As we reflect on the previous year, a assortment of exceptional long-form articles emerges. Such narratives probe intricate subjects ranging from political intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human journeys.
A Enigmatic Writer and the Soul of a Nation
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing critiques on power. While numerous of his literary contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of copies. This prompts a key question: Has the author evolved into an defender for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Civil War
The story of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole path out of incarceration was to join the government forces. After fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could still put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The finding of fossilised bones in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally rewriting the history of our species. Yet, a faction was convinced. The ensuing intense argument has taken over the lives of scholars ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the shocking breadth of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
The Leader's Curious Stance on Human Rights
Numerous supporters expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the the nation's dedication to international law. However, the track record over the first year in office has been curiously inconsistent.
Shattering a Country's Self-Image
A film featuring a remorseful master criminal as she ensnares corrupt clients with hidden cameras asks difficult queries: Is she genuinely reformed, and what are the filmmaker's own intentions?
A Man Who Remediates the UK's Darkest Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – it all. In their darkest times, people rely on him to restore order.
Will an Famous Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by restitution claims, precarious finances and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's number one museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Can it repair its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has long been without an effective treatment solution – until possibly now.
A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A militant extremist and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings influence the highest echelons of the state.
The British Professional With a Fraudulent Side
With his sharp intellect and sterling reputation, it's little wonder that affluent individuals trusted him with their wealth. Then they started to get suspicious.
A Small Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Center
An extremely rich Gulf state has risen as a major actor on the international scene, working to solve some of the most long-standing disputes. What are behind this unprecedented endeavor?
An Inside View at a President Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron relishes the world arena, where he positions himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to handle a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Court Case 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?
The End of a Global Development Organization: Not Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was not unforeseen.
The Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers
When details about a medical study in the sixties came to light, there was immense anxiety. But the exact story of what happened remains somewhat shrouded.
A "Master" of the Attention Age
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and distributed enormous sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or works of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's population is grappling with the reality that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: Where are they going to go?
A Tragic Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. I still hoped his life might change for the better. I was sadly wrong.
A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In 2020, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might possess the key to which nation wins the global AI race.
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