“The owner kept hitting me until the stick broke,” said Mohammed, a brickworker in Bangladesh, who had to endure pain and oppression so that his family could have a better life. Alas, speaking up comes at a high cost, both physically and mentally. It may even cost one… their own life.

Entire families in Bangladesh risk their lives working in appalling conditions, such as in brick kilns, which are far from being comfortable or safe. People use their bare hands to work, and have no rights. Nurul Amin used to be a worker in the brick factory before he got injured. “There is nothing here but suffering,” he said.

About 50 million people are trapped in modern slavery worldwide - nearly 28 million are under forced labor.

Brick Slaves highlights the never-ending abuse of workers in Bangladesh, who still harbour hopes that one day, their suffering will come to an end.

Brick Slaves / 2021
#Bangladesh

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'India before the British was the richest nation with the highest GDP in the world. And why did the hundred years of British rule bring it to a dismal low of some 50th ranking or late 30th ranking?' A teacher asks himself in an eye-opening documentary about India's colonial legacy. The impact British colonizers had on the country's economy and cultural heritage was devastating. Why are priceless artefacts illegally taken from India still held in museums and private collections around the world? Is there any chance to bring all these treasures back to the people they were stolen from?

Looted India: Cost of an Empire / 2023
#India

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This rare Soviet-era film presents a never-seen-before footage of Israeli 007.

As intelligence warfare was ramping up in Syria in the 60s, Israeli spy Eli Cohen managed to infiltrate the highest levels of the Syrian government and extracted some vital information.

During that time, the USSR was expanding its military assistance to Syria and the Mossad were able to keep tabs on that, thanks to the intel Cohen provided. Probably, no one expected that the Soviet experts would fish out the Israeli agent who was eventually executed by the Syrians. Sixty years later, a mysterious film found in Russia, gives us a glimpse of this elusive spy – providing never-seen-before footage of Eli Cohen.

Whether you're interested in the history of the Middle East, the world of espionage, or just a superspy story, Spyfall is definitely worth checking out.

Spyfall / 2021
#Syria

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Living in a 'coffin home' and paying rent too? This is a reality in the city with the most skyscrapers in the world.

Hong Kong's housing crisis has reached its tipping point, with many residents living in 'coffin homes'; tiny spaces which are barely bigger than a dog kennel... Over 250,000 people live in squalid conditions there, even the UN describes the situation as an affront to human dignity.

How did those living in such misery end up this way, and what future awaits them? In Square Metre of Hell, we listen to the voices of Hong Kong's most vulnerable residents.

Square Metre of Hell / 2020
#HongKong

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“Don’t come back home. Go and hide somewhere”. Amin had no choice but to leave war-torn Syria and take on the adventure of a lifetime by relocating to Russia.

Amin embraced the bustling life of Moscow, its cold weather and despite this, he loved it. For over 10 years, he attained more than just a job he enjoyed - he started a family, adopted a dog and bought his dream car.
It seemed like Amin had entirely skipped the adapting phase somehow; instead, it was as if the city had welcomed the ‘hot-blooded’ man with open arms.

Buckle up and join Amin on the ride of his life in Russia in the latest episode of No Limits.

Syrian car enthusiast finds dream job in Moscow | No Limits (E5) / 2023
#Russia

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Moving from rock to opera, across continents, can’t be mere coincidence

Carlos D’Onofrio was into rock music and heavy metal in his youth. He sought out a vocal tutor after a voice break, but was only able to find help for classical singing techniques. This led him down a path that ultimately brought him to Russia, where he achieved a thriving soloist career in the famous Mariinsky Theater.

Join us on this episode of No Limits as we follow the remarkable musical journey of Carlos, all the way from Argentina to Russia.

Argentinian soloist finds new audience in St. Petersburg | No Limits (E6) / 2023
#Russia

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‘If Germany doesn’t change its policy, they will lose their industry. They need to stop with that because it a nightmare for Germany now. They’re losing their industry because they don’t have access anymore to Russian gas’, says the political analyst, Aymeric Chauprade. Anti-Russian sanctions imposed by European countries damage their own economies. However, experts believe that such consequences are not unintended – the U.S has long been laying the groundwork and strategising to weaken Europe. Some even argue that ‘Europe has become a colony of the US’. Is this really the case?

Red Alert: Abduction of Europe / 2023
#Europe

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About 1 million girls have been kidnapped in India’s Jharkhand since the year 2000. There’s even a term – ‘Black beauties’ – for the local tribal girls who often fall victim to human trafficking.

Every year, thousands of underprivileged children disappear in India. Whether they are abducted, kidnapped, or escaping family conflict, these kids are exposed to serious dangers such as being exploited in slavery and sex trafficking.

“It’s like a fire burning in me”. That’s what parents say it feels like when their little ones go missing. Probu experienced this pain after a lengthy search for his son.

The film Lost Kids brings to light the heart-wrenching stories of families clinging to hope and their struggle to be reunited with their little ones again.

