Datasets:

---

LLukas22

/

NLQuAD

like 1

[ { "context": "Ousted Pakistani leader Nawaz Sharif is returning to Pakistan despite facing a 10-year jail sentence for corruption. Sharif and his daughter Maryam face arrest when they arrive in Lahore from the UK later on Friday. The three-term PM was ousted from office last year after a corruption investigation. He was sentenced in absentia to 10 years last week. He has accused Pakistan's powerful security establishment of conspiring against him ahead of 25 July elections. \"There was a time when we used to say a state within a state, now it's a state above the state,\" he told supporters of his Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party in London earlier this week. PML-N supporters are expected to flock to Lahore airport to greet Mr Sharif, who was convicted by an anti-corruption court last week over his family's ownership of four luxury flats in London. Thousands of police officers have been deployed and shipping containers have been placed on some main roads to block supporters from reaching the airport. On Thursday, the PML-N said hundreds of party activists in Lahore had been detained ahead of Sharif's return. He has called for a \"mass gathering of the people\". Speaking to the BBC at Abu Dhabi airport as he waited to change planes on Friday, he said: \"What credibility will these elections have when the government is taking such drastic action against our people and this crackdown is taking place all over the country?\" He says he is doing it for the people of Pakistan, which is at a \"critical juncture\" ahead of the elections. But the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says he also needs to surrender to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court which convicted him to file an appeal, and then apply for bail. He may also be contemplating protests after the election, in which he is disqualified from running. He is expected to land in Lahore on an Etihad Airways flight from London, via Abu Dhabi. Sharif, 67, has been one of the country's leading politicians for most of the past 30 years. He remains popular, especially in Punjab, the most populous and electorally significant province. He and his party have accused the military of being behind his conviction, saying it is going after the PML-N for its criticism of the security establishment and the party's policy to improve ties with India. In May, the Dawn newspaper published an interview in which Sharif questioned the wisdom of \"allowing\" Pakistani militants to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai, referring to attacks in the Indian city in 2008. The military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half of its 70-year history, has denied it has any \"direct role\" in the elections or the political process. Analysis by the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad The last time Nawaz Sharif was sentenced to a jail term after a military coup in 1999, he chose to accept a pardon and exile under a Saudi-brokered deal. But this time, he is walking into a jail cell. Back then, it was thought that being the spoilt son of a wealthy father, he was too soft to face the various hardships that can befall a Pakistani politician. But his moves this time underline that he is willing to traverse tougher territory. Sharif may well be contemplating wider protests after the election, which many believe the military has already \"engineered\" enough to ensure his party doesn't win. And he may have made a huge personal sacrifice for this. Sharif has left behind his wife Kulsoom, who has cancer, on life support in a London hospital, knowing that he may not be able to return to be by her side. Last week the NAB court ordered Sharif to serve 10 years for owning assets beyond his income and one year for not co-operating with the NAB. The sentences are to be served concurrently. His daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, received seven years for abetting a crime and one year for not co-operating - again to run concurrently - while son-in-law Safdar Awan was given a one-year sentence for not co-operating. Sharif and Maryam also received fines of PS8m ($10.6m) and PS2m respectively. The case, known as the Avenfield Reference, relates to a number of properties in the UK capital. The Panama Papers leak in 2015 revealed several of Sharif's children had links to offshore companies, which were allegedly used to channel funds and buy foreign assets - including luxury flats in Avenfield House, on London's Park Lane. His family, however, insist they legitimately acquired the four properties. - Voters will elect candidates for the 342-seat Pakistan National Assembly - The main parties are Nawaz Sharif's PML-N, former cricketer Imran Khan's PTI and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari's PPP - It will mark the second time that one civilian government has handed power to another after serving a full term - The run-up to the vote has been marred by what observers say is a crackdown on political activists, journalists and critics of the powerful military - More than 371,000 troops will be deployed to protect the election and ensure it is \"free and fair\", the army says", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1915, "answer_start": 1432, "text": "He says he is doing it for the people of Pakistan, which is at a \"critical juncture\" ahead of the elections. But the BBC's M Ilyas Khan in Islamabad says he also needs to surrender to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) court which convicted him to file an appeal, and then apply for bail. He may also be contemplating protests after the election, in which he is disqualified from running. He is expected to land in Lahore on an Etihad Airways flight from London, via Abu Dhabi." } ], "id": "1000_0", "question": "Why is Sharif returning?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2694, "answer_start": 1916, "text": "Sharif, 67, has been one of the country's leading politicians for most of the past 30 years. He remains popular, especially in Punjab, the most populous and electorally significant province. He and his party have accused the military of being behind his conviction, saying it is going after the PML-N for its criticism of the security establishment and the party's policy to improve ties with India. In May, the Dawn newspaper published an interview in which Sharif questioned the wisdom of \"allowing\" Pakistani militants to cross the border and kill 150 people in Mumbai, referring to attacks in the Indian city in 2008. The military, which has ruled Pakistan for about half of its 70-year history, has denied it has any \"direct role\" in the elections or the political process." } ], "id": "1000_1", "question": "Why does he blame the military?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4459, "answer_start": 3565, "text": "Last week the NAB court ordered Sharif to serve 10 years for owning assets beyond his income and one year for not co-operating with the NAB. The sentences are to be served concurrently. His daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, received seven years for abetting a crime and one year for not co-operating - again to run concurrently - while son-in-law Safdar Awan was given a one-year sentence for not co-operating. Sharif and Maryam also received fines of PS8m ($10.6m) and PS2m respectively. The case, known as the Avenfield Reference, relates to a number of properties in the UK capital. The Panama Papers leak in 2015 revealed several of Sharif's children had links to offshore companies, which were allegedly used to channel funds and buy foreign assets - including luxury flats in Avenfield House, on London's Park Lane. His family, however, insist they legitimately acquired the four properties." } ], "id": "1000_2", "question": "What was he found guilty of?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Students across India have been protesting against an attack on a prestigious Delhi university by masked men wielding sticks on Sunday. At least 40 students and staff of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) were admitted to hospital with injuries. Videos of the violence quickly spread via WhatsApp and were then broadcast on television, sparking shock and outrage. Protests are taking place in the cities of Chandigarh, Bangalore, Mumbai and Hyderabad as well as the capital Delhi. The JNU has long been associated with left-wing activism, and some students have blamed Sunday's violence on a right-wing student body linked to India's governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). That group denies involvement and says left-wing activists were responsible. Police say they have identified some of the assailants. However, many protesters accused police of being slow to respond to the attack. The violence has been condemned across the board, including by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Minister S Jaishankar. At about 19:00 local time (13:30 GMT), a group including masked men and at least one woman began attacking students at JNU. Eyewitnesses say the assailants were armed with stones, sticks and iron rods. \"These were big stones that could have broken our skulls,\" Prof Atul Sood told India's NDTV channel. \"I fell on the side and when I got up, I saw cars completely vandalised.\" One video showed the student union president bleeding from a head wound. Prof Sood said about 50 teachers and 200 students opposed to a hike in hostel fees had been holding a meeting on the campus when the attack began. Some criticised the response from police and emergency services. Economics lecturer Amit Thorat told Reuters news agency it took an hour from his first call for anyone to arrive. The news agency also spoke to almost a dozen eyewitnesses who alleged police watched but did not intervene. Exactly who was behind the attack, and why it was carried out, is still unclear. The students at the meeting, who have been protesting against a rise in hostel fees for the past few months, blamed it on the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a right-wing student body linked to the BJP party. But ABVP leader Durgesh Kumar said its members were the victims and some of them had been injured. \"These goons are roaming around the campus fearlessly with batons and weapons and wearing masks,\" he told BBC Hindi. \"They are beating up the students of ABVP [and] acting innocent\". The university blamed the attack on a \"group of students\" opposing an ongoing admission process to register new students. It is widely believed that the statement referred to leftist students who have been protesting against the fee hike. There were violent clashes at JNU last year over the rise in hostel fees. It did not take long for students and activists across the country to mobilise. On Monday, about 1,000 people gathered in Mumbai, with demonstrations in Hyderabad, Chennai (formerly Madras), and Ahmedabad, among others. Mallige Sirimane, a protester in the southern city of Bangalore, told the BBC: \"JNU has been the inspiration for many struggles across the country. This is not only because it is an exemplary university, but also because of the spirit of struggle that it has even though its students have faced many atrocities.\" At Panjab University in the northern city of Chandigarh, students accused the authorities of not acting swiftly enough. \"JNU has seen protests against the hostel fee hike for months now,\" Kanupriya, a protester in Chandigarh, told the BBC. \"Those protesters were detained many times and even sent to jail. But now the police is just silent about this incident - this shows us who is responsible.\" Sunday's incident comes at a time of heightened tensions. In recent weeks protests have been held in several universities and cities over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Some believe the two issues - the hostel protest and the CAA - have become linked. \"It is obviously in relation with CAA,\" one protester told the BBC. \"When all these educated people are coming out against the government, they want to kill those voices.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2804, "answer_start": 1908, "text": "Exactly who was behind the attack, and why it was carried out, is still unclear. The students at the meeting, who have been protesting against a rise in hostel fees for the past few months, blamed it on the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), a right-wing student body linked to the BJP party. But ABVP leader Durgesh Kumar said its members were the victims and some of them had been injured. \"These goons are roaming around the campus fearlessly with batons and weapons and wearing masks,\" he told BBC Hindi. \"They are beating up the students of ABVP [and] acting innocent\". The university blamed the attack on a \"group of students\" opposing an ongoing admission process to register new students. It is widely believed that the statement referred to leftist students who have been protesting against the fee hike. There were violent clashes at JNU last year over the rise in hostel fees." } ], "id": "1001_0", "question": "What do we know about the attack?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4178, "answer_start": 2805, "text": "It did not take long for students and activists across the country to mobilise. On Monday, about 1,000 people gathered in Mumbai, with demonstrations in Hyderabad, Chennai (formerly Madras), and Ahmedabad, among others. Mallige Sirimane, a protester in the southern city of Bangalore, told the BBC: \"JNU has been the inspiration for many struggles across the country. This is not only because it is an exemplary university, but also because of the spirit of struggle that it has even though its students have faced many atrocities.\" At Panjab University in the northern city of Chandigarh, students accused the authorities of not acting swiftly enough. \"JNU has seen protests against the hostel fee hike for months now,\" Kanupriya, a protester in Chandigarh, told the BBC. \"Those protesters were detained many times and even sent to jail. But now the police is just silent about this incident - this shows us who is responsible.\" Sunday's incident comes at a time of heightened tensions. In recent weeks protests have been held in several universities and cities over the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Some believe the two issues - the hostel protest and the CAA - have become linked. \"It is obviously in relation with CAA,\" one protester told the BBC. \"When all these educated people are coming out against the government, they want to kill those voices.\"" } ], "id": "1001_1", "question": "What are students saying?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The blow was officially landed by the European Commission who came up with a last minute requirement, on 16 February, for the London Stock Exchange (LSE) to sell its Italian bond trading platform (MTS). Although not a massive contributor to the revenues of the LSE, the Italian government bond market is Europe's biggest, because Italy has the most debt. MTS is a systemically important company in that market and the LSE was not prepared to sell it. The reason, according to the LSE, is two-fold. First, it had spent a long time talking to Italian regulators reassuring them of the LSE's commitment to invest in its Italian business. To then turn tail and sell at short notice for the sake of expediency would look bad. That argument sounds a bit thin. The second reason concerns responses to a questionnaire sent out by the LSE and Deutsche Boerse to their customers and other market participants, to canvass their concerns over the merger. The ownership of an Italian bond clearing platform did not even make the short list of concerns. The LSE concluded from all this that the Commission was playing games and once it had decided to be that capricious, there was no point playing the game. That sounds a bit more like it. So the question then is, who put the Commission up to it? The two prime suspects are France and Germany. France has been aggressively trying to pinch business from London, as Paris sees itself as the city best placed to pick up any post-Brexit business. A deal between Frankfurt and London, goes the the argument, would have shored up their positions, making both of them stronger and less likely to leak business to Paris. It is a deal which would tighten the bonds that Paris hoped Brexit would loosen. There is one big problem with that theory. France would have received a massive boost if the deal had gone ahead because the LSE had already agreed to sell a major part of its financial clearing business (LCH Clearnet SA) to the French company Euronext. If you are after more euro-denominated business being done by a French company, in France, this deal would have achieved that in a stroke. Which leaves Germany. Politicians from the region of Hesse, which is home to Frankfurt, have always been deeply suspicious of any power shift to London. Despite painstaking efforts by both parties to explain that the individual LSE and Deutsche Boerse businesses would continue to be governed by national (UK, Italy, German etc) regulators, Hesse never got over its misgivings about locating the European headquarters of the new joint enterprise in London. Indeed, it seems that many German politicians were convinced that the headquarters would ultimately end up in Frankfurt in keeping with Deutsche Boerse's 54% majority shareholding. When it became clear that the company was determined to base itself in London, reservations began to build, particularly in a German election year. Finally, although the German Finance Minister, Wolfgang Schauble, was relaxed about the deal at first, a series of allegations around the timing of share purchases and awards to the chief executive of Deutsche Boerse, Carsten Kengeter, wafted an unpleasant smell over the deal into the political arena. Carsten Kengeter denies any wrongdoing. There is, as yet, no smoking gun. In fact, we do not even have a body. Sources close to both parties tell me the deal to merge the two stock exchanges is not yet dead. The parties have a few weeks to try and breath life back into this. But as one shareholder of the LSE told me today, \"this deal was always going to be difficult, Brexit made it more difficult and when you realise are clearly swimming upstream against the European Commission, sometimes its best to call it a day\". The other possibility is it was self-inflicted. It just did not make sense after Brexit, so why not kill it off? The Commission was doing everyone, especially the LSE, a favour by asking for something they could decline in a principled (and grateful) huff. There is no doubt that piloting this deal through turbulent waters was going to be a hard slog and take up valuable management time and effort. One source close to the deal said: \"This is the problem with Europe in microcosm - we tried to do a Europe-facing deal for everyone's benefit and Europe killed it off\". There are also those who think the LSE would be better facing west and pivoting away from Europe. The big exchanges in the US will be poring over all this very carefully and may yet make sure LSE shareholders are well rewarded. This is a very tempting theory but both the UK and German sides swear blind it is not true and both seem keen to rescue the current deal if at all possible. Defenders of this grand deal claim politics and emotion has trumped over business rationale. With Article 50 about to be triggered, we may have to get used to that.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2123, "answer_start": 1226, "text": "So the question then is, who put the Commission up to it? The two prime suspects are France and Germany. France has been aggressively trying to pinch business from London, as Paris sees itself as the city best placed to pick up any post-Brexit business. A deal between Frankfurt and London, goes the the argument, would have shored up their positions, making both of them stronger and less likely to leak business to Paris. It is a deal which would tighten the bonds that Paris hoped Brexit would loosen. There is one big problem with that theory. France would have received a massive boost if the deal had gone ahead because the LSE had already agreed to sell a major part of its financial clearing business (LCH Clearnet SA) to the French company Euronext. If you are after more euro-denominated business being done by a French company, in France, this deal would have achieved that in a stroke." } ], "id": "1002_0", "question": "Who did it?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A former anti-corruption investigator in Malta has told BBC Newsnight he fears for his life after looking into allegations made by murdered journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Jonathan Ferris is seeking full police protection amid concerns he could be targeted after looking into her claims against top political figures. Caruana Galizia was killed in a car bomb near her home on 16 October. She was known for a blog in which she accused powerful figures of corruption. Prosecutors are looking into the possibility that her murder was carried out by hitmen on the orders of someone angered by her reporting. The Maltese government has vowed to bring her killers to justice and offered a EUR1m (PS890,000; $1.2m) reward for information. One of the investigations Caruana Galizia was working on at the time of her death centred on allegations against the Maltese prime minister's chief of staff, Keith Schembri, and a senior minister called Konrad Mizzi. Caruana Galizia said they were both financial beneficiaries of secretive \"shell\" companies registered in Panama. Mr Mizzi and Mr Schembri were named in the Panama Papers, a massive data leak from Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca in 2015. Both deny any wrongdoing and say their companies were never used. Mr Ferris says he was looking into the case last year while working at the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU), Malta's anti-money laundering agency. But he was sacked in June from the FIAU because, he believes, his work threatened to uncover sensitive secrets. \"We believe there was political interference,\" he told the BBC's Newsnight programme. The FIAU has denied this. The anti-money laundering agency told the BBC that Mr Ferris's dismissal was based \"solely on an objective and comprehensive performance assessment\". But Mr Ferris has now threatened to reveal information he discovered - \"should something happen to me\". \"Following 16 October, and what happened to Daphne Caruana Galizia, I divided my work and my information into six different envelopes with specific notes,\" he said. \"They are distributed to six members of family and close friends, and should something happen to me abruptly - say I'm killed - all that information will go public at once.\" Jason Azzopardi, a shadow justice ministry spokesman, said Mr Ferris's fears that he could be targeted were \"realistic\". By John Sweeney, BBC Newsnight Malta is a house divided against itself. Supporters of Prime Minister Joseph Muscat applaud his economic boom while his detractors point to an enfeeblement of the rule of law - and the hard evidence for that is the assassination of his government's greatest critic, Daphne Caruana Galizia. Unease and anxiety are part of Maltese life. Former money laundering investigator Jonathan Ferris fears for his life enough to carry a gun, legally. Immediately after our interview, he offered me a ride back to my hotel. We walked through the gloom of an underground car park to his car and suddenly I felt a stab of terror - that getting blown up was not impossible. Ferris turned the ignition and the engine started normally and I found myself laughing, too loud and too long. For a second or two, I had tasted the fear that grips those people in Malta who believe they know too much for their own good. Watch:Malta's shame? The murder of journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia - BBC Newsnight She alleged that a company owned by the Azerbaijani president's daughter paid $1m to a Panama company ultimately owned by the Maltese prime minister's wife, Michelle Muscat. Speaking to the BBC Newsnight's John Sweeney, Mr Muscat categorically denied that he or his wife had used secret offshore accounts to hide payments from Azerbaijan's ruling family - and hit back at Caruana Galizia's reports. \"I know I am in a quite uncomfortable situation having to criticise someone who has been killed brutally.\" But he added: \"She didn't have any evidence because what she said was totally incorrect.\" Mr Muscat also said Caruana Galizia's source was discredited. Caruana Galizia did not produce any documentary evidence to back up her allegation against the prime minister's wife. In her popular blog, the journalist also alleged that Malta's Economics Minister Chris Cardona went to a brothel while at a conference in Germany in January 2017. Mr Cardona denies any wrongdoing. He sued Caruana Galizia, saying he was in his hotel room at the time. That case is ongoing. Three brothers - George and Alfred Degiorgio, aged 55 and 53, and Vincent Muscat, 55 - have been charged with murder and pleaded not guilty. Investigators say the killers detonated the bomb using a mobile phone on a boat offshore. They are looking into whom the suspects had contact with in the run-up to the killing. Friends of the journalist say they do not believe she investigated the three men charged with her killing. \"Daphne has never ever mentioned these three persons in none of her 20,000 articles,\" said Mr Azzopardi. \"It's an open secret that these are not the persons who commissioned the murder, and we will not rest until we find out who commissioned the murder and what was the motive.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2350, "answer_start": 735, "text": "One of the investigations Caruana Galizia was working on at the time of her death centred on allegations against the Maltese prime minister's chief of staff, Keith Schembri, and a senior minister called Konrad Mizzi. Caruana Galizia said they were both financial beneficiaries of secretive \"shell\" companies registered in Panama. Mr Mizzi and Mr Schembri were named in the Panama Papers, a massive data leak from Panama law firm Mossack Fonseca in 2015. Both deny any wrongdoing and say their companies were never used. Mr Ferris says he was looking into the case last year while working at the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU), Malta's anti-money laundering agency. But he was sacked in June from the FIAU because, he believes, his work threatened to uncover sensitive secrets. \"We believe there was political interference,\" he told the BBC's Newsnight programme. The FIAU has denied this. The anti-money laundering agency told the BBC that Mr Ferris's dismissal was based \"solely on an objective and comprehensive performance assessment\". But Mr Ferris has now threatened to reveal information he discovered - \"should something happen to me\". \"Following 16 October, and what happened to Daphne Caruana Galizia, I divided my work and my information into six different envelopes with specific notes,\" he said. \"They are distributed to six members of family and close friends, and should something happen to me abruptly - say I'm killed - all that information will go public at once.\" Jason Azzopardi, a shadow justice ministry spokesman, said Mr Ferris's fears that he could be targeted were \"realistic\"." } ], "id": "1003_0", "question": "Why is Ferris frightened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4427, "answer_start": 3363, "text": "She alleged that a company owned by the Azerbaijani president's daughter paid $1m to a Panama company ultimately owned by the Maltese prime minister's wife, Michelle Muscat. Speaking to the BBC Newsnight's John Sweeney, Mr Muscat categorically denied that he or his wife had used secret offshore accounts to hide payments from Azerbaijan's ruling family - and hit back at Caruana Galizia's reports. \"I know I am in a quite uncomfortable situation having to criticise someone who has been killed brutally.\" But he added: \"She didn't have any evidence because what she said was totally incorrect.\" Mr Muscat also said Caruana Galizia's source was discredited. Caruana Galizia did not produce any documentary evidence to back up her allegation against the prime minister's wife. In her popular blog, the journalist also alleged that Malta's Economics Minister Chris Cardona went to a brothel while at a conference in Germany in January 2017. Mr Cardona denies any wrongdoing. He sued Caruana Galizia, saying he was in his hotel room at the time. That case is ongoing." } ], "id": "1003_1", "question": "What else was Caruana Galizia investigating?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5131, "answer_start": 4428, "text": "Three brothers - George and Alfred Degiorgio, aged 55 and 53, and Vincent Muscat, 55 - have been charged with murder and pleaded not guilty. Investigators say the killers detonated the bomb using a mobile phone on a boat offshore. They are looking into whom the suspects had contact with in the run-up to the killing. Friends of the journalist say they do not believe she investigated the three men charged with her killing. \"Daphne has never ever mentioned these three persons in none of her 20,000 articles,\" said Mr Azzopardi. \"It's an open secret that these are not the persons who commissioned the murder, and we will not rest until we find out who commissioned the murder and what was the motive.\"" } ], "id": "1003_2", "question": "Who killed her?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Viorica Dancila has been named as Romania's first female PM following the sudden resignation of Mihai Tudose. Ms Dancila, a member of the European Parliament, is regarded as an ally of the governing Social Democratic Party (PSD) leader Liviu Dragnea. President Klaus Iohannis says he wants her appointment approved quickly by parliament and a new government in place by 1 February. Ms Dancila, 54, is Romania's third prime minister in seven months. The PSD has been gripped by a power struggle which also claimed former PM Sorin Grindeanu in June. \"For me it's very clear that the Social Democrats have a majority... so I weighed all the arguments and decided to name their proposal [Ms Dancila] for premier,\" Mr Iohannis said after announcing the appointment. Ms Dancila has served in the European Parliament since 2009. Mr Dragnea described her as \"a respected MEP in Brussels... who doesn't seek conflict, is communicative and has good relations with the [European] Commission\". Mr Tudose quit on 15 January after his own party withdrew its backing. Reports say he fell out with Mr Dragnea after sparring with Interior Minister Carmen Dan, a Dragnea ally. Mr Tudose said he he was leaving \"with his head high\". \"I did not want to break the party,\" he said. \"They named me, they removed me. I take responsibility for my deeds and I do not regret anything in my actions [as prime minister].\" Mr Dragnea has been in politics for more than two decades. He has served as a cabinet minister but was barred from becoming prime minister in 2015 because of a conviction for ballot-rigging during a 2012 referendum. He was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, later increased to two years. Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that he illicitly obtained EU funds during his time in local politics in Teleorman, in 2000-2012. He denies wrongdoing, saying the allegations are politically motivated.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1392, "answer_start": 982, "text": "Mr Tudose quit on 15 January after his own party withdrew its backing. Reports say he fell out with Mr Dragnea after sparring with Interior Minister Carmen Dan, a Dragnea ally. Mr Tudose said he he was leaving \"with his head high\". \"I did not want to break the party,\" he said. \"They named me, they removed me. I take responsibility for my deeds and I do not regret anything in my actions [as prime minister].\"" } ], "id": "1004_0", "question": "Why did Mihai Tudose resign?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1906, "answer_start": 1393, "text": "Mr Dragnea has been in politics for more than two decades. He has served as a cabinet minister but was barred from becoming prime minister in 2015 because of a conviction for ballot-rigging during a 2012 referendum. He was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, later increased to two years. Prosecutors are also investigating allegations that he illicitly obtained EU funds during his time in local politics in Teleorman, in 2000-2012. He denies wrongdoing, saying the allegations are politically motivated." } ], "id": "1004_1", "question": "Who is Liviu Dragnea?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A judge in Texas has denied a further restraining order to keep a nine-year-old girl, said by doctors to be brain dead, on life support. Payton Summons suffered cardiac arrest late last month but her parents obtained a court order forcing a hospital to keep her alive. However, the district court judge said the burden of proof for a further order had not been met, US media report. The current order is due to expire on Monday, the family's lawyer said. Payton \"suffered a devastating injury to her brain due to being without oxygen for over an hour\" as a result of a tumour in her chest that had stopped her blood circulation, doctors at the Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth said in a statement, quoted by local channel KTVT. Payton's parents had not yet decided whether to apply for a new restraining order, lawyer Justin Moore told CNN. \"This presents a great issue for parents in the state of Texas,\" he said. \"They don't know how to proceed when they have a child put in this condition as Payton Summons has been put in. \"So I believe our fight is going to continue on in order to carve out some real narrow language in the law to provide courts, lawyers and parents guidance because that's what they need in times like this.\" She was staying with her grandmother when she woke up and said that she could not breathe. She was taken to Cook Children's Medical Center, where doctors said they were able to revive her heartbeat but not her breathing. She was placed on a ventilator before doctors confirmed that she did not have brain activity. Under Texas law, a person is considered dead when they have lost all brain function, the hospital added. Payton's parents filed a temporary restraining order to keep her on life support while they tried to find another hospital that would accept her. However only two out of more than 20 institutions contacted said they might take her - \"and those were preconditioned on certain things which may be life threatening to Payton if performed\", another lawyer for the family, Paul Stafford, told CNN.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1244, "answer_start": 740, "text": "Payton's parents had not yet decided whether to apply for a new restraining order, lawyer Justin Moore told CNN. \"This presents a great issue for parents in the state of Texas,\" he said. \"They don't know how to proceed when they have a child put in this condition as Payton Summons has been put in. \"So I believe our fight is going to continue on in order to carve out some real narrow language in the law to provide courts, lawyers and parents guidance because that's what they need in times like this.\"" } ], "id": "1005_0", "question": "What will her parents do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2057, "answer_start": 1245, "text": "She was staying with her grandmother when she woke up and said that she could not breathe. She was taken to Cook Children's Medical Center, where doctors said they were able to revive her heartbeat but not her breathing. She was placed on a ventilator before doctors confirmed that she did not have brain activity. Under Texas law, a person is considered dead when they have lost all brain function, the hospital added. Payton's parents filed a temporary restraining order to keep her on life support while they tried to find another hospital that would accept her. However only two out of more than 20 institutions contacted said they might take her - \"and those were preconditioned on certain things which may be life threatening to Payton if performed\", another lawyer for the family, Paul Stafford, told CNN." } ], "id": "1005_1", "question": "How did Payton fall ill?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The UN says it has received reports that guards fired on migrants who tried to flee air strikes on a detention centre near Libya's capital Tripoli on Tuesday. The UN says it believes at least 53 migrants died and 130 were hurt in the air strikes on the Tajoura centre. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet has said the air strikes could constitute a war crime. The government and an opposing militia have blamed each other for the attack. Thousands of migrants trying to reach Europe, many of them sub-Saharan Africans, are being held in Libyan detention camps. Dozens who set off from Libya were feared dead as a boat capsized off Tunisia on Wednesday. Libya has been torn by violence and division since long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011. A recent upsurge in violence began in April when the self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA), commanded by Gen Khalifa Haftar, launched an offensive against the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA), led by PM Fayez al-Sarraj. The latest situation overview from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs raised the number of reported deaths at the centre to 53, with six children among those killed and bodies still being pulled from the rubble. \"There are reports that following the first impact, some refugees and migrants were fired upon by guards as they tried to escape,\" it states, without giving any further details. A UN mission visited the camp on Wednesday and helped evacuate the injured but said there had been \"no general relocation of the remaining refugees and migrants\" and that some 500 people faced \"the same degree of vulnerability and exposure to violence\". The report added: \"Humanitarian actors call for the immediate release of refugees and migrants from detention centres and for relocation to safe shelter.\" The Libya Observer quoted Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha as saying the government was now considering closing all detention centres and releasing all migrants. Nigeria's foreign ministry said that nine Nigerian men were killed at Tajoura. It took place late on Tuesday. The latest UN report says the camp was \"apparently struck twice, with one missile hitting an unoccupied garage and another hitting a hanger which contained some 120 refugees and migrants\". It added: \"The number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict (since April) has almost doubled as the result of this single attack.\" An official in the Libyan health ministry, Dr Khalid Bin Attia, told the BBC after the attack: \"People were everywhere, the camp was destroyed, people are crying, there is psychological trauma, the lights cut off... it was horrible, blood is everywhere.\" Meanwhile, two migrants who survived the attack told Associated Press they had been forced for months to work for a local militia in a nearby arms workshop. The GNA accused the LNA of carrying out \"heinous, premeditated, precise\" air strikes. The LNA said its warplanes had bombed a pro-government camp near the centre and pro-government forces had fired shells in response, hitting the migrant centre by accident. The UN has not been able to confirm who was behind the attack but said it \"could constitute a war crime\". No authority has full control over Libya and the country is extremely unstable, torn between several political and military factions, the two most important of which are led by PM Sarraj and Gen Haftar. The general has been active in Libyan politics for more than four decades and was one of Gadaffi's close allies until a dispute in the late 1980s forced him to live in exile in the US. After returning to Libya when the uprising began in 2011, he built up a power base in the east and has won some support from France, Egypt and the UAE. People-smuggling gangs have flourished in Libya's political chaos, charging desperate migrants from sub-Saharan Africa thousands of dollars per head. Human rights groups have highlighted the poor conditions at the detention centres where many migrants end up as the EU works with the Libyan coastguard to intercept migrant boats. Italy has taken a hard-line stance of closing its ports to humanitarian rescue boats, accusing them of aiding people smugglers. Instead, it wants to return any migrants found in open water to Libya - where most end up in detention centres. Following Italy's objections, the wider EU proposed a compromise solution of setting up EU \"assessment centres\" in countries like Libya, where applications for asylum could be processed on foreign soil in a bid to break up the smuggling operations.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2085, "answer_start": 1022, "text": "The latest situation overview from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs raised the number of reported deaths at the centre to 53, with six children among those killed and bodies still being pulled from the rubble. \"There are reports that following the first impact, some refugees and migrants were fired upon by guards as they tried to escape,\" it states, without giving any further details. A UN mission visited the camp on Wednesday and helped evacuate the injured but said there had been \"no general relocation of the remaining refugees and migrants\" and that some 500 people faced \"the same degree of vulnerability and exposure to violence\". The report added: \"Humanitarian actors call for the immediate release of refugees and migrants from detention centres and for relocation to safe shelter.\" The Libya Observer quoted Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha as saying the government was now considering closing all detention centres and releasing all migrants. Nigeria's foreign ministry said that nine Nigerian men were killed at Tajoura." } ], "id": "1006_0", "question": "What does the latest UN report say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2856, "answer_start": 2086, "text": "It took place late on Tuesday. The latest UN report says the camp was \"apparently struck twice, with one missile hitting an unoccupied garage and another hitting a hanger which contained some 120 refugees and migrants\". It added: \"The number of civilian casualties caused by the conflict (since April) has almost doubled as the result of this single attack.\" An official in the Libyan health ministry, Dr Khalid Bin Attia, told the BBC after the attack: \"People were everywhere, the camp was destroyed, people are crying, there is psychological trauma, the lights cut off... it was horrible, blood is everywhere.\" Meanwhile, two migrants who survived the attack told Associated Press they had been forced for months to work for a local militia in a nearby arms workshop." } ], "id": "1006_1", "question": "What do we know about the attack?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3220, "answer_start": 2857, "text": "The GNA accused the LNA of carrying out \"heinous, premeditated, precise\" air strikes. The LNA said its warplanes had bombed a pro-government camp near the centre and pro-government forces had fired shells in response, hitting the migrant centre by accident. The UN has not been able to confirm who was behind the attack but said it \"could constitute a war crime\"." } ], "id": "1006_2", "question": "Who is to blame for the attack?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3760, "answer_start": 3221, "text": "No authority has full control over Libya and the country is extremely unstable, torn between several political and military factions, the two most important of which are led by PM Sarraj and Gen Haftar. The general has been active in Libyan politics for more than four decades and was one of Gadaffi's close allies until a dispute in the late 1980s forced him to live in exile in the US. After returning to Libya when the uprising began in 2011, he built up a power base in the east and has won some support from France, Egypt and the UAE." } ], "id": "1006_3", "question": "Why is there war in Libya?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4579, "answer_start": 3761, "text": "People-smuggling gangs have flourished in Libya's political chaos, charging desperate migrants from sub-Saharan Africa thousands of dollars per head. Human rights groups have highlighted the poor conditions at the detention centres where many migrants end up as the EU works with the Libyan coastguard to intercept migrant boats. Italy has taken a hard-line stance of closing its ports to humanitarian rescue boats, accusing them of aiding people smugglers. Instead, it wants to return any migrants found in open water to Libya - where most end up in detention centres. Following Italy's objections, the wider EU proposed a compromise solution of setting up EU \"assessment centres\" in countries like Libya, where applications for asylum could be processed on foreign soil in a bid to break up the smuggling operations." } ], "id": "1006_4", "question": "How vulnerable are migrants in Libya?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "WannaCry has infected hundreds of thousands of computers around the world in 150 countries. The advice is to update Windows to ensure you are protected. But what do you do if the ransomware arrives on your computer? The most crucial bit of advice from most experts is: Don't pay the ransom. For some, PS230 ($300) might not seem too high a price to get back irreplaceable data that has been encrypted against your will. Indeed, a Twitter bot tracking Bitcoin payments to digital wallets set up by whoever is behind WannaCry suggests that some people are quite willing to cough up the cash. Since they are dealing with criminals, however, there is no reason to expect an honest transaction. Plus, because of the way in which WannaCry has been designed, the sad fact is that people are very unlikely to regain access to their files, even if they do pay. \"A manual human operator must activate decryption,\" revealed Matthew Hickey, a cyber-security researcher at UK-based firm Hacker House. And a blog post from security company Proofpoint suggests that a viable way of decrypting files may not actually be built in to the sloppy coding of WannaCrypt. The researchers say they are also yet to receive a reply from those behind the ransomware after trying to contact them. Victims are also expected to contact the criminals for a key to unlock their files, said security expert Prof Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey. \"I very much doubt anyone would return your contact request, bearing in mind the attention that is now on this,\" he told the BBC. \"If anyone pays this ransom they are more than likely going to send Bitcoin that will sit in an address for ever more. No point.\" The good news is that home users are very unlikely to be affected. WannaCry has so far spread around business networks via a vulnerability in Windows that most home users will have patched, or will not be at risk from anyway. This is because the vulnerable bit of Windows will either not be installed, or there will not be any other vulnerable computers on their home network. However, for those unfortunate enough to have been hit - be that at work or within an institution - it is probably best to assume that access to any files that were not backed up on a drive disconnected from your computer have now been lost forever. This is why it is so important to back up files on a separate drive or machine regularly. It is possible to remove WannaCry from your computer once it is there - although the process is not straightforward. As technical support website Bleeping Computer explains, it involves downloading some programs to clean your computer of the infection. However, the author adds that this will not decrypt files encrypted by the ransomware, proving once again that there is no substitute for a good back-up.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2807, "answer_start": 1684, "text": "The good news is that home users are very unlikely to be affected. WannaCry has so far spread around business networks via a vulnerability in Windows that most home users will have patched, or will not be at risk from anyway. This is because the vulnerable bit of Windows will either not be installed, or there will not be any other vulnerable computers on their home network. However, for those unfortunate enough to have been hit - be that at work or within an institution - it is probably best to assume that access to any files that were not backed up on a drive disconnected from your computer have now been lost forever. This is why it is so important to back up files on a separate drive or machine regularly. It is possible to remove WannaCry from your computer once it is there - although the process is not straightforward. As technical support website Bleeping Computer explains, it involves downloading some programs to clean your computer of the infection. However, the author adds that this will not decrypt files encrypted by the ransomware, proving once again that there is no substitute for a good back-up." } ], "id": "1007_0", "question": "What can you do instead?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "When 53 police officers in Afghanistan checked their phones in 2009, they felt sure there had been some mistake. They knew they were part of a pilot project to see if public sector salaries could be paid via a new mobile money service called M-Paisa. But had they somehow overlooked the detail that their participation brought a pay rise? Or had someone mistyped the amount to send them? The message said their salary was significantly larger than usual. In fact, the amount was what they should have been getting all along. But previously, they received their salaries in cash, passed down from the ministry via their superior officers. Somewhere along the line, about 30% of their pay had been skimmed off. Indeed, the ministry soon realised that one in 10 police officers whose salaries they had been dutifully paying did not exist. The police officers were delighted to be getting their full salary. Their commanders were less cheerful about losing their cut. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy highlights the inventions, ideas and innovations that helped create the economic world. It is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast. Afghanistan is one of a number of developing countries whose economies are currently being reshaped by mobile money - the ability to send payments by text message. The ubiquitous kiosks that sell prepaid mobile airtime effectively function like bank branches: you deposit cash, and the agent sends you an SMS adding that amount to your balance. Or you send the agent an SMS, and she gives you cash. And you can text some of your balance to anyone else. It is an invention with roots in many places. But it first took off in Kenya, and that story starts with a presentation made at the World Summit for Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002 by Vodafone's Nick Hughes. His topic was how to encourage large corporations to allocate research funding to ideas that looked risky but might help poor countries' development. In the audience was an official for the United Kingdom's Department for International Development. DfID had money to invest in a \"challenge fund\" to improve access to financial services. And phones looked interesting. DfID had noticed the customers of African mobile networks were transferring prepaid airtime to each other as a sort of quasi-currency. So the man from DFID had a proposition. DfID would chip in PS1m, provided Vodafone committed the same. That got the attention of Mr Hughes's bosses. But his initial idea was not about tackling corruption in the public sector. It was about something much more limited - microfinance, a hot topic in international development at the time. Hundreds of millions of would-be entrepreneurs were too poor for the banking system to bother lending them money. If only they could borrow a small amount - enough to buy a cow, or sewing machine, or motorbike - they could start their own business. Mr Hughes wanted to explore microfinance clients repaying their loans via SMS. By 2005, Mr Hughes's colleague Susie Lonie was in Kenya with Safaricom, a mobile network part-owned by Vodafone. She recalls conducting one training session in a sweltering tin shed, and the incomprehension of microfinance clients. Before she could explain M-Pesa, she had to explain how mobile phones worked. But once people started using the service, it soon became clear they were using it for much more than repaying microfinance loans. One woman in the pilot project texted some money to her husband after he was robbed, so he could catch the bus home. Others said they had used M-Pesa to avoid being robbed, depositing money before a journey and withdrawing it on arrival. Businesses deposited money overnight rather than keeping it in a safe. People paid each other for services. And workers in the city used M-Pesa to send money to relatives back home: much safer than the previous option, entrusting the bus driver with an envelope of cash. Ms Lonie realised they were on to something big. Just eight months after its launch, a million Kenyans had signed up to M-Pesa. Today, there are about 20 million users. Within two years, M-Pesa transfers amounted to 10% of Kenya's gross domestic product (GDP) - now it accounts for nearly half. Soon, there were 100 times as many M-Pesa kiosks in Kenya as cash machines. M-Pesa is a textbook \"leapfrog\" technology: where an invention takes hold because the alternatives are poorly developed. Mobile phones allowed Africans to leapfrog their often woefully inadequate landline networks. M-Pesa exposed their banking systems, typically too inefficient to turn a profit from serving the low-income majority. The steel box that changed global trade How the barcode changed retailing The hidden strengths of unloved concrete The warrior monks who invented banking If you are plugged into the financial system, it is easy to take for granted that paying your utility bill does not require wasting hours trekking to an office and standing in a queue, or that you have a safer place to accumulate savings than under the mattress. About two billion people are still outside the system, though the number is falling fast - driven largely by mobile money. Most of the poorest Kenyans - those earning under $1.25 (PS0.99) a day - signed up to M-Pesa within a few years. By 2014, mobile money was in 60% of developing-country markets. Some, such as Afghanistan, have embraced it quickly - but it has not even reached some others. Nor do most developed-country customers have the option of sending money by SMS, even though it is simpler than a banking app. Why did M-Pesa take off in Kenya? One big reason was the relaxed approach of the banking and telecoms regulators. According to one study, what rural Kenyan households most like about M-Pesa is the convenience for family members sending money home. But two more benefits could be even more profound. The first was discovered by those Afghan police officers - tackling corruption. In Kenya, similarly, drivers soon realised that the police officers who pulled them over would not take bribes in M-Pesa: it would be linked to their phone number, and could be used as evidence. Estimates suggest that Kenya's matatus - public transportation minibuses - lose a third of their revenue to theft and extortion. In response, Kenya's government announced an ambitious plan to make mobile money mandatory on matatus - after all, if the driver has no cash, he cannot be asked for bribes. But many matatu drivers have resisted. Cash transactions facilitate not only corruption, but also tax evasion. When income is traceable, it is also taxable. That is the other big promise of mobile money: broadening the tax base, by formalising the grey economy. From corrupt police commanders to tax-dodging taxi drivers, mobile money could lead to a profound cultural change. Tim Harford writes the Financial Times's Undercover Economist column. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3404, "answer_start": 2264, "text": "And phones looked interesting. DfID had noticed the customers of African mobile networks were transferring prepaid airtime to each other as a sort of quasi-currency. So the man from DFID had a proposition. DfID would chip in PS1m, provided Vodafone committed the same. That got the attention of Mr Hughes's bosses. But his initial idea was not about tackling corruption in the public sector. It was about something much more limited - microfinance, a hot topic in international development at the time. Hundreds of millions of would-be entrepreneurs were too poor for the banking system to bother lending them money. If only they could borrow a small amount - enough to buy a cow, or sewing machine, or motorbike - they could start their own business. Mr Hughes wanted to explore microfinance clients repaying their loans via SMS. By 2005, Mr Hughes's colleague Susie Lonie was in Kenya with Safaricom, a mobile network part-owned by Vodafone. She recalls conducting one training session in a sweltering tin shed, and the incomprehension of microfinance clients. Before she could explain M-Pesa, she had to explain how mobile phones worked." } ], "id": "1008_0", "question": "Mobiles for microfinance?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Africa is facing a looming debt crisis, say leading development economists. \"Almost 40% of sub-Saharan African countries are in danger of slipping into a major debt crisis\" according to the Overseas Development Institute, ahead of a major conference on debt being held in London this week. And the relationship between African nations and China is often seen as a significant part of the problem. Its critics say that major infrastructure projects carried out by Chinese companies in Africa are too expensive, and burden the host countries with enormous debts they can't hope to repay. The Chinese government is adamant that its economic relationships with African countries are mutually beneficial and rejects suggestions that it is using debt to expand global influence. So is China really responsible for Africa's growing debt burden? The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has recently warned that Africa is heading towards a new debt crisis, with the number of countries at high risk doubling over the past five years. The World Bank now classifies 18 countries as at high risk of debt distress, where debt-to-GDP ratios surpass 50%. The total amount of external debt for the continent is estimated at $417bn (PS317bn). Around 20% of African government external debt is owed to China, says the Jubilee Debt Campaign, a charity which campaigns for the cancellation of poor countries' debt. This makes China the largest single creditor nation, with combined state and commercial loans estimated to have been $132bn (PS100bn) between 2006 and 2017. A further 35% of African debt is held by multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, with 32% owed to private lenders. There's one important caveat: this data is hard to verify. \"China is not a member of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and they do not participate in the OECD's Creditor Reporting System,\" said Christina Wolf, an economics expert at Kingston University. But China has pledged to invest $60bn (PS46bn) in Africa by the end of this year. Most of China's loans to Africa go into infrastructure projects such as roads, railways and ports. In 2015, the China-Africa Research Initiative (CARI) at John Hopkins University identified 17 African countries with risky debt exposure to China, potentially unable to repay their loans. It says three of these - Djibouti, Republic of Congo and Zambia - remain most at risk of debt distress derived from these Chinese loans. In 2017, Zambia's debt amounted to $8.7bn (PS6.6bn) - $6.4bn (PS4.9bn) of which is owed to China. For Djibouti, 77% of its debt is from Chinese lenders. Figures for the Republic of Congo are unclear, but CARI estimates debts to China to be in the region of $7bn (PS5.3bn). Should Africa be wary of Chinese debt? Compared to institutions such as the IMF, World Bank and Paris Club (a group of 22 creditor nations not including China), loans from China are seen by some as much quicker, cheaper, and come with fewer strings attached. The United States in particular has been highly critical of China's approach. Earlier this year, ahead of a visit to Africa, the then US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said China's lending policy to Africa \"encouraged dependency, utilised corrupt deals and endangered its natural resources\". China's response was forthright. Its ambassador in South Africa, Lin Songtian, said China was proud of its influence in Africa and that Mr Tillerson's comments were part of a smear campaign by the United States. \"China is just like any other lender,\" says Gyude Moore, a former Liberian Government official. \"China's strategic interest is in African countries paying back debts.\" There are many examples of China supporting programmes to help with debt repayments, says Mr Moore, who's currently a visiting fellow at the Centre for Global Development. And ultimately, it is up to African nations themselves to accept or reject Chinese loans. But a severe lack of infrastructure, and the desperate need for modern transport links in many of the poorest countries, make China's ready offer of substantial loans for such projects often difficult to turn down. And what's clear is that Africa's debt problem is far wider than its relationship with China. However, China's increasing involvement with the continent and its commitment to providing loans for large-scale projects, mean that any solution to Africa's debt problems must address its relationship both with Beijing and with private Chinese companies operating on the continent. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4531, "answer_start": 2781, "text": "Compared to institutions such as the IMF, World Bank and Paris Club (a group of 22 creditor nations not including China), loans from China are seen by some as much quicker, cheaper, and come with fewer strings attached. The United States in particular has been highly critical of China's approach. Earlier this year, ahead of a visit to Africa, the then US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, said China's lending policy to Africa \"encouraged dependency, utilised corrupt deals and endangered its natural resources\". China's response was forthright. Its ambassador in South Africa, Lin Songtian, said China was proud of its influence in Africa and that Mr Tillerson's comments were part of a smear campaign by the United States. \"China is just like any other lender,\" says Gyude Moore, a former Liberian Government official. \"China's strategic interest is in African countries paying back debts.\" There are many examples of China supporting programmes to help with debt repayments, says Mr Moore, who's currently a visiting fellow at the Centre for Global Development. And ultimately, it is up to African nations themselves to accept or reject Chinese loans. But a severe lack of infrastructure, and the desperate need for modern transport links in many of the poorest countries, make China's ready offer of substantial loans for such projects often difficult to turn down. And what's clear is that Africa's debt problem is far wider than its relationship with China. However, China's increasing involvement with the continent and its commitment to providing loans for large-scale projects, mean that any solution to Africa's debt problems must address its relationship both with Beijing and with private Chinese companies operating on the continent." } ], "id": "1009_0", "question": "Fewer strings attached?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Authorities in southern India have demolished two luxury lakeside apartment complexes that were built in violation of environmental rules. Residents of the high-rises in the state of Kerala watched as their homes and investments imploded in seconds. The Supreme Court ordered the demolition last year, after a committee found that they were built in breach of rules protecting coastal areas. Two more skyscrapers were set to be razed on Sunday. In total, some 343 flats - home to about 2,000 people - were expected to be destroyed over the weekend in what has been described as one of India's largest demolition drives involving residential buildings. The H2O Holy Faith complex, containing 90 flats, was the first to be brought down on Saturday. It took just seconds for the 19-floor building to be destroyed in a controlled implosion. The twin towers of Alfa Serene were next. Resident Shamshudeen Karunagapally said his wife and children could not watch the buildings go down as it was \"too painful for them to see their dreams shatter before their eyes\". \"We are suffering without any fault,\" he told AFP news agency. The Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA), which was created to prevent degradation of coastal and marine areas, says permission for the buildings to be constructed was given by local officials without its approval. The KCZMA said the location of the apartment complexes, in the municipality of Maradu, was a critically vulnerable area where no new construction was allowed. After they were built, bankers, executives and affluent retirees were among those who bought up the luxury apartments. One bank executive told the BBC last year that he had spent what would now amount to $70,000 (PS55,000) to purchase a 2,140 sq ft (198 sq m) flat in Alfa Serene in 2006. One of his neighbours sold his apartment last year for $176,000, he said. But in May, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of KCZMA and ordered the demolition of the buildings, although officials had never sought it. The court said builders were in breach of construction rules and called illegal construction in the area a \"colossal loss\" to the environment. It also referred to the devastating floods in Kerala in 2018 and said they were the result of \"the entire environment being degraded and coastal zones being illegally occupied\". Following the top court ruling, some residents initially refused to leave. But officials cut water and electricity supplies to the buildings, leaving them with no choice but to go. The state government has been ordered to pay \"interim compensation\" of about $35,000 (PS27,000) to affected residents, according to local media reports.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2665, "answer_start": 1122, "text": "The Kerala Coastal Zone Management Authority (KCZMA), which was created to prevent degradation of coastal and marine areas, says permission for the buildings to be constructed was given by local officials without its approval. The KCZMA said the location of the apartment complexes, in the municipality of Maradu, was a critically vulnerable area where no new construction was allowed. After they were built, bankers, executives and affluent retirees were among those who bought up the luxury apartments. One bank executive told the BBC last year that he had spent what would now amount to $70,000 (PS55,000) to purchase a 2,140 sq ft (198 sq m) flat in Alfa Serene in 2006. One of his neighbours sold his apartment last year for $176,000, he said. But in May, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of KCZMA and ordered the demolition of the buildings, although officials had never sought it. The court said builders were in breach of construction rules and called illegal construction in the area a \"colossal loss\" to the environment. It also referred to the devastating floods in Kerala in 2018 and said they were the result of \"the entire environment being degraded and coastal zones being illegally occupied\". Following the top court ruling, some residents initially refused to leave. But officials cut water and electricity supplies to the buildings, leaving them with no choice but to go. The state government has been ordered to pay \"interim compensation\" of about $35,000 (PS27,000) to affected residents, according to local media reports." } ], "id": "1010_0", "question": "How did we get here?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "France and Ireland say they will not ratify a huge trade deal with South American nations unless Brazil does more to fight fires in the Amazon. French leader Emmanuel Macron said President Jair Bolsonaro had lied to him about his stance on climate change. Tens of thousands of fires have burned across a wide area of the Amazon rainforest this year. Environmental groups say the fires are linked to Mr Bolsonaro's policies, which he denies. European leaders have also expressed dismay over the fires. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson called the fires \"not only heartbreaking\" but \"an international crisis\". \"We stand ready to provide whatever help we can to bring them under control and help protect one of Earth's greatest wonders,\" he added. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called the fire an \"acute emergency... shocking and threatening not only for Brazil and the other affected countries, but also for the whole world\". Mr Bolsonaro said on Friday that he was considering options for fighting the fires, including deploying the military. However, he has also accused Mr Macron of meddling for \"political gain\", and previously said calls to discuss the fires at this weekend's G7 summit in Biarritz, France - which Brazil is not participating in - showed \"a misplaced colonialist mindset\". Very - the EU-Mercosur trade deal has been described as the EU's biggest deal to date. It took 20 years of negotiations to strike the agreement with the South American bloc, consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. The EU is Mercosur's second biggest partner in trade in goods, accounting for 20.1% of the total in 2018. By contrast, EU exports to Mercosur accounted for 2.3% of the EU's total exports in 2018. The trade includes food and beverages, tobacco and farm products from the South American side and machinery, chemicals and pharmaceutical products from the EU. On Friday, Mr Bolsonaro appeared to strike a defiant tone, saying on Twitter that Mercosur had reached a trade deal with Efta - a European free trade group of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Analysis by Daniel Gallas, BBC News, Sao Paulo Mr Bolsonaro is often called the \"Trump of the Tropics\" because of his unpredictable and brash manners. So it is anyone's guess whether he will back down or carry on with this stance. Back in June, he hailed the Mercosur-EU trade deal as \"historic\" and \"one of the most important trade deals of all time\". Now his own words and actions are threatening the deal - which still needs to be approved by parliaments of all Mercosur and EU countries. The deal explicitly says countries have to commit to tackling climate change. Mr Bolsonaro's son - who wants to become Brazil's ambassador in Washington - retweeted a video calling Mr Macron an idiot. But even Mr Bolsonaro's agriculture minister and the country's farmers associations have suggested there needs to be a change of tone from the president. Meanwhile, Finland's finance minister has called on the EU to consider banning Brazilian beef imports. Finland is currently president of the Council of the EU - a role which is rotated among member states every six months. Environmental groups have called for protests in cities across Brazil on Friday to demand action to combat the fires. Hundreds of protesters also gathered outside the Brazilian embassies around the world, including in London, Berlin, Mumbai and Paris. \"We can't stand around waiting for the sky to turn black all the way here in London too,\" protester Laura Villares House, 33, told BBC Brasil. The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming. It is known as the \"lungs of the world\" and is home to about three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted on Thursday: \"In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected.\" Satellite data published by the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) has shown an increase of 85% this year in fires across Brazil, most of them in the Amazon region. This is the highest number of fires since 2010, though some way off the record in 2005. Mr Bolsonaro has brushed off the latest data, arguing that it was the season of the \"queimada\", when farmers burn land to clear it before planting. However, Inpe has noted that the number of fires is not in line with those normally reported during the dry season. Wildfires often occur in the dry season in Brazil but they are also deliberately started in efforts to illegally deforest land for cattle ranching. Conservationists say Mr Bolsonaro has encouraged loggers and farmers to clear the land. During his campaign, he pledged to limit fines for damaging the rainforest and to weaken the influence of the environmental agency. Mr Bolsonaro has suggested that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) started the fires, but admitted he had no evidence for this claim. In comments on Thursday, he acknowledged that farmers might be involved in setting fires in the region, according to Reuters news agency. US space agency Nasa, meanwhile, has said that overall fire activity across the Amazon basin this year has been close to the average compared to the past 15 years. This article initially stated there was a record number of fires in Brazil this year. After more satellite data was made accessible, it has been updated to reflect the fact the fires are instead the worst since 2010.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2088, "answer_start": 1297, "text": "Very - the EU-Mercosur trade deal has been described as the EU's biggest deal to date. It took 20 years of negotiations to strike the agreement with the South American bloc, consisting of Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay and Paraguay. The EU is Mercosur's second biggest partner in trade in goods, accounting for 20.1% of the total in 2018. By contrast, EU exports to Mercosur accounted for 2.3% of the EU's total exports in 2018. The trade includes food and beverages, tobacco and farm products from the South American side and machinery, chemicals and pharmaceutical products from the EU. On Friday, Mr Bolsonaro appeared to strike a defiant tone, saying on Twitter that Mercosur had reached a trade deal with Efta - a European free trade group of Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein." } ], "id": "1011_0", "question": "How significant is the trade deal?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2935, "answer_start": 2089, "text": "Analysis by Daniel Gallas, BBC News, Sao Paulo Mr Bolsonaro is often called the \"Trump of the Tropics\" because of his unpredictable and brash manners. So it is anyone's guess whether he will back down or carry on with this stance. Back in June, he hailed the Mercosur-EU trade deal as \"historic\" and \"one of the most important trade deals of all time\". Now his own words and actions are threatening the deal - which still needs to be approved by parliaments of all Mercosur and EU countries. The deal explicitly says countries have to commit to tackling climate change. Mr Bolsonaro's son - who wants to become Brazil's ambassador in Washington - retweeted a video calling Mr Macron an idiot. But even Mr Bolsonaro's agriculture minister and the country's farmers associations have suggested there needs to be a change of tone from the president." } ], "id": "1011_1", "question": "Will international pressure work?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4019, "answer_start": 3554, "text": "The largest rainforest in the world, the Amazon is a vital carbon store that slows down the pace of global warming. It is known as the \"lungs of the world\" and is home to about three million species of plants and animals, and one million indigenous people. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres tweeted on Thursday: \"In the midst of the global climate crisis, we cannot afford more damage to a major source of oxygen and biodiversity. The Amazon must be protected.\"" } ], "id": "1011_2", "question": "Why does the Amazon matter?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5353, "answer_start": 4020, "text": "Satellite data published by the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) has shown an increase of 85% this year in fires across Brazil, most of them in the Amazon region. This is the highest number of fires since 2010, though some way off the record in 2005. Mr Bolsonaro has brushed off the latest data, arguing that it was the season of the \"queimada\", when farmers burn land to clear it before planting. However, Inpe has noted that the number of fires is not in line with those normally reported during the dry season. Wildfires often occur in the dry season in Brazil but they are also deliberately started in efforts to illegally deforest land for cattle ranching. Conservationists say Mr Bolsonaro has encouraged loggers and farmers to clear the land. During his campaign, he pledged to limit fines for damaging the rainforest and to weaken the influence of the environmental agency. Mr Bolsonaro has suggested that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) started the fires, but admitted he had no evidence for this claim. In comments on Thursday, he acknowledged that farmers might be involved in setting fires in the region, according to Reuters news agency. US space agency Nasa, meanwhile, has said that overall fire activity across the Amazon basin this year has been close to the average compared to the past 15 years." } ], "id": "1011_3", "question": "How bad are the fires and who is responsible for them?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The UK has backed a \"vitally important\" nuclear deal with Iran, despite accusations from the US and Israel that Iranians are pursuing atomic weapons. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu claims thousands of \"secret nuclear files\" proved Iran covertly sought nuclear weapons - an accusation Iran rejects. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo backed him, saying Tehran had lied. But Foreign Office minister Alistair Burt told the BBC the deal \"contributes to peace in the region\". Six nations signed an accord in 2015 lifting sanctions on Iran in exchange for it abandoning a nuclear weapons programme. The three European signatories - the UK, France and Germany - reaffirmed their backing for the deal, as US President Donald Trump continues to threaten to walk away from the agreement. The deal is also signed by Russia and China. A UK government spokesman said inspectors appointed as part of the accord are providing a \"vitally important way of independently verifying that Iran is adhering to the deal\". The spokesman added: \"We have never been naive about Iran and its nuclear intentions.\" Mr Burt told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that he understood the \"anxiety\" of Israel and the US, but the UK government has been very clear about its belief in the deal - known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). He said: \"There is a great deal of confrontation, worries and heightened rhetoric [in the region] and I think one of the roles the United Kingdom can play is to seek to de-escalate this. \"It is extremely tense and we should be doing all we can to back those things that are likely to deescalate tension - that is one of the reasons we support JCPOA.