Upon reflect on the past year, a selection of outstanding feature-length articles emerges. These pieces explore complex subjects including geopolitical intrigue and historical discoveries to profoundly human stories.
A Puzzling Author and the Conscience of a Country
An author became known in the nineties with sharp satires on authoritarianism. While many of his literary peers have faced censorship or fled the nation, he continues to sell millions of books. It poses a key question: Has he evolved into an supporter for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Conflict
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his sole route to escape prison was to join the regime forces. Following 14 long years, his past as one of Assad's fighters could now get him killed.
The Acrimonious Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was proclaimed as completely rewriting the story of our species. However, a faction was convinced. The ensuing heated scholarly debate has dominated the careers of researchers ever since.
The British Religious Group That Operated in the Open
One woman was only a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing scale of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Unexpected Record on International Law
Numerous supporters expected that the prime minister would restore the Britain's commitment to human rights. But, the track record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Breaking a Country's Identity
A documentary following a repentant master criminal as she records corrupt clients with covert recording asks thorny questions: Is this person truly reformed, and is the filmmaker's true motives?
The Person Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their most challenging hours, families rely on him to bring back peace.
Will an Famous Museum Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?
Burdened by debates over its collection, difficult finances and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's number one cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long been without an reliable medical solution – up until perhaps now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Modern Politics
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology influence the uppermost echelons of government.
An British Professional With a Fraudulent Side
With his brilliant intellect and impeccable background, it's no surprise that affluent clients trusted him with their wealth. Then they started to become wary.
The Tiny Nation That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly wealthy country has transformed into a significant actor on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are driving this unprecedented endeavor?
An Inside Look at a President Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron thrives on the world stage, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Story
How did the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with killing their newborn baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was not unexpected.
A Shocking Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the 1960s became public, there was immense anxiety. But the exact story of the procedures is still partially shrouded.
The "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's endured 24 hours in slime, two days buried alive – and given away huge amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply very clever entertainment – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the possibility that their home may in the near future be submerged. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to go?
A Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Destitution
When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still thought his situation might change for the better. I was sadly misplaced.
The Global AI Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he may possess the key to which nation wins the global AI race.
The finest stories
