Original version

BBC World Service Online

The Fifth Floor

Factual: Life Stories

Global stories from the BBC’s 40 Language Services, with Faranak Amidi

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

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

The Fifth Floor: 15/12/2012

Crosses commemorating the deaths of asylum seekers in Germany

15/12/2012

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, 15/12/2012

Inside the world of obituaries: how journalists prepare for breaking bad news

Exposing Afghan judge corruption; the world of obituaries; and why Father Frost is on Tashkent's naughty list.

A fresh look at the week's global news from across the World Service's 27 language sections, with guest presenter Pooneh Ghoddoosi.

INSIDE THE AFGHAN SERVICE
Something extraordinary landed on the desk of the BBC's Afghan Service recently when they were contacted by a 20 year old woman who had approached a judge in Afghanistan in order to try and secure a divorce. But what happened next exposes corrupt practices in the Afghan judicial system in the most unusual way. Not entirely unsurprisingly, the judge in the case asked her for a payment in order to pass the divorce but there was another demand - that she marry him as well. Editor Emal Pasarly and reporter Daoud Jumbesh explain how the story made it to air. 

ONLINE GREATEST HITS
BBC Brasil's Thomas Pappon gives the lowdown on the big-hitting stories across the World Service language sites this week - including parliamentary punch-ups, too many mother-in-laws and feuds over Uyghur nut cake

REPORTING DEATH
Death, it comes to us all but how do BBC reporters prepare for the passing of a major figure and breaking the bad news? An inside look into the world of obituaries with Editor Olexiy Solohubenko, BBC Mundo's Carolina Robino and Rupa Jha of the Hindi Service.

UZBEK GRINCH?
Has Christmas been cancelled in Uzbekistan? BBC Uzbek's Ibrat Safo explains why Father Frost and his daughter the Snow Maiden are on Tashkent's naughty list.

(Image: Crosses commemorating the deaths of asylum seekers in Germany. Credit: Getty )

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Fifth Floor

15/12/2012

Genres

Brand

BBC World Service Online

About BBC World Service