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While we consider the previous year, a selection of outstanding feature-length articles emerges. Such accounts probe multifaceted topics including political machinations and scientific revelations to deeply human sagas.

The Puzzling Author and the Conscience of a Country

Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the nineties with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. Although many of his writer peers have faced censorship or left the country, he continues to sell millions of copies. This raises a pertinent query: Has the author turned into an apologist for the regime?

Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Civil War

The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only way out of incarceration was to join the regime forces. Following 14 long years, his history as one of Assad's fighters could still cost him his life.

The Fierce Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Origins

The finding of fossilised bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was hailed as completely changing the story of our human race. However, a faction was persuaded. The subsequent heated scholarly debate has consumed the careers of scholars ever since.

A British Sect That Operated in Plain Sight

One woman was only a child when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she helped uncover the appalling breadth of mistreatment it had perpetrated.

The Statesman's Puzzling Record on International Law

Many followers expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the the nation's dedication to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been curiously mixed.

Shattering a Nation's Identity

A film featuring a remorseful con artist as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with covert recording asks complex questions: Is this person really a new person, and what are the director's true motives?

The Person Who Cleans Britain's Darkest Scenes

From homicide sites to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest hours, individuals rely on him to bring back peace.

Will an Renowned Institution Endure an "Omni-Crisis"?

Beset by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to repair its legacy?

Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Severe Condition

Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an reliable medical remedy – up until potentially now.

A Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Politics

A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Today, his ideology shape the very highest echelons of the state.

An English Professional With a Fraudulent Side

With his keen intellect and flawless reputation, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get uneasy.

The Small Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Center

An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a major force on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. What are behind this unprecedented project?

A Close-Up View at a President Preparing for Global Battle

Deeply disliked at home, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to manage a particular former American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story

What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?

The End of a Major Development Agency: Far From Widespread Mourning

When actions were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was not unforeseen.

A Shocking 1960s Study on Indian Mothers

When details about a medical experiment in the 1960s became public, there was immense shock. But the exact nature of what happened is still somewhat shrouded.

The "Genius" of the Attention Age

He's endured a full day in slime, two days underground – and showered enormous amounts of cash to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply very clever entertainment – or acts of avant garde genius?

Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Seas

With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's population is facing the possibility that their islands may in the near future cease to exist. The critical issue is: To where are they going to relocate?

A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Homelessness

As I met a young boy he was 13 and without a home. Even then thought his life might change for the better. That hope was devastatingly wrong.

The Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Move

In 2020, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he might possess the secret to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.

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