"Some ask: 'What's your mission?' It seems to me, my mission is to unite people. Not just people, but nations," says Aslisho Akimbekov. Born in Tajikistan, Aslisho became a popular TV host and then chose to expand his creative horizons by moving to Russia. As he organises large intercultural events and multinational weddings, Alishio believes his role is to bring diverse and distant communities closer together. Meet him and learn more about his story in the new No Limits episode.

Tajik TV star builds career as an event planner in Russia | No Limits (E8) / 2023
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Little Areesha started boxing at 8 years old. She says she wanted “to be able to protect myself and my parents”.

Typically confined to household chores and early marriages, girls in Pakistan’s patriarchal society are discouraged from education and sports. However, there’s a girls' boxing club that defies these expectations where both children and adults train together with passion and commitment. Surpassing their male counterparts, these girls seek empowerment and self-defense skills to protect themselves and their families in a dangerous neighborhood plagued by gang wars.

The boxing training provides them a rare sense of freedom, boosting their confidence and expanding their horizons beyond the confines of societal limitations.

On International Boxing Day, let’s check out the unusual stories of these strong and inspiring girls.

Knockout Girls / 2016
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"The nurse said, after such severe wounds, it's either death fears you, or you are made of iron, you're bullet-proof," says one of the fighters about his comrade, codenamed Student. On numerous occasions, he has been hit by shrapnel or wounded while under Ukrainian mortar attacks. Codename Student has been defending Donbass since 2014 and has already survived three serious concussions during this time. This is just one of the stories shared with war correspondent Nikolay Tsonku , as the reporter embarked on his journey to deliver humanitarian aid. Tune in for more stories in our premiere.

Notes from Donbass / 2023
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Punjabi people have to carry a week’s supply of water on their heads!

Water has turned into a luxury in the Indian region, with thousands of villages relying on costly water deliveries due to a severe shortage. Farmers are unable to afford water for their crops, leading to massive debts and a wave of suicides, while authorities ignore the crisis. The situation is a result of unintended consequences from India's agricultural revolution and global climate change.

Obtaining water consumes people's lives, as they queue for tankers, wait at half-dried wells, or manually dig reservoirs. Desperate measures like polygamous marriages and water prioritization have become necessary for survival.

H2Woe / 2016
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This 35-year-old man has been imprisoned in the body of a 13-year-old boy. His unique appearance is caused by a rare genetic condition that prevents growth.

Denis Vashurin has to deal with some uncomfortable situations and remarks about his age and appearance. "I have to prove to myself more often than others that I am, in fact, me!" Denis explains.

Denis, who lives in Russia's Far East, has a steady, demanding job and a fascinating YouTube channel where he shares his love of nature and hunting trips.

How has Denis learned to overcome his difficulties and accept his unique appearance?

Eternal Boy / 2021
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In the Indian Himalayas, this polygamous cult firmly believes that God resides within their community.

Led by Ziona Chana, renowned for having the world's largest family of 163 members and 38 wives, the cult extends beyond his household. The "New Generation" cult, founded by Ziona's late father and uncle, venerates Ziona as their eternal God, believing in the immortality of the human body.
The cult's extraordinary composition, including the record-breaking family, attracts tourists who generously support them financially.

The Immortals / 2016
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'And I saw that in Russia, there are opportunities to find work in my professional field. In addition to my profession, I've found my spirit here, and I want to keep it,' says Jim Evans from Uganda. He relocated 8,000 km away from his home, to become an Air Transportation manager in Moscow. After 5 years of living in Russia, Jim intends to obtain citizenship and settle down in Moscow. How has Jim's life unfolded thousands of miles from home?

Ugandan student finds friends, career and love in Russia | No Limits (E9) / 2023
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'I'm in Magas, and just yesterday I got married. In 2 days I'll fly to Moscow where I'm going to stay for 2 more days. Then I'll go to Bishkek…' This is how Tamerlan Bogatyryov describes his typical business trip plan. Even his wedding had to be fitted into Tamerlan's tight schedule. As the executive director of the Eurasian Equestrian Association, Tamerlan frequently visits all 11 member countries. He has plenty of energy and strength to organise large international competitions and events. Tune in for the premiere of the new No Limits episode to learn more.

Equestrian sports specialist finds new home in Moscow | No Limits (E10) / 2023
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This family is saving orphaned baby elephants amid massive-scale ivory poaching in Africa.

