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a key force on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are fueling this ambitious role?
An Close-Up View at a President Preparing for International Battle
Extremely disliked at home, President Macron enjoys the international arena, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a particular sitting US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Major Development Agency: Not Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was far from unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Study on Indian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was immense shock. But the exact nature of the events is still somewhat contested.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's spent a full day in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and given away enormous sums of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or works of artistic genius?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is confronting the prospect that their home may soon be submerged. The urgent question is: To where are they going to relocate?
A Tragic Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. Even then thought his life might improve. I was tragically misplaced.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after living half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he may possess the answers to which nation wins the global AI race.
The most impactful stories
