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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: Taiwan's Enduring Rainbow

Documentaries

Taiwan's 9-hour rainbow

08/12/2017 GMT

Taiwan's Enduring Rainbow

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Taiwan's Enduring Rainbow

How a nine hour rainbow is helping put Taiwan on the map

Taiwan's rainbows; India's "criminal" tribe; Sakawa boys of Ghana; fleeing Iraqi Kurdistan; the BBC African Hub Choir; wrestling in Iran

This week scientists in Taiwan recorded what they hope is a world record-breaking rainbow, lasting almost 9 hours. Cindy Sui in Taiwan has been following the story, and explains why rainbows mean so much to her.

India's "criminal" tribe
Roxy Gagdekar of BBC Gujarati has a great name. His surname derives from one of India's former nomadic tribes, the Gaagad, branded by British colonialists as "born criminals". But the new generation is reclaiming their history, using art to challenge old stereotypes.  

Ghana's Sakawa boys
As part of our series on youth cultures, we're looking at Ghana's Sakawa boys, the internet fraudsters with their own distinctive music, fashion and nocturnal party lifestyles. Sammy Darko from BBC Africa has met them. 

Iraqi Kurdistan
The Iraqi government reclaimed the disputed city of Kirkuk from Iraqi Kurds by force a few months ago, marking another chapter of violence between the two sides. BBC Monitoring journalist Roj Ranjbar grew up in Iraqi Kurdistan, and watching events in Kirkuk has brought back memories of his own family's displacement in the 1990s.   

BBC African Hub Choir
Next week, the Africa Hub Choir, made up of language service journalists, will be performing at the BBC Carol Service to celebrate the festive season. Ahead of their big performance, we spoke to Felin Gakwaya from BBC Great Lakes.

Iranian wrestling
The ancient art of wrestling is a national sport and taken very seriously in Iran. Which may be why fans were not happy when wrestler Alireza Karimi allegedly lost a match on purpose in Poland last month. BBC Persian's Ali Akhoondan has been following the story.  

Image: Taiwan's 9-hour rainbow
Credit: Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan

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