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The Fifth Floor

Factual: Life Stories

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: Court, Bomb Factory and Slave Market

Documentaries

The Court House in the town of Shaddadi, destroyed in Syria's conflict.

15/04/2016 GMT

Court, Bomb Factory and Slave Market

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Court, Bomb Factory and Slave Market

Life and death inside a Syrian town, just recaptured from so-called Islamic State

Inside a former IS-controlled town; one year on from the Nepal earthquake; Saudi dance craze; disappearing rivers in Bangladesh; Somali clan insurance system. With David Amanor.

The Syrian town of Shaddadi has been recaptured from the so-called Islamic State group by Kurdish forces, backed by US airpower. The BBC's Feras Kilani was one of the first journalists to be allowed into the town. He gained a unique insight into how an IS town operates, with a bomb-making factory, evidence of a modern-day slave market, and even a gym for fighters.

Nepal Earthquake, One Year On 
Bhagirath Yogi of BBC Nepali travels to the badly affected Sindhupalchok region and reflects on the challenges facing thousands of earthquake survivors. Next week, the Fifth Floor travels to Kathmandu to get insights and personal stories from the BBC Nepali team. 

Saudi Dance Craze 
A dance video from Saudi Arabia has gone viral. Called 'the Barbs', it's a mix of hip-hop and 1980s-style break dancing, put to Arabic rhythms. It has triggered the wrath of the conservatives in Saudi Arabia, with some saying the video is evidence of how Western influences are ruining society. Kindah Shair and Hala Hindawi of BBC Arabic explain why it's so controversial.

Fears for the Dying Rivers of Bangladesh 
Bangladesh has one of the most complex river systems in the world, with around 435 active rivers. But now almost 80 could be at risk of dying. The waterways represent an historical landscape and an important trade route. BBC Bangla's Masud Khan has criss-crossed the country and shares his stories of how the rivers which are an essential part of life for millions of people are being destroyed.

Somali Clan Insurance 
For generations, Somali culture has relied on the clan structure to organise large one-off payments for clan members, like bride money or blood money. In more recent times, the clans have also looked after car insurance. Abdi Bidhaan Dahir of BBC Somali tells us how increasing car ownership and rising accident rates are putting the system under strain. 

And Fifi Haroon's pick of weird and wonderful stories from across the worldwide web.

(Photo: The Court House in the town of Shaddadi, destroyed in Syria's conflict)

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