Schedule

Like most students in rural Nepal, Durge Kami is a diligent pupil who tries to listen to his teachers.  He differs from his school mates in just one respect, he is 69! At such a ripe old age, he was determined to realise his life’s ambition to complete his education. Not everyone supported him at first but by doing what he loves he’s become an inspiration for kids and adults alike.

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.

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.

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.

Since war broke out in Syria almost 6 years ago, a whole generation of kids has never known peace. They’ve witnessed family members being killed and their houses destroyed. Many were wounded and war has robbed them all of their childhoods. With no end in sight to the bloody conflict, their futures are uncertain.

The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 left countless widows and orphans in its wake. On seeing how many ragged children were living in the streets of Baghdad, one man decided to do something about it. Hicham Zahabi founded the Iraqi Safe House for Creativity – an orphanage and school for boys with no viable families. Now these kids learn to read and write and take field trips to theatres rather than join criminal gangs or terrorist groups.

Young African Americans like Steven Stewart from Philadelphia often grow up in crime-ridden areas with substandard schools. RTD finds out how the community is stepping in to give them the skills they need to turn their lives around. At YESPhilly, Steven’s second chance high school, youngsters learn to persevere in order to graduate, transforming their job prospects in the process. Moreover, a Black Guns Matters activist trains them in gun safety, which is essential for reducing gun fatalities amongst African Americans. In New York, Black Lives Matters protests allow high schoolers to practice defending their rights.

RTD visits Republika Srpska, Bosnia’s Serb “entity” and hears the Bosnian Serb side of the story about the War and its aftermath. RTD meets recent President Milorad Dodik and butcher-or-hero, General Ratko Mladic’s son, Darko, while legendary film director, Emir Kusturica shares his plans to bring hope to the region through culture.

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. 

Mica is a shiny mineral that’s all the rage in modern-day makeup, helping to give beauty products a bright gleam and natural-looking glow. This beauty, however, comes at a price that most are unaware of. Those who pay it are the poorest and the most vulnerable. RT Doc visits India’s illegal mica mines where child labour is rife. 

On April 3, 2017, a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded St. Petersburg subway train. This was only one of the 200 terrorist attacks in Russia that have killed thousands and injured many more in the past 25 years. Now, the maimed survivors share the details of the horror they’ve lived through. They have had to adjust to living with serious impairments, but refuse to allow their lives to be derailed.

Over 20 million Americans are prescribed psychotropic drugs  for a variety of mental disorders. Even young children are being given pills to treat ‘behavioural problems’. The drugs are intended to help, but many patients say they just don’t work, are dangerously habit forming and have debilitating side effects. 

After decades of political antagonism with the West, the Soviet Union made its first Olympic appearance in the 1952 Summer Games in Helsinki.The USSR’s team shocked the world, leaving European countries and Australia in the dust, coming in second only to the USA. It was hard to believe that some of the gold medal winners had been wounded in World War II or nearly starved during the siege of Leningrad. A number had even survived multiple Nazi concentration camps. Team’s members describe how they overcame hardships to achieve remarkable victories for their country.

Known as hikikomori, the phenomenon of social withdrawal has become increasingly commonplace in Japan. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese shut themselves away, spending months and years in isolation. But as time goes by, the hikikomori are forced to face the harsh realities of life. Luckily, people are helping to draw them out. RTD meets the hikikomori and a doctor getting the recluses back on their feet.

Like most students in rural Nepal, Durge Kami is a diligent pupil who tries to listen to his teachers.  He differs from his school mates in just one respect, he is 69! At such a ripe old age, he was determined to realise his life’s ambition to complete his education. Not everyone supported him at first but by doing what he loves he’s become an inspiration for kids and adults alike.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Since war broke out in Syria almost 6 years ago, a whole generation of kids has never known peace. They’ve witnessed family members being killed and their houses destroyed. Many were wounded and war has robbed them all of their childhoods. With no end in sight to the bloody conflict, their futures are uncertain.

Ekaterina is a young mum with a toddler. She recently discovered that her heart could fail her at any moment. Her only hope is an organ transplant. The surgery is dangerous and carries many risks, but her family is optimistic. They have faith in the skills and expertise of Sklif’s doctors.

RTD visits Republika Srpska, Bosnia’s Serb “entity” and hears the Bosnian Serb side of the story about the War and its aftermath. RTD meets recent President Milorad Dodik and butcher-or-hero, General Ratko Mladic’s son, Darko, while legendary film director, Emir Kusturica shares his plans to bring hope to the region through culture.

