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While we look back on the previous year, a curated list of remarkable feature-length pieces emerges. Such accounts delve into complex subjects ranging from political intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply personal journeys.

A Enigmatic Writer and the Soul of a Country

Victor Pelevin became known in the post-Soviet era with sharp satires on power. Although numerous of his literary peers have faced suppression or fled the country, he still move millions of copies. It prompts a pressing question: Has the author become an supporter for the establishment?

Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Civil War

The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his sole path to escape prison was to enlist in the government forces. Following fourteen years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers could now cost him his life.

The Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The finding of ancient remains in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically re-writing the narrative of our human race. Yet, a faction was convinced. The ensuing bitter argument has taken over the careers of researchers ever since.

The British Sect That Hid in Plain Sight

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

The Prime Minister's Curious Stance on Human Rights

A great many voters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would restore the UK's dedication to human rights. However, the performance over the first year in office has been curiously ambiguous.

Challenging a Country's Self-Image

A documentary featuring a repentant con artist as she records corrupt individuals with covert recording raises thorny queries: Is this person truly a new person, and is the filmmaker's true intentions?

A Man Who Cleans the UK's Darkest Scenes

From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and restored – everything. In their darkest times, families rely on him to bring back normalcy.

Can an Iconic Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?

Burdened by debates over its collection, difficult funding and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in a major crisis. The question remains: Can it repair its reputation?

Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Torture of Extreme Condition

Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this condition has for centuries been without an consistent medical solution – up until perhaps now.

The Legacy of Extremism in Modern Politics

A violent extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings permeate the highest echelons of the state.

The British Professional With a Fraudulent Secret

With his brilliant intellect and flawless reputation, it's no surprise that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they started to get wary.

A Small State That Became the Global Mediation Capital

An astonishingly wealthy country has risen as a key player on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented project?

An Inside Look at a Leader Preparing for International Battle

Deeply unpopular at home, President Macron enjoys the world arena, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to handle a particular sitting American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.

Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case

How did the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?

An Dismantling of a Global Development Agency: Far From Universal Mourning

When actions were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was far from unforeseen.

A Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Mothers

When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was widespread shock. But the exact story of what happened remains somewhat shrouded.

The "Genius" of the Attention Economy

He's spent a full day in slime, two days underground – and given away enormous sums of cash to selected contestants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or works of daring brilliance?

Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Ocean

With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is confronting the possibility that their islands may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: Where are they going to go?

One Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Destitution

When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then believed his situation might improve. That hope was tragically wrong.

The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Defection

In 2020, after living half his life in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Today, he may possess the answers to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.

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