\" On Monday, Mr Netanyahu said thousands of pages of material obtained by Israel showed Iran had deceived the world by denying it had ever sought nuclear weapons. Stood in front of a screen reading \"Iran Lied\", he accused Iran of conducting a secret weapons programme until 2003 codenamed \"Project Amad\". He then claimed the country had continued to pursue nuclear weapons knowledge after Project Amad was shuttered. Iran responded that Israel's revelations were a \"childish\" stunt to influence President Trump's decision on whether to remain in the nuclear deal, which he is due to make by 12 May. Mr Trump has asked the European signatories to the agreement to \"fix the terrible flaws\" with it or he will refuse to extend sanctions relief on Iran. In a statement, the White House said Israel's information provided \"new and compelling details\" about Iran's alleged efforts to develop \"missile-deliverable nuclear weapons\". The US statement said: \"These facts are consistent with what the US has long known - Iran had a robust, clandestine nuclear weapons programme that it has tried and failed to hide from the world and from its own people.\" US Secretary of State Mr Pompeo said the top secret documents Israel claims to have obtained show Tehran \"was not telling the truth\" about its nuclear programme. Foreign Office minister Mr Burt said the UK was working \"very hard\" with partners to persuade President Trump to stick with the deal and all sides needed to carry on talking to each other. \"We support the JCPOA [and] we will stick to its provisions because we believe it contributes to peace in the region, notwithstanding all the other things that also need to be dealt with,\" he added. According to Iranian state TV, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the country's Atomic Energy Organisation, said he hoped Mr Trump \"comes to his senses and stays in the deal\". Tehran has maintained that it has only been pursuing nuclear energy.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3595, "answer_start": 1663, "text": "On Monday, Mr Netanyahu said thousands of pages of material obtained by Israel showed Iran had deceived the world by denying it had ever sought nuclear weapons. Stood in front of a screen reading \"Iran Lied\", he accused Iran of conducting a secret weapons programme until 2003 codenamed \"Project Amad\". He then claimed the country had continued to pursue nuclear weapons knowledge after Project Amad was shuttered. Iran responded that Israel's revelations were a \"childish\" stunt to influence President Trump's decision on whether to remain in the nuclear deal, which he is due to make by 12 May. Mr Trump has asked the European signatories to the agreement to \"fix the terrible flaws\" with it or he will refuse to extend sanctions relief on Iran. In a statement, the White House said Israel's information provided \"new and compelling details\" about Iran's alleged efforts to develop \"missile-deliverable nuclear weapons\". The US statement said: \"These facts are consistent with what the US has long known - Iran had a robust, clandestine nuclear weapons programme that it has tried and failed to hide from the world and from its own people.\" US Secretary of State Mr Pompeo said the top secret documents Israel claims to have obtained show Tehran \"was not telling the truth\" about its nuclear programme. Foreign Office minister Mr Burt said the UK was working \"very hard\" with partners to persuade President Trump to stick with the deal and all sides needed to carry on talking to each other. \"We support the JCPOA [and] we will stick to its provisions because we believe it contributes to peace in the region, notwithstanding all the other things that also need to be dealt with,\" he added. According to Iranian state TV, Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of the country's Atomic Energy Organisation, said he hoped Mr Trump \"comes to his senses and stays in the deal\". Tehran has maintained that it has only been pursuing nuclear energy." } ], "id": "1012_0", "question": "What has Israel claimed?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "During another ferocious attack on the media on Saturday evening, US President Donald Trump cited a non-existent incident in Sweden, baffling many - not least Swedes. \"You look at what's happening in Germany, you look at what's happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this. Sweden. They took in large numbers. They're having problems like they never thought possible,\" the new US president told a crowd of supporters at a rally in Florida. It was not entirely clear which incident he was referring to, as many on Twitter pointed out, including the former Swedish prime minister: Some of those contacted the official @Sweden Twitter account - which is manned by a different Swedish citizen each week - to ask: \"What happened in Sweden last night?\" It was down to Emma, a school librarian, to allay concerns voiced from people around the world. (Melfest is the music competition which selects Sweden's entry for the Eurovision Song Contest.) \"I went to bed at around 4am, then my daughter woke me up at 7am and in those four hours there were over 800 mentions...I usually get about a hundred,\" Emma told the BBC on Sunday, referring to the number of Twitter mentions the account received after President Trump's comments. The hashtag #lastnightinSweden was soon trending on Twitter, and the Swedish embassy in Washington has asked the State Department for clarification. Donald Trump's comments just weeks after one of his key advisers, Kellyanne Conway, cited a non-existent attack dubbed the \"Bowling Green massacre\". There were no reported terrorist incidents in Sweden on Friday. Sweden's Aftonbladet website helpfully summarised the day in news, which included: - A man setting himself on fire at a plaza in central Stockholm - Famous singer Owe Thornqvist suffering technical problems in rehearsals for the aforementioned Melfest - A man killed in workplace accident - Road closures in northern Sweden due to \"harsh weather\" - Police car chase through central Stockholm of a suspected drunk driver Some people suggest Donald Trump might have been referring to a clip aired on Fox News on Friday night of a documentary about alleged violence committed by refugees in Sweden. \"There was an absolute surge in both gun violence and rape in Sweden once they began this open-door policy,\" Ami Horowitz, who made the documentary, told Fox News, referring to Sweden's decision to open its doors to large numbers of refugees in 2013. Fox News is known to be among Donald Trump's favourite cable TV channels. Others are speculating that the president may have confused Sweden with Sehwan, in Pakistan, where a suicide bombing on a Sufi shrine killed at least 80 people on Friday. Sweden, with a population of about 9.5m, has taken in nearly 200,000 refugees and migrants in recent years - more per capita than any other European country. It saw a sharp increase in asylum seekers in 2015, with more than 160,000 people arriving. With the influx, tensions also rose with some isolated attacks on immigrants, as well as pro- and anti-migrant demonstrations. The killing of a 22-year-old woman in January 2016 by an asylum seeker based at the centre where she worked put further pressure on the government to reassess its approach to refugees. There was a drop in numbers last year after the country introduced new border checks incurring longer processing times, as well as financial incentives for migrants who voluntarily returned to their country of origin. Migrant crisis dominates Sweden's politics Sweden has generally low crime rates. Preliminary statistics from the Swedish Crime Survey (in Swedish) show only a marginal increase in 2016 from the year before. Fraud and crimes against individuals were up, but drugs crimes and theft had decreased. The number of reported rapes increased by 13%, although that is still lower than the number reported in 2014 (6,700), as Sweden's The Local reports. There have been no terror attacks in Sweden since the country's open-door policy on migration began in 2013. As British historian Simon Schama, says: \"The real Swedish message: 200,000 refugees, no terrorist attacks.\" In 2010, two bombs detonated in central Stockholm, killing the attacker - an Iraq-born Swedish man - and injuring two others, in what police described as a terrorist attack. In October 2015, a masked man who was believed to have far-right sympathies killed a teacher and pupil in a sword attack. And in Malmo last October, a fire at a Muslim community centre was claimed by the Islamic State group - the incident was cited by the White House in the list of incidents it deemed 'under-reported' by the media. Separately, Sweden is believed to have the highest number of Islamic State fighters per capita in Europe. About 140 of the 300 who went to Syria and Iraq have since returned, leaving the authorities to grapple with how best to reintegrate them into society. How Sweden became an exporter of jihad", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2691, "answer_start": 2020, "text": "Some people suggest Donald Trump might have been referring to a clip aired on Fox News on Friday night of a documentary about alleged violence committed by refugees in Sweden. \"There was an absolute surge in both gun violence and rape in Sweden once they began this open-door policy,\" Ami Horowitz, who made the documentary, told Fox News, referring to Sweden's decision to open its doors to large numbers of refugees in 2013. Fox News is known to be among Donald Trump's favourite cable TV channels. Others are speculating that the president may have confused Sweden with Sehwan, in Pakistan, where a suicide bombing on a Sufi shrine killed at least 80 people on Friday." } ], "id": "1013_0", "question": "Was he referring to something else?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3915, "answer_start": 3514, "text": "Sweden has generally low crime rates. Preliminary statistics from the Swedish Crime Survey (in Swedish) show only a marginal increase in 2016 from the year before. Fraud and crimes against individuals were up, but drugs crimes and theft had decreased. The number of reported rapes increased by 13%, although that is still lower than the number reported in 2014 (6,700), as Sweden's The Local reports." } ], "id": "1013_1", "question": "How safe is Sweden?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The brutal mob killing of a university student who was accused of committing blasphemy has caused outrage in Pakistan. The country has strict and controversial blasphemy laws - which human rights groups say are often used to unfairly target religious minorities or settle personal scores. Could this case prove a turning point? Mashal Khan was a 25-year-old student of journalism at the Abdul Wali Khan University in the northern city of Mardan. He described himself on Facebook as a humanist and his social media postings reveal a young man interested in promoting women's rights and opposing racism. His room on the university campus was decorated with posters of Che Guevara and Karl Marx, as well as slogans such as \"Freedom is the right of every individual\". On 13 April 2017 a mob of hundreds of students marched through the university campus chanting religious slogans as they searched for Mashal Khan. It is not clear what exactly triggered their accusations of blasphemy. A Reuters report quoted a caretaker at the hostel as saying the previous day Mr Khan had been involved in a heated debate on religion with other students. A friend of Mashal Khan's told the BBC that Mr Khan had previously been threatened and didn't feel able to express himself openly at university because of the hostile attitude towards him and his views from other students. In a confession to police that was leaked to media outlets, one of the students accused of being part of the mob said he had long accused Mr Khan and two of his friends of \"anti-Islamic views\". The suspect describes being called to a meeting on the morning of the attack to discuss Mr Khan's alleged blasphemy with other students and lecturers. One of Mashal Khan's friends was also present at the meeting and was also accused of blasphemy. In a statement to police he described reciting an Islamic statement of faith in front of his accusers, who then tried to force him to state that Mr Khan had committed blasphemy, but he refused. Lecturer Ziaullah Hamdard told private Pakistani TV channel Geo News he tried to warn Mashal Khan the mob was looking for him. But they broke into his hostel and found him in his room. Mobile phone videos show Mr Khan being beaten and stamped on. According to the post mortem he was also shot. One purported eyewitness wrote on Facebook that Mr Khan protested his innocence until his death and begged to be taken to hospital. The hostel warden told the BBC how he tried to rescue Mr Khan by picking him up after he was shot to carry him to safety. But the mob grabbed hold and continued beating him, long after he was clearly dead. A witness told the BBC the mob tried to burn his body, but police managed to retrieve it. Over 20 people have been arrested, including a number of university employees. Leading figures of local branches of student political parties have also been linked to the mob attack. Police say they are also searching for a man identified as a local councillor for Imran Khan's PTI political party. He is seen in a video, as the mob celebrates the killing, saying anyone who reveals who shot Mashal Khan is a \"traitor\". Mashal Khan's friend has told police the university administration were \"deadly against Mashal Khan\" for openly criticising the running of the university in a recent TV interview. One suspect has suggested certain members of staff incited students against Marshal Khan. University officials say they did everything in their power to save him and they are co-operating fully with the police inquiry. Blasphemy is legally punishable by death in Pakistan. People have received the death penalty but so far the state has not executed anyone. A number of people accused of blasphemy have been murdered, however. There is often strong support for harsh punishment of blasphemers. After Mashal Khan's murder it was reported that a cleric in his village refused to lead his funeral prayers and urged others not to attend them. However, there has been widespread support for Mashal Khan amongst the wider Pakistani public. Many have posted pictures and quotes from Mashal Khan's social media pages in solidarity with him. A number of demonstrations calling for his killers to be punished have been held across the country. Ever since Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was murdered by one of his bodyguards for trying to reform blasphemy laws in 2011, politicians have been reluctant to take a firm stance on the issue. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waited two days before issuing a strongly worded statement saying he was \"shocked and saddened by the senseless display of mob justice\". Opposition politician Imran Khan was one of the first to condemn the murder and subsequently visited Mashal Khan's family to pay his condolences. On allegations that some of the attackers were affiliated to his party, he said those involved should be treated \"with iron hands\" regardless of political affiliation. \"The entire nation is united on one point that it was a murder and everyone wants the convicts to be punished severely,\" he said. Commentators, though, have pointed out that recently the government has been taking a hard-line position on blasphemy. Last month the prime minister called blasphemy \"an unpardonable sin\", while the Federal Investigation Agency took out newspaper adverts asking the public to inform them of anyone involved in blasphemous activities online. Leading columnist Cyril Almeida says the authorities have inflamed passions in recent weeks, writing \"the state itself has said there are blasphemers hiding among you, the people; find them!\". There has been a greater level of sympathy for Mashal Khan than for other victims accused of blasphemy partly because the police have made it clear there is no substance to the allegations against him. Politicians and clerics have both talked of the need to prevent false blasphemy allegations. Cleric Mufti Naeem from the influential Jamia Binoria madrassa told reporters \"blasphemy law is being misused in the country\". But there is less agreement on whether blasphemy laws should actually be changed. Much of the condemnation has revolved around the mob \"taking the law into their own hands\". Activist Jibran Nasir told the BBC \"so far rage has been directed towards calling for tough punishment of the offenders - not reform\". Since Mashal Khan's death, there has been another killing. On Thursday, police arrested three women in north-east Pakistan for killing a Shia man accused of blasphemy in 2004 by a hard-line conservative group. He had recently returned to Pakistan from overseas to fight the case. Mashal Khan's father told the BBC that he hoped for a strong government response, to ensure no other family experiences a similar tragedy.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 763, "answer_start": 328, "text": "Mashal Khan was a 25-year-old student of journalism at the Abdul Wali Khan University in the northern city of Mardan. He described himself on Facebook as a humanist and his social media postings reveal a young man interested in promoting women's rights and opposing racism. His room on the university campus was decorated with posters of Che Guevara and Karl Marx, as well as slogans such as \"Freedom is the right of every individual\"." } ], "id": "1014_0", "question": "Who was Mashal Khan?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1703, "answer_start": 764, "text": "On 13 April 2017 a mob of hundreds of students marched through the university campus chanting religious slogans as they searched for Mashal Khan. It is not clear what exactly triggered their accusations of blasphemy. A Reuters report quoted a caretaker at the hostel as saying the previous day Mr Khan had been involved in a heated debate on religion with other students. A friend of Mashal Khan's told the BBC that Mr Khan had previously been threatened and didn't feel able to express himself openly at university because of the hostile attitude towards him and his views from other students. In a confession to police that was leaked to media outlets, one of the students accused of being part of the mob said he had long accused Mr Khan and two of his friends of \"anti-Islamic views\". The suspect describes being called to a meeting on the morning of the attack to discuss Mr Khan's alleged blasphemy with other students and lecturers." } ], "id": "1014_1", "question": "Why was he killed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2715, "answer_start": 1704, "text": "One of Mashal Khan's friends was also present at the meeting and was also accused of blasphemy. In a statement to police he described reciting an Islamic statement of faith in front of his accusers, who then tried to force him to state that Mr Khan had committed blasphemy, but he refused. Lecturer Ziaullah Hamdard told private Pakistani TV channel Geo News he tried to warn Mashal Khan the mob was looking for him. But they broke into his hostel and found him in his room. Mobile phone videos show Mr Khan being beaten and stamped on. According to the post mortem he was also shot. One purported eyewitness wrote on Facebook that Mr Khan protested his innocence until his death and begged to be taken to hospital. The hostel warden told the BBC how he tried to rescue Mr Khan by picking him up after he was shot to carry him to safety. But the mob grabbed hold and continued beating him, long after he was clearly dead. A witness told the BBC the mob tried to burn his body, but police managed to retrieve it." } ], "id": "1014_2", "question": "What happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3534, "answer_start": 2716, "text": "Over 20 people have been arrested, including a number of university employees. Leading figures of local branches of student political parties have also been linked to the mob attack. Police say they are also searching for a man identified as a local councillor for Imran Khan's PTI political party. He is seen in a video, as the mob celebrates the killing, saying anyone who reveals who shot Mashal Khan is a \"traitor\". Mashal Khan's friend has told police the university administration were \"deadly against Mashal Khan\" for openly criticising the running of the university in a recent TV interview. One suspect has suggested certain members of staff incited students against Marshal Khan. University officials say they did everything in their power to save him and they are co-operating fully with the police inquiry." } ], "id": "1014_3", "question": "What has the investigation found?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4249, "answer_start": 3535, "text": "Blasphemy is legally punishable by death in Pakistan. People have received the death penalty but so far the state has not executed anyone. A number of people accused of blasphemy have been murdered, however. There is often strong support for harsh punishment of blasphemers. After Mashal Khan's murder it was reported that a cleric in his village refused to lead his funeral prayers and urged others not to attend them. However, there has been widespread support for Mashal Khan amongst the wider Pakistani public. Many have posted pictures and quotes from Mashal Khan's social media pages in solidarity with him. A number of demonstrations calling for his killers to be punished have been held across the country." } ], "id": "1014_4", "question": "How have the public reacted?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5585, "answer_start": 4250, "text": "Ever since Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was murdered by one of his bodyguards for trying to reform blasphemy laws in 2011, politicians have been reluctant to take a firm stance on the issue. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif waited two days before issuing a strongly worded statement saying he was \"shocked and saddened by the senseless display of mob justice\". Opposition politician Imran Khan was one of the first to condemn the murder and subsequently visited Mashal Khan's family to pay his condolences. On allegations that some of the attackers were affiliated to his party, he said those involved should be treated \"with iron hands\" regardless of political affiliation. \"The entire nation is united on one point that it was a murder and everyone wants the convicts to be punished severely,\" he said. Commentators, though, have pointed out that recently the government has been taking a hard-line position on blasphemy. Last month the prime minister called blasphemy \"an unpardonable sin\", while the Federal Investigation Agency took out newspaper adverts asking the public to inform them of anyone involved in blasphemous activities online. Leading columnist Cyril Almeida says the authorities have inflamed passions in recent weeks, writing \"the state itself has said there are blasphemers hiding among you, the people; find them!\"." } ], "id": "1014_5", "question": "What about the politicians?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6735, "answer_start": 5586, "text": "There has been a greater level of sympathy for Mashal Khan than for other victims accused of blasphemy partly because the police have made it clear there is no substance to the allegations against him. Politicians and clerics have both talked of the need to prevent false blasphemy allegations. Cleric Mufti Naeem from the influential Jamia Binoria madrassa told reporters \"blasphemy law is being misused in the country\". But there is less agreement on whether blasphemy laws should actually be changed. Much of the condemnation has revolved around the mob \"taking the law into their own hands\". Activist Jibran Nasir told the BBC \"so far rage has been directed towards calling for tough punishment of the offenders - not reform\". Since Mashal Khan's death, there has been another killing. On Thursday, police arrested three women in north-east Pakistan for killing a Shia man accused of blasphemy in 2004 by a hard-line conservative group. He had recently returned to Pakistan from overseas to fight the case. Mashal Khan's father told the BBC that he hoped for a strong government response, to ensure no other family experiences a similar tragedy." } ], "id": "1014_6", "question": "Could the case change blasphemy laws?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Trump has called leaks to the US media about the Manchester attack \"deeply troubling\" and has said he wants the justice department to investigate and potentially prosecute those involved. The identity of the Manchester suicide bomber and photos from the scene of the explosion were both published by the US media following leaks, causing frustration in the British government and security services. President Trump has complained several times in his first few months in office about \"criminal leaks\". Legal experts say much leaking of government information is not illegal. But prosecutions could be brought if information disclosed to the press or some other unauthorised person was protected by law. Leaks may be considered unlawful if the information is classified and disclosed without authorisation, or contains national security information that may be used to harm the US. The Espionage Act 1917 is the main basis in law for prosecuting the leaking of classified information. Other laws can be used as a basis for prosecuting individuals who retrieve information from a computer without authorisation, punishing the theft of government documents or preventing people revealing the identity of a spy. Typically, an investigation starts in an agency outside the Justice Department, such as the Central Intelligence Agency or National Security Agency (NSA), security expert Selina Maclaren wrote on the Lawfare blog. This referring agency fills out a form, known as \"11 questions\", which builds up a picture about the nature of the leak, where the information appeared, whether disclosure put the US at risk and how much of the leak was classified. After these preliminary inquiries, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would normally carry out the investigation proper. If the leak came from the Justice Department or one of its agencies such as the FBI itself, then the Inspector General, the Justice Department's independent watchdog, would handle the inquiry. Disciplinary action against a leaker may range from reprimands, loss of security clearance or sacking up to criminal prosecution and jail time. Mr Trump's criticism of leaking may be particularly vehement but US presidents have often complained about leaks in government, David Pozen, a professor at Columbia Law School, said in an interview with the Washington Post. Mr Pozen says it is not clear whether the president will succeed in reducing the leaks or even how seriously the punishment of leakers is being contemplated. Mr Trump may find that any genuine campaign against leaking could entail \"significant political and practical risks\", he says. In 2016, there were 37 reports of leaks received by the Justice Department, according to the Federation of American Scientists. This is about average, going back to 2009. But actual investigations are rare and prosecutions even rarer. According to the investigative journalism organisation ProPublica, there have been 11 prosecutions of leakers under the Espionage Act since 1971. Eight of these took place during the Obama administration. Notable cases include Daniel Ellsberg and Anthony Russo, two analysts at RAND Corporation, who were indicted under the Espionage Act for leaking information on the Vietnam War, later known as the Pentagon Papers. More recently, former NSA contractor Edward Snowden was charged with theft of government property and two counts of disclosing information under the Espionage Act. The recently released Chelsea Manning was convicted of multiple counts under the Espionage Act. Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1217, "answer_start": 409, "text": "President Trump has complained several times in his first few months in office about \"criminal leaks\". Legal experts say much leaking of government information is not illegal. But prosecutions could be brought if information disclosed to the press or some other unauthorised person was protected by law. Leaks may be considered unlawful if the information is classified and disclosed without authorisation, or contains national security information that may be used to harm the US. The Espionage Act 1917 is the main basis in law for prosecuting the leaking of classified information. Other laws can be used as a basis for prosecuting individuals who retrieve information from a computer without authorisation, punishing the theft of government documents or preventing people revealing the identity of a spy." } ], "id": "1015_0", "question": "What is the legal basis for stopping leaks?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1984, "answer_start": 1218, "text": "Typically, an investigation starts in an agency outside the Justice Department, such as the Central Intelligence Agency or National Security Agency (NSA), security expert Selina Maclaren wrote on the Lawfare blog. This referring agency fills out a form, known as \"11 questions\", which builds up a picture about the nature of the leak, where the information appeared, whether disclosure put the US at risk and how much of the leak was classified. After these preliminary inquiries, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) would normally carry out the investigation proper. If the leak came from the Justice Department or one of its agencies such as the FBI itself, then the Inspector General, the Justice Department's independent watchdog, would handle the inquiry." } ], "id": "1015_1", "question": "How does an investigation work?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2637, "answer_start": 1985, "text": "Disciplinary action against a leaker may range from reprimands, loss of security clearance or sacking up to criminal prosecution and jail time. Mr Trump's criticism of leaking may be particularly vehement but US presidents have often complained about leaks in government, David Pozen, a professor at Columbia Law School, said in an interview with the Washington Post. Mr Pozen says it is not clear whether the president will succeed in reducing the leaks or even how seriously the punishment of leakers is being contemplated. Mr Trump may find that any genuine campaign against leaking could entail \"significant political and practical risks\", he says." } ], "id": "1015_2", "question": "What about punishment?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Forty-eight people have been killed and 67 injured in a bomb explosion at an education centre in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, officials say. Police say a suicide bomber walked into the centre while teaching was under way and detonated his bomb belt. Many of those killed were teenagers who were getting extra tuition as they prepared for university entrance exams. In the northern province of Baghlan, an attack killed at least nine policemen and 35 soldiers, officials say. Taliban militants denied involvement in the Kabul attack, in a mostly Shia Muslim area. The Shia community in Afghanistan has been repeatedly targeted by Sunni Muslim extremists of the Islamic State group, which views the Shia practice of Islam as heretical. On the same day, the Taliban said it could no longer guarantee safe passage for Red Cross staff working in Afghanistan, amid a row over the treatment of Taliban prisoners in a jail in Kabul. The attack on the education centre took place at about 16:00 local time (11:30 GMT). \"We can confirm the attack was caused by a suicide bomber on foot. The bomber detonated himself inside the education centre,\" police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. \"Most of the boys at the educational centre have been killed,\" Sayed Ali, who witnessed the blast, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. \"It was horrific and many of the students were torn to pieces.\" Another man, who gave his name as Assadullah, told AFP news agency how he had run toward the blast scene to try and rescue his 17-year-old brother inside. \"He was a smart and energetic boy, top of his class,\" he said. \"Now... I am not sure he will survive.\" Afghanistan has seen a recent upsurge in militant violence, including a major Taliban assault on the eastern city of Ghazni. At least 100 members of the security forces were killed in the fighting at Ghazni, officials have said. The UN has warned that as many as 150 civilians may have also been killed. Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN's Special Representative for Afghanistan, made an appeal on Wednesday for violence to end. \"The extreme human suffering caused by the fighting in Ghazni highlights the urgent need for the war in Afghanistan to end,\" he said in a statement. BBC Pashto journalist Assadullah Jalalzai wrote his account of living three days there under siege before he was able to escape. After five days of fighting, Afghan security forces have now regained control of the city, with Taliban fighters pulling out.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2504, "answer_start": 926, "text": "The attack on the education centre took place at about 16:00 local time (11:30 GMT). \"We can confirm the attack was caused by a suicide bomber on foot. The bomber detonated himself inside the education centre,\" police spokesman Hashmat Stanikzai was quoted as saying by AFP news agency. \"Most of the boys at the educational centre have been killed,\" Sayed Ali, who witnessed the blast, was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency. \"It was horrific and many of the students were torn to pieces.\" Another man, who gave his name as Assadullah, told AFP news agency how he had run toward the blast scene to try and rescue his 17-year-old brother inside. \"He was a smart and energetic boy, top of his class,\" he said. \"Now... I am not sure he will survive.\" Afghanistan has seen a recent upsurge in militant violence, including a major Taliban assault on the eastern city of Ghazni. At least 100 members of the security forces were killed in the fighting at Ghazni, officials have said. The UN has warned that as many as 150 civilians may have also been killed. Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN's Special Representative for Afghanistan, made an appeal on Wednesday for violence to end. \"The extreme human suffering caused by the fighting in Ghazni highlights the urgent need for the war in Afghanistan to end,\" he said in a statement. BBC Pashto journalist Assadullah Jalalzai wrote his account of living three days there under siege before he was able to escape. After five days of fighting, Afghan security forces have now regained control of the city, with Taliban fighters pulling out." } ], "id": "1016_0", "question": "Who were the victims in Kabul?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has warned North Korea that he is considering a \"pretty severe\" response following the country's long-range missile test. \"They are behaving in a very, very dangerous manner and something will have to be done about it,\" he said. But he moderated his comments, saying: \"We'll just take a look at what happens over the coming weeks and months.\" Pyongyang tested an intercontinental ballistic missile with the potential to hit the US state of Alaska on Tuesday. Despite the ICBM's relatively short flight and eventual crash into the sea, the test has been labelled a sharp military escalation by the US. \"I have pretty severe things that we're thinking about,\" Mr Trump said of a possible US response. \"That doesn't mean that we'll do them.\" He said other nations should challenge Pyongyang's \"very, very bad behaviour\". Mr Trump was speaking in Warsaw, Poland, at a joint news conference with the Polish President Andrzej Duda. He is due to meet with other world leaders at the G20 summit in Germany on Friday. The president's comments follow those of US ambassador Nikki Haley, who told the United Nations Security Council that the US was willing to use its \"considerable military forces\" on North Korea \"if we must\". The US and South Korea have already stepped up military drills, firing missiles into the Sea of Japan in an apparent show of strength. Pyongyang, however, said it would not negotiate over its missile programme unless the US ended its \"hostile policy\" against North Korea. Tuesday's ICBM launch was in defiance of a ban by the UN Security Council, but China and Russia, which are both veto-wielding members of the council, opposed the use of military force. President Trump had already criticised China for its trade with North Korea, and is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit this week. South Korea's President Moon Jae-in has voiced concern that the North's nuclear and missile development is \"proceeding much faster than expected\". Speaking in Berlin on Wednesday, where he met German leader Angela Merkel, he said they would \"examine possibilities of ramping up sanctions\". At the UN Security Council meeting in New York, France's ambassador said it also favoured a new resolution on North Korea to tighten sanctions. Russia, which condemned the test, said the possibility of using military measures \"should be excluded\". China's ambassador Liu Jieyi echoed similar sentiments and said \"military means must not be an option\". He repeated China and Russia's proposal that North Korea should halt its missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for US and South Korean military exercises in the region being frozen. They also propose reversing plans to deploy a controversial anti-missile system in the South. The \"US strategy of strength\" combined with pressure and engagement \"will never work\", state news agency KCNA said. Unless the US stopped its \"hostile policy\", North Korea would \"never put the nuke and ballistic rocket on the negotiating table\". North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was earlier quoted as saying that Tuesday's launch was a \"gift\" to the Americans on their Independence Day, and that he had ordered officials to \"frequently send big and small 'gift packages' to the Yankees\". Pyongyang said the Hwasong-14 ICBM had reached an altitude of 2,802km (1,731 miles) and flown 933km for 39 minutes before hitting a target in the sea. North Korea, it said, was now \"a full-fledged nuclear power that has been possessed of the most powerful inter-continental ballistic rocket capable of hitting any part of the world\". But while experts agree that the test shows Pyongyang has a long-range projectile, many are sceptical that its missiles can successfully deliver nuclear warheads. - A long-range missile usually designed to carry a nuclear warhead - The minimum range is 5,500km (3,400 miles), although most fly about 10,000km or more - Pyongyang has previously displayed two types of ICBMs: the KN-08, with a range of 11,500km, and the KN-14, with a range of 10,000km, but before 4 July had not claimed to have flight tested an ICBM. It is not clear what differentiates the Hwasong-14 North Korea's missile programme in detail", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2776, "answer_start": 1854, "text": "South Korea's President Moon Jae-in has voiced concern that the North's nuclear and missile development is \"proceeding much faster than expected\". Speaking in Berlin on Wednesday, where he met German leader Angela Merkel, he said they would \"examine possibilities of ramping up sanctions\". At the UN Security Council meeting in New York, France's ambassador said it also favoured a new resolution on North Korea to tighten sanctions. Russia, which condemned the test, said the possibility of using military measures \"should be excluded\". China's ambassador Liu Jieyi echoed similar sentiments and said \"military means must not be an option\". He repeated China and Russia's proposal that North Korea should halt its missile and nuclear programmes in exchange for US and South Korean military exercises in the region being frozen. They also propose reversing plans to deploy a controversial anti-missile system in the South." } ], "id": "1017_0", "question": "Is the international community united on the issue?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3760, "answer_start": 2777, "text": "The \"US strategy of strength\" combined with pressure and engagement \"will never work\", state news agency KCNA said. Unless the US stopped its \"hostile policy\", North Korea would \"never put the nuke and ballistic rocket on the negotiating table\". North Korean leader Kim Jong-un was earlier quoted as saying that Tuesday's launch was a \"gift\" to the Americans on their Independence Day, and that he had ordered officials to \"frequently send big and small 'gift packages' to the Yankees\". Pyongyang said the Hwasong-14 ICBM had reached an altitude of 2,802km (1,731 miles) and flown 933km for 39 minutes before hitting a target in the sea. North Korea, it said, was now \"a full-fledged nuclear power that has been possessed of the most powerful inter-continental ballistic rocket capable of hitting any part of the world\". But while experts agree that the test shows Pyongyang has a long-range projectile, many are sceptical that its missiles can successfully deliver nuclear warheads." } ], "id": "1017_1", "question": "What does North Korea itself say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump says he will deliver a speech to Congress next week, despite calls from top Democrats for it to be postponed over security risks. Mr Trump insists the State of the Union will happen on 29 January since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi already invited him to address Congress this month. Mrs Pelosi said that was before the shutdown dragged into day 33. She shot back in a second letter that the lower chamber would not authorise the address before the shutdown ends. The president told reporters on Wednesday that Mrs Pelosi had cancelled the speech \"because she doesn't want to hear the truth\". \"She's afraid of the truth,\" Mr Trump said. \"She doesn't want the American public to see what's going on.\" Mr Trump earlier said that he was not surprised by Mrs Pelosi's response, and said the Democrats had \"become radicalised\". \"It really is a shame. This will go on for a while. Ultimately the American people will have their way because they want to see no crime, they want to see what we're doing.\" Democrats have argued that with so many federal employees furloughed - temporarily laid off - or working without pay, the high-profile State of the Union address, which involves both chambers of Congress and the president, would not be logistically feasible. But Mr Trump has denied that there were any security concerns posed by the ongoing partial shutdown. The Speaker, who is the third most powerful politician in the US, had invited Mr Trump at the start of January to address Congress on the agreed-upon date of 29 January. \"At that time, there was no thought that the government would still be shut down,\" Mrs Pelosi said in her letter on Wednesday. \"I am writing to inform you that the House of Representatives will not consider a concurrent resolution authorising the President's State of the Union address in the House Chamber until government has opened.\" \"Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened.\" Mrs Pelosi had first asked for the State of the Union, a keynote agenda-setting speech by the president, to be delayed on 16 January, citing an unfunded Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security. In retaliation, Mr Trump on Friday denied Mrs Pelosi use of military airplanes on a trip to Brussels and Afghanistan - less than an hour before her flight was due to depart. He asked her to stay to negotiate an end to the partial US government shutdown. On 23 January, Mr Trump dug his heels in over the annual address, telling Mrs Pelosi: \"It would be so very sad for our Country if the State of the Union were not delivered on time, on schedule, and very importantly, on location!\" He emphasised that Mrs Pelosi had already invited him to speak, he had accepted that invitation, and that security agencies informed him \"there would be absolutely no problem regarding security with respect to the event\". \"Therefore, I will be honouring your invitation, and fulfilling my Constitutional duty,\" he added. A row between the Republican president and Democrats over border security has led to the longest government shutdown in US history. Mr Trump is demanding $5.7bn (PS4.4bn) of congressional funding to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, but newly empowered Democrats have refused. Some 800,000 federal employees have been going unpaid since 22 December as a result of the shutdown. Donald Trump says he wants to deliver his State of the Union speech \"on time, on schedule and on location\". He can accomplish the first two without difficulty. The Constitution is silent on the how the president \"from time to time\" must communicate with Congress. The \"location\", however, could be tricky. As the president must know, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has near total control over her chamber of Congress. While she did invite the president to speak earlier this month, the legislative action to allow the president to give his joint address has yet to be implemented. Mrs Pelosi has said she's not budging until the government reopens - and in this particular case, her word is final. All this sets up a game of chicken over a speech within the game of chicken over the shutdown. Everything up to this point has been manoeuvring to gain tactical advantage and avoid the public's scorn. For the moment, polls show Americans holding the president responsible for the impasse. But the fallout from this unprecedented State of the Union drama, if it reaches a climax on Tuesday, is unpredictable, to say the least.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2478, "answer_start": 1380, "text": "The Speaker, who is the third most powerful politician in the US, had invited Mr Trump at the start of January to address Congress on the agreed-upon date of 29 January. \"At that time, there was no thought that the government would still be shut down,\" Mrs Pelosi said in her letter on Wednesday. \"I am writing to inform you that the House of Representatives will not consider a concurrent resolution authorising the President's State of the Union address in the House Chamber until government has opened.\" \"Again, I look forward to welcoming you to the House on a mutually agreeable date for this address when government has been opened.\" Mrs Pelosi had first asked for the State of the Union, a keynote agenda-setting speech by the president, to be delayed on 16 January, citing an unfunded Secret Service and Department of Homeland Security. In retaliation, Mr Trump on Friday denied Mrs Pelosi use of military airplanes on a trip to Brussels and Afghanistan - less than an hour before her flight was due to depart. He asked her to stay to negotiate an end to the partial US government shutdown." } ], "id": "1018_0", "question": "What has Pelosi said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3029, "answer_start": 2479, "text": "On 23 January, Mr Trump dug his heels in over the annual address, telling Mrs Pelosi: \"It would be so very sad for our Country if the State of the Union were not delivered on time, on schedule, and very importantly, on location!\" He emphasised that Mrs Pelosi had already invited him to speak, he had accepted that invitation, and that security agencies informed him \"there would be absolutely no problem regarding security with respect to the event\". \"Therefore, I will be honouring your invitation, and fulfilling my Constitutional duty,\" he added." } ], "id": "1018_1", "question": "What has Trump said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3411, "answer_start": 3030, "text": "A row between the Republican president and Democrats over border security has led to the longest government shutdown in US history. Mr Trump is demanding $5.7bn (PS4.4bn) of congressional funding to build a wall on the US-Mexico border, but newly empowered Democrats have refused. Some 800,000 federal employees have been going unpaid since 22 December as a result of the shutdown." } ], "id": "1018_2", "question": "Why is the US government partially shut down?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Almost 2,000 migrants have been bussed away from the \"Jungle\" in Calais as French authorities clear the camp. At least 7,000 people have been living there in squalid conditions. Migrants queued peacefully to be processed, but there are concerns some will refuse to go because they still want to get to the UK. Almost 200 children from the camp have been brought to the UK, some of them under the \"Dubs\" arrangement, according to UK Home Secretary Amber Rudd. The number includes 60 girls who were at high risk of sexual exploitation, she said. But the process of transferring some of the estimated 1,300 unaccompanied children from the camp was halted on Monday at the request of the French. The dismantling of the camp is expected to start on Tuesday. Long queues formed earlier outside reception centres in the camp as the French authorities worked to determine whether individual migrants were with family members or travelling alone, and whether they were deemed to be vulnerable. After processing, they boarded buses to different parts of France where they will be given the opportunity to claim asylum, or face deportation. Forty-five migrants, all young men from Afghanistan, are settling into the Miramar hotel, an empty holiday centre that looks out to sea. At the local pizzeria, residents have gathered to vent their discontent. They complain that the migrants will disturb the tranquillity of the resort. They are also worried that the young men will be unsupervised and break into homes that have been closed up for the winter. Less vocal are those who don't mind the arrival of the Afghan migrants, those who think it's only human to welcome those who have spent so many months in the squalor of Calais. For the migrants, it should be a short stay. They will be encouraged to claim asylum in France and then maybe move onto more permanent housing. But even here, several hundred kilometres from Calais, the allure of the UK is still strong. From the hotel you can clearly see the island of Jersey - British shores are still without reach. At least 40 of the 60 coaches planned to transport them have now left, according to BBC correspondents at the scene. In a statement (in French), French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said 2,318 migrants had been \"given shelter\" on Monday. He said 1,918 adults had been taken away on 45 buses to 80 reception centres. Four hundred minors were transferred to \"provisional reception centres\" within the camp, he added. The first step of the clearance had taken place in a \"calm and controlled manner\", he said. Some volunteers complained earlier that the migrants had not been given enough information about the plans and warned of a sense of confusion and chaos. About 7,500 beds are being made available in 450 centres across France. So far migrants have been taken to the regions of: - Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes - Bourgogne-Franche-Comte - Brittany - Pays de la Loire - Poitou-Charentes - Grand Est - Nouvelle Aquitaine Rue des Garennes links the Jungle camp to the new migrant processing centre, and is a street of suitcases and resignation. At 05:00, three hours before the clearance operation was due to start, groups of refugees and migrants began to form a queue. Since then, a mass exodus from the camp, and hundreds are now lining the road waiting for a coach to take them away. Towards the back of the queue is Adil from Sudan, carrying two bags, a football and a guitar. \"My dream is dead, the people you see here, they are broken. We can't believe it's over.\" Inside the camp, aid workers from Care for Calais are moving tent to tent, warning migrants that if they do not leave, they will be arrested. The police presence is large, with many huddled in riot vans, keeping out of the cold, and making the most of the calm. Children will be housed in the camp's converted shipping containers while the rest of the Jungle is dismantled. The \"Dubs amendment\" rules allow particularly vulnerable children - such as girls and those under 13 - refuge in the UK, even if they do not have family already in the country. The operation to clear the tents and shelters is expected to take three days. The French interior ministry said \"police might be forced to intervene\" if there was unrest during the demolition. There are reports that British activists from the No Borders group have travelled to the Jungle to try to disrupt the process. Violence has frequently broken out as migrants, mainly from Africa and the Middle East, attempt to board lorries bound for the UK and clash with drivers and police. Most believe there is a better prospect of finding work. Many want to claim asylum, although others want to enter incognito and remain as illegal workers. The language issue is also important - many speak English but do not have a European language. Some also have relatives in the UK and that is a big draw. Some are attracted by a belief that there is better housing and education available. Some commentators believe illegal migrants also perceive Britain as a \"soft touch\" for benefits and a better place to find \"black economy\" jobs, although studies do not necessarily back up this view. A UK-funded wall 1km (0.6 miles) long is being built along the main road to the port in an attempt to deter would-be stowaways. The UK government is reported to have contributed about PS1.9m (EUR2.2m) to the cost of the wall, which is due to be finished by the end of the year. Speaking to the BBC, the head of the organisation that runs the port of Calais, Jean-Marc Puissensseau, said business had declined due to attempts by migrants to board trucks. \"The port has been really suffering [for] more than one year, because each night there were some attacks, or [migrants] were throwing branches, trees, everything to try to slow down the traffic and then to get into the trucks,\" he said. What is the Jungle? - The Jungle camp is near the port of Calais and close to the 31-mile Channel Tunnel - Officially about 7,000 migrants live in the camp. The Help Refugees agency said the final population ahead of its demolition was 8,143 - The camp was halved in area earlier this year but the population continued to rise, and reports of violence have increased - Many migrants attempt to hide themselves in cargo vehicles entering the Channel Tunnel - The area has been hit by protests from both locals and truck operators Last year more than one million migrants - many fleeing the civil war in Syria - arrived in Europe. Countries struggled to cope and division arose in the EU over how best to deal with resettling people. An EU-Turkey pact to try to stop migrants crossing to Greece and moves by Balkan nations to close their borders have driven down the number of people using the so-called eastern Mediterranean route. However, migrants from African countries such as Eritrea and Somalia as well as West African nations such as Nigeria and the Gambia are continuing to attempt the crossing from Libya to Italy. A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5152, "answer_start": 4559, "text": "Most believe there is a better prospect of finding work. Many want to claim asylum, although others want to enter incognito and remain as illegal workers. The language issue is also important - many speak English but do not have a European language. Some also have relatives in the UK and that is a big draw. Some are attracted by a belief that there is better housing and education available. Some commentators believe illegal migrants also perceive Britain as a \"soft touch\" for benefits and a better place to find \"black economy\" jobs, although studies do not necessarily back up this view." } ], "id": "1019_0", "question": "Why do migrants want to come to the UK?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The special counsel investigating alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 US election will not be pursuing a jail sentence for former national security adviser Michael Flynn. Mr Flynn has admitted lying to the FBI. But in a memo, Robert Mueller said Mr Flynn had provided \"substantial\" details about links between the Trump election team and Russian officials. The heavily redacted memo hints at future revelations in a criminal probe that could trouble Donald Trump. President Trump has called the investigation a witch hunt and denies there was any collusion between his team and Russian officials to try to secure his election victory. The sentencing memo released on Tuesday advising that Mr Flynn should not be imprisoned could have further implications in the ongoing investigation, should other senior members of Mr Trump's team be called upon to co-operate with additional statements. Mr Flynn is due to be sentenced in the US District Court for the District of Columbia on 18 December. Mr Mueller's office released the memo as guidance to the judge who will sentence Mr Flynn, the only member of the Trump administration so far to plead guilty as a result of the collusion investigation. Mr Flynn has pleaded guilty to one count of making materially false statements to the FBI. He admitted that he discussed lifting US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to Washington before Mr Trump took office, and that he lied to the US vice-president about that conversation. It says Mr Flynn has been interviewed 19 times, providing assistance in multiple investigations. This included giving information on co-ordination between the Russian government and the Trump campaign. Consequently, it says: \"A sentence at the low end of the guideline range - including a sentence that does not impose a term of incarceration - is appropriate and warranted.\" It points to Mr Flynn's \"exemplary\" military and public service and that he \"deserves credit for accepting responsibility in a timely fashion and substantially assisting the government\". It had been thought details of Russian collusion might be included in the memo but the document says that, due to the \"sensitive information about ongoing investigations\", certain aspects have been sealed. An addendum to the memo on Mr Flynn's assistance is heavily redacted. But it does say Mr Flynn provided \"first-hand information about the content and context of interactions between the transition team and Russian government officials\" - clearly part of the ongoing investigation. And then there is this intriguing element. In one section there is the simple sentence \"the defendant has provided substantial assistance in a criminal investigation\" but everything below it is blacked out. Analysis by BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher Michael Flynn may end up not spending a day in prison for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials during the Trump presidential transition. Part of the reason is because of his clean record prior to this offence. The other part could cause Donald Trump and those close to him sleepless nights in the days ahead. In an addendum to the sentencing memo, Robert Mueller details the help Mr Flynn provided to his investigation in exchange for a lenient sentence. Some of it is old news. The former national security advisor told Mr Mueller \"first-hand\" about his communications with Russians after Mr Trump's election - and similar communications by others in the transition team. Buried beneath thick black lines below this \"useful information\" is an entire section on further help Mr Flynn provided to Mr Mueller's collusion investigation. Even the subhead appears to be redacted. Then there's a mysterious \"criminal investigation\" to which Mr Flynn provided \"substantial assistance\". That portion of the memo, without a few introductory words, is entirely redacted. Who is being investigated? And what type of criminal wrongdoing is suspected? The Flynn document raises as many questions as it answers - and points toward explosive revelations to come. He had been a fervent supporter of Mr Trump during the election campaign and was appointed Mr Trump's national security adviser even though former President Barack Obama had warned against the appointment. It was a short tenure, ending in February 2017 after just 23 days, his departure forced by the revelation he had lied to Vice-President Mike Pence about the discussion with then-Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak. Further allegations then arose over a failure to disclose payments from Russian and Turkish lobbyists that he was given for speeches and consulting work. The retired US Army three-star lieutenant-general had earlier led the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) but was fired, on the surface for comments about Islamist extremism, although insiders also pointed to his unpopular overhaul of the agency. Yes, although not on charges related to collusion with Russia. Mr Trump's former deputy campaign manager, Rick Gates, has admitted conspiracy and lying to investigators. Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been convicted for fraud, bank fraud and failing to disclose bank accounts. He has a plea bargain deal but has been accused of breaching it by lying to the FBI. Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen has admitted he lied about a Trump property deal in Russia during the 2016 election.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1484, "answer_start": 993, "text": "Mr Mueller's office released the memo as guidance to the judge who will sentence Mr Flynn, the only member of the Trump administration so far to plead guilty as a result of the collusion investigation. Mr Flynn has pleaded guilty to one count of making materially false statements to the FBI. He admitted that he discussed lifting US sanctions on Russia with the Russian ambassador to Washington before Mr Trump took office, and that he lied to the US vice-president about that conversation." } ], "id": "1020_0", "question": "Why has the memo been released?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2741, "answer_start": 1485, "text": "It says Mr Flynn has been interviewed 19 times, providing assistance in multiple investigations. This included giving information on co-ordination between the Russian government and the Trump campaign. Consequently, it says: \"A sentence at the low end of the guideline range - including a sentence that does not impose a term of incarceration - is appropriate and warranted.\" It points to Mr Flynn's \"exemplary\" military and public service and that he \"deserves credit for accepting responsibility in a timely fashion and substantially assisting the government\". It had been thought details of Russian collusion might be included in the memo but the document says that, due to the \"sensitive information about ongoing investigations\", certain aspects have been sealed. An addendum to the memo on Mr Flynn's assistance is heavily redacted. But it does say Mr Flynn provided \"first-hand information about the content and context of interactions between the transition team and Russian government officials\" - clearly part of the ongoing investigation. And then there is this intriguing element. In one section there is the simple sentence \"the defendant has provided substantial assistance in a criminal investigation\" but everything below it is blacked out." } ], "id": "1020_1", "question": "What is in the memo?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4066, "answer_start": 2742, "text": "Analysis by BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher Michael Flynn may end up not spending a day in prison for lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russian officials during the Trump presidential transition. Part of the reason is because of his clean record prior to this offence. The other part could cause Donald Trump and those close to him sleepless nights in the days ahead. In an addendum to the sentencing memo, Robert Mueller details the help Mr Flynn provided to his investigation in exchange for a lenient sentence. Some of it is old news. The former national security advisor told Mr Mueller \"first-hand\" about his communications with Russians after Mr Trump's election - and similar communications by others in the transition team. Buried beneath thick black lines below this \"useful information\" is an entire section on further help Mr Flynn provided to Mr Mueller's collusion investigation. Even the subhead appears to be redacted. Then there's a mysterious \"criminal investigation\" to which Mr Flynn provided \"substantial assistance\". That portion of the memo, without a few introductory words, is entirely redacted. Who is being investigated? And what type of criminal wrongdoing is suspected? The Flynn document raises as many questions as it answers - and points toward explosive revelations to come." } ], "id": "1020_2", "question": "So what's under the thick, black redacted lines?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4884, "answer_start": 4067, "text": "He had been a fervent supporter of Mr Trump during the election campaign and was appointed Mr Trump's national security adviser even though former President Barack Obama had warned against the appointment. It was a short tenure, ending in February 2017 after just 23 days, his departure forced by the revelation he had lied to Vice-President Mike Pence about the discussion with then-Russian ambassador Sergei Kislyak. Further allegations then arose over a failure to disclose payments from Russian and Turkish lobbyists that he was given for speeches and consulting work. The retired US Army three-star lieutenant-general had earlier led the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) but was fired, on the surface for comments about Islamist extremism, although insiders also pointed to his unpopular overhaul of the agency." } ], "id": "1020_3", "question": "Who is Michael Flynn?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5373, "answer_start": 4885, "text": "Yes, although not on charges related to collusion with Russia. Mr Trump's former deputy campaign manager, Rick Gates, has admitted conspiracy and lying to investigators. Former campaign chairman Paul Manafort has been convicted for fraud, bank fraud and failing to disclose bank accounts. He has a plea bargain deal but has been accused of breaching it by lying to the FBI. Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen has admitted he lied about a Trump property deal in Russia during the 2016 election." } ], "id": "1020_4", "question": "Have others pleaded guilty in the Mueller probe?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Osama Bin Laden's personal diary, video of his son Hamza's wedding and documentaries about himself were among files found on the al-Qaeda leader's computer, the CIA has revealed. Nearly half a million of the files have been released, the fourth such tranche. Bin Laden's computer was taken during the 2011 US raid in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad in which he died. Some contents are being withheld over security or because they are corrupted or pornographic, the CIA said. CIA director Mike Pompeo said the release included 18,000 documents, 79,000 audio files and images and more than 10,000 videos which shed light on the \"plans and workings of this terrorist organisation\". The videos include a clip from the wedding of his son Hamza - thought to be his favourite son. Hamza has been mooted as a future al-Qaeda leader. Analysis of objects shown in the video suggest it was filmed in Iran. Previously only childhood videos of Hamza had been publicly seen. Bin Laden himself is not seen in the video but one of the wedding attendees says that the \"father of the groom, the prince of the mujahideen\" is joyous at his son's marriage and his joy will \"spread to all the mujahideen\", AP said. Other senior al-Qaeda figures can also be seen in the footage, according to analysts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) who have been studying the newly released files. The militants include Mohammed Islambouli, the brother of the man who killed Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat in 1981, the FDD says. In recent years al-Qaeda has released audio messages from Hamza Bin Laden threatening the US, calling for the Saudi government to be overthrown and encouraging jihadist action in Syria. An image of him as a boy was superimposed onto a picture of the New York World Trade Center on the recent anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. The al-Qaeda leader had a series of animated films on his hard drive including Antz, Cars, Chicken Little and The Three Musketeers. There were also several YouTube videos, including a viral clip from the UK called \"Charlie bit my finger\" and videos about crocheting, including one entitled \"How to crochet a flower\". The role-playing computer game Final Fantasy VII was also on the computer. Bin Laden also had copies of three documentaries about him, including one called Where in the World is Osama bin Laden, as well as National Geographic documentaries including Kung Fu Killers, Inside the Green Berets and World's Worst Venom, AP reported. The al-Qaeda leader lived in the walled compound with several members of his family. Three other men - one of Bin Laden's sons and two couriers - and a woman were also killed in the raid. The 228 pages of Bin Laden's handwritten notes cover an array of topics, including the 2011 Arab uprisings, which Bin Laden did not see coming, the FDD says. The documents also show that Bin Laden was still in charge of al-Qaeda up until his death and was in regular communication with subordinates around the world. He spent time trying to understand US strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq and had parts of the investigative journalist Bob Woodward's book Obama's Wars translated for him. Another document written by a senior militant examines al-Qaeda's relationship with Iran, according to the FDD analysts, saying that despite disagreements their \"interests intersect\", particularly because they are both \"enemies of America\". Last year the US state department said Iran had since at least 2009 enabled al-Qaeda to move funds and fighters through the country to South Asia and Syria. The CIA said the released documents also gave an insight into ideological differences between Bin Laden's al-Qaeda and the more recently formed so-called Islamic State (IS) group, as well as disagreements within al-Qaeda itself over tactics.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1833, "answer_start": 680, "text": "The videos include a clip from the wedding of his son Hamza - thought to be his favourite son. Hamza has been mooted as a future al-Qaeda leader. Analysis of objects shown in the video suggest it was filmed in Iran. Previously only childhood videos of Hamza had been publicly seen. Bin Laden himself is not seen in the video but one of the wedding attendees says that the \"father of the groom, the prince of the mujahideen\" is joyous at his son's marriage and his joy will \"spread to all the mujahideen\", AP said. Other senior al-Qaeda figures can also be seen in the footage, according to analysts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) who have been studying the newly released files. The militants include Mohammed Islambouli, the brother of the man who killed Egyptian leader Anwar Sadat in 1981, the FDD says. In recent years al-Qaeda has released audio messages from Hamza Bin Laden threatening the US, calling for the Saudi government to be overthrown and encouraging jihadist action in Syria. An image of him as a boy was superimposed onto a picture of the New York World Trade Center on the recent anniversary of the 9/11 attacks." } ], "id": "1021_0", "question": "What do we learn about Bin Laden's son Hamza?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2667, "answer_start": 1834, "text": "The al-Qaeda leader had a series of animated films on his hard drive including Antz, Cars, Chicken Little and The Three Musketeers. There were also several YouTube videos, including a viral clip from the UK called \"Charlie bit my finger\" and videos about crocheting, including one entitled \"How to crochet a flower\". The role-playing computer game Final Fantasy VII was also on the computer. Bin Laden also had copies of three documentaries about him, including one called Where in the World is Osama bin Laden, as well as National Geographic documentaries including Kung Fu Killers, Inside the Green Berets and World's Worst Venom, AP reported. The al-Qaeda leader lived in the walled compound with several members of his family. Three other men - one of Bin Laden's sons and two couriers - and a woman were also killed in the raid." } ], "id": "1021_1", "question": "What was in Bin Laden's video collection?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3794, "answer_start": 2668, "text": "The 228 pages of Bin Laden's handwritten notes cover an array of topics, including the 2011 Arab uprisings, which Bin Laden did not see coming, the FDD says. The documents also show that Bin Laden was still in charge of al-Qaeda up until his death and was in regular communication with subordinates around the world. He spent time trying to understand US strategy in Afghanistan and Iraq and had parts of the investigative journalist Bob Woodward's book Obama's Wars translated for him. Another document written by a senior militant examines al-Qaeda's relationship with Iran, according to the FDD analysts, saying that despite disagreements their \"interests intersect\", particularly because they are both \"enemies of America\". Last year the US state department said Iran had since at least 2009 enabled al-Qaeda to move funds and fighters through the country to South Asia and Syria. The CIA said the released documents also gave an insight into ideological differences between Bin Laden's al-Qaeda and the more recently formed so-called Islamic State (IS) group, as well as disagreements within al-Qaeda itself over tactics." } ], "id": "1021_2", "question": "What do the other documents show?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The leaders of 57 Muslim nations have called on the world to recognise \"the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital\". An Organisation of Islamic Co-operation communique declares US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise the city as Israel's capital as \"null and void\". It also says the move has signalled Washington's withdrawal from its role in the Middle East peace process. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas earlier said the UN should take over. In a speech to the OIC summit in Istanbul, Mr Abbas said it would be \"unacceptable\" for the US to be the mediator \"since it is biased in favour of Israel\". The Palestinians had engaged with the Trump administration in an attempt to agree \"the deal of the century\", he noted, but had instead \"got the slap of the century\". The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of Israel's conflict with the Palestinians. The city is home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem. Israel occupied the sector, previously occupied by Jordan, in the 1967 Middle East war and regards the entire city as its indivisible capital. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and its final status is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and all countries currently maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv. However, President Trump has announced that the US will eventually move its embassy. The communique issued by OIC member states says they reject the unilateral decision by the US to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital as \"null and void legally\" and consider it an \"attack\" on the rights of the Palestinian people. They accuse the US of \"deliberately undermining\" peace efforts and warn that it has given \"impetus to extremism and terrorism\". They say Washington will be held \"fully liable for all the consequences of not retracting from this illegal decision\" and that it has effectively announced its \"withdrawal from its role as sponsor\" of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. They then invite all countries to \"recognise the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital\" and ask the UN to assume its responsibilities and reaffirm the city's legal position. The BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul says that after street protests and widespread condemnation of Mr Trump's declaration, this was an attempt by Muslim leaders to harden their response. The meeting was convened by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strident critic of the US move, who vowed to \"stand up to American bullying\" and called Israel \"a state of terror\". But, our correspondent says, some Muslim leaders are more pro-Trump than others; Saudi Arabia and Egypt only sent ministers to this meeting, possibly to keep the US on board. So, he adds, there was a semblance of unity at the OIC summit and tough talk, but little sign that Donald Trump was listening. The White House said Mr Abbas's comments were of the kind of rhetoric that \"has prevented peace for years\". An unnamed official said: \"We anticipated reactions like this. We will remain hard at work putting together our plan, which will benefit the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.\" Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was \"not impressed\" by the OIC's statement. \"The Palestinians would do better by recognising reality and acting in favour of peace and not extremism,\" he said. \"In the end the truth will win out and many countries will recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move their embassies there.\" He previously said there was \"no substitute\" for the US' role in the peace process.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1528, "answer_start": 803, "text": "The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of Israel's conflict with the Palestinians. The city is home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem. Israel occupied the sector, previously occupied by Jordan, in the 1967 Middle East war and regards the entire city as its indivisible capital. The Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state, and its final status is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and all countries currently maintain their embassies in Tel Aviv. However, President Trump has announced that the US will eventually move its embassy." } ], "id": "1022_0", "question": "What is so contentious about Jerusalem's status?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2327, "answer_start": 1529, "text": "The communique issued by OIC member states says they reject the unilateral decision by the US to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital as \"null and void legally\" and consider it an \"attack\" on the rights of the Palestinian people. They accuse the US of \"deliberately undermining\" peace efforts and warn that it has given \"impetus to extremism and terrorism\". They say Washington will be held \"fully liable for all the consequences of not retracting from this illegal decision\" and that it has effectively announced its \"withdrawal from its role as sponsor\" of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. They then invite all countries to \"recognise the State of Palestine and East Jerusalem as its occupied capital\" and ask the UN to assume its responsibilities and reaffirm the city's legal position." } ], "id": "1022_1", "question": "What do the Muslim leaders say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3000, "answer_start": 2328, "text": "The BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul says that after street protests and widespread condemnation of Mr Trump's declaration, this was an attempt by Muslim leaders to harden their response. The meeting was convened by Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a strident critic of the US move, who vowed to \"stand up to American bullying\" and called Israel \"a state of terror\". But, our correspondent says, some Muslim leaders are more pro-Trump than others; Saudi Arabia and Egypt only sent ministers to this meeting, possibly to keep the US on board. So, he adds, there was a semblance of unity at the OIC summit and tough talk, but little sign that Donald Trump was listening." } ], "id": "1022_2", "question": "Will it make any difference?