While we reflect on the previous year, a assortment of exceptional feature-length stories stands out. These pieces delve into complex themes ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly personal stories.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Soul of a Country
Victor Pelevin became known in the post-Soviet era with biting commentaries on power. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he continues to sell millions of copies. It poses a pertinent query: Has he turned into an supporter for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Horrific Civil War
The story of Mustafa, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole route out of prison was to join the government forces. After 14 long years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may still cost him his life.
A Acrimonious Argument Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The discovery of ancient remains in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally re-writing the narrative of our human race. Yet, a faction was persuaded. The resulting heated scholarly debate has consumed the careers of researchers ever since.
The British Cult That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped reveal the shocking breadth of abuse it had committed.
The Leader's Puzzling Stance on International Law
Many supporters anticipated that the prime minister would restore the UK's commitment to international law. However, the record over the first year in office has been curiously mixed.
Challenging a Country's Myth
A film tracking a repentant master criminal as she sets up corrupt individuals with covert recording asks difficult queries: Is she truly changed, and is the director's own motives?
A Person Who Remediates Britain's Darkest Scenes
From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and restored – it all. In their darkest times, families rely on him to bring back order.
Will an Iconic Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by debates over its collection, strained funding and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's number one museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it salvage its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Severe Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an effective treatment remedy – until possibly now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah 35 years ago. Today, his ideas influence the highest levels of the state.
An English Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his sharp mind and sterling background, it's understandable that affluent clients trusted him with their assets. Until they began to get suspicious.
A Small State That Became the World's Diplomatic Hub
An astonishingly wealthy country has risen as a significant player on the world stage, working to solve some of the most long-standing conflicts. Which factors are behind this ambitious project?
An Close-Up Look at a President Gearing Up for International Battle
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he positions himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a certain former American leader. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their newborn baby?
An End of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Universal Mourning
When actions were made to wind down a major US aid agency, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this latest letdown was far from unexpected.
A Shocking Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Women
When details about a medical study in the 1960s became public, there was widespread anxiety. But the precise story of the procedures is still partially contested.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and showered vast amounts of money to selected participants. But are these productions simply very savvy entertainment – or acts of artistic genius?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the reality that their home may soon be submerged. The urgent issue is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Sorrowful Case of Childhood Destitution
As I met a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. I still hoped his situation could change for the better. That hope was tragically wrong.
The International AI Race and a Key Defection
In 2020, after living half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he might hold the key to which nation prevails in the global AI race.
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