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The rig has reached its new location and the drillers prepare to bore the pilot hole with a sharp tooth monster that can cut through 30 metres of seabed per hour. When finally assembled, observers anxiously watch via an underwater camera as the drilling chisel is lowered to the sea floor.

The Saint Petersburg Valkyries; Russia’s oldest and strongest women’s American-football team, over the course of a season, RTD follows them and their coach in pursuit of victory in the Finnish League, Europe’s toughest championship. Tag along with RTD for practice sessions, overnight coach trips and high-stakes games. Meet the players, big or small, who find their place through the team. Then decide: does this bruising sport destroy femininity, or help young women bloom?

These ladies put on bright bouffant skirts and arrange their long hair in neat plaits. Then they go into the ring and beat the hell out of each other! Meet the Bolivian fighting cholitas, the female wrestlers of lucha libre, a free fight that marries a choreographed show with a full-on punching match.

As night falls in Athens, the city’s squares turn seedy, and middle aged European men can be seen chatting with teenage Syrian boys – a seemingly odd pairing of friends. Many of these youngsters are refugees who have resorted to selling themselves for as little as €10 just to eat. Some also choose drug pedaling and petty theft to survive. With no official documents or help from Greece’s immigration authorities, they are stranded in this horrific life. To escape, some consider abandoning their dream of living in Europe, and others even contemplate suicide.

They can hold their breath for several minutes and slow their heart rate to almost nothing. Free divers plunge to incredible depths with no scuba gear. They push themselves to the limit to break new records but despite the serious risks involved, they can’t resist the call of the deep.

They can hold their breath for several minutes and slow their heart rate to almost nothing. Free divers plunge to incredible depths with no scuba gear. They push themselves to the limit to break new records but despite the serious risks involved, they can’t resist the call of the deep.

Murad Gazdiev’s Arctic Sea adventure takes him to Kotelny Island, where he films Russian marine battle exercises and takes a flight in a helicopter. Paula Slier, meanwhile, gets an invitation from Ukrainian anti-government fighters to witness a launch of Grad missiles.

These girls are called Bacha Posh. They have to reject their femininity and pretend to be male. In Afghanistan’s traditional patriarchal society, many women can’t leave the house without a male accompanying them. For this reason, if a family has no son, a daughter is often appointed to play his role. Having tasted freedom, some of the girls never want to go back.

The rig has reached its new location and the drillers prepare to bore the pilot hole with a sharp tooth monster that can cut through 30 metres of seabed per hour. When finally assembled, observers anxiously watch via an underwater camera as the drilling chisel is lowered to the sea floor.

The Indian state of Punjab is undergoing a severe water crisis. Once an agricultural leader in India, it’s now turning into a desert. Farmers and other rural dwellers are going bankrupt over the need to pay for water delivered from other regions. In this drastic situation, the number of suicides has skyrocketed.

Child prostitution in Kenya has reached a shocking level. Extreme poverty and sex tourism lead to the sexual exploitation of children on a massive scale. RT Doc investigates what is being done about the problem and who profits from it.

Losing its strongholds in Iraq and Syria, ISIS has made a pivot to Asia, opening up a new battleground. In the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines, two local radical Islamic groups pledged alliance to ISIS and captured the city of Marawi. Now deserted, the town once had a population of some 250,000. Residents are accommodated in evacuation centres, while the Army searches abandoned houses for militants and arms caches. 

Recently, the German city of Cologne made the news for a string of attacks against women that many blamed on migrants. The deepening refugee crisis is polarising German society. Still, no social tensions can stop the sweet celebration of Cologne’s famous Carnival, even if this year’s also came with a bitter pill. 

Sometimes we all feel like keeping a distance from everyone else, retreating to a remote corner of the world and living like a hermit. Few of us ever actually do it though. This young fisherwoman from the icy island of Sakhalin has opted for a life of solitude but was it really a choice?

The Giant Panda has been a symbol of wildlife protection for more than 50 years. It has survived in just one country: China, and its future is constantly threatened by human activity and climate change. In September 2016, the adorable bamboo bear was taken off the endangered species list.