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3710, "answer_start": 3001, "text": "The White House said Mr Abbas's comments were of the kind of rhetoric that \"has prevented peace for years\". An unnamed official said: \"We anticipated reactions like this. We will remain hard at work putting together our plan, which will benefit the Israeli and Palestinian peoples.\" Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was \"not impressed\" by the OIC's statement. \"The Palestinians would do better by recognising reality and acting in favour of peace and not extremism,\" he said. \"In the end the truth will win out and many countries will recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move their embassies there.\" He previously said there was \"no substitute\" for the US' role in the peace process." } ], "id": "1022_3", "question": "What do the US and Israel say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Prominent Philippine journalist Maria Ressa has been re-arrested at Manila airport, allegedly for violating laws barring foreign ownership of media. Ms Ressa, the founder of news site Rappler, was granted bail after paying P90,000 ($1700; PS1300). It comes weeks after she was arrested over an alleged internet libel case. Press freedom advocates say the veteran reporter is being targeted by President Rodrigo Duterte because of Rappler's critical reporting on the government. Eleven legal cases have been filed against the outlet since January 2018. Ms Ressa, who was named one of Time Magazine's People of the Year in 2018, spoke to reporters as she was arrested. \"Obviously this is yet another abuse of my rights. I am being treated like a criminal when my only crime is to be an independent journalist,\" she said. After her previous arrest on 13 February she spent a night in jail before being released on bail. Ms Ressa was arrested moments after stepping off a plane from San Francisco, ABS-CBN, reported. Before arriving, apparently aware that she might be met by police officers, she tweeted: \"Landing in a short while to face my latest arrest warrant and the 7th time I will post bail.\" She then posted a series of tweets following her arrest, including a photograph from inside the police car. Later she tweeted again, writing: \"Am posting bail for 7th time! For being a journalist.\" The government accuses Ms Ressa, who has both Philippine and American nationality, of having violated foreign ownership rules and committed securities fraud. According to Philippine law, media organisations must be completely Filipino-owned. Rappler has denied government allegations that the website is being controlled by an organisation outside of the Phillipines, and press freedom organisations say the charges are designed to intimidate independent journalists. Human Rights Watch said: \"The court case is unprecedented and speaks volumes of the Duterte administration's determination to shut the website down for its credible and consistent reporting on the government.\" In February, Ms Ressa was accused of \"cyber-libel\" over a report on a businessman's alleged ties to a former judge. Two months earlier she had posted bail on tax fraud charges, which she described as \"manufactured\". If convicted of one count of tax fraud, she could serve up to a decade in prison. The cyber-libel charge carries a maximum sentence of 12 years. The repeated arrests of Ms Ressa have drawn international condemnation and raised concerns about worsening press freedom in the country. Rappler has reported extensively on President Deterte's hardline war on drugs, in which police say around 5,000 people have been killed over the past three years. In December, the website reported on Mr Duterte's public admission that he had sexually assaulted a maid. President Rodrigo Duterte has previously denied charges against Ms Ressa are politically motivated, describing the website as \"fake news\". Since 1986, 176 journalists have been killed in the Philippines, making it one of the most dangerous in the world for reporters. In 2016, the president was criticised for saying some of those journalists deserved to die. Rappler was founded in 2012 by Ms Ressa and three other journalists and has gone on to become known in the Philippines for its hard-hitting investigations. It is also one of the few media organisations in the country that is openly critical of President Duterte, regularly interrogating the accuracy of his public statements and criticising his sometimes deadly policies. The president has banned its reporters from covering his official activities and last year the state revoked the site's licence. Ms Ressa is a veteran Philippine journalist who, before founding Rappler, spent most of her career with CNN - first as the bureau chief in Manila, and then in Jakarta. She was also the US broadcaster's lead investigative reporter on terrorism in Southeast Asia.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3963, "answer_start": 3201, "text": "Rappler was founded in 2012 by Ms Ressa and three other journalists and has gone on to become known in the Philippines for its hard-hitting investigations. It is also one of the few media organisations in the country that is openly critical of President Duterte, regularly interrogating the accuracy of his public statements and criticising his sometimes deadly policies. The president has banned its reporters from covering his official activities and last year the state revoked the site's licence. Ms Ressa is a veteran Philippine journalist who, before founding Rappler, spent most of her career with CNN - first as the bureau chief in Manila, and then in Jakarta. She was also the US broadcaster's lead investigative reporter on terrorism in Southeast Asia." } ], "id": "1023_0", "question": "What is Rappler?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US justice department is to set increase pressure on judges in an attempt to speed up the processing of immigration cases, US media report. Judges will need to clear at least 700 cases a year in order to receive a \"satisfactory\" performance rating. But critics warn the plan could see hearings rushed and compromised, with an estimated 600,000 currently waiting to have their immigration cases heard. President Trump has demanded \"tough\" new legislation in recent days. He has posted several tweets pressing lawmakers to \"act now\". Administration officials say they are working on a new legislative package to close \"loopholes\" in current US immigration law, and may use the so-called \"nuclear option\" to push it through Congress with a smaller majority if necessary, the Associated Press reports. US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been working on new policies to help clear the backlog of pending cases in immigration courts. In its guidelines, the justice department said that setting an annual minimum on the number cases processed will ensure that hearings are completed in a \"timely, efficient and effective manner\". Department spokesman Devin O'Malley said judges completed an average of 678 cases a year, but some judges completed more than 1,000 cases, the Washington Post reports. But the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) told the Post that the system could lead to legal challenges. \"It could call into question the integrity and impartiality of the court if a judge's decision is influenced by factors outside the facts of the case, or if motions are denied out of a judge's concern about keeping his or her job,\" NAIJ President Ashley Tabaddor said. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) told the Daily Beast website that judges should not be put under undue pressure to clear the backlog of cases. \"We're very concerned that cases will be rushed through the system and due process will be circumvented with these new quotas,\" AILA Senior Policy Counsel Laura Lynch said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2022, "answer_start": 802, "text": "US Attorney General Jeff Sessions has been working on new policies to help clear the backlog of pending cases in immigration courts. In its guidelines, the justice department said that setting an annual minimum on the number cases processed will ensure that hearings are completed in a \"timely, efficient and effective manner\". Department spokesman Devin O'Malley said judges completed an average of 678 cases a year, but some judges completed more than 1,000 cases, the Washington Post reports. But the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ) told the Post that the system could lead to legal challenges. \"It could call into question the integrity and impartiality of the court if a judge's decision is influenced by factors outside the facts of the case, or if motions are denied out of a judge's concern about keeping his or her job,\" NAIJ President Ashley Tabaddor said. The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) told the Daily Beast website that judges should not be put under undue pressure to clear the backlog of cases. \"We're very concerned that cases will be rushed through the system and due process will be circumvented with these new quotas,\" AILA Senior Policy Counsel Laura Lynch said." } ], "id": "1024_0", "question": "What are the changes?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A complete Bronze Age wheel believed to be the largest and earliest of its kind found in the UK has been unearthed. The 3,000-year-old artefact was found at a site dubbed \"Britain's Pompeii\", at Must Farm in Cambridgeshire. Archaeologists have described the find - made close to the country's \"best-preserved Bronze Age dwellings\" - as \"unprecedented\". Still containing its hub, the 3ft-diameter (one metre) wooden wheel dates from about 1,100 to 800 BC. The wheel was found close to the largest of one of the roundhouses found at the settlement last month. Its discovery \"demonstrates the inhabitants of this watery landscape's links to the dry land beyond the river\", David Gibson from Cambridge Archaeological Unit, which is leading the excavation, said. Historic England, which is jointly funding the PS1.1m excavation with landowner Forterra, described the find as \"unprecedented in terms of size and completeness\". \"This remarkable but fragile wooden wheel is the earliest complete example ever found in Britain,\" chief executive Duncan Wilson said. \"The existence of this wheel expands our understanding of Late Bronze Age technology, and the level of sophistication of the lives of people living on the edge of the Fens 3,000 years ago.\" The dig site, at Must Farm quarry near Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire has been described as \"unique\" by Mr Gibson. It has proved to be a treasure trove for archaeologists who earlier this year uncovered two or possibly three roundhouses dating from about 1,000-800 BC. The timbers had been preserved in silt after falling into a river during a fire. Kasia Gdaniec, senior archaeologist at the county council, said the \"fabulous artefacts\" found at the site continued to \"amaze and astonish\". \"This wheel poses a challenge to our understanding of both Late Bronze Age technological skill and - together with the eight boats recovered from the same river in 2011 - transportation,\" she said. The spine of what is thought to be a horse, found in early January, could suggest the wheel belonged to a horse-drawn cart, however, it is too early to know how the wheel was used, archaeologist Chris Wakefield said. While the Must Farm wheel is the most complete, it is not the oldest to be discovered in the area. An excavation at a Bronze Age site at Flag Fen near Peterborough uncovered a smaller, partial wheel dating to about 1,300 BC. The wheel was thought to have been part of a cart that could have carried up to two people. The Must Farm quarry site has given up a number of its hidden treasures over the years including a dagger found in 1969 and bowls still containing remnants of food, found in 2006. More recently the roundhouses, built on stilts, were discovered. A fire destroyed the posts, causing the houses to fall into a river where silt helped preserve the timbers and contents. \"We're here in the middle of the Fens, a very wet environment, so the biggest question we've got to answer at the moment is 'Why on earth is there a wheel in the middle of this really wet river channel?',\" says archaeologist Chris Wakefield. \"The houses are built over a river and within those deposits is sitting a wheel - which is pretty much the archetype of what you'd expect to have on dry land - so it's very, very unusual.\" An articulated animal spine found nearby - at first thought to be from a cow - is now believed to be that of a horse. \"[This] has pretty strong ties if they were using something like a cart. \"In the Bronze Age horses are quite uncommon. It's not until the later period of the Middle Iron Age that they become more widespread, so aside from this very exciting discovery of the wheel, we've also got potentially other related aspects that are giving us even more questions. \"This site is giving us lots of answers but at the same time it's throwing up questions we never thought we'd have to consider.\" Analysing the data from samples found at Must Farm could take the team several years, he added. Other artefacts found inside the roundhouses themselves - including a small wooden box, platter, an intact \"fineware\" pot and clusters of animal and fish bones that could have been kitchen waste - have been described as \"amazing\" by archaeologists. The team is just over halfway through the eight-month dig to uncover the secrets of the site and the people who lived there.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3959, "answer_start": 2832, "text": "\"We're here in the middle of the Fens, a very wet environment, so the biggest question we've got to answer at the moment is 'Why on earth is there a wheel in the middle of this really wet river channel?',\" says archaeologist Chris Wakefield. \"The houses are built over a river and within those deposits is sitting a wheel - which is pretty much the archetype of what you'd expect to have on dry land - so it's very, very unusual.\" An articulated animal spine found nearby - at first thought to be from a cow - is now believed to be that of a horse. \"[This] has pretty strong ties if they were using something like a cart. \"In the Bronze Age horses are quite uncommon. It's not until the later period of the Middle Iron Age that they become more widespread, so aside from this very exciting discovery of the wheel, we've also got potentially other related aspects that are giving us even more questions. \"This site is giving us lots of answers but at the same time it's throwing up questions we never thought we'd have to consider.\" Analysing the data from samples found at Must Farm could take the team several years, he added." } ], "id": "1025_0", "question": "What does the wheel tell us?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "With less than two months to go, Americans are eagerly awaiting news not only of President-elect Donald Trump's new cabinet, but also of his inauguration day plans. Prayers, poetry and music, all common elements of inaugural ceremonies, are organised by a bipartisan congressional committee. Presidents-elect also choose their own committee to plan subsequent festivities including a parade and a ball, often accompanied by music. Songs featured on the day can include performances by formal choirs, military bands, pop stars or classical artists. In previous years, President Barack Obama's ceremonies have included renditions from the likes of Aretha Franklin, Beyonce, James Taylor and Kelly Clarkson. Mr Obama, renowned for his love of music, even released an inauguration day playlist on Spotify for fans of his 20 January music choice. Mr Trump's top music picks are not as clear, although there is a Trump rally playlist also available on Spotify which could provide some clues. Only a week after the election, Mr Trump appointed his inauguration committee run by several affluent businessmen including the founder of a global investment firm, an NFL football team owner and a few casino tycoons. So with only a few more weeks to pull together the celebrations, who might the Mr Trump and his team choose to perform? More than a few celebrities have expressed their lack of enthusiasm for the new president. Elton John will definitely not be playing in Washington come January. Earlier this week, a member of Mr Trump's transition team told the BBC Elton John would be performing during the inauguration. But Elton John, who previously played a rally for the Clinton campaign, quickly responded with a \"categorical denial\" of the Trump team's suggestion. We can also safely rule out Green Day. Performing at the American Music Awards on Sunday, the band chanted \"No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA\" while performing their song \"Bang, Bang\". Motley Crue singer Vince Neil is out. Neil had apparently been invited to sing months ago, but in an interview with TMZ last week the singer said he had been uninvited by the Republicans. \"I assumed that it didn't matter who won - it is still a big party. But I guess it's not- I guess there's more politics involved,\" he said. \"I don't know who's playing at Trump's party but God bless em.\" Donald Trump's own inaugural committee has not given many hints. But he does have several musician fans like Kid Rock. In an interview with Rolling Stone earlier this year he said the Trump campaign was \"entertaining\" and that as a businessman Mr Trump should run the country like a business. \"I'm digging Trump,\" he said. Kanye West might also have a shot. Although the rapper said he did not vote, he \"would've voted on Trump\". He said the debates were great and Mr Trump's \"approach was absolutely genius because it... worked\". Finally, if all else fails social media users have also had a few ideas.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2337, "answer_start": 1324, "text": "More than a few celebrities have expressed their lack of enthusiasm for the new president. Elton John will definitely not be playing in Washington come January. Earlier this week, a member of Mr Trump's transition team told the BBC Elton John would be performing during the inauguration. But Elton John, who previously played a rally for the Clinton campaign, quickly responded with a \"categorical denial\" of the Trump team's suggestion. We can also safely rule out Green Day. Performing at the American Music Awards on Sunday, the band chanted \"No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA\" while performing their song \"Bang, Bang\". Motley Crue singer Vince Neil is out. Neil had apparently been invited to sing months ago, but in an interview with TMZ last week the singer said he had been uninvited by the Republicans. \"I assumed that it didn't matter who won - it is still a big party. But I guess it's not- I guess there's more politics involved,\" he said. \"I don't know who's playing at Trump's party but God bless em.\"" } ], "id": "1026_0", "question": "Who's not in the running?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2941, "answer_start": 2338, "text": "Donald Trump's own inaugural committee has not given many hints. But he does have several musician fans like Kid Rock. In an interview with Rolling Stone earlier this year he said the Trump campaign was \"entertaining\" and that as a businessman Mr Trump should run the country like a business. \"I'm digging Trump,\" he said. Kanye West might also have a shot. Although the rapper said he did not vote, he \"would've voted on Trump\". He said the debates were great and Mr Trump's \"approach was absolutely genius because it... worked\". Finally, if all else fails social media users have also had a few ideas." } ], "id": "1026_1", "question": "Who could be in the running?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told his country's space scientists he was proud of a programme that had come so near to putting a probe on the Moon. Contact with Chandrayaan-2 was lost moments before its Vikram module was due to touch down at the lunar south pole. The fate of the craft is not yet known, but Mr Modi said there would be further opportunities. India would have been the fourth nation to make a soft landing on the Moon. \"The best is yet to come in our space programme. India is with you,\" said Mr Modi. The Chandrayaan-2 approached the Moon as normal until an error occurred about 2.1km (1.3 miles) from the surface, officials said. India's Space Research Organization (Isro) said it lost contact seconds before the ship was expected to land. The country's first Moon mission - Chandrayaan-1, in 2008 - carried out the first and most detailed search for water on the lunar surface using radars. Chandrayaan-2 entered the Moon's orbit on 20 August and was due to make a controlled descent to the surface early on Saturday, Indian time, over a month after it first took off. Staff at mission control were glued to the screens at Isro's Bangalore space centre as the spacecraft made its descent towards the surface. The control room burst into applause during the so-called rough breaking phase of the descent, with Prime Minister Modi watching the action from behind a glass screen. Isro chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan announced to staff that the ship's initial descent had been \"normal,\" and that the mission's data would be analysed. Mr Sivan had earlier described the final descent as \"15 minutes of terror\". Chandrayaan-2 (Moon vehicle 2) was the most complex mission ever attempted by India's space agency, Isro. \"It is the beginning of a historical journey,\" Isro chief K Sivan said after launch in July. The lander (named Vikram, after the founder of Isro) carried within its belly a 27kg Moon rover with instruments to analyse the lunar soil. The rover (called Pragyan - wisdom in Sanskrit) had the capacity to travel 500m from the lander in its 14-day life span, and would have sent data and images back to Earth for analysis. The mission would have focused on the lunar surface, searching for water and minerals and measuring moonquakes, among other things. A soft landing on another planetary body - a feat achieved by just three other countries so far - would have been a huge technological achievement for Isro and India's space ambitions, writes science writer Pallava Bagla. He adds that it would also have paved the way for future Indian missions to land on Mars, and opened up the possibility of India sending astronauts into space. For the first time in India's space history, the interplanetary expedition was led by two women - project director Muthaya Vanitha and mission director Ritu Karidhal. It is also a matter of national pride - the satellite's lift-off in July was broadcast live on TV and Isro's official social media accounts. The mission has also made global headlines because it's so cheap - the budget for Avengers: Endgame, for instance, was more than double at an estimated $356m. But this isn't the first time Isro has been hailed for its thrift. Its 2014 Mars mission cost $74m, a tenth of the budget for the American Maven orbiter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1629, "answer_start": 916, "text": "Chandrayaan-2 entered the Moon's orbit on 20 August and was due to make a controlled descent to the surface early on Saturday, Indian time, over a month after it first took off. Staff at mission control were glued to the screens at Isro's Bangalore space centre as the spacecraft made its descent towards the surface. The control room burst into applause during the so-called rough breaking phase of the descent, with Prime Minister Modi watching the action from behind a glass screen. Isro chairman Kailasavadivoo Sivan announced to staff that the ship's initial descent had been \"normal,\" and that the mission's data would be analysed. Mr Sivan had earlier described the final descent as \"15 minutes of terror\"." } ], "id": "1027_0", "question": "What happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2285, "answer_start": 1630, "text": "Chandrayaan-2 (Moon vehicle 2) was the most complex mission ever attempted by India's space agency, Isro. \"It is the beginning of a historical journey,\" Isro chief K Sivan said after launch in July. The lander (named Vikram, after the founder of Isro) carried within its belly a 27kg Moon rover with instruments to analyse the lunar soil. The rover (called Pragyan - wisdom in Sanskrit) had the capacity to travel 500m from the lander in its 14-day life span, and would have sent data and images back to Earth for analysis. The mission would have focused on the lunar surface, searching for water and minerals and measuring moonquakes, among other things." } ], "id": "1027_1", "question": "What was this mission all about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3288, "answer_start": 2286, "text": "A soft landing on another planetary body - a feat achieved by just three other countries so far - would have been a huge technological achievement for Isro and India's space ambitions, writes science writer Pallava Bagla. He adds that it would also have paved the way for future Indian missions to land on Mars, and opened up the possibility of India sending astronauts into space. For the first time in India's space history, the interplanetary expedition was led by two women - project director Muthaya Vanitha and mission director Ritu Karidhal. It is also a matter of national pride - the satellite's lift-off in July was broadcast live on TV and Isro's official social media accounts. The mission has also made global headlines because it's so cheap - the budget for Avengers: Endgame, for instance, was more than double at an estimated $356m. But this isn't the first time Isro has been hailed for its thrift. Its 2014 Mars mission cost $74m, a tenth of the budget for the American Maven orbiter." } ], "id": "1027_2", "question": "Why would it have been significant?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights have been illuminating the skies across the UK - from Orkney to Jersey. But what are they and why do they happen? It is, in fact, all down to our relationship with the Sun. A particularly large and fast eruption on the Sun's surface on 25 February meant the Aurora could be seen further south than usual a few days later. \"When the sun has a major geomagnetic event, the flux of particles is so high that they can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere at lower latitudes, which is why in England it is only after these storms that we can see the lights,\" says the University of Lancaster's Professor Mike Kosch. Maps from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center show how far the Northern Lights were expected to be seen overnight on Thursday. Aurora forecast for 27 February Image courtesy of NOAA But in fact, people reported seeing the lights much further south than predicted - including Gloucestershire, Essex, Norfolk and Jersey. To increase the chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis, scientists advise viewers to sign up to an alert service and head outside at \"magnetic midnight\" - between 8pm and 12am in the UK - to find a dark place with no light pollution.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1259, "answer_start": 217, "text": "A particularly large and fast eruption on the Sun's surface on 25 February meant the Aurora could be seen further south than usual a few days later. \"When the sun has a major geomagnetic event, the flux of particles is so high that they can penetrate the Earth's atmosphere at lower latitudes, which is why in England it is only after these storms that we can see the lights,\" says the University of Lancaster's Professor Mike Kosch. Maps from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Space Weather Prediction Center show how far the Northern Lights were expected to be seen overnight on Thursday. Aurora forecast for 27 February Image courtesy of NOAA But in fact, people reported seeing the lights much further south than predicted - including Gloucestershire, Essex, Norfolk and Jersey. To increase the chance of seeing the Aurora Borealis, scientists advise viewers to sign up to an alert service and head outside at \"magnetic midnight\" - between 8pm and 12am in the UK - to find a dark place with no light pollution." } ], "id": "1028_0", "question": "Where could they be seen?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Queen movie Bohemian Rhapsody was the surprise winner of two major prizes at Sunday's Golden Globe Awards. The Freddie Mercury biopic took home the trophies for best film drama and best drama actor for its star Rami Malek, who played the late frontman. Despite being heavily tipped and nominated for five prizes, A Star Is Born took home just one award - best original song for Shallow. Green Book was the night's other big film winner, scooping three prizes. It won best musical or comedy film, best screenplay and best supporting actor for Mahershala Ali. Set in the 1960s and co-starring Viggo Mortensen, Green Book tells the story of an African-American musician who hires an Italian-American driver to take him on a tour of the Deep South. Its Golden Globes victories mark it out as one of the favourites for next month's Oscars. Bohemian Rhapsody's wins come despite mixed reviews and upheaval during production. Its original director Bryan Singer was fired from the film due to \"unreliable behaviour\" amid reports that he had clashed with Malek on set. Dexter Fletcher was brought in to complete the project. But it has been a box office hit and Malek's name will be now be in the mix come the Oscar nominations later this month. In his acceptance speech on Sunday, Malek did not thank Singer, but instead paid tribute to Queen and said he was \"beyond moved\" to have won. \"To you, Brian May, to you, Roger Taylor, for ensuring that authenticity remains in the world,\" he said. Both May and Taylor attended the ceremony. He dedicated the award to Mercury, who died in 1991, adding: \"This is for and because of you, gorgeous!\" One of the night's other big surprises in the film categories was Glenn Close winning best drama actress for her role in The Wife. She beat off competition from Lady Gaga, who had been widely expected to win for A Star Is Born. In an impassioned speech, Close spoke about the importance of women following their dreams and not just looking after their home lives. She said: \"Women, we are nurturers, that is what is expected of us. We have our husband and our children and we have to find personal fulfilment and follow our dreams and we have to say, 'I can do that' and, 'I should be allowed to do that'.\" BBC entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba It wasn't the most nominated film, but the night's biggest surprise was A Star Is Born only taking home one award. With The Favourite's Olivia Colman competing in the musical/comedy category, Lady Gaga was expected to have a relatively clear run for best actress in a drama. Glenn Close's unexpected win for The Wife means the race for best actress at the Academy Awards looks likely to now change from what was an expected two-way contest into a three-way one. A Star is Born also losing in the prestigious best film (drama) category to Bohemian Rhapsody is a blow, but far from a fatal one, for its Oscar best picture hopes. But the evening has given Bohemian Rhapsody a jolt of momentum, and Rami Malek's best actor win in a film drama means it's very possible he could well end up taking the Oscar statuette. Thanks to their multiple wins tonight, both Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book have shown that they can't be discounted in an Oscar race that 24 hours ago was widely thought to be between A Star Is Born and Roma. The next few weeks are now crucial with the start of voting for the Academy Awards. And while there's only the tiniest of overlaps between the two voting bodies, being able to plaster posters and ads with \"Golden Globe winner\" will be a valuable tool in the campaign for a performer or film's Oscar glory. The British winners included Olivia Colman, who won best actress (comedy or musical) for her portrayal of Queen Anne in The Favourite. Christian Bale was also rewarded for his role as former vice president Dick Cheney in Vice - which scooped him best actor (comedy or musical). British actors Richard Madden and Ben Whishaw won TV awards for their roles in BBC dramas Bodyguard and A Very English Scandal respectively. In the other TV categories, The Americans was named best drama and The Kominsky Method picked up best TV comedy. The Netflix show's star Michael Douglas won best actor in a TV series (musical or comedy) for playing an ageing acting coach. He dedicated his award to his \"extraordinary, wonderful wife Catherine\" - that's Catherine Zeta Jones - and his 102-year-old father Kirk. The award came 49 years after he received his first Golden Globe nomination for best male newcomer. Sandra Oh won best actress in a TV drama for Killing Eve, the unconventional crime drama that started out on BBC America. She thanked her Korean parents, who were seated in the audience, in an emotional acceptance speech. Oh also co-hosted Sunday's ceremony in Beverly Hills alongside Brooklyn Nine-Nine actor Andy Samberg. - Best film drama - Bohemian Rhapsody - Best film comedy or musical - Green Book - Best actor in a film drama - Rami Malek (Bohemian Rhapsody) - Best actress in a film drama - Glenn Close (The Wife) - Best actor in a film comedy/musical - Christian Bale (Vice) - Best actress in a film comedy/musical - Olivia Colman (The Favourite) - Best TV drama - The Americans - Best TV comedy - The Kominsky Method - Best actor in a TV drama - Richard Madden (Bodyguard) - Best actress in a TV drama - Sandra Oh (Killing Eve) - Best actor in a TV comedy - Michael Douglas (The Kominsky Method) - Best actress in a TV comedy - Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvellous Mrs Maisel) - Best limited TV series - The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story - Best actor in a limited TV series - Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace) - Best actress in a limited TV series - Patricia Arquette (Escape at Dannemora) Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3612, "answer_start": 2239, "text": "BBC entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba It wasn't the most nominated film, but the night's biggest surprise was A Star Is Born only taking home one award. With The Favourite's Olivia Colman competing in the musical/comedy category, Lady Gaga was expected to have a relatively clear run for best actress in a drama. Glenn Close's unexpected win for The Wife means the race for best actress at the Academy Awards looks likely to now change from what was an expected two-way contest into a three-way one. A Star is Born also losing in the prestigious best film (drama) category to Bohemian Rhapsody is a blow, but far from a fatal one, for its Oscar best picture hopes. But the evening has given Bohemian Rhapsody a jolt of momentum, and Rami Malek's best actor win in a film drama means it's very possible he could well end up taking the Oscar statuette. Thanks to their multiple wins tonight, both Bohemian Rhapsody and Green Book have shown that they can't be discounted in an Oscar race that 24 hours ago was widely thought to be between A Star Is Born and Roma. The next few weeks are now crucial with the start of voting for the Academy Awards. And while there's only the tiniest of overlaps between the two voting bodies, being able to plaster posters and ads with \"Golden Globe winner\" will be a valuable tool in the campaign for a performer or film's Oscar glory." } ], "id": "1029_0", "question": "What does this mean for the Oscars race?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump gave a wide-ranging interview to the New York Times, in which he criticised his attorney general, Jeff Sessions. But there was plenty more he said of interest. So what else came up? \"It [the Bastille Day parade in Paris] was one of the most beautiful parades I have ever seen. And in fact, we should do one one day down Pennsylvania Ave.\" The US president clearly enjoyed the pomp and military might on display in Paris. He had wanted tanks and armaments to play a part in his inauguration parade in January, emails revealed, but defence chiefs were opposed. TRUMP: He's a great guy. Smart. Strong. Loves holding my hand. NY TIMES: I've noticed. TRUMP: People don't realise he loves holding my hand. And that's good, as far as that goes. \"The Russians have great fighters in the cold. They use the cold to their advantage. I mean, they've won five wars where the armies that went against them froze to death. [crosstalk] It's pretty amazing.\" As historian Andrew Roberts once wrote: \"The Russians have a saying that there is no such thing as cold weather, only the wrong clothing.\" Roberts said Hitler refused to believe the weather forecasts. Like Napoleon Bonaparte before him, Hitler's Russian ambitions ended in disaster. \"Well, Napoleon finished a little bit bad. But I asked that. So I asked the president, so what about Napoleon? He said: 'No, no, no. What he did was incredible. He designed Paris.' [garbled] The street grid, the way they work, you know, the spokes. He did so many things even beyond. And his one problem is he didn't go to Russia that night because he had extracurricular activities, and they froze to death. How many times has Russia been saved by the weather?\" Louis-Napoleon, nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte, began the rebuilding of Paris in 1848, based on his own love of London. But it was as Napoleon III he later commissioned the major renovation of the city, carried out by Georges-Eugene Haussman. \"What Jeff Sessions did was he recused himself right after, right after he became attorney general. And I said, \"Why didn't you tell me this before?\" I would have - then I said, \"Who's your deputy?\" So his deputy he hardly knew, and that's Rosenstein, Rod Rosenstein, who is from Baltimore. There are very few Republicans in Baltimore, if any. So, he's from Baltimore.\" It turns out that Mr Rosenstein is not from Baltimore but from Philadelphia, and he was appointed a US attorney by a Republican. \"We had dinner at the Eiffel Tower, and the bottom of the Eiffel Tower looked like they could have never had a bigger celebration ever in the history of the Eiffel Tower. I mean, there were thousands and thousands of people, 'cause they heard we were having dinner.\" TRUMP: I was seated next to the wife of Prime Minister Abe [Shinzo Abe of Japan], who I think is a terrific guy, and she's a terrific woman, but doesn't speak English. NY TIMES: Like, nothing, right? Like zero? TRUMP: Like, not \"hello.\" It later emerged that perhaps Japanese First Lady Akie Abe does speak English, so there are questions why the confusion arose - and whether she chose not to. The BBC's Mariko Oi in Tokyo said that her team has told the BBC in the past they would only accept interviews in Japanese. And while we're on language skills... President Trump's eight-year-old granddaughter entered the room during the interview and showed off her Mandarin. Why didn't Japan's First Lady speak to Trump? \"I mean, you think of Hillary Clinton, and you look, she went eight years - very capable - went eight years as the first lady, and could not get healthcare. So this is not an easy crack.\" Strange as it sounds, the president is correct that Mrs Clinton was given the task of heading reforms to healthcare but the push floundered. TRUMP: So anyway, in my opinion, he shared it so that I would think he had it out there. NY TIMES: As leverage? TRUMP: Yeah, I think so. In retrospect. In retrospect. The president is referring to a conversation ex-FBI director James Comey had with Mr Trump, warning him about the existence of memos that contain unsubstantiated claims that Russian security officials have compromising material on him. Mr Comey told Congress he thought it was only fair to let the president know. Trump's 'Russian dossier' - what we know and what we don't \"Do you know what happened with Merkel? So I am sitting in the chair. We'd been sitting there for two hours. So it's not like, 'Nice to see ya.' So the press comes in. So I guess someone screamed out, \"Shake her hand, shake her hand!\" I didn't even hear. So I didn't shake her hand, because I'd been with her for so long. I'd been with her for a long period of time.\" Read transcripts of the interview at the New York Times Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington When it comes to wide-ranging media interviews, Donald Trump is like a top. You never know which direction he will head once you give him a spin. There was a little bit of everything in the New York Times sit-down. Some amateur historian chatter? Sure. How about a mysterious \"$12 a year\" health insurance plan that is somehow is linked to the ongoing Senate Obamacare repeal negotiations? Yep! Or an extended riff on the loving nature of handshakes with French President Emmanuel Macron? Uhh, OK. Mr Trump's occasionally bizarre soliloquies have been explained away as a quirk of a wandering mind, but they may end up being a feature for the president, not a bug. Like playing football on the side of a hill, every time the Times reporters thought they were about to score a goal on the president, the ball rolled off to one side or the other. Times reporter Peter Baker twice asked the president what he thought of his oldest son being told, via email, that the Russian government wanted to help his campaign, and both times Mr Trump veered wildly off course. He talked about Hillary Clinton's tenure as secretary of state and Barack Obama's Syria policy; \"illegal acts\" by the Democratic National Committee and why former FBI Director James Comey didn't just say he retired instead of admitting that Mr Trump fired him. If there was any sort of answer to the question of why Russia might want to help him and why Donald Trump Jr was so eager to learn more, it was buried in an avalanche of verbiage. And that was probably exactly how he liked it.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6319, "answer_start": 4732, "text": "Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington When it comes to wide-ranging media interviews, Donald Trump is like a top. You never know which direction he will head once you give him a spin. There was a little bit of everything in the New York Times sit-down. Some amateur historian chatter? Sure. How about a mysterious \"$12 a year\" health insurance plan that is somehow is linked to the ongoing Senate Obamacare repeal negotiations? Yep! Or an extended riff on the loving nature of handshakes with French President Emmanuel Macron? Uhh, OK. Mr Trump's occasionally bizarre soliloquies have been explained away as a quirk of a wandering mind, but they may end up being a feature for the president, not a bug. Like playing football on the side of a hill, every time the Times reporters thought they were about to score a goal on the president, the ball rolled off to one side or the other. Times reporter Peter Baker twice asked the president what he thought of his oldest son being told, via email, that the Russian government wanted to help his campaign, and both times Mr Trump veered wildly off course. He talked about Hillary Clinton's tenure as secretary of state and Barack Obama's Syria policy; \"illegal acts\" by the Democratic National Committee and why former FBI Director James Comey didn't just say he retired instead of admitting that Mr Trump fired him. If there was any sort of answer to the question of why Russia might want to help him and why Donald Trump Jr was so eager to learn more, it was buried in an avalanche of verbiage. And that was probably exactly how he liked it." } ], "id": "1030_0", "question": "So, what did the interview teach us?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russia's proposal for a new, joint investigation into the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in England has been voted down at the international chemical weapons watchdog at The Hague. Russia has accused Britain of blocking access to an investigation being carried out by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Britain earlier said Russia's call for an inquiry with the UK was \"perverse\". Russia lost the vote by 15 votes to six, while 17 member states abstained. China, Azerbaijan, Sudan, Algeria and Iran were among the countries that backed Russia's motion at the OPCW executive council, Reuters reported. Russia called the meeting to challenge the UK, which has blamed Moscow for the March 4 poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, southern England. Russia has strongly denied any involvement and in a press conference after the vote said what happened in Salisbury looked like a \"terrorist attack\". It strongly criticised the US and EU countries for siding with the UK. The votes backing Russia and the abstentions showed that more than half of the council \"refused to associate themselves with the West's point of view,\" said Russia's ambassador to the OPCW Aleksander Shulgin, He said the UK had told the council \"a dirty flow of complete lies... outright Russophobia\". At the Hague meeting, UK acting representative John Foggo had said the victim of a chemical weapons' attack was not required to work with the \"likely perpetrator\". Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson later accused Russia of trying to undermine the watchdog's work and said the international community had \"seen through these tactics\". The British government says a military-grade Novichok nerve agent of a type developed by Russia was used in the attack. The incident has caused a major diplomatic fallout, with the expulsion of some 150 Russian diplomats by the UK and its allies being met by counter-expulsions by Moscow. On Tuesday the UK's Porton Down laboratory said it could not verify the precise source of the Novichok nerve agent used in Salisbury, although it did say it was likely to have been deployed by a \"state actor\". The comments were seized upon by Russia to discredit the UK's accusations. It has requested that the UN Security Council meet on Thursday to discuss the situation for a second time. At The Hague on Wednesday, the European Union offered its full support to Britain and reiterated that it backed the UK's assessment that it was \"highly likely\" that Russia was responsible. British envoy Mr Foggo told the emergency OPCW meeting that the UK had blamed Russia based on: - the identification of the nerve agent used - knowledge that Russia \"has produced this agent and remains capable of doing so\" - Russia's record of conducting state sponsored assassinations - The assessment that Russia \"views defectors as suitable targets for assassination\" He said that Russia had offered more than 24 \"contradictory and changing counter-narratives\" about the attack, including \"preposterous\" suggestions that Sweden, the US or Britain itself could have been responsible. Russia's President Putin, speaking in the Turkish capital Ankara, said he hoped \"common sense\" would prevail. Russia called the meeting to confront Britain and to propose a new joint investigation with the UK into the Salisbury attack. Western powers portrayed the bid as an attempt to undermine the OPCW's existing investigation. The global watchdog is analysing samples from Salisbury in order to identify the nerve agent used. It was asked to do so by the UK, and Russia was not invited to participate. The OPCW expects to receive the results of its independent laboratory tests within a week. Russia has signalled it will reject the results of the investigation if its experts are prohibited from taking part. The watchdog does not have the power to attribute blame, but it could ask the Kremlin to grant its inspectors access to former Soviet Union production facilities to check all of their chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed. Analysis by the BBC's David Shukman The only way that scientists can be totally sure who made the Novichok agent is to compare it with another sample of the substance made in the same lab. That's what happened when Sarin was used by Saddam Hussein in Iraq and more recently by President Assad in Syria. Experts already knew which clues to look for, and that allowed them to lay the blame definitively. Novichok is much less well known. The traces of it gathered in Salisbury will have been put through detailed scientific screening and that would reveal the ingredients of the chemical and maybe also its basic structure. That could be matched with whatever is known about Novichok, maybe from lab notes handed over by defectors. And for Porton Down to describe it as \"military grade\" suggests a sophisticated state producer, not an amateur, though that itself is not categorical proof of Russian involvement. That leaves another scenario in this secretive world of smoke and mirrors - that Britain did already have a sample of Novichok and was able to compare it to the agent used on the Skripals but does not want to reveal the fact, to protect a valuable source of intelligence. Questions arose about whether the UK had been too quick to point the finger at Russia after the Porton Down laboratory said that it could not verify the precise source of the Novichok nerve agent. The laboratory said it was likely to have been deployed by a \"state actor\" but that it was not its job to say where the agent was manufactured. Porton Down's chief executive Gary Aitkenhead dismissed Russian claims it might have come from the UK military laboratory. On Twitter, the Russian Embassy highlighted a now-deleted tweet by the UK Foreign Office which suggested Porton Down had said the nerve agent had been produced in Russia. The Foreign Office said the tweet had been part of a real-time account of a speech by the UK's ambassador in Moscow and was deleted because it \"did not accurately report our Ambassador's words\". Security Minister Ben Wallace dismissed suggestions the government had been giving out mixed messages. \"Unlike Russia, we allow the media to come and meet our scientists and question the science,\" he said. \"That's important. That's why we have this debate today: we have nothing to hide.\" UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has criticised Boris Johnson, suggesting he exaggerated evidence provided by Porton Down.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4065, "answer_start": 3229, "text": "Russia called the meeting to confront Britain and to propose a new joint investigation with the UK into the Salisbury attack. Western powers portrayed the bid as an attempt to undermine the OPCW's existing investigation. The global watchdog is analysing samples from Salisbury in order to identify the nerve agent used. It was asked to do so by the UK, and Russia was not invited to participate. The OPCW expects to receive the results of its independent laboratory tests within a week. Russia has signalled it will reject the results of the investigation if its experts are prohibited from taking part. The watchdog does not have the power to attribute blame, but it could ask the Kremlin to grant its inspectors access to former Soviet Union production facilities to check all of their chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed." } ], "id": "1031_0", "question": "What was the OPCW meeting about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5247, "answer_start": 4066, "text": "Analysis by the BBC's David Shukman The only way that scientists can be totally sure who made the Novichok agent is to compare it with another sample of the substance made in the same lab. That's what happened when Sarin was used by Saddam Hussein in Iraq and more recently by President Assad in Syria. Experts already knew which clues to look for, and that allowed them to lay the blame definitively. Novichok is much less well known. The traces of it gathered in Salisbury will have been put through detailed scientific screening and that would reveal the ingredients of the chemical and maybe also its basic structure. That could be matched with whatever is known about Novichok, maybe from lab notes handed over by defectors. And for Porton Down to describe it as \"military grade\" suggests a sophisticated state producer, not an amateur, though that itself is not categorical proof of Russian involvement. That leaves another scenario in this secretive world of smoke and mirrors - that Britain did already have a sample of Novichok and was able to compare it to the agent used on the Skripals but does not want to reveal the fact, to protect a valuable source of intelligence." } ], "id": "1031_1", "question": "Did the UK already have a sample of Novichok?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6487, "answer_start": 5248, "text": "Questions arose about whether the UK had been too quick to point the finger at Russia after the Porton Down laboratory said that it could not verify the precise source of the Novichok nerve agent. The laboratory said it was likely to have been deployed by a \"state actor\" but that it was not its job to say where the agent was manufactured. Porton Down's chief executive Gary Aitkenhead dismissed Russian claims it might have come from the UK military laboratory. On Twitter, the Russian Embassy highlighted a now-deleted tweet by the UK Foreign Office which suggested Porton Down had said the nerve agent had been produced in Russia. The Foreign Office said the tweet had been part of a real-time account of a speech by the UK's ambassador in Moscow and was deleted because it \"did not accurately report our Ambassador's words\". Security Minister Ben Wallace dismissed suggestions the government had been giving out mixed messages. \"Unlike Russia, we allow the media to come and meet our scientists and question the science,\" he said. \"That's important. That's why we have this debate today: we have nothing to hide.\" UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has criticised Boris Johnson, suggesting he exaggerated evidence provided by Porton Down." } ], "id": "1031_2", "question": "Is the UK under pressure?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "BBC presenter Samira Ahmed has successfully taken the broadcaster to court after she was paid less than a male colleague doing similar work. So what exactly is equal pay, and how can you find out if you are not being paid enough? Equal pay is the legal right for men and women to be paid the same for: - Doing the same, or similar, jobs - Doing work that has been rated as \"equivalent\", or in the same grade - Doing work of \"equal value\", where jobs might be different but require a similar level of skill Pay does not just refer to salaries. It also includes employee benefits like holidays and pension contributions, as well as company cars and bonuses. It has been part of UK law since the 1970 Equal Pay Act, and is now also part of the Equality Act 2010. It means all employees are entitled to equal pay, regardless of whether they are on full-time, part-time, or temporary contracts. Discussing pay with colleagues can be awkward. But it can be a good first step in finding out whether or not you are being paid equally. Looking at salary ranges in job adverts from your employer, or finding out the typical rate for similar jobs in the same industry can also be helpful. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) provides impartial advice to workers and bosses on workplace disputes or issues. It says any employee who suspects they are not receiving equal pay can ask their manager to explain if there is a pay difference. An employer may be able to defend themselves from a claim if they prove the reason for the difference is due to a genuine factor and is not based on the sex of the employee. An employee can try to resolve the issue first with their boss or HR. They could also raise a grievance, which is a formal complaint. If that doesn't work, they can complain to an employment tribunal, independent bodies which deal with work-related legal claims. But the claimant has to contact Acas first, which offers a voluntary early conciliation procedure to try and resolve things without a tribunal. An equal pay claim can be taken to tribunal up to six months after leaving the role. There are no fees but if you choose to pay for a lawyer that could be expensive. The person bringing the claim must point to a \"comparator\". That is, someone of the opposite gender currently or previously working for the same employer, doing the same or equivalent work and receiving more pay or benefits. The tribunal can order contracts to be amended, compensation, or up to six years' back pay to be awarded to the employee. As our Reality Check team found out, cases are not solved very often at tribunal. That is partly because demonstrating different jobs are of equal value can be a difficult and drawn-out process. Lisa Ayling, solicitor and employment law specialist, says many equal pay cases are settled before tribunal stage is reached. She adds: \"Women are more tempted to settle equal pay than other claims because they realise the legal hurdles to overcome are complex, time-consuming and expensive.\" Presenter Samira Ahmed has successfully taken the BBC to an employment tribunal over alleged unequal pay. Ms Ahmed said she was underpaid for hosting audience feedback show Newswatch when compared with Jeremy Vine's salary for Points of View. The journalist had argued she was owed almost PS700,000 in back pay. Carrie Gracie previously resigned from her role as China editor in a dispute over equal pay at the BBC. It later apologised for underpaying her and said it \"has now put this right\" by giving her back pay. She donated the full, undisclosed amount to charity. Several other high-profile cases have come to a head in recent years. Last year, Glasgow City Council agreed to pay out a reported PS548m to compensate thousands of women who were paid less than men in jobs of the same grade. More than 8,000 women employed in schools, nurseries and in cleaning and catering services by the council had been on the biggest-ever equal pay strike in the UK. Supermarket Asda also lost an appeal in a long-running legal dispute over equal pay in January. The decision meant that lower-paid shop staff, mostly women, can compare themselves with higher-paid warehouse workers, who are mostly men. No. Equal pay is awarding men and women the same amount to do identical or equivalent work, and is a legal requirement for businesses. The gender pay gap refers to the percentage difference between average hourly earnings for all men and women in a company, sector or across the country. If women are being paid more, that's called a negative pay gap. Having a gender pay gap is not illegal, but it is compulsory for all UK employers with more than 250 workers to publish their gender pay gap data.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 889, "answer_start": 230, "text": "Equal pay is the legal right for men and women to be paid the same for: - Doing the same, or similar, jobs - Doing work that has been rated as \"equivalent\", or in the same grade - Doing work of \"equal value\", where jobs might be different but require a similar level of skill Pay does not just refer to salaries. It also includes employee benefits like holidays and pension contributions, as well as company cars and bonuses. It has been part of UK law since the 1970 Equal Pay Act, and is now also part of the Equality Act 2010. It means all employees are entitled to equal pay, regardless of whether they are on full-time, part-time, or temporary contracts." } ], "id": "1032_0", "question": "What is equal pay?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1620, "answer_start": 890, "text": "Discussing pay with colleagues can be awkward. But it can be a good first step in finding out whether or not you are being paid equally. Looking at salary ranges in job adverts from your employer, or finding out the typical rate for similar jobs in the same industry can also be helpful. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) provides impartial advice to workers and bosses on workplace disputes or issues. It says any employee who suspects they are not receiving equal pay can ask their manager to explain if there is a pay difference. An employer may be able to defend themselves from a claim if they prove the reason for the difference is due to a genuine factor and is not based on the sex of the employee." } ], "id": "1032_1", "question": "How do I find out if I am being paid equally?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3028, "answer_start": 1621, "text": "An employee can try to resolve the issue first with their boss or HR. They could also raise a grievance, which is a formal complaint. If that doesn't work, they can complain to an employment tribunal, independent bodies which deal with work-related legal claims. But the claimant has to contact Acas first, which offers a voluntary early conciliation procedure to try and resolve things without a tribunal. An equal pay claim can be taken to tribunal up to six months after leaving the role. There are no fees but if you choose to pay for a lawyer that could be expensive. The person bringing the claim must point to a \"comparator\". That is, someone of the opposite gender currently or previously working for the same employer, doing the same or equivalent work and receiving more pay or benefits. The tribunal can order contracts to be amended, compensation, or up to six years' back pay to be awarded to the employee. As our Reality Check team found out, cases are not solved very often at tribunal. That is partly because demonstrating different jobs are of equal value can be a difficult and drawn-out process. Lisa Ayling, solicitor and employment law specialist, says many equal pay cases are settled before tribunal stage is reached. She adds: \"Women are more tempted to settle equal pay than other claims because they realise the legal hurdles to overcome are complex, time-consuming and expensive.\"" } ], "id": "1032_2", "question": "How do I claim equal pay?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4722, "answer_start": 4224, "text": "No. Equal pay is awarding men and women the same amount to do identical or equivalent work, and is a legal requirement for businesses. The gender pay gap refers to the percentage difference between average hourly earnings for all men and women in a company, sector or across the country. If women are being paid more, that's called a negative pay gap. Having a gender pay gap is not illegal, but it is compulsory for all UK employers with more than 250 workers to publish their gender pay gap data." } ], "id": "1032_3", "question": "Is equal pay the same as the gender pay gap?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The spiky, stinky tropical fruit known as the durian is an acquired taste. As Malaysia begins selling durians to China, farmers here in the southern part of the country hope middle-class Chinese will develop a preference for their home-grown version. \"Our durians are the best. No-one else can compete,\" Lim Kock Siong, a third-generation Malaysian fruit farmer of Chinese descent, tells BBC News. \"We are introducing our durian to China. It is a huge market for us. If they come to like our fruit, then the impact on us fruit growers will be enormous,\" Mr Lim says, walking through his plantation in the state of Johor. Malaysia, which started exporting durians to China for the first time on 15 August, is hoping to supplant Thailand as the top supplier of durians. The sale is another sign that, as the West teeters on the brink of another recession, Asian nations are boosting their trade ties with the world's second-largest economy. Mr Lim's biggest export market is currently Singapore, with a small but wealthy population of dedicated durian eaters. Now, thanks to changes in Chinese spending power, the farmer is setting his sights on China's one billion-plus consumers. Tai Hui, head of South East Asian research for Standard Chartered Bank, says the entire region is clamouring for a slice of the Chinese market. \"In China, with its growing income and growing population, demand for fruits in general is rising very rapidly. It is clearly a new market for Malaysian farmers,\" he says. Malaysia is China's biggest trading partner among countries in South East Asia. Last year, two-way trade reached $74bn (PS46bn), from just $50bn in 2009, and is expected to rise to at least $80bn in 2011. But Malaysia, known for its exports of palm oil and high-tech gadgets, trails far behind rival Thailand in the niche market of selling durians. For decades, Thailand has dominated the trade, selling $70m dollars worth of durians to China last year. Asia's largest economy bought 60% of Thailand's total durian exports. The smell of the pungent fruit with its ferociously spiky skin has been variously compared to sewers or even dead animals. Still, its complex taste, redolent of caramel and fine French cheeses, has earned the durian the monicker \"king of fruit\". Malaysians believe their durians are the creamiest and most delicious in the world, so they are keen to spread that love to their giant northern neighbour. The country's Federal Agriculture Marketing Authority says it is planning another durian shipment to China later in September, in the hopes of popularising its fruit. But there is a possible downside to engaging China's juggernaut economy. Durian lovers in Malaysia have been complaining for years that some of the best fruit is routinely exported to neighbouring Singapore, which offers higher prices. At fruit farmer Mr Lim's roadside stall deep in rural Johor, only a few of the smallest and most homely durians are left for sale. The cream of the crop has been shipped to larger cities or to Singapore, whose populations are dwarfed by China's. Malaysian journalist Soo Ewe Jin, deputy editor of The Star newspaper, recently wrote: \"Imagine, if only a fraction of the 1.3 billion people in China decide that they prefer durians over mandarin oranges, will there be any left over for us back home?\" Some version of this idea is commonly heard across South-East Asia. China may present a massive market, but it is not entirely trusted by its trading partners. The fear, as Malaysia integrates economically with China, is that the country's potentially enormous appetite may leave slim pickings for locals to buy.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3636, "answer_start": 2589, "text": "But there is a possible downside to engaging China's juggernaut economy. Durian lovers in Malaysia have been complaining for years that some of the best fruit is routinely exported to neighbouring Singapore, which offers higher prices. At fruit farmer Mr Lim's roadside stall deep in rural Johor, only a few of the smallest and most homely durians are left for sale. The cream of the crop has been shipped to larger cities or to Singapore, whose populations are dwarfed by China's. Malaysian journalist Soo Ewe Jin, deputy editor of The Star newspaper, recently wrote: \"Imagine, if only a fraction of the 1.3 billion people in China decide that they prefer durians over mandarin oranges, will there be any left over for us back home?\" Some version of this idea is commonly heard across South-East Asia. China may present a massive market, but it is not entirely trusted by its trading partners. The fear, as Malaysia integrates economically with China, is that the country's potentially enormous appetite may leave slim pickings for locals to buy." } ], "id": "1033_0", "question": "Big appetite?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russia has launched criminal proceedings into \"mass unrest\", following last Saturday's protests in Moscow calling for free elections. State investigators said they would open three criminal cases into violence against police and other officials. Those found guilty could be jailed for up to 15 years. More than 1,000 people were detained during the unauthorised protest against the exclusion of opposition candidates from local polls. Warning: This story contains an image some readers may find disturbing Demonstrators were dragged away from the city's parliamentary building as security forces used batons against the crowd, in what was one of the biggest crackdowns in Russia in years. Images from the protest showed several of the demonstrators bleeding, while at least two members of the security forces reportedly received eye injuries from pepper spray. Some of the candidates banned from standing in the 8 September election had been detained earlier. Officials disqualified about 30 people, saying they had failed to collect enough valid signatures to stand - a claim denied by the banned candidates. The Investigative Committee said a criminal case had been launched into \"mass unrest\" in accordance with Article 212 of the Russian Criminal Code. \"The investigation has established that ahead of an unsanctioned rally a group of people repeatedly posted on the internet calls to take part in it, knowing full well that these actions could provoke mass unrest\", the committee said in a statement (in Russian). Separately, the committee is investigating violence against police, members of the Russian Guard and other officials in accordance with the Article 318 of the criminal code. Participants in the rally are also accused of bringing traffic to a standstill in central Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin earlier called Saturday's rally a \"security threat\", and promised to maintain public order. Test of nerves for both sides This is a tough move that seems meant to scare protesters off the streets. If criminal charges do follow the investigation, then the organisers of Saturday's unauthorised rally could face long prison sentences. That happened back in 2012 with the \"Bolotnaya Square case\", after a wave of much bigger protests in Moscow directed against Vladimir Putin. Now, like then, the charges being examined are extremely serious. They involve qualifying the protest as \"mass unrest\": a riot. It was, though, a peaceful political rally until the crowd refused orders to disperse and riot police swooped with rubber batons. Some officers were also injured in the clashes. And yet there are already calls to rally again over the original cause for all this: the decision to bar opposition candidates from running for the city council. A local election that usually passes barely noticed has become a flashpoint for far broader concerns, and a test of nerves for both sides. Anger has been building among opposition supporters at the way the city is run and towards the ruling pro-Kremlin United Russia party, which has a majority in the capital's parliament. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was jailed for 30 days last Wednesday after calling for Saturday's rally. Mr Navalny later said he may have been poisoned, in a first statement since being taken ill in prison. Mr Putin was on a trip to the Baltic Sea on Saturday for a dive in a submersible. \"There are a lot of problems on Earth, so to diminish their amount one has to go up and deep down,\" he remarked. Local elections usually attract little attention in Russia. The Moscow authority does not control the city's budget or choose key official appointments, and previous votes have passed without major protests or press interest. But this year some Muscovites are infuriated at what they see as brazen attempts to disqualify independent politicians from running. After Saturday's crackdown, election candidate and opposition leader Dmitry Gudkov said the Moscow parliament had \"died under Putin\". Mr Gudkov was jailed on Tuesday for 30 days for his role in a public rally earlier this month.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1911, "answer_start": 1110, "text": "The Investigative Committee said a criminal case had been launched into \"mass unrest\" in accordance with Article 212 of the Russian Criminal Code. \"The investigation has established that ahead of an unsanctioned rally a group of people repeatedly posted on the internet calls to take part in it, knowing full well that these actions could provoke mass unrest\", the committee said in a statement (in Russian). Separately, the committee is investigating violence against police, members of the Russian Guard and other officials in accordance with the Article 318 of the criminal code. Participants in the rally are also accused of bringing traffic to a standstill in central Moscow. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin earlier called Saturday's rally a \"security threat\", and promised to maintain public order." } ], "id": "1034_0", "question": "What did Russian investigators say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4124, "answer_start": 2901, "text": "Anger has been building among opposition supporters at the way the city is run and towards the ruling pro-Kremlin United Russia party, which has a majority in the capital's parliament. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, a fierce critic of President Vladimir Putin, was jailed for 30 days last Wednesday after calling for Saturday's rally. Mr Navalny later said he may have been poisoned, in a first statement since being taken ill in prison. Mr Putin was on a trip to the Baltic Sea on Saturday for a dive in a submersible. \"There are a lot of problems on Earth, so to diminish their amount one has to go up and deep down,\" he remarked. Local elections usually attract little attention in Russia. The Moscow authority does not control the city's budget or choose key official appointments, and previous votes have passed without major protests or press interest. But this year some Muscovites are infuriated at what they see as brazen attempts to disqualify independent politicians from running. After Saturday's crackdown, election candidate and opposition leader Dmitry Gudkov said the Moscow parliament had \"died under Putin\". Mr Gudkov was jailed on Tuesday for 30 days for his role in a public rally earlier this month." } ], "id": "1034_1", "question": "What's the background to this?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Police in Paris have fired rubber bullets and tear gas as a fourth weekend of anti-government protests across France turned violent. Almost 1,000 people have been taken into custody nationwide. Parisian hospital authorities said 126 people had been injured in the city, but none seriously. At least three police officers were also hurt. The \"yellow vest\" movement opposed fuel tax rises but ministers say it has been hijacked by \"ultra-violent\" protesters. An estimated 125,000 demonstrators gathered across the country during the day, with 10,000 of them in the capital, where the scenes were the most destructive. Looters have been seen smashing shop fronts, and cars have been set on fire. In a television address on Saturday evening, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said the \"casseurs\" (troublemakers) were still at work. He called for more communication between the government and protesters to resolve the conflict. \"The dialogue has begun,\" he said. \"It is now necessary to rebuild the national unity.\" Apart from Paris, there were demonstrations in several other cities on Saturday including Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille and Grenoble. Some places also had separate climate change marches taking place. There have been a number of confrontations in the capital. Video footage showed one demonstrator being hit in the torso with a rubber bullet while standing in front of a line of police with his hands up. At least three members of the press were also hit. Water cannon were deployed on a street east of the city centre. As night fell, protesters converged on Place de la Republique, and a heavy police presence remained on the Champs-Elysees. Nearly 90,000 officers were deployed countrywide in anticipation of clashes, including 8,000 in Paris where 12 armoured vehicles were also utilised. Last week, hundreds of people were arrested and 162 were injured in violence in Paris - some of the worst street clashes in the French capital for decades. This weekend, six matches in the top tier of France's football league were postponed. The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay and other sites were also closed all day in Paris. By Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris The French government is relieved that its worst forebodings about the protests did not come to pass. There was certainly some violence in Paris, but it was not on the scale of the week before. The new tactics of the police - record numbers of officers deployed, moving quickly to occupy the ground and not hesitating to make arrests - paid off. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the escalation of violence had been stopped. It is a relief for President Macron - but not much more. He must know that the moment will be thrown away if he does not move in quickly now with ideas that go some way to satisfying the more moderate of the yellow vests. The time is for dialogue, the government says, and the president will make an address to the nation early this week. The question is will he give the protesters what they want, which is something very simple: more money in their pockets. Does he think France can afford to economically? The sentiment of the anti-government protests has inspired other spin-off protests in nearby countries. About 100 people were arrested in the capital Brussels. Some threw paving stones, fireworks, flares and other objects at police, according to AP news agency. In the Netherlands, a protest was held outside parliament in The Hague, with an estimated 100 participants. The \"gilets jaunes\" protesters are so-called because they have taken to the streets wearing the high-visibility yellow clothing that is required to be carried in every vehicle by French law. Over the past few weeks, the social media movement has morphed from a protest over fuel prices to a leaderless spectrum of interest groups and differing demands. Its core aim, to highlight the economic frustration and political distrust of poorer working families, still has widespread support. An opinion poll on Friday showed a dip in support for the protests, but it still stood at 66%. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron's ratings have fallen to 23% amid the crisis, polls suggest. The government has said it is scrapping the unpopular fuel tax increases in its budget and has frozen electricity and gas prices for 2019. The problem is that protests have erupted over other issues. Granting concessions in some areas may not placate all the protesters, some of whom are calling for higher wages, lower taxes, better pensions, easier university requirements and even the resignation of the president. Some of Mr Macron's critics call him \"the president of the rich\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2127, "answer_start": 1010, "text": "Apart from Paris, there were demonstrations in several other cities on Saturday including Lyon, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Marseille and Grenoble. Some places also had separate climate change marches taking place. There have been a number of confrontations in the capital. Video footage showed one demonstrator being hit in the torso with a rubber bullet while standing in front of a line of police with his hands up. At least three members of the press were also hit. Water cannon were deployed on a street east of the city centre. As night fell, protesters converged on Place de la Republique, and a heavy police presence remained on the Champs-Elysees. Nearly 90,000 officers were deployed countrywide in anticipation of clashes, including 8,000 in Paris where 12 armoured vehicles were also utilised. Last week, hundreds of people were arrested and 162 were injured in violence in Paris - some of the worst street clashes in the French capital for decades. This weekend, six matches in the top tier of France's football league were postponed. The Louvre, Musee d'Orsay and other sites were also closed all day in Paris." } ], "id": "1035_0", "question": "What is happening this weekend?