While we reflect on the previous year, a selection of outstanding feature-length pieces stands out. These accounts probe multifaceted subjects including political intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply human journeys.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the 1990s with scathing satires on autocratic rule. While numerous of his literary contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. This prompts a pertinent question: Has he become an defender for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only way to escape prison was to join the regime forces. After 14 long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may still put him in mortal danger.
The Acrimonious Argument Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The finding of ancient remains in the Chadian desert in 2001 was hailed as radically re-writing the story of our species. However, a faction was convinced. The resulting intense controversy has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Sect That Hid in the Open
One woman was just a child when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the disturbing extent of exploitation it had carried out.
The Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on International Law
Many followers hoped that the former human rights lawyer would restore the Britain's dedication to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Country's Self-Image
A documentary tracking a remorseful fraudster as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording asks complex queries: Is she genuinely a new person, and is the director's own intentions?
The Man Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes
From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen – and restored – it all. In their darkest hours, people depend on him to restore normalcy.
Will an Famous Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by debates over its collection, precarious finances and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's leading cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it repair its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Suffering of Severe Pregnancy
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has long lacked an reliable treatment solution – until possibly now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Modern Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideas influence the very highest echelons of government.
An English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Side
With his keen intellect and impeccable background, it's little wonder that affluent individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Then they started to become uneasy.
The Small State That Became the Global Mediation Capital
An extremely wealthy Gulf state has risen as a key actor on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most complex conflicts. What are behind this ambitious project?
An Close-Up View at a President Preparing for Global Battle
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he presents himself as the leader uniquely positioned to manage a certain sitting US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their newborn infant?
An Dismantling of a Global Development Agency: Not Universal Regret
When actions were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was not unexpected.
A Disturbing 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When details about a medical study in the 1960s became public, there was immense anxiety. But the exact nature of the procedures remains somewhat unclear.
The "Genius" of the Attention Age
He's endured a full day in slime, 48 hours underground – and showered huge amounts of cash to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or acts of daring brilliance?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's population is confronting the prospect that their homeland may soon be submerged. The urgent issue is: Where are they going to go?
One Sorrowful Story of Youth Destitution
When I met Craig he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his life might improve. I was sadly misplaced.
The International AI Competition and a Key Defection
In 2020, after living half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he might hold the answers to which nation wins the worldwide technological rivalry.
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