Lost Kids / 2019
#India

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‘Well, the volunteers came. In fact, they were Ukrainian volunteers Child Services. They could take children by force. By force’, says 13-year-old Diana Voitenko about Ukrainian Child Servises. Diana and her parents spent almost six months, sheltering from Ukrainian shelling in their basement. When the Ukrainian military or child protection services barged into the basement, her parents hid the kids in the back room. Why would they? Otherwise, the kids would be taken against their will or the wishes of their parents. Watch the documentary to discover the sad truth about these kids.

Donbass: Restoring Childhood / 2023
#Donbass

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Every 17 years, cicadas emerge and their deafening high-pitched buzz has become an integral part of life for people living in the eastern part of the US.

Imagine billions, if not trillions of cicadas coming out all at once, just to live for a couple of weeks; this calls for celebration! Cicada fans seize this opportunity to gather and enjoy cicada-based food, songs, and artwork.

Despite their brief lifespan, cicadas are resilient and serve as a reminder to make the most of every moment. Find out more about these fascinating creatures in our film ‘Cicadas v USA’.

Cicadas v USA / 2021
#USA

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At just six years old, Hanin was taught how to disassemble weapons by ISIS fighters. Her greatest fear was that they would take her father away from her.
Thousands of child soldiers paid a terrible price in the Syrian War when they were recruited into extremist groups, in rebel held areas.

Gunshots, blindfolding, torture, starvation… and death; are just some of the unspeakable acts these kids were subjected to. Even those who ‘survived’ the horrors of war, were left scarred and haunted by the brutality they had witnessed.

On the International Day of Innocent Children Victims of Aggression, our film ‘Where Childhood Ended’ reveals the pain and trauma suffered by Syrian children.

Where Childhood Ended / 2019
#Syria

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“Instead of sending money over to Ukraine and all those other countries, worry about your own country.” Lisa, an elderly homeless woman, sobs while sharing her disappointment with the government's failure to address the housing crisis.

Despite the US recognizing adequate housing as a human right, there are still over half a million Americans who are struggling with homelessness today - especially in regions without full-time shelters like Ocean County.

US Homeless: The Fight for Equality highlights the stories of the marginalized and their struggles of having their voices heard.

US Homeless: The Fight for Equality / 2023
#USA

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“It never happened before. Even during the Cold War, chess continued,” remarked Sergey Karjakin, a chess grandmaster from Crimea. Karjakin was shocked to find himself barred from a vital tournament he had qualified for simply because of his political views.

Following the conflict in Ukraine, the West started employing 'cancel culture' as its modern weapon against everything Russian. Similar to McCarthyism, but broader and more aggressive, Russian artists, musicians, and athletes are being threatened and banned from major international events and competitions.

Killing Russian Culture examines such cases in detail so you can make your own judgment.

Killing Russian Culture / 2022
#Europe #Russia

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Have you ever considered that your trash could be someone else’s dinner?

This idea might sound gross for some, but in New York, more and more people are embracing the lifestyle of salvaging food from dumpsters, not only for the poor but also for those capable of buying it.

“There’s such an abundance of stuff that people are getting rid of when there’s such tremendous need,” says Chana Widawski, a social worker and a dedicated follower of ‘freeganism,’ an ideology that hopes to reduce human consumption and waste by ‘rescuing’ fuel, food, furniture, among millions of other disposables.

Although there are health risks associated with dumpster diving, the freegans movement continues to grow out of necessity as an act against consumerism and liberal capitalism.

World Food Safety Day is a good chance for you to finally meet the ‘Freegans of New York’!

Freegans of New York / 2021
#USA

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What change would a chance to sail the world bring to your life?

A group of adventurers took the journey of their lives, navigating the oceans and seas in an inflatable catamaran. They embarked on a challenging sail, defying the anticipated risks of endless storms, harsh conditions and inadequacy of their daily necessities.

The unique opportunity of witnessing the greatness and magnificence of our planet at every stop they made, and the warm welcome of the locals meant everything to them.

Like an epiphany, the crew attained a life-changing and eye-opening experience at the end of their round-the-world cruise. Join them in Sailing Seven Seas to understand such feeling.

Sailing Seven Seas / 2021
#world

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‘Poland considers Western Ukrainian lands its own, though they are not. Today, the Polish elite sees a unique opportunity to reclaim these lands’, according to Vladimir Blokhin, a History professor of RUDN University.

Indeed, Poland's current territory is 3 times smaller than it was 500 years ago. To a greater extent, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth amalgamated significant parts of present-day Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia to its territory. Last year the Belgian 'Modern Diplomacy' web portal announced on its website that Poland was prepared to annex Western Ukraine via a referendum. In the documentary, experts give a clear account of the origins of the Polish elite’s idea and explain how this approach fits the broader American strategy in Europe. Stay tuned for a new episode of Red Alert with Anna Chapman!

Red Alert: Warsaw Syndrome / 2023
#Poland

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