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3105, "answer_start": 2128, "text": "By Hugh Schofield, BBC News, Paris The French government is relieved that its worst forebodings about the protests did not come to pass. There was certainly some violence in Paris, but it was not on the scale of the week before. The new tactics of the police - record numbers of officers deployed, moving quickly to occupy the ground and not hesitating to make arrests - paid off. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the escalation of violence had been stopped. It is a relief for President Macron - but not much more. He must know that the moment will be thrown away if he does not move in quickly now with ideas that go some way to satisfying the more moderate of the yellow vests. The time is for dialogue, the government says, and the president will make an address to the nation early this week. The question is will he give the protesters what they want, which is something very simple: more money in their pockets. Does he think France can afford to economically?" } ], "id": "1035_1", "question": "What next for Macron?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3475, "answer_start": 3106, "text": "The sentiment of the anti-government protests has inspired other spin-off protests in nearby countries. About 100 people were arrested in the capital Brussels. Some threw paving stones, fireworks, flares and other objects at police, according to AP news agency. In the Netherlands, a protest was held outside parliament in The Hague, with an estimated 100 participants." } ], "id": "1035_2", "question": "How have the protests spread?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4154, "answer_start": 3476, "text": "The \"gilets jaunes\" protesters are so-called because they have taken to the streets wearing the high-visibility yellow clothing that is required to be carried in every vehicle by French law. Over the past few weeks, the social media movement has morphed from a protest over fuel prices to a leaderless spectrum of interest groups and differing demands. Its core aim, to highlight the economic frustration and political distrust of poorer working families, still has widespread support. An opinion poll on Friday showed a dip in support for the protests, but it still stood at 66%. Meanwhile, President Emmanuel Macron's ratings have fallen to 23% amid the crisis, polls suggest." } ], "id": "1035_3", "question": "Where are we with the yellow vest movement?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4638, "answer_start": 4155, "text": "The government has said it is scrapping the unpopular fuel tax increases in its budget and has frozen electricity and gas prices for 2019. The problem is that protests have erupted over other issues. Granting concessions in some areas may not placate all the protesters, some of whom are calling for higher wages, lower taxes, better pensions, easier university requirements and even the resignation of the president. Some of Mr Macron's critics call him \"the president of the rich\"." } ], "id": "1035_4", "question": "What has the government conceded?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Several readers have asked whether Australia's famous eucalyptus trees have helped spread the bushfires which have raged for months. Also known as the gum tree, these forests are some of the most flammable in the world. Eucalyptus trees cover more than three-quarters of Australia's forested area and almost all of the hundreds of species are native to the island nation. Strips of bark that hang off the trunk and the branches can ignite and carry a fire up the tree and can spread through the forest on the wind. \"When the bark ignites it can be blown great distances, starting new fires,\" says Dr Jane Cawson, an expert in vegetation flammability at the University of Melbourne. This process, called spotting, can ignite fires 30km (18 miles) ahead of the main fire and is very difficult to suppress. \"The trees themselves exacerbate the fires mostly through spotting,\" says Dr Cawson. Some gum tree leaves contain oil that can also ignite easily and burn quickly. There is also the vegetation on the floor of a eucalyptus forest, which tends to readily catch fire. Over time they have adapted to their environment where drought and fires are common, and the trees themselves are usually very resilient. Some species have developed the ability to survive, and recover, from bushfires and soon resprout through buds that lie dormant. Burning also releases seeds from their capsules stored in the canopy which can also aid the regeneration process. However, new research shows that if the same patch of forest is burned by high-intensity fire more than once over a short period of time, which has happened in Australia, even the most resilient species of eucalyptus may struggle to recover. These natural forests, often in protected areas, provide a habitat for huge numbers of plant and animal species. \"There is no public discussion [in Australia] about replacing them with alternative species,\" says Dr Cawson. Aboriginal communities have used the tree for a multitude of practical purposes from crafting tools to using the oil as medicine. However, there are debates about how to look after the forests to prevent fires spreading. One of these options is prescribed burning, and there has been a political row about whether more of this \"controlled burning\" as a means to stop fires spreading should have been done. The main species that has been exported and planted widely outside of Australia is the Eucalyptus globulus. \"It's actually one of the less flammable eucalyptus trees, but it is nevertheless much more flammable than some of the native landcover it has replaced,\" says Stefan Doerr, an expert in wildfires at Swansea University. These trees have contributed to wildfires in California and Portugal, which suffers from some of the worst fires in Europe. The eucalyptus was regarded as being one of the main reasons fires were so deadly in Portugal in 2017. They are grown for paper across large areas of the central and northern parts of the country. At the time, an environmental group said the fires reflected a \"situation of negligence\" and criticised the mass replacement of pine trees with eucalyptus trees. Elsewhere eucalyptus trees are commonly used for reforesting and commercial purposes because they are fast-growing, despite ecologists warning they can be bad for native species. These varieties are often bred to be more productive and are much less of a fire hazard, says Fangyuan Hua, a conservation ecologist based at Peking University in China. \"These 'tree farms' are typically under fairly careful management which can lower their fire risk,\" she said. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1691, "answer_start": 220, "text": "Eucalyptus trees cover more than three-quarters of Australia's forested area and almost all of the hundreds of species are native to the island nation. Strips of bark that hang off the trunk and the branches can ignite and carry a fire up the tree and can spread through the forest on the wind. \"When the bark ignites it can be blown great distances, starting new fires,\" says Dr Jane Cawson, an expert in vegetation flammability at the University of Melbourne. This process, called spotting, can ignite fires 30km (18 miles) ahead of the main fire and is very difficult to suppress. \"The trees themselves exacerbate the fires mostly through spotting,\" says Dr Cawson. Some gum tree leaves contain oil that can also ignite easily and burn quickly. There is also the vegetation on the floor of a eucalyptus forest, which tends to readily catch fire. Over time they have adapted to their environment where drought and fires are common, and the trees themselves are usually very resilient. Some species have developed the ability to survive, and recover, from bushfires and soon resprout through buds that lie dormant. Burning also releases seeds from their capsules stored in the canopy which can also aid the regeneration process. However, new research shows that if the same patch of forest is burned by high-intensity fire more than once over a short period of time, which has happened in Australia, even the most resilient species of eucalyptus may struggle to recover." } ], "id": "1036_0", "question": "How do eucalyptus trees spread fires?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2320, "answer_start": 1692, "text": "These natural forests, often in protected areas, provide a habitat for huge numbers of plant and animal species. \"There is no public discussion [in Australia] about replacing them with alternative species,\" says Dr Cawson. Aboriginal communities have used the tree for a multitude of practical purposes from crafting tools to using the oil as medicine. However, there are debates about how to look after the forests to prevent fires spreading. One of these options is prescribed burning, and there has been a political row about whether more of this \"controlled burning\" as a means to stop fires spreading should have been done." } ], "id": "1036_1", "question": "Is there an alternative to eucalyptus?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Nearly two-and-a-half-years ago, I did a ring-round of Britain's regulators to see if any of them might fancy regulating political advertising on social media, particularly outside an election period. It was obvious then, in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum and election of President Trump, that political campaigning had mostly shifted online. Even if a lot of leading politicians were slow on the uptake - still spending time courting print editors and columnists, for instance, whose influence has waned - they were increasingly surrounded by campaigners who did understand the world had changed. Campaigners like Dominic Cummings. Anyway, the regulators made various sounds that bore a striking resemblance to what you heard the last time you were juggling a hot potato. The Electoral Commission said its focus is campaign finance. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said its focus is personal data. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it doesn't do political ads. Fair enough. All were correct. Regulators regulate what they are told to regulate. It takes legislation, designed by parliamentarians - who ideally have a keen eye for detail and deep understanding of technology - to change the scope and power of a regulator. Many months and moons on, I did a similar ring-round. The Electoral Commission said its focus is campaign finance. The Information Commissioner's Office said its focus is personal data. The Advertising Standards Authority said it doesn't do political ads. To quote a recent prime minister: \"Nothing has changed. Nothing has changed.\" Which is not to say that nothing has changed in the broad - and it is very broad - area of regulating the internet. In fact, the UK has done quite a lot here, even, arguably, taken a lead. Its Online Harms White Paper pledged to bring about the toughest laws for the internet anywhere in the world. The only trouble with that is, it was finalised in the furnace of a Tory leadership campaign, by a home secretary (Sajid Javid) who is now chancellor, and a culture secretary (Jeremy Wright) who has left his post. The ICO has earned respect, and some admiration, across the world for its tough stance on Facebook, against whom it imposed a heavy fine - albeit a paltry footnote in the tech giant's global turnover. And of course General Data Protection Regulation, better known as the European law GDPR, has given consumers much greater rights and awareness of the unspoken contracts they adhere to when they surf the web. But this was European rather than specifically British regulation. The Electoral Commission point out that some of this terrain is regulated. But it urgently wants new powers to do it better. They say all digital campaign material should have an imprint saying who is behind the campaign; that spending on election or referendum campaigns by foreign organisations or individuals should be prohibited; that fines should be bigger, and that their powers to obtain information outside a formal investigation should be strengthened. In an interview for BBC News, Louise Edwards, the head of regulation for the Electoral Commission, is open about the remaining vulnerabilities of our current system. But there is, frankly, something weird going on here. Everyone agrees that we urgently need new legislation in this terrain. Indeed Damian Collins MP, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, says the time has come for emergency legislation. \"Our electoral law is hopelessly out of date. And what that means is that people can set up dummy campaigns promoting causes that are there to support an official candidate, but hide who's doing it, hide where the money's coming from,\" he said. \"You can use technology to effectively launder money into political campaigns in micro donations including from overseas and our electoral law was established to make sure voters could see who's campaigning on what, who's paying for it, who it's there to promote. And yet technology allows people to sidestep all of those rules and regulations.\" He went on: \"I don't understand why the government is taking so long. I think we should be looking at emergency legislation to bring our electoral law up to date. At least to establish the basic principles that the same requirements that exist in a poster or a leaflet should exist in an online ad and on Facebook as well.\" If Damian Collins MP can't understand why no new legislation has been passed, what hope the rest of us? The usual explanation proffered is that Brexit took up most of the bandwidth of Theresa May's administration, stifling the efforts of many reformers. It doesn't help at all that digital matters cut across several government departments; or that the rate of churn among cabinet ministers at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is, at least to the civil servants who have to deliver their policies, an unfunny joke. Nicky Morgan is the eighth secretary of state at the DCMS in the past nine years. In the same time, Google has had a single boss in the UK, Matt Brittin. Moreover, regulating technology is exceptionally hard. Algorithms and coding are understood by very few. Categorising companies, which much of company law depends on, can be near impossible, given hugely different organisations might fall under the same broad banner. For instance, under \"social media platform\" you might group Facebook, whose revenues are in the tens of billions, with an app developed by dog-lovers in Huddersfield who want to share pooch pics. Above all, the companies that need the most regulation are usually a) American; b) global in reach; and c) domiciled in places where they can limit their tax liability. Getting international agreement on how to approach these complex issues is very tough. And perhaps there is another reason why regulation of this sector has been slow. I interviewed Katharine Dommett, director of Sheffield's Crick Centre for the Public Understanding of Politics, who is now a special adviser to the Lords on these matters. Like the Electoral Commission, she acknowledged that Facebook in particular has made significant strides in opening itself up to scrutiny. The Facebook ad library is manna from heaven to geeks, but something short of that to journalists. You can see plenty about who is advertising, and who is being reached by particular adverts; but it is still not always clear who is paying for these ads. As I wrote in another blog post - The constant influence of dark ads - political donors who want to influence politics while avoiding the public scrutiny that comes from giving money directly to parties or politicians see social media as a great opportunity. According to Dr Dommett, the significant but crucially limited strides made by big technology companies - who focus principally on growing their bottom line, while legislators have a thousand more worries and pressures every morning - have allowed them to set the terms of this debate. It's important to understand that the likes of Google, Facebook and Twitter are radical extensions of the 20th Century advertising industry. They are giant persuasion machines, which we feed with data every time we scroll, click, like and share. Each of our actions allows them to add detail to their picture of us. That, in turn, gives those with a message to sell useful information about where to place their ads. Messages could be personal, commercial or political. We have advanced and generally approved an effective regulation of adverts. We have advanced and generally respected some very particular aspects of our politics. But stick the two together, add in the internet, and you have a mess. The influential campaigning group Who Targets Me has reported recently that Conservative spending is \"creeping up\". There was a big splurge after the ascension of Boris Johnson to the job of prime minister. This fact, and the re-assembly of the Vote Leave team under the leadership of Dominic Cummings, has re-ignited interest in this vast regulatory void in our democracy. But this is about much more than one man, one party, or one plebiscite. Across the political spectrum and across the world, social media is giving a platform to powerful forces who are able to avoid scrutiny. While it is true that, for reasons outlined above, coming up with effective regulation is tough, it's also true that at some point voters will begin to wonder why, years after we first started talking about it, voters are still being influenced by untraceable money. If you're interested in issues such as these, you can follow me on Twitter or Facebook; and subscribe to The Media Show podcast from BBC Radio 4.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6991, "answer_start": 3206, "text": "But there is, frankly, something weird going on here. Everyone agrees that we urgently need new legislation in this terrain. Indeed Damian Collins MP, the chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, says the time has come for emergency legislation. \"Our electoral law is hopelessly out of date. And what that means is that people can set up dummy campaigns promoting causes that are there to support an official candidate, but hide who's doing it, hide where the money's coming from,\" he said. \"You can use technology to effectively launder money into political campaigns in micro donations including from overseas and our electoral law was established to make sure voters could see who's campaigning on what, who's paying for it, who it's there to promote. And yet technology allows people to sidestep all of those rules and regulations.\" He went on: \"I don't understand why the government is taking so long. I think we should be looking at emergency legislation to bring our electoral law up to date. At least to establish the basic principles that the same requirements that exist in a poster or a leaflet should exist in an online ad and on Facebook as well.\" If Damian Collins MP can't understand why no new legislation has been passed, what hope the rest of us? The usual explanation proffered is that Brexit took up most of the bandwidth of Theresa May's administration, stifling the efforts of many reformers. It doesn't help at all that digital matters cut across several government departments; or that the rate of churn among cabinet ministers at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is, at least to the civil servants who have to deliver their policies, an unfunny joke. Nicky Morgan is the eighth secretary of state at the DCMS in the past nine years. In the same time, Google has had a single boss in the UK, Matt Brittin. Moreover, regulating technology is exceptionally hard. Algorithms and coding are understood by very few. Categorising companies, which much of company law depends on, can be near impossible, given hugely different organisations might fall under the same broad banner. For instance, under \"social media platform\" you might group Facebook, whose revenues are in the tens of billions, with an app developed by dog-lovers in Huddersfield who want to share pooch pics. Above all, the companies that need the most regulation are usually a) American; b) global in reach; and c) domiciled in places where they can limit their tax liability. Getting international agreement on how to approach these complex issues is very tough. And perhaps there is another reason why regulation of this sector has been slow. I interviewed Katharine Dommett, director of Sheffield's Crick Centre for the Public Understanding of Politics, who is now a special adviser to the Lords on these matters. Like the Electoral Commission, she acknowledged that Facebook in particular has made significant strides in opening itself up to scrutiny. The Facebook ad library is manna from heaven to geeks, but something short of that to journalists. You can see plenty about who is advertising, and who is being reached by particular adverts; but it is still not always clear who is paying for these ads. As I wrote in another blog post - The constant influence of dark ads - political donors who want to influence politics while avoiding the public scrutiny that comes from giving money directly to parties or politicians see social media as a great opportunity. According to Dr Dommett, the significant but crucially limited strides made by big technology companies - who focus principally on growing their bottom line, while legislators have a thousand more worries and pressures every morning - have allowed them to set the terms of this debate." } ], "id": "1037_0", "question": "Why the inaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The swollen River Seine in the French capital, Paris, has peaked at about four metres above its normal water level for the time of year. The flood level rose to 5.84m (19.2ft) early on Monday and is not expected to begin receding before Tuesday. Weeks of rainfall have produced a relentless rise in the water level. Around 1,500 people have been evacuated from their homes in the greater Paris region, while a similar number of homes remain without electricity. In 2016, the last significant flood in Paris, the river floodwater reached a high of 6.1m. Seven stations of a main commuter line, the RER C, have been closed until at least 5 February, and some expressways that run alongside the Seine have been closed. The city's famous Bateaux Mouches tourist boats are out of service, with only emergency services allowed to use the river. Many people who live on houseboats along the Seine have been affected by the rising water levels and strengthening currents. Those moored directly along the river have been evacuated to gyms in the city while others, like Gregory Deryckere, 36, who live in slightly more protected harbours up and down the waterway, have had to be towed closer to the land. \"My houseboat is in Port Van Gogh, in Asnieres, and was one of the furthest out into the Seine,\" he said. \"We've been temporarily 'attached' to two other boats so have to get across them in order to reach the pontoon now. \"My houseboat has been plugged into the electricity supply for a vacant boat so I do have power but I have no Wi-Fi connection. \"We just have to wait for the water levels drop before it's safe to move back to my normal location.\" At the Louvre, a lower level housing Islamic artwork was closed to visitors. Other famous attractions like the Musee d'Orsay and the Orangerie gallery were on high alert. Several areas on the city's outskirts are under water, and some residents are getting around by boat while dozens have been evacuated from their homes. Some schools are closed. Water levels are expected to remain high all week, as more rain is expected to worsen an already waterlogged soil, and towns downstream from Paris are expected to be affected in the coming days. A number of flood gauges are installed along the river, and the one at the Pont d'Austerlitz is often quoted. It is normal for this time of year for the water level to rise by one or two metres, the Franceinfo website reports. A statue of a French soldier from the Crimean War - known as The Zouave - on the Pont de l'Alma has also long been used as a marker for water levels in the city. On Saturday afternoon, the water was still well below his waist; during the historically bad floods of 1910, when the city was submerged for two months, it reached his neck.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2190, "answer_start": 839, "text": "Many people who live on houseboats along the Seine have been affected by the rising water levels and strengthening currents. Those moored directly along the river have been evacuated to gyms in the city while others, like Gregory Deryckere, 36, who live in slightly more protected harbours up and down the waterway, have had to be towed closer to the land. \"My houseboat is in Port Van Gogh, in Asnieres, and was one of the furthest out into the Seine,\" he said. \"We've been temporarily 'attached' to two other boats so have to get across them in order to reach the pontoon now. \"My houseboat has been plugged into the electricity supply for a vacant boat so I do have power but I have no Wi-Fi connection. \"We just have to wait for the water levels drop before it's safe to move back to my normal location.\" At the Louvre, a lower level housing Islamic artwork was closed to visitors. Other famous attractions like the Musee d'Orsay and the Orangerie gallery were on high alert. Several areas on the city's outskirts are under water, and some residents are getting around by boat while dozens have been evacuated from their homes. Some schools are closed. Water levels are expected to remain high all week, as more rain is expected to worsen an already waterlogged soil, and towns downstream from Paris are expected to be affected in the coming days." } ], "id": "1038_0", "question": "How is the flood affecting Parisians' lives?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2753, "answer_start": 2191, "text": "A number of flood gauges are installed along the river, and the one at the Pont d'Austerlitz is often quoted. It is normal for this time of year for the water level to rise by one or two metres, the Franceinfo website reports. A statue of a French soldier from the Crimean War - known as The Zouave - on the Pont de l'Alma has also long been used as a marker for water levels in the city. On Saturday afternoon, the water was still well below his waist; during the historically bad floods of 1910, when the city was submerged for two months, it reached his neck." } ], "id": "1038_1", "question": "How is the flood level calculated?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A sleepy district in Hebei province has suddenly become the centre of China's latest property craze and the talk of the country. Over the weekend, investors flocked to Xiongan in droves, while online it has been the subject of social media buzz. It all began on Saturday when the Chinese government announced the location of a special economic zone (SEZ) which would effectively serve as an extension of Beijing. The capital has been grappling with overcrowding, heavy pollution and congestion caused by a booming population, and officials are trying to relocate industries and encourage people to live further afield. Called Xiongan New Area, the 100 sq km (38.6 sq mile) zone is expected to eventually expand to 2,000 sq km - nearly three times the size of New York - and is a key component of a massive \"mega-region\" developing around Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. Chinese media quoted President Xi Jinping as saying Xiongan - home to one of China's biggest wetlands - would be developed to world class standards, with a focus on ecological protection and well-being. Anticipation about a new possible SEZ - where the local authorities have more freedom to make their own economic rules to appeal to domestic and foreign investors - had been bubbling for months. So when authorities confirmed its location in Xiongxian and Anxin counties, south of Beijing, investors wasted no time. Hundreds of property punters descended on the area immediately after the announcement. Locals saw their normally quiet streets flooded with cars bearing Beijing and Tianjin licence plates, while hotels were completely packed out, according to local media. One local told Beijing News: \"Today I've seen a lot of cars from elsewhere. \"I've been hanging out by the roadside just for a short while and so many people have approached me asking where they can buy houses, and how much the houses cost.\" Homeowners were overjoyed to find themselves sitting on potential goldmines, with their property value skyrocketing overnight. Online, jokes were made about how Xiongan men were suddenly the most desirable in the country thanks to their newfound wealth. One post that went viral on social media showed a man jauntily posing for the camera, purportedly advertising himself as marriage material. \"Xiongan New Area marriage notice: Male, 53 years old... has two acres of land in Xiongxian,\" the caption read. Not quite. Alarmed by the rocketing prices, the government moved in on Sunday to burst the nascent property bubble by suspending all new sales in the region. It also imposed strict regulations on who could develop and sell property in the area, as well as restrictions on residential permit registrations. But that hardly deterred investors, who simply redirected their attention to areas just outside Xiongan. Home prices in neighbouring counties have now started soaring too, reported the Global Times. Chinese authorities have struggled to contain the fervour of their vast pool of investors, who traditionally consider property a sure bet and who have fuelled spiralling prices. Government curbs introduced earlier this year did little to stop property sales by area rising by 25% in January and February, compared to the same period last year. Xiongan, it seems, is yet another chapter in China's obsession with property.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1068, "answer_start": 246, "text": "It all began on Saturday when the Chinese government announced the location of a special economic zone (SEZ) which would effectively serve as an extension of Beijing. The capital has been grappling with overcrowding, heavy pollution and congestion caused by a booming population, and officials are trying to relocate industries and encourage people to live further afield. Called Xiongan New Area, the 100 sq km (38.6 sq mile) zone is expected to eventually expand to 2,000 sq km - nearly three times the size of New York - and is a key component of a massive \"mega-region\" developing around Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. Chinese media quoted President Xi Jinping as saying Xiongan - home to one of China's biggest wetlands - would be developed to world class standards, with a focus on ecological protection and well-being." } ], "id": "1039_0", "question": "What caused the rush?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2386, "answer_start": 1069, "text": "Anticipation about a new possible SEZ - where the local authorities have more freedom to make their own economic rules to appeal to domestic and foreign investors - had been bubbling for months. So when authorities confirmed its location in Xiongxian and Anxin counties, south of Beijing, investors wasted no time. Hundreds of property punters descended on the area immediately after the announcement. Locals saw their normally quiet streets flooded with cars bearing Beijing and Tianjin licence plates, while hotels were completely packed out, according to local media. One local told Beijing News: \"Today I've seen a lot of cars from elsewhere. \"I've been hanging out by the roadside just for a short while and so many people have approached me asking where they can buy houses, and how much the houses cost.\" Homeowners were overjoyed to find themselves sitting on potential goldmines, with their property value skyrocketing overnight. Online, jokes were made about how Xiongan men were suddenly the most desirable in the country thanks to their newfound wealth. One post that went viral on social media showed a man jauntily posing for the camera, purportedly advertising himself as marriage material. \"Xiongan New Area marriage notice: Male, 53 years old... has two acres of land in Xiongxian,\" the caption read." } ], "id": "1039_1", "question": "What happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3313, "answer_start": 2387, "text": "Not quite. Alarmed by the rocketing prices, the government moved in on Sunday to burst the nascent property bubble by suspending all new sales in the region. It also imposed strict regulations on who could develop and sell property in the area, as well as restrictions on residential permit registrations. But that hardly deterred investors, who simply redirected their attention to areas just outside Xiongan. Home prices in neighbouring counties have now started soaring too, reported the Global Times. Chinese authorities have struggled to contain the fervour of their vast pool of investors, who traditionally consider property a sure bet and who have fuelled spiralling prices. Government curbs introduced earlier this year did little to stop property sales by area rising by 25% in January and February, compared to the same period last year. Xiongan, it seems, is yet another chapter in China's obsession with property." } ], "id": "1039_2", "question": "So good news for everyone?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Fuel tax rises which sparked weeks of violent protests in France have now been dropped from next year's budget, the government has announced. The move was announced by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who a day earlier had only promised to postpone them for six months. The \"gilets jaunes\" (yellow vest) protests have hit major cities over the past three weekends. Further demonstrations are planned for this weekend. They have grown to reflect more widespread anger at the government. The \"yellow vests\" are so called because they have taken to the streets wearing the high-visibility yellow clothing that is required to be carried in every vehicle by French law. Four people have died since the unrest began and the resulting violence and vandalism have been widely condemned. Mr Philippe said on Tuesday that the next planned rise in the so-called carbon tax on vehicle fuel, which had been due to come in on 1 January, would be suspended for six months to allow consultations. He also said that planned increases in gas and electricity prices this winter would be halted, and that a toughening of the rules for vehicle emissions tests would also be postponed. On Wednesday, Mr Philippe told the lower house of parliament: \"The government is ready for dialogue and is showing it because this tax increase has been dropped from the 2019 budget bill.\" It is a major climbdown by the government of President Macron, who had said the measures were necessary to combat climate change and meet budget deficit reduction targets. Mr Macron was elected on a platform of economic reform which would improve the lives of French people via lower unemployment and a kick-started economy. But many feel that has not emerged. An analysis of the 2018-19 budget carried out by France's public policy institute, for example, found that incomes for the poorest quarter of households would largely drop or stay the same under the plans. Middle-income earners would see a modest bump - but the greatest beneficiaries would be those who were already wealthy, in the top 1%. The pattern is worse for retired people - almost all of whom will be worse off. The \"gilets jaunes\" movement began as a protest against a rise in duties on diesel, which is widely used by French motorists and has long been less heavily taxed than other types of fuel. Protesters say Mr Macron is out of touch, particularly with non-city dwellers who rely on their cars. The movement has grown to reflect a range of grievances, including the marginalisation of rural areas, high living costs, and general anger at President Macron's economic policies. The protests have no identifiable leadership and gained momentum via social media, encompassing a range of participants from the anarchist far left to the nationalist far right, and plenty of moderates in between. In recent days, ambulance drivers and students have launched their own protests.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1524, "answer_start": 779, "text": "Mr Philippe said on Tuesday that the next planned rise in the so-called carbon tax on vehicle fuel, which had been due to come in on 1 January, would be suspended for six months to allow consultations. He also said that planned increases in gas and electricity prices this winter would be halted, and that a toughening of the rules for vehicle emissions tests would also be postponed. On Wednesday, Mr Philippe told the lower house of parliament: \"The government is ready for dialogue and is showing it because this tax increase has been dropped from the 2019 budget bill.\" It is a major climbdown by the government of President Macron, who had said the measures were necessary to combat climate change and meet budget deficit reduction targets." } ], "id": "1040_0", "question": "What has the prime minister said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2134, "answer_start": 1525, "text": "Mr Macron was elected on a platform of economic reform which would improve the lives of French people via lower unemployment and a kick-started economy. But many feel that has not emerged. An analysis of the 2018-19 budget carried out by France's public policy institute, for example, found that incomes for the poorest quarter of households would largely drop or stay the same under the plans. Middle-income earners would see a modest bump - but the greatest beneficiaries would be those who were already wealthy, in the top 1%. The pattern is worse for retired people - almost all of whom will be worse off." } ], "id": "1040_1", "question": "Why the widespread anger?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2900, "answer_start": 2135, "text": "The \"gilets jaunes\" movement began as a protest against a rise in duties on diesel, which is widely used by French motorists and has long been less heavily taxed than other types of fuel. Protesters say Mr Macron is out of touch, particularly with non-city dwellers who rely on their cars. The movement has grown to reflect a range of grievances, including the marginalisation of rural areas, high living costs, and general anger at President Macron's economic policies. The protests have no identifiable leadership and gained momentum via social media, encompassing a range of participants from the anarchist far left to the nationalist far right, and plenty of moderates in between. In recent days, ambulance drivers and students have launched their own protests." } ], "id": "1040_2", "question": "Who are the protesters?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "How does the prime minister's Irish border plan differ from the backstop? BBC News NI's economic and business editor John Campbell has a look. It was the plan for keeping the Irish border as open as it is today, if that can't be achieved through a trade deal or technological solutions. It was agreed by the former Prime Minister Theresa May in November 2018. It would mean the whole of the UK staying in a customs union with the EU. Northern Ireland alone would stay in EU's single market for goods. This arrangement would remain until both sides agreed there was something better to replace it. Prime Minister Boris Johnson opposes the backstop saying it is antidemocratic and could trap the UK in the EU's customs territory It says the whole of the UK should leave the EU's customs union. This inevitably means a new customs border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with new requirements for cross-border traders. However the prime minister believes the impact of this can be minimised with any checks taking place away from the border. His plan involves trusted trader schemes and simplified customs procedures with the smallest traders being exempt from all customs procedures. He suggests that physical checks would only be required on a small proportion of trade and that most checks could take place at traders' premises. However the plan suggests that checks may also have to happen at \"other designated locations which could be located anywhere in Ireland or Northern Ireland.\" Are those 'designated locations' customs posts by another name? The plan would also probably require the EU to make changes or derogations to its customs rules. Mr Johnson's plan has big similarities to the backstop. Northern Ireland would continue to follow EU rules on agriculture, food safety and industrial goods -the rest of the UK would not. That would effectively mean a new border in the Irish Sea with checks on goods coming in here from other parts of the UK. These sorts of checks already happen on livestock. All animals coming here from the rest of UK enter through an inspection post at Larne Harbour. The new plan would mean an increase in the scope and scale of these checks. One big difference in the new plan is that the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly would have to approve that single market arrangement coming into force. Then every four years, Stormont would have to decide if it wants to continue to follow EU rules or align with the rest of the UK. The DUP, which has welcomed the plan, believes that would mean Northern Ireland would always default to UK regulations unless there is a cross-community vote at Stormont to continue to follow EU regulations. Nationalist parties fear this would amount to a unionist veto on whether to continue to follow EU rules. That is because of the existence of a veto mechanism at Stormont known as the Petition of Concern. It seems unlikely at this stage. From the Irish government's point of view, they made an agreement with the UK in the 2017 Joint Report - a kind of interim deal - which said there would not be \"any physical infrastructure or related checks and controls\" as a result of Brexit. That was not just an agreement to prevent any new infrastructure at the Irish border, it was any new checks on the island of Ireland. So the Irish government's position has been that the UK agreed that the status quo would be maintained for cross-border trade. What Boris Johnson is proposing on customs would not meet those criteria.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1667, "answer_start": 727, "text": "It says the whole of the UK should leave the EU's customs union. This inevitably means a new customs border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland with new requirements for cross-border traders. However the prime minister believes the impact of this can be minimised with any checks taking place away from the border. His plan involves trusted trader schemes and simplified customs procedures with the smallest traders being exempt from all customs procedures. He suggests that physical checks would only be required on a small proportion of trade and that most checks could take place at traders' premises. However the plan suggests that checks may also have to happen at \"other designated locations which could be located anywhere in Ireland or Northern Ireland.\" Are those 'designated locations' customs posts by another name? The plan would also probably require the EU to make changes or derogations to its customs rules." } ], "id": "1041_0", "question": "How does his plan differ on customs?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2198, "answer_start": 1668, "text": "Mr Johnson's plan has big similarities to the backstop. Northern Ireland would continue to follow EU rules on agriculture, food safety and industrial goods -the rest of the UK would not. That would effectively mean a new border in the Irish Sea with checks on goods coming in here from other parts of the UK. These sorts of checks already happen on livestock. All animals coming here from the rest of UK enter through an inspection post at Larne Harbour. The new plan would mean an increase in the scope and scale of these checks." } ], "id": "1041_1", "question": "And what about single market rules?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2899, "answer_start": 2199, "text": "One big difference in the new plan is that the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly would have to approve that single market arrangement coming into force. Then every four years, Stormont would have to decide if it wants to continue to follow EU rules or align with the rest of the UK. The DUP, which has welcomed the plan, believes that would mean Northern Ireland would always default to UK regulations unless there is a cross-community vote at Stormont to continue to follow EU regulations. Nationalist parties fear this would amount to a unionist veto on whether to continue to follow EU rules. That is because of the existence of a veto mechanism at Stormont known as the Petition of Concern." } ], "id": "1041_2", "question": "What about Stormont?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3511, "answer_start": 2900, "text": "It seems unlikely at this stage. From the Irish government's point of view, they made an agreement with the UK in the 2017 Joint Report - a kind of interim deal - which said there would not be \"any physical infrastructure or related checks and controls\" as a result of Brexit. That was not just an agreement to prevent any new infrastructure at the Irish border, it was any new checks on the island of Ireland. So the Irish government's position has been that the UK agreed that the status quo would be maintained for cross-border trade. What Boris Johnson is proposing on customs would not meet those criteria." } ], "id": "1041_3", "question": "Will the Irish government go for this?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A school in the US state of Georgia is asking parents to consent to allowing their children to be spanked with a wooden paddle as a form of punishment. The Georgia School for Innovation and the Classics sent a letter to parents requesting to paddle students after their third behavioural infraction. Students who are not authorised to be paddled will instead face a suspension. Georgia is among 19 US states that allow corporal punishment - including paddling - in schools. \"In this school we take discipline very seriously,\" Superintendent Jody Boulineau told local media. \"There was a time where corporal punishment was kind of the norm in school and you didn't have the problems that you have,\" he added. \"It's just one more tool that we have in our disciplinary toolbox that we can use,\" he told WRDW-TV. Though it is defined differently in each state, corporal punishment is considered the use of moderate physical force or contact to enforce rules and discipline students. In some US states, using force to the point of bruising is acceptable. The school, located in Hephzibah, roughly 20 miles (32km) south of Augusta, sent a form to parents outlining the new guidelines, saying: \"A student will be taken into an office behind closed doors. \"The student will place their hands on their knees or piece of furniture and will be struck on the buttocks with a paddle.\" The form also says \"no more than three licks should be given\". The policy at the kindergarten through ninth grade charter school (roughly ages five to 15) has raised eyebrows on social media, with some pointing out the \"old school\" nature of the punishment. According to the superintendent, about 100 forms have been returned so far with about one third of parents giving their consent. Mr Boulineau argues that the policy should be viewed as a deterrent, saying that the practice \"won't be used very often\". Students whose parents have not authorised paddling can receive a suspension of up to five days. Nineteen states, including Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma and Louisiana, still permit physical force to be used in the disciplining of students. Rules in each state vary regarding what type of paddle can be used, how hard administrators are permitted to strike the child and whether \"bodily injury\" to the student is permissible. Corporal punishment is banned in 31 states and Washington DC. New Mexico most recently banned the practice in 2011. It is rare for a school district to have an official policy on the practice, according to US media. More than 200,000 students were paddled during the 2009-10 academic year, according to Vox.com.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2645, "answer_start": 1978, "text": "Nineteen states, including Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Oklahoma and Louisiana, still permit physical force to be used in the disciplining of students. Rules in each state vary regarding what type of paddle can be used, how hard administrators are permitted to strike the child and whether \"bodily injury\" to the student is permissible. Corporal punishment is banned in 31 states and Washington DC. New Mexico most recently banned the practice in 2011. It is rare for a school district to have an official policy on the practice, according to US media. More than 200,000 students were paddled during the 2009-10 academic year, according to Vox.com." } ], "id": "1042_0", "question": "Where is corporal punishment allowed in the US?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It has been a remarkable year of promise in medical science - from inventing ways of treating the untreatable to reversing paralysis and keeping the brain alive after death. \"It was like [being the] first man on the Moon,\" said 30-year-old Thibault. He was describing the moment he was able to take his first steps since being paralysed in a fall two years ago. He can now move all four of his paralysed limbs with a mind-controlled exoskeleton suit. His movements, particularly walking, are far from perfect and the robo-suit is being used only in the lab. But researchers say the approach could one day improve patients' quality of life. Meanwhile, nerves inside paralysed people's bodies have been \"rewired\" to give movement to their arms and hands. Patients in Australia can now feed themselves, put on make-up, turn a key, handle money and type at a computer. Mila Makovec's doctors have performed a seemingly impossible feat - a girl with a deadly brain disease has been given a unique drug that was invented from scratch just for her and all in less than a year. She was diagnosed with fatal and untreatable Batten disease. The eight-year-old's medical team in Boston performed whole-genome sequencing - a detailed interrogation - on Mila's DNA, her genetic code, and uncovered a unique mutation that was causing her disease. Having seen the fault, the researchers thought it might be possible to treat it. They designed a drug, tested it on Mila's cells and on animals in the laboratory and won approval to use it from the US Food and Drug Administration. Drugs normally take about a decade and a half to get from the laboratory, go through clinical trials and get to patients. The US team got there in a year. Mila is now having far fewer seizures, although she is not cured. A new class of medicine - called gene silencing - has shown its ability to reverse previously untreatable diseases. A gene is part of our DNA that contains the blueprint for making proteins, such as hormones, enzymes or raw building materials. But our DNA is locked away inside a cell's nucleus and kept apart from a cell's protein-making factories. So our bodies use a short strand of genetic code, called messenger RNA, to bridge the gap and carry the instructions. Gene-silencing drugs kill the messenger. Sue Burrell no longer has bouts of severe pain caused by her acute intermittent porphyria. And Vincent and Neil Nicholas are both taking gene silencing medicines for a disease called amyloidosis. Isabelle Carnell Holdaway's life was saved by an experimental cocktail of viruses. The teenager's body was being attacked by deadly and seemingly untreatable bacteria and she was given less than a 1% chance of survival. She had big, black, festering lesions forming on her skin where the infection was taking hold. And she ended up in intensive care when her liver started failing, with large colonies of bacteria forming in her body. But doctors at Great Ormond Street Hospital attempted an untested \"phage therapy\", which uses viruses to infect and kill bacteria. Phage-therapy never became mainstream medicine and the field was eclipsed by the discovery of antibiotics, which are much easier to use. But now phage-therapy is having a resurgence due to the rise of superbugs that are resistant to antibiotics. Isabelle's case could be the first of many. Charlotte Stevenson, a two-year-old from Belfast, was one of the first patients to benefit from a \"revolutionary\" new class of cancer drugs. Tumour-agnostic drugs do not care where the cancer is growing in the body as long as it has a specific genetic abnormality inside. The first, called larotrectinib, has been approved for use across Europe. It is designed to target tumours with a genetic abnormality known as an NTRK gene fusion. They can be found in Charlotte's sarcoma as well as some brain, kidney, thyroid and other cancers. Cancer immunotherapy has reached a huge milestone. The medicine uses a patient's own immune system to fight cancer and is a story we have followed closely. Now more than half of patients are surviving a deadly skin cancer (melanoma) that was considered untreatable just a decade ago. Ten years ago just one in 20 patients would live for five years after being diagnosed with late-stage melanoma. Most would die in months. It has been an extraordinary and rapid transformation in care. A US pharmaceutical company says it has developed the first drug to slow Alzheimer's disease. The drug, called aducanumab, is an antibody that clears toxic proteins that build up in the brain. The announcement in October was a massive surprise, as the firm Biogen had written off the drug in only March this year. Then it reviewed the evidence to show that those taking the highest dose did benefit and retained more memory and language ability and were better at day-to-day tasks such as cleaning, shopping and doing laundry. If the drug is approved, which is not guaranteed, it would be one of the most significant moments in modern medicine. Meanwhile, experts think they have found a new form of dementia and millions may have been wrongly diagnosed. Dementia is a symptom found in many diseases of the brain and memory loss is the most common feature. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of dementia and others include vascular dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, fronto-temporal dementia, Parkinson's disease dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Now \"limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy\" or more simply \"Late\" has been added to the list. One of our most followed stories of the year was the separation of two conjoined twins. Safa and Marwa were born joined at the skull and they had never been able to see each other's faces. There are no official figures for how often this happens, but one estimate says craniopagus conjoined twins are born once in every 2.5 million births. Most do not live longer than a day. To separate them required multiple surgeries, months of hard work and the expertise of hundreds of hospital workers. The line between life and death became fuzzy in 2019. Pig brains were partially revived four hours after the animals were slaughtered. The study showed the death of brain cells could be halted and that some connections in the brain were restored. The feat was performed by rhythmically pumping a synthetic blood around the decapitated brains. The surprise findings challenge the idea that the brain goes into irreversible decline within minutes of the blood supply being cut off and could lead to new treatments for brain damage and disorders. However, there were no signals from the brain that would indicate awareness or consciousness. A new way of editing the code of life could correct 89% of the errors in DNA that cause disease. The technology, called prime editing, has been described as a \"genetic word processor\" able to accurately re-write the genetic code. It is a bit like pressing Ctrl-F to find the bit of text you want to change, then pressing Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V to copy over the new text (or the command key if you're a Mac user). There are some 75,000 different mutations that can cause disease in people and the researchers say prime editing can fix nearly nine in 10 of them. It has already been used to correct damaging mutations in the lab, including those that cause sickle cell anaemia and Tay-Sachs disease (a rare and fatal nerve condition). Scientists have developed a brain implant that can read people's minds and turn their thoughts to speech. First an electrode is implanted in the brain to pick up the electrical signals that manoeuvre the lips, tongue, voice box and jaw. Then powerful computing is used to simulate how the movements in the mouth and throat would form different sounds. This results in synthesised speech coming out of a \"virtual vocal tract\". It is not perfect. If you listen to this recording of synthesised speech: You can tell it is not crystal clear (the recording says \"the proof you are seeking is not available in books\"). The team at the University of California, San Francisco says the technology could help people when disease robs them of their ability to talk. Vaping has been under intense scrutiny this year. More than 2,400 people have needed hospital treatment, and there have been 50 deaths, in the US from \"e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury\". Meanwhile, a teenage boy nearly died after vaping caused a catastrophic reaction in his lungs. But experts have continued to stress vaping is safer than smoking tobacco and this year came proof that vaping helps smokers quit. A trial, in the New England Journal of Medicine, found 18% of smokers who used them to quit remained smoke-free after a year, compared with 9.9% of those using traditional nicotine-replacements. * Researchers have produced unprecedented images of a baby's heart while it is still inside the womb. * Measles has a devastating impact on the body's immune system that could make it harder to fight infections for years. * The origins of the eating disorder anorexia nervosa are in both the mind and the body, with changes hardwired into some people's DNA altering the way they processed fats and sugars. * The ultimate limit of human endurance has been worked out by scientists analysing a 3,000-mile run, the Tour de France and other elite events. * A diet rich in bananas, chickpeas and peanuts can boost good gut bacteria to help malnourished children grow. * People keep making new brain cells throughout their lives (well at least until the age of 97), according to a study on human brains. * A \"pumping\" patch containing millions of living, beating stem cells could help repair the damage caused by a heart attack. * A fungus - genetically enhanced to produce spider toxin - can rapidly kill huge numbers of the mosquitoes that spread malaria. * Supercooling human livers to -4C triples the time they can be kept before transplant compared with putting them on ice. * It may not come as a surprise, but the food we eat is putting 11 million of us into an early grave each year. * Scientists have taken cancer apart piece by piece to reveal its weaknesses, and come up with new ideas for treatment. * Nearly everyone can lower their risk of dementia by up to a third, even if it runs in the family, by living a healthy lifestyle. Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5010, "answer_start": 4366, "text": "A US pharmaceutical company says it has developed the first drug to slow Alzheimer's disease. The drug, called aducanumab, is an antibody that clears toxic proteins that build up in the brain. The announcement in October was a massive surprise, as the firm Biogen had written off the drug in only March this year. Then it reviewed the evidence to show that those taking the highest dose did benefit and retained more memory and language ability and were better at day-to-day tasks such as cleaning, shopping and doing laundry. If the drug is approved, which is not guaranteed, it would be one of the most significant moments in modern medicine." } ], "id": "1043_0", "question": "A first drug to slow dementia?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "United States Senator Bernie Sanders is calling for an end to \"school lunch debt\". Mr Sanders, one of the Democratic Party candidates for the presidency, has been discussing the issue on social media. Fellow Democratic Party politicians have recently proposed legislation to curb it. When payment for a school meal is required but a student is unable to pay, this is a lunch debt or unpaid meal charge. So how widespread is it in America? About a quarter of children - 7.7 million in total - who are served lunches at public schools, pay full price. The rest qualify for free or reduced meals in schools - a government-funded programme which currently benefits millions of children across the country - based on family income. If students can't make their lunch payments - on a regular basis - there have been cases of schools refusing to serve them meals, or offering snacks instead. A school district in Rhode Island reversed a policy which would have limited pupils who owed lunch money to a meal of a jam and peanut butter sandwich, according to the Guardian. Steps have been taken to end \"lunch shaming\" - these are \"practices that embarrass children who are unable to pay for a meal\" according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Official guidance on the issue discourages \"the use of hand stamps, stickers, or other visual markers to identify children with lunch debt.\" Schools are encouraged to discuss debts privately and directly with adults, rather than through the child. Responding to the issue of school lunch debt in 2017, USDA introduced a rule which required schools to have written policies on unpaid meals. \"We are committed to continuing to work with schools to minimize the impact of unpaid meal charge issues on children, and on their bottom line,\" said a USDA spokesperson. States including New York, Texas, California and New Mexico have introduced legislation which involves serving meals to children whether they have outstanding debts or not. Lunch at every public school in New York City has been free since 2017. But this has seen unpaid meal debts escalate, said Diane Pratt-Heavner of the advocacy group the School Nutrition Association (SNA). In 2017, for example, Denver schools announced they would serve meals to students who couldn't pay. But this led to debt rising from $13,000 to $365,000, according to website Chalkbeat. There's an incomplete picture of school lunch debt across the country. One reason we might be hearing about this now is because lots of states and school districts are still reeling from budget cuts imposed after the 2008 recession, said Michael Hansen, Senior Fellow and Director at the US-based Brown Center on Education Policy. But it's not obvious if school lunch debt is growing, or is just an issue which has gathered more public opinion recently, he added. A government study in 2012 found that 58% of school districts incurred unpaid meal costs during the previous school year. A more recent survey by the SNA of 1,550 school districts, found that three-quarters of public school districts held unpaid meal debt at the end of 2017. The median debt at the school district level, amassed by all the schools in that area, was $2,500. The figures aren't broken down by individual school, so we don't know how much debt is owed per school or per student. Some districts reported substantially higher amounts, and others far less. A student can carry over the debt from one year to the next, but after the sum is deemed uncollectable - for example if the student graduates or leaves the area - it must then be paid off by the district. Government funds cannot be used once the debt becomes \"bad\" so schools are forced to use their school budgets or seek donations, said Ms Pratt-Heavner. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2368, "answer_start": 439, "text": "About a quarter of children - 7.7 million in total - who are served lunches at public schools, pay full price. The rest qualify for free or reduced meals in schools - a government-funded programme which currently benefits millions of children across the country - based on family income. If students can't make their lunch payments - on a regular basis - there have been cases of schools refusing to serve them meals, or offering snacks instead. A school district in Rhode Island reversed a policy which would have limited pupils who owed lunch money to a meal of a jam and peanut butter sandwich, according to the Guardian. Steps have been taken to end \"lunch shaming\" - these are \"practices that embarrass children who are unable to pay for a meal\" according to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Official guidance on the issue discourages \"the use of hand stamps, stickers, or other visual markers to identify children with lunch debt.\" Schools are encouraged to discuss debts privately and directly with adults, rather than through the child. Responding to the issue of school lunch debt in 2017, USDA introduced a rule which required schools to have written policies on unpaid meals. \"We are committed to continuing to work with schools to minimize the impact of unpaid meal charge issues on children, and on their bottom line,\" said a USDA spokesperson. States including New York, Texas, California and New Mexico have introduced legislation which involves serving meals to children whether they have outstanding debts or not. Lunch at every public school in New York City has been free since 2017. But this has seen unpaid meal debts escalate, said Diane Pratt-Heavner of the advocacy group the School Nutrition Association (SNA). In 2017, for example, Denver schools announced they would serve meals to students who couldn't pay. But this led to debt rising from $13,000 to $365,000, according to website Chalkbeat." } ], "id": "1044_0", "question": "Who qualifies?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hong Kong International Airport saw chaotic scenes on a second consecutive day of massive anti-government protests that have paralysed one of Asia's key transport hubs. Squads of riot police arrived shortly before midnight after thousands of demonstrators again flooded the terminal buildings during the day. Flight departures were brought to a standstill amid scuffles. At least three men were mobbed inside the airport by protesters. They were said to be holding identity cards showing they were police officers from mainland China. Hong Kong police have admitted deploying officers disguised as anti-government protesters during the unrest in the city. But the editor of China's Global Times newspaper said one of those attacked was one of his reporters who was merely doing his job. The airport, one of the world's busiest, has been the site of daily protests since Friday. It has become the latest focus of mass political unrest in Hong Kong that began 10 weeks ago and shows no signs of abating. The wider anti-government protests started in June in response to a proposed extradition bill, which has now been suspended, but have evolved into a more demanding pro-democracy movement. They are being fuelled by fears that the freedoms Hong Kong enjoys as a special administrative region of China are being eroded. The city's leader, Carrie Lam, earlier issued a fresh warning to protesters. Ms Lam said Hong Kong had \"reached [a] dangerous situation\" and that violence during protests would push it \"down a path of no return\". Meanwhile, Chinese state media have published images of convoys of military police gathering in the border city of Shenzhen, says the BBC's Stephen McDonell, who is in Hong Kong. The official Xinhua news agency said \"mobsters\" had created \"an atmosphere of terror\" on Hong Kong's streets. The BBC's Jonathan Head reports from Hong Kong airport The activists are on edge knowing that China has vowed to punish them and that riot police are just outside the terminal. Fear of infiltrators is everywhere. Suspected undercover officers were mobbed and sometimes beaten. An attempt by a police delegation to get them out turned into a furious confrontation. There were cheers as protesters disabled the airport security cameras. But after this, what next? This protest movement has proved nimble and inventive, capable of bringing one of Asia's biggest transport hubs to a standstill. But the Hong Kong government has ignored their demands and at some point, surely, it will try to drive them out. Despite the latest warnings from officials, crowds gathered at the airport again on Tuesday. Protesters used luggage trolleys to build barriers and staged a mass sit-down, bringing chaos to the departures area. Some travellers were clearly distressed and angered by the disruption. Hong Kong airport officials then announced that all checking-in for flights was suspended from 16:30 local time (10:30 GMT). In a statement on the airport's website, passengers were advised to leave the terminal buildings \"as soon as possible\". On Wednesday, the Airport Authority said it had obtained an injunction to restrain protesters who obstruct or interfere with operations. In a statement, it said people would be \"restrained from attending or participating in any demonstration... other than in the area designated by the Airport Authority\". It was not clear how the injunction would be enforced. Monday's disruption had already led to hundreds of flight cancellations at the airport. Some airlines, including flagship airline Cathay Pacific, cancelled dozens of flights on Tuesday before the latest closures were announced. Some protesters held signs apologising to passengers for the inconvenience caused by their demonstrations. Others wore eye bandages in solidarity with an injured protester and brandished slogans criticising the police's deepening crackdown. Later, amid tense scenes, there were sporadic clashes between police and protesters outside the airport. The police, wearing riot gear and brandishing truncheons, used pepper spray against some protesters as they briefly entered the terminal buildings to help evacuate an injured man. In one video posted to social media, a policeman is seen frantically drawing his gun at protesters after being attacked with his own truncheon. Protesters had boxed him into a corner after prying the baton from his hands during a violent skirmish. After collapsing to the ground, the policeman was eventually dragged to safety by his fellow officers. Wall Street journalist Mike Bird, who posted the footage to Twitter, wrote that he was \"astonished\" nobody was killed on Tuesday night. Many of the protesters had left the airport late on Tuesday, as they did on Monday before returning in numbers. Ms Lam addressed the latest violence at a hostile press conference on Tuesday. \"Take a minute to think, look at our city, our home - do you all really want to see it pushed into an abyss?\" she said, at times appearing close to tears. Her comments echoed similar remarks by an official from the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong, who said on Monday that the city would slide \"into a bottomless abyss if the terror atrocities are allowed to continue\". Local journalists unleashed a barrage of questions in Cantonese and English toward Ms Lam, many condemning her response to the unrest. She told members of the media she was \"heartbroken\" by reports of serious injuries at last weekend's protests, but appeared to defend the police from claims they used disproportionate force, saying they were acting under \"extremely difficult circumstances\". Later, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that US intelligence had informed him of a border deployment by Chinese troops, adding: \"Everyone should be calm and safe.\" Speaking to reporters, he described the situation as \"tricky\" and said he hoped it would end peacefully. \"I hope it works out for everybody, including China. I hope it works out peacefully. I hope nobody gets hurt. I hope nobody gets killed,\" he said. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, urged authorities to exercise restraint during protests - amid criticism of the police response. \"Officials can be seen firing tear gas canisters into crowded, enclosed areas and directly at individual protesters on multiple occasions, creating a considerable risk of death or serious injury,\" she said in a statement that called for an investigation. The comments came after ugly footage emerged of confrontations on Sunday. A number of people, including a police officer, were injured in the clashes. Are you at Hong Kong airport? Email [email protected] Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1820, "answer_start": 787, "text": "The airport, one of the world's busiest, has been the site of daily protests since Friday. It has become the latest focus of mass political unrest in Hong Kong that began 10 weeks ago and shows no signs of abating. The wider anti-government protests started in June in response to a proposed extradition bill, which has now been suspended, but have evolved into a more demanding pro-democracy movement. They are being fuelled by fears that the freedoms Hong Kong enjoys as a special administrative region of China are being eroded. The city's leader, Carrie Lam, earlier issued a fresh warning to protesters. Ms Lam said Hong Kong had \"reached [a] dangerous situation\" and that violence during protests would push it \"down a path of no return\". Meanwhile, Chinese state media have published images of convoys of military police gathering in the border city of Shenzhen, says the BBC's Stephen McDonell, who is in Hong Kong. The official Xinhua news agency said \"mobsters\" had created \"an atmosphere of terror\" on Hong Kong's streets." } ], "id": "1045_0", "question": "Why the protests?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6600, "answer_start": 4766, "text": "Ms Lam addressed the latest violence at a hostile press conference on Tuesday. \"Take a minute to think, look at our city, our home - do you all really want to see it pushed into an abyss?\" she said, at times appearing close to tears. Her comments echoed similar remarks by an official from the Chinese Liaison Office in Hong Kong, who said on Monday that the city would slide \"into a bottomless abyss if the terror atrocities are allowed to continue\". Local journalists unleashed a barrage of questions in Cantonese and English toward Ms Lam, many condemning her response to the unrest. She told members of the media she was \"heartbroken\" by reports of serious injuries at last weekend's protests, but appeared to defend the police from claims they used disproportionate force, saying they were acting under \"extremely difficult circumstances\". Later, US President Donald Trump said on Twitter that US intelligence had informed him of a border deployment by Chinese troops, adding: \"Everyone should be calm and safe.\" Speaking to reporters, he described the situation as \"tricky\" and said he hoped it would end peacefully. \"I hope it works out for everybody, including China. I hope it works out peacefully. I hope nobody gets hurt. I hope nobody gets killed,\" he said. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet, urged authorities to exercise restraint during protests - amid criticism of the police response. \"Officials can be seen firing tear gas canisters into crowded, enclosed areas and directly at individual protesters on multiple occasions, creating a considerable risk of death or serious injury,\" she said in a statement that called for an investigation. The comments came after ugly footage emerged of confrontations on Sunday. A number of people, including a police officer, were injured in the clashes." } ], "id": "1045_1", "question": "What has been the reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Malaysia's new prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad, has said he believes most of the money missing in a notorious corruption scandal can be returned. The row over the 1Malaysian Development Berhad (1MDB) state investment fund dogged his predecessor, Najib Razak, and contributed to his shock defeat. \"We believe that we can get most of the 1MDB money back,\" Dr Mahathir said. Malaysia's former strongman is back in power at the age of 92 following a gap of 15 years. He came out of retirement to oppose Mr Najib, a former ally, as the 1MDB scandal raged two years ago. Mr Najib was accused of pocketing some $700m (PS520m) from the fund, which he himself had set up, but he vehemently denied the allegations and was cleared by Malaysian authorities. The fund, meanwhile, is still being investigated by several countries. Set up in 2009, the fund was meant to turn the capital city Kuala Lumpur into a financial hub and boost the economy through strategic investments. But it started to attract negative attention in early 2015 after it missed payments for some of the $11bn it owed to banks and bondholders. Then the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported it had seen a paper trail that allegedly traced close to $700m from the fund to Mr Najib's personal bank accounts. Late last year, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions described the scandal as \"kleptocracy at its worst\". The US government has been looking to seize more than $1.7bn in assets believed to have been stolen from the fund. Asked on Thursday if the new government would introduce changes in agencies accused of acting on Mr Najib's behalf, Malaysia's new prime minister replied: \"Certain heads must fall.\" \"We have to increase the confidence of investors in the administration,\" he said. Dr Mahathir also renewed his promise to seek to have his former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, released and pardoned. When Dr Mahathir was previously in power, Anwar was jailed for corruption and sodomy after calling for economic and political reforms. He was released in 2004 but jailed again under Mr Najib in 2015. He is currently due for release next month. Official results show his Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition secured 113 of the 222 seats contested at Wednesday's election, including some which had only ever been held by the government. