A Kingdom for a Horse
A look at the history, culture and future of Kazakhstan anchored in an account of one of its national sports – kokpar – where teams of mounted riders compete to score goals with a goat carcass.
The Future of Online Dating Is Unsexy and Brutally Effective
An engineer and data scientist (formerly at OK Cupid) goes deep in this engaging piece covering how AI, machine learning and ever greater troves of data from social platforms will impact dating.
4chan: The Skeleton Key to the Rise of Trump
A message board allowing users to post anonymously has played a significant role in the recent history of internet culture (think – the birthplace of the meme), the development of new extreme right movements sometimes called the ‘alt-right’, and the series of events that put Trump in the White House.
Through the Outback
A piece interspersed with evocative images, describing the photographer-author’s 12,000-mile, three-month journey through Australia’s Outback.
The Website Providing Abortion Without Borders
A profile of Women on Web, an online only abortion service.
The Meaning of Allahu Akbar
A phrase many have heard, but perhaps fewer understand. The author writes about what it means to her in this lyrical piece.
May 1968: A Month of Revolution Pushed France Into the Modern World
The controversy stoked by the month of riots in France 50 years ago had a seismic impact on French society. This photo essay revisits the events in Paris and around the country in May 1968.
How the CIA Hoodwinked Hollywood
How the CIA seeks to use the film industry to project its desired image.
The Lord and The Patriot
The story of how Chechnya’s ruler Ramzan Kadyrov uses sport to project and consolidate his power. Stunts include organising a mixed martial arts bout for children featuring his own sons, aged between eight and eleven.