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

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The Fifth Floor: "Why Burkina Faso? Why now?"

Documentaries

The Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou fire-damaged and empty after last week's Islamist attack

22/01/2016 GMT

"Why Burkina Faso? Why now?"

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, "Why Burkina Faso? Why now?"

A country coming to terms with last week's Islamist attack in Ouagadougou

Burkina Faso after attack; 5th Floor happiness; Colombian male manicures; Hong Kong booksellers; camels or dogs in India's Republic Day Parade; and Algerian TV with David Amanor.

The people of Burkina Faso are still coming to terms with last Friday's Islamist attack in the capital Ouagadougou, which left 30 people dead.  Leone Ouedraogo of BBC Afrique reflects on the impact of the attack, and the spirit of her fellow Burkinabe, who she says are powered by this motto: La patrie ou la mort, nous vaincrons - Homeland or death, we will win.

What does happiness mean to you?
In the week of Blue Monday, when the Northern Hemisphere experiences what's said to be the most depressing day of the year, we take a microphone round the Fifth Floor to search for the secrets of a happy life.

Colombian Male Manicures
There was outrage in Colombia last year when news broke that a group of prisoners had arranged for manicurists to visit them in jail.  But it wasn't the manicures themselves that raised eyebrows: it just wasn't considered acceptable for convicts to have this sort of privilege while in prison. But for BBC Mundo correspondent Natalio Cosoy his astonishment ran along slightly different lines.  His first thought, as an Argentinian, was "Men? Manicures?"  He explores the strange phenomenon.

The booksellers of Hong Kong
There has been anxiety in Hong Kong over the disappearance of five booksellers over the last few months, with many people wondering if the mainland authorities are involved. All five are connected with a bookstore which sells books banned in mainland China. Grace Tsoi of BBC Chinese grew up among the independent bookshops of Hong Kong, and she explains how tensions have arisen over the publication of so many 'forbidden books'.  

India's Republic Day - will it feature camels?
Camels have been a highlight of India's Republic Day celebrations since the first parade in 1950. They're part of the Border Security Forces from Rajasthan, and appear in the parade lavishly decorated with colourful pom-poms, carrying mustachioed soldiers playing brass instruments. But this week the media's been full of rumours that they've been dropped, and replaced by a team of army dogs and some French soldiers.  So what's going on?  Vandana Dhand from BBC Hindi has been investigating. 

Algerian Television 
With more than 40 independent private television stations broadcasting in Algeria, viewers have more choice than ever before. But now the government has brought in sweeping new media laws in an attempt to regulate the industry. Some stations have been forced to close and others are under threat, Rachid Sekkai from BBC Arabic has been reporting on what's happening. 

And Fifi's pick of the worldwide web.

Photo: The Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou fire-damaged and empty after last week's Islamist attack.
Credit: Ahmed Ouoba/AFP/Getty Images

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