When Auschwitz was freed on January 27, 1945, the survivors met their liberators with shouts of “the Russians have come.” Some 70 years later, the Red Army’s instrumental role in defeating the Nazis in WWII is being wiped from Western history books. However, not all have forgotten who stopped Hitler’s war machine. Those who remember still honour their tremendous sacrifices.

Their death defying stunts are scary to watch. Their videos tempt young fans to emulate their exploits. However, these adrenaline junkies publish them anyway in pursuit of internet fame. Russia’s self-proclaimed ‘Spiderman’ even took on a 70-storey building without protection to promote his name. RTD spent a week with the craziest Russian ‘rooftoppers’ to find out what motivates them… and what price they are ready to pay for more likes.

Since its founding in 1948, the State of Israel has witnessed many wars and almost daily tension with Palestinians. Numerous rocket and terrorist attacks have made the word ‘security’ almost holy for Israelis. This security is usually achieved through military force, but some Israeli activists think only reconciliation with the Palestinians will bring a lasting peace. They are ready to fight for their cause regardless of the vitriolic reactions their fellow citizens.

Many young girls dream of becoming ballerinas, but only very few are prepared to apply the all-out effort and make the sacrifices that this dream demands. The Vaganova Ballet Academy in St.Petersburg welcomes the most talented and determined young dancers, but it makes them no promises.

Many young girls dream of becoming ballerinas, but only very few are prepared to apply the all-out effort and make the sacrifices that this dream demands. The Vaganova Ballet Academy in St.Petersburg welcomes the most talented and determined young dancers, but it makes them no promises.

RT Doc’s Marina Kosareva returns to Greece two years after she was there as a reporter, covering the daily anti-austerity protests that accompanied the country's worsening economic problems. While the Greek crisis hasn’t been in the news much lately, it’s far from over. Ordinary Greeks explain how they're trying to adapt to their country’s new reality.

Murad Gazdiev’s Arctic Sea adventure takes him to Kotelny Island, where he films Russian marine battle exercises and takes a flight in a helicopter. Paula Slier, meanwhile, gets an invitation from Ukrainian anti-government fighters to witness a launch of Grad missiles.

Ziona Chana is head of the largest family in the world, leader of a religious commune in India and, according to some, he’s God himself. Hundreds of followers pray to him and worship him as an immortal deity. RT Doc visits the polygamous “New Generation” cult he founded at the foot of the Himalayas. 

The rig has reached its new location and the drillers prepare to bore the pilot hole with a sharp tooth monster that can cut through 30 metres of seabed per hour. When finally assembled, observers anxiously watch via an underwater camera as the drilling chisel is lowered to the sea floor.

These ladies put on bright bouffant skirts and arrange their long hair in neat plaits. Then they go into the ring and beat the hell out of each other! Meet the Bolivian fighting cholitas, the female wrestlers of lucha libre, a free fight that marries a choreographed show with a full-on punching match.

The Saint Petersburg Valkyries; Russia’s oldest and strongest women’s American-football team, over the course of a season, RTD follows them and their coach in pursuit of victory in the Finnish League, Europe’s toughest championship. Tag along with RTD for practice sessions, overnight coach trips and high-stakes games. Meet the players, big or small, who find their place through the team. Then decide: does this bruising sport destroy femininity, or help young women bloom?

As night falls in Athens, the city’s squares turn seedy, and middle aged European men can be seen chatting with teenage Syrian boys – a seemingly odd pairing of friends. Many of these youngsters are refugees who have resorted to selling themselves for as little as €10 just to eat. Some also choose drug pedaling and petty theft to survive. With no official documents or help from Greece’s immigration authorities, they are stranded in this horrific life. To escape, some consider abandoning their dream of living in Europe, and others even contemplate suicide.

The Indian state of Punjab is undergoing a severe water crisis. Once an agricultural leader in India, it’s now turning into a desert. Farmers and other rural dwellers are going bankrupt over the need to pay for water delivered from other regions. In this drastic situation, the number of suicides has skyrocketed.

