With snow-white fur and eyes that are almost human, the harp seal pup wins the title of cutest, most adorable Arctic animal.

Sadly, their population is decreasing drastically, and their future is uncertain. Harp seal hunting was once big business in the Soviet era, but it's banned now due to being labelled an act of savagery.

Two Russian ecologists decided to venture into the Arctic to observe and study the seal colonies. They noted the special bond between a mother and her pup, and found that some of the seals were friendly enough to let people interact with them.

What dangers are these animals facing now?

Never Furget / 2021
#Arctic

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“I never thought — just like many other guys — that we would be so happy to have a bag of chocolate bars. And each has an inscription 'To my dear soldier',” says Alan, callsign 'Professor', a Soldier of the Russian Army. As they say, a soldier is alive as long as he's remembered. In the midst of Grad shells and mortar rounds coming from Ukraine, a simple thing like children’s drawing or sweets can make a huge difference and give hope. Watch the documentary to find out how volunteers help soldiers to feel like home, even with little.

Donbass Volunteers: United Strength / 2023
#Donbass

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"I feel that my life and the life of my family members, and the future of my children are under threat in this country," says farmer Adi Schlebusch. The African National Congress is seeking to address historic injustices through land reform, including expropriation without compensation, which has sparked fears among white farmers.

South Africa's painful legacy of colonialism and apartheid still haunts the country, with racial disparities in income, jobs, and land ownership persisting.

What do other farmers, activists, and politicians in both white-only and black-first land groups think about this complex issue?

Watch our documentary on this Nelson Mandela Day, which commemorates the legacy of South Africa's first Black president, who brought an end to the racial segregationist policies of the country’s apartheid system.

Reaping Divine Justice / 2019
#SouthAfrica

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In Jharia's burning coal fields, people dream of a safe and greener life.

The region is home to India's richest coal reserves, but also to an underground fire that has been burning for over 100 years, perpetually wreathing the area in suffocating smoke.

The people living there are mired in poverty and many resort to stealing and selling small baskets of coal from the quarry to make a meagre living. Life there is dangerous as the fire frequently consumes whole houses, and blasting often impacts the village, damaging buildings and throwing coal dust into the air.

How does it feel when your only means of income jeopardizes your health and life?

Inferno Village / 2017
#India

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After years being held captive by violent militias, drugged and trained to kill, child soldiers face a long road integrating back into society.

One survivor recalls a brutal incident in which the militants raped women, killed civilians with machetes, and burned down an entire village. During the civil war in the Central African Republic, thousands of lost children and orphans were recruited to fight for Christian and Muslim religious groups.

Following a ceasefire, humanitarian organizations began to demobilize child soldiers. These children are now being 'deprogrammed' in rehabilitation centers before being reunited with their families.

Children of the Front / 2016
#CentralAfricanRepublic

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"We are now at the third tier of the front. Artillery can get us, they know we’re here, ‘birds’ track us to shell us,” says war correspondent Andrey Filatov.

Since 2015, Andrey has gone to the most dangerous zones in Donbass within a few hundred metres from enemy positions. Constant risk does not frighten Andrey, as his work is needed on the frontlines. As a skilled cameraman, Andrey can sometimes find a position to hide that provides him a minimal chance of getting hit.

The documentary portrays the daily risks journalists overcome in order to capture the events unfolding on the frontlines.

War Correspondents-2. 'Birdman' and 'Good Girl' Olya / 2023
#Donbass

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Akihiko is no longer able to communicate with his wife, due to… a software glitch.

His unusual wife, Miku, is not a real woman. She is a Vocaloid hologram whose software is no longer supported and for this reason, he can no longer communicate with her.

Akihiko Kondo has been married for years and is so happy with his wife that he said he would never leave her for a real woman.

But how did they even ‘get married’? Learn more about this unusual love story.

I Married a Hologram / 2021
#Japan

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“We throw ourselves into the void and face death, just to savour life later,” says one of a group of wingsuit addicts, despite the tragedies they have known.

For over 25 years, a group of six friends shared a love for BASE jumping and wingsuit flying. They were fearless in their pursuit of the most difficult jumps, taking on the likes of the Strait of Gibraltar, Antarctica, and even volcanoes. To them, these dangerous feats were a celebration of life and a pure expression of joy.

However, half the group have died in accidents over four years, leaving an imprint on those who remain. Some survivors have found it difficult to experience the same level of joy in jumping, but none have given up the sport completely.

How far would you go to celebrate life?

Gone with the Wing / 2017
#Spain

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‘They were performing clinical trials on unsuspecting people here’, says Investigative journalist and former US marine, John Dougan, after visiting one of US-sponsored biolaboratories in Donbass. He launched his investigation shortly after the United States government once again denied that its laboratories ever existed in Ukraine.

