Amsterdam could compete with New York for the title of modern Babylon. More than 200 ethnic groups live here. The whole of post-war Netherlands has been working hard to build the image of Europe’s most tolerant country – but what has been the result? Regions of the country are populated completely by people not of Dutch origin. Some of them want to accept the Dutch culture, language, and way of life; others are keeping their own traditions and languages. But despite their differences, all these people want to live in Holland.
In early 2015, a small Egyptian village was dealt a cruel blow. ISIS killed 20 men from Al-Ur because they were Christian. Now their families take comfort from their faith as they to come to terms with the loss. The whole community honours the dead as martyrs, Christian and Muslim neighbours alike mourn their deaths and condemn the killers. A few survived and are torn between survivor’s guilt and admiration for the courage shown by their fallen friends. However hard times may be for this village, the community finds solace and pride in how the martyrs’ faith remained strong to the very end.
First-hand accounts of the siege of Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), during World War II, which lasted 872 days (8 Sep. 1941 -- 27 Jan. 1944). More than 1.5 million civilians died as a result of incredibly heavy bombing, starvation or extreme cold. The death toll peaked at 150,000 a day, individual daily food consumption was limited to around 125 grams of bread. Unimaginable deprivation and suffering retold by those who lived through it, including the contemporary diary of a young woman whose moving journal tells a personal story of loss, resilience and survival.
What is American exceptionalism? Where does the US's world monopoly on democracy come from? How does the US give itself license to do as it pleases? "Exceptionalism" is a film by RT correspondent Anissa Naouai.
For the past 20 years Ingushetia, the smallest and youngest Republic of the Russian Federation, has lived through several conflicts, anti-terror operations and a string of retaliations. Terrorists fight to create an Islamic State and young people are lured away to be trained to become terrorists and suicide bombers. It is only their mothers who never lose hope of bringing their sons from the forest hideouts and return them to a normal life.
Five years ago South Ossetia was devastated by a Georgian offensive designed to take control of the breakaway territory within its borders. Today South Ossetia is an independent republic, as recognized by Russia. We travel to the region to hear residents recall what happened five years ago and how life is moving on in their homeland.
