Upon reflect on the past year, a selection of exceptional feature-length stories emerges. These pieces explore complex subjects ranging from political intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly personal sagas.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Soul of a Country
A certain Russian novelist became known in the 1990s with biting satires on power. Whereas numerous of his writer peers have encountered censorship or left the nation, he continues to move millions of books. It poses a pressing question: Has the author turned into an defender for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Conflict
The account of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole route to escape incarceration was to join the government military. After fourteen long years, his history as one of Assad's soldiers could still cost him his life.
The Bitter Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of fossilised bones in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was hailed as radically rewriting the history of our species. However, some scholars was in agreement. The resulting intense argument has consumed the lives of researchers ever since.
The UK Cult That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a child when her household joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped expose the shocking extent of exploitation it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on International Law
Numerous voters expected that the prime minister would restore the Britain's dedication to human rights. But, the record over the past year has been curiously ambiguous.
Shattering a Nation's Identity
A film featuring a remorseful con artist as she ensnares corrupt clients with hidden cameras raises difficult questions: Is this person really changed, and is the director's own motives?
A Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen – and restored – everything. In their most challenging hours, people rely on him to bring back normalcy.
Can an Famous Institution Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Beset by colonial controversy, strained finances and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's premier cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Severe Condition
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long been without an reliable treatment solution – up until potentially now.
The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his teachings shape the very highest echelons of the state.
An British Professional With a Crooked Secret
With his brilliant intellect and sterling background, it's no surprise that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their assets. Until they began to get wary.
A Tiny State That Became the Global Mediation Capital
An astonishingly rich country has become a major player on the world stage, attempting to broker peace in some of the most long-standing disputes. What are driving this ambitious role?
An Inside Look at a President Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader relishes the world arena, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to deal with a certain former US president. Seven years after their previous meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?
The End of a Global Development Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was far from unforeseen.
The Unethical 1960s Experiment on South Asian Women
When information about a medical study in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact nature of the procedures is still partially shrouded.
A "Master" of the Online Economy
He's endured a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and distributed vast amounts of cash to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply incredibly clever clickbait – or works of daring genius?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is facing the possibility that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent issue is: Where are they going to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Youth Homelessness
As I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. Even then hoped his life might change for the better. I was devastatingly wrong.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Race 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. Now, he may hold the answers to which nation prevails in the global AI race.
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