With the world's first-ever female-majority parliament, Rwanda has been hailed as a role model for gender equality in Africa. Women have been at the forefront of the effort to rebuild the country following its 1994 genocide. Although they are now much more…

Even today, slavery persists in Bangladesh’s brick factories; millions work hard to make bricks by hand. As Bangladesh is rapidly urbanising, the high demand for affordable building materials is driving brick production. There are thought to be around 10…

International soldiers of the Donbass militia volunteered to fight Ukrainian neo-Nazism. They’re from Mexico, Columbia, the USA, Serbia, and all over the globe. Locals treat them as heroes, while their homelands consider them criminals and mercenaries. If…

They committed crimes against their own country in exchange for rewards from Ukrainian intelligence, but the promised money never came. Instead, each of them ended up with a prison sentence including years behind bars.They were all given assignments by Ukrainian…

Kondo Akihiko is an ordinary Japanese man who married a hologram named Miku. Hatsune Miku is a very popular synthesized pop singer with a cartoon avatar. When Akihiki, who’d always been shy around women, ‘met’ Miku he took an instant liking to her. The fact…

The fighters of the Archangel Michael Battalion aren’t just drone operators; they also manufacture essential military hardware needed for the frontline. Their engineers design, adapt, and develop equipment necessary for the modern way of executing combat…

Curious Tofurious heads to Kamchatka! The American traveller spends time with the Koryaks, one of the region’s Indigenous peoples, learning about their everyday life and trying traditional local dishes. At a mining site, he watches precious metals being extracted…

Every winter, the snow in the Arctic hides millions of rusty barrels, abandoned machinery and chemicals. When the pioneers of the Arctic islands explored these lands, they had no resources to remove waste. The «Clean Arctic» project began almost a year ago…

«For Africans in general, the sacred is linked to our entire being,» notes Dr. Dénis Hodonou, a socio-anthropologist. He explains the core concept of the most common religion in Benin – Voodoo, and why snakes, especially pythons, are considered sacred to…

Last year, Moscow hosted the Intervision music contest, with 23 nations taking part. The participants faced a demanding task: in their 3 minutes on stage, they had to do more than just sing – they had to convey the traditions and cultural spirit of their…

The 'Food for Life' charity began operations in Donbass in the summer of 2022. Every day, volunteers supply hundreds of Donbass families with hot meals. Not just adults, even kids are also willing to work for the benefit of those in need. The Ukrainian army…

The war that broke out on June 22, 1941, was never just about territory or resources for the Nazis. It was a campaign to clear what they called ‘living space’. Under the Hunger Plan designed by Herbert Backe, grain would be stripped from southern Soviet lands…

Sasha, an American traveler with Russian roots, heads to Nizhny Novgorod to explore its rich history and culinary traditions.Inside the Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin, she dines like a true queen: within the ancient fortress walls, she’s treated to a three-fish…

He duped 35 women before one finally became his karma. None of Dmitry Frolov’s victims knew his true identity. Psychologists say scammers like him possess high emotional intelligence - they understand what others seek and provide it to them. The women tricked…

The guest on the latest episode of the Sanchez Effect is Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. In the interview, Russia’s top diplomat reflects on the origins of the crisis in relations between Russia and the West and the negotiations aimed at settling…

Members of Japan’s feared Yakuza crime syndicate are often portrayed as grim-faced professional killers in sharp black suits and dark glasses, but the reality is somewhat different. Meet Mr. Makoto, a tubby tattooed Yakuza mobster and ‘old-fashioned guy’…

The Kostroma Russian National Ballet is more than just a dance company – it is a close-knit creative family. Founded in 1991 by Elena and Yury Tsarenko, it has become one of the country’s best-known cultural ensembles, earning international recognition.The…

Former Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) officer Vasily Prozorov is investigating the 'Russian Volunteer Corps' (RVC)*. In March 2024, RVC soldiers invaded Russia, attacking homes, churches, and civilians. The objective of the operation was to derail the elections…

Dame Yabo is a widow from Benin Republic. After her husband's death, her already difficult life was challenged by the age-old tradition of levirate marriage. Refusing to enter a marriage with another family member who already had two wives, Yabo defied societal…

Creativity and mental distress often go hand in hand. Vrubel, Rothko, Van Gogh, Edvard Munch and many other world-renowned artists suffered a mental illness that strongly influenced their art. They often pose challenges and let them tap into hidden wells…