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which had been in power since independence in 1957, took 79 seats. Rising living costs also weighed heavily on many voters and saw them peel away from Mr Najib and his once unshakeable coalition. By Jonathan Head, BBC South East Asia correspondent A day that began with an election result few had expected ended with cheers for the 92-year-old man who had made it possible, as he returned from being sworn in as prime minister. Mahathir Mohamad, who retired after running the country for more than two decades, is back, this time at the head of an opposition movement whose members he once harassed and jailed, but which he recently joined to help them oust his successor, Najib Razak, whom he accused of shaming Malaysia with his corruption. Malaysia has never experienced a political transition before. Dr Mahathir began his with a warning to the outgoing prime minister that he now faces possible prosecution. For Mr Najib, heading a party which, until today, had never lost power, this election has been a disaster. He promised to respect the will of the people and the principles of parliamentary democracy - but it is not clear yet how co-operative he will be with the incoming administration. No-one is quite sure what happens next. At 92, Dr Mahathir is still astonishingly fit but he has promised to step down within two years to make way for the imprisoned opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, who started the movement 20 years ago to unseat a prime minister whose name was then... Mahathir Mohamad, one of many ironies in this extraordinary story.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1482, "answer_start": 818, "text": "Set up in 2009, the fund was meant to turn the capital city Kuala Lumpur into a financial hub and boost the economy through strategic investments. But it started to attract negative attention in early 2015 after it missed payments for some of the $11bn it owed to banks and bondholders. Then the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported it had seen a paper trail that allegedly traced close to $700m from the fund to Mr Najib's personal bank accounts. Late last year, US Attorney General Jeff Sessions described the scandal as \"kleptocracy at its worst\". The US government has been looking to seize more than $1.7bn in assets believed to have been stolen from the fund." } ], "id": "1046_0", "question": "What is the 1MDB scandal about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2115, "answer_start": 1483, "text": "Asked on Thursday if the new government would introduce changes in agencies accused of acting on Mr Najib's behalf, Malaysia's new prime minister replied: \"Certain heads must fall.\" \"We have to increase the confidence of investors in the administration,\" he said. Dr Mahathir also renewed his promise to seek to have his former deputy prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, released and pardoned. When Dr Mahathir was previously in power, Anwar was jailed for corruption and sodomy after calling for economic and political reforms. He was released in 2004 but jailed again under Mr Najib in 2015. He is currently due for release next month." } ], "id": "1046_1", "question": "What action is Mahathir promising?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2550, "answer_start": 2116, "text": "Official results show his Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition secured 113 of the 222 seats contested at Wednesday's election, including some which had only ever been held by the government. The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, which had been in power since independence in 1957, took 79 seats. Rising living costs also weighed heavily on many voters and saw them peel away from Mr Najib and his once unshakeable coalition." } ], "id": "1046_2", "question": "What is the scale of Mahathir's victory?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It is, to many observers, abundantly clear that Dilma Rousseff does not enjoy frontline politics. The Brazilian president is ideologically driven, intelligent and committed to her mandate. But, compared to the tact and political nous of her predecessor, President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the current incumbent of the presidential palace in Brasilia casts a lonely figure, reluctant to immerse herself in the deal-making, opportunistic world of Brazilian politics. Even some of her allies agree that, although re-elected as president two years ago, Ms Rousseff has not been a particularly great or successful leader. Brazil's first female president is going through one of the most difficult periods of her political life. This week she walked out slowly, barely managing a smile, before the foreign media in Brasilia. The make-up could not conceal the tired lines on the face of a woman who feels she is being wronged and betrayed by a misogynistic, treacherous Congress. She looks down, but Dilma Rousseff insists she is not out. \"More than 50 million people voted for me so my political enemies, who couldn't accept defeat at the polls, have been plotting against me from day one,\" said Ms Rousseff in a long defence of her record. The formal charges against the president are that she used a series of (well-established) financial tricks to conceal the size of the budget deficit in the run up to elections. During the cut and thrust of the three-day-long Congressional debate on impeachment and the subsequent vote, Dilma Rousseff was hardly seen in public. She cancelled a scheduled appearance at a rally in Brasilia, disappointing many of her supporters who had travelled extremely long distances (mainly by bus) to keep vigil outside Congress as the results of the impeachment vote came in. The official reason for impeachment was mentioned by barely a handful of deputies as they voted. Few observers were left in any doubt that this was, in reality, a vote of confidence in Dilma Rousseff's inability to tackle Brazil's worsening economic crisis. Now, in the days following her humiliating defeat by more than two-thirds of the 513-member Congress, the woman who could be in the last weeks of her presidency and is facing the probability of a full impeachment trial in the Senate, has belatedly been giving a detailed rejection of the charges against her. But it all feels rather too late. The irony is that someone who insists she is not corrupt and has not gained personally or financially from the corruption scandal that is engulfing Brazil, is the one being led to the gallows. Under President Lula, Brazil's economy had boomed, millions were brought out of poverty and everyone was happy to share in the good times. Dilma Rousseff's mistake when things started to go wrong was that she was unwilling, or unable, to play by the rules - the shady deal making with big business and political opponents - that had served President Lula so well. Thomas Traumann, former minister of social communication under Dilma Rousseff, paints a picture of an indecisive leader. \"There was no mea culpa\" over the country's economic crisis, Mr Traumann told the BBC. \"Now it's far too late,\" added the former minister who had warned of impending chaos before he left the government last year. Speaking to the foreign media, Dilma Rousseff would not even mention by name her Vice-President, Michel Temer, or the Speaker of the lower house of Congress, Eduardo Cunha. Both men belong to the broad and ideologically loose PMDB party and both would benefit from Ms Rousseff's departure. Mr Temer, the first in line to succeed a suspended Ms Rousseff, is theoretically liable to the same charges as she is, given his role as her deputy. Mr Cunha, an ice-cold operator who orchestrated the impeachment vote in Congress, has been accused of serious corruption charges, which he denies. He has, with limited success, tried to divert attention with his attack on President Rousseff. Another Congressman that Dilma Rousseff could not bring herself to name, for much more personal reasons, was Jair Bolsonaro. Hugely popular with right-wing voters, the anti-gay former military officer dedicated his vote in Congress to one of the former dictatorship's most feared torturers and human rights abusers, Carlos Brilhante Ustra. Ms Rousseff was tortured as a political prisoner in the 1970s, so I asked her about the attacks in Congress. \"It is regrettable,\" said Ms Rousseff. \"I was a prisoner and I knew the man he is referring to quite well. He was one of the biggest torturers Brazil has had. \"It's lamentable that this moment in our history has opened the door to intolerance and hate,\" she added. It is often said of a country that you get the leaders you deserve. Dilma Rousseff may not have been a great president but she surely deserves to be treated with more respect and dignity. She could be replaced by any one of several male politicians who are accused of far more serious corruption offences, or even by the man who mocked the abuse she received as a prisoner in the 1970s. Then perhaps, Brazil and its sullied political system - of which the governing Workers' Party is a fully paid-up member - will get the government that it deserves.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3293, "answer_start": 2402, "text": "The irony is that someone who insists she is not corrupt and has not gained personally or financially from the corruption scandal that is engulfing Brazil, is the one being led to the gallows. Under President Lula, Brazil's economy had boomed, millions were brought out of poverty and everyone was happy to share in the good times. Dilma Rousseff's mistake when things started to go wrong was that she was unwilling, or unable, to play by the rules - the shady deal making with big business and political opponents - that had served President Lula so well. Thomas Traumann, former minister of social communication under Dilma Rousseff, paints a picture of an indecisive leader. \"There was no mea culpa\" over the country's economic crisis, Mr Traumann told the BBC. \"Now it's far too late,\" added the former minister who had warned of impending chaos before he left the government last year." } ], "id": "1047_0", "question": "No regrets?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An infection linked to pigeon droppings was a \"contributing factor\" in the death of a child at a Glasgow hospital, it has been confirmed. The child was being treated at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital when he or she appears to have caught the infection - a fungus called cryptococcus. The child has not been named. The fungus did not contribute to the death in December of a second patient infected with the same pathogen, say experts. Cryptococcus is a yeast-like fungus that lives in the environment. It can be found in soil contaminated by pigeon droppings. People can become infected if they breathe it in. The child who died in December at the hospital in Glasgow had been exposed to the fungus. Experts say the probable source has been traced to a room on the rooftop of the hospital. Pigeon droppings appeared in the room via a small break in the wall which was \"invisible to the naked eye\", Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed. The hospital says it has put infection control measures in place and no further cases have been reported. Most won't get sick, but vulnerable people with already weakened immunity can get very ill with a chest infection or meningitis. Expert Prof Hugh Pennington says it is very unusual to see cases in the UK. \"It is common in other parts of the world, particularly tropical parts, in the US and countries like that where they have more problems with this particular kind of fungus. But in the UK, very uncommon. \"There are cases in people who have problems with their immune systems. They're the people who are at risk with this kind of bug.\" Cryptococcus infection cannot spread from person to person. Breathing dust or water droplets containing contaminated bird droppings can lead to several diseases, including a flu-like illness called psittacosis. Salmonella - a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhoea - may also be present in some bird droppings. If you are cleaning up or come into contact with droppings, you should take precautions. Wash your hands and clean any exposed skin before eating, drinking or putting your hands near your mouth. Likewise, if you are feeding or handling birds, wash your hands afterwards. If you have a compromised immune system, including from HIV/AIDS or cancer, you should not clean up droppings.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 568, "answer_start": 444, "text": "Cryptococcus is a yeast-like fungus that lives in the environment. It can be found in soil contaminated by pigeon droppings." } ], "id": "1048_0", "question": "What is it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1063, "answer_start": 569, "text": "People can become infected if they breathe it in. The child who died in December at the hospital in Glasgow had been exposed to the fungus. Experts say the probable source has been traced to a room on the rooftop of the hospital. Pigeon droppings appeared in the room via a small break in the wall which was \"invisible to the naked eye\", Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirmed. The hospital says it has put infection control measures in place and no further cases have been reported." } ], "id": "1048_1", "question": "How can you catch it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1662, "answer_start": 1064, "text": "Most won't get sick, but vulnerable people with already weakened immunity can get very ill with a chest infection or meningitis. Expert Prof Hugh Pennington says it is very unusual to see cases in the UK. \"It is common in other parts of the world, particularly tropical parts, in the US and countries like that where they have more problems with this particular kind of fungus. But in the UK, very uncommon. \"There are cases in people who have problems with their immune systems. They're the people who are at risk with this kind of bug.\" Cryptococcus infection cannot spread from person to person." } ], "id": "1048_2", "question": "How risky is it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2301, "answer_start": 1663, "text": "Breathing dust or water droplets containing contaminated bird droppings can lead to several diseases, including a flu-like illness called psittacosis. Salmonella - a bacterial infection that can cause diarrhoea - may also be present in some bird droppings. If you are cleaning up or come into contact with droppings, you should take precautions. Wash your hands and clean any exposed skin before eating, drinking or putting your hands near your mouth. Likewise, if you are feeding or handling birds, wash your hands afterwards. If you have a compromised immune system, including from HIV/AIDS or cancer, you should not clean up droppings." } ], "id": "1048_3", "question": "How dangerous is pigeon poo?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "South Africa's highest court has ruled that a top state official charged with investigating corruption lied under oath and acted in bad faith. It upheld a court ruling from last year that Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane had acted in bad faith while investigating a bank bailout. It is the latest controversy to hit Busisiwe Mkhwebane. She has been accused of undermining President Cyril Ramaphosa's war against high-level corruption. Her critics say she is being used by supporters of former President Jacob Zuma, who is facing corruption charges. Last week, Ms Mkhwebane ruled that Mr Ramaphosa had misled parliament over a campaign donation and should be investigated, following a complaint from the Democratic Alliance opposition party. Mr Ramaphosa said on Sunday he would be mounting a legal challenge. He denied the allegations, saying her findings were \"fundamentally and irretrievably flawed\". Ms Mkhwebane has defended her work, saying it is being done according to the law and the constitution. Many of Ms Mkhwebane's recent reports have become swamped by scandal and led to claims she is siding with Mr Zuma's faction within the governing African National Congress (ANC), says the BBC's Andrew Harding in Johannesburg. Mr Ramaphosa replaced Mr Zuma as party leader last year after the then-president became embroiled in numerous corruption scandals. The courts overruled Ms Mkhwebane on several occasions recently. The Constitutional Court upheld a High Court ruling that ordered Ms Mkhwebane to pay $62,000 (PS50,000) in legal fees in a dispute between her office and South Africa's Reserve Bank. Ms Mkhwebane previously denied any wrongdoing. Reacting to the judgement on Monday, she noted that the court had not been unanimous, our reporter says. The devastating judgement by the Constitutional Court will, however, add weight to claims that Ms Mkhwebane is involved in a dirty tricks campaign to undermine President Ramaphosa and halt his campaign against high-level corruption, our reporter says. Busisiwe Mkhwebane was backed for the public protector's job by an overwhelming 263 MPs during a debate in the 400-member parliament. She has only been in the job for less than three years but has already faced two attempts to remove her from office, accusations of political bias and, most scathing of all, a reprimand from the Constitutional Court. Accusations that she is a spy and Zuma loyalist are not dissimilar to those levelled against her predecessor, Thuli Madonsela, who was accused by allies of Mr Zuma of working for the CIA. These claims have not been substantiated. Ms Mkhwebane is not one to shy away from a fight. She is also not one to accept defeat, not even from the highest court, it seems. She is determined to clear her name and restore the public's faith in her as their protector.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2016, "answer_start": 1430, "text": "The Constitutional Court upheld a High Court ruling that ordered Ms Mkhwebane to pay $62,000 (PS50,000) in legal fees in a dispute between her office and South Africa's Reserve Bank. Ms Mkhwebane previously denied any wrongdoing. Reacting to the judgement on Monday, she noted that the court had not been unanimous, our reporter says. The devastating judgement by the Constitutional Court will, however, add weight to claims that Ms Mkhwebane is involved in a dirty tricks campaign to undermine President Ramaphosa and halt his campaign against high-level corruption, our reporter says." } ], "id": "1049_0", "question": "Why was she convicted of lying under oath?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The mother of a US soldier who was killed in action has backed a congresswoman's claim that President Donald Trump showed insensitivity during a phone call to her son's widow. Representative Frederica Wilson said he had told Myeshia Johnson: \"He knew what he was signing up for, but I guess it hurts anyway.\" Mr Trump said Ms Wilson's account was \"totally fabricated\". Sgt La David Johnson was killed in Niger by Islamist militants this month. He was one of four US special forces soldiers who died in an ambush. Mr Trump had already been criticised for not contacting the families of the dead servicemen right after the fatal ambush on 4 October. Sgt Johnson's mother, Cowanda Jones-Johnson, backed Representative Wilson's account of the phone call. \"President Trump did disrespect my son and my daughter and also me and my husband,\" she told the Washington Post newspaper. A separate case which saw Mr Trump offer money to the grieving father of a dead serviceman in a call, but allegedly not pay up, has now emerged. \"He said: 'I'm going to write you a cheque out of my personal account for $25,000', and I was just floored,\" the father told the Washington Post. The White House told the newspaper on Wednesday that the cheque had been sent, saying it was a \"generous and sincere gesture\". According to CNN, it was sent the same day that the Washington Post report came to light. Ms Wilson, who represents a Florida district, told CNN the president's call had been made shortly before Sgt Johnson's coffin arrived by aircraft in his home city of Miami. Ms Wilson told WPLG, a Miami TV station, she had heard the president's \"so insensitive\" remarks to the widow on speakerphone in a limousine. \"To me, that is something that you can say in a conversation, but you shouldn't say that to a grieving widow,\" she said. \"And everyone knows when you go to war, you could possibly not come back alive. But you don't remind a grieving widow of that.\" Former Nato commander: Trump must be 'consoler-in-chief' Ms Wilson told the Washington Post that Ms Johnson, who is expecting the couple's third child, had broken down in tears after the conversation. \"He made her cry,\" Ms Wilson said. The congresswoman told the newspaper that she had wanted to grab the phone and \"curse him out\", but an army sergeant who was holding the handset would not let her speak to the president. Ms Johnson responded to Mr Trump's denial by tweeting: \"I still stand by my account of the call b/t @realDonaldTrump and Myeshia Johnson. That is her name, Mr Trump. Not \"the woman\" or \"the wife\". She later issued a statement saying she did not wish to \"engage in a petty war of words with Mr Trump\" but again standing by everything she had said. The president tweeted on Wednesday morning: \"Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!\" Mr Trump has yet to provide any evidence. A White House official said Mr Trump's conversations with the families of dead servicemen were private. Mr Trump later told reporters: \"I did not say what she [Ms Wilson] said... I had a very nice conversation.\" When asked about what \"proof\" he could offer, Mr Trump said: \"Let her make her statement again, then you will find out.\" Later, at a White House briefing, press secretary Sarah Sanders condemned Ms Wilson who she said had \"politicised\" the issue. \"This was a president who loves our country very much, who has the greatest level of respect for men and women in the uniform and wanted to call and offer condolences to the family. \"And I think to try and create something from that... is frankly appalling and disgusting.\" By Anthony Zurcher, senior North America reporter, BBC News In US politics, nothing is off-limits any more. After (inaccurately) swiping at his predecessors for not calling the family members of US soldiers killed in combat, Mr Trump is on the defensive over allegations he mishandled a call with a grieving widow. The accuser is a partisan Democratic congresswoman and the president, not surprisingly, is pushing back hard. This controversy is spiralling towards the gutter. Mr Trump made this bed, however. He was quick to cite the slain son of chief of staff John Kelly to justify his contention that Barack Obama didn't always make phone calls. Then there were the disparaging comments candidate Mr Trump made last summer about the parents of a Muslim-American soldier killed in Iraq. The more this story drags on - and it will drag on - the more damage it could do to a president who wraps himself in the symbols of patriotism and the military, but is in danger of being viewed by the public as lacking empathy when it counts most. An important presidential role is consoler-in-chief during times of tragedy. Successful politicians learn early that they need a human touch. It's a job Mr Trump, the anti-politician, has little experience doing - and it shows. Five reasons Trump's widow story stings Mr Trump has been on the defensive over the deaths in Niger since a reporter asked him at the White House on Monday why he had still not called the families. He provoked fury by falsely claiming that his predecessor, Barack Obama, and other former US presidents had not called the relatives of dead service members. Mr Trump also said he had written letters to the families of the four servicemen killed in Niger and planned to call them soon. The White House later said the president had spoken to the families but it did not say when. On Tuesday, Mr Trump ratcheted up the row by suggesting that President Obama had not called the family of Mr Trump's chief of staff, Gen John Kelly, when his son was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. The Associated Press says that like presidents before him, Mr Trump has made personal contact with some families of dead soldiers - but not all. \"What's different is that Trump, alone among them, has picked a political fight over who's done better to honour the war dead and their families,\" the American news agency reports. \"He placed himself at the top of this pantheon, boasting Tuesday that 'I think I've called every family of someone who's died' while past presidents didn't place such calls'.\" Politico magazine is carrying a report saying that a statement about the Niger ambush victims was prepared - but never released. This is not the first time Mr Trump has found himself in an imbroglio over US veterans. As presidential candidate, he mocked Senator John McCain for having been captured and held as a prisoner of war in Vietnam after his aircraft was shot down. Mr McCain has been praised for the bravery he showed during torture by his VietCong captors, and for his leadership of other American prisoners. Mr Trump also engaged in a feud with the parents of decorated army captain Humayun Khan, a Muslim-American who was killed in Iraq in 2004.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2715, "answer_start": 1383, "text": "Ms Wilson, who represents a Florida district, told CNN the president's call had been made shortly before Sgt Johnson's coffin arrived by aircraft in his home city of Miami. Ms Wilson told WPLG, a Miami TV station, she had heard the president's \"so insensitive\" remarks to the widow on speakerphone in a limousine. \"To me, that is something that you can say in a conversation, but you shouldn't say that to a grieving widow,\" she said. \"And everyone knows when you go to war, you could possibly not come back alive. But you don't remind a grieving widow of that.\" Former Nato commander: Trump must be 'consoler-in-chief' Ms Wilson told the Washington Post that Ms Johnson, who is expecting the couple's third child, had broken down in tears after the conversation. \"He made her cry,\" Ms Wilson said. The congresswoman told the newspaper that she had wanted to grab the phone and \"curse him out\", but an army sergeant who was holding the handset would not let her speak to the president. Ms Johnson responded to Mr Trump's denial by tweeting: \"I still stand by my account of the call b/t @realDonaldTrump and Myeshia Johnson. That is her name, Mr Trump. Not \"the woman\" or \"the wife\". She later issued a statement saying she did not wish to \"engage in a petty war of words with Mr Trump\" but again standing by everything she had said." } ], "id": "1050_0", "question": "What does Trump's accuser say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3659, "answer_start": 2716, "text": "The president tweeted on Wednesday morning: \"Democrat Congresswoman totally fabricated what I said to the wife of a soldier who died in action (and I have proof). Sad!\" Mr Trump has yet to provide any evidence. A White House official said Mr Trump's conversations with the families of dead servicemen were private. Mr Trump later told reporters: \"I did not say what she [Ms Wilson] said... I had a very nice conversation.\" When asked about what \"proof\" he could offer, Mr Trump said: \"Let her make her statement again, then you will find out.\" Later, at a White House briefing, press secretary Sarah Sanders condemned Ms Wilson who she said had \"politicised\" the issue. \"This was a president who loves our country very much, who has the greatest level of respect for men and women in the uniform and wanted to call and offer condolences to the family. \"And I think to try and create something from that... is frankly appalling and disgusting.\"" } ], "id": "1050_1", "question": "How did Trump respond?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6329, "answer_start": 4965, "text": "Mr Trump has been on the defensive over the deaths in Niger since a reporter asked him at the White House on Monday why he had still not called the families. He provoked fury by falsely claiming that his predecessor, Barack Obama, and other former US presidents had not called the relatives of dead service members. Mr Trump also said he had written letters to the families of the four servicemen killed in Niger and planned to call them soon. The White House later said the president had spoken to the families but it did not say when. On Tuesday, Mr Trump ratcheted up the row by suggesting that President Obama had not called the family of Mr Trump's chief of staff, Gen John Kelly, when his son was killed in Afghanistan in 2010. The Associated Press says that like presidents before him, Mr Trump has made personal contact with some families of dead soldiers - but not all. \"What's different is that Trump, alone among them, has picked a political fight over who's done better to honour the war dead and their families,\" the American news agency reports. \"He placed himself at the top of this pantheon, boasting Tuesday that 'I think I've called every family of someone who's died' while past presidents didn't place such calls'.\" Politico magazine is carrying a report saying that a statement about the Niger ambush victims was prepared - but never released." } ], "id": "1050_2", "question": "How did this row begin?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Gambians have voted for members of their one-chamber parliament in the the first polls since Yahya Jammeh left power after more than 22 years. Under Mr Jammeh, the National Assembly was frequently ignored as the president enacted executive decrees without consultation. Expectations are high that under the new president, Adama Barrow, parliament will play a key part in lawmaking. Mr Barrow has pledged to carry out political, security and media reforms. As part of his proposed reform, he is setting up a truth and reconciliation commission to investigate abuses committed under Mr Jammeh's rule. Reports say voter turnout has been relatively low. \"Jammeh was a determining factor which encouraged some people to vote and now that he is gone they are not really motivated,\" Pierre Gomez from Banjul University told the BBC. Some of the candidates were also not well known to voters, he added. Mr Jammeh sparked a political and constitutional crisis by refusing to leave office following his defeat in the December 2016 presidential election. He finally headed for exile on 21 January after neighbouring countries threatened to remove him by force. Mr Jammeh's then-ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) won 43 out of 53 seats in 2012. The opposition largely boycotted the polls and one opposition member was elected. Four independent candidates also won seats. The president had the power to select a further five members, which he did. A coalition of seven parties that supported President Barrow during the presidential election has collapsed. And the list of parliamentary candidates shows parties formerly in the coalition vying against each other in various constituencies. President Barrow used to be a member of the United Democratic Party (UDP), but quit after being chosen as the opposition coalition's presidential candidate so as not to be seen as favouring one party within the grouping. Mr Jammeh's APRC remains intact, and is taking part in the election as an opposition party for the first time since he seized power in a 1994 coup. The National Assembly is made up of 53 MPs who serve for a five-year term. In the past, 48 were elected by voters while five were appointed by the president. This time, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has declared that all 53 constituencies will be contested and it has published a list of the 239 candidates contesting seats. To qualify a candidate must be at least 21 years old but a law requiring candidates to pay $10,000 (PS8,000) has recently been repealed. Any citizen aged 18 years or older and of sound mind has the right to vote. The IEC rules say voters must be on the electoral register and have a polling card. Also, they must attend the right polling station and avoid turning up drunk. There are 886,578 registered voters, who will make their choice of candidate by dropping marbles into drums - the method The Gambia has long used in elections. This is said to prevent possible multiple voting and presiding officers \"listen to the sound of the marble/token hitting the drum\". The European Union has deployed an observation mission, with 20 people who will monitor the ballot across the country. The authorities banned the EU from monitoring the last presidential elections. However, African Union officials were allowed. Local media have said that the vote will be one of the closest since the country's independence in 1965. President Barrow needs a majority in the National Assembly if he is to successfully push through his political reforms. But with the break-up of the coalition that sponsored him at the last election, there are doubts whether now independent parties will continue to back him. Mr Barrow has campaigned for pro-government candidates, but it is unclear whether the poll winners will continue to support him. And the opposition APRC may take advantage of the situation to win seats. If it succeeds, it is likely to frustrate the government's agenda. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1468, "answer_start": 1150, "text": "Mr Jammeh's then-ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) won 43 out of 53 seats in 2012. The opposition largely boycotted the polls and one opposition member was elected. Four independent candidates also won seats. The president had the power to select a further five members, which he did." } ], "id": "1051_0", "question": "What happened in the last parliamentary elections?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2079, "answer_start": 1469, "text": "A coalition of seven parties that supported President Barrow during the presidential election has collapsed. And the list of parliamentary candidates shows parties formerly in the coalition vying against each other in various constituencies. President Barrow used to be a member of the United Democratic Party (UDP), but quit after being chosen as the opposition coalition's presidential candidate so as not to be seen as favouring one party within the grouping. Mr Jammeh's APRC remains intact, and is taking part in the election as an opposition party for the first time since he seized power in a 1994 coup." } ], "id": "1051_1", "question": "What is the current situation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2554, "answer_start": 2080, "text": "The National Assembly is made up of 53 MPs who serve for a five-year term. In the past, 48 were elected by voters while five were appointed by the president. This time, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has declared that all 53 constituencies will be contested and it has published a list of the 239 candidates contesting seats. To qualify a candidate must be at least 21 years old but a law requiring candidates to pay $10,000 (PS8,000) has recently been repealed." } ], "id": "1051_2", "question": "What is the electoral process?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3083, "answer_start": 2555, "text": "Any citizen aged 18 years or older and of sound mind has the right to vote. The IEC rules say voters must be on the electoral register and have a polling card. Also, they must attend the right polling station and avoid turning up drunk. There are 886,578 registered voters, who will make their choice of candidate by dropping marbles into drums - the method The Gambia has long used in elections. This is said to prevent possible multiple voting and presiding officers \"listen to the sound of the marble/token hitting the drum\"." } ], "id": "1051_3", "question": "How is voting carried out?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3328, "answer_start": 3084, "text": "The European Union has deployed an observation mission, with 20 people who will monitor the ballot across the country. The authorities banned the EU from monitoring the last presidential elections. However, African Union officials were allowed." } ], "id": "1051_4", "question": "Who are the electoral observers?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4129, "answer_start": 3329, "text": "Local media have said that the vote will be one of the closest since the country's independence in 1965. President Barrow needs a majority in the National Assembly if he is to successfully push through his political reforms. But with the break-up of the coalition that sponsored him at the last election, there are doubts whether now independent parties will continue to back him. Mr Barrow has campaigned for pro-government candidates, but it is unclear whether the poll winners will continue to support him. And the opposition APRC may take advantage of the situation to win seats. If it succeeds, it is likely to frustrate the government's agenda. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook." } ], "id": "1051_5", "question": "What is the likely outcome of the poll?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Police in Kazakhstan have arrested hundreds of people protesting against a poll to elect the country's first new president in 30 years. The election was called after long-time leader, 78-year-old Nursultan Nazarbayev, stepped down in March. His hand-picked successor, interim President Kassym Jomart-Tokayev, is widely expected to win the vote. Protesters claimed the poll was not free and fair. But Mr Tokayev described the process as democratic and open. Exit polls suggest 66-year-old Mr Tokayev, a former director-general of the United Nations Office in Geneva, won the election with 70% of the vote. Large-scale protests - the biggest the country has seen in years - have been reported in Kazakhstan's capital, Nur-Sultan, and its largest city Almaty. Hundreds of peaceful demonstrators, and several journalists and activists monitoring them, were detained by police. Deputy Interior Minister Marat Kozhayev said 500 people had been arrested at \"unsanctioned rallies\", AFP news agency reports. A BBC correspondent in Nur-Sultan saw people being dragged onto buses by riot police. Mr Tokayev, who cast his ballot in the capital, has urged police to exercise restraint. He told the BBC his government would be tolerant towards those with different views. Mukhtar Ablyazov, leader of banned opposition group the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, said the election was a sham with a predetermined outcome and urged his supporters to take to the streets in protest. In a video posted to social media, he said \"thousands of protesters\" had gathered in Almaty's Astana Square. Demonstrators chanted \"boycott\" and \"police with the people\" before their protests were broken up by authorities. Kazakhstan's interior ministry described the protesters as \"radical elements seeking to destabilise society\". The prospect of a democratic handover of power in Kazakhstan is \"an illusion\", Human Rights Watch has said. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which sent more than 300 observers to monitor the poll, has never recognised an election in the country as fully democratic. Mr Tokayev was running for the ruling party - with backing from Mr Nazarbayev - against six little-known rivals. Full election results are expected on Monday. One exit poll, conducted by local pollster Kogamdyk Pikir Institute, gave Mr Tokayev 70.13% of the vote. His closest rival, journalist and veteran opposition leader Amirzhan Kosanov, won 15.39% of the vote, according to the pollster. In March, Mr Nazarbayev, the only man to lead the country since it emerged from the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, shocked the country by announcing his resignation. Nevertheless, Mr Nazarbayev is expected to retain much of his influence as head of the governing party. Given Mr Tokayev's close links to the outgoing leader, the legitimacy of the presidential election has been met with scepticism. Mr Tokayev's first decision as interim president was to rename the capital Astana as Nur-Sultan in homage to Mr Nazarbayev. That decision, which went ahead without public consultation, fuelled disillusionment with Kazakhstan's government. In the build-up to the election, authorities have reportedly been cracking down on opposition to Mr Tokayev's interim presidency. Protesters have been sentenced to short stays in jail and police have been raiding activists' homes, according to AFP.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2488, "answer_start": 1258, "text": "Mukhtar Ablyazov, leader of banned opposition group the Democratic Choice of Kazakhstan, said the election was a sham with a predetermined outcome and urged his supporters to take to the streets in protest. In a video posted to social media, he said \"thousands of protesters\" had gathered in Almaty's Astana Square. Demonstrators chanted \"boycott\" and \"police with the people\" before their protests were broken up by authorities. Kazakhstan's interior ministry described the protesters as \"radical elements seeking to destabilise society\". The prospect of a democratic handover of power in Kazakhstan is \"an illusion\", Human Rights Watch has said. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), which sent more than 300 observers to monitor the poll, has never recognised an election in the country as fully democratic. Mr Tokayev was running for the ruling party - with backing from Mr Nazarbayev - against six little-known rivals. Full election results are expected on Monday. One exit poll, conducted by local pollster Kogamdyk Pikir Institute, gave Mr Tokayev 70.13% of the vote. His closest rival, journalist and veteran opposition leader Amirzhan Kosanov, won 15.39% of the vote, according to the pollster." } ], "id": "1052_0", "question": "Why are there protests?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The leaders of France, Germany, the US and UK say there is \"no plausible alternative explanation\" to Russia having been behind the nerve agent attack in the UK. They condemned the \"first offensive use of a nerve agent in Europe since the Second World War\", calling it an assault on UK sovereignty. In Washington, US President Donald Trump said \"it certainly looks like the Russians were behind it\". The UK has expelled Russian diplomats. \"We do hold Russia culpable for this brazen, brazen act and despicable act,\" Prime Minister Theresa May said during a visit to the site of the attack in Wiltshire. Mr Trump said it was a \"very sad situation\" that the US was taking \"very seriously\". In France, President Emmanuel Macron is to snub the official Russian stand at the Paris book fair on Thursday, officials said. Earlier Mr Macron said he would announce more measures in the coming days. Russia has denied any involvement and vowed a swift response to the expulsion of 23 of its diplomats, whom the UK said were operating as spies. The nerve agent was used on a former Russian spy and his daughter in the city of Salisbury. Sergei Skripal, 66, and Yulia Skripal, 33, remain in a critical condition in hospital. The four nations say they \"abhor the attack\". The statement says: \"It is an assault on UK sovereignty and any such use by a State party is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and a breach of international law. It threatens the security of us all.\" The nations urged Russia to \"address all questions related to the attack\" and provide all details about the nerve agent used. It added: \"Our concerns are also heightened against the background of a pattern of earlier irresponsible Russian behaviour. \"We call on Russia to live up to its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council to uphold international peace and security.\" Separately, the US has announced sanctions against Russian individuals and entities accused of trying to influence the 2016 election and carrying out cyber-attacks. Russia says it had nothing to do with the attack and will respond to UK measures against it. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the UK was being \"absolutely irresponsible\". Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has vowed a response \"very soon\". Meanwhile Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has denied that either the Soviet Union or Russia ever had a programme to create the Novichok nerve agent identified as having been used, the Interfax news agency reported. The Russian embassy in London said the decision to expel its diplomats was \"unacceptable, unjustified and short-sighted\". It also suggested on its Twitter feed that the UK could have the capacity to manufacture the nerve agent used in Salisbury. It said Russia closed all Soviet-era chemical weapons programmes in 1992 and some of the scientists involved were flown to other countries, including the UK. \"To identify a substance, formula and samples are needed - means UK has capacity to produce suspected nerve agent,\" it said. Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko also told Russian TV that the embassy had received threats against its diplomats and said it was working with UK police, Russia's Tass news agency reported. Mrs May on Thursday visited Salisbury. While there, she was briefed by public health experts, as Sergei and Yulia Skripal remain critically ill in hospital. She also thanked emergency services and spoke to members of the public. On Wednesday, the UK leader gave 23 Russian diplomats, identified as \"undeclared intelligence officers\", one week to leave, in the largest mass expulsion in the UK in more than 30 years. Other measures taken against Russia include: - Increased checks on private flights, customs and freight - The freezing of Russian state assets where there is evidence they may be used to threaten life or property in the UK - The suspension of all planned high-level bilateral contacts - A World Cup boycott by ministers and the Royal Family. The UK will also create a new chemical weapons \"defence centre\", Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said. Announcing the measure, Mr Williamson said Russia \"should go away - it should shut up\". The facility is to be located at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in Porton Down, where scientists helped identify the nerve agent used against Mr Skripal.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2029, "answer_start": 1212, "text": "The four nations say they \"abhor the attack\". The statement says: \"It is an assault on UK sovereignty and any such use by a State party is a clear violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention and a breach of international law. It threatens the security of us all.\" The nations urged Russia to \"address all questions related to the attack\" and provide all details about the nerve agent used. It added: \"Our concerns are also heightened against the background of a pattern of earlier irresponsible Russian behaviour. \"We call on Russia to live up to its responsibilities as a member of the UN Security Council to uphold international peace and security.\" Separately, the US has announced sanctions against Russian individuals and entities accused of trying to influence the 2016 election and carrying out cyber-attacks." } ], "id": "1053_0", "question": "What does the joint statement say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3208, "answer_start": 2030, "text": "Russia says it had nothing to do with the attack and will respond to UK measures against it. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the UK was being \"absolutely irresponsible\". Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has vowed a response \"very soon\". Meanwhile Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has denied that either the Soviet Union or Russia ever had a programme to create the Novichok nerve agent identified as having been used, the Interfax news agency reported. The Russian embassy in London said the decision to expel its diplomats was \"unacceptable, unjustified and short-sighted\". It also suggested on its Twitter feed that the UK could have the capacity to manufacture the nerve agent used in Salisbury. It said Russia closed all Soviet-era chemical weapons programmes in 1992 and some of the scientists involved were flown to other countries, including the UK. \"To identify a substance, formula and samples are needed - means UK has capacity to produce suspected nerve agent,\" it said. Ambassador Alexander Yakovenko also told Russian TV that the embassy had received threats against its diplomats and said it was working with UK police, Russia's Tass news agency reported." } ], "id": "1053_1", "question": "What does Russia say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4333, "answer_start": 3209, "text": "Mrs May on Thursday visited Salisbury. While there, she was briefed by public health experts, as Sergei and Yulia Skripal remain critically ill in hospital. She also thanked emergency services and spoke to members of the public. On Wednesday, the UK leader gave 23 Russian diplomats, identified as \"undeclared intelligence officers\", one week to leave, in the largest mass expulsion in the UK in more than 30 years. Other measures taken against Russia include: - Increased checks on private flights, customs and freight - The freezing of Russian state assets where there is evidence they may be used to threaten life or property in the UK - The suspension of all planned high-level bilateral contacts - A World Cup boycott by ministers and the Royal Family. The UK will also create a new chemical weapons \"defence centre\", Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said. Announcing the measure, Mr Williamson said Russia \"should go away - it should shut up\". The facility is to be located at the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory in Porton Down, where scientists helped identify the nerve agent used against Mr Skripal." } ], "id": "1053_2", "question": "What is the UK doing?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Forty-one people died after a Russian plane made an emergency landing and burst into flames just after takeoff from Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. Dramatic video shows passengers using emergency exit slides to escape the burning Aeroflot aircraft. Survivors suggest the plane was struck by lightning, but Russia's national carrier said only that it returned to the airport for technical reasons. Two children are among the dead. The jet had 73 passengers and five crew. Initial reports suggested the plane had landed on fire, but sources quoted by Russian news agency Interfax said the jet caught fire after a very bumpy landing. The aircraft landed with full fuel tanks because the crew lost contact with air traffic controllers and decided it was too dangerous to dump fuel over Moscow, Interfax added. \"There are 37 survivors - 33 passengers and four members of the crew,\" said Yelena Markovskaya, an official involved in the investigation of the crash. A flight attendant was also reportedly killed in the incident. Five people are in hospital. One witness said it was a \"miracle\" anyone escaped. Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev has ordered a special committee to investigate the disaster. The aircraft, a Sukhoi Superjet-100, left the airport at 18:02 local time (15:02 GMT), bound for Murmansk. Its crew sent a distress signal when \"malfunctions\" occurred in bad weather shortly after take-off. After making an emergency landing at the airport, the plane's engines caught fire on the runway, Aeroflot said, adding that the crew \"did everything to save the passengers\". One passenger who survived the crash, Petr Egorov, was quoted by the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily newspaper as saying that the flight \"had just taken off and the aircraft was hit by lightning\", adding: \"The landing was rough - I almost passed out from fear.\" Aeroflot published a list of survivors (in Russian) who have been identified so far. Murmansk's Acting Governor Andrey Chibis has reportedly said that the families of those killed in the fire will each receive one million rubles ($15,300; PS11,630), while the victims being treated in hospital will be given 500,000 rubles ($7,650; PS5,815). Mikhail Savchenko claims he was on the plane when it exploded into a fireball on the tarmac but \"managed to jump out\". He shared a video of passengers running away from the burning plane, posting: \"'Guys I am all right, I am alive and in one piece.\" Passengers on board a separate plane awaiting takeoff at the airport posted footage on social media showing fire crews attending the plane on the tarmac. One of the surviving passengers, Dmitry Khlebushkin, said that he was very grateful to the flight attendants. \"Only thanks to the flight attendants, I survived,\" he told reporters. Kristian Kostov, a former Bulgarian Eurovision contestant, has posted on social media about witnessing the incident. He said people at the airport were left \"shaking\" after seeing the aircraft engulfed by fire. Another eyewitness, Patrick Horlacher, told the BBC it was \"shocking to see\" the plane being ravaged by flames just minutes before he was due to board another flight. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly been briefed and expressed condolences to the families of victims. The region of Murmansk has announced a three-day mourning period. With millions of commercial flights taking place every year, lightning strikes in the air are relatively common. Traditional planes, built using aluminium, are usually able to withstand such strikes as the shell or \"skin\" of the aircraft acts as a cage, distributing the electricity without causing damage and allowing them to continue their journey safely. Some newer aircraft are constructed using lighter materials that have lower electrical conductivity, such as carbon fibre, which need to be protected - often using wire mesh or foil. In addition, the electronics and connections to an aircraft's fuel tanks are heavily shielded to protect them from external electrical bursts. Lightning strikes can cause technical malfunctions, causing planes to divert or make emergency landings for precautionary reasons. But crashes following such incidents are rare. A strike is still likely to be noticed by people on board, though. Passengers may hear loud bangs or experience the cabin lighting up with a bright flash. Have you been affected? Email [email protected] Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International) - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2180, "answer_start": 1201, "text": "The aircraft, a Sukhoi Superjet-100, left the airport at 18:02 local time (15:02 GMT), bound for Murmansk. Its crew sent a distress signal when \"malfunctions\" occurred in bad weather shortly after take-off. After making an emergency landing at the airport, the plane's engines caught fire on the runway, Aeroflot said, adding that the crew \"did everything to save the passengers\". One passenger who survived the crash, Petr Egorov, was quoted by the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily newspaper as saying that the flight \"had just taken off and the aircraft was hit by lightning\", adding: \"The landing was rough - I almost passed out from fear.\" Aeroflot published a list of survivors (in Russian) who have been identified so far. Murmansk's Acting Governor Andrey Chibis has reportedly said that the families of those killed in the fire will each receive one million rubles ($15,300; PS11,630), while the victims being treated in hospital will be given 500,000 rubles ($7,650; PS5,815)." } ], "id": "1054_0", "question": "What happened to the plane?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3324, "answer_start": 2181, "text": "Mikhail Savchenko claims he was on the plane when it exploded into a fireball on the tarmac but \"managed to jump out\". He shared a video of passengers running away from the burning plane, posting: \"'Guys I am all right, I am alive and in one piece.\" Passengers on board a separate plane awaiting takeoff at the airport posted footage on social media showing fire crews attending the plane on the tarmac. One of the surviving passengers, Dmitry Khlebushkin, said that he was very grateful to the flight attendants. \"Only thanks to the flight attendants, I survived,\" he told reporters. Kristian Kostov, a former Bulgarian Eurovision contestant, has posted on social media about witnessing the incident. He said people at the airport were left \"shaking\" after seeing the aircraft engulfed by fire. Another eyewitness, Patrick Horlacher, told the BBC it was \"shocking to see\" the plane being ravaged by flames just minutes before he was due to board another flight. Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly been briefed and expressed condolences to the families of victims. The region of Murmansk has announced a three-day mourning period." } ], "id": "1054_1", "question": "How did the survivors escape?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4341, "answer_start": 3325, "text": "With millions of commercial flights taking place every year, lightning strikes in the air are relatively common. Traditional planes, built using aluminium, are usually able to withstand such strikes as the shell or \"skin\" of the aircraft acts as a cage, distributing the electricity without causing damage and allowing them to continue their journey safely. Some newer aircraft are constructed using lighter materials that have lower electrical conductivity, such as carbon fibre, which need to be protected - often using wire mesh or foil. In addition, the electronics and connections to an aircraft's fuel tanks are heavily shielded to protect them from external electrical bursts. Lightning strikes can cause technical malfunctions, causing planes to divert or make emergency landings for precautionary reasons. But crashes following such incidents are rare. A strike is still likely to be noticed by people on board, though. Passengers may hear loud bangs or experience the cabin lighting up with a bright flash." } ], "id": "1054_2", "question": "Can lightning bring down a plane?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Two designers at London Fashion Week say their clothes made from plastic bottles and sustainable wool have a \"political message\". Vin and Omi say it's almost impossible for low-cost high street clothes to be ethical. The pair make their own textiles and say they want people to think about the waste created by our clothes. \"We never planned to be designers but we have a political message,\" Omi tells Newsbeat. \"Fashion is the best medium.\" The slogan of their show, featuring models in east London, was \"we are not sheep\". Vin and Omi have developed 11 'eco-textiles', including 'leathers' made from the skins of chestnuts, and wool-like fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles. \"It all started when we made this t-shirt made from recycled plastic fabric,\" Omi says. \"When it came back from the manufacturers it was so soft, like a cotton-cashmere blend. From there it became an obsession to see what we could do next. \"The bottles are turned into chips. They're melted and stretched, then turned into yarn that we can weave just like fabric.\" Big fashion brands often produce clothes which end up unsold or sent to landfill. In the UK, we bought 1.13 million tonnes of clothing in 2016, according to the charity Wrap, but we only tend to keep clothes for an average of three years. Vin and Omi are also trying a new way of recycling what they've already made. Customers who get tired of an item can send it back to the designers, who will reuse it in future collections. The customer then gets a discount off the next thing they buy. \"It's not a very clever practice, because you're actually buying your own clothes back,\" laughs Omi. \"But the point is, it becomes circular. We're making money again by selling new designs.\" Omi says it's difficult for high street retailers to be ethical if they are producing low-cost clothes and shipping them around the world. \"If a t-shirt costs PS6, break down the cost. There's no way it's been made in good conditions,\" he says. But there are signs the industry is changing. The British Fashion Council, which oversees designers, has launched an initiative called Positive Fashion, which rewards designers who, like Vin and Omi, meet certain ethical standards. This includes things like manufacturing in the UK and switching to green energy sources. \"We as designers are the culprits, because we make things to inspire people,\" adds Omi. \"But as a single designer I can't change the industry.\" Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1975, "answer_start": 1131, "text": "In the UK, we bought 1.13 million tonnes of clothing in 2016, according to the charity Wrap, but we only tend to keep clothes for an average of three years. Vin and Omi are also trying a new way of recycling what they've already made. Customers who get tired of an item can send it back to the designers, who will reuse it in future collections. The customer then gets a discount off the next thing they buy. \"It's not a very clever practice, because you're actually buying your own clothes back,\" laughs Omi. \"But the point is, it becomes circular. We're making money again by selling new designs.\" Omi says it's difficult for high street retailers to be ethical if they are producing low-cost clothes and shipping them around the world. \"If a t-shirt costs PS6, break down the cost. There's no way it's been made in good conditions,\" he says." } ], "id": "1055_0", "question": "How long do you keep clothes for?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "India's top court has asked officials to stop cutting trees in a forested area in Mumbai city after protesters clashed with police over the weekend. The trees, part of a green strip known as Aarey colony, were being cut to make way for a new metro rail project. Locals have long opposed the move, and filed petitions seeking Aarey to be declared a protected area. But a high court dismissed the petitions on Friday, sparking protests as officials began felling the trees. They planned to cut 2,185 trees, and admitted in the Supreme Court that more than 1,500 had already been cut. But petitioners claim that officials have cut around 2,500 trees. Local residents, students and environmental activists clashed with police on Friday as they took to the streets to stop authorities, and even broke through barricades to enter Aarey colony. More than 50 people were arrested and police imposed restrictions on public gatherings. The protests grabbed the national spotlight over the weekend, and the Supreme Court took suo moto (without a formal complaint from any party) notice. A special two-judge bench heard the matter on Monday after students wrote to the chief justice, asking the court to intervene and save the trees. The court asked the state government of Maharashtra, where Mumbai is located, to not cut any more trees. The court also asked the government to maintain \"status quo\" - which means that no construction can take place - until 21 October when it will hear the matter again. The court also ordered the release of all activists who were arrested or detained on bail. Spread over 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres), Aarey is a densely forested area dotted with lakes and has the Mithi river flowing through it. It lies at the heart of Mumbai and is often referred to as its last green lung. It's locally known as the Aarey \"milk colony\" because most of the land was given to the department of dairy development in 1951. But they are allowed to grow cattle fodder only on a fraction of the land. Earlier this year, officials cleared some 40 hectares of the forested area to build a zoo, complete with a night safari. And now, locals complain, another slice of it is in danger from the metro construction. They also fear that the government will eventually clear the way for private builders to encroach on the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which lies to the north of Aarey colony. Officials, however, dismiss these fears as unfounded and point out that the construction for the metro only requires 30 hectares. The city badly needs a \"mass rapid transport system,\" Ashwini Bhide, managing director of the Mumbai metro rail corporation, had told the BBC earlier. The land in Aarey colony, she said, was \"the most suitable land due to its size, shape and location\". She has also been defending the decision to cut the trees on Twitter. India's financial hub is congested and infamous for its crawling traffic jams. Its colonial-era local train system ferries some 7.5 million people between the city's suburbs and its centre on a daily basis. Officials say that the metro will eventually carry around 1.7 million passengers every day and bring down the number of vehicles on the road by up to 650,000.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2520, "answer_start": 1586, "text": "Spread over 1,300 hectares (3,212 acres), Aarey is a densely forested area dotted with lakes and has the Mithi river flowing through it. It lies at the heart of Mumbai and is often referred to as its last green lung. It's locally known as the Aarey \"milk colony\" because most of the land was given to the department of dairy development in 1951. But they are allowed to grow cattle fodder only on a fraction of the land. Earlier this year, officials cleared some 40 hectares of the forested area to build a zoo, complete with a night safari. And now, locals complain, another slice of it is in danger from the metro construction. They also fear that the government will eventually clear the way for private builders to encroach on the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which lies to the north of Aarey colony. Officials, however, dismiss these fears as unfounded and point out that the construction for the metro only requires 30 hectares." } ], "id": "1056_0", "question": "What is Aarey colony?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3209, "answer_start": 2521, "text": "The city badly needs a \"mass rapid transport system,\" Ashwini Bhide, managing director of the Mumbai metro rail corporation, had told the BBC earlier. The land in Aarey colony, she said, was \"the most suitable land due to its size, shape and location\". She has also been defending the decision to cut the trees on Twitter. India's financial hub is congested and infamous for its crawling traffic jams. Its colonial-era local train system ferries some 7.5 million people between the city's suburbs and its centre on a daily basis. Officials say that the metro will eventually carry around 1.7 million passengers every day and bring down the number of vehicles on the road by up to 650,000." } ], "id": "1056_1", "question": "How crucial is the metro rail for Mumbai?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The DUP deputy leader has said he would \"rather stay in the EU and remain rather than risk Northern Ireland's position\" in the union. Nigel Dodds told BBC Newsnight his position showed how strongly he felt about the union. It comes after Theresa May saw her Brexit deal defeated in the House of Commons by 344 votes to 286. However Mr Dodds also said the government must not accept the EU's position as \"unalterable\". The Westminster vote means the UK has missed an EU deadline to delay Brexit to 22 May and leave with a deal. The prime minister said the UK would have to find \"an alternative way forward\", which was \"almost certain\" to involve holding European elections. Mr Dodds said he did not rule out supporting a \"soft Brexit\" and that the withdrawal agreement in its current form risked leaving \"Northern Ireland behind, causing economic and political ruptures between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom\". However, he did maintain the DUP's support for Brexit: \"We believe the referendum result should be respected and delivered on.\" He reiterated his party's position that it wants Brexit delivered without the Northern Ireland backstop. Speaking during the Commons debate earlier, Independent Unionist MP Lady Hermon said the DUP did not speak for the majority of people in Northern Ireland Nigel Dodds responded that the party represents more people in NI \"than anybody else\". Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar has said the EU should be open to the idea of a long extension ahead of Brexit if the UK reconsiders its approach in the wake of the withdrawal deal's latest defeat in Westminster. He said it was up to the UK government to indicate how it plans to avoid a no-deal. Mr Varadkar said EU leaders \"have agreed unanimously that the Brexit withdrawal agreement will not be reopened\". He added that EU leaders \"must be open to a long extension should the UK decide to fundamentally reconsider its approach to Brexit and put back on the table options previously ruled out\". \"I believe that will result in a generous and understanding response from the 27.\" The taoiseach is to hold meetings next week to discuss Brexit with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Mr Varadkar will meet Mr Macron in Paris on Tuesday, and on Thursday he will welcome Mrs Merkel to Dublin. Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald tweeted that it was a \"circus at Westminster\" and there was \"dismay\" in Ireland. She said she was heading to Brussels on Monday to meet EU chief negotiator Michael Barnier and that \"Ireland will not pay the price for the Tory Brexit\". Alliance Brexit spokesman Stephen Farry said if the process has not reached a \"positive and constructive conclusion\" by 12 April, the government has no other option but to revoke Article 50. \"A no-deal Brexit would be a catastrophe for Northern Ireland. It must be avoided at all costs,\" he said. SDLP Brexit spokesman Daniel McCrossan also said that Article 50 - the legal process that triggered Brexit - should be revoked. \"But the very minimum required is a long extension to fundamentally rethink where we go from here,\" he said. The UUP leader Robin Swann said his party did not support a second referendum. He added that the negotiation process has been \"poisoned by the backstop\" and cannot be resolved until that is addressed.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3351, "answer_start": 2344, "text": "Sinn Fein president Mary Lou McDonald tweeted that it was a \"circus at Westminster\" and there was \"dismay\" in Ireland. She said she was heading to Brussels on Monday to meet EU chief negotiator Michael Barnier and that \"Ireland will not pay the price for the Tory Brexit\". Alliance Brexit spokesman Stephen Farry said if the process has not reached a \"positive and constructive conclusion\" by 12 April, the government has no other option but to revoke Article 50. \"A no-deal Brexit would be a catastrophe for Northern Ireland. It must be avoided at all costs,\" he said. SDLP Brexit spokesman Daniel McCrossan also said that Article 50 - the legal process that triggered Brexit - should be revoked. \"But the very minimum required is a long extension to fundamentally rethink where we go from here,\" he said. The UUP leader Robin Swann said his party did not support a second referendum. He added that the negotiation process has been \"poisoned by the backstop\" and cannot be resolved until that is addressed." } ], "id": "1057_0", "question": "What have the other NI parties said?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US justice department has launched a criminal investigation into the origins of the Mueller inquiry. An administrative review into the special counsel's investigation of 2016 election interference began in May. But the switch to a criminal probe means investigators can now issue subpoenas for testimony and documents. The investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election did not establish any criminal conspiracy between Moscow and the Trump campaign. But it did not clear the president of obstructing justice. President Donald Trump has long dismissed Robert Mueller's investigation as a \"witch hunt\". Reports of the justice department's new criminal inquiry first appeared in the New York Times. It is unclear what potential crime is under investigation, the newspaper said. The administrative review of the Mueller investigation began in May. It is being overseen by US Attorney General William Barr and is run by US federal prosecutor John Durham. Mr Durham will have the power to summon witnesses and documents and to enrol a grand jury that could bring criminal charges. He was tasked with determining whether the collection of intelligence on the Trump campaign in 2016 was lawful. Mr Durham is widely respected and known for investigating links between FBI agents and organised crime, and investigating the destruction of CIA interrogation videos. Last April, Mr Barr told members of Congress that he believed \"spying did occur\" on the Trump campaign in 2016, adding: \"The question is whether it was adequately predicated. And I'm not suggesting that it wasn't adequately predicated. But I need to explore that.\" Critics accused Mr Barr of launching an administrative review more in the interests of the president than the interests of justice. In a joint statement, the chairs of the House judiciary and intelligence committees said reports of a criminal investigation \"raise profound new concerns that the Department of Justice under AG Barr has lost its independence and become a vehicle for President Trump's political revenge\". The two Democrats, Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff, said the move could bring \"new and irreparable damage\" to the rule of law. President Trump said at the time he did not order Mr Barr to launch the administrative review, but added that he was \"so proud of our attorney general\" and it was \"a great thing that he did\". Mr Trump has previously accused the FBI investigators who first launched the probe into his election campaign of treason. On Friday, Mr Trump told reporters of the investigation: \"I think you're going to see a lot of really bad things.\" The president said he would \"leave it all up to the attorney general\". \"I will say this...this was the worst hoax in the history of our country.\" So far, the justice department has not made clear what potential crime is under investigation. It is also unclear why this investigation has started now, or what prompted it. And given the department itself appointed Robert Mueller to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, this criminal probe means the department may be in essence investigating itself. The 448-page Mueller report did not conclude that there was a criminal conspiracy between Moscow and the Trump campaign to influence the 2016 US presidential election. However, it did detail 10 instances where Mr Trump possibly attempted to impede the investigation. The report concluded that Russia had interfered in the election \"in sweeping and systematic fashion\". That interference took the form of an extensive social media campaign and the hacking of Democratic Party servers by Russian military intelligence, the report said. - September 2016: House Intelligence Committee members announce that Russia is making \"a serious and concerted effort to influence the US election\" - May 2017: US Deputy Attorney General appoints Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election and any alleged coordination with the Trump campaign - December 2017: Ex-national security adviser Michael Flynn admits lying to the FBI about meetings with Russia's ambassador weeks before Mr Trump became president - August 2018: Former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort is found guilty of fraud. He agrees to co-operate with the Mueller inquiry the following month - November 2018: President Trump submits written answers to the special counsel's questions, days after firing Attorney General Jeff Sessions - December 2018: Mr Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen is sentenced to 36 months in prison for lying to Congress, tax evasion and campaign finance violations - March 2019: Attorney General William Barr receives the special counsel's report. He does not release it immediately, but publishes a summary Robert Mueller criticises as lacking \"context\" - May 2019: Robert Mueller says in his first public remarks that his report does not exonerate President Trump, and announces his resignation - July 2019: Mueller appears before Congress and reaffirms that his report does not exonerate Mr Trump", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2756, "answer_start": 794, "text": "The administrative review of the Mueller investigation began in May. It is being overseen by US Attorney General William Barr and is run by US federal prosecutor John Durham. Mr Durham will have the power to summon witnesses and documents and to enrol a grand jury that could bring criminal charges. He was tasked with determining whether the collection of intelligence on the Trump campaign in 2016 was lawful. Mr Durham is widely respected and known for investigating links between FBI agents and organised crime, and investigating the destruction of CIA interrogation videos. Last April, Mr Barr told members of Congress that he believed \"spying did occur\" on the Trump campaign in 2016, adding: \"The question is whether it was adequately predicated. And I'm not suggesting that it wasn't adequately predicated. But I need to explore that.\" Critics accused Mr Barr of launching an administrative review more in the interests of the president than the interests of justice. In a joint statement, the chairs of the House judiciary and intelligence committees said reports of a criminal investigation \"raise profound new concerns that the Department of Justice under AG Barr has lost its independence and become a vehicle for President Trump's political revenge\". The two Democrats, Jerry Nadler and Adam Schiff, said the move could bring \"new and irreparable damage\" to the rule of law. President Trump said at the time he did not order Mr Barr to launch the administrative review, but added that he was \"so proud of our attorney general\" and it was \"a great thing that he did\". Mr Trump has previously accused the FBI investigators who first launched the probe into his election campaign of treason. On Friday, Mr Trump told reporters of the investigation: \"I think you're going to see a lot of really bad things.\" The president said he would \"leave it all up to the attorney general\". \"I will say this...this was the worst hoax in the history of our country.\"" } ], "id": "1058_0", "question": "Why is the Mueller report being investigated?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3127, "answer_start": 2757, "text": "So far, the justice department has not made clear what potential crime is under investigation. It is also unclear why this investigation has started now, or what prompted it. And given the department itself appointed Robert Mueller to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 election, this criminal probe means the department may be in essence investigating itself." } ], "id": "1058_1", "question": "What don't we know?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3661, "answer_start": 3128, "text": "The 448-page Mueller report did not conclude that there was a criminal conspiracy between Moscow and the Trump campaign to influence the 2016 US presidential election. However, it did detail 10 instances where Mr Trump possibly attempted to impede the investigation. The report concluded that Russia had interfered in the election \"in sweeping and systematic fashion\". That interference took the form of an extensive social media campaign and the hacking of Democratic Party servers by Russian military intelligence, the report said." } ], "id": "1058_2", "question": "What's the Mueller report?