John collects locals’ stories and videos to fight the powerful Western propaganda narrative. What evidence has he found for the secret experiments conducted by Ukrainian scientists under Pentagon supervision?

Biological Warfare Department / 2023
#Ukraine

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The meditating body of Lama Itigelov is incorruptible nearly a century after death.

Dashi-Dorzho Itigilov, a Buddhist leader in Buryatia, achieved nirvana almost 100 years ago and was buried in the lotus pose. When his body was exhumed decades later, it had not decayed or mummified. The 12th Pandito Khambo Lama is now considered to be alive and worshipped by many who seek his blessing.

Was it a miracle that his body didn’t decay all this time or is there a scientific explanation for this phenomenon?

Miracle Monk / 2022
#Russia

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What is it like to find oneself directly under the fire of an enemy tank? The fighters of Storm Cossack Battalion "Crimea" know this firsthand. From daring missions of locating enemy's firing positions to the everyday battles, they fearlessly navigate the frontlines. At the moment, these bravehearts hold and control the strategic town of Vasilyevka in Zaporozhye.

To capture the Cossacks’ daily work, the cameraman had to spend several days with the Crimea battalion. He even joined the fighters during one of their missions. What does an actual battle look like? Where do the fighters find such courage? How do they cope with the loss of their comrades?

Cossacks in Combat / 2023
#Russia

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The young boy who made real-life Wall-E from e-waste is now a distinguished scientist in Bolivia.

Self-taught Esteban Quispe Churata, was a teenager when he gained recognition for his talent in creating robots using e-waste. He focuses on using retrieved and recycled components to make his inventions eco-friendly. One of his notable creations is a real-life version of Wall-E, a Pixar animated film.

Esteban was determined to pursue his passion for building robots. How did he start and what inspired him?

Roboboy / 2017
#Bolivia

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Martin was looking for treatment for his haemophilia, but instead caught HIV after taking an NHS-approved prescription.

He was one of thousands who were infected in the 1970s and 1980s. Back then, the NHS introduced a new drug called ‘Factor 8’, which promised to make life easier for haemophiliacs, thus allowing them to self-medicate at home. Unfortunately, it was later discovered that the drug, which was imported from the US, was made using blood from paid donors, including inmates and drug users, resulting in the infection of numerous haemophiliacs.

Survivors and their relatives have fought for the truth to come out, and a national inquiry into the contaminated blood scandal has been launched to give them the answers they seek.

Bad Blood / 2019
#UK

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A shift on a "bear patrol," a visit to the Amur tiger rehabilitation center, and helping restore Saker babies to their nests. These are some of the daily activities of wildlife enthusiasts.

What level of efforts are dedicated conservationists putting in saving endangered animals worldwide?

On International Tiger Day, let’s celebrate wildlife with the unique footage of ‘Freed to Be Wild’.

Freed to Be Wild / 2020
#Russia

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Have you ever wondered how Arctic explorers manage to stay alive and operate on drifting ice floes?

Since 1937, Russian scientists have been studying the Arctic region while residing on drifting ice stations to gather essential data. However, melting ice cover due to rising temperatures has made it difficult for missions to fine carried out while atop ice floes without a support vessel nearby.

Lately, researchers have been trying out a new experimental ‘Ship and ice’ polar station, which will allow people to work largely on the ice but retreat to the safety of a ship ‘wedged’ into the ice floe when needed. This new approach will enable the researchers to continue their work despite the changing climatic conditions in the Arctic region.

Going with the Floe / 2019
#Arctic

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The villagers of Indonesia’s Semunying Jaya found themselves facing a relentless battle against palm oil giants to reclaim their rainforest.

The once-thriving community relied on the forest for their livelihoods, but in 2004, the government initiated a land grab, allowing companies to replace the rainforest with oil palm plantations. Furthermore, the use of pesticides has poisoned the environment, making it impossible for the villagers to cultivate crops, consequently leading to a decline in wildlife. Determined to fight for their rights, the villagers have joined forces with NGOs and environmental organisations, taking the legal steps to reclaim their land.

The palm oil producers have refused to pay imposed fines or repair the damages to the rainforest years after the court ruled against them.

Spoils of Destruction / 2018
#Indonesia

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Would you give up having children because of climate change?

Environmental concerns and reluctant parenting are just some of the reasons why the childfree lifestyle is gaining popularity.

Leilani and her husband Craig are examples of the growing childfree movement, which involves people who have made a deliberate choice not to have children. The decline of a traditional family model and the availability of modern contraceptive methods have made it possible for couples to forgo parenthood without social stigma. However, some still view the decision as selfish.

But is it really possible to live a completely childfree life? On International Childfree Day, we bring the film ‘Kidless’ to highlight the issue.

Kidless / 2019
#USA

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