Upon consider the year gone by, a selection of exceptional feature-length stories emerges. Such narratives explore multifaceted subjects from political intrigue and historical revelations to profoundly human journeys.
A Puzzling Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the 1990s with biting satires on authoritarianism. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he still sell vast numbers of copies. It raises a pertinent query: Has he evolved into an supporter for the regime?
Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was informed that his only way to escape prison was to enlist in the regime military. Following 14 long years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers may now put him in mortal danger.
The Fierce Argument Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as radically re-writing the history of our species. But, a faction was convinced. The ensuing heated scholarly debate has taken over the careers of researchers ever since.
The UK Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a child when her household became part of the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the appalling scale of exploitation it had committed.
The Statesman's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
A great many supporters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would restore the UK's dedication to international law. But, the performance over the first year in office has been curiously inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Myth
A film following a remorseful master criminal as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording poses complex queries: Is she really a new person, and is the filmmaker's own intentions?
The Person Who Remediates Britain's Most Traumatic Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest times, people rely on him to restore order.
Will an Famous Institution Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, difficult finances and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's number one museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Can it repair its reputation?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable treatment remedy – until possibly now.
A Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Government
A violent fanatic and early advocate of hate, Meir Kahane died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his teachings influence the uppermost echelons of government.
An English Gentleman With a Dishonest Side
With his brilliant intellect and flawless background, it's little wonder that affluent clients entrusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get suspicious.
A Small Nation That Became the Global Mediation Center
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a key actor on the world stage, working to mediate some of the most intractable disputes. What are behind this ambitious role?
An Close-Up Look at a President Gearing Up for International Summitry
Deeply unpopular at domestically, President Macron enjoys the world arena, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to manage a certain former American leader. 7 years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the child of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, facing charges with the death of their newborn baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Development Organization: Not Universal Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was not unexpected.
The Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the sixties were revealed, there was immense outrage. But the exact nature of the procedures remains partially contested.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's spent a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and showered vast amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's people is confronting the possibility that their islands may soon cease to exist. The urgent issue is: Where are they supposed to go?
A Sorrowful Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then thought his situation might turn around. I was sadly misplaced.
The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he might hold the answers to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.
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