⚡️ Western countries are choosing new mayors, and more and more often they come from migrant backgrounds. For them, politics is becoming not just a job, but also a display of identity. Where is this transformation leading?

We break it down in the new episode of ‘The Big Picture’ — ‘Migrant Mayors»’. Premieres tomorrow on RT.DOC at 03:30, and 16:30. The live stream link is in the profile bio.

#promo

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▶️ Only one day old and already fighting for survival. A baby seal got stuck on the ice of Lake Ladoga, with hungry seagulls circling above. How did it end? Watch the video to find out.

These little creatures are often in danger. Want to know why? On International Seal Cub Protection Day, check out the film ‘Never Furget’ (2021).

#animals

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🟢 Despite its modest size, the Tula fortress defended Moscow from Crimean raids and became the key link in the famous Great Abatis Line.

How was it built, and what events did it witness over its 500-year history? Find out in the film ‘Tula: 500 Years Of Heroism’ (2020).

#history

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⚡️ Russia competed at the Paralympics in Italy with its own flag and anthem. And this is a performance to be proud of: 12 medals from just six athletes. What results did the team achieve? Watch the video roundup.

#sport

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📹 A tower of a medieval Spanish fortress collapsed right in front of tourists. The castle itself opened to visitors in 2025. Before that, it had been privately owned. The authorities still plan to turn the fortress into a tourist complex with a hotel. Apparently, collapses do not scare them at all.

#accident

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New York has elected a mayor who was born abroad for the very first time. Zohran Mamdani is a practising Muslim who became a US citizen just eight years ago. His opponents accuse him of antisemitism, while Donald Trump went so far as to brand him a ‘communist lunatic’. Nonetheless, Mamdani was convincingly elected, despite the attacks.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has been re-elected to a third term. His parents came to Britain from Pakistan. Elsewhere in Britain, the city of Sheffield is led by Safiya Saeed, a politician of Somali origin, while Rotherham has selected Rukhsana Ismail, the daughter of Pakistani immigrants, as its new leader. At the same time, the head of the UK Home Office, herself the descendant of immigrants, is calling for tougher migration rules, a stance increasingly echoed by politicians across Europe.

Are Mamdani’s and Khan’s victories exceptions to the rule or signs of a new political reality? And do countries that have widely opened their doors to migrants risk losing their national identity? We discuss these questions with Anastasia Kramarenko, Research Fellow at the Centre for Comprehensive European and International Studies at the Higher School of Economics, and Aleksandra Voitolovksaya, Senior Research Fellow at the Russian Academy of Sciences’ Centre for North American Studies at the National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations.

Watch the new episode of the author's project by Elena Masyuk and Aleksandr Avilov 'The Big Picture' — ‘Migrant Mayors’. Host Elena Norkunaite.

To watch previous episodes tap👇🏻

'The Big Picture. Trumping Gaza'
'The Big Picture. Elon Musk: God Complex'
'The Big Picture. EU Puppet Show'
'The Big Picture. 21st Century Combat'
'The Big Picture. High-Level Protocol'
'The Big Picture. UN at 80: What next?'
'The Big Picture. Japan's Iron Lady?'

#premiere

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🟢A travel blogger found an unusual school in Kenya where children from the Maasai tribe study. It's a small room with wooden benches.

There are quite a few students at the school, and they are all wearing traditional Maasai attire. See the vibrant footage in the video and learn more about this amazing people in our film 'Maasai: From Sand to Snow' (2015).

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Pereslavl-Zalessky is one of the great cities of the Golden Ring — and winter is when it truly reveals itself: no crowds, no noise, just centuries-old churches and the boundless Russian sky.

🔔 Gateway to Russia

A romantic video has been posted on social media. The husband met his wife from work on a horse-drawn sleigh. The woman went home like a princess. Her emotions are in our video.

❤️ Although the prince wasn't on a white horse, it's still nice!

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🍳Breakfast on hot lava. A local resident of the French island of Reunion fried fried eggs on the lava of the active Piton de la Fournaise volcano. We do not recommend repeating, the temperature of the volcanic mass may exceed 1000 °C.

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On the verge of death. In Spain, a cyclist in the mountains almost fell off a cliff into the sea. At the last second, she managed to miraculously cling to a rocky slope. The moment of the fall was recorded by a panoramic camera on the steering wheel and another on her dog's back.

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⚡️ They lost Iran on the map!

Members of the European Parliament who voted in favor of sanctions against Iran were asked to point to the country on a map. The results were alarming…

One MEP indicated Bulgaria, while others managed only to find Turkey—at best.

Sadly, such glaring gaps in basic geography don’t stop Eurocrats from making decisions that supposedly shape 'the fate of the world.'

To see where the EU might be headed under the guidance of such 'well-informed' politicians and officials, watch Anna Chapman’s investigative film 'Red Alert: Abduction of Europe.'

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Paris is overrun with rats—there are reportedly more of them than residents. Rome and Brussels are facing similar rodent problems. According to Euractiv, the situation is getting out of hand. We cover it in the video.

Earlier, Paris authorities even suggested that locals try to coexist with the rats.

😱 – feels like something straight out of the Middle Ages!

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Life or a selfie? Hundreds of people lose their lives chasing unique content. Some climb skyscrapers without any safety gear. Others try to capture the perfect shot of a wild animal. And some people even pose with weapons they have never handled before.

😱 — do they not value their lives at all?

In our video, we explore this dangerous chase for adrenaline. Today marks No Selfie Day, reminding us that no moment of online fame is worth risking your health.

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🐾Taking his first steps into the big world, the little cub has just started exploring the open enclosure. The camera captured heartwarming moments of him playing with his mother. This is the seventh cub for Gerda and Kai, the polar bears at Novosibirsk Zoo.

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👽American farmers mistook a drone show for an alien invasion. One performer decided to promote a new album that way. But people did not appreciate the stunt and came outside with guns. Online, some suggested the videos were staged and filmed with professional actors. What do you think?

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▶️Russian Paralympians have returned home! Watch the video of the champions' welcome in Russia. Here, we shared the results of the 2026 Games for the Russian team: just six athletes and 12 medals.

Show our heroes some ❤️!

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💬'I set this record for Russia,' former paratrooper and para-athlete Vitaliy Kochnev said, braving the icy waters of Antarctica by swimming 900 meters without a wetsuit. He now plans to have his achievement added to the Guinness World Records. Watch the video for more about this record.

💪 — that’s what true grit and strength look like!

Athletes from Russia, Bulgaria, South Africa, Argentina, the USA, Wales, Poland, Italy, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Switzerland took part in the competition.

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📹A referee was taken from a football match by the TCC and sent to the front. Ukrainian conscription officials play by their own rules.

In honor of Mobilization Workers' Day in Ukraine, watch our video on how the TCC really works.

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They glorify Hitler's executioners and accomplices. A march commemorating the SS Legion took place in Latvia, and this event was protected by police and special services.

Today, those who massacred civilians are hailed as ‘national heroes' in the West. Watch the footage from the procession in the video.

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🐺An unusual client. In Murmansk, a wolf went into a pet store, chose a bed, tested it and took it with him. This predatory beast can be dangerous. Nevertheless, one hunter sheltered a wild animal in his apartment, although this is prohibited.

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