While we consider the previous year, a curated list of remarkable feature-length stories shines. Such accounts delve into multifaceted topics ranging from geopolitical machinations and scientific revelations to deeply personal sagas.
A Enigmatic Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on autocratic rule. Whereas numerous of his literary contemporaries have encountered censorship or fled the nation, he still sell millions of books. This raises a key question: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Collaboration in the Syrian Devastating Civil War
The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was informed that his only path to escape prison was to enlist in the regime military. After fourteen years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers might now put him in mortal danger.
The Acrimonious Feud Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally changing the history of our species. But, a faction was persuaded. The subsequent bitter scholarly debate has consumed the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The British Cult That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the disturbing breadth of abuse it had perpetrated.
The Statesman's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
Many voters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the performance over the past year has been notably mixed.
Challenging a Country's Myth
A film featuring a remorseful master criminal as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with covert recording raises complex queries: Is she genuinely reformed, and is the filmmaker's own motives?
The Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – everything. In their darkest hours, families rely on him to restore order.
Can an Iconic Institution Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by debates over its collection, difficult funding and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it restore its reputation?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an reliable medical solution – up until perhaps now.
A Legacy of Extremism in Modern Government
A militant fanatic and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his teachings permeate the uppermost echelons of government.
An British Professional With a Fraudulent Secret
With his keen intellect and impeccable reputation, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their assets. Then they began to become uneasy.
The Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Center
An extremely rich Gulf state has become a key force on the world stage, attempting to broker peace in some of the most long-standing disputes. What are driving this unprecedented endeavor?
An Close-Up View at a Leader Gearing Up for International Battle
Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a certain sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the child of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her partner, charged with killing their newborn baby?
The End of a Global Development Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning
When actions were made to dismantle a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was not unexpected.
The Shocking 1960s Experiment on South Asian Women
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense outrage. But the precise nature of the procedures is still partially contested.
A "Master" of the Attention Age
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and showered huge amounts of cash to lucky participants. But are these stunts simply very clever clickbait – or works of daring genius?
Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's population is grappling with the prospect that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The pressing question is: To where are they going to go?
A Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. I still believed his situation might turn around. That hope was sadly wrong.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he could hold the key to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
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