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The Fifth Floor

Faranak Amidi presents global stories from the Fifth Floor, home to the BBC’s 40 Language Services.

World Service,699 episodes

Episodes

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Why does Moldova matter to Putin?
Is Russia trying to influence the results of the elections in Moldova?
07 Jun 2025,26 mins
Russia's 'grey zone' war
What is 'grey zone' warfare, and who is at risk?
31 May 2025,26 mins
The reality of reporting in Syria
How the press functioned in Syria under Assad
24 May 2025,26 mins
Ukraine, the war and TikTok
How the war in Ukraine is portrayed on social media
17 May 2025,26 mins
The Russian grandma who went to jail
Russian activist Natalya Filonova was arrested in 2022. What happened to her?
10 May 2025,26 mins
Education against the odds
How the BBC's Dars Arabic show is trying to reach children who are out of school
03 May 2025,26 mins
Tackling Nigeria's skin bleaching problem
Skin-lightening creams are popular in Nigeria, but some can be harmful
26 Apr 2025,26 mins
Inside the Taliban's surveillance network
Why did the Taliban install over 90,000 hi-definition CCTV cameras in Kabul?
19 Apr 2025,26 mins
Stranded in Panama
After being stopped at the US-Mexico border, a group of Venezuelans try to go back home
12 Apr 2025,26 mins
India's 'godwoman'
Divya Arya on the flamboyant life of one of India's most influential 'godwomen'
05 Apr 2025,26 mins
Tales from Tbilisi
Exploring Georgia's capital city
29 Mar 2025,26 mins
Behind Georgia's political turmoil
Why does Georgia find itself in a time of political turmoil?
22 Mar 2025,26 mins
The Kenyan women saying no to motherhood
Why are more women in Kenya opting for a child-free life?
15 Mar 2025,26 mins
Russia’s gymnastic drama
The head of Russian rhythmic gymnastics has fallen from glory
08 Mar 2025,26 mins
Are Korean beauty products too light?
How global demand is reshaping the Korean beauty industry
01 Mar 2025,26 mins
Syria after Assad
How has the country changed since the fall of Bashar al-Assad?
22 Feb 2025,26 mins
What the US left behind in Afghanistan
Inside the Kabul flea market selling second-hand US military equipment to the Taliban
15 Feb 2025,26 mins
An Afghan love story
From the fall of Kabul, to falling in love
08 Feb 2025,26 mins
Inside an Iranian prison
Friendship, singing and executions: The stories of women inside Evin prison
01 Feb 2025,26 mins
Russia's crackdown on gay clubs
Why is Russia closing down gay clubs and arresting drag queens?
25 Jan 2025,26 mins
IVF and me
BBC journalist Ana Maria Roura shares her experience of undergoing fertility treatments
18 Jan 2025,26 mins
China's empty maternity wards
How falling birth rates led to the closure of over 400 maternity wards in China
11 Jan 2025,26 mins
Fighting crime with kitchen spoons
How a group of Nigerian women came together to protect their community from violence
04 Jan 2025,26 mins
Bollywood binge
Old hits and horror movies: what is trending in Bollywood right now
28 Dec 2024,26 mins
K-drama craze
K-dramas are taking the world by storm. What's the secret of their success?
21 Dec 2024,26 mins
Fleeing Chechnya
Why do some young women in Chechnya decide to leave everything behind?
14 Dec 2024,26 mins
Javier Milei's first year in power
Argentina's president promised to cut spending with his infamous chainsaw. Did it work?
07 Dec 2024,26 mins
Russia's runaway soldiers
Russian soldiers are fleeing in record numbers. How should the West treat them?
30 Nov 2024,26 mins
How to apologise to a king
What to do and what to wear when apologising to the Ashanti King of Ghana
23 Nov 2024,26 mins
Leaving for an African dream
Actor Idris Elba is planning to move to Africa. What's inspiring him, and many others?
16 Nov 2024,26 mins