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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: Ethiopia's missing refugees

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An Eritrean refugee child walks in front of a sign at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia

12/02/2021 GMT

Ethiopia's missing refugees

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Ethiopia's missing refugees

Why thousands of Eritrean refugees from camps in Tigray are still unaccounted for

The Ethiopian government declared victory over the former ruling party of Tigray at the end of November, but information from the region is still sparse.  One unanswered question is: what happened to thousands of Eritrean refugees living in camps there who went missing during the fighting?  Bekit Teklemariam of BBC Tigrinya has been trying to find out.

Chinese New Year 2021
It’s officially Chinese New Year’s day today, usually a time when millions from outside and within China head home for the holidays.  But this year China’s strict Covid-19 rules mean many won’t be making the journey, including BBC Chinese journalist Fan Wang.  Fan is based in Hong Kong, and wrote an online story about some of the people who did decide to brave quarantine and isolation to spend the holidays with family.   

Feasting without over-eating? 
As China launches into two weeks of New Year’s self-indulgence, the internet is full of advice on how to feast without over-eating.  This chimes with “Operation empty plate”, a national campaign against food waste launched last year and now being enshrined in a new law aimed at food outlets.  BBC Chinese journalists Jeff Li, Yashan Zhao, Temtsel Hao and Suping share stories about China’s love of feasting, in history and in their own lives. 

Colombia's cocaine hippos
Pablo Escobar has left a long legacy in Colombia, of which maybe the strangest part is the hippos.  Once stars of his personal zoo, they were abandoned after his death and are now flourishing in their South American home, and presenting a serious environmental problem. Luis Fajardo of BBC Monitoring, who is from Colombia, tells us more.  

Houbara bustard hunting in Balochistan
From November to February the houbara bustard overwinters in Pakistan's Balochistan province.  Hot on their heels are the ruling families of the Gulf States.  BBC Urdu's Saher Baloch visited the luxurious, sprawling hunting lodge of one of the families from the United Arab Emirates to meet the locals who look after the royal visitors.  

Image: An Eritrean refugee child walks in front of a sign at Mai Aini Refugee camp, in Ethiopia
Credit: EDUARDO SOTERAS/AFP/Getty Images

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