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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: Why I became a journalist

Documentaries

BBC Russian's Nataliya Zotova doing FB live from annual Nemtsov memorial march in Feb 2019

15/10/2021 GMT

Why I became a journalist

BBC World Service - The Fifth Floor, Why I became a journalist

Nataliya Zotova's journey to journalism, from shy teenager to BBC Russian journalist

BBC Russian's Nataliya Zotova always wanted to write, but her journey to journalism began with the murder of Anna Politkovskaya of Novaya Gazeta newspaper.

For many the decision to become a journalist emerges slowly, but not for Nataliya Zotova. Writing was always a passion, and the killing of Novaya Gazeta's Anna Politkovskaya inspired her to work at the same newspaper. She shares her journey from shy teenager to BBC Russian reporter.   

The Chinese workers who live in fear in Pakistan 
Chinese workers who move to Pakistan to work on projects connected to China’s Belt and Road initiative are increasingly being targeted by local militant groups. BBC Urdu's Sarah Atiq visited a factory in Balochistan where the Chinese employees have to live on site under armed guard.   

Give us back our gold!
The theme of stolen gold is a popular internet meme used by Brazilians against the Portuguese. Brazil had a huge gold rush in the 18th century, and there's a feeling that nearly all that wealth ended up in Portugal. As BBC Brasil's Vitor Tavares explains, the real story is much more complex. 

1, 2, 3: counting around the world 
Counting on your fingers is as easy as 1, 2, 3 right? But do you start with your thumb, or your pinkie, or even your index finger? Maybe you get clever and use each finger segment to triple up the number? Counting around the world, with Suping of BBC Chinese, Devina Gupta of BBC Hindi, Grigor Atanesian of BBC Russian and Iman Mohammed of BBC Somali.  

Vietnam's pets killed for Covid
Vietnam's extended lockdowns have left many people out of work and forced them to return to their home towns. The story of one family’s return sparked outrage when the authorities destroyed their pets – 15 dogs and one cat. BBC Vietnamese journalist Bui Thu spoke to the family.  

Image: Nataliya Zotova at work
Credit: Georgy Malets

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