Fifth Floor

By BBC World ServiceNews

Fifth Floor episodes

December 03, 2021 China surveillance system unpicked
The use of surveillance systems in China is not new, but a recent document published by local authorities in the province of Henan gave explicit details of a traffic light system, targeting international students and journalists, among others. Howard Zhang, from BBC Chinese tells us more.
Siberian husky or Andean fox?
A Peruvian family in Lima bought a puppy they believed was a Siberian Husky. But when Run Run began eating the neighbours' chickens and guinea pigs they realised something was wrong, as BBC Mundo contributor Martin Riepl explains.
Why it's hard to recruit women to Liberia's army
Liberia is trying to recruit 200 women to join the army. There are no shortage of takers - 7,000 turned out for a training event - but historically it's proved hard to find women who make the grade, as BBC Africa stringer Jonathan Paye-Leyleh in Monrovia reports.
Luxor's Avenue of the Sphinxes
Pharaonic chariots and massed ranks of performers featured in the lavish ceremony to mark the reopening of the 3,000 year old Avenue of Sphinxes in Luxor, Egypt. Reda Al Mawy of BBC Arabic explains the history, and modern day relevance, of the site.
Deportivo Palestino's going home
In 1920 Palestinian immigrants in Chile founded the 'Deportivo Palestino' football club in Santiago. A century later the club has opened its first training academy in Ramallah, in the Palestinian Territories. BBC Arabic reporter Alaa Deraghme and BBC Mundo contributor Paula Molina tells us more about the club’s history and new venture.
(Photo: Man setting up a camera. Credit: Reuters)
41 min
November 26, 2021 The challenges of filming at altitude
Many communities in India's northern Ladakh region are experiencing water shortages because of shrinking glaciers. BBC India team Aamir Peerzada and Neha Sharma went to report on how people in one village, Kumik, have ended up building a new settlement close to a river. It turned out to be an eventful trip.
Bodybuilding in the Arab world
Bodybuilding is a popular pastime for men throughout the Arab world, but what does it take to achieve the muscle development that bodybuilders strive for, and why do they see it as perfection? Hossam Fazulla of BBC Arabic has been investigating.
Young carers in South Korea
A 22-year-old Korean man has been sentenced to four years in prison for failing to care for his sick father. His story has started a big debate about what’s expected of young people in South Korea, as the BBC’s Julie Yoonnyung Lee explains.
The Brazilian farmer turning desert into forest
BBC Brasil's Joao Fellet loves gardening and planting trees, and one of his heroes is farmer Ernst Gotsch, who has transformed eroded and semi-arid land into new forests. So when his editor asked for positive ideas about environmental conservation, he leapt at the chance to see Ernst Gotsch’s work with his own eyes.
Highway kidnappings in Nigeria
The highway linking the capital Abuja to the city of Kaduna has become notorious for armed kidnappings. The latest took place last weekend. Meanwhile the railway connecting the two cities, which many passengers took as the safe option, has been attacked for the first time. BBC Africa's Chris Ewokor has been following both stories.
(Photo: BBC reporters standing next to a stream in Ladakh, northern India. Credit: Aamir Peerzada and Neha Sharma)
42 min
November 19, 2021 Afghanistan's Ministry of Vice and Virtue
Soon after taking power, the Taliban replaced the Department for Women's Affairs with the Ministry for Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. It's a name many Afghans feared during the last Taliban era, as 'morality police' enforced their extreme interpretation of Islam. BBC Afghan's Shekiba Habib lived through that era, and reports on what we know about how the current ministry is operating.
Istanbul's taxi problem
If you’ve ever struggled to hail a taxi, spare a thought for people in Istanbul. Since the 1990s the city’s population has doubled, but the number of cabs has stayed the same, and solving the problem is a political headache for the city’s mayor. BBC Turkish journalist Esra Yalcinalp explains Istanbul's unique and frustrating taxi system.
The daily life of Colombian coca farmers
Singing local songs and celebrating harvest: some of the activities TikTok users can see from the hashtag #Catatumbo. The images show the daily lives of coca growers in one of Colombia's main coca-growing regions, and have reopened the discussion about how best to fight the drug war, as Luis Fajardo from BBC Monitoring in Miami explains.
The pirs of Pakistan
Pirs or spiritual guides are deeply embedded in Pakistani culture, including in politics. They offer blessings and guidance which many politicians feel are important for their success. BBC Urdu's Asif Farooqi reports on the complex and sometimes controversial relationship between politicians and their pirs.
(Photo: A Department for Women's Affairs sign is replaced by the Taliban with the Ministry for Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice. Credit: Javed Tanveer/AFP via Getty Images)
41 min
November 12, 2021 Myanmar’s women-only army
A group of women in central Myanmar have formed their own anti-junta militia, and are fighting alongside other armed groups. Armed resistance to the military regime has been increasing since the coup nine months ago. BBC Burmese editor Soe Win Than tells us more about the Myaung Women Warriors.
