While we consider the previous year, a assortment of outstanding feature-length stories emerges. These pieces delve into complex subjects ranging from political machinations and scientific revelations to profoundly personal sagas.
The Mysterious Author and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
An author became known in the nineties with biting satires on autocratic rule. While several of his literary contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the country, he continues to move vast numbers of copies. It prompts a key query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The account of Mustafa, who at 18 was informed that his only way to escape incarceration was to join the government military. Following fourteen long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might still get him killed.
The Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in 2001 was hailed as fundamentally rewriting the story of our species. However, some scholars was in agreement. The subsequent heated scholarly debate has consumed the careers of researchers ever since.
A British Cult That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped expose the shocking extent of exploitation it had perpetrated.
The Statesman's Unexpected Stance on International Law
Numerous supporters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would renew the Britain's dedication to international law. Yet, the track record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Identity
A film featuring a remorseful fraudster as she sets up corrupt clients with covert recording poses difficult questions: Is she really a new person, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?
The Person Who Cleans Britain's Most Traumatic Stains
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and cleaned – everything. In their most challenging hours, people turn to him to bring back order.
Can an Iconic Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's leading cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it restore its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Extreme Condition
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an consistent treatment solution – until possibly now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Modern Government
A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings permeate the highest levels of the state.
The English Professional With a Crooked Side
With his brilliant intellect and sterling reputation, it's understandable that affluent individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to become suspicious.
The Small Nation That Became the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has risen as a significant force on the world stage, attempting to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. What are fueling this unprecedented endeavor?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron enjoys the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a certain former US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he readied himself for battle.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Global Development Organization: Not Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.
A Shocking 1960s Study on Indian Women
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was widespread outrage. But the exact story of the events is still partially unclear.
The "Master" of the Attention Age
He's endured 24 hours in slime, two days underground – and showered huge sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever clickbait – or works of artistic genius?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is grappling with the reality that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The critical question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
One Heartbreaking Story of Childhood Destitution
As I encountered Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life could change for the better. That hope was tragically mistaken.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Move
In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might hold the secret to who prevails in the global AI race.
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