While we reflect on the previous year, a assortment of outstanding feature-length pieces shines. Such pieces probe multifaceted topics including political intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human sagas.
The Puzzling Writer and the Conscience of a Country
A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with sharp satires on authoritarianism. While several of his writer contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the country, he still move millions of copies. This prompts a key question: Has the author turned into an defender for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole route to escape incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. After 14 long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers might now get him killed.
A Fierce Dispute Over Our Ancient Origins
The finding of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was hailed as fundamentally rewriting the narrative of our human race. However, not everyone was in agreement. The ensuing bitter argument has taken over the lives of scholars ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped expose the appalling scale of mistreatment it had committed.
A Leader's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
Many voters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would renew the Britain's dedication to human rights. Yet, the performance over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Identity
A film featuring a remorseful master criminal as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording raises difficult queries: Is she genuinely reformed, and is the filmmaker's true intentions?
The Person Who Cleans the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their most challenging moments, families turn to him to restore normalcy.
Will an Famous Institution Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Beset by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the discovery of an internal thief, Britain's premier museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Extreme Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an reliable medical solution – up until potentially now.
A Legacy of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A violent extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings shape the highest levels of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his brilliant mind and impeccable credentials, it's little wonder that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to become wary.
A Small State That Became the Global Mediation Center
An incredibly rich country has become a major player on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are behind this unprecedented endeavor?
An Inside View at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader thrives on the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a certain sitting US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
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 infant?
An Dismantling of a Major Aid Agency: Far From Universal Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was not unexpected.
A Disturbing 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was widespread outrage. But the precise nature of the events remains somewhat unclear.
The "Genius" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days underground – and distributed vast sums of money to selected participants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever entertainment – or acts of daring brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the reality that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical question is: To where are they going to go?
A Sorrowful Story of Youth Homelessness
As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still believed his situation might change for the better. I was devastatingly mistaken.
A Global AI Competition and a Pivotal Move
In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Now, he might possess the secret to who prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
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