🔗 Share this article

While we look back on the year gone by, a selection of outstanding feature-length pieces shines. These accounts delve into complex topics including geopolitical machinations and historical discoveries to profoundly human journeys.

The Enigmatic Author and the Moral Fabric of a Country

An author became known in the nineties with sharp critiques on autocratic rule. Although numerous of his literary peers have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he still move vast numbers of copies. It poses a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an defender for the regime?

Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War

The story of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole path to escape prison was to enlist in the regime forces. After fourteen long years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers might still put him in mortal danger.

A Fierce Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically rewriting the story of our species. Yet, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent intense argument has dominated the lives of researchers ever since.

The British Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight

Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped uncover the appalling extent of mistreatment it had perpetrated.

A Leader's Curious Record on Human Rights

Numerous voters anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would restore the UK's commitment to human rights. But, the performance over the past year has been notably mixed.

Challenging a Nation's Identity

A documentary following a remorseful con artist as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording raises difficult questions: Is this person truly a new person, and is the filmmaker's own intentions?

A Man Who Cleans the UK's Most Traumatic Scenes

From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging times, individuals turn to him to restore normalcy.

Can an Famous Institution Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?

Beset by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's premier cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it restore its reputation?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy

Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long lacked an effective treatment end – until potentially now.

The Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics

A militant fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings shape the highest levels of the state.

An English Gentleman With a Crooked Side

With his sharp intellect and impeccable reputation, it's understandable that affluent individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they started to get wary.

The Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Capital

An astonishingly wealthy country has transformed into a major player on the world stage, attempting to solve some of the most intractable disputes. Which factors are behind this ambitious project?

A Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle

Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a certain sitting US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a journalist joined him as he readied himself for the fray.

During the Court Case of a Tragic Story

What led to the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their newborn baby?

The End of a Major Aid Agency: Far From Widespread Mourning

When actions were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was far from unexpected.

A Unethical 1960s Experiment on Indian Women

When information about a medical study in the sixties were revealed, there was immense outrage. But the exact nature of what happened remains somewhat contested.

The "Mozart" of the Attention Economy

He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered huge amounts of money to selected participants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of artistic brilliance?

Existence in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean

With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is facing the possibility that their islands may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent issue is: Where are they supposed to relocate?

A Heartbreaking Case of Youth Homelessness

As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and homeless. I still thought his life could change for the better. I was devastatingly mistaken.

A Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Move

In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Now, he may possess the answers to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.

The best stories