Child prostitution in Kenya has reached a shocking level. Extreme poverty and sex tourism lead to the sexual exploitation of children on a massive scale. RT Doc investigates what is being done about the problem and who profits from it.

Losing its strongholds in Iraq and Syria, ISIS has made a pivot to Asia, opening up a new battleground. In the predominantly Roman Catholic Philippines, two local radical Islamic groups pledged alliance to ISIS and captured the city of Marawi. Now deserted, the town once had a population of some 250,000. Residents are accommodated in evacuation centres, while the Army searches abandoned houses for militants and arms caches. 

Recently, the German city of Cologne made the news for a string of attacks against women that many blamed on migrants. The deepening refugee crisis is polarising German society. Still, no social tensions can stop the sweet celebration of Cologne’s famous Carnival, even if this year’s also came with a bitter pill. 

Sometimes we all feel like keeping a distance from everyone else, retreating to a remote corner of the world and living like a hermit. Few of us ever actually do it though. This young fisherwoman from the icy island of Sakhalin has opted for a life of solitude but was it really a choice?

They can hold their breath for several minutes and slow their heart rate to almost nothing. Free divers plunge to incredible depths with no scuba gear. They push themselves to the limit to break new records but despite the serious risks involved, they can’t resist the call of the deep.

They can hold their breath for several minutes and slow their heart rate to almost nothing. Free divers plunge to incredible depths with no scuba gear. They push themselves to the limit to break new records but despite the serious risks involved, they can’t resist the call of the deep.

The Giant Panda has been a symbol of wildlife protection for more than 50 years. It has survived in just one country: China, and its future is constantly threatened by human activity and climate change. In September 2016, the adorable bamboo bear was taken off the endangered species list.

Murad Gazdiev’s Arctic Sea adventure takes him to Kotelny Island, where he films Russian marine battle exercises and takes a flight in a helicopter. Paula Slier, meanwhile, gets an invitation from Ukrainian anti-government fighters to witness a launch of Grad missiles.

Their death defying stunts are scary to watch. Their videos tempt young fans to emulate their exploits. However, these adrenaline junkies publish them anyway in pursuit of internet fame. Russia’s self-proclaimed ‘Spiderman’ even took on a 70-storey building without protection to promote his name. RTD spent a week with the craziest Russian ‘rooftoppers’ to find out what motivates them… and what price they are ready to pay for more likes.

The rig has reached its new location and the drillers prepare to bore the pilot hole with a sharp tooth monster that can cut through 30 metres of seabed per hour. When finally assembled, observers anxiously watch via an underwater camera as the drilling chisel is lowered to the sea floor.

Many young girls dream of becoming ballerinas, but only very few are prepared to apply the all-out effort and make the sacrifices that this dream demands. The Vaganova Ballet Academy in St.Petersburg welcomes the most talented and determined young dancers, but it makes them no promises.

Many young girls dream of becoming ballerinas, but only very few are prepared to apply the all-out effort and make the sacrifices that this dream demands. The Vaganova Ballet Academy in St.Petersburg welcomes the most talented and determined young dancers, but it makes them no promises.

Since its founding in 1948, the State of Israel has witnessed many wars and almost daily tension with Palestinians. Numerous rocket and terrorist attacks have made the word ‘security’ almost holy for Israelis. This security is usually achieved through military force, but some Israeli activists think only reconciliation with the Palestinians will bring a lasting peace. They are ready to fight for their cause regardless of the vitriolic reactions their fellow citizens.

Paula Slier visits soup kitchens in Eastern Ukraine as part of her humanitarian story package. Meanwhile, Bricio Segovia celebrates Mexico's Independence Day by singing a form of Mexican folk music known as Mariachi.

RT Doc’s Marina Kosareva returns to Greece two years after she was there as a reporter, covering the daily anti-austerity protests that accompanied the country's worsening economic problems. While the Greek crisis hasn’t been in the news much lately, it’s far from over. Ordinary Greeks explain how they're trying to adapt to their country’s new reality.