Father Frost is coming to the town of Kachkanar, with residents getting ready for the New Year holiday. Despite loads of work, the people at the quarry are in a festive mood.

Five years into the devastating Syrian war, the country’s capital, Damascus is a shelter for the civilians who refuse to flee their motherland. Yet, even here no one is really safe as shells hit the streets and buildings regularly. Sameer is a local cameraman who continues his work despite its dangers. Through his lens, he shows us the everyday life of ordinary Syrians. 

Over 20 million Americans are prescribed psychotropic drugs  for a variety of mental disorders. Even young children are being given pills to treat ‘behavioural problems’. The drugs are intended to help, but many patients say they just don’t work, are dangerously habit forming and have debilitating side effects. 

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.

The US invasion of Iraq in 2003 left countless widows and orphans in its wake. On seeing how many ragged children were living in the streets of Baghdad, one man decided to do something about it. Hicham Zahabi founded the Iraqi Safe House for Creativity – an orphanage and school for boys with no viable families. Now these kids learn to read and write and take field trips to theatres rather than join criminal gangs or terrorist groups.

Young African Americans like Steven Stewart from Philadelphia often grow up in crime-ridden areas with substandard schools. RTD finds out how the community is stepping in to give them the skills they need to turn their lives around. At YESPhilly, Steven’s second chance high school, youngsters learn to persevere in order to graduate, transforming their job prospects in the process. Moreover, a Black Guns Matters activist trains them in gun safety, which is essential for reducing gun fatalities amongst African Americans. In New York, Black Lives Matters protests allow high schoolers to practice defending their rights.

Mica is a shiny mineral that’s all the rage in modern-day makeup, helping to give beauty products a bright gleam and natural-looking glow. This beauty, however, comes at a price that most are unaware of. Those who pay it are the poorest and the most vulnerable. RT Doc visits India’s illegal mica mines where child labour is rife. 

On April 3, 2017, a suicide bomber blew himself up in a crowded St. Petersburg subway train. This was only one of the 200 terrorist attacks in Russia that have killed thousands and injured many more in the past 25 years. Now, the maimed survivors share the details of the horror they’ve lived through. They have had to adjust to living with serious impairments, but refuse to allow their lives to be derailed.

Known as hikikomori, the phenomenon of social withdrawal has become increasingly commonplace in Japan. Hundreds of thousands of Japanese shut themselves away, spending months and years in isolation. But as time goes by, the hikikomori are forced to face the harsh realities of life. Luckily, people are helping to draw them out. RTD meets the hikikomori and a doctor getting the recluses back on their feet.

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. 

After decades of political antagonism with the West, the Soviet Union made its first Olympic appearance in the 1952 Summer Games in Helsinki.The USSR’s team shocked the world, leaving European countries and Australia in the dust, coming in second only to the USA. It was hard to believe that some of the gold medal winners had been wounded in World War II or nearly starved during the siege of Leningrad. A number had even survived multiple Nazi concentration camps. Team’s members describe how they overcame hardships to achieve remarkable victories for their country.

Ekaterina is a young mum with a toddler. She recently discovered that her heart could fail her at any moment. Her only hope is an organ transplant. The surgery is dangerous and carries many risks, but her family is optimistic. They have faith in the skills and expertise of Sklif’s doctors.

RTD visits Republika Srpska, Bosnia’s Serb “entity” and hears the Bosnian Serb side of the story about the War and its aftermath. RTD meets recent President Milorad Dodik and butcher-or-hero, General Ratko Mladic’s son, Darko, while legendary film director, Emir Kusturica shares his plans to bring hope to the region through culture.

Father Frost is coming to the town of Kachkanar, with residents getting ready for the New Year holiday. Despite loads of work, the people at the quarry are in a festive mood.

Five years into the devastating Syrian war, the country’s capital, Damascus is a shelter for the civilians who refuse to flee their motherland. Yet, even here no one is really safe as shells hit the streets and buildings regularly. Sameer is a local cameraman who continues his work despite its dangers. Through his lens, he shows us the everyday life of ordinary Syrians. 

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.

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.

Tatyana has a brain tumour and does not yet know whether it is benign or malignant. What is certain, however, is that she needs surgery. Her family is worried about the outcome and prognosis, but are reassured that she’ll be operated on in Sklifosovsky Institute – Russia’s best-known hospital.