As we reflect on the year gone by, a assortment of outstanding feature-length stories shines. Such accounts probe intricate subjects ranging from political machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly personal sagas.
The Puzzling Author and the Conscience of a Country
An author rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with biting critiques on autocratic rule. While several of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or left the country, he continues to move vast numbers of books. It raises a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Horrific Conflict
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was told that his only path out of incarceration was to enlist in the regime military. After fourteen long years, his history as one of Assad's fighters may still cost him his life.
The Fierce Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The finding of ancient bones in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the history of our species. Yet, a faction was in agreement. The resulting intense argument has taken over the careers of researchers ever since.
The UK Religious Group That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her household joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the shocking extent of abuse it had committed.
A Statesman's Puzzling Record on International Law
A great many followers hoped that the prime minister would restore the the nation's commitment to human rights. However, the record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A documentary tracking a repentant fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras raises complex questions: Is she really a new person, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?
The Person Who Remediates Britain's Most Traumatic Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – it all. In their darkest hours, individuals depend on him to restore normalcy.
Can an Renowned Institution Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Burdened by debates over its collection, strained finances and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's premier cultural institution is in a major crisis. The question remains: Can it salvage its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this illness has long lacked an consistent treatment remedy – up until possibly now.
A Ghost of Extremism in Modern Government
A violent extremist and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. Today, his ideology influence the very highest echelons of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant intellect and impeccable credentials, it's understandable that wealthy individuals trusted him with their assets. Then they began to get uneasy.
A Tiny State That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Capital
An extremely wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major force on the international scene, attempting to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are driving this unprecedented endeavor?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for International Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader enjoys the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Case
How did the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with the death of their newborn infant?
An Dismantling of a Major Development Organization: Not Universal Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was far from unforeseen.
A Unethical Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the exact truth of what happened remains partially contested.
The "Genius" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in slime, two days underground – and distributed enormous sums of money to lucky participants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or works of daring genius?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is grappling with the possibility that their islands may soon be submerged. The urgent question is: Where are they going to relocate?
One Heartbreaking Story of Youth Homelessness
When I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his life could improve. That hope was sadly wrong.
The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Defection
In 2020, after living half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Now, he could hold the key to which nation prevails in the global AI race.
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