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As we reflect on the year gone by, a curated list of outstanding feature-length pieces stands out. Such accounts delve into multifaceted topics ranging from political intrigue and historical discoveries to profoundly personal stories.

The Mysterious Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Nation

A certain Russian novelist became known in the nineties with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the nation, he still move vast numbers of books. It prompts a pressing question: Has he turned into an apologist for the regime?

Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Civil War

The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his sole path out of incarceration was to enlist in the government military. Following fourteen long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may still put him in mortal danger.

The Acrimonious Feud Over Our Earliest Origins

The discovery of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was hailed as completely re-writing the story of our human race. However, not everyone was convinced. The ensuing bitter argument has taken over the careers of scholars ever since.

The British Religious Group That Hid in the Open

Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the shocking breadth of exploitation it had carried out.

A Statesman's Puzzling Record on Human Rights

Many supporters anticipated that the prime minister would restore the Britain's commitment to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been strikingly ambiguous.

Shattering a Nation's Myth

A documentary featuring a repentant fraudster as she sets up corrupt clients with covert recording raises complex queries: Is she truly reformed, and what are the filmmaker's true motives?

A Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Stains

From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their darkest hours, families turn to him to restore peace.

Will an Famous Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?

Beset by restitution claims, precarious funding and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to restore its standing?

More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": The Torture of Severe Condition

Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries lacked an effective medical remedy – up until possibly now.

A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics

A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideas permeate the highest echelons of government.

An English Professional With a Fraudulent Secret

With his brilliant intellect and sterling background, it's little wonder that affluent individuals trusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to become wary.

The Tiny State That Became the World's Mediation Capital

An astonishingly wealthy country has become a significant player on the world stage, attempting to broker peace in some of the most intractable disputes. What are fueling this ambitious endeavor?

A Close-Up Look at a Leader Preparing for International Battle

Extremely disliked at home, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to handle a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.

During the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story

How did the daughter of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their newborn baby?

The End of a Global Aid Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning

When efforts were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest betrayal was far from unexpected.

The Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Women

When details about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was immense shock. But the full story of the procedures remains partially contested.

A "Master" of the Attention Age

He's endured a full day in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and distributed huge sums of money to lucky contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?

Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean

With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the prospect that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The critical issue is: To where are they going to go?

A Heartbreaking Case of Youth Destitution

When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. Even then believed his life could change for the better. I was devastatingly misplaced.

The International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Key Move

In 2020, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he could possess the key to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.

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