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As we look back on the past year, a curated list of remarkable feature-length stories stands out. These accounts probe intricate topics including political machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly human stories.

A Mysterious Author and the Soul of a Country

Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on autocratic rule. Whereas many of his literary peers have faced suppression or left the nation, he still sell millions of books. It raises a pertinent query: Has the author evolved into an defender for the Kremlin?

Survival and Collaboration in the Syrian Devastating Civil War

The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his sole path to escape prison was to enlist in the regime military. Following 14 years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might now get him killed.

The Acrimonious Feud Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The discovery of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally changing the story of our species. However, some scholars was persuaded. The ensuing bitter scholarly debate has dominated the lives of scholars ever since.

The British Religious Group That Operated in Plain Sight

One woman was only a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the appalling scale of mistreatment it had perpetrated.

A Statesman's Curious Stance on Human Rights

A great many voters expected that the prime minister would renew the UK's commitment to international law. However, the track record over the first year in office has been curiously mixed.

Breaking a Nation's Myth

A documentary following a repentant con artist as she records unscrupulous individuals with covert recording poses complex questions: Is this person really a new person, and what are the director's own methods?

The Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Traumatic Stains

From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – everything. In their stickiest times, people depend on him to bring back normalcy.

Can an Famous Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?

Burdened by restitution claims, strained finances and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's number one museum is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it restore its standing?

More Than "Morning Sickness": The Suffering of Extreme Condition

Referred to as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an reliable medical solution – up until possibly now.

The Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Government

A violent fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, a rabbi died a political outcast 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideas shape the very highest levels of the state.

The British Professional With a Dishonest Side

With his sharp intellect and flawless background, it's little wonder that wealthy clients trusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become wary.

The Tiny Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Center

An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major force on the world stage, attempting to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are fueling this ambitious project?

An Close-Up View at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle

Extremely unpopular at home, the French leader relishes the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a certain former US president. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist joined him as he readied himself for battle.

During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story

What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?

An Dismantling of a Global Aid Agency: Not Universal Mourning

When efforts were made to dismantle a prominent aid agency, many around the globe were surprised. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent betrayal was not unexpected.

The Shocking 1960s Study on South Asian Women

When information about a medical experiment in the sixties were revealed, there was immense anxiety. But the exact story of what happened remains somewhat shrouded.

A "Genius" of the Attention Economy

He's spent 24 hours in slime, two days underground – and given away huge amounts of money to selected contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy entertainment – or acts of avant garde brilliance?

Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Seas

With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the possibility that their home may soon cease to exist. The critical question is: To where are they going to go?

One Tragic Case of Youth Homelessness

When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still believed his life could change for the better. I was sadly wrong.

A Global AI Race and a Pivotal Defection

In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he might possess the answers to who prevails in the global AI race.

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