Upon reflect on the previous year, a selection of outstanding feature-length stories shines. These accounts explore complex themes from geopolitical machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly human stories.
The Enigmatic Author and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist became known in the 1990s with scathing critiques on power. Although several of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or left the nation, he still sell vast numbers of books. This poses a pertinent query: Has he become an defender for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Conflict
The story of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only way to escape incarceration was to enlist in the regime forces. After 14 years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers could now get him killed.
A Fierce Argument Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The discovery of ancient bones in the Chadian desert in 2001 was heralded as fundamentally rewriting the history of our species. However, a faction was in agreement. The ensuing bitter scholarly debate has taken over the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Cult That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the appalling extent of exploitation it had carried out.
The Statesman's Unexpected Record on International Law
A great many voters anticipated that the prime minister would renew the Britain's dedication to international law. However, the performance over the past year has been notably mixed.
Breaking a Nation's Myth
A film tracking a repentant con artist as she ensnares corrupt clients with hidden cameras asks thorny queries: Is this person genuinely a new person, and is the filmmaker's own methods?
A Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and cleaned – everything. In their stickiest hours, people turn to him to restore normalcy.
Will an Iconic Institution Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, strained funding and the revelation of an internal thief, Britain's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it restore its reputation?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Severe Condition
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries been without an reliable medical end – up until potentially now.
The Ghost of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideas permeate the very highest echelons of government.
The British Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant intellect and sterling reputation, it's no surprise that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their wealth. Then they started to get wary.
A Small Nation That Became the World's Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly rich country has become a key player on the world stage, attempting to solve some of the most long-standing disputes. Which factors are driving this unprecedented endeavor?
An Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry
Deeply unpopular at home, the French leader relishes the world arena, where he positions himself as the statesman best placed to manage a particular former US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?
The Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When actions were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest letdown was not unforeseen.
The Unethical 1960s Study on South Asian Mothers
When information about a scientific experiment in the 1960s became public, there was widespread shock. But the exact story of what happened remains somewhat unclear.
A "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and given away vast sums of cash to selected contestants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the prospect that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The pressing issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Tragic Story of Childhood Destitution
When I met Craig he was 13 and without a home. Even then believed his situation could improve. That hope was devastatingly misplaced.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In 2020, after spending decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Now, he could possess the key to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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