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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: Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover

Documentaries

Members of Taliban forces sit at a checkpost in Kabul, Afghanistan in August 2021

20/08/2021 GMT

Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover

Stories from friends and family now living under the Taliban

Stories from friends and family now living under the Taliban.

There is fear and uncertainty in Afghanistan as people wonder what their lives will be like under Taliban rule. Sana Safi from BBC Pashto shares her insights from listening to and interviewing the Taliban, and talking to contacts in Afghanistan.

Delhi and Kashmir: two lives in letters
In 2017, BBC journalist Divya Arya brought together schoolgirls Saumya and Duaa, from Delhi and Indian-administered Kashmir, to become penfriends. She tells us how their growing understanding and friendship overcame political divides. Divya's book about their correspondence is called Postbox Kashmir: Two lives in letters. 

The rise of plastic surgery in China 
Plastic surgery has become a booming industry in China, but this has led to a rise in unlicensed clinics and many high profile botched operations. Waiyee Yip from BBC Singapore has been following the trend. 

A Russian bike odyssey 
BBC Russian's Oleg Boldyrev is a keen cyclist, and as Covid restrictions prevent more exotic routes, he's taken his bike along the backroads of Russia, revisiting childhood haunts and gauging opinions about next month's parliamentary elections.  

Image: Members of Taliban forces sit at a checkpost in Kabul, Afghanistan in August 2021
Credit: Reuters/Stringer

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