The Danckwerts established the 'Wild is Life' sanctuary in Zimbabwe, providing a safe haven for injured and orphaned animals.

The sanctuary is home to around 150 animals, including giraffes, lions, cheetahs, monkeys, and elephants. With their specially built elephant enclosure at the sanctuary, they rescue and care for orphaned baby elephants, giving them a second chance at life.

With round-the-clock care, including bottle-feeding and warmth, the sanctuary aims to instill a "culture of care" among Zimbabweans to protect these majestic creatures and end the illegal ivory trade.

When an Elephant Smiles / 2019
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One in three children are exposed to sexual abuse due to extreme poverty and dire living conditions in Kenya. The country is among the top destinations for child trafficking, fuelled by sex tourism and exploitation.

Despite being illegal, child prostitution is widespread, with children as young as 8 or 9 engaging in sexual acts for survival. Many children drop out of school due to financial constraints and end up in vulnerable situations, targeted for abuse in children's homes. NGOs intended to assist children often exploit the problem without addressing it.
What’s been done to support these young kids, and do they have any means of escape?

SOS: Sold Out Slaves / 2016
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Imagine waking up in one of Call of Duty's violent games one day. This is the everyday reality for residents of these Brazilian slums.

Rio de Janeiro's favelas are vast slum areas, described as "cities within a city”, built by the poorest members of society. Controlled by drug gangs, these areas lack infrastructure and have their own rules. To combat crime in this area, a special military police unit was established, but the ongoing war between the gangsters and government forces endangers the locals, coupled with allegations of brutality that is eroding trust.

While some favelas have become more secured, others remain dangerous and antagonistic. Can local efforts keep the youths away from violence and criminal gangs?

FavelaLive / 2017
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Aziagba Philomene's children spend grueling hours crushing stones into gravel without any protection, as their mother is forced to send them to work, in order to meet basic needs. In Togo, many children like those in the Philomene family, face the harsh reality of hard labor and human trafficking.

Limited employment opportunities have led to over 300,000 children being sent abroad or to distant cities, under false promises of better life prospects. However, most end up in exploitative conditions parallel to slavery, while girls are often subjected to forced prostitution.

What struggles do Togolese parents, as well as their kids face, in the hope of lifting their families out of poverty?

Togo: Tough to Survive / 2018
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Father-to-be Miguel decided to share the burden of pregnancy with his wife. How did he manage it?

For the past two weeks, he has been wearing a tummy suit to mimic pregnancy. He took maternity leave and embraced the challenges alongside his wife, Kristina. Miguel adjusted to physical limitations, followed a special diet, and managed mood swings. He hoped to gain valuable experience and be present for the birth of his child. Miguel even took a midwifery course to assist with delivery.

Was it an ‘easy’ journey? Watch to find out!

Pregnant Together / 2015
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"I held his head up and put the knife to his throat. He said to me, 'For God's sake, don't kill me.' But I did not listen and slaughtered him," shares 15-year-old Fares. He was recruited by Jabhat al-Nusra and trained, like hundreds of other children. They were forced to use weapons, engage in combat and act as human shields or suicide bombers. How did Fares become ensnared by terrorists? What methods do terrorists use to recruit more unsuspecting people into their ranks?

Lost Souls / 2023
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Momtay Begum made it out alive from a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing.”

Momtay is a survivor of the 2017 violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Her body is scarred with burns and wounds. She and her daughter escaped to Bangladesh, joining nearly 700,000 Rohingya refugees living in dire conditions in the camps. The atrocities they endured align with numerous Rohingya accounts. However, the Myanmar government denies the massacres, asserting that the military targeted only Muslim insurgents, not civilians. Rakhine residents support this narrative, blaming Rohingya militants for torching villages.

What are the real root causes of the Rohingya crisis? Listen to the refugees' stories to get a clearer picture.

Rohingya: Unpeopled / 2018
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This Russian man shares his room with a wolf!

Ivan received a wolf cub from hunters during a visit to the countryside. He took it home to live with his daughter, Sasha, and their two dogs. It didn't take long for the wolf to become a member of the family. They named him Sery, meaning 'grey' in Russian. Over time, Sery found a common language with Ivan, who saved him from inevitable death.

However, Sery has outgrown their small city apartment and needed more care and exercise. They have now relocated to a datcha in the countryside so that his tailed pets can enjoy more space and fresh nature.

Ivan and the Wolf / 2019
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