While we reflect on the previous year, a selection of exceptional feature-length pieces stands out. These pieces explore multifaceted topics including political machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly human stories.
The Mysterious Author and the Soul of a Country
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the nineties with scathing satires on power. While several of his literary peers have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he continues to move millions of books. It prompts a pressing query: Has he evolved into an supporter for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Horrific Conflict
The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his only route to escape prison was to join the government forces. Following 14 long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might still put him in mortal danger.
The Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of ancient remains in the Djurab desert in 2001 was heralded as radically rewriting the history of our species. However, a faction was convinced. The subsequent bitter scholarly debate has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Sect That Operated in the Open
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the shocking scale of abuse it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Curious Record on International Law
Many followers anticipated that the prime minister would reaffirm the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the track record over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Myth
A film featuring a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras asks difficult queries: Is this person truly a new person, and what are the director's own intentions?
The Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their stickiest times, families depend on him to bring back order.
Can an Iconic Institution Survive an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by debates over its collection, strained finances and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's premier cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Agony of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an reliable treatment remedy – up until perhaps now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A militant fanatic and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology permeate the very highest levels of government.
An British Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his keen mind and sterling reputation, it's little wonder that high-net-worth individuals entrusted him with their assets. Until they began to get uneasy.
A Small State That Emerged as the Global Mediation Capital
An astonishingly rich country has become a major player on the international scene, working to mediate some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are driving this ambitious project?
A Inside View at a Leader Preparing for International Battle
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a particular former American leader. Seven years after their previous encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
The End of a Global Aid Organization: Far From Universal Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest letdown was not unforeseen.
A Unethical 1960s Study on Indian Women
When details about a scientific study in the sixties came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the full story of the events is still partially unclear.
The "Master" of the Online Economy
He's endured 24 hours in slime, two days buried alive – and distributed enormous sums of cash to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply very clever clickbait – or works of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the possibility that their islands may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
A Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Homelessness
As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his situation could change for the better. I was devastatingly misplaced.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after living decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he could possess the key to which nation wins the global AI race.
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