My Home Town: Damascus
A new episode of our series 'My Home Town', in which our language service journalists share stories about the place where they grew up. Today, Dima Babilie of BBC Arabic takes us to the vine-covered alleyways of the Syrian capital Damascus to sit in cafés, drink coffee and play cards.
Why are so many Brazilians emigrating to Italy?
There’s been a big increase in the number of Brazilians moving to Italy and applying for citizenship. Rafael Barifouse of BBC Brasil has been investigating the reasons and talking to some of those who’ve made the move.
On Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan
Known for its beautiful mountains, Tajikistan's border with Afghanistan is at the centre of a fraught political situation, with the Tajik government maintaining a hardline stance towards the Taliban regime. Olga Ivshina of BBC Russian recently went to this remote area and shares her impressions.
Reporting COP26
Rubbing shoulders with world leaders, being inspired by young activists and getting to grips with haggis - just some of the experiences of our language service journalists reporting from COP26. We hear from Peter Okwoche of BBC Africa, Shakeel Anwar of BBC Bengali and Pierre-Antoine Denis of BBC Afrique.
Image: Myanmar’s women-only army
Credit: CJ
42 min
November 05, 2021 Who are the Oromo Liberation Army?
As rebel TPLF forces advance towards the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, other armed groups say they are forming an alliance with them. These include the secretive Oromo Liberation Army, which first appeared in the 1970s. The BBC's Africa correspondent Catherine Byaruhanga was the first international journalist to meet them, at a desert training camp.
The dispute over Scythian gold
When Russian forces seized Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, a unique collection of Scythian treasures from museums in Kyiv and Crimea was being exhibited in Amsterdam. Last week, a Dutch court ruled that the objects were part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage and must all return to Ukraine, not Crimea. The BBC's Daria Taradai tells us what this Scythian heritage means to Ukrainians.
The banana jokes that stopped being funny
A social media craze in Turkey involving Syrian refugees filming themselves with bananas quickly turned sour. What began as a joke has inflamed tensions between Syrians and Turks, and led to the arrest and threatened deportation of some of those taking part. Dima Babilie of BBC Arabic has been investigating.
Pakistan's Taliban problem
When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, neighbouring Pakistan experienced a rise in extremist Islamist activity in its tribal border areas. Violence and extortion have become commonplace, as BBC Urdu’s Abid Hussain discovered when he visited Orakzai and Bajaur districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
Climate change and the threat to Thailand's durians
With COP26 in full swing, the BBC's language services have been looking at the impact of climate change in their own regions. BBC Thai picked an item close to their hearts - the famously pungent durian fruit. Changing weather patterns are now interfering with the growing season, as Thanyaporn Buathong explains.
Image: A member of the Oromo Liberation Army
Credit: BBC
42 min
October 29, 2021 Filming Life at 50°C
COP26 kicks off in Glasgow this Sunday, and what’s at stake is the future of the planet. We speak to BBC Arabic's Namak Khoshnaw and Hanan Razek about the Life at 50°C series, highlighting the impact of living with rising temperatures and changing weather patterns around the world. And we find out what it's like trying to film when your camera's asking to cool down.
Baby elephants changing lives
A community in northern Kenya has found a sustainable way to feed orphaned baby elephants - using goats' milk. It's also meant more financial independence for the Samburu women who provide it. Francis Ontomwa of BBC Nairobi saw the scheme in action.
Nigeria's Jewish community
A small Nigerian community claims to have Jewish ancestry dating back hundreds of years, and draws parallels between the Jewish and Igbo cultures. Nduka Orjinmo of BBC Africa Online has met one of their leaders, and also investigated the Israeli response to their desire for recognition.
Modi and the vaccine certificate photo
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s image is famously everywhere, from TV to billboards to petrol stations. But one man, Peter K, says putting his face on Covid-19 vaccine certificates is a step too far, and is taking the matter to court. The BBC's Geeta Pandey in Delhi lays out the arguments.
Image: BBC Arabic’s Namak Khoshnaw filming farmers in southern Iraq at 54°C
Credit: BBC
42 min
October 22, 2021 The 1961 Paris massacre cover-up
It’s 60 years since a peaceful march in Paris ended in the killing of at least 100 Algerian protesters by the police. An extensive cover-up meant that almost nothing was known about it for several decades, and the true facts are still emerging. BBC Arabic’s Ahmed Rouaba has been looking into the story.
The Stallion of Yennenga
As film-makers gather for the FESPACO African film festival in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, we ask what’s the story behind the main prize, called the Stallion of Yennenga? Who was Yennenga, and where does the stallion come in? Answers from BBC Afrique's Leone Ouedraogo, who is Burkinabè herself.
When a cobra became a murder weapon
Last week a man was convicted of using a snake as a murder weapon. The victim was his wife, who was bitten by the hooded cobra, and died. The BBC’s Soutik Biswas in Delhi was one of the journalists following the story.
Venezuelan migrants in Chile
Last month, demonstrators in a town in northern Chile marched to settler camps housing Venezuelan migrants and set their belongings on fire. It's part of the rising tension in Chile between locals and migrants, as BBC Mundo contributor Paula Molina reports.