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "New York City is poised to be the first US city to charge a fee to drivers in an effort to reduce traffic and raise funds for public transport. How might it work and what can it learn from London? The proposal, passed by state lawmakers in March, is set to begin in 2021 and aims to raise $1bn (PS765m) annually. How the policy will be enforced remains to be seen, but experts forecast the fee to be around $11 (PS8.50) per car. London, Singapore and Stockholm also have congestion fees and other American cities are considering such tolls. No enforcement policy has been crafted yet, but the fee is expected to be enforced by a network of cameras around the city and sensors placed on registered vehicles. Cars that do not have the sensor - which would be similar to the interstate motorway toll system called the E-Z Pass - will have a photo taken of their car's number plate and a bill will be sent to them in the post. The charge would apply to cars travelling below 60th Street in Manhattan's central business district but exceptions may be carved out for residents who live within that perimeter. In London, which introduced a similar fee in 2003, residents inside the congestion district are entitled to a 90% discount. Some New York City politicians have called for a total exemption on driving fees for locals. Cars on the motorways that border the east and west edges of the island are not expected to be charged as they pass through the congestion zone. As in other cities, the fee is not expected to apply to bicycles, motorbikes or mopeds. Urban transportation policy consultant Bruce Schaller says the \"major emphasis\" of this proposal is to raise money for the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA), which runs services such as the subway and bus system. \"What we worked on a decade ago, it was pretty much equal emphasis on reducing traffic congestion,\" says Mr Schaller, explaining that the proposal has been in the works for many years. \"But congestion is also an important part of the picture here.\" Todd Litman, a transportation policy analyst at the Victoria Transport Policy Institute in Canada, says that for the plan to be considered a success, the congestion rate must fall around 20%. Charging a moderate fee can get you a 10% to 20% reduction, says Mr Litman, but a steeper fee would probably have the effect of getting even more cars off the road. He predicts that unlike London, which charges a flat PS11.50 day fee for cars in the eight-square mile zone, New York will enact a variable system with prices rising and falling during peak and off-peak hours. He says the New York variable plan will function like a utility bill - in which users are billed based on how much they use - a system that he said would be less wasteful than a day fee. Variable fees \"encourage you to use that resource more efficiently,\" says Mr Litman, \"and we fail to do that with roads\". Much will depend on public transportation - which New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has describes as \"failing\" - as lower income residents who are most affected by the fee, will likely resort to other methods of travel besides private vehicle. One factor driving the implementation of a congestion tax is the concern over air pollution. According to an NCBI pollution study, Londoners gained around 1,888 years of life due to the reduction of fine particulate in the air. The cost per commercial truck - an industry also lobbying for an exemption - is forecast to be around $25. Vans and buses that hold several passengers will likely be given priority. \"A bus passenger is giving up a tenth as much road space as somebody driving alone in their car,\" says Mr Litman. \"Everybody benefits if you give priority to the higher value trips.\" Exceptions are expected to be made for people with medical disabilities, and could be extended to police patrol cars. The famous yellow cabs had lobbied for an exemption but instead got a discount - they will pay $2.50. Rideshare drivers like Uber and Lyft will pay $2.75. Opponents in New York say the charge will push drivers into neighbourhoods that already have high rates of asthma and air pollution such as Harlem, south Bronx and Bedford-Stuyvesant. For this reason, says New York City Councilman Daneek Miller, it will be very regressive, putting the burden on those living outside Manhattan. \"It is the outer borough people that go into Manhattan that would be paying the price.\" There were similar fears in London but Tony Travers, a professor at the London School of Economics, says that testing done five years after implementation in London shows this had not happened. London's system remains divisive, as the standard fee has more than doubled since its 2003 introduction. A recent YouGov poll found that 72% of Londoners support even steeper fees for drivers of older or dirtier cars - a plan known as the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) which has recently been implemented by Mayor Sadiq Khan. New Yorkers themselves are not thrilled about the congestion charge, with a Quinnipiac University poll in early April finding that 54% of city residents opposed it as well as 48% of suburbanites. Many opponents of the charge in New York are simply against paying for something that they previously felt like they got for free, says Mr Litman, who adds that the US government spends around $500 to $1,000 on roads for each privately owned American vehicle. Half of road costs are paid for by drivers through fuel prices and vehicle registrations but half is paid through general property and sales taxes that people are required to pay regardless of whether they drive. \"Under congested urban conditions, motorists are going to pay for congestion, either in time or in money. You either pay directly or indirectly for those roads.\" The London toll has reduced the amount of cars on the road in central London by around 30% since the charges were implemented, says Mr Travers, and has led to an improvement in average traffic speeds. Although the total number of vehicles on the street has lowered, the total street space has also reduced, he says. Other benefits - such as wider passenger sidewalks and pavements and increasing the crossing times for pedestrians at junctions - have also been funded using the $300-400m generated each year from congestion charges. Despite the lower number of vehicles on the roads, the roads may seem just as congested as before since they have been shrunken to make room for extra pedestrians. The result has been the same overall level of congestion, he says.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1552, "answer_start": 541, "text": "No enforcement policy has been crafted yet, but the fee is expected to be enforced by a network of cameras around the city and sensors placed on registered vehicles. Cars that do not have the sensor - which would be similar to the interstate motorway toll system called the E-Z Pass - will have a photo taken of their car's number plate and a bill will be sent to them in the post. The charge would apply to cars travelling below 60th Street in Manhattan's central business district but exceptions may be carved out for residents who live within that perimeter. In London, which introduced a similar fee in 2003, residents inside the congestion district are entitled to a 90% discount. Some New York City politicians have called for a total exemption on driving fees for locals. Cars on the motorways that border the east and west edges of the island are not expected to be charged as they pass through the congestion zone. As in other cities, the fee is not expected to apply to bicycles, motorbikes or mopeds." } ], "id": "1059_0", "question": "How will the toll work?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3364, "answer_start": 1553, "text": "Urban transportation policy consultant Bruce Schaller says the \"major emphasis\" of this proposal is to raise money for the Metropolitan Transport Authority (MTA), which runs services such as the subway and bus system. \"What we worked on a decade ago, it was pretty much equal emphasis on reducing traffic congestion,\" says Mr Schaller, explaining that the proposal has been in the works for many years. \"But congestion is also an important part of the picture here.\" Todd Litman, a transportation policy analyst at the Victoria Transport Policy Institute in Canada, says that for the plan to be considered a success, the congestion rate must fall around 20%. Charging a moderate fee can get you a 10% to 20% reduction, says Mr Litman, but a steeper fee would probably have the effect of getting even more cars off the road. He predicts that unlike London, which charges a flat PS11.50 day fee for cars in the eight-square mile zone, New York will enact a variable system with prices rising and falling during peak and off-peak hours. He says the New York variable plan will function like a utility bill - in which users are billed based on how much they use - a system that he said would be less wasteful than a day fee. Variable fees \"encourage you to use that resource more efficiently,\" says Mr Litman, \"and we fail to do that with roads\". Much will depend on public transportation - which New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has describes as \"failing\" - as lower income residents who are most affected by the fee, will likely resort to other methods of travel besides private vehicle. One factor driving the implementation of a congestion tax is the concern over air pollution. According to an NCBI pollution study, Londoners gained around 1,888 years of life due to the reduction of fine particulate in the air." } ], "id": "1059_1", "question": "What is the aim?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4002, "answer_start": 3365, "text": "The cost per commercial truck - an industry also lobbying for an exemption - is forecast to be around $25. Vans and buses that hold several passengers will likely be given priority. \"A bus passenger is giving up a tenth as much road space as somebody driving alone in their car,\" says Mr Litman. \"Everybody benefits if you give priority to the higher value trips.\" Exceptions are expected to be made for people with medical disabilities, and could be extended to police patrol cars. The famous yellow cabs had lobbied for an exemption but instead got a discount - they will pay $2.50. Rideshare drivers like Uber and Lyft will pay $2.75." } ], "id": "1059_2", "question": "Will some vehicles be exempt?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5770, "answer_start": 4003, "text": "Opponents in New York say the charge will push drivers into neighbourhoods that already have high rates of asthma and air pollution such as Harlem, south Bronx and Bedford-Stuyvesant. For this reason, says New York City Councilman Daneek Miller, it will be very regressive, putting the burden on those living outside Manhattan. \"It is the outer borough people that go into Manhattan that would be paying the price.\" There were similar fears in London but Tony Travers, a professor at the London School of Economics, says that testing done five years after implementation in London shows this had not happened. London's system remains divisive, as the standard fee has more than doubled since its 2003 introduction. A recent YouGov poll found that 72% of Londoners support even steeper fees for drivers of older or dirtier cars - a plan known as the ultra low emission zone (ULEZ) which has recently been implemented by Mayor Sadiq Khan. New Yorkers themselves are not thrilled about the congestion charge, with a Quinnipiac University poll in early April finding that 54% of city residents opposed it as well as 48% of suburbanites. Many opponents of the charge in New York are simply against paying for something that they previously felt like they got for free, says Mr Litman, who adds that the US government spends around $500 to $1,000 on roads for each privately owned American vehicle. Half of road costs are paid for by drivers through fuel prices and vehicle registrations but half is paid through general property and sales taxes that people are required to pay regardless of whether they drive. \"Under congested urban conditions, motorists are going to pay for congestion, either in time or in money. You either pay directly or indirectly for those roads.\"" } ], "id": "1059_3", "question": "What are some of the concerns?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6534, "answer_start": 5771, "text": "The London toll has reduced the amount of cars on the road in central London by around 30% since the charges were implemented, says Mr Travers, and has led to an improvement in average traffic speeds. Although the total number of vehicles on the street has lowered, the total street space has also reduced, he says. Other benefits - such as wider passenger sidewalks and pavements and increasing the crossing times for pedestrians at junctions - have also been funded using the $300-400m generated each year from congestion charges. Despite the lower number of vehicles on the roads, the roads may seem just as congested as before since they have been shrunken to make room for extra pedestrians. The result has been the same overall level of congestion, he says." } ], "id": "1059_4", "question": "Has it worked in London?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The number of men dying from prostate cancer has overtaken female deaths from breast cancer for the first time in the UK, figures show. An ageing population means more men are developing and dying from the disease. Prostate Cancer UK says advances in the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer are paying off, and increased funding could benefit prostate cancer. The biggest cancer killers in the UK remain lung and bowel cancer, with prostate now in third place. The latest figures from 2015 show there were 11,819 deaths from prostate cancer compared with 11,442 from breast cancer. Although deaths from prostate cancer have been rising over the past 10 years or so, the mortality rate or the proportion of men dying from the disease has fallen - by 6% - between 2010 and 2015. For breast cancer the mortality rate has come down by 10%, meaning deaths in women are declining more quickly. Gary Pettit was 43 when he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, five years ago, after a routine medical through work. He had no symptoms - only an abnormally high PSA (prostate-specific antigen) blood test, which led to further tests and biopsies. Within weeks, he had a seven-hour operation at the Royal Marsden in London to remove the cancer. \"I'm a lucky boy. I stored my sperm before the op and now we've got a little seven-month-old miracle baby, called Teddy. I can't say how lucky I've been.\" Gary says recovering from the surgery took quite a while and there were some side-effects which he is still getting used to - but he is clear of cancer and keen to raise awareness among other men. \"It is still a taboo subject with men. They get shy and embarrassed, but it's so important to get checked out.\" Angela Culhane, chief executive of the charity Prostate Cancer UK, said the disease currently received half the funding and half the research that is devoted to breast cancer. She said developing better diagnostic tests that could be used as part of a nationwide screening programme would be a priority. At present, there is no single, reliable test for prostate cancer - the PSA test, biopsies and physical examinations are all used. Men with prostate cancer can also live for decades without symptoms or needing treatment because the disease often progresses very slowly. There can be few symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages, and because of its location most symptoms are linked to urination: - needing to urinate more often, especially at night - needing to run to the toilet - difficulty in starting to urinate - weak urine flow or taking a long time while urinating - feeling your bladder has not emptied fully Men with male relatives who have had prostate cancer, black men and men over 50 are at higher risk of getting the disease. Ms Culhane said: \"It's incredibly encouraging to see the tremendous progress that has been made in breast cancer over recent years. \"The introduction of precision medicine, a screening programme and a weighty research boost has no doubt played an important role in reducing the number of women who die from the disease. \"The good news is that many of these developments could be applied to prostate cancer and we're confident that with the right funding, we can dramatically reduce deaths within the next decade.\" Michael Chapman, director of information and involvement at Cancer Research UK, said: \"The number of men getting and dying from prostate cancer is increasing mostly because of population growth and because we are living longer. \"We're dedicated to improving diagnosis and treatments for all cancers which is why we're investing in research to help develop more treatments to give more people more time this World Cancer Day on Sunday.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3265, "answer_start": 2275, "text": "There can be few symptoms of prostate cancer in the early stages, and because of its location most symptoms are linked to urination: - needing to urinate more often, especially at night - needing to run to the toilet - difficulty in starting to urinate - weak urine flow or taking a long time while urinating - feeling your bladder has not emptied fully Men with male relatives who have had prostate cancer, black men and men over 50 are at higher risk of getting the disease. Ms Culhane said: \"It's incredibly encouraging to see the tremendous progress that has been made in breast cancer over recent years. \"The introduction of precision medicine, a screening programme and a weighty research boost has no doubt played an important role in reducing the number of women who die from the disease. \"The good news is that many of these developments could be applied to prostate cancer and we're confident that with the right funding, we can dramatically reduce deaths within the next decade.\"" } ], "id": "1060_0", "question": "What are the symptoms?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "For many people of Asian descent living overseas, a Facebook group called Subtle Asian Traits has become a cultural phenomenon. Its jokes and memes - especially about life as a first-generation migrant - have made the page wildly popular. Almost a million people have joined the group since it began in September. The posts, which can be made by anyone, have also sparked conversations about cultural identity. Its rapid success has stunned the group's founders - nine Chinese-Australian high school students who live in Melbourne. \"We were always sharing memes and jokes about Asian culture and growing up in a foreign country and kind of just wanted a place to share them together,\" co-founder Kathleen Xiao, 18, tells the BBC. Anne Gu, 18, another founder, says they were thrilled when the group hit 1,000 members but \"now it's just gone insane\". \"We didn't think at all that it would get this big, or so serious,\" she says, referring to its growth into an online community for Asian diasporas. She says the initial idea had been to simply share jokes about family life, Asian cultural \"quirks\" and bubble milk tea. (There are a lot of memes about this very popular drink.) The posts span a range of topics, but they often focus on Asian culture as experienced by the children of migrants. That's why most members are young people from Australia, the US, Canada and the UK, rather than those living in Asia. Ms Xiao believes that the page is so popular because it identifies \"just little things in our lives that no one talked about before\". Many memes are about household customs - such as boiling tap water for drinking or using a finger to measure the perfect amount of water needed to cook rice. Other jokes centre on the experience of being a first-generation Asian person in a Western society, and \"how we struggle, sometimes, to reach a balance between our two cultures\", says Ms Gu. There are memes about \"not being Asian enough\": bilingual mishaps, struggles with Chinese homework, rebelling against family rules and traditions. Then there are posts referencing experiences of casual racism or being made to feel \"not white enough\". A common source of humour is \"Asian parents\" - who are stereotypically portrayed as cautious, strict and overbearing. As a Chinese-Australian millennial, I burst out laughing at one of the group's most popular posts. It was captioned: \"One day I told mother I didn't eat breakfast\". It bore an uncanny resemblance to texts from my own mother, particularly phrases like: \"I did not have a good sleep last night because of this.\" Ms Gu says the page is designed to be \"relatable\". Some users have sent the administrators messages of thanks. \"One girl said it was the first time she felt like a sense of belonging,\" she says. Ms Xiao says the page helped her realise her experiences were common. \"Growing up in a foreign country, it's just something you don't talk about because you're afraid that people won't understand you, or that you'll be made into a minority,\" she says. Like other internet groups which attempt to offer insights on cultural identity, there are some inherent challenges. Some initial criticism suggested that the group wasn't inclusive of all Asian cultures, as most posts related to East Asia. Ms Gu says the administrators have since prioritised including more diverse content. And in the group's rules (of which there are five, because four is an unlucky number in Chinese culture), users are encouraged to \"be inclusive to all Asian races\". Other critics have said that memes about \"tiger\" parents or bad driving serve to reinforce negative stereotypes. One user on Reddit equated the humour to internalised racism and \"self hate\". Ms Gu acknowledges that some of the humour plays off stereotypes, but argues that most post-makers \"have generally come to terms with their cultural identity\". \"They understand the balance,\" she says. Such posts can also help people \"to experience potentially negative experiences in childhood in a more humorous and positive light... like a healing through humour\". She adds that the page has also deepened her own cultural pride - something she had not expected. \"I hope it gives others the confidence too, to not be so shy about their culture,\" she says.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3019, "answer_start": 1177, "text": "The posts span a range of topics, but they often focus on Asian culture as experienced by the children of migrants. That's why most members are young people from Australia, the US, Canada and the UK, rather than those living in Asia. Ms Xiao believes that the page is so popular because it identifies \"just little things in our lives that no one talked about before\". Many memes are about household customs - such as boiling tap water for drinking or using a finger to measure the perfect amount of water needed to cook rice. Other jokes centre on the experience of being a first-generation Asian person in a Western society, and \"how we struggle, sometimes, to reach a balance between our two cultures\", says Ms Gu. There are memes about \"not being Asian enough\": bilingual mishaps, struggles with Chinese homework, rebelling against family rules and traditions. Then there are posts referencing experiences of casual racism or being made to feel \"not white enough\". A common source of humour is \"Asian parents\" - who are stereotypically portrayed as cautious, strict and overbearing. As a Chinese-Australian millennial, I burst out laughing at one of the group's most popular posts. It was captioned: \"One day I told mother I didn't eat breakfast\". It bore an uncanny resemblance to texts from my own mother, particularly phrases like: \"I did not have a good sleep last night because of this.\" Ms Gu says the page is designed to be \"relatable\". Some users have sent the administrators messages of thanks. \"One girl said it was the first time she felt like a sense of belonging,\" she says. Ms Xiao says the page helped her realise her experiences were common. \"Growing up in a foreign country, it's just something you don't talk about because you're afraid that people won't understand you, or that you'll be made into a minority,\" she says." } ], "id": "1061_0", "question": "What are Subtle Asian Traits?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A gunman has killed two people in eastern Germany after attempting to enter a synagogue where dozens were observing a Jewish holiday. The suspect broadcast the attack on a popular live-streaming platform before being arrested. The video, which has now been removed, showed him making anti-Semitic comments to camera before driving to a synagogue in Halle and shooting at its door. After failing to get in, the gunman shot dead two people nearby. The suspect is a 27-year-old German who acted alone, according to local media. \"According to the federal prosecutor there are sufficient indications for a possible right-wing extremist motive,\" German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer said. Videos from the scene appear to show the suspect wearing military-type clothing and using several weapons in the attack. German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended a memorial vigil for the victims at Berlin's main synagogue. The attack happened in the city of Halle at about 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday. The attempted attack on the synagogue was captured on a surveillance camera, said Max Privorotzki, leader of the local Jewish community. \"We saw via the camera system at our synagogue that a heavily armed perpetrator with a steel helmet and a gun tried to shoot open our doors,\" he told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. \"The man looked as though he was from the special forces... But our doors held.\" Mr Privorotzki said about 70 or 80 people were inside at the time. After apparently becoming frustrated at failing to get in, the suspect then allegedly shot into the street and killed a woman close to the synagogue, before killing a man in a local kebab shop. A witness at the shop told German N-tv news the gunman had been wearing camouflage when he opened fire on the venue. \"The man came up to the doner shop, he threw something like a grenade, it didn't explode, and he opened fire with an assault rifle. I hid in the toilet,\" the witness said. Two people with gun wounds have had surgery at the city's university hospital, a spokesman told AFP news agency. Police say the man was arrested after fleeing the scene. He has not been officially named but local media suggest he is a 27-year-old German. Initial reports suggested other people may have been involved, but a local police lockdown has now been lifted. Streaming platform Twitch, which is owned by Amazon and is popular among game streamers, has confirmed the suspect broadcast the attack on their website. \"We worked with urgency to remove this content and will permanently suspend any accounts found to be posting or reposting content of this abhorrent act,\" a spokeswoman told Reuters news agency. The video the suspect posted showed him making misogynistic and anti-Semitic statements to the camera - including denying the Holocaust. The attack came as Jews observed Yom Kippur, Judaism's holiest day. \"That on the Day of Atonement a synagogue was shot at hits us in the heart,\" Foreign Minister Heiko Maas posted on Twitter. \"We must all act against anti-Semitism in our country.\" Security was boosted at other German synagogues following news of the attack and vigils were held on Wednesday evening. A spokesman said Angela Merkel condemned the shooting and offered her solidarity \"for all Jews on the holy day of Yom Kippur\". A minute's silence was earlier held for the victims in the European Parliament in Brussels. The EU's President, Jean Claude Juncker, has also condemned the attack. \"I am shocked by the brutal attacks in Halle - on this day, Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism,\" he posted on Twitter. \"My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims.\" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the shooting as a \"terror attack\" and warned anti-Semitism was on the rise in Europe. \"I urge German authorities to continue to act resolutely against the phenomenon of anti-Semitism,\" Mr Netanyahu tweeted. Are you in the area? Did you witness what happened? If it is safe to do so email [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2067, "answer_start": 909, "text": "The attack happened in the city of Halle at about 12:00 local time (10:00 GMT) on Wednesday. The attempted attack on the synagogue was captured on a surveillance camera, said Max Privorotzki, leader of the local Jewish community. \"We saw via the camera system at our synagogue that a heavily armed perpetrator with a steel helmet and a gun tried to shoot open our doors,\" he told the Stuttgarter Zeitung newspaper. \"The man looked as though he was from the special forces... But our doors held.\" Mr Privorotzki said about 70 or 80 people were inside at the time. After apparently becoming frustrated at failing to get in, the suspect then allegedly shot into the street and killed a woman close to the synagogue, before killing a man in a local kebab shop. A witness at the shop told German N-tv news the gunman had been wearing camouflage when he opened fire on the venue. \"The man came up to the doner shop, he threw something like a grenade, it didn't explode, and he opened fire with an assault rifle. I hid in the toilet,\" the witness said. Two people with gun wounds have had surgery at the city's university hospital, a spokesman told AFP news agency." } ], "id": "1062_0", "question": "How did the attack unfold?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A social media influencer in China has been exposed for living a \"double life\", after her landlord revealed her filthy living conditions, which contrasted with the glamorous image she presented online. Footage went viral showing the apartment of Lisa Li - a blogger with 1.1 million followers - littered with rubbish, mouldy food, and dog excrement. Since the footage was published, Ms Li has apologised. Lisa Li is known in China as a \"wang hong\", or \"online celebrity\", on the popular Sina Weibo microblog. Her account, like that of many young Chinese influencers, is a glossy catalogue of travel adventures, parties and fine-dining experiences. But since her landlord gave media a tour of her apartment in the northern city of Xi'an, she has become famous for different reasons. After Lisa Li seemingly ignored a number of phone calls, millions of users watched her landlord, named by media as Ms Chen, give a guided tour of her filthy apartment. Ms Chen told Pear Video that even professional cleaners had refused to clean the place, adding that her tenant owed thousands of yuan in unpaid utility bills. Ms Chen said that she had no choice but to contact the police about the damage to her property and the unpaid utilities. But she particularly got social media attention for showing her tenant's Weibo page to the outlet, saying: \"This is an online influencer with one million followers.\" She told Pear Video in a passionate interview the \"beautiful woman\" being presented online contrasted with the \"disgusting\" woman who left her apartment in a mess. After millions of people saw the footage inside Ms Li's apartment, she suddenly resurfaced. And rather than issuing a statement on social media, Ms Li met with her landlord to apologise in person. \"Complete responsibility lies with me on this incident,\" she told Ms Chen. They were filmed shaking hands. She explained her absence to popular news website The Paper as being the result of a tight schedule, saying that she went into hospital last week, and then went on a business trip. She said that she had recently received a large number of messages on mobile WeChat, and had seemingly missed her landlord's. \"I will clean now... I will even clean overnight,\" she told The Paper. Footage of Ms Li sweeping dog poo into a dustpan has shocked her fans, and led to a large amount of mockery online. More than 60,000 users have commented on her page, many saying they were unfollowing her and calling her \"fake\". Many have also questioned her sincerity in her interviews with mainstream media. Users noted she has changed her social media handle and removed a number of earlier posts. China is on a huge drive to push for celebrities to be \"socially responsible\". It heavily frowns on influencers not setting a good example to young followers, and has a track record of making examples of such people, arguing that stars need to be good role models and preserve a healthy online culture. In July, a Chinese vlogger became the subject of widespread mockery, after a technical glitch during a live-stream revealed her to be a middle-aged woman, and not the young woman she had presented herself to be. Some \"badly behaved\" influencers have even received short jail terms. In October 2018, Yang Kaili, a live-streaming celebrity with tens of millions of followers, was detained for five days for \"insulting\" the country's national anthem. The live-streaming platform she used, Huya, took down her video and banned her channel, saying: \"Live-streaming platforms are not above the law - the law and moral standards similarly apply there.\" BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 781, "answer_start": 405, "text": "Lisa Li is known in China as a \"wang hong\", or \"online celebrity\", on the popular Sina Weibo microblog. Her account, like that of many young Chinese influencers, is a glossy catalogue of travel adventures, parties and fine-dining experiences. But since her landlord gave media a tour of her apartment in the northern city of Xi'an, she has become famous for different reasons." } ], "id": "1063_0", "question": "Why was Ms Li famous?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1559, "answer_start": 782, "text": "After Lisa Li seemingly ignored a number of phone calls, millions of users watched her landlord, named by media as Ms Chen, give a guided tour of her filthy apartment. Ms Chen told Pear Video that even professional cleaners had refused to clean the place, adding that her tenant owed thousands of yuan in unpaid utility bills. Ms Chen said that she had no choice but to contact the police about the damage to her property and the unpaid utilities. But she particularly got social media attention for showing her tenant's Weibo page to the outlet, saying: \"This is an online influencer with one million followers.\" She told Pear Video in a passionate interview the \"beautiful woman\" being presented online contrasted with the \"disgusting\" woman who left her apartment in a mess." } ], "id": "1063_1", "question": "What did her landlord do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2241, "answer_start": 1560, "text": "After millions of people saw the footage inside Ms Li's apartment, she suddenly resurfaced. And rather than issuing a statement on social media, Ms Li met with her landlord to apologise in person. \"Complete responsibility lies with me on this incident,\" she told Ms Chen. They were filmed shaking hands. She explained her absence to popular news website The Paper as being the result of a tight schedule, saying that she went into hospital last week, and then went on a business trip. She said that she had recently received a large number of messages on mobile WeChat, and had seemingly missed her landlord's. \"I will clean now... I will even clean overnight,\" she told The Paper." } ], "id": "1063_2", "question": "How did Ms Li react?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2642, "answer_start": 2242, "text": "Footage of Ms Li sweeping dog poo into a dustpan has shocked her fans, and led to a large amount of mockery online. More than 60,000 users have commented on her page, many saying they were unfollowing her and calling her \"fake\". Many have also questioned her sincerity in her interviews with mainstream media. Users noted she has changed her social media handle and removed a number of earlier posts." } ], "id": "1063_3", "question": "How have Ms Li's fans reacted?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3741, "answer_start": 2643, "text": "China is on a huge drive to push for celebrities to be \"socially responsible\". It heavily frowns on influencers not setting a good example to young followers, and has a track record of making examples of such people, arguing that stars need to be good role models and preserve a healthy online culture. In July, a Chinese vlogger became the subject of widespread mockery, after a technical glitch during a live-stream revealed her to be a middle-aged woman, and not the young woman she had presented herself to be. Some \"badly behaved\" influencers have even received short jail terms. In October 2018, Yang Kaili, a live-streaming celebrity with tens of millions of followers, was detained for five days for \"insulting\" the country's national anthem. The live-streaming platform she used, Huya, took down her video and banned her channel, saying: \"Live-streaming platforms are not above the law - the law and moral standards similarly apply there.\" BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook." } ], "id": "1063_4", "question": "Is this the first time this type of thing has happened?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Several countries have used a United Nations forum to criticise Australia's asylum seeker policies. The US, Britain and others said Australia should stop turning back migrant boats and using offshore detention centres. The UN Human Rights Council conducts a review of every country's human rights record once every four years. The criticism comes amid after the death of an asylum seeker who tried to escape. Australia asylum: Why is it controversial? More than 100 country representatives were critical of Australia's policies during the review including Sweden, Norway, Canada, Fiji, France, Germany and Switzerland. \"We remain concerned about Australia's protection of the rights of migrants, especially of women and children at offshore facilities,\" Turkey's delegate told the review, according to media reports. Australian officials, who were given opportunities to respond, argued that the country's controversial polices save lives by discouraging dangerous ocean voyages, and allow it to resettle more refugees. \"The ensuring substantial and sustained reduction in maritime ventures as a result of Australia's managed approach to migration has resulted in Australia being able to resettle more refugees for our humanitarian programs,\" said Steve McGlynn, according to the ABC. Several countries also urged Australia to legalise gay marriage, with Ireland, Iceland and the Netherlands reportedly saying the country had fallen behind other western nations by failing to recognise marriage equality. \"Revise the Marriage Act of 1961 in a way that ensures full equality with respect to the civil institution of marriage,\" the Netherlands reportedly noted. \"As a strong advocate of marriage equality and equal rights for all, The Netherlands notes that Australia's Marriage Act de facto discriminates against LGBTI people\". Australia began turning around migrant boats trying to reach its shores after the election of the current Liberal-National coalition government in 2013. Intercepted asylum seekers are sent to Christmas Island - an Australian territory in the Indian ocean, as well as Manus Island in Papua New Guinea and Nauru in the South Pacific. Iran and North Korea also reportedly voiced concern, according to Australia's Fairfax Media. Iran expressed its \"deep concern about the mandatory immigration detention regime\", according to the report. Sweden's delegate told the UN session Australia was the only country that used offshore processing and mandatory detention of irregular immigrants, according to ABC. Recently Australia announced a bid for a seat on the Human Rights Council for a three-year term starting in 2018. Domestically, asylum is a hot political issue. Polls have shown that a significant number of Australians approve of taking a tougher stance. The two biggest rival political groupings adopted tough policies ahead of the September 2013 polls. The Liberal-National coalition, which won, had campaigned in part on a \"stop the boats\" platform. The government says the journey the asylum seekers make is dangerous and controlled by criminal gangs, and they have a duty to stop it. However, critics say opposition to asylum is often racially motivated and is damaging Australia's reputation. Australia granted close to 13,800 refugee visas between 2013 and 2014. It granted about 20,000 visas between 2012 and 2013.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3350, "answer_start": 2642, "text": "Domestically, asylum is a hot political issue. Polls have shown that a significant number of Australians approve of taking a tougher stance. The two biggest rival political groupings adopted tough policies ahead of the September 2013 polls. The Liberal-National coalition, which won, had campaigned in part on a \"stop the boats\" platform. The government says the journey the asylum seekers make is dangerous and controlled by criminal gangs, and they have a duty to stop it. However, critics say opposition to asylum is often racially motivated and is damaging Australia's reputation. Australia granted close to 13,800 refugee visas between 2013 and 2014. It granted about 20,000 visas between 2012 and 2013." } ], "id": "1064_0", "question": "So why does Australia have tough asylum policies?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A twin boy born to American and Israeli same-sex parents was wrongly denied US citizenship when his twin brother was not, a US judge has ruled. The judge in Los Angeles found that the state department was wrong to request biological evidence that the boy was blood-related to his American father. The US had originally only granted citizenship to his brother after his test showed DNA from the American dad. The case was one of two filed on behalf of gay American couples with twins. Pro-LGBT immigration group Immigration Equality, which brought the case on behalf of parents Andrew and Elad Dvash-Banks, cheered the ruling. \"This is a huge victory for Ethan Dvash-Banks and his family,\" said Aaron C Morris, executive director of Immigration Equality. \"Ethan will no longer be considered the undocumented twin of his brother Aiden,\" said Mr Morris, who also acts as a lawyer for the couple. The boys were born via surrogacy while the married parents were living in Toronto. Ethan was conceived using his Israeli father's sperm and Aiden by his American father's. Because only one child shared a biological relationship with the American, a US consular officer rejected the parents' application for citizenship, while also awarding a passport to their other two-year-old boy. Mr Morris argued they had been discriminated against because they are gay, and that heterosexual couples would not have been subjected to such scrutiny. But the state department pointed to guidance on its website that says \"a child abroad must be biologically related to a US parent\" in order to acquire US citizenship. \"For two years, this is something that weighed on us every single day,\" said Andrew Dvash-Banks. \"Not knowing whether Ethan would be allowed to stay in the US is something we went to bed with every night. Now, our family is whole and safe.\" The couple had chosen not to reveal which child was born by each father's biological material, but ultimately consented to a DNA test after a series of questions from consular officials that they found intrusive and offensive. US District Judge John F Walter of the Central District of California ruled on Thursday that the Trump administration's US Department of State had wrongly interpreted a statute related to birthright citizenship, and found that blood is not relevant. He said the fact that the parents are married is sufficient enough to grant Ethan his American citizenship. The courts \"have come to the conclusion that there is no biological requirement to pass citizenship if you are a married couple,\" Mr Morris told the BBC, adding that the parents are feeling \"greatly relieved\". \"They were living with a child that was basically considered to be undocumented and now they have proof from a federal judge that he is a citizen just like his twin brother.\" \"It's more than ridiculous, its almost perverse,\" he said. \"It was so absurd and unnecessary, and the government never explained why they were construing the statute in this way.\" The State Department has not said whether they will appeal the case. In a brief statement to the BBC, a US Department of State spokesperson said they are \"aware\" of the ruling, and \"are reviewing the ruling in co-ordination with [the] Department of Justice\" to determine any further actions. The case is similar to one brought by Immigration Equality on behalf of another couple in London, American Allison Blixt and her Italian wife Stefania Zaccari. Mr Morris, who is also representing the women, said he hopes the judge's ruling in California should be enough to persuade the Washington DC court to grant citizenship to their child.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2064, "answer_start": 893, "text": "The boys were born via surrogacy while the married parents were living in Toronto. Ethan was conceived using his Israeli father's sperm and Aiden by his American father's. Because only one child shared a biological relationship with the American, a US consular officer rejected the parents' application for citizenship, while also awarding a passport to their other two-year-old boy. Mr Morris argued they had been discriminated against because they are gay, and that heterosexual couples would not have been subjected to such scrutiny. But the state department pointed to guidance on its website that says \"a child abroad must be biologically related to a US parent\" in order to acquire US citizenship. \"For two years, this is something that weighed on us every single day,\" said Andrew Dvash-Banks. \"Not knowing whether Ethan would be allowed to stay in the US is something we went to bed with every night. Now, our family is whole and safe.\" The couple had chosen not to reveal which child was born by each father's biological material, but ultimately consented to a DNA test after a series of questions from consular officials that they found intrusive and offensive." } ], "id": "1065_0", "question": "Why was only one child granted US citizenship?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Donald Trump has signed a law that will impose sanctions on any firm that helps Russia's state-owned gas company, Gazprom, finish a pipeline into the European Union. The sanctions target firms building Nord Stream 2, an undersea pipeline that will allow Russia to increase gas exports to Germany. The US considers the project a security risk to Europe. Both Russia and the EU have strongly condemned the US sanctions. Congress voted through the measures as part of a defence bill last week and the legislation, which described the pipeline as a \"tool of coercion\", was signed off by Mr Trump on Friday. The almost $11bn (PS8.4bn) Nord Stream 2 project has infuriated the US, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers opposing it. The Trump administration fears the pipeline will tighten Russia's grip over Europe's energy supply and reduce its own share of the lucrative European market for American liquefied natural gas. President Trump has said the 1,225km (760-mile) pipeline, owned by Russia's Gazprom, could turn Germany into a \"hostage of Russia\". The US sanctions have angered Russia and the European Union, which says it should be able to decide its own energy policies. Earlier this week German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was \"opposed to extraterritorial sanctions\" against the Nord Stream 2 project. German foreign minister Heiko Maas struck a more combative tone, saying the sanctions amounted to \"interference in autonomous decisions taken in Europe\". Allseas, a Swiss-Dutch company involved in the project, said it had suspended its pipe-laying activities in anticipation of the sanctions. The US sanctions also target TurkStream, a Russia-Turkey pipeline, and include asset freezes and revocation of US visas for the contractors. On Saturday, the EU voiced its clear opposition to the US sanctions. \"As a matter of principle, the EU opposes the imposition of sanctions against EU companies conducting legitimate business,\" a spokesman for the trading bloc told AFP news agency. Russia's foreign ministry also strongly opposed the move, with ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing Washington of promoting an \"ideology\" that hinders global competition. The consortium behind Nord Stream 2 confirmed that it would build the pipeline as soon as possible, despite the sanctions. It said: \"Completing the project is essential for European supply security. We, together with the companies supporting the project, will work on finishing the pipeline as soon as possible.\" For years EU member states have been concerned about the bloc's reliance on Russian gas. Russia currently supplies about 40% of the EU's gas supplies - just ahead of Norway, which is not in the EU but takes part in its single market. The new pipeline will increase the amount of gas going under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic metres per year. Disagreements among EU nations were so strong that, earlier this year, they even threatened to derail the project entirely. The bloc eventually agreed to strengthen regulations against Nord Stream 2, rather than stop it completely, and to bring it under European control. Businesses in Germany, meanwhile, have invested heavily in the project. Chancellor Merkel has tried to assure Central and Eastern European states that the pipeline would not make Germany reliant on Russia for energy. There is concern in other quarters, too. In May, climate activists opposing the use of fossil fuels occupied part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Germany. The demonstrators, who said the project would be more detrimental to the environment than the authorities had claimed, began skateboarding inside the pipes. Police said at least five people had occupied the pipes near Wrangelsburg in northern Germany.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1765, "answer_start": 613, "text": "The almost $11bn (PS8.4bn) Nord Stream 2 project has infuriated the US, with both Republican and Democratic lawmakers opposing it. The Trump administration fears the pipeline will tighten Russia's grip over Europe's energy supply and reduce its own share of the lucrative European market for American liquefied natural gas. President Trump has said the 1,225km (760-mile) pipeline, owned by Russia's Gazprom, could turn Germany into a \"hostage of Russia\". The US sanctions have angered Russia and the European Union, which says it should be able to decide its own energy policies. Earlier this week German Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was \"opposed to extraterritorial sanctions\" against the Nord Stream 2 project. German foreign minister Heiko Maas struck a more combative tone, saying the sanctions amounted to \"interference in autonomous decisions taken in Europe\". Allseas, a Swiss-Dutch company involved in the project, said it had suspended its pipe-laying activities in anticipation of the sanctions. The US sanctions also target TurkStream, a Russia-Turkey pipeline, and include asset freezes and revocation of US visas for the contractors." } ], "id": "1066_0", "question": "Why is the US against the pipeline?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2506, "answer_start": 1766, "text": "On Saturday, the EU voiced its clear opposition to the US sanctions. \"As a matter of principle, the EU opposes the imposition of sanctions against EU companies conducting legitimate business,\" a spokesman for the trading bloc told AFP news agency. Russia's foreign ministry also strongly opposed the move, with ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova accusing Washington of promoting an \"ideology\" that hinders global competition. The consortium behind Nord Stream 2 confirmed that it would build the pipeline as soon as possible, despite the sanctions. It said: \"Completing the project is essential for European supply security. We, together with the companies supporting the project, will work on finishing the pipeline as soon as possible.\"" } ], "id": "1066_1", "question": "How have Russia and the EU reacted?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3750, "answer_start": 2507, "text": "For years EU member states have been concerned about the bloc's reliance on Russian gas. Russia currently supplies about 40% of the EU's gas supplies - just ahead of Norway, which is not in the EU but takes part in its single market. The new pipeline will increase the amount of gas going under the Baltic to 55 billion cubic metres per year. Disagreements among EU nations were so strong that, earlier this year, they even threatened to derail the project entirely. The bloc eventually agreed to strengthen regulations against Nord Stream 2, rather than stop it completely, and to bring it under European control. Businesses in Germany, meanwhile, have invested heavily in the project. Chancellor Merkel has tried to assure Central and Eastern European states that the pipeline would not make Germany reliant on Russia for energy. There is concern in other quarters, too. In May, climate activists opposing the use of fossil fuels occupied part of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline in Germany. The demonstrators, who said the project would be more detrimental to the environment than the authorities had claimed, began skateboarding inside the pipes. Police said at least five people had occupied the pipes near Wrangelsburg in northern Germany." } ], "id": "1066_2", "question": "Why is Nord Stream 2 so controversial?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "For the first time since the Industrial Revolution, Britain is obtaining more power from zero-carbon sources than fossil fuels. The milestone has been passed for the first five months of 2019. National Grid says clean energy has nudged ahead with 48% of generation, against 47% for coal and gas. The rest is biomass burning. The transformation reflects the precipitous decline of coal energy, and a boom from wind and solar. National Grid says that in the past decade, coal generation will have plunged from 30% to 3%. Meanwhile, wind power has shot up from 1% to 19%. Mini-milestones have been passed along the way. In May, for instance, Britain clocked up its first coal-free fortnight and generated record levels of solar power for two consecutive days. The shift is being driven by the need to cut emissions of the greenhouse gases that are over-heating the climate. The electricity sector was seen as the easiest place to start. John Pettigrew, CEO of National Grid, told BBC News: \"Over the last 10 years there's been real progress in de-carbonisation of the energy system - but 2019 is going to be a key milestone. \"It's the first time since the Industrial Revolution that more electricity has been produced from zero and low-carbon sources rather than fossil fuels. It's tremendously exciting because it's such a tipping point.\" National Grid says it is confident to make predictions for Britain's whole year power generation based on figures so far and on historical patterns. In years to come, more energy storage will be needed as the share of wind and solar energy swells further. Mr Pettigrew told us some of the renewable energy generated when the wind is blowing or the Sun is shining will be stored in the batteries of people's electric cars for use later. The cars' charging systems will be reversed so their batteries can feed electricity back to the grid when demand peaks - like when people are cooking supper. \"One of key attributes of electric vehicles is they have a battery and therefore they can be used as a source of energy on to the network,\" he said. \"We could aggregate all the cars and use that electricity to support the grid when it's needed. It's going to be a really effective tool for us to keep costs down.\" The firm estimates this vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G) could solve 10-15% of the UK's demand for storage. But it's hard to be confident about projections because autonomous vehicles may disrupt patterns of car usage and ownership. Another way of filling in the gaps in energy when the wind's not blowing is by trading with continental neighbours. National Grid expects that giant cables from continental Europe will soon supply enough to power eight million homes. The firm says 63% of electricity imported through interconnectors this year has come from zero-carbon sources - much of it from French nuclear. The zero-carbon share should increase to 90% by the 2030s as the UK trades more electricity with Norway's vast hydropower system. There's still major uncertainty about low-carbon energy, though, with no clarity over nuclear power, and increased expected demand from motorists. Mr Pettigrew has joined the chorus of critics warning government that the progress of electric vehicles is too slow - and urging much more effort to decarbonise heat. The veteran energy analyst Tom Burke from e3g told BBC News: \"Today's landmark is a real tribute to technologists. We have cracked technical problems of dealing with climate change. \"The problems we face are political. As we move towards Net Zero (carbon emissions), jobs will be lost in fossil fuel industries and created in low-carbon industries. \"The government has blown hot and cold on climate policies - and it's shown no sign of thinking about managing the politics of this.\" A government White Paper on energy is due soon. Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1592, "answer_start": 757, "text": "The shift is being driven by the need to cut emissions of the greenhouse gases that are over-heating the climate. The electricity sector was seen as the easiest place to start. John Pettigrew, CEO of National Grid, told BBC News: \"Over the last 10 years there's been real progress in de-carbonisation of the energy system - but 2019 is going to be a key milestone. \"It's the first time since the Industrial Revolution that more electricity has been produced from zero and low-carbon sources rather than fossil fuels. It's tremendously exciting because it's such a tipping point.\" National Grid says it is confident to make predictions for Britain's whole year power generation based on figures so far and on historical patterns. In years to come, more energy storage will be needed as the share of wind and solar energy swells further." } ], "id": "1067_0", "question": "Why does it matter?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2477, "answer_start": 1593, "text": "Mr Pettigrew told us some of the renewable energy generated when the wind is blowing or the Sun is shining will be stored in the batteries of people's electric cars for use later. The cars' charging systems will be reversed so their batteries can feed electricity back to the grid when demand peaks - like when people are cooking supper. \"One of key attributes of electric vehicles is they have a battery and therefore they can be used as a source of energy on to the network,\" he said. \"We could aggregate all the cars and use that electricity to support the grid when it's needed. It's going to be a really effective tool for us to keep costs down.\" The firm estimates this vehicle-to-grid technology (V2G) could solve 10-15% of the UK's demand for storage. But it's hard to be confident about projections because autonomous vehicles may disrupt patterns of car usage and ownership." } ], "id": "1067_1", "question": "Can cars help with electricity supplies?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3299, "answer_start": 2478, "text": "Another way of filling in the gaps in energy when the wind's not blowing is by trading with continental neighbours. National Grid expects that giant cables from continental Europe will soon supply enough to power eight million homes. The firm says 63% of electricity imported through interconnectors this year has come from zero-carbon sources - much of it from French nuclear. The zero-carbon share should increase to 90% by the 2030s as the UK trades more electricity with Norway's vast hydropower system. There's still major uncertainty about low-carbon energy, though, with no clarity over nuclear power, and increased expected demand from motorists. Mr Pettigrew has joined the chorus of critics warning government that the progress of electric vehicles is too slow - and urging much more effort to decarbonise heat." } ], "id": "1067_2", "question": "How much energy will we buy from Europe?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Staff at one of China's top landmarks have apologised after seemingly allowing a wealthy woman to drive onto the heavily guarded premises. Social media user Lu Xiaobao posted photos of herself, a friend and her car in the empty Forbidden City in Beijing. Although she has since deleted them, they quickly went viral and people urged the site to offer an explanation. The site's Palace Museum said it was \"deeply distressed and sincerely apologises to the public\". A statement confirmed that the incident had happened on Monday. The Forbidden City was China's former imperial palace between the years 1420 and 1912. It is a World Heritage Site and one of the most heavily-guarded areas of China. When social media users saw pictures uploaded to the popular Sina Weibo microblog by Ms Lu on 17 January, inside the empty site on a clear day, people quickly started asking questions. Currently, it is Spring Festival, one of China's biggest public holidays, when there is mass migration across China to popular tourist destinations. Beijing and its landmarks at this time of year are notoriously flooded with people. Ms Lu posted several pictures on her Weibo account saying \"On Monday the Palace Museum is closed, so I hurried over, hid from the crowds, and went to play in the Forbidden City.\" Weibo users were stunned to see not only pictures of Ms Lu and her friend at an empty site, but also her huge luxury car, which she drove onto the complex. The Forbidden City often closes on Mondays, to allow for maintenance and renovation work. Today, the hashtag #DrivingIntoTheForbiddenCity has quickly gone viral, and has been used hundreds of thousands of times. Users acknowledge that Ms Lu has deleted her original pictures, but as one user, whose comment has been shared more than 400,000 times, says: \"Deleting the pictures is useless; the entire Chinese nation has seen them.\" They wanted the Palace Museum to explain. Many users have speculated that the woman is from a wealthy background, given that previous posts on her account show her on a luxury yacht. Her Weibo account says that she is flight attendant at Air China, but the airline has responded to media questions saying that she \"left the company a number of years ago\". Influential local paper Beijing News says that a woman claiming to be her friend, says she was invited by the Palace Museum to attend an event. Ms Lu herself has not commented publicly. The Forbidden City is a huge complex of significant cultural and historical importance. Made up of courtyards, palaces and gardens, it is home to imperial collections of Ming and Qing dynasty art and artefacts. Its main entrance is famous for a portrait of Mao Zedong, the founder of the Chinese Communist Party, and next to the government building, the Great Hall of the People, and the symbolic Tiananmen Square. China has strict laws on the protection of cultural relics, and has previously blacklisted people for vandalising important sites. This is not the first time the Forbidden City has come under fire for controversial pictures at the site. In June 2015, images circulated of a naked photoshoot outside the Palace Museum. The official China Daily said at the time that the model could face a number of days in detention, but similarly raised questions about \"ethical and moral\" behaviour at a \"historical site\". BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitterand Facebook.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2420, "answer_start": 1538, "text": "Today, the hashtag #DrivingIntoTheForbiddenCity has quickly gone viral, and has been used hundreds of thousands of times. Users acknowledge that Ms Lu has deleted her original pictures, but as one user, whose comment has been shared more than 400,000 times, says: \"Deleting the pictures is useless; the entire Chinese nation has seen them.\" They wanted the Palace Museum to explain. Many users have speculated that the woman is from a wealthy background, given that previous posts on her account show her on a luxury yacht. Her Weibo account says that she is flight attendant at Air China, but the airline has responded to media questions saying that she \"left the company a number of years ago\". Influential local paper Beijing News says that a woman claiming to be her friend, says she was invited by the Palace Museum to attend an event. Ms Lu herself has not commented publicly." } ], "id": "1068_0", "question": "Who is she?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3492, "answer_start": 2421, "text": "The Forbidden City is a huge complex of significant cultural and historical importance. Made up of courtyards, palaces and gardens, it is home to imperial collections of Ming and Qing dynasty art and artefacts. Its main entrance is famous for a portrait of Mao Zedong, the founder of the Chinese Communist Party, and next to the government building, the Great Hall of the People, and the symbolic Tiananmen Square. China has strict laws on the protection of cultural relics, and has previously blacklisted people for vandalising important sites. This is not the first time the Forbidden City has come under fire for controversial pictures at the site. In June 2015, images circulated of a naked photoshoot outside the Palace Museum. The official China Daily said at the time that the model could face a number of days in detention, but similarly raised questions about \"ethical and moral\" behaviour at a \"historical site\". BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitterand Facebook." } ], "id": "1068_1", "question": "Why is this controversial?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A third of people in the UK underestimate how many calories they are eating, according to an analysis of Office of National Statistics data. It suggests British men eat more than 3,000 a day while claiming to eat 2,000. And women say they eat about 1,500 while consuming nearly 2,500. The recommended daily calorie allowance is 2,500 for men and 2,000 for women. The study of more than 4,000 people looked at energy expenditure and self-reporting information on food eaten. Public Health England chief nutritionist Dr Alison Tedstone said under-reporting of calorie intakes \"has always been a feature of all diet surveys\". \"Some people forget what they've consumed and some change what they record knowing they are part of a survey. \"There's no way to get rid of under-reporting, but the steps we take to minimise it makes the National Diet and Nutrition Survey the most robust data on the population's diet.\" As a rule of thumb, Public Health England recommends consuming about 400 calories for breakfast and 600 calories each for lunch and dinner to allow for extra drinks and snacks throughout the day. But many cafes and restaurant do not have calorie information readily available and often include extra ingredients that add flavour but also calories. Some restaurant portions may also be bigger than ones eaten at home. But portion size can also be an issue at home. Many food labels state the number of calories in \"one portion\". But the manufacturer's idea of \"one portion\" may not be the same as those dished up at the dinner table. Many snacks also give calorie information, but this can be hard to understand and research suggests people spend just six seconds, on average, looking at food before buying it. A large glass of wine can contain as many calories as a doughnut, and a pint of lager has about the same calorie count as a packet of crisps. The average wine drinker in England takes in about 2,000 calories from alcohol every month. Drinking five pints of lager a week adds up to 44,200 calories over a year, equivalent to eating 221 doughnuts. Fizzy drinks and fruit juices contain sugars, and the amount of calories in a coffee bought at a shop with extras, such as syrup and whipped cream, can add up to the same as a dessert.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 909, "answer_start": 474, "text": "Public Health England chief nutritionist Dr Alison Tedstone said under-reporting of calorie intakes \"has always been a feature of all diet surveys\". \"Some people forget what they've consumed and some change what they record knowing they are part of a survey. \"There's no way to get rid of under-reporting, but the steps we take to minimise it makes the National Diet and Nutrition Survey the most robust data on the population's diet.\"" } ], "id": "1069_0", "question": "Why the discrepancy?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A flotilla of Russian warships is passing through the English Channel en route to Syria. Two British naval ships are shadowing the vessels. The Ministry of Defence said they would be \"man-marked every step of the way\" while near UK waters. A Russian tug, believed to be in convoy with the taskforce, entered the channel first off the coast near Ramsgate. EU leaders have strongly condemned Russia's involvement in bombing the Syrian city of Aleppo. The ships are within international waters but Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the UK would \"be watching as part of our steadfast commitment to keep Britain safe\". I went to Nigeria to meet the man who scammed me Which country really has the cleverest students? Autistic boy who can't be touched connects with dog The UK's Type 45 destroyer HMS Duncan, escorted by the Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, sailed from Portsmouth on Tuesday to track the Kuznetsov group as it headed south from the Norwegian Sea. The aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov and other Russian naval vessels are believed to be heading to the eastern Mediterranean. It is the only carrier in the Russian navy and can carry more than 50 aircraft. Its weapons systems include granit anti-ship cruise missiles. By Steve Rosenberg, BBC Moscow correspondent One Russian newspaper this week described the Russian warships heading to the Mediterranean as an \"armada\". But why such a large-scale deployment? And why is Moscow sending its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, to the region? Friday's Komsomolskaya Pravda makes it clear: \"This is no tourist trip to the Med. It will strengthen Russia's current naval presence off the Syrian coast and provide air cover. The aircraft carrier planes and on-board weapons may also be used for strikes against terrorists.\" But this is not just about boosting Russian firepower in Syria. If that was the case, it would be easier for Moscow to deploy more bombers to its airbase in Syria near Latakia. Sending a large Russian flotilla through the North Sea and the English Channel sends a clear message to the West: anything you can do, we can do just as well - or even better. Russia wants to be seen as a global player, a major military power. And it wants to be respected or feared (or both) by the West. Russia already has about 10 ships off Syria, which have fired cruise missiles during Russia's bombardment of what it says are anti-government rebels in Syria. The deployment comes as a \"humanitarian pause\" in attacks on rebel-held eastern Aleppo in Syria begins. The temporary truce is part of a plan to allow civilians and fighters to leave, and Russian and Syrian air strikes have been halted since Tuesday. Prime Minister Theresa May urged European leaders to send a \"robust united message\" to Moscow over its bombing campaign. At a Brussels summit on Thursday, Mrs May told her counterparts the current assault on Aleppo was \"particularly horrific\" and Russia's actions had \"undermined the West's efforts\" to provide a political settlement, Downing Street sources said. Although the EU imposed sanctions on Russia following the conflict in eastern Ukraine, it has so far failed to act over Moscow's military intervention in Syria.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2271, "answer_start": 1229, "text": "By Steve Rosenberg, BBC Moscow correspondent One Russian newspaper this week described the Russian warships heading to the Mediterranean as an \"armada\". But why such a large-scale deployment? And why is Moscow sending its only aircraft carrier, the Admiral Kuznetsov, to the region? Friday's Komsomolskaya Pravda makes it clear: \"This is no tourist trip to the Med. It will strengthen Russia's current naval presence off the Syrian coast and provide air cover. The aircraft carrier planes and on-board weapons may also be used for strikes against terrorists.\" But this is not just about boosting Russian firepower in Syria. If that was the case, it would be easier for Moscow to deploy more bombers to its airbase in Syria near Latakia. Sending a large Russian flotilla through the North Sea and the English Channel sends a clear message to the West: anything you can do, we can do just as well - or even better. Russia wants to be seen as a global player, a major military power. And it wants to be respected or feared (or both) by the West." } ], "id": "1070_0", "question": "Why such a large-scale deployment?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Billionaire Tom Steyer has announced a 2020 presidential campaign, adding his name to a crowded pool of Democrats vying to unseat President Donald Trump. An environmentalist and advocate for the movement to impeach Mr Trump, he has donated millions to liberal causes. Mr Steyer's launch video focused on \"pushing power down to the people\" and blaming corporations for most of the nation's \"intractable\" problems. The California financier had previously said he would not run for office. Forbes lists Mr Steyer's net worth at $1.6bn (PS1.2bn). \"Americans are deeply disappointed and hurt by the way they're treated by what they think is the power elite in Washington DC,\" Mr Steyer, 62, said in his campaign video. \"Almost every single major intractable problem, at the back of it you see a big money interest for whom stopping progress, stopping justice, is really important to their bottom line.\" He used climate change and the opioid crisis as examples of how corporate interests were negatively affecting the nation. Mr Steyer also highlighted his own philanthropy, saying he had pledged to give away half of his wealth during his lifetime and had supported causes like young voter engagement and clean energy. He heads the group Need to Impeach, which supports removing Mr Trump from office, and has spent millions backing Democratic candidates during previous election cycles. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, Mr Steyer and his wife, Kathryn, are the second biggest political donors in the US, just behind Republican donors Sheldon and Miriam Adelson. Mr Steyer has teased running for office before. Tom Steyer appeared to close the door on a presidential bid back in January, instead pledging to do whatever it takes to remove Donald Trump from office via the constitutionally outlined impeachment process. He has changed his mind, which is the kind of luxury afforded a billionaire. It's not exactly apparent what path someone like Mr Steyer, a hedge-fund tycoon who has a history of advocating for liberal causes, has to the Democratic nomination. With campaign budget limited only by his imagination, if there is even the smallest path he has the resources to bulldoze it clear. At the very least, he could be a disrupter in the electoral process, free to challenge his opponents to take a more aggressive stand on impeaching the president and push them on environmental issues. His largess has made political allies across the US, and his grass-roots impeachment organising efforts helped build a million-strong contact list of like-minded voters. In 2018's mid-term elections, he spent $100m to support Democrats running for the House of Representatives. US media have described Mr Steyer's campaign as the Democratic version of Mr Trump's; both men are political outsiders with vast personal wealth, running on the premise of changing the existing system. Mr Trump has called Mr Steyer \"wacky\", \"totally unhinged\" and a \"weirdo\". He has not commented since Mr Steyer's campaign launch. A spokesman for Mr Steyer told the New York Times Mr Steyer had pledged to spend at least $100m on his presidential campaign - which exceeds early fundraising totals for Joe Biden ($21.5m), Elizabeth Warren ($19m), Pete Buttigieg ($24.8m), Bernie Sanders ($18m) and Kamala Harris ($12m). But in order to qualify for the next set of Democratic debates on 30 and 31 July, Mr Steyer will need to meet donor or voting thresholds set by the Democratic National Committee. His campaign must reach 1% in the polls or obtain donations from 65,000 donors, of which 200 must be from 20 different states. If he does not qualify by then, he will have to wait until the next round in September. Vermont Senator and presidential candidate Bernie Sanders told NBC: \"I like Tom personally [but] I am a bit tired of seeing billionaires trying to buy political power.\" In response, Mr Steyer told an NBC reporter: \"Nobody owns me.\" \"If you look at the top four people running for president as Democrats, They share 73 years either in the Congress or the Senate. It's a question of insiders versus an outsider.\" Mr Steyer's entrance comes as fellow Californian Congressman Eric Swalwell became the second 2020 hopeful to drop out of the race. Former West Virginia state Senator Richard Ojeda ended his short-lived campaign in January. On Monday, Mr Swalwell said he had no regrets, but, \"we have to be honest about our own candidacy and viability\". He will instead be seeking re-election to the House of Representatives. But the pool remains crowded, with two dozen candidates. Joe Sestak, a former Pennsylvania congressman and three-star vice admiral in the US Navy, is another late start contender. He announced his campaign at the end of last month, focusing on climate change and global policy. Tom Steyer has joined the race to stop Donald Trump from being re-elected. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president? Find out who is already running and who might join them.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4981, "answer_start": 4794, "text": "Tom Steyer has joined the race to stop Donald Trump from being re-elected. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president? Find out who is already running and who might join them." } ], "id": "1071_0", "question": "Who will take on Trump in 2020?