Upon reflect on the past year, a curated list of outstanding feature-length pieces stands out. These pieces delve into complex topics from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly human sagas.
The Puzzling Author and the Soul of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. Although many of his literary peers have faced censorship or fled the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. It poses a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an supporter for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole route to escape prison was to join the regime forces. Following fourteen long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might still put him in mortal danger.
The Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in 2001 was hailed as fundamentally changing the story of our human race. Yet, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent intense argument has consumed the lives of researchers ever since.
The British Sect That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped expose the appalling extent of exploitation it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Curious Record on International Law
Numerous voters hoped that the prime minister would restore the the nation's commitment to human rights. However, the performance over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Breaking a Country's Myth
A documentary following a remorseful master criminal as she records unscrupulous individuals with covert recording asks thorny queries: Is she truly a new person, and what are the filmmaker's true intentions?
A Person Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Difficult Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging times, people depend on him to restore normalcy.
Will an Famous Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's premier museum is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it salvage its reputation?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Severe Condition
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an consistent medical solution – until possibly now.
A Spectre of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and pioneer of hate, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas permeate the highest echelons of the state.
An British Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his brilliant mind and flawless credentials, it's little wonder that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to get uneasy.
A Tiny Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Capital
An incredibly wealthy country has transformed into a significant force on the world stage, attempting to mediate some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are behind this ambitious endeavor?
A Inside Look at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, the French leader relishes the international arena, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to deal with a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.
During the Trial of a Tragic Story
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?
An End of a Global Aid Agency: Not Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was far from unforeseen.
The Shocking 1960s Study on Indian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was widespread outrage. But the full story of the procedures is still partially contested.
The "Mozart" of the Online Age
He's spent 24 hours in slime, two days underground – and distributed enormous sums of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever entertainment – or acts of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching 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 be submerged. The urgent issue is: Where are they supposed to go?
One Tragic Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I met a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still hoped his situation might turn around. That hope was sadly misplaced.
A Global AI Competition and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after living half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he could hold the secret to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.
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