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The Fifth Floor

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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: Road Rage, Rumour and Riots: Sri Lanka

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After the riots in Kandy (credit: BBC)

23/03/2018 GMT

Road Rage, Rumour and Riots: Sri Lanka

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Road Rage, Rumour and Riots: Sri Lanka

Unpicking the story behind the recent outbreak of violence against Muslims in Kandy

Sri Lanka's anti-Muslim riots; Thai cops sunglass ban; Don Quixote and BBC Mundo; Nigeria's comics; happiness; remembering Emily Nasrallah.  With David Amanor.

This month violence erupted in the Sri Lankan city of Kandy.  It started after a group of Muslim youths beat a Sinhala man following a minor traffic incident, but his death sparked days of rioting, the destruction of hundreds of Muslim properties, and at least two deaths.  Azzam Ameen of BBC Sinhala sheds light on the role of social media, rumours and fake stories in raising inter-community tension.   

Don Quixote rides again
This month BBC Mundo, formerly the Latin American Service, celebrated its 80th anniversary.  To celebrate, it re-broadcast a clip from the 1947 radio drama production of Spanish masterpiece "The Ingenious Nobleman Sir Quixote of La Mancha".  BBC Mundo's William Marquez tells us more.

Happiness
Playing your favourite instrument, enjoying a hot spa with your friends in Russia, or a simple sunny day in London. What makes you happy? Over to Arturo Wallace of BBC Mundo, Yuwen Wu of BBC Chinese, Sangeeth Kalubowila of BBC Sinhala, Leone Ouedraogo of BBC Afrique, and Yulia James of BBC Russian.

Comics in Nigeria
"Black Panther", the American comic-book turned superhero blockbuster film, has been a global box office hit.  In Nigeria it's given a boost to the country's already vibrant animation and comic industries.  BBC Pidgin's Malik Abdulmalik has been a superhero fan since childhood.

Emily Nasrallah
Lebanon recently lost one of its great literary writers and journalists - Emily Nasrallah.  Nidale Abou Mrad of BBC Arabic grew up reading her books, and shares her life and legacy. 

Thai cop sunglasses
Police officers in Bangkok have been undergoing a style makeover.  First they got a new haircut.  Now they've been told to ditch their sunglasses.  What's going on?  Who better to fill us in than Nanchanok Wongsamuch of BBC Thai.

Image: After the riots in Kandy
Credit: BBC

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