While we look back on the previous year, a selection of exceptional feature-length pieces emerges. Such narratives probe intricate topics from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal stories.
The Enigmatic Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with scathing critiques on power. Although many of his literary contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the country, he continues to move vast numbers of copies. It prompts a key question: Has he become an supporter for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his sole route to escape incarceration was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may now cost him his life.
A Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally re-writing the narrative of our species. However, a faction was persuaded. The ensuing bitter argument has consumed the lives of researchers ever since.
A UK Sect That Operated in the Open
One woman was just a child when her family became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped reveal the appalling extent of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
The Prime Minister's Curious Record on Human Rights
A great many followers expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the record over the past year has been notably mixed.
Shattering a Country's Self-Image
A documentary featuring a remorseful fraudster as she sets up corrupt individuals with hidden cameras raises thorny questions: Is this person really a new person, and is the director's true motives?
The Man Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and restored – everything. In their stickiest moments, families turn to him to bring back order.
Will an Famous Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by restitution claims, strained funding and the exposure of an insider theft, the UK's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Is it possible to restore its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Severe Condition
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an reliable medical solution – up until possibly now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas permeate the uppermost echelons of the state.
An English Professional With a Dishonest Side
With his sharp intellect and impeccable credentials, it's understandable that wealthy clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to become suspicious.
A Small Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Hub
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has become a significant actor on the international scene, working to solve some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented role?
An Inside View at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, President Macron enjoys the international stage, where he presents himself as the leader uniquely positioned to deal with a certain former US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with killing their newborn baby?
The End of a Major Aid Agency: Far From Universal Regret
When actions were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was far from unforeseen.
A Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the precise nature of the events remains partially unclear.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and distributed vast sums of money to selected contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or acts of artistic brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is facing the possibility that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing issue is: To where are they going to go?
One Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Homelessness
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. Even then thought his life might improve. I was sadly misplaced.
The Global AI Competition and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Today, he might possess the answers to who prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
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