'Got to go'
Why is a cheerful rap song about a party making people cry in Hong Kong? The lyrics of Got to go are about leaving a party, but is there another interpretation? Cho Wai Lam from BBC Chinese tells us more about what this song means to Hongkongers.
Image: Algerian flag with roses during a commemoration of the 1961 massacre in Paris
Credit: Boris Horvat/AFP via Getty Images
40 min
October 15, 2021 Why I became a journalist
For many the decision to become a journalist emerges slowly, but not for Nataliya Zotova. Writing was always a passion, and the killing of Novaya Gazeta's Anna Politkovskaya inspired her to work at the same newspaper. She shares her journey from shy teenager to BBC Russian reporter.
The Chinese workers who live in fear in Pakistan
Chinese workers who move to Pakistan to work on projects connected to China’s Belt and Road initiative are increasingly being targetted by local militant groups. BBC Urdu's Sarah Atiq visited a factory in Balochistan where the Chinese employees have to live on site under armed guard.
Give us back our gold!
The theme of stolen gold is a popular internet meme used by Brazilians against the Portuguese. Brazil had a huge gold rush in the 18th century, and there's a feeling that nearly all that wealth ended up in Portugal. As BBC Brasil's Vitor Tavares explains, the real story is much more complex.
1, 2, 3: counting around the world
Counting on your fingers is as easy as 1, 2, 3 right? But do you start with your thumb, or your pinkie, or even your index finger? Maybe you get clever and use each finger segment to triple up the number? Counting around the world, with Suping of BBC Chinese, Devina Gupta of BBC Hindi, Grigor Atanesian of BBC Russian and Iman Mohammed of BBC Somali.
Vietnam's pets killed for Covid
Vietnam's extended lockdowns have left many people out of work and forced them to return to their home towns. The story of one family’s return sparked outrage when the authorities destroyed their pets – 15 dogs and 1 cat. BBC Vietnamese journalist Bui Thu spoke to the family.
Image: Nataliya Zotova at work
Credit: Georgy Malets
42 min
October 08, 2021 Ecuador’s prison battle: The aftermath
The president of Ecuador has declared a state of emergency for the prison system after the country’s worst prison riot, in which 118 inmates died. It’s part of a wave of violence that has swept Ecuador's jails, as rival drug gangs fight for dominance. BBC Mundo’s Ana Maria Roura has been looking into the story.
Squid Game: kids' games and killings
‘Squid Game’ has been topping streaming charts around the world. The South Korean drama sees contestants playing popular children's games to win millions of dollars, but the cost of losing is death. BBC Korean's William Lee explains the appeal of its mix of nostalgia and horror.
Morocco’s cannabis farmers
Despite the huge profits for international dealers, Morocco’s cannabis farmers are poor. Recently the government legalised the growth and sale of cannabis for medical and industrial purposes, so will farmers benefit? BBC Arabic’s Mohamed Ibrahim visited northern Morocco to find out.
Russia's Romanov wedding
A descendant of the Russian royal family was recently married in a lavish ceremony in St Petersburg. Grand Duke George Mikhailovich Romanov is a great-grandnephew of the last tsar, Nicholas II. Olga Ivshina of BBC Russian tells us about reactions among ordinary Russians.
Afghan fruit in Pakistani markets
Pakistan imports plenty of fruit from Afghanistan, but this year there’s been more, and it’s cheaper. Since the Taliban took over, trade between the two countries has become one-sided, with Afghan farmers keen to get their produce out, as BBC Urdu’s Azizullah Khan reports.
Image: Relatives wait with caskets for inmates who died in the Litoral Penitentiary
Credit: Gerardo Menoscal/Agencia Press South/Getty Images
42 min
October 01, 2021 Meet Kenya's Guru of Love
The BBC's gender and identity correspondent, Megha Mohan, meets Robert Burale, an East African guru of love, whose seminars promise the hopeful they can “Get a boyfriend for Christmas". So what's the advice, and who's buying?
Giant African snails in Kerala
Giant African snails have become a pest in Kerala, so one area came up with a creative snail hunting idea: a chance to win over a million dollars for catching the most. Too good to be true? Over to the BBC's Jaltson Akkanath Chummar.
China's Hainan island surf boom
Covid restrictions on travel, plus surfing's debut at the Tokyo Olympics, have led to a boom in the China's home grown surf scene. Hainan island is proving a popular destination as Howard Zhang of BBC Chinese reports.
Why car registration plates have blocked the Serbian Kosovo border
A recent row over registration plates caused a blockade at the border and harsh words between Belgrade and Pristina. BBC Serbian's Marija Jankovic explains why registration plates are so contentious between Serbia and Kosovo.
Vietnam's Spring Roll King
BBC Vietnamese has been sharing the extraordinary story of Trinh Vinh Binh, nicknamed ‘the spring roll king’, famous as the only businessman to have won a case against the Vietnamese government, as the BBC’s Thu Phan explains.
Image: Robert Burale
Credit: BBC
41 min