A Best Feature Reads of the Year: An Selection of Compelling Narratives
Upon consider the previous year, a selection of remarkable long-form articles emerges. These pieces delve into multifaceted subjects ranging from political machinations and historical discoveries to deeply human sagas.
The Enigmatic Author and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the 1990s with scathing commentaries on authoritarianism. Whereas many of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. This poses a pertinent question: Has he become an apologist for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The account of a young man, who at 18 was informed that his only route out of prison was to enlist in the regime military. Following fourteen long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could now get him killed.
The Fierce Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally rewriting the story of our species. Yet, some scholars was persuaded. The resulting intense scholarly debate has taken over the lives of scholars ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Operated in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the shocking scale of exploitation it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on International Law
A great many voters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the the nation's commitment to human rights. Yet, the track record over the first year in office has been strikingly mixed.
Challenging a Nation's Myth
A documentary featuring a remorseful con artist as she records unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras asks complex queries: Is this person genuinely changed, and is the filmmaker's true motives?
A Man Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – everything. In their darkest moments, people turn to him to bring back order.
Will an Iconic Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by debates over its collection, difficult finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Extreme Condition
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an reliable treatment solution – up until potentially now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. Today, his ideas permeate the very highest levels of government.
The English Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant mind and impeccable reputation, it's understandable that affluent clients trusted him with their assets. Then they began to get suspicious.
The Small Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a significant player on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most complex disputes. Which factors are behind this unprecedented project?
An Inside View at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, President Macron enjoys the world stage, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to manage a certain former US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Story
How did the child of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her partner, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
The End of a Major Development Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was not unforeseen.
A Shocking Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties became public, there was immense shock. But the full story of what happened is still somewhat contested.
The "Genius" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and showered huge amounts of money to selected participants. But are these productions simply very savvy entertainment – or acts of daring genius?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels rising, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the prospect that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The pressing issue is: To where are they supposed to go?
One Tragic Story of Youth Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. I still hoped his life could turn around. I was devastatingly misplaced.
The International AI Race and a Key Move
In 2020, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Today, he may possess the secret to which nation prevails in the global AI race.
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