These 7 facts about one of the most famous pieces of Russian art are as strange and odd as the ‘Black Square’ itself.

The original name of the most famous painting by Kazimir Malevich is actually not ‘Black Square’, but ‘Black Supremacist Square’. But, that’s not the only peculiar information about the masterpiece…

1. It’s not a square – and it’s not black

Malevich’s black square is actually not a square at all: none of the sides are parallel to each other nor the frame of the painting. Technically, it’s just a rectangle.
And it’s not black. Malevich used a special solution of paints, in which there was not a single black one, so the name of the painting does not quite correspond to reality.

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Amazonka: The Iron-Pumping Queen / 2020
#Russia

Natalya ‘Amazonka’ Kuznetsova is one of the strongest female powerlifters. She lifts a whopping 175 kg in the bench press and clears 240 kg in the deadlift! Natalya’s biceps make a lot of her male peers hang their heads in shame.

Her impressive looks have helped Natalya rise to internet fame. She now has a million followers on Instagram, as well as work outside of the gym. Natalya’s secret is that she does what she enjoys the most.

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Honduran Femicide / 2022
#Honduras

Honduras is one of the most dangerous places to be a woman. The country has the highest rate of femicide, gender-based murder, in Latin America. Women are easy targets for gangs that wage war against each other on the streets of Honduras. Stepping outside your home can sometimes be deadly.

November 25th marks International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Check out this documentary for more about femicide and how women in Honduras resist gender-based violence.

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Iraq. The Story of My Family / 2019
#Iraq

Omar is a Russian-Iraqi, whose father fled to the Soviet Union and married a Russian. He left behind 11 brothers and sisters, as well as 400 clan members. Large, close-knit families used to be the norm in Iraq, but the war and ISIS violence split up even close relatives. The documentary shows Omar’s journey to his second homeland as he tries to bring everyone together.

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Migingo: The Iron-Clad Island / 2015
#Kenya

Could you imagine living on an island roughly the size of a football pitch with several hundred other people? That’s what life is like on tiny Migingo in Lake Victoria. Metal shacks cover the tiny island, making it look like an iron-plated turtle. It has everything any normal town has: shops, cafes, brothels, a port, a church, and even a hotel for the occasional tourist.

Although there are bigger islands a stone’s throw away, locals don’t rush to populate them, as they believe they are inhabited by evil spirits. Still, why would you want live like sardines packed into a tiny island? The waters surrounding it are rich with fish, so Kenyan and Ugandan fishermen remain on Migingo to fill their nets.

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Cold War Weapons | MiG Fighters: Episode 2 / 2022
#USSR #USA

The competition in space exploration boosted the development of remarkable supersonic space planes. Soviet scientists created the still unrivaled MiG-31. The plane can reach speeds that are almost six times faster than a bullet and intercept enemy missiles and satellites. Can you imagine the g-forces the crew experienced during flight? When the MiG climbs to near space, blood rushes from the pilot’s head and his body is forced back into the seat. How do they manage to endure such pressure? Watch the new episode of ‘Cold War Weapons’ to see the training process and how real pilots fly a fighter jet!

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Young Guard Reborn / 2022
#Ukraine #Donbass

The Young Guard was a famous WWII underground organisation, whose members resisted Nazi occupiers in Donbass in 1942. They were only teenagers, some of them as young as 14. The story of their heroic feat became one of the most popular novels in the Soviet Union that inspired generations. In 2014, Krasnodon locals raised in the traditions of the Young Guard had to defend their home too. The documentary tells the stories of young Donbass residents who took up arms despite their young age.

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In the USSR, color photography did not become widespread until the middle of the 20th century, but, thanks to this man, a vast collection of color photographs from the tsarist era has survived to this day. 📸

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Protect Oak Flat / 2022
#USA

Arizona’s Oak Flat has been a sacred place for the indigenous Apache people for thousands of years. It was a burial ground and continues to be a holy site for religious ceremonies. The Apache believe that Oak Flat is home to spirits, healing spring waters and medicinal plants. However, beneath the surface lies one of America’s largest untapped copper deposits. And a mining giant wants it. Since 2014, Native Americans and environmental activists have been fighting to save Oak Flat from becoming an enormous sinkhole.

