As we reflect on the previous year, a selection of outstanding feature-length stories stands out. These pieces probe complex themes including political intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human journeys.
A Mysterious Novelist and the Soul of a Country
A certain Russian novelist gained prominence in the nineties with sharp critiques on authoritarianism. While many of his literary peers have faced suppression or fled the nation, he still sell vast numbers of books. It poses a pressing question: Has the author become an defender for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Civil War
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his sole way to escape incarceration was to join the government military. Following fourteen years, his history as one of Assad's fighters may now cost him his life.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in 2001 was hailed as completely changing the story of our human race. But, some scholars was convinced. The ensuing heated scholarly debate has consumed the lives of researchers ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Operated in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she helped reveal the shocking extent of abuse it had perpetrated.
The Leader's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
Many supporters anticipated that the prime minister would restore the UK's dedication to human rights. However, the performance over the first year in office has been strikingly mixed.
Breaking a Nation's Myth
A documentary tracking a remorseful con artist as she records unscrupulous individuals with covert recording asks complex queries: Is this person really a new person, and what are the director's true methods?
The Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – everything. In their most challenging moments, individuals depend on him to restore order.
Can an Famous Institution Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, precarious finances and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's premier cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to restore its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Severe Condition
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an reliable treatment remedy – until possibly now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Today, his ideology influence the highest echelons of the state.
An English Professional With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen intellect and sterling background, it's no surprise that affluent individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to become uneasy.
The Small State That Became the Global Mediation Center
An incredibly rich Gulf state has risen as a major actor on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are behind this unprecedented project?
An Close-Up View at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, President Macron thrives on the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader uniquely positioned to deal with a certain former US president. Seven years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he prepared for the fray.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
The End of a Major Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning
When actions were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.
The Shocking 1960s Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the full truth of what happened is still somewhat shrouded.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and distributed enormous sums of cash to selected participants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever clickbait – or acts of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the reality that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
A Sorrowful Story of Youth Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still hoped his situation might turn around. That hope was devastatingly wrong.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Defection
In 2020, after living decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Today, he could possess the answers to which nation prevails in the global AI race.
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