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russia has promised greater support for parents as the country continues to struggle with a low birth rate. \"We have to help young people, those who want a family life and are dreaming about children,\" President Vladimir Putin said in an annual address to lawmakers. Countries need to have a birth rate of at least 2.1 children per woman to sustain the population, but the average figure in Europe is about 1.59. According to the UN, two-thirds of countries in Europe have introduced measures to increase fertility rates, from baby bonuses and tax incentives to paid parental leave, with varying degrees of success. President Putin says that Russia's birth rate is currently at 1.48 women per children. While this is a significant increase from 1999, when the figure fell to 1.16, Mr Putin hopes to raise the level to 1.7. Under the proposals, first-time mothers would be eligible to receive maternity benefits previously paid only to women with two or more children. Welfare benefits would also be paid for children aged three to seven in low-income families, and free school meals would be provided for the first four years of school. Last year, Mr Putin promised tax breaks for bigger families. A one-off \"maternity capital\" payment, currently worth PS5,800 ($7,600; EUR6,800), was introduced for families with two or more children in 2007 under a 10-year programme. Demography expert Prof Evgeny Yakovlev told BBC Russian that the move had temporarily increased the number of families with two children but added that financial uncertainty subsequently led to another fall in the birth rate. Like Russia, the Italian government has tried its own financial incentives to encourage couples to have more children. But an EUR800 payment per couple per birth, launched in 2015, does not appear to have led to significant changes: Italy still has one of the lowest fertility rates in the EU, with 1.3 children per woman. Anne Gauthier, professor of comparative family studies at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, told the BBC that such cash policies \"usually have very little impact on the fertility rate\". She says that while they may lead to a small increase in birth rates in the short term, with some people choosing to have children earlier, \"it doesn't translate at the end of the day to a higher fertility rate. They have been used in a lot of countries and we see the same pattern\". In the case of Italy, the failure of the incentive may be related to the fact that one-off payments fail to address underlying issues such as social attitudes - an important factor in a country with less than 50% of women in work - or large levels of emigration. Although its birth rate has fallen in recent years, France still has one of the highest fertility rates in the EU with 1.92 births per women, according to World Bank figures from 2017. A report published by France's national institute for demographic studies, Ined, describes the country as a \"demographic exception\" to the lower birth rate across much of Europe. Prof Gauthier says that reasons for France's success in this area could be the range of social policies on offer. Some countries, she notes, have introduced new benefits that do not balance out the negative impact of other policies, such as tax rates, on families. But \"for decades, France has has a Ministry of Families that's responsible for this package\", she says. The country has extensive social policies, which provide subsidised child care for younger children and a generous benefits system \"especially for larger families\", according to the European Commission. Families with two or more children receive benefits of at least EUR131.55 per month and means-tested grants are available, including a payment of EUR944.51 given at the birth of each child for eligible families. Similar successes are seen in Scandinavian countries, with an average of 1.9 children per woman in Sweden according to the World Bank's 2017 figures. The European Commission says that female and maternal employment rates in the country \"are among the highest in the EU, and child poverty is among the lowest\", while parents are given a monthly allowance of up to 1,573 krona (PS128; $167), which increases when the child reaches 11 and then 15. Generous family and social benefits may play a role in their success. Swedish parents are also entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave to share between them, with men claiming about 30% of all leave. Childcare is also subsidised and working hours are lower in Sweden than in many other countries. In 2018, the average Swede worked 1,474 hours, about 500 hours fewer than the average Russian. But Prof Gauthier does note that even Scandinavia has begun to see a fall in its fertility rates, showing that the real key to higher birth rates remains unclear. \"With Scandinavia we thought they had got it right... until about last year when their fertility rate started to decline,\" she said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1595, "answer_start": 616, "text": "President Putin says that Russia's birth rate is currently at 1.48 women per children. While this is a significant increase from 1999, when the figure fell to 1.16, Mr Putin hopes to raise the level to 1.7. Under the proposals, first-time mothers would be eligible to receive maternity benefits previously paid only to women with two or more children. Welfare benefits would also be paid for children aged three to seven in low-income families, and free school meals would be provided for the first four years of school. Last year, Mr Putin promised tax breaks for bigger families. A one-off \"maternity capital\" payment, currently worth PS5,800 ($7,600; EUR6,800), was introduced for families with two or more children in 2007 under a 10-year programme. Demography expert Prof Evgeny Yakovlev told BBC Russian that the move had temporarily increased the number of families with two children but added that financial uncertainty subsequently led to another fall in the birth rate." } ], "id": "1072_0", "question": "What did Putin promise?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4950, "answer_start": 1596, "text": "Like Russia, the Italian government has tried its own financial incentives to encourage couples to have more children. But an EUR800 payment per couple per birth, launched in 2015, does not appear to have led to significant changes: Italy still has one of the lowest fertility rates in the EU, with 1.3 children per woman. Anne Gauthier, professor of comparative family studies at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands, told the BBC that such cash policies \"usually have very little impact on the fertility rate\". She says that while they may lead to a small increase in birth rates in the short term, with some people choosing to have children earlier, \"it doesn't translate at the end of the day to a higher fertility rate. They have been used in a lot of countries and we see the same pattern\". In the case of Italy, the failure of the incentive may be related to the fact that one-off payments fail to address underlying issues such as social attitudes - an important factor in a country with less than 50% of women in work - or large levels of emigration. Although its birth rate has fallen in recent years, France still has one of the highest fertility rates in the EU with 1.92 births per women, according to World Bank figures from 2017. A report published by France's national institute for demographic studies, Ined, describes the country as a \"demographic exception\" to the lower birth rate across much of Europe. Prof Gauthier says that reasons for France's success in this area could be the range of social policies on offer. Some countries, she notes, have introduced new benefits that do not balance out the negative impact of other policies, such as tax rates, on families. But \"for decades, France has has a Ministry of Families that's responsible for this package\", she says. The country has extensive social policies, which provide subsidised child care for younger children and a generous benefits system \"especially for larger families\", according to the European Commission. Families with two or more children receive benefits of at least EUR131.55 per month and means-tested grants are available, including a payment of EUR944.51 given at the birth of each child for eligible families. Similar successes are seen in Scandinavian countries, with an average of 1.9 children per woman in Sweden according to the World Bank's 2017 figures. The European Commission says that female and maternal employment rates in the country \"are among the highest in the EU, and child poverty is among the lowest\", while parents are given a monthly allowance of up to 1,573 krona (PS128; $167), which increases when the child reaches 11 and then 15. Generous family and social benefits may play a role in their success. Swedish parents are also entitled to 480 days of paid parental leave to share between them, with men claiming about 30% of all leave. Childcare is also subsidised and working hours are lower in Sweden than in many other countries. In 2018, the average Swede worked 1,474 hours, about 500 hours fewer than the average Russian. But Prof Gauthier does note that even Scandinavia has begun to see a fall in its fertility rates, showing that the real key to higher birth rates remains unclear. \"With Scandinavia we thought they had got it right... until about last year when their fertility rate started to decline,\" she said." } ], "id": "1072_1", "question": "What's the experiences in other countries?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Brazil's new far-right President Jair Bolsonaro has vowed to grow the economy while protecting the environment. In Davos, on his first foreign trip, he also promised to implement tax and social security reforms and reduce the size of the state. But he did not give details about his plans, frustrating business leaders and investors, correspondents say. Critics fear his policies to boost growth could mean a relaxation of environmental protections. A deeply divisive figure, Mr Bolsonaro was sworn in on 1 January promising to free Brazil of corruption, crime and economic mismanagement. But the 63-year-old's racist, homophobic and misogynistic remarks have angered many. In a keynote address at the World Economic Forum, Mr Bolsonaro said economic development and environmental protection should go \"hand-in-hand\". In his eight-minute speech, he promised to open up the \"relatively closed\" economy to foreign investment and said his government had \"credibility\" to implement reforms, without giving details. In an interview later he said he planned to carry out tax and social security reforms. While many in Brazil agree that difficult reforms are needed to restore the economy, correspondents say there are concerns about the potential impact of his policies. Hours after he took office, Mr Bolsonaro transferred the creation and limitation of indigenous reserves to the agriculture ministry, a decision that was seen as a victory for agribusiness. Last week, Mr Bolsonaro signed a decree making it easier to buy firearms, a controversial decision that was one of his main campaign pledges. Brazil has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and Mr Bolsonaro has said more guns will allow \"good people\" help combat violent crime. Critics, however, say the move could actually lead to more gun deaths. In Davos, Mr Bolsonaro - who enjoys support among evangelical groups - also reaffirmed his commitment to defend \"family values\" and attacked left-wing politics in Latin America, saying it would not prevail in the region. He also vowed to tackle corruption without mentioning a scandal about suspicious payments involving his politician son, Flavio, who denies wrongdoing. Despite portraying himself as a political outsider during his campaign, Mr Bolsonaro served seven terms in Brazil's lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, before being elected president. He has been a member of several political parties but is currently in the Social Liberal Party (PSL), which has grown from having a tiny presence in Congress to becoming the party with the second largest number of deputies in the lower house. Before becoming a politician, Mr Bolsonaro served in Brazil's military, where he was a paratrooper and rose to the rank of captain. During his time as a lawmaker, Mr Bolsonaro represented the interests of the armed forces and has named several former military men to head key ministries. He has also expressed nostalgia for the time when Brazil was under military rule and the hard-line policies enforced during the period, which saw thousands jailed and tortured.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2184, "answer_start": 674, "text": "In a keynote address at the World Economic Forum, Mr Bolsonaro said economic development and environmental protection should go \"hand-in-hand\". In his eight-minute speech, he promised to open up the \"relatively closed\" economy to foreign investment and said his government had \"credibility\" to implement reforms, without giving details. In an interview later he said he planned to carry out tax and social security reforms. While many in Brazil agree that difficult reforms are needed to restore the economy, correspondents say there are concerns about the potential impact of his policies. Hours after he took office, Mr Bolsonaro transferred the creation and limitation of indigenous reserves to the agriculture ministry, a decision that was seen as a victory for agribusiness. Last week, Mr Bolsonaro signed a decree making it easier to buy firearms, a controversial decision that was one of his main campaign pledges. Brazil has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and Mr Bolsonaro has said more guns will allow \"good people\" help combat violent crime. Critics, however, say the move could actually lead to more gun deaths. In Davos, Mr Bolsonaro - who enjoys support among evangelical groups - also reaffirmed his commitment to defend \"family values\" and attacked left-wing politics in Latin America, saying it would not prevail in the region. He also vowed to tackle corruption without mentioning a scandal about suspicious payments involving his politician son, Flavio, who denies wrongdoing." } ], "id": "1073_0", "question": "What did Bolsonaro say in Davos?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3090, "answer_start": 2185, "text": "Despite portraying himself as a political outsider during his campaign, Mr Bolsonaro served seven terms in Brazil's lower house of Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, before being elected president. He has been a member of several political parties but is currently in the Social Liberal Party (PSL), which has grown from having a tiny presence in Congress to becoming the party with the second largest number of deputies in the lower house. Before becoming a politician, Mr Bolsonaro served in Brazil's military, where he was a paratrooper and rose to the rank of captain. During his time as a lawmaker, Mr Bolsonaro represented the interests of the armed forces and has named several former military men to head key ministries. He has also expressed nostalgia for the time when Brazil was under military rule and the hard-line policies enforced during the period, which saw thousands jailed and tortured." } ], "id": "1073_1", "question": "Who is the far-right leader?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An audio recording in which migrant children in the US can be heard crying for their parents has been released as US President Donald Trump remains defiant over his immigration policy. Some 2,000 migrant children have been separated from their parents in the past few months after their families tried to cross the US border illegally. Mr Trump said he would not allow the US to become a \"migrant camp\". The UN high commissioner for refugees says the policy is \"unacceptable\". The recording was released by investigative US media outlet ProPublica on Monday, and was said to have been made from inside a US customs and border protection facility. In it, several Central American children separated from their parents and thought to be aged between four and 10 can be heard sobbing and wailing, and calling for their mother or father. One border patrol agent can be heard saying: \"We have an orchestra here. What's missing is a conductor.\" The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, has told the BBC the Trump administration's \"zero-tolerance\" policy towards illegal immigration is unacceptable. \"It is absolutely wrong to separate children from their families in any circumstances and particularly when people are in distress as, for example, people that are fleeing from violence and persecution, as is the case for people in Central America,\" he said. \"So, we are advising the government of the United States that this is not the right way to handle that particular phenomenon of people seeking asylum across the border.\" On Monday, Mr Trump said the US would \"not be a migrant camp\", or a refugee-holding facility. \"You look at what's happening in Europe, you look at what's happening in other places. \"We cannot allow that to happen to the United States. Not on my watch.\" The Republican president blamed Democrats for not coming to the table to negotiate immigration legislation. Meanwhile, Mr Trump's job approval rating averaged 45%, according to Gallup polling conducted last week. This matches his previous peak, in the first week after his inauguration in January 2016. Nearly 2,000 children have been separated from their parents at the border between mid-April and the end of May. The administration's \"zero-tolerance\" policy entails criminally charging those entering the US illegally, including asylum seekers. This has led to parents being separated from their children, who are not charged with a crime. As a result, hundreds of children are being housed in detention centres, including warehouses and converted supermarkets. Images from some of the border camps show children being held in caged areas separated by chain-link fencing. Some shelters and foster homes have said they are running out of space. Officials have also announced plans to erect tent cities that will hold hundreds more children in the Texas desert where temperatures regularly reach 40C (105F). Democrats and some in Mr Trump's own Republican Party have strongly condemned the administration. The crackdown has even provoked fierce criticism from the president's wife, Melania Trump, who said over the weekend she \"hates to see children separated from families\". Former First Lady Laura Bush meanwhile wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that the tactics were \"immoral\" and evoked Japanese-American internment camps during the Second World War. Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said Mr Trump's widely debunked claims that the family separations were mandated by law was \"an outright lie\". Most congressional Republicans, however, have declined to criticise Mr Trump over the policy. On Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen defended the \"zero-tolerance\" policy, arguing that the government was simply following the law and it would be up to Congress to change it. During a heated briefing at the White House, Ms Nielsen also insisted that migrants who attempt to cross the US border were putting their children in an unsafe situation. Fox News host Laura Ingraham called the detention centres \"essentially summer camps\", and praised Mr Trump for \"doing what we should have been doing all along, prosecuting all border crashers\". Conservative author Ann Coulter called the children \"child actors weeping and crying\" on TV networks. \"Do not fall for it, Mr President,\" she warned in an interview on Fox News. Was your family split up after entering the US? Are any of your family members currently being detained and kept apart? Email [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2897, "answer_start": 2092, "text": "Nearly 2,000 children have been separated from their parents at the border between mid-April and the end of May. The administration's \"zero-tolerance\" policy entails criminally charging those entering the US illegally, including asylum seekers. This has led to parents being separated from their children, who are not charged with a crime. As a result, hundreds of children are being housed in detention centres, including warehouses and converted supermarkets. Images from some of the border camps show children being held in caged areas separated by chain-link fencing. Some shelters and foster homes have said they are running out of space. Officials have also announced plans to erect tent cities that will hold hundreds more children in the Texas desert where temperatures regularly reach 40C (105F)." } ], "id": "1074_0", "question": "What's the policy?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3604, "answer_start": 2898, "text": "Democrats and some in Mr Trump's own Republican Party have strongly condemned the administration. The crackdown has even provoked fierce criticism from the president's wife, Melania Trump, who said over the weekend she \"hates to see children separated from families\". Former First Lady Laura Bush meanwhile wrote in a Washington Post op-ed that the tactics were \"immoral\" and evoked Japanese-American internment camps during the Second World War. Former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton said Mr Trump's widely debunked claims that the family separations were mandated by law was \"an outright lie\". Most congressional Republicans, however, have declined to criticise Mr Trump over the policy." } ], "id": "1074_1", "question": "Who's criticising it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4346, "answer_start": 3605, "text": "On Monday, US Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen defended the \"zero-tolerance\" policy, arguing that the government was simply following the law and it would be up to Congress to change it. During a heated briefing at the White House, Ms Nielsen also insisted that migrants who attempt to cross the US border were putting their children in an unsafe situation. Fox News host Laura Ingraham called the detention centres \"essentially summer camps\", and praised Mr Trump for \"doing what we should have been doing all along, prosecuting all border crashers\". Conservative author Ann Coulter called the children \"child actors weeping and crying\" on TV networks. \"Do not fall for it, Mr President,\" she warned in an interview on Fox News." } ], "id": "1074_2", "question": "Who's defending it?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Geneva-based group campaigning for the abolition of nuclear weapons has been named as the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize winners. The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (Ican) was formed in 2007 and inspired by a similar campaign to ban the use of landmines. As a coalition of hundreds of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from across the world, they have highlighted the humanitarian risk of nuclear weapons. The group's 10 years of advocacy helped pave the way for the introduction of a UN treaty banning the weapons, which was signed this year. While 122 countries backed the treaty, the talks were notably boycotted by the world's nine known nuclear powers and the only Nato member to discuss it, the Netherlands, voted against. \"We live in a world where the risk of nuclear weapons being used is greater than it has been for a long time,\" said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Nobel committee chair. Tensions between US President Donald Trump and North Korea have been mounting for several months over North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Mr Trump is also threatening to withdraw from an agreement which monitors and limits Iran's nuclear development. In a statement posted on Facebook, Ican said the prize \"shines a needed light on the path the ban treaty provides towards a world free of nuclear weapons\". \"This is a time of great global tension, when fiery rhetoric could all too easily lead us, inexorably, to unspeakable horror,\" the statement read. \"If ever there were a moment for nations to declare their unequivocal opposition to nuclear weapons, that moment is now.\" The number of nuclear weapons worldwide has been steadily decreasing since the 1980s, but none of the world's declared nuclear nations have fully disarmed - an ambition set out in the 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Nuclear armed nations boycotted the latest talks because they favour working within the NPT's original framework to reduce stockpiles. Unlike the NPT, the 2017 treaty explicitly bans nuclear weapons. It calls for signatories not to develop, test or threaten to use the weapons. It also forbids nations from having weapons tactically stationed in their countries from allied partners. But so far it has only been acceded to by 53 of the world's countries including Cuba, Ireland and New Zealand. The US ambassador, Nikki Haley, has also labelled a total ban \"not realistic\". Mrs Haley said the US requires nuclear arms because of \"bad actors\" that could not be trusted. \"Getting rid of nuclear weapons isn't going to happen overnight,\" Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the Ican group, said on Friday. \"The treaty is meant to make it harder to justify nuclear weapons to make it uncomfortable for states to continue with the status quo - to put more pressure on them,\" she said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2811, "answer_start": 746, "text": "\"We live in a world where the risk of nuclear weapons being used is greater than it has been for a long time,\" said Berit Reiss-Andersen, the Nobel committee chair. Tensions between US President Donald Trump and North Korea have been mounting for several months over North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Mr Trump is also threatening to withdraw from an agreement which monitors and limits Iran's nuclear development. In a statement posted on Facebook, Ican said the prize \"shines a needed light on the path the ban treaty provides towards a world free of nuclear weapons\". \"This is a time of great global tension, when fiery rhetoric could all too easily lead us, inexorably, to unspeakable horror,\" the statement read. \"If ever there were a moment for nations to declare their unequivocal opposition to nuclear weapons, that moment is now.\" The number of nuclear weapons worldwide has been steadily decreasing since the 1980s, but none of the world's declared nuclear nations have fully disarmed - an ambition set out in the 1970 Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Nuclear armed nations boycotted the latest talks because they favour working within the NPT's original framework to reduce stockpiles. Unlike the NPT, the 2017 treaty explicitly bans nuclear weapons. It calls for signatories not to develop, test or threaten to use the weapons. It also forbids nations from having weapons tactically stationed in their countries from allied partners. But so far it has only been acceded to by 53 of the world's countries including Cuba, Ireland and New Zealand. The US ambassador, Nikki Haley, has also labelled a total ban \"not realistic\". Mrs Haley said the US requires nuclear arms because of \"bad actors\" that could not be trusted. \"Getting rid of nuclear weapons isn't going to happen overnight,\" Beatrice Fihn, executive director of the Ican group, said on Friday. \"The treaty is meant to make it harder to justify nuclear weapons to make it uncomfortable for states to continue with the status quo - to put more pressure on them,\" she said." } ], "id": "1075_0", "question": "Was the Nobel committee trying to send a message?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "North Korea has unveiled what's thought to be the first official painting of Kim Jong-un, lifting the leader to a new level of personality cult. While his predecessors' portraits are all across the country, Kim Jong-un has long been styled as a successor rather than a leader in his own right. His role has seen a gradual change over time though, very much helped by a string of international visits in 2018. The huge new picture was on display during a visit by Cuba's president. Nope. If you remember seeing pictures of Mr Kim then those would have been photographs, not paintings, or unofficial fan art. The new larger-than-life artwork shows him smiling, looking slightly to his left, while wearing a Western style suit and tie. \"That a painted portrait of Kim Jong-un has appeared in this style is a strong hint that the regime could be beginning to take steps to develop the Kim Jong-un personality cult,\" Oliver Hotham, managing editor with NK News, told the BBC. The style of the painting is so evocative of the ever-present portraits of the older Kims, that \"North Koreans will certainly understand the symbolism of this move\". Symbolism and imagery are all-important in North Korea: portraits of Kim Jong-un's father and grandfather portraits hang in every building in the country. Since assuming power in 2011, the current leader has been styled more like a successor and disciple of his two overbearing predecessors, rather than an equal yet. Kim Jong-un moved to the helm of the country rather abruptly when his father died unexpectedly in 2011. He was relatively inexperienced and had not yet been built up as a future leader. Over time though, his image has changed, explains Andray Abrahamian from the Griffith Asia Institute. \"The most important markers have included a raft of songs and cultural products celebrating Kim Jong-un and his family - referred to as the Paektu bloodline - reorganising the government so that a new institution is at its heart, and having a new strategic line, separate to his father's.\" While his father pursued a military-first agenda, Kim Jong-un has pushed for a two-track policy to develop nuclear weapons as well as the economy. \"Everything that's happened in 2018 has also worked to solidify his image,\" says Mr Hotham. \"Eight summit with foreign heads of state have been a delight for Pyongyang's propagandists, helping them paint the leader as an internationally respected statesmen on par with Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.\" So far it's only been on shown on TV during the state visit to Pyongyang of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Cane. It's not yet clear how Pyongyang will handle the display in the future or whether it will make a regular appearances. For now, the painting will likely end up in tightly guarded storage, said Mr Abrahamian, to be rolled out only on special occasions. Whether it will indeed become a propaganda staple like the portraits of the father and grandfather remains to be seen.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1454, "answer_start": 481, "text": "Nope. If you remember seeing pictures of Mr Kim then those would have been photographs, not paintings, or unofficial fan art. The new larger-than-life artwork shows him smiling, looking slightly to his left, while wearing a Western style suit and tie. \"That a painted portrait of Kim Jong-un has appeared in this style is a strong hint that the regime could be beginning to take steps to develop the Kim Jong-un personality cult,\" Oliver Hotham, managing editor with NK News, told the BBC. The style of the painting is so evocative of the ever-present portraits of the older Kims, that \"North Koreans will certainly understand the symbolism of this move\". Symbolism and imagery are all-important in North Korea: portraits of Kim Jong-un's father and grandfather portraits hang in every building in the country. Since assuming power in 2011, the current leader has been styled more like a successor and disciple of his two overbearing predecessors, rather than an equal yet." } ], "id": "1076_0", "question": "There's not been an official portrait before?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2478, "answer_start": 1455, "text": "Kim Jong-un moved to the helm of the country rather abruptly when his father died unexpectedly in 2011. He was relatively inexperienced and had not yet been built up as a future leader. Over time though, his image has changed, explains Andray Abrahamian from the Griffith Asia Institute. \"The most important markers have included a raft of songs and cultural products celebrating Kim Jong-un and his family - referred to as the Paektu bloodline - reorganising the government so that a new institution is at its heart, and having a new strategic line, separate to his father's.\" While his father pursued a military-first agenda, Kim Jong-un has pushed for a two-track policy to develop nuclear weapons as well as the economy. \"Everything that's happened in 2018 has also worked to solidify his image,\" says Mr Hotham. \"Eight summit with foreign heads of state have been a delight for Pyongyang's propagandists, helping them paint the leader as an internationally respected statesmen on par with Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.\"" } ], "id": "1076_1", "question": "How has Kim Jong-un's image changed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2958, "answer_start": 2479, "text": "So far it's only been on shown on TV during the state visit to Pyongyang of Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Cane. It's not yet clear how Pyongyang will handle the display in the future or whether it will make a regular appearances. For now, the painting will likely end up in tightly guarded storage, said Mr Abrahamian, to be rolled out only on special occasions. Whether it will indeed become a propaganda staple like the portraits of the father and grandfather remains to be seen." } ], "id": "1076_2", "question": "Where can you see the portrait?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The world's longest commercial flight has left Singapore for New York, beginning a journey scheduled to cover more than 15,000km in almost 19 hours. Singapore Airlines is relaunching the service five years after it was cut because it had become too expensive. Flight SQ22 departed at 15:37GMT with 150 passengers and 17 crew. The inaugural flight from Changi Airport to Newark's international airport, which services New York, took off amid much fanfare. However, Singapore Airlines told passengers before take off that their flight to Newark, while still the world's longest flight by distance, could only take some 17 hours. Qantas launched a 17-hour non-stop service from Perth to London earlier this year, while Qatar runs a 17.5-hour service between Auckland and Doha. Singapore Airlines (SIA) said there was demand for customers for non-stop services which help cut travelling times compared with flights which have a stopover. Ahead of the take-off, the airline told the BBC that business class seats for the flight were fully booked, and there were \"a very limited number\" of premium economy seats left. The airline is not planning to offer any economy bookings on the route. A business class ticket will entitle passengers to two meals, and the choice of when they are served, plus refreshments in between. They will also have a bed to sleep in. Premium economy fares will get three meals at fixed times, with refreshments in between. The brand new Airbus plane that SIA is using has been configured to seat 161 passengers in all - 67 business passengers and 94 premium economy passengers. \"The thinking behind that is that they are selling a premium product - it's for the top end of town,\" says aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas, who was booked on to Thursday's flight. \"This is a route between two massive financial hubs, and so they will fill this plane up with business people, or well-heeled travellers who want the convenience of a non stop flight. \"It's also been proven that when carriers introduce a new non-stop route, the traffic on that route increases threefold.\" Mr Thomas, the editor-in-chief of airline rating site Airlineratings.com, has been on several such inaugural flights, including Qantas' new long-haul from Perth to London, inaugurated earlier this year. He said: \"The Qantas flight to London was a huge event. We were basically on our feet for the entire flight, it was incredibly exciting. There's almost a party atmosphere on board.\" Qantas meanwhile is in advanced discussions with Airbus and Boeing over an aircraft capable of making a 20-hour flight between London and Sydney. The Australian national flag carrier also plans to fly non-stop from Australia to North America - slightly shorter than the London-Sydney non-stop flight. But Max Kingsley-Jones, group editor of Flight Global, warned that plans for new non-stop routes had a habit of changing in line with the economics of the world. \"In the boom times you get a lot of what we call direct-connect flights between smaller cities... [then] each time there's a downturn you see all those tail off, and then we go back to people flying over hubs,\" he told the BBC's Today programme. \"Even though it costs more for an airline to fly over a hub, they'll always charge you less because of the disadvantage of going via somewhere else.\" Of two possible routes that SIA could take to Newark, SIA has told passengers it will take the North Pacific route. Mr Thomas says it will cover a distance of some 15,341km, but reminds non-aviation experts that while the distance between destinations remains constant, the distance flown and flight times can vary because of tailwinds, headwinds and any need for weather-related diversions. \"When you've got some good strong jet streams going in an easterly direction, which is the way we'll go, then we will fly over Japan, then over the North Pacific, possibly touching into Alaska, then down through Canada into Newark.\" The A350-900 ULR (ultra-long-range) that set off on Thursday from Singapore to Newark belongs to Airbus' family of long-range, twin-engine aircraft. The planes have been designed to replace Boeing's older 777 series and use between 20% and 30% less fuel than the 777s did - which is a good thing amid rising oil prices. Singapore Airlines launched the same non-stop route between Changi and Newark in 2004, but by 2013 the carrier was forced to cancel it. The A340-500 it was using at the time used a lot of fuel and eventually the route became too expensive to run. Several carriers already use the newer A350-900s on their long-haul routes. They have higher ceilings, larger windows and lighting designed to reduce jetlag - all good things for busy business travellers. But the ultra-long-range version that SIA has bought from Airbus has the longest capability of any aircraft flying today, thanks in part to a slightly modified fuel system. It can fly for 20 hours non-stop, which most aviation experts will tell you is the future of very long-haul travel for business and pleasure. Mr Thomas says it's been proven over and over again that people want to fly non-stop, \"so these sorts of aeroplanes are set to gain terrific momentum\". \"Qantas' flight from Perth to London is seeing a load factor in economy of 92% - and in premium it's 94%. So from an airline perspective, these routes are money-making. \"We really are entering a new era of travel.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1443, "answer_start": 774, "text": "Singapore Airlines (SIA) said there was demand for customers for non-stop services which help cut travelling times compared with flights which have a stopover. Ahead of the take-off, the airline told the BBC that business class seats for the flight were fully booked, and there were \"a very limited number\" of premium economy seats left. The airline is not planning to offer any economy bookings on the route. A business class ticket will entitle passengers to two meals, and the choice of when they are served, plus refreshments in between. They will also have a bed to sleep in. Premium economy fares will get three meals at fixed times, with refreshments in between." } ], "id": "1077_0", "question": "Have passengers been snapping up the tickets?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3329, "answer_start": 1444, "text": "The brand new Airbus plane that SIA is using has been configured to seat 161 passengers in all - 67 business passengers and 94 premium economy passengers. \"The thinking behind that is that they are selling a premium product - it's for the top end of town,\" says aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas, who was booked on to Thursday's flight. \"This is a route between two massive financial hubs, and so they will fill this plane up with business people, or well-heeled travellers who want the convenience of a non stop flight. \"It's also been proven that when carriers introduce a new non-stop route, the traffic on that route increases threefold.\" Mr Thomas, the editor-in-chief of airline rating site Airlineratings.com, has been on several such inaugural flights, including Qantas' new long-haul from Perth to London, inaugurated earlier this year. He said: \"The Qantas flight to London was a huge event. We were basically on our feet for the entire flight, it was incredibly exciting. There's almost a party atmosphere on board.\" Qantas meanwhile is in advanced discussions with Airbus and Boeing over an aircraft capable of making a 20-hour flight between London and Sydney. The Australian national flag carrier also plans to fly non-stop from Australia to North America - slightly shorter than the London-Sydney non-stop flight. But Max Kingsley-Jones, group editor of Flight Global, warned that plans for new non-stop routes had a habit of changing in line with the economics of the world. \"In the boom times you get a lot of what we call direct-connect flights between smaller cities... [then] each time there's a downturn you see all those tail off, and then we go back to people flying over hubs,\" he told the BBC's Today programme. \"Even though it costs more for an airline to fly over a hub, they'll always charge you less because of the disadvantage of going via somewhere else.\"" } ], "id": "1077_1", "question": "Do people want to fly for 19 hours?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5408, "answer_start": 3955, "text": "The A350-900 ULR (ultra-long-range) that set off on Thursday from Singapore to Newark belongs to Airbus' family of long-range, twin-engine aircraft. The planes have been designed to replace Boeing's older 777 series and use between 20% and 30% less fuel than the 777s did - which is a good thing amid rising oil prices. Singapore Airlines launched the same non-stop route between Changi and Newark in 2004, but by 2013 the carrier was forced to cancel it. The A340-500 it was using at the time used a lot of fuel and eventually the route became too expensive to run. Several carriers already use the newer A350-900s on their long-haul routes. They have higher ceilings, larger windows and lighting designed to reduce jetlag - all good things for busy business travellers. But the ultra-long-range version that SIA has bought from Airbus has the longest capability of any aircraft flying today, thanks in part to a slightly modified fuel system. It can fly for 20 hours non-stop, which most aviation experts will tell you is the future of very long-haul travel for business and pleasure. Mr Thomas says it's been proven over and over again that people want to fly non-stop, \"so these sorts of aeroplanes are set to gain terrific momentum\". \"Qantas' flight from Perth to London is seeing a load factor in economy of 92% - and in premium it's 94%. So from an airline perspective, these routes are money-making. \"We really are entering a new era of travel.\"" } ], "id": "1077_2", "question": "Is this the future of long-haul travel?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "New Zealand police deployed divers to look for two bodies near White Island volcano, after six bodies were retrieved in a recovery operation. The volcano erupted on Monday with 47 people there. Eight people were missing on the island, presumed dead. Another eight have already been confirmed dead and around 20 remain in intensive care with severe burns. The retrieval on Friday was launched despite the risk of another eruption. The search for the two remaining bodies will continue on Saturday morning, police said. The recovery of the bodies from White Island, also known by its Maori name of Whakaari, was delayed over safety concerns for the members of any search operation. Speaking to reporters after the bodies were retrieved, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said questions over why people were allowed to visit the active volcano \"must be answered, and will be answered\". But she said \"we also need to respect the phase we're in now, with families only just getting their loved ones back\". On Friday morning, a \"high-speed\" retrieval to get the bodies was launched - even though the risk remained unchanged. Going in, authorities knew the location of six of the missing and those bodies were airlifted off the island. A team of eight specialists from the New Zealand Defence Force flew by helicopter to the island and spent four hours retrieving the bodies. They were taken to a naval patrol boat and then brought back to the mainland. \"Unfortunately the recovery option is not over as two people remain unaccounted for,\" Police Commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement. \"We know at least one body is in the water and divers are currently attempting to recover this body. \"We are making every effort to locate and recover the two remaining deceased.\" Volcanologists warned that if the volcano erupted while they were on the island, the team could face magma, superheated steam, ash and rocks thrown at high speed. GeoNet, New Zealand's geological hazard information site, said on Thursday there was a 50-60% chance of another eruption on Friday. Mr Bush said it was a dangerous mission for those involved. \"The environment that those staff encountered was unpredictable, challenging and those staff showed absolute courage in order to ensure that those six people were returned to their loved ones.\" The specialists from the New Zealand Defence Force who went to the island were kitted out with protective clothing and breathing apparatus. During the operation, a geologist analysed real-time data to assess whether the mission needed to be aborted. Earlier on Friday, Deputy Police Commissioner John Tims paid tribute to the retrievers. \"I would like to acknowledge the recovery team for their efforts and the bravery they have shown today,\" he said. He also offered his \"thoughts and prayers\" to families of those killed at what he described as a \"tragic and harrowing time\". Of those on the island when the eruption happened, 24 were from Australia, nine from the US, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two from China, two from the UK, and one from Malaysia. After the eruption, most of the visitors were taken off the island in dramatic rescue efforts. Some tourist boats already on the way to the mainland turned back to take in those stranded. Meanwhile, commercial pilots headed back to the island - as the eruption was ongoing - to look for survivors. Many of those who made it off the island were severely injured and burnt.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1759, "answer_start": 997, "text": "On Friday morning, a \"high-speed\" retrieval to get the bodies was launched - even though the risk remained unchanged. Going in, authorities knew the location of six of the missing and those bodies were airlifted off the island. A team of eight specialists from the New Zealand Defence Force flew by helicopter to the island and spent four hours retrieving the bodies. They were taken to a naval patrol boat and then brought back to the mainland. \"Unfortunately the recovery option is not over as two people remain unaccounted for,\" Police Commissioner Mike Bush said in a statement. \"We know at least one body is in the water and divers are currently attempting to recover this body. \"We are making every effort to locate and recover the two remaining deceased.\"" } ], "id": "1078_0", "question": "How did the recovery unfold?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2886, "answer_start": 1760, "text": "Volcanologists warned that if the volcano erupted while they were on the island, the team could face magma, superheated steam, ash and rocks thrown at high speed. GeoNet, New Zealand's geological hazard information site, said on Thursday there was a 50-60% chance of another eruption on Friday. Mr Bush said it was a dangerous mission for those involved. \"The environment that those staff encountered was unpredictable, challenging and those staff showed absolute courage in order to ensure that those six people were returned to their loved ones.\" The specialists from the New Zealand Defence Force who went to the island were kitted out with protective clothing and breathing apparatus. During the operation, a geologist analysed real-time data to assess whether the mission needed to be aborted. Earlier on Friday, Deputy Police Commissioner John Tims paid tribute to the retrievers. \"I would like to acknowledge the recovery team for their efforts and the bravery they have shown today,\" he said. He also offered his \"thoughts and prayers\" to families of those killed at what he described as a \"tragic and harrowing time\"." } ], "id": "1078_1", "question": "What was the danger?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3449, "answer_start": 2887, "text": "Of those on the island when the eruption happened, 24 were from Australia, nine from the US, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two from China, two from the UK, and one from Malaysia. After the eruption, most of the visitors were taken off the island in dramatic rescue efforts. Some tourist boats already on the way to the mainland turned back to take in those stranded. Meanwhile, commercial pilots headed back to the island - as the eruption was ongoing - to look for survivors. Many of those who made it off the island were severely injured and burnt." } ], "id": "1078_2", "question": "How were the others saved?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An ex-FBI lawyer has broken her silence after being ridiculed by Donald Trump amid his claims of a so-called deep state plot to undermine his presidency. Lisa Page told the Daily Beast Mr Trump's \"fake orgasm\" mockery of her at a recent rally made her speak out. Ms Page, who investigated Mr Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016, said she had found his remarks \"sickening\". She also denied breaking rules by sending anti-Trump texts to her former lover, FBI agent Peter Strzok. President Trump could not resist hitting back on Monday. She surfaced on Sunday, tweeting a link to her interview with the caption: \"I'm done being quiet.\" Ms Page spoke of her hurt when Mr Trump, at a Minneapolis, Minnesota, rally in October, performed a mock re-enactment of her texts with Mr Strzok, as though the couple were in the throes of passion. \"Honestly, his demeaning fake orgasm was really the straw that broke the camel's back,\" Ms Page told the Daily Beast. \"I had stayed quiet for years hoping it would fade away, but instead it got worse,\" Ms Page, 39, said in the interview. She added: \"It's like being punched in the gut. My heart drops to my stomach when I realise he has tweeted about me again. \"The president of the United States is calling me names to the entire world. He's demeaning me and my career. It's sickening.\" Ms Page maintained she did not break any rules in the private text messages, adding: \"I don't engage in any sort of partisan politicking at all.\" Both Mr Strzok and Ms Page investigated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016 over her use of a private email server to handle classified information during her time as US secretary of state. The two were also later on the US Department of Justice special counsel's team that investigated whether Russia had meddled in the 2016 election to aid Mr Trump. Mr Strzok and Ms Page were removed from the inquiry once their August 2016 messages came to light. In one text, Ms Page called then-candidate Trump \"a loathsome human,\" and Mr Strzok labelled him \"an idiot\". \"God Hillary should win,\" wrote Ms Page. She asked if Mr Trump might clinch the White House, prompting Mr Strzok to assure her: \"No. No he won't. We'll stop it.\" The texts were uncovered during a Department of Justice inspector general investigation. Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised the \"FBI lovers\" and argued that their messages showed hostility to his presidency within the Obama-era FBI. The Department of Justice inspector general is shortly expected to release a report into unsubstantiated allegations by Mr Trump that the FBI spied on his campaign in 2016.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1463, "answer_start": 532, "text": "She surfaced on Sunday, tweeting a link to her interview with the caption: \"I'm done being quiet.\" Ms Page spoke of her hurt when Mr Trump, at a Minneapolis, Minnesota, rally in October, performed a mock re-enactment of her texts with Mr Strzok, as though the couple were in the throes of passion. \"Honestly, his demeaning fake orgasm was really the straw that broke the camel's back,\" Ms Page told the Daily Beast. \"I had stayed quiet for years hoping it would fade away, but instead it got worse,\" Ms Page, 39, said in the interview. She added: \"It's like being punched in the gut. My heart drops to my stomach when I realise he has tweeted about me again. \"The president of the United States is calling me names to the entire world. He's demeaning me and my career. It's sickening.\" Ms Page maintained she did not break any rules in the private text messages, adding: \"I don't engage in any sort of partisan politicking at all.\"" } ], "id": "1079_0", "question": "What did Lisa Page say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2613, "answer_start": 1464, "text": "Both Mr Strzok and Ms Page investigated Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton in 2016 over her use of a private email server to handle classified information during her time as US secretary of state. The two were also later on the US Department of Justice special counsel's team that investigated whether Russia had meddled in the 2016 election to aid Mr Trump. Mr Strzok and Ms Page were removed from the inquiry once their August 2016 messages came to light. In one text, Ms Page called then-candidate Trump \"a loathsome human,\" and Mr Strzok labelled him \"an idiot\". \"God Hillary should win,\" wrote Ms Page. She asked if Mr Trump might clinch the White House, prompting Mr Strzok to assure her: \"No. No he won't. We'll stop it.\" The texts were uncovered during a Department of Justice inspector general investigation. Mr Trump has repeatedly criticised the \"FBI lovers\" and argued that their messages showed hostility to his presidency within the Obama-era FBI. The Department of Justice inspector general is shortly expected to release a report into unsubstantiated allegations by Mr Trump that the FBI spied on his campaign in 2016." } ], "id": "1079_1", "question": "What did the texts say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "So-called Islamic State has released an audiotape purportedly from the group's leader, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, urging its supporters not to retreat as Iraqi forces advance on the city of Mosul. The recording has not been verified yet but analysts believe it is genuine. Baghdadi's whereabouts are unknown. Some officials have said he may be inside Mosul alongside IS fighters. It comes two weeks after the launch of a major offensive to retake the last major IS urban stronghold in Iraq. Some 50,000 members of the Iraqi security forces, Kurdish Peshmerga fighters, Sunni Arab tribesmen and Shia Muslim militiamen are involved in the operation, which is backed by US-led coalition air strikes. They have already retaken dozens of villages and towns surrounding Mosul, and on Thursday pushed further into the city's eastern outskirts. Baghdadi's rallying cry was timed to coincide with the entry of Iraqi forces into the outskirts of Mosul, at a critical moment for the group. Some of his comments appeared to betray concerns that military pressure on the group in Mosul might lead to a broader erosion of support. He called on his fighters to obey their leaders, warned Iraqi Sunnis of the consequences of turning against IS and appealed to IS's far-flung outposts - from Indonesia to West Africa - to stay loyal. Baghdadi rarely speaks publicly, but the last time he did so - in December 2015 - he delivered a similar mix of defiant insistence on ultimate victory combined with implicit acknowledgment of setbacks on the ground. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, whose real name is Ibrahim Awwad Ibrahim al-Badri, was born in 1971 to a lower-middle class Sunni Arab family in Samarra, Iraq. He had a passion for Koranic recitation and was nicknamed \"the Believer\" for chastising his relatives for failing to live up to his stringent standards. After pursuing his religious interests at university, Baghdadi gravitated towards violent ultra-conservatives in the Muslim Brotherhood. He later embraced Salafist jihadism and founded the insurgent group Jaysh Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamaah after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. After a year in prison, Baghdadi travelled to Damascus to take control of propaganda for al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). The group would later be dissolved, in place of Islamic State in Iraq (ISI) - the former name for IS. Baghdadi quickly rose through the ranks mainly due to his ability to bridge the gaps between the foreigners who founded the group and local Iraqis who joined later. Who is Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi? The full story of IS The military plan is to hold ground, clear houses and make it safe as the Iraqi army looks for pockets of IS fighters. They know there are secret tunnels and rat-runs between houses and there are IS fighters still in the outlying areas of the city. These fighters are willing to stand and die for their cause and that makes for a very, very tough enemy. There will be IS fighters trying to get out of the city westwards because that leads to Raqqa, in neighbouring Syria, the last potential remaining IS stronghold if and when Mosul falls. Commanders in Iraq's counter-terrorism forces say some of the IS leadership has already left Mosul. There are likely to be a lot of fellow travellers on the same route - people who were perhaps pleased to see IS fighters enter Mosul in the first place because of poor relations and treatment by some of the government forces who had been in control. There are also many foreign fighters who have nowhere else to go and who will stand and fight to the death. On Thursday, the head of the Iraqi military's Nineveh Operations Command, Lt-Gen Abdul Amir Yarallah, announced that units of the ninth armoured division and the third brigade had entered the eastern Intisar district. An army source told the BBC that civilians had started to flee Intisar and the Sumer area, to the south, as the troops advanced and the fighting spread. Clashes were also reported in the suburb of Kukjali and on the edge of the adjoining Karama district, where elite Counter-Terrorism Service forces are deployed. The source also said that security forces were approaching the Iraqi police academy complex in the Shalalat area north-east of Mosul, meaning they would soon be close to the Qahira and Tahrir districts. Meanwhile, the Shia-led Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary forces are focusing their efforts on retaking Tal Afar, a town about 50km (30 miles) to the west, which lies on the main road between Mosul and Raqqa, the de facto IS capital. Meanwhile, Amnesty International said people suspected of having ties to IS have been beaten, given electric shocks or dragged through the streets by cars as areas on the outskirts of Mosul were retaken by Sunni tribal militia fighters, according to eyewitnesses on the ground. There are also concerns for the more than one million civilians who remain inside Mosul, with the Norwegian Refugee Council warning that their lives are in \"grave danger\" because of the fighting. More than 21,700 civilians have fled since the offensive began on 17 October.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5078, "answer_start": 3540, "text": "On Thursday, the head of the Iraqi military's Nineveh Operations Command, Lt-Gen Abdul Amir Yarallah, announced that units of the ninth armoured division and the third brigade had entered the eastern Intisar district. An army source told the BBC that civilians had started to flee Intisar and the Sumer area, to the south, as the troops advanced and the fighting spread. Clashes were also reported in the suburb of Kukjali and on the edge of the adjoining Karama district, where elite Counter-Terrorism Service forces are deployed. The source also said that security forces were approaching the Iraqi police academy complex in the Shalalat area north-east of Mosul, meaning they would soon be close to the Qahira and Tahrir districts. Meanwhile, the Shia-led Hashd al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilisation) paramilitary forces are focusing their efforts on retaking Tal Afar, a town about 50km (30 miles) to the west, which lies on the main road between Mosul and Raqqa, the de facto IS capital. Meanwhile, Amnesty International said people suspected of having ties to IS have been beaten, given electric shocks or dragged through the streets by cars as areas on the outskirts of Mosul were retaken by Sunni tribal militia fighters, according to eyewitnesses on the ground. There are also concerns for the more than one million civilians who remain inside Mosul, with the Norwegian Refugee Council warning that their lives are in \"grave danger\" because of the fighting. More than 21,700 civilians have fled since the offensive began on 17 October." } ], "id": "1080_0", "question": "How is the advance going?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The makers of one of YouTube's biggest channels have dropped plans to trademark terms for a popular video format - after facing outcry from fans. The Fine Brothers' \"reaction videos\" show people responding to online clips. But a plan to license \"react\" to other video-makers was met with a digital backlash, costing the brothers hundreds of thousands of subscribers. They have now apologised and said trademark applications will be rescinded. \"Hello, we're here to apologise,\" The Fine Brothers, Rafi and Benny, wrote in a blog. Some of The Fine Brothers' most successful series include Kids React, Teens React and YouTubers React. Videos in a similar style have been produced by many YouTubers - often with \"react\" in the title. Among trademark applications filed by the brothers last year were the terms \"Kids React\", \"Adults React\" and the word \"react\" itself. The duo responded to criticism that license agreements might be used to \"police\" online video by saying this was a \"valid concern\". \"Though we can assert our intentions are pure, there's no way to prove them,\" they added. The trademark scheme, which they had named the React World program, has been discontinued, existing trademark applications have been rescinded and past YouTube copyright claims have also been dropped. \"This has been a hard week,\" the brothers wrote. In reaction videos, people - from children to celebrities - are shown an object or video clip and their response is filmed. For example: a child in 2015 marvelling at the size of an old style printed encyclopaedia. Because reactions like these are amusing to people who grew up with printed encyclopaedias, such videos tend to get shared widely on social media. The list of reaction videos published by The Fine Brothers is enormous - from \"Teens react to 90s fashion\" to \"Elders react to Star Wars: The Force Awakens\". The format has been used by many others, including US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres. Trade marks are the distinctive name or symbol used to identity a product made by a manufacturer or a good distributed by a dealer. Trade mark law is generally concerned with avoiding consumer confusion regarding the origin or manufacturer of a product. One YouTuber who had expressed disappointment over the trademark applications was Jon, from Many a True Nerd. \"I'm delighted, but not hugely surprised,\" he told the BBC after hearing about the U-turn. \"Given the huge subscriber number falls they've seen, sometimes over 10,000 lost subscriber per hour, the risk to their business was too great to ignore.\" Jon added, though, that he felt The Fine Brothers would struggle to regain trust among those alienated by the episode. \"I think this movement and its consequences represent that YouTube as a community is quite determined to stay a free and open platform, and that makes me optimistic for the future,\" he said. Ryan Morrison, a video gamer turned lawyer, had also been critical of The Fine Brothers' plans. Previously, he had offered to support video-makers in a legal challenge to The Fine Brothers' trademark application. \"People were scared, and they were right to be,\" he told the BBC. \"I immediately offered to help, and the outpouring of support and willingness to join in my opposition filing was unlike anything I'd ever seen.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1941, "answer_start": 1336, "text": "In reaction videos, people - from children to celebrities - are shown an object or video clip and their response is filmed. For example: a child in 2015 marvelling at the size of an old style printed encyclopaedia. Because reactions like these are amusing to people who grew up with printed encyclopaedias, such videos tend to get shared widely on social media. The list of reaction videos published by The Fine Brothers is enormous - from \"Teens react to 90s fashion\" to \"Elders react to Star Wars: The Force Awakens\". The format has been used by many others, including US chat show host Ellen DeGeneres." } ], "id": "1081_0", "question": "What is a reaction video?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2195, "answer_start": 1942, "text": "Trade marks are the distinctive name or symbol used to identity a product made by a manufacturer or a good distributed by a dealer. Trade mark law is generally concerned with avoiding consumer confusion regarding the origin or manufacturer of a product." } ], "id": "1081_1", "question": "What are trade marks?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "If you are a man and mulling over the idea of running for president in 2019 for one of Nigeria's main parties then deep pockets are required. Campaigning, of course, is going to cost money, but both the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) charge presidential hopefuls who want to run in the party primaries tens of thousands of dollars for the privilege. The APC, the party of President Muhammadu Buhari, wants $125,000 (PS97,000) for a nomination form. An opposition PDP presidential nomination is cheap by comparison - just $33,000. Women, on the other hand, get a discount - half price for the APC or totally free if you want to try your luck with PDP. But neither party has ever nominated a woman since the return of democracy in 1999 and only one woman, Sarah Jibril, has run in the primaries. She gained just one vote in the 2011 contest. But for male aspirants the price tag has triggered fears that the opportunity to run for the country's highest office is only open to the rich. Only candidates from the PDP and APC have won Nigeria's presidency since the end of military rule. People have accused the main parties of using the nomination process to generate cash. The APC has nearly doubled the price from the last election in 2015. When Mr Buhari made his bid to become the then-opposition party's candidate for president he bought his nomination form for $76,000. At the time he said he a got a bank loan to cover the cost, but there has never been any statement on how or when the loan was repaid and with what interest. Mr Buhari wants to run for a second term as the APC candidate - his nomination fee has been covered by a youth movement this time round. One man who is hoping to challenge Mr Buhari, Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, has called the charges \"a deliberate act to deny potential aspirants with genuine intentions for the country from accessing or collecting the form\". \"With the current situation, those who stole our common wealth will now have a field day, while those of us with a genuine and burning desire to contribute to the development of the country will be denied.\" Mr Unagha thinks that the nomination fee is an invitation to loot state coffers once people win office. \"The party is indirectly telling Nigerians that when aspirants get to power they should recoup their money.\" This view is echoed by Nana Tim-Dudiefa Nwachukwu, who is part of the #NotTooYoungToRun movement that seeks to encourage young Nigerians to run for office. \"How do you hope to recover your money? People go into businesses for the benefits it brings to them in one way or the other. \"It means such a person will be looking at some other means outside of his or her legitimate income to recover their money.\" The opposition PDP has gone the opposite way to the APC and slashed its nomination fees by nearly half. But $33,000 is still out of the reach of most of the population, seeing as Nigeria's average annual income per person is less than $2,000. Although the parties charge these nomination fees, the country's electoral commission, which has made no comment on the issue, does not charge the parties to register their candidates once the primary process is over. Read more: The parties have defended their charges. APC spokesman Yekini Nabena told the AFP news agency that the fees were a reflection of the cost of campaigning and a way of ensuring the party was not in thrall to a handful of wealthy donors. \"We want the party itself to take care of the elections so that nobody will say because he gave money to the party, he wants to dictate to the party what to do,\" AFP quoted him as saying. He added: \"Even though you are financially handicapped, if you are the man of the people, your supporters can contribute money for you.\" But the suspicion is that the office of president may now be going to the highest bidder. Journalist Kassim Afegbua, a member of an APC breakaway faction, has been damning. \"A party that calls itself progressives shut its doors against all democratic principles of allowing other persons to vie for the presidency,\" he wrote in an article in the New Telegraph newspaper. \"It imposes a humongous nomination fee... on a president it has generously branded as a poor man whose only item on his menu list is integrity.\" Idayat Hassan, Executive Director of the Centre for Democracy and Development, also thinks this reflects badly on the way politics is going. \"These parties are saying offices are only for the rich candidates with [a] large war chest. \"These parties previously have tried to hide the role of money in politics but for this electoral cycle, what they have made obvious is money is the defining character for the election: no money, no contest, no money, no office. \"This has made democracy the preserve of the rich.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2345, "answer_start": 1124, "text": "People have accused the main parties of using the nomination process to generate cash. The APC has nearly doubled the price from the last election in 2015. When Mr Buhari made his bid to become the then-opposition party's candidate for president he bought his nomination form for $76,000. At the time he said he a got a bank loan to cover the cost, but there has never been any statement on how or when the loan was repaid and with what interest. Mr Buhari wants to run for a second term as the APC candidate - his nomination fee has been covered by a youth movement this time round. One man who is hoping to challenge Mr Buhari, Alhaji Mumakai Unagha, has called the charges \"a deliberate act to deny potential aspirants with genuine intentions for the country from accessing or collecting the form\". \"With the current situation, those who stole our common wealth will now have a field day, while those of us with a genuine and burning desire to contribute to the development of the country will be denied.\" Mr Unagha thinks that the nomination fee is an invitation to loot state coffers once people win office. \"The party is indirectly telling Nigerians that when aspirants get to power they should recoup their money.\"" } ], "id": "1082_0", "question": "Recipe for corruption?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3213, "answer_start": 2346, "text": "This view is echoed by Nana Tim-Dudiefa Nwachukwu, who is part of the #NotTooYoungToRun movement that seeks to encourage young Nigerians to run for office. \"How do you hope to recover your money? People go into businesses for the benefits it brings to them in one way or the other. \"It means such a person will be looking at some other means outside of his or her legitimate income to recover their money.\" The opposition PDP has gone the opposite way to the APC and slashed its nomination fees by nearly half. But $33,000 is still out of the reach of most of the population, seeing as Nigeria's average annual income per person is less than $2,000. Although the parties charge these nomination fees, the country's electoral commission, which has made no comment on the issue, does not charge the parties to register their candidates once the primary process is over." } ], "id": "1082_1", "question": "Too poor to run?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Nearly a week after Thailand's election, the first since the coup of 2014, it remains unclear which party could form a government. On Thursday, the Election Commission (EC) released the final vote count, showing the pro-military party had won the popular vote. However, the count has been marred by concerns over voting irregularities and official results are due by 9 May. Sunday's election had been billed as a return to democracy for Thailand. But the military was criticised for taking steps to ensure it would remain influential in politics, including appointing all 250 seats in the upper house. A complicated system of allocating seats in parliaments based on vote share, introduced by the military, means it remains unclear how many seats each party will ultimately have. The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head explains the complexities around what just happened in Thailand. In previous Thai elections, the results came through more quickly and clearly. This time the EC had problems tabulating results from the 350 constituencies. On Sunday there were some crazy figures from a few. The voter turnout announced also seemed far too low at 65%. The EC abruptly stopped publishing numbers after the vote, failed to clarify the next day, blamed the media when its own data was suspect, and had some inconsistent statistics even when giving a final vote count on Thursday. It announced that, with 100% of the votes, counted; - Palang Pracha Rath, the party allied with the ruling junta, has 8.4 million votes - Pheu Thai party, the opposition party allied with exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, won 7.9 million votes. It isn't clear why the EC, with a very large budget and plenty of time, had these problems. It briefly mentioned hacking attacks on its servers on Sunday. But the inconsistencies - now raising the turnout to nearly 75% - have raised concern that the count is being manipulated, with a petition calling for the commission to be dismissed getting more than 800,000 signatures. The only international group able to monitor the election has been highly critical of the EC's poor performance. The new government will not be formed until the results are certified by 9 May, giving time for the EC to investigate alleged violations of election laws, and even to re-run the election in some areas, if needed. A vote in both houses of parliament for the next prime minister is expected within a few weeks after that. The betting has always been that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha would keep his job, because the military-drafted constitution allows the 250-seat senate - appointed by the junta - to vote for a prime minister. But the unofficial results show a possible majority of seats in the lower house for a seven-party opposition coalition, led by the pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai. Whereas the pro-military Palang Pracha Rath is some way short of a majority. That means even if Gen Prayuth wins the vote for PM, his government could be paralysed in parliament. There is furious behind-the-scenes bargaining for support from the non-committed parties, like Bhum Jai Thai, with its valuable block of 50+ seats. ANFREL, the international monitoring group, has stopped short of labelling this election \"not free and fair\". But it is highly critical of the advantages given to the incumbent military government, of poor voter information and restrictions on freedom of expression. Many Thais suspect there was some rigging of the election, but no real evidence of this has been produced. Despite many reported irregularities, experienced election watchers here believe the published results probably reflect the broad preferences of Thai voters. The Election Commission has lost a lot of credibility, and will be watched closely in the coming weeks, to see how fairly it deals with complaints, and how it allocates the 150 proportional party list seats. It has not said what method it will use, and different methods make a critical difference, one giving the opposition a majority, the other leaving it two seats short. Many younger Thais have expressed bitter disappointment over the strong performance of Palang Pracha Rath. In the rural north-east, die-hard Pheu Thai/Thaksin supporters have been dismayed by their own party's much weaker performance. Much now depends on the next six weeks. As things stand the anti-military coalition believes it commands a majority in the lower house, and while it cannot outvote Gen Prayuth for the prime minister's job, it can stop him governing. Its supporters believe the election has given them a mandate at least to stop the military from continuing to rule the country, and to force a different compromise. If the EC makes significant changes to the current seat estimates, either through the way it calculates the party list seats or through disqualifications for infractions of electoral regulations, expect some public outcry. Likewise, if the pro-military side persuades MPs to defect from the other side, to block a possible opposition majority, there could also be public anger. But few people believe there will be a repeat of the street protests and violence of previous years. Thais are, by and large, disillusioned by what those protests produced. There are new political forces now, which will look for different ways to express their dissent. A greater risk is the possibility of another military coup, if there is stalemate in parliament. The current army commander has hinted that the military would not support a government linked to Thaksin Shinawatra.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2140, "answer_start": 899, "text": "In previous Thai elections, the results came through more quickly and clearly. This time the EC had problems tabulating results from the 350 constituencies. On Sunday there were some crazy figures from a few. The voter turnout announced also seemed far too low at 65%. The EC abruptly stopped publishing numbers after the vote, failed to clarify the next day, blamed the media when its own data was suspect, and had some inconsistent statistics even when giving a final vote count on Thursday. It announced that, with 100% of the votes, counted; - Palang Pracha Rath, the party allied with the ruling junta, has 8.4 million votes - Pheu Thai party, the opposition party allied with exiled former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, won 7.9 million votes. It isn't clear why the EC, with a very large budget and plenty of time, had these problems. It briefly mentioned hacking attacks on its servers on Sunday. But the inconsistencies - now raising the turnout to nearly 75% - have raised concern that the count is being manipulated, with a petition calling for the commission to be dismissed getting more than 800,000 signatures. The only international group able to monitor the election has been highly critical of the EC's poor performance." } ], "id": "1083_0", "question": "Why is it taking so long to get answers?