Upon consider the previous year, a selection of outstanding feature-length stories shines. These pieces probe complex subjects ranging from political intrigue and historical revelations to deeply personal sagas.
A Enigmatic Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with sharp critiques on autocratic rule. Although many of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or left the country, he still sell vast numbers of books. This prompts a pressing question: Has he become an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole way out of incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. After fourteen years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could now get him killed.
The Fierce Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The unearthing of ancient remains in the Chadian sands in 2001 was proclaimed as radically rewriting the history of our species. But, some scholars was persuaded. The subsequent bitter argument has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The British Sect That Operated in the Open
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the appalling scale of abuse it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
Numerous supporters expected that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's dedication to international law. However, the track record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Challenging a Country's Identity
A documentary featuring a repentant fraudster as she sets up unscrupulous clients with covert recording raises complex questions: Is this person genuinely a new person, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?
A Person Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Traumatic Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and cleaned – everything. In their darkest times, families depend on him to bring back normalcy.
Can an Iconic Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by colonial controversy, strained funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Suffering of Extreme Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an effective medical remedy – until potentially now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast 35 years ago. Today, his teachings shape the very highest levels of government.
The British Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his sharp mind and flawless credentials, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals trusted him with their fortunes. Until they started to become uneasy.
A Small Nation That Became the World's Diplomatic Hub
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major player on the world stage, working to solve some of the most intractable disputes. What are fueling this unprecedented endeavor?
An Close-Up Look at a President Preparing for Global Summitry
Extremely disliked at home, President Macron thrives on the world arena, where he presents himself as the leader best placed to manage a certain former US president. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the summit.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Story
What led to the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When efforts were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was not unforeseen.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the full nature of the procedures remains somewhat unclear.
The "Genius" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away vast sums of cash to selected contestants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the reality that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still thought his life could change for the better. I was tragically misplaced.
The International AI Race and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he may hold the secret to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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