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The Fifth Floor

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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

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The Fifth Floor: South China Sea: What's in a Name?

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People looking at an official map of Vietnam (Getty)

15/07/2016 GMT

South China Sea: What's in a Name?

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, South China Sea: What's in a Name?

A disputed territory and disputed names - a linguistic tour of the South China Sea.

Rival names in the South China Sea, Zimbabwe protests, Palestinian museum, Egypt through song.

With the recent international ruling against Chinese claims to rights in the South China Sea, the Fifth Floor delves into the linguistic battles that underlie this territorial dispute.  For a start, is it the South China Sea, or the East Sea, or the West Philippine Sea?  Our guide is Giang Nguyen of BBC Vietnamese. 

Zimbabwe: flags and protests
More and more Zimbabweans are joining a social media campaign protesting about the country's economic problems. From Harare, the BBC's Brian Hungwe tells us what has brought public anger to a head, and what's new about the current protest.

Egypt: Hear my Country
Marwa Maamoon and Mohamed Yehia of BBC Arabic share the songs that sum up their country for them.  

Building bridges in Brazil 
People in the Brazilian town of Barra Mansa have been waiting for a bridge for 20 years.  A creek divides the town, and residents have had to make a 2 kilometre detour to reach the other side - just 25 metres away.  The government quote for a footbridge was  $81,000, so a local group took matters into their own hands and built one for a modest $1,500.  BBC Mundo's Gerardo Lissardy shares their story.

The Sapeurs of BBC Africa
This week saw BBC Africa celebrate all things dandy, debonair and dashingly dressed as they launched their own Société d'Ambianceurs et de Personnes Elégantes, SAPE.  So what does it mean to be a sapeur? The Fifth Floor explores the history of the fashion movement and finds out which journalists' sartorial stylings are of the highest standard.

Image: An official map of Vietnam at an exhibition about the South China Sea in Hanoi.
Credit: Getty

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