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Togo: Tough to Survive / 2018
#Togo

The West African state is one of the poorest countries in the world. Nearly a third of Tologese children must work to help support their families. Kids as young as five toil away in dangerous conditions. Some are sent abroad or to distant cities on promises of better prospects. However, many end up in slavery and prostitution.

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My Forever Family / 2018
#Russia

Sadly, there’re too many unwanted children with special needs in children’s homes all over Russia. Many display challenging behaviour, meaning they’re more likely to stay in an orphanage before being sent away to some adult institution.

The film talks about the ‘Road of Life’ foundation that helps children with disabilities in regional homes find qualified medical help and a new family. It features the stories of a little girl named Yulia, who was returned by her adoptive mother, and a deaf teenager Sasha who finally finds a loving family.

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The Coral Gardeners / 2015
#Thailand

A team of marine biologists and volunteer divers is working tirelessly to preserve Thailand’s endangered coral reefs. Tourism, coastal development, overfishing and climate change have all contributed to the rapid decline of this fragile ecosystem. Faced by an environmental tragedy, scientists have been forced to think creatively about how to cultivate the reefs and protect its inhabitants before it’s too late.

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Cold War Weapons | Spies: Episode 1 / 2022
#USSR #USA

How did Soviet and American intel try to uncover each other’s most guarded secrets? Is it true that they used cats and rats as living listening devices? And how did Soviet intelligence officers manage to tap the American ambassador for almost 8 years?

The new episode of 'Cold War Weapons' reveals the classified spy devices and sophisticated procedures of that time. Former intelligence agents describe their riskiest operations and explain how they managed to infiltrate even seemingly impregnable organizations.

Stay tuned to learn more about secret services of that time next Monday!

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Longing for Palestine: Art of Resistance / 2018
#Palestine

Water shortages, movement restrictions, and a constant military presence – this is what life looks like for millions of Palestinians living in the occupied territories. For decades, Israel has controlled the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, expanding its settlements and maintaining a blockade.

Last week marked International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people. Watch the documentary to learn more about Palestinian protest art.

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What goods did the USSR advertise to foreign audiences?

While shortages of consumer goods and the absence of competition and genuine diversity were the traits of the planned economy in the USSR, some of the Soviet-made products were successfully sold abroad.
Marketing Soviet products to foreign customers required the advertising industry to produce posters, video commercials and other forms of advertising. Here are some examples of Soviet ads made for foreign audiences.

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Hunting Boko Haram / 2018
#Nigeria

Boko Haram is a notorious Nigerian terrorist group, infamous for the 2014 kidnapping of 276 girls from a school in Chibok. The terrorists have been a menacing presence in Nigeria for the past 12 years as thousands have died and millions of people were displaced. Local people have even started their own militia-like squads to oppose the insurgents. The documentary takes a look at a group of local hunters turned vigilantes on the heels of the terrorists.

Armed with homemade weapons and magic amulets, they help the army track down the insurgents. Their female leader, Queen Aisha, has already won heroine status in local folklore for her efforts.

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Signora Anti-NATO / 2015
#Italy

Italian activist Marinella Correggia is a staunch NATO critic. She blames the military alliance for political and economic instability in countries where it has intervened. Marinella stands with the countries affected by NATO’s military operations - Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. She wants the alliance held to account.

The documentary shows one woman’s fight against NATO’s abuse of power.

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Feminine Front / 2022
#Donbass #Ukraine

In 2014, when war broke out in Donbass, Alyona Carabet was just 16. Her mother, Olga code-named Korsa, was one of very few women commanders, and Alyona wanted to join her unit as soon as she turned 18. “I said to her, if not with you, then I'll join some other unit anyway’. So she said: ‘Okay then, can you pack your things in 2 hours?’. Then by evening, I was already in Gorlovka, in her division”, recalls Alyona.

How must it feel to spend your first four years as an adult on the front line?

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SOS: Sold Out Slaves / 2016
#Kenya

One Kenyan child in three is involved in underage prostitution. Extreme poverty forces kids as young as 8 to prostitute themselves. Despite risks of exposure to violence and life-threatening diseases, children can’t escape the vicious circle. In the documentary, young prostitutes share their heartbreaking stories.

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