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3153, "answer_start": 2141, "text": "The new government will not be formed until the results are certified by 9 May, giving time for the EC to investigate alleged violations of election laws, and even to re-run the election in some areas, if needed. A vote in both houses of parliament for the next prime minister is expected within a few weeks after that. The betting has always been that Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha would keep his job, because the military-drafted constitution allows the 250-seat senate - appointed by the junta - to vote for a prime minister. But the unofficial results show a possible majority of seats in the lower house for a seven-party opposition coalition, led by the pro-Thaksin Pheu Thai. Whereas the pro-military Palang Pracha Rath is some way short of a majority. That means even if Gen Prayuth wins the vote for PM, his government could be paralysed in parliament. There is furious behind-the-scenes bargaining for support from the non-committed parties, like Bhum Jai Thai, with its valuable block of 50+ seats." } ], "id": "1083_1", "question": "Who looks most likely to form a government?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5555, "answer_start": 4061, "text": "Many younger Thais have expressed bitter disappointment over the strong performance of Palang Pracha Rath. In the rural north-east, die-hard Pheu Thai/Thaksin supporters have been dismayed by their own party's much weaker performance. Much now depends on the next six weeks. As things stand the anti-military coalition believes it commands a majority in the lower house, and while it cannot outvote Gen Prayuth for the prime minister's job, it can stop him governing. Its supporters believe the election has given them a mandate at least to stop the military from continuing to rule the country, and to force a different compromise. If the EC makes significant changes to the current seat estimates, either through the way it calculates the party list seats or through disqualifications for infractions of electoral regulations, expect some public outcry. Likewise, if the pro-military side persuades MPs to defect from the other side, to block a possible opposition majority, there could also be public anger. But few people believe there will be a repeat of the street protests and violence of previous years. Thais are, by and large, disillusioned by what those protests produced. There are new political forces now, which will look for different ways to express their dissent. A greater risk is the possibility of another military coup, if there is stalemate in parliament. The current army commander has hinted that the military would not support a government linked to Thaksin Shinawatra." } ], "id": "1083_2", "question": "Will Thais accept the results?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Some people say the street protests in Moldova are by pro-Russian protesters trying to unseat a European-friendly government in a former Soviet republic. But the reality in Europe's poorest country is more complicated than that. It is a political crisis. The anti-government camp is demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Pavel Filip's government and early parliamentary elections. They include two pro-Moscow groups and one pro-European group - the Dignity and Truth movement, led by Andrei Nastase. They have put their differences aside, at least temporarily, and have given the government until Thursday to come up with a schedule for elections. Otherwise, they threaten to begin a campaign of civil disobedience. At the heart of their demands, however, is a desire for sweeping change: to replace a political establishment, which they say is rotten with corruption and whose members are controlled by oligarchs. The government's pro-European stance, they claim, is just a smokescreen to conceal this graft. Last year, Moldova was rocked by what was for the country the mother of all scandals: more than EUR1bn (PS710m) disappeared from three banks. It was suspected that the money was embezzled. The loss also put a heavy strain on the financial system, since the EUR1bn represented about 14% of the country's GDP. Moldova's currency, the lei, was sharply devalued. In the wake of the scandal, heads rolled: - Prime Minister Vlad Filat was arrested in connection with the bank fraud - His successor, Valeriu Strelet lost a no-confidence vote in October - Last week parliament approved another prime minister, Pavel Filip But this unleashed another wave of outrage. Pavel Filip's election was highly unorthodox, and may have violated protocol. Deputies were suddenly called to vote within a couple of hours. Then Mr Filip was sworn in at midnight, seemingly in secret, since no media were invited. Protesters stormed parliament, and more than 20,000 gathered on Sunday to demand that he resign immediately. There is also some dispute about Pavel Filip's background. Critics say he is closely connected to the country's richest man, Vladimir Plahotniuc, who they maintain is the main power broker behind the scenes, and in their eyes the man most responsible for official corruption. \"Moldova is a 'captured state' and Mr Plahotniuc is the symbol of this evil,\" said Oazu Nantoi, programme director at Chisinau's Institute of Public Policy. \"A 'captured state' is when key state structures don't act on the basis of law and constitution, but are under the control of one person.\" Mr Plahotniuc denies he is a political puppet master. For his part, Prime Minister Filip told the BBC he vehemently rejected any suggestion he was not a fully independent politician. Members of the government say it is the protesters who are destabilising the country and pursuing their own political agendas. Mr Filip said new elections could plunge the country into an even deeper economic crisis. Some observers see the hand of Moscow behind the protests. Whatever the true nature of the country's politicians and the opposition, there is no denying that anger and discontent are rising among the population. \"We want an honest government, for decent pensions, where people aren't deceived and their money stolen,\" said Lyubov Suvorova, as she stood near Chisinau's main train station, trying to sell a few household goods to earn a few dollars. \"We want changes - we just don't believe that the protests are going to change anything,\" she added. The great Moldovan bank robbery Moldova country profile Moldova's economy is based chiefly on agriculture and the country has struggled to develop a more varied economic base ever since the industrialised Dniester region unilaterally declared independence in 1990. The region to the east of the river Dniester - also known as Trans-Dniester - is inhabited mainly by Russian-speaking Slavs who were alarmed at the prospect of Moldova forging closer ties with Romania. The unresolved conflict over the region also damaged Moldova's economic ties with other former Soviet republics. Wine used to be one of the country's main exports and was for a long time its main source of hard currency. But in 2005 Russia banned the import of Moldovan wines, saying that this was because of their poor quality. However, many Moldovans believe that the real reason was to punish the country for straying from the Kremlin's orbit. The Moldovan economy still exports very little and is heavily dependent on remittances from Moldovans working abroad, especially from Russia, and so has been badly affected by Russia's recent economic difficulties. Analysis provided by BBC Monitoring. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4116, "answer_start": 3593, "text": "Moldova's economy is based chiefly on agriculture and the country has struggled to develop a more varied economic base ever since the industrialised Dniester region unilaterally declared independence in 1990. The region to the east of the river Dniester - also known as Trans-Dniester - is inhabited mainly by Russian-speaking Slavs who were alarmed at the prospect of Moldova forging closer ties with Romania. The unresolved conflict over the region also damaged Moldova's economic ties with other former Soviet republics." } ], "id": "1084_0", "question": "Why is Moldova Europe's poorest country?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4450, "answer_start": 4117, "text": "Wine used to be one of the country's main exports and was for a long time its main source of hard currency. But in 2005 Russia banned the import of Moldovan wines, saying that this was because of their poor quality. However, many Moldovans believe that the real reason was to punish the country for straying from the Kremlin's orbit." } ], "id": "1084_1", "question": "Didn't Moldova export lots of wine to Russia?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4758, "answer_start": 4451, "text": "The Moldovan economy still exports very little and is heavily dependent on remittances from Moldovans working abroad, especially from Russia, and so has been badly affected by Russia's recent economic difficulties. Analysis provided by BBC Monitoring. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook." } ], "id": "1084_2", "question": "What is the mainstay of the Moldovan economy now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The new bridge across the Forth estuary has been added to Google Maps, as it officially opened to traffic. Users had been unable to find the PS1.35bn Queensferry Crossing on Google Maps despite it being under construction for six years. The new crossing between the Lothians to Fife was added to Maps overnight as the bridge opened for the first time. Maps now shows the 53-year-old Forth Road Bridge, the iconic 19th Century Forth Bridge and the new crossing. The Ordnance Survey had earlier confirmed that the crossing was on its OS MasterMap database. It said the database was updated 10,000 times a day by OS surveyors. The new bridge between the north of Edinburgh and Fife will take most of the 24 million vehicle journeys a year that currently use the ailing Forth Road Bridge. The existing suspension bridge will be adapted to be used by lighter traffic such as bicycles, pedestrians and public transport. On Monday night, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon switched on the lights and a projection was beamed over the new Queensferry Crossing to mark a week of celebrations around its opening. Friday 1 September Early in the morning, the Queensferry Crossing will close to all traffic. Police will redirect all vehicles back across the Forth Road Bridge. It will remain closed until the early hours of Thursday morning. Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September About 50,000 members of the public, who were given tickets after a ballot, will get a \"once in a lifetime\" chance to walk over the new bridge on Saturday and Sunday. The Queen will officially open the Queensferry Crossing. She will be joined by the Duke of Edinburgh. The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland will bless the bridge, and the Queen will cut a ribbon on the south side. Tuesday 5 September A chance for a further 10,000 local people and school children to walk the bridge. Thursday 7 September The bridge will re-open to traffic, with no pedestrian access. The initial speed limit will be 40mph but after work has been completed to adapt the Forth Road Bridge public transport will be switched back to the old bridge and the Queensferry Crossing will become a 70 mph motorway.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1524, "answer_start": 1098, "text": "Friday 1 September Early in the morning, the Queensferry Crossing will close to all traffic. Police will redirect all vehicles back across the Forth Road Bridge. It will remain closed until the early hours of Thursday morning. Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 September About 50,000 members of the public, who were given tickets after a ballot, will get a \"once in a lifetime\" chance to walk over the new bridge on Saturday and Sunday." } ], "id": "1085_0", "question": "Opening the Queensferry Crossing - What next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The aid sector is guilty of \"complacency verging on complicity\" over an \"endemic\" sex abuse scandal, a damning report from MPs has said. Stephen Twigg, chairman of the international development committee, said charities were \"more concerned to protect their own reputation\". The committee's inquiry was launched in light of revelations that senior Oxfam staff paid survivors of the 2010 Haiti earthquake for sex. Charities welcomed the MPs' report. Oxfam Trustees chairwoman Caroline Thomson said the committee had been right to challenge the charity sector and recognised \"we have further to go\". The Oxfam scandal, revealed in February in The Times, led to further allegations about UK-based charities. The report, which looked at allegations dating back to 2001, says the delivery of aid to people had been subverted by sexual predators. The committee said in their report: \"Having understood the length of time that the sector has been aware of these issues, we reflect with confusion on the apparent shock of those we spoke to in the immediate aftermath of the Times report. This has been a known problem in the international aid sector for years.\" \"So much more\" could have been done to tackle the \"open secret\" of people working in the aid sector committing such acts, the MPs added. Despite the charities knowing about the problem, the committee said there had been a \"collective failure of leadership\", with action only when there was a crisis. The report also said leaders were \"self-deluded\" in thinking they had addressed problems before they became public. MPs insisted more resources were needed to tackle the issue - and said victims had to be at the \"heart of solutions\", or the response could be \"harmful\". Mr Twigg suggested something akin to DBS checks, the criminal records check system used in the UK, could be adopted internationally, to provide details of past allegations to prospective employers. \"That won't cure this but it's one of the ways in which we can try to ensure this won't happen again,\" he said. The MPs also recommended an independent aid ombudsman should be introduced and have called for a global register of aid workers, who will operate according to expected standards. The committee also suggested: - Ensuring the beneficiaries of humanitarian aid have knowledge of and confidence in their rights - A zero-tolerance culture on sexual exploitation and abuse is the least that victims should expect - Reports of wrongdoing should be proactively sought and responded to robustly, with feedback to victims and survivors - Known perpetrators of sexual exploitation and abuse should be identified through improved reporting and accountability, and prevented from moving into new positions The report looked at allegations of sex abuse and child abuse by aid workers, dating back to 2001. They found sexual assault and exploitation was \"predominately perpetrated against women and girls\" and mainly carried out by men. A 2008 Save the Children report into the under-reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse, seen by the MPs, said the abusers were \"both foreign and national staff\", with the majority being \"local people employed by international humanitarian organisations\". A 2002 UNHCR and Save the Children report, which looked at refugee camps in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, found that humanitarian workers extorted \"sex in exchange for desperately needed aid supplies (biscuits, soap, medicines, plastic sheeting etc)\". The victims were mainly girls aged 13 to 18, who reported consequences including \"pregnancies, abortions, teenage motherhood, [and] exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS\". The committee found that a recurring theme was \"abuse of power\". \"No corner of the aid sector appears to be immune,\" their report said. \"The problem is a collective one.\" Oxfam trustees chairwoman Caroline Thomson said the report made for \"painful reading\" for the whole aid sector, and apologised that Oxfam had failed to protect vulnerable women in Haiti. She said the charity had tripled funding for safeguarding, established an independent whistleblowing phone line and agreed to publish the details of safeguarding cases twice a year. Save the Children UK said it was strengthening its internal safeguarding systems and had called for greater government oversight. Chief executive Kevin Watkins said: \"We have made mistakes in our own handling of historical sexual harassment complaints from staff in the UK,\" adding, \"there is a great deal more to do\". International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt welcomed the report, saying: \"Until the sector is fully prepared to address the power imbalance, cultures, and behaviours that allow sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment to happen, we will never stamp it out.\" An international summit on the issue is due to take place in October, and Ms Mordaunt has called for the sector to demonstrate the progress they have made by then. In February the Times reported Oxfam male aid workers used prostitutes during a humanitarian mission after the Haiti earthquake in 2010. More allegations then followed, against Oxfam and other UK charities. Oxfam has since revealed it has to make PS16m of cuts because of reduced funding following the scandal, with thousands stopping their regular donations. Its chief executive Mark Goldring stood down in May. His deputy Penny Lawrence had quit in February. In a separate story relating to alleged misconduct in the charity sector, Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, had to quit his role at the two charities set up in her memory. He denied assaulting a woman in her 30s at Harvard University in 2015 but admitted \"inappropriate\" behaviour while working for Save the Children. And former Ex-Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth faced three complaints of inappropriate behaviour against female staff. He said he had \"apologised unreservedly\" to the workers at the time. He resigned from his post at Unicef, saying he did not want coverage of his past to \"damage\" the charities.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3835, "answer_start": 2727, "text": "The report looked at allegations of sex abuse and child abuse by aid workers, dating back to 2001. They found sexual assault and exploitation was \"predominately perpetrated against women and girls\" and mainly carried out by men. A 2008 Save the Children report into the under-reporting of child sexual exploitation and abuse, seen by the MPs, said the abusers were \"both foreign and national staff\", with the majority being \"local people employed by international humanitarian organisations\". A 2002 UNHCR and Save the Children report, which looked at refugee camps in Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone, found that humanitarian workers extorted \"sex in exchange for desperately needed aid supplies (biscuits, soap, medicines, plastic sheeting etc)\". The victims were mainly girls aged 13 to 18, who reported consequences including \"pregnancies, abortions, teenage motherhood, [and] exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS\". The committee found that a recurring theme was \"abuse of power\". \"No corner of the aid sector appears to be immune,\" their report said. \"The problem is a collective one.\"" } ], "id": "1086_0", "question": "What did aid workers do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4953, "answer_start": 3836, "text": "Oxfam trustees chairwoman Caroline Thomson said the report made for \"painful reading\" for the whole aid sector, and apologised that Oxfam had failed to protect vulnerable women in Haiti. She said the charity had tripled funding for safeguarding, established an independent whistleblowing phone line and agreed to publish the details of safeguarding cases twice a year. Save the Children UK said it was strengthening its internal safeguarding systems and had called for greater government oversight. Chief executive Kevin Watkins said: \"We have made mistakes in our own handling of historical sexual harassment complaints from staff in the UK,\" adding, \"there is a great deal more to do\". International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt welcomed the report, saying: \"Until the sector is fully prepared to address the power imbalance, cultures, and behaviours that allow sexual abuse, exploitation and harassment to happen, we will never stamp it out.\" An international summit on the issue is due to take place in October, and Ms Mordaunt has called for the sector to demonstrate the progress they have made by then." } ], "id": "1086_1", "question": "How has the industry reacted?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6065, "answer_start": 4954, "text": "In February the Times reported Oxfam male aid workers used prostitutes during a humanitarian mission after the Haiti earthquake in 2010. More allegations then followed, against Oxfam and other UK charities. Oxfam has since revealed it has to make PS16m of cuts because of reduced funding following the scandal, with thousands stopping their regular donations. Its chief executive Mark Goldring stood down in May. His deputy Penny Lawrence had quit in February. In a separate story relating to alleged misconduct in the charity sector, Brendan Cox, the husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, had to quit his role at the two charities set up in her memory. He denied assaulting a woman in her 30s at Harvard University in 2015 but admitted \"inappropriate\" behaviour while working for Save the Children. And former Ex-Save the Children chief executive Justin Forsyth faced three complaints of inappropriate behaviour against female staff. He said he had \"apologised unreservedly\" to the workers at the time. He resigned from his post at Unicef, saying he did not want coverage of his past to \"damage\" the charities." } ], "id": "1086_2", "question": "How did the scandal unfold?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "When news of Mumtaz Qadri's execution hit the television screens on Monday morning, the Pakistani nation recoiled into long-familiar defensive mode. Parents kept many children home from school, and some people stayed away from work. Across the country, Pakistanis were glued to their television sets in anticipation of riots on the streets by those who revered the former bodyguard who killed Punjab governor Salman Taseer for advocating blasphemy law reform. But what protests there were were sporadic and not well attended. And though they burned tyres and beat up a couple of journalists, the protesters showed no inclination to target the security forces. The mood of the crowds at Tuesday's funeral for Pakistan's most notorious death row prisoner was equally restrained. More importantly, news anchors of dozens of Pakistani television channels, who would normally be hysterical at such a development, seemed not to notice. Instead, crime in Karachi and hints of a possible cancellation of an upcoming India-Pakistan cricket match dominated the headlines. So why the media silence when there was a golden chance to boost ratings? \"Obviously, they have been sent a piece of advice by an authority they can't ignore, and that authority is definitely not the political government,\" says Ayesha Siddiqa, a defence and political analyst. For most in Pakistan, the only authority that has been able to chastise a once-unbridled Pakistani media has been the military. In an unprecedented move in April 2014, it was able to force one of the largest TV news channels, Geo, off air after it accused the ISI intelligence service of orchestrating an attack on one of its top journalists. The ban was \"fronted\" by the civilian-led media regulatory authority, Pemra, but observers saw the military pulling the strings behind the scenes. On Monday, the day Mumtaz Qadri was hanged, Pemra held a meeting in which it threatened with closure TV channels that covered \"events that glorified criminals\". The message for Qadri's supporters was clear. But Pakistan's hard-line Islamists were not always like this. In 2012, a conglomeration of religious forces styling itself as the Pakistan Defence Council (PDC) took the country by storm, holding big rallies in every corner of the country to sell a virulent anti-American and anti-Indian agenda. In the words of Dawn newspaper's Cyril Almeida, the campaigners included \"jihadists, sectarian warriors, orthodox mullahs, Islamic revivalists, all banding together... to defend Pakistan\". The PDC showed no restraint at its rallies and Pemra did nothing to enforce its so-called responsible journalism guidelines. The military establishment was widely seen by analysts as having played a role in the PDC, for two reasons: to deflect American pressure for action against the Taliban, and to frustrate the then government's plans to extend preferential trading status to India. In 2014, thousands of activists loyal to former cricketer Imran Khan and a firebrand cleric Tahirul Qadri occupied Islamabad's high-security Red Zone for months, paralysing the government. On one occasion they broke into the offices of Pakistan Television and put its various channels off air for several minutes. The military refused to intervene, claiming it was an \"apolitical\" institution which supported democracy. The protests were seen by many as having had a nod from elements in the security establishment, again for two reasons - forcing the newly inducted government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to back down from a treason case it lodged against former army chief Pervez Musharraf, and to frustrate its aspirations to normalise relations with India, which had been one of Mr Sharif's main election slogans. How Punjab governor's killer became a hero What are Pakistan's blasphemy laws? Salman Taseer: Death of a liberal Analysts point out that with Nato's planned drawdown in Afghanistan, the Pakistani military is reordering its security policy to ensure its continued influence in Afghanistan and to prevent what many pro-establishment analysts describe as \"Indian hegemony\". On the heels of this development has come the proposed $46bn economic corridor the Chinese are planning to build through Pakistan. This investment is seen by many as more than making up for the drying pipeline of American aid for a military that has been holding its own within a chronically cash-strapped economy. In order to fully benefit from this investment, forces that can cause internal chaos must be quietened. Many say this is what has been on display in Rawalpindi this week. Apart from paving the way for Chinese investment, this also sends out a message to the international community that Pakistan has the wherewithal to control militancy when it wants, says Ayesha Siddiqa. But since there are still no signs a similar call has also been given to groups focused on India and Afghanistan, Pakistan is likely to continue to dabble in the tricky business of separating \"good\" militants from \"bad\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2909, "answer_start": 1341, "text": "For most in Pakistan, the only authority that has been able to chastise a once-unbridled Pakistani media has been the military. In an unprecedented move in April 2014, it was able to force one of the largest TV news channels, Geo, off air after it accused the ISI intelligence service of orchestrating an attack on one of its top journalists. The ban was \"fronted\" by the civilian-led media regulatory authority, Pemra, but observers saw the military pulling the strings behind the scenes. On Monday, the day Mumtaz Qadri was hanged, Pemra held a meeting in which it threatened with closure TV channels that covered \"events that glorified criminals\". The message for Qadri's supporters was clear. But Pakistan's hard-line Islamists were not always like this. In 2012, a conglomeration of religious forces styling itself as the Pakistan Defence Council (PDC) took the country by storm, holding big rallies in every corner of the country to sell a virulent anti-American and anti-Indian agenda. In the words of Dawn newspaper's Cyril Almeida, the campaigners included \"jihadists, sectarian warriors, orthodox mullahs, Islamic revivalists, all banding together... to defend Pakistan\". The PDC showed no restraint at its rallies and Pemra did nothing to enforce its so-called responsible journalism guidelines. The military establishment was widely seen by analysts as having played a role in the PDC, for two reasons: to deflect American pressure for action against the Taliban, and to frustrate the then government's plans to extend preferential trading status to India." } ], "id": "1087_0", "question": "Who is pulling the strings?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3730, "answer_start": 2910, "text": "In 2014, thousands of activists loyal to former cricketer Imran Khan and a firebrand cleric Tahirul Qadri occupied Islamabad's high-security Red Zone for months, paralysing the government. On one occasion they broke into the offices of Pakistan Television and put its various channels off air for several minutes. The military refused to intervene, claiming it was an \"apolitical\" institution which supported democracy. The protests were seen by many as having had a nod from elements in the security establishment, again for two reasons - forcing the newly inducted government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to back down from a treason case it lodged against former army chief Pervez Musharraf, and to frustrate its aspirations to normalise relations with India, which had been one of Mr Sharif's main election slogans." } ], "id": "1087_1", "question": "Is the military apolitical?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5010, "answer_start": 3844, "text": "Analysts point out that with Nato's planned drawdown in Afghanistan, the Pakistani military is reordering its security policy to ensure its continued influence in Afghanistan and to prevent what many pro-establishment analysts describe as \"Indian hegemony\". On the heels of this development has come the proposed $46bn economic corridor the Chinese are planning to build through Pakistan. This investment is seen by many as more than making up for the drying pipeline of American aid for a military that has been holding its own within a chronically cash-strapped economy. In order to fully benefit from this investment, forces that can cause internal chaos must be quietened. Many say this is what has been on display in Rawalpindi this week. Apart from paving the way for Chinese investment, this also sends out a message to the international community that Pakistan has the wherewithal to control militancy when it wants, says Ayesha Siddiqa. But since there are still no signs a similar call has also been given to groups focused on India and Afghanistan, Pakistan is likely to continue to dabble in the tricky business of separating \"good\" militants from \"bad\"." } ], "id": "1087_2", "question": "So what has changed now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Google has released the most searched for topics of the year, and amongst the US election, Euro 2016 and David Bowie, lots of people were asking \"how to accept myself for who I am\". So what's the answer? It was the tenth most frequent 'how to' question to Google in the UK. The answer Google gives begins with a list of \"12 ways we can cultivate self-acceptance\" from mental health social network Psych Central. Suggestions include \"shush your inner critic\" and \"grieve the loss of unrealised dreams\". Jessica Chivers is a coaching psychologist and author. She said it was important to look at the context in which a person might ask this question. \"We are able to see more than ever before what people are doing. We see an edited view of people's lives on social media,\" she explained. She said it becomes easy to convince yourself that everyone else is having a better time than you. \"Recognise where you are strong and what brought you a sense of meaning, success and happiness,\" she added. Jessica suggests doing \"small things\" that make you feel good like eating healthy food and sleeping well. Play therapist Amanda Seyderhelm works with children struggling with confidence and low self-esteem. She said self-acceptance was about \"not trying to change your flaws\". \"Take responsibility for your wellbeing. Eliminate as much stress as you can,\" she added. She said people can feel shame about who they are. \"It's about being really honest with yourself. If not to a therapist, to yourself in the mirror,\" she explained. \"Accept your flaws and use your voice.\" Kim Stephenson is a financial psychologist and said self-acceptance is often linked to low self-esteem. \"You have to ask what it is that you want from life. What do you actually want?\" He said mindfulness can be useful in separating what is real to what people can build up in their heads. \"Everybody is unique. Only you can do what you do, so be the best you, you can be.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1564, "answer_start": 502, "text": "Jessica Chivers is a coaching psychologist and author. She said it was important to look at the context in which a person might ask this question. \"We are able to see more than ever before what people are doing. We see an edited view of people's lives on social media,\" she explained. She said it becomes easy to convince yourself that everyone else is having a better time than you. \"Recognise where you are strong and what brought you a sense of meaning, success and happiness,\" she added. Jessica suggests doing \"small things\" that make you feel good like eating healthy food and sleeping well. Play therapist Amanda Seyderhelm works with children struggling with confidence and low self-esteem. She said self-acceptance was about \"not trying to change your flaws\". \"Take responsibility for your wellbeing. Eliminate as much stress as you can,\" she added. She said people can feel shame about who they are. \"It's about being really honest with yourself. If not to a therapist, to yourself in the mirror,\" she explained. \"Accept your flaws and use your voice.\"" } ], "id": "1088_0", "question": "What do the experts say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US officials are investigating a secret Facebook group where border patrol members allegedly posted racist and sexist jokes about migrants and others. The private group had about 9,500 members, including former and current border patrol agents, ProPublica reported. Some posts mocked migrant deaths, while others targeted Latino members of Congress, ProPublica said. The Border Patrol chief has called the posts \"completely inappropriate\". \"Any employees found to have violated our standards of conduct will be held accountable,\" Carla Provost said. The group was called \"I'm 10-15\", ProPublica said - 10-15 being Border Patrol code for \"aliens in custody\". According to ProPublica, members of the group mocked Latino members of Congress who visited migrant detention centres in Texas on Monday. Democrats Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Veronica Escobar were among those said to have been called \"hoes\" and \"scum buckets\" in the private postings. In one post, a member reportedly suggested throwing burritos at them, while another shared a doctored image depicting Ms Ocasio-Cortez performing a sex act on President Donald Trump. The BBC was not able to independently verify the existence of the private group, which is not publicly accessible on Facebook. Matthew Klein, an assistant commissioner at the CBP, said the Department of Homeland Security had launched a code-of-conduct investigation into the group. He said a number of CBP agents may be members of the group. Ms Ocasio-Cortez said the posts did not surprise her, and that they were \"indicative\" of what she had seen while visiting the migrant detention centre on Monday. \"I see why CBP officers were being so physically and sexually threatening towards me,\" she tweeted after the trip. On Twitter, Ms Ocasio-Cortez said that border patrol officers had told women in cells to \"drink out of the toilets\". She added that during the visit, she \"forced\" herself into a cramped cell where the women inside \"described their treatment at the hands of officers as 'psychological warfare'\". After critics shared a photo of similar toilets in another such facility - with a sink attachment on top labelled \"potable water\" - Ms Ocasio-Cortez said the one she saw was \"not functioning\" at the time. \"So the women were told they could drink out of the bowl,\" she tweeted. A Trump administration official, who did not wish to be named, told CBS News that \"the toilets are connected to the sinks and the sinks dispense safe drinking water. \"The sink on top of the toilets broke. But as soon as the sinks broke, border patrol put out jugs of water for migrants to drink right when that happened. The jugs were right there for everyone to drink.\" Ms Ocasio-Cortez and other lawmakers toured detention centres days after a harrowing picture of a drowned man and his daughter on the US-Mexico border brought the migration crisis into sharp focus. Last month, the New York congresswoman stoked controversy after comparing migrant detention centres to \"concentration camps\". Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Joaquin Castro condemned the secret Facebook page as \"vulgar, disgusting and vile\". \"That shows, unfortunately, that there are many within CBP who've become desensitised to the point of being dangerous to the migrants in their care.\" Senator Cory Booker, a Democratic presidential candidate, said on Tuesday that he was introducing a plan to \"virtually eliminate migrant detention\". He called the facilities \"for-profit prison that should not exist\", and said that as president, he would improve the facilities and close any that do not meet his standard. Since taking office in 2017, President Trump had adopted tougher policies in an attempt to reduce the number of undocumented migrants. But officials say his administration's crackdown, and the recent increase in Central American migrant arrivals, has led to a strain on enforcement resources. Apprehensions on the border reached 132,000 in May 2019, the highest levels in over a decade, according to US government figures. Earlier this month, Mexico reached a deal with the Trump administration to try to stem the flow of undocumented migrants travelling to the US. Last month a US Justice Department lawyer disputed in court whether detained migrant children are entitled to toothbrushes and soap. In February, Mr Trump declared an emergency on the country's southern border, saying it was necessary to tackle what he said was a crisis there. Last week, the US Congress approved a $4.5bn (PS3.5bn) humanitarian aid package for the US-Mexico border. Is there a crisis on the US-Mexico border? Photos show overcrowding at US migrant centres", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4565, "answer_start": 3014, "text": "Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Joaquin Castro condemned the secret Facebook page as \"vulgar, disgusting and vile\". \"That shows, unfortunately, that there are many within CBP who've become desensitised to the point of being dangerous to the migrants in their care.\" Senator Cory Booker, a Democratic presidential candidate, said on Tuesday that he was introducing a plan to \"virtually eliminate migrant detention\". He called the facilities \"for-profit prison that should not exist\", and said that as president, he would improve the facilities and close any that do not meet his standard. Since taking office in 2017, President Trump had adopted tougher policies in an attempt to reduce the number of undocumented migrants. But officials say his administration's crackdown, and the recent increase in Central American migrant arrivals, has led to a strain on enforcement resources. Apprehensions on the border reached 132,000 in May 2019, the highest levels in over a decade, according to US government figures. Earlier this month, Mexico reached a deal with the Trump administration to try to stem the flow of undocumented migrants travelling to the US. Last month a US Justice Department lawyer disputed in court whether detained migrant children are entitled to toothbrushes and soap. In February, Mr Trump declared an emergency on the country's southern border, saying it was necessary to tackle what he said was a crisis there. Last week, the US Congress approved a $4.5bn (PS3.5bn) humanitarian aid package for the US-Mexico border." } ], "id": "1089_0", "question": "What's the reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The eldest son of the murdered Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, has arrived in the US from Saudi Arabia along with his family. Salah Khashoggi had previously been barred from leaving Saudi Arabia because of his father's criticism of the country's leadership. Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul three weeks ago, investigators say. Saudi Arabia's public prosecutor is due to travel to Turkey on Sunday. Saudi officials deny the involvement of the royal family, including de factor ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, in the murder. But Russia has said the royal family should be believed. \"No-one should have any reasons not to believe them,\" Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. His comments contrast with doubts among Saudi Arabia's Western allies as Riyadh has changed its version of what happened in the consulate on 2 October several times. Russia is making clear who it is siding with, says the BBC's Mark Lowen in Istanbul, in another sign of the wide geopolitical repercussions stemming from this murder. Two days before arriving in the US, Salah Khashoggi was pictured receiving condolences from Crown Prince Mohammed. He briefly shook hands with the royal and gave what many see as a cold stare during Tuesday's apparently staged meeting. Some are suggesting the public display may have been the price for being allowed to leave the country. A US spokesman said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had told Saudi leaders that he wanted Salah Khashoggi, a dual US-Saudi citizen, to be able to return to the US and was \"pleased\" that he had been allowed to do so. Sources close to the Khashoggis told Reuters that he and his family arrived on a flight from Saudi Arabia and joined his mother and three siblings in Washington. It is not clear how long Salah Khashoggi plans to stay in the US. The Saudi public prosecutor, Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb, will be meeting his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul. The move was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a televised speech. Turkey also had other evidence which had not yet been disclosed, Mr Erdogan said. And he called on Saudi Arabia to disclose the location of Jamal Khashoggi's body, as well as the name of an alleged \"local co-operator\" involved in disposing of it. The Saudi prosecutor said on Thursday that the killing was premeditated, in a further development of the Saudi narrative. Saudi officials have also blamed \"rogue\" agents, and, when Mr Khashoggi first disappeared, maintained he had left the consulate unharmed. CIA director Gina Haspel is now back in the US - Saudi Arabia's closest Western ally - after a visit to Turkey where she was briefed by investigators. She has briefed President Donald Trump. No details were released, but media reports said that during the Turkey visit Ms Haspel had heard audio recordings that investigators claim capture the murder. On Wednesday, Turkey's Sabah newspaper said she had listened to recordings of Khashoggi's interrogation and death, but gave no details about the contents or how the audio had been obtained. A person \"familiar with the audio\" told the Washington Post that it was \"compelling\". Turkey's Anadolu news agency said on Thursday that 38 members of staff at the Istanbul consulate had been questioned as witnesses. State media say suspects are being questioned following information provided by a joint Saudi-Turkish team. The official Saudi Press Agency reported that on Thursday Crown Prince Mohammed had chaired the first meeting of a committee to reform the state's intelligence services, which was set up following Mr Khashoggi's death. Last week Saudi Arabia sacked two key advisers to the prince, and arrested 18 people. On Wednesday Crown Prince Mohammed vowed to punish those responsible for the murder.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1828, "answer_start": 1047, "text": "Two days before arriving in the US, Salah Khashoggi was pictured receiving condolences from Crown Prince Mohammed. He briefly shook hands with the royal and gave what many see as a cold stare during Tuesday's apparently staged meeting. Some are suggesting the public display may have been the price for being allowed to leave the country. A US spokesman said Secretary of State Mike Pompeo had told Saudi leaders that he wanted Salah Khashoggi, a dual US-Saudi citizen, to be able to return to the US and was \"pleased\" that he had been allowed to do so. Sources close to the Khashoggis told Reuters that he and his family arrived on a flight from Saudi Arabia and joined his mother and three siblings in Washington. It is not clear how long Salah Khashoggi plans to stay in the US." } ], "id": "1090_0", "question": "What do we know about Salah Khashoggi?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3285, "answer_start": 1829, "text": "The Saudi public prosecutor, Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb, will be meeting his Turkish counterpart in Istanbul. The move was announced by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a televised speech. Turkey also had other evidence which had not yet been disclosed, Mr Erdogan said. And he called on Saudi Arabia to disclose the location of Jamal Khashoggi's body, as well as the name of an alleged \"local co-operator\" involved in disposing of it. The Saudi prosecutor said on Thursday that the killing was premeditated, in a further development of the Saudi narrative. Saudi officials have also blamed \"rogue\" agents, and, when Mr Khashoggi first disappeared, maintained he had left the consulate unharmed. CIA director Gina Haspel is now back in the US - Saudi Arabia's closest Western ally - after a visit to Turkey where she was briefed by investigators. She has briefed President Donald Trump. No details were released, but media reports said that during the Turkey visit Ms Haspel had heard audio recordings that investigators claim capture the murder. On Wednesday, Turkey's Sabah newspaper said she had listened to recordings of Khashoggi's interrogation and death, but gave no details about the contents or how the audio had been obtained. A person \"familiar with the audio\" told the Washington Post that it was \"compelling\". Turkey's Anadolu news agency said on Thursday that 38 members of staff at the Istanbul consulate had been questioned as witnesses." } ], "id": "1090_1", "question": "How is the investigation going?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3783, "answer_start": 3286, "text": "State media say suspects are being questioned following information provided by a joint Saudi-Turkish team. The official Saudi Press Agency reported that on Thursday Crown Prince Mohammed had chaired the first meeting of a committee to reform the state's intelligence services, which was set up following Mr Khashoggi's death. Last week Saudi Arabia sacked two key advisers to the prince, and arrested 18 people. On Wednesday Crown Prince Mohammed vowed to punish those responsible for the murder." } ], "id": "1090_2", "question": "What has been happening in Saudi Arabia?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The government says it will propose an \"innovative and untested approach\" to customs checks as part of its Brexit negotiations. The model, one of two being put forward in a newly-published paper, would mean no customs checks at UK-EU borders. The UK's alternative proposal - a more efficient system of border checks - would involve \"an increase in administration\", it admits. A key EU figure said the idea of \"invisible borders\" was a \"fantasy\". On Twitter, Guy Verhofstadt, the European Parliament's negotiator, added that other issues had to be agreed before negotiations on trade could begin - views echoed by the EU's overall chief negotiator, Michel Barnier. The UK has already said it will leave the customs union - the EU's tariff-free trading area - after Brexit, and businesses have been calling for clarity on what the replacement system will involve. The UK's proposals, detailed in what it calls a \"future partnership paper\", also include the possibility of a \"temporary customs union\" after the UK leaves the EU in March 2019 to avoid a \"cliff-edge\" for business as they adapt to the new arrangements. Countries in the customs union don't impose tariffs - taxes on imports - on each other's goods. Every country inside the union levies the same tariffs on imports from abroad. So, for example, a 10% tariff is imposed on some cars imported from outside the customs union, while 7.5% is imposed on roasted coffee. Other goods - such as soap or slate - have no tariffs. The UK has said it is leaving the EU's customs union because as a member it is unable to strike trade deals with other countries. According to the new paper, the UK could ask Brussels to establish a \"temporary customs union\" after it leaves the EU in March 2019. But during this period, it would also expect to be able to negotiate its own international trade deals - something it cannot do as an EU customs union member. Ministers said the use of interim arrangements would mean businesses would only have to adjust once to the new arrangements. Once this period expires, the UK will look to agree either a \"highly streamlined\" border with the EU, or a new \"partnership\" with no customs border at all. The \"partnership\" arrangement would be an \"innovative and untested approach\" which would remove the need for any customs checks between the UK and the EU. This would be because the UK's regime would \"align precisely\" with the EU's, for goods that will be consumed in the EU. However, the UK would continue to operate its own checks on goods coming from outside the EU - and the government said safeguards would be needed to prevent goods entering the EU that had not complied with its rules. These could include a repayment mechanism, which would see importers to the UK pay whichever is the higher tariff, Britain's or the EU's, and then face having to claim money back if their goods were sold to a customer in the region with a lower tariff. An alternative scenario the government is proposing would involve the UK extending customs checks to EU arrivals - but under a \"highly streamlined arrangement\" to minimise disruption at ports and airports. It said it would seek to make the existing system of customs checks \"even more efficient\", for example using number plate recognition technology at ports, which could be linked to customs declarations for what the vehicles are carrying, meaning the vehicles do not have to be manually stopped and checked. The UK would also allow some traders to do self assessment, calculating their own customs duties. However, the government acknowledged this option would still involve \"an increase in administration\" compared with being in the existing customs union. All of this will have to be negotiated with the EU - and the two sides have not yet even started discussing trade matters. Other obstacles - including the size of the UK's \"divorce bill\" - need to be agreed first. The government will also set up its own \"standalone\" system in the event of no deal being reached, which would involve charging customs duty and VAT on imports from the EU, although it says it is keen to avoid this scenario. Previous estimates by HMRC have predicted a sudden increase in the number of customs declarations after Brexit - subject to any new arrangements agreed with the EU - from a maximum of 55 million to 255 million per year. David Davis, Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, said he envisioned the interim customs system being \"as close as we can to the current arrangements\", but with the UK able to negotiate and sign its own international trade deals. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he did not rule out the UK paying to be part of the arrangement, saying he was not going to conduct negotiations on air. And he said he did not believe the European Court of Justice would be the arbiter of the temporary arrangement, adding that the government would publish proposals on \"international arbitration\" next week. Mr Davis said the transition period should be \"something like two years, maybe a bit shorter\" but that it had \"to be done by the election\", meaning 2022 at the latest. Analysis by the BBC's Eleanor Garnier These proposals are designed to demonstrate unity - after reported cabinet splits - and show the government has a plan in place. Chancellor Philip Hammond has got his way in seeking an interim customs arrangement as much like the status quo as possible. And Liam Fox could potentially win the right to negotiate international trade deals during the transition period. But this is about much more than domestic political battles - it's about whether the UK can succeed in getting Brussels negotiators to talk about trade at the same time as the so-called divorce arrangements, something they have steadfastly refused to do so far. The EU is also working on a position paper on the customs union. Its chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, tweeted that customs could not be discussed until the Irish border, citizens' rights and the UK's separation payment had been settled. A European Commission spokesman added: \"As Michel Barnier has said on several occasions, 'frictionless trade' is not possible outside the single market and customs union.\" Sir Keir Starmer, Labour's shadow Brexit secretary, said the proposals were \"incoherent and inadequate\" and were designed to \"gloss over deep and continuing divisions within the cabinet\". But his party also faced questions on its position. Speaking to Emma Barnett on BBC Radio 5 live, shadow international trade minister Bill Esterson would not say whether Labour would remain in the customs union after March 2019. Asked repeatedly, he said Labour would seek \"the same relationship that we have now\". \"The detail of whether it's defined as being membership or not isn't the point,\" he added. Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon accused the UK of a \"daft have cake and eat it\" approach. Pro-EU Conservative MP Anna Soubry said ministers were \"moving in the right direction\" with their proposals for an interim arrangement. But she said they should admit that \"no new agreement with the EU can fully replace the benefits of customs union membership\". Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable accused ministers of \"kicking the can down the road\" and argued for staying in the customs union. But the CBI, which represents British businesses, said the proposal was \"encouraging\". Its deputy director general, Josh Hardie, added: \"The clock is ticking and what matters now is giving companies the confidence to continue investing as quickly as possible.\" Adam Marshall, director general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said most businesses were more concerned about future customs arrangements with the EU than future trade deals. \"In the long term, we should aim to avoid imports and exports being subjected to two sets of customs checks, and to ensuring the smoothest possible future trade relationship between the UK and EU.\" MEP and former UKIP leader Nigel Farage attacked the government's proposals. \"We might find ourselves 10 years down the road from Brexit having not got what we wanted,\" he said. \"There's no doubt that during this transitional period, the free movement of people will continue, the European Court of Justice will go on having judgements over British business and, of course, we'll go on paying a membership fee. \"None of those three things are acceptable to Brexit voters in any way at all.\" Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1610, "answer_start": 1115, "text": "Countries in the customs union don't impose tariffs - taxes on imports - on each other's goods. Every country inside the union levies the same tariffs on imports from abroad. So, for example, a 10% tariff is imposed on some cars imported from outside the customs union, while 7.5% is imposed on roasted coffee. Other goods - such as soap or slate - have no tariffs. The UK has said it is leaving the EU's customs union because as a member it is unable to strike trade deals with other countries." } ], "id": "1091_0", "question": "What is the customs union?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "At least 21 people were killed when Somali militants stormed a luxury hotel compound in Nairobi, Kenya's government has confirmed. Hundreds were forced to flee the bloodshed at the DusitD2 hotel and business complex on Tuesday. Some 28 injured people have been admitted to hospital, and Kenya's Red Cross said 19 are still missing. Somalia-based Islamist group al-Shabab said it was behind the attack, which triggered a 19-hour security operation. President Uhuru Kenyatta said the siege ended with five jihadist attackers \"eliminated\". Kenya has been a target for al-Shabab since October 2011, when it sent its army into Somalia to fight the jihadist group. The BBC's Andrew Harding, in Nairobi, says cowering groups of civilians were escorted to safety by security forces throughout Tuesday night, amid sporadic bursts of gunfire and the boom of explosions that continued well beyond dawn. Many had spent hours hiding in their offices, or in bathrooms. On the crowded street outside the large, upmarket complex, friends and relatives embraced those who emerged and thanked Kenyan security forces. Mourners have now begun to bury the dead. In a televised address, President Kenyatta said \"every person that was involved in the funding, planning and execution of this heinous act\" would be \"relentlessly\" pursued. Two people believed to be linked to the attack were arrested after raids on Wednesday, AFP reported. According to Reuters news agency, al-Shabab issued a statement calling the attack \"a response\" to US President Donald Trump's decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The move last year overturned decades of US foreign policy, and drew international criticism. Jerusalem is a sacred city in Islam, Judaism and Christianity - and while Israel regards the whole of Jerusalem as its indivisible capital, Palestinians claim the eastern part of the city as the capital of a future state. Kenyan James Oduor, commonly known as Cobra, was tweeting as the attack was unfolding. He was known for his love of football and was well-liked. Two Kenyan friends, Abdalla Dahir and Feisal Ahmed, were having lunch together in the grounds of the hotel when the suicide bomber struck, Reuters news agency reports. Friends described the pair as inseparable. US citizen Jason Spindler is among the dead. His brother, Jonathan, announced on Twitter that Jason had survived the 9/11 attacks in New York in 2001. In an interview with US broadcaster NBC, Sarah Spindler said her son had been trying to \"make a positive change in the third world in emerging markets\". British citizen Luke Potter, who held dual South African nationality, was also killed, and another Briton was wounded, the UK Foreign Office said. The attack began at about 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT) on Tuesday. The gunmen threw bombs at vehicles in the car park before entering the lobby, where one blew himself up, police say. A woman working in a neighbouring building told Reuters: \"I just started hearing gunshots, and then started seeing people running away raising their hands up and some were entering the bank to hide for their lives.\" Security camera footage showed at least four heavily armed men walking in and opening fire. There are reports they had been seen visiting the compound in recent days. At 23:00, a government official said that all the buildings in the complex had been secured by security forces. But just an hour later, gunfire and sporadic explosions were reported in the area. There was more heavy gunfire at about 07:00 on Wednesday. Security forces then combed their way through the building where frightened workers had barricaded themselves inside. The five-star DusitD2 hotel has 101 rooms. Located in the Westlands suburb, minutes from the capital's business district, it has its own spa and several restaurants. When the gunmen first entered there was confusion, as people first tried to escape and then retreated into the building as they came under fire. One eyewitness, Faith Chepchirchir, told Reuters: \"People were trying to run towards the gate, but then I saw everyone who was running towards the gate was coming back from the gate, now heading to this opposite direction. \"So for me we just closed the doors and then gunshots were just being sprayed all over. From the top, I think [the gunmen] went to the top floor and then started spraying bullets.\" Many civilians remained holed up in the complex for several hours, as they hid from the attackers in bathrooms, and even under tables and chairs. Some were able to keep in contact with loved ones by text. They included Zinzi Khalwale, daughter of a former senator Boni Khalwale. Her father told The Daily Nation she had hidden in one of the rooms of her office until her rescue. By the evening, all but the seventh floor of the complex had been cleared, but some civilians remained there, apparently in close proximity to the surviving attackers. They oppose the Somali government, but have carried out attacks throughout East Africa. In September 2013, al-Shabab gunmen entered the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi and targeted shoppers. During an 80-hour siege at the upscale centre, 67 people were killed. Two years later, the group carried out its deadliest ever assault in Kenya, shooting dead almost 150 people at Garissa University.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3825, "answer_start": 2722, "text": "The attack began at about 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT) on Tuesday. The gunmen threw bombs at vehicles in the car park before entering the lobby, where one blew himself up, police say. A woman working in a neighbouring building told Reuters: \"I just started hearing gunshots, and then started seeing people running away raising their hands up and some were entering the bank to hide for their lives.\" Security camera footage showed at least four heavily armed men walking in and opening fire. There are reports they had been seen visiting the compound in recent days. At 23:00, a government official said that all the buildings in the complex had been secured by security forces. But just an hour later, gunfire and sporadic explosions were reported in the area. There was more heavy gunfire at about 07:00 on Wednesday. Security forces then combed their way through the building where frightened workers had barricaded themselves inside. The five-star DusitD2 hotel has 101 rooms. Located in the Westlands suburb, minutes from the capital's business district, it has its own spa and several restaurants." } ], "id": "1092_0", "question": "How did the attack unfold?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4921, "answer_start": 3826, "text": "When the gunmen first entered there was confusion, as people first tried to escape and then retreated into the building as they came under fire. One eyewitness, Faith Chepchirchir, told Reuters: \"People were trying to run towards the gate, but then I saw everyone who was running towards the gate was coming back from the gate, now heading to this opposite direction. \"So for me we just closed the doors and then gunshots were just being sprayed all over. From the top, I think [the gunmen] went to the top floor and then started spraying bullets.\" Many civilians remained holed up in the complex for several hours, as they hid from the attackers in bathrooms, and even under tables and chairs. Some were able to keep in contact with loved ones by text. They included Zinzi Khalwale, daughter of a former senator Boni Khalwale. Her father told The Daily Nation she had hidden in one of the rooms of her office until her rescue. By the evening, all but the seventh floor of the complex had been cleared, but some civilians remained there, apparently in close proximity to the surviving attackers." } ], "id": "1092_1", "question": "What happened inside the complex?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5315, "answer_start": 4922, "text": "They oppose the Somali government, but have carried out attacks throughout East Africa. In September 2013, al-Shabab gunmen entered the Westgate shopping mall in Nairobi and targeted shoppers. During an 80-hour siege at the upscale centre, 67 people were killed. Two years later, the group carried out its deadliest ever assault in Kenya, shooting dead almost 150 people at Garissa University." } ], "id": "1092_2", "question": "Who are al-Shabab?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "After decrying President Donald Trump for labelling impeachment a \"lynching\", his rival Joe Biden has apologised for once having made similar remarks. Mr Biden, a top Democratic presidential candidate, said it was \"abhorrent\" and \"despicable\" that Mr Trump tweeted the racially loaded term on Tuesday. But it emerged that in 1998, Mr Biden used the same word to pillory President Bill Clinton's impeachment. Lynching historically has referred to killings by white mobs, mainly against black people. Mr Trump's invocation of the racist chapter of US history to describe a constitutionally enshrined political process provoked outrage from both major parties. But it was later revealed that several Democratic lawmakers who criticised Mr Trump for the \"lynching\" comment had used the same word in the 1990s to defend Mr Clinton. The furore began on Tuesday morning when Mr Trump tweeted to criticise the congressional inquiry that may seek to remove him from office. The impeachment investigation is examining whether the Republican president abused his office by improperly pressuring Ukraine to launch an investigation into former US Vice-President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the Democratic 2020 presidential nomination. \"Impeachment is not 'lynching,' it is part of our Constitution,\" Mr Biden tweeted in response to Mr Trump. \"Our country has a dark, shameful history with lynching, and to even think about making this comparison is abhorrent. It's despicable.\" It then emerged that in a 1998 CNN interview, Mr Biden said: \"Even if the president should be impeached, history is going to question whether or not this was just a partisan lynching or whether or not it was something that in fact met the standard, the very high bar, that was set by the founders as to what constituted an impeachable offense.\" Late on Tuesday, Mr Biden apologised for his past use of the word, but continued to condemn Mr Trump. \"This wasn't the right word to use and I'm sorry about that,\" he tweeted. \"Trump on the other hand chose his words deliberately today in his use of the word lynching and continues to stoke racial divides in this country daily.\" Mr Clinton was impeached in December 1998 by the House of Representatives for lying under oath and obstruction of justice during the investigation into his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Mr Biden, then a senator for the state of Delaware, joined the majority of the Senate in voting to acquit Mr Clinton. New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler also once used the term \"lynch mob\" to describe the Republican impeachment investigation into Mr Clinton. Mr Nadler is now chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which will consider any articles of impeachment filed against Mr Trump. According to the Washington Post, several other Democrats in the House of Representatives talked about a \"lynching\" or \"lynch mob\" in reference to the Clinton probe. Is impeachment damaging Biden's 2020 bid? They include New York Congressman Gregory Meeks. Mr Meeks, who is black, defended himself in a statement to the Post, saying: \"There is a difference when that word is used by someone of my experience and perspective, whose relatives were the targets of lynch mobs, compared to a president who has dog-whistled to white nationalists and peddled racism.\" Election day is still more than a year away but the race to become the Democratic challenger to Mr Trump is already well under way. The latest polling suggests Elizabeth Warren and Joe Biden are the front-runners, while Bernie Sanders is also a popular contender. Many of the the other candidates are relatively unknown outside the Washington DC bubble. Find out more about the contenders", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2468, "answer_start": 827, "text": "The furore began on Tuesday morning when Mr Trump tweeted to criticise the congressional inquiry that may seek to remove him from office. The impeachment investigation is examining whether the Republican president abused his office by improperly pressuring Ukraine to launch an investigation into former US Vice-President Joe Biden, a leading candidate for the Democratic 2020 presidential nomination. \"Impeachment is not 'lynching,' it is part of our Constitution,\" Mr Biden tweeted in response to Mr Trump. \"Our country has a dark, shameful history with lynching, and to even think about making this comparison is abhorrent. It's despicable.\" It then emerged that in a 1998 CNN interview, Mr Biden said: \"Even if the president should be impeached, history is going to question whether or not this was just a partisan lynching or whether or not it was something that in fact met the standard, the very high bar, that was set by the founders as to what constituted an impeachable offense.\" Late on Tuesday, Mr Biden apologised for his past use of the word, but continued to condemn Mr Trump. \"This wasn't the right word to use and I'm sorry about that,\" he tweeted. \"Trump on the other hand chose his words deliberately today in his use of the word lynching and continues to stoke racial divides in this country daily.\" Mr Clinton was impeached in December 1998 by the House of Representatives for lying under oath and obstruction of justice during the investigation into his affair with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Mr Biden, then a senator for the state of Delaware, joined the majority of the Senate in voting to acquit Mr Clinton." } ], "id": "1093_0", "question": "How did this all begin?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3303, "answer_start": 2469, "text": "New York Congressman Jerrold Nadler also once used the term \"lynch mob\" to describe the Republican impeachment investigation into Mr Clinton. Mr Nadler is now chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which will consider any articles of impeachment filed against Mr Trump. According to the Washington Post, several other Democrats in the House of Representatives talked about a \"lynching\" or \"lynch mob\" in reference to the Clinton probe. Is impeachment damaging Biden's 2020 bid? They include New York Congressman Gregory Meeks. Mr Meeks, who is black, defended himself in a statement to the Post, saying: \"There is a difference when that word is used by someone of my experience and perspective, whose relatives were the targets of lynch mobs, compared to a president who has dog-whistled to white nationalists and peddled racism.\"" } ], "id": "1093_1", "question": "Which other Democrats used the term 'lynching'?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Nigerians are facing at least three months of battling against heavy rains that could lead to deadly, destructive flooding. At the beginning of July, the government warned that 30 of the country's 36 states could be at risk. Already, 16 states, including the commercial hub Lagos, have been badly affected. Five years ago, the worst flooding in more than 40 years in Nigeria claimed 431 lives and displaced nearly two million people, according to the country's National Emergency Management Agency (Nema). BBC Africa's Ishaq Khalid explores the causes and what needs to be done to protect Nigerians from the scourge of floods every year. The rainy season usually runs from July to September in Nigeria and every year it poses the threat of devastation and destruction across the country, claiming lives and destroying property. So far this year, several people have been killed across the country and hundreds of residential buildings, cars and other vehicles have been destroyed or submerged under water. Thirty-seven-year-old tea seller Sa'adu Abubakar, lost his six children and two wives when water poured into their apartment in the city of Suleja, just north of the capital, Abuja. \"I held two of the children but I could not withstand the force of the water. The children slipped out of my hands,\" he told the BBC's Hausa Service. \"I was just desperately praying to Allah at that moment. When the day broke, we found my family's dead bodies a short distance from our home.\" Another resident of Suleja told the BBC: \"The rain started at 23:30 at night, we heard a loud 'boom'. Before I knew it, I was up to my neck in water. \"We couldn't salvage anything... we have to save our lives. My house was well built but the water brought it down. \"We need help. I haven't been able to cook food since yesterday and I'm living on the goodwill of other people.\" The tragedy in Suleja has once again highlighted the magnitude of the devastation caused by floods in Nigeria. Yet despite the yearly loss of lives and property, it seems that so far the country has not taken many concrete measures to tackle the disasters. Niger state in the north of the country has the highest number of casualties so far. Officials have confirmed that 15 people have died and many more injured. Other badly affected states are mostly in the south, near to the River Niger. Lagos has also been badly hit. The frequency of the flooding differs across the regions, but the height of the rainy season tends to be from July to September, and it is often a time of anxiety for many communities living in flood-prone areas. Heavy rains, combined with poor drainage systems and blocked waterways cause rainwater to flow through commercial and residential dwellings. Town planning expert Aliyu Salisu Barau told the BBC that Nigerian authorities and ordinary citizens are ill-prepared for such disasters. \"Tackling persistent flooding requires long-term planning,\" he said. \"In most cases the authorities do not make provision to clear drainage systems until it is already rainy season,\" Mr Barau added. Nigeria's swelling population could make matters worse. Its currently home to 180 million people, and a recent UN report estimates that Nigeria will become the third most populous nation in the world by 2050, overtaking the United States. This could put pressure on land as the need for more housing rises. But it is the lack of proper town planning and the authorities' inability to accommodate these changes which causes most alarm. Some residents dump rubbish and waste in the streets, putting extra strain on the few existing urban drainage systems and preventing the steady flow of rainwater. Nigeria's many dams are also seen to be part of the problem. Used for irrigation and fish-farming activities, some are located close to towns and villages. But observers say these useful water reservoirs are poorly maintained and during the rainy season they can sometimes burst, releasing torrents of water into nearby communities. The Lagdo dam in neighbouring Cameroon, which is on the Benue river that runs through Nigeria, also poses a danger of heavy flooding in Nigeria when the Cameroonian authorities decide to release the dam's excess water. To add to the problem, the Nigerian authorities have very few arrangements for evacuating endangered communities - even in the face of imminent flood risks. And when warnings are issued they are rarely heeded by the least well off locals. Analysts say something concrete must be done to prevent the high death tolls seen in recent years. Destruction to property can be reduced by introducing effective town planning, respecting construction rules and regulations, and rooting out corruption in the building certification process. The number of fatalities and the impact on communities could be reduced if the authorities prepared themselves to forcibly evacuate those who are at imminent risk. Raising public awareness and encouraging people to become more aware of their urban environment are also key. Unless these practical measures are taken, experts say, floods will continue to destroy lives and property.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2115, "answer_start": 638, "text": "The rainy season usually runs from July to September in Nigeria and every year it poses the threat of devastation and destruction across the country, claiming lives and destroying property. So far this year, several people have been killed across the country and hundreds of residential buildings, cars and other vehicles have been destroyed or submerged under water. Thirty-seven-year-old tea seller Sa'adu Abubakar, lost his six children and two wives when water poured into their apartment in the city of Suleja, just north of the capital, Abuja. \"I held two of the children but I could not withstand the force of the water. The children slipped out of my hands,\" he told the BBC's Hausa Service. \"I was just desperately praying to Allah at that moment. When the day broke, we found my family's dead bodies a short distance from our home.\" Another resident of Suleja told the BBC: \"The rain started at 23:30 at night, we heard a loud 'boom'. Before I knew it, I was up to my neck in water. \"We couldn't salvage anything... we have to save our lives. My house was well built but the water brought it down. \"We need help. I haven't been able to cook food since yesterday and I'm living on the goodwill of other people.\" The tragedy in Suleja has once again highlighted the magnitude of the devastation caused by floods in Nigeria. Yet despite the yearly loss of lives and property, it seems that so far the country has not taken many concrete measures to tackle the disasters." } ], "id": "1094_0", "question": "How bad is this year's flooding?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2383, "answer_start": 2116, "text": "Niger state in the north of the country has the highest number of casualties so far. Officials have confirmed that 15 people have died and many more injured. Other badly affected states are mostly in the south, near to the River Niger. Lagos has also been badly hit." } ], "id": "1094_1", "question": "Which areas are worst affected?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3672, "answer_start": 2384, "text": "The frequency of the flooding differs across the regions, but the height of the rainy season tends to be from July to September, and it is often a time of anxiety for many communities living in flood-prone areas. Heavy rains, combined with poor drainage systems and blocked waterways cause rainwater to flow through commercial and residential dwellings. Town planning expert Aliyu Salisu Barau told the BBC that Nigerian authorities and ordinary citizens are ill-prepared for such disasters. \"Tackling persistent flooding requires long-term planning,\" he said. \"In most cases the authorities do not make provision to clear drainage systems until it is already rainy season,\" Mr Barau added. Nigeria's swelling population could make matters worse. Its currently home to 180 million people, and a recent UN report estimates that Nigeria will become the third most populous nation in the world by 2050, overtaking the United States. This could put pressure on land as the need for more housing rises. But it is the lack of proper town planning and the authorities' inability to accommodate these changes which causes most alarm. Some residents dump rubbish and waste in the streets, putting extra strain on the few existing urban drainage systems and preventing the steady flow of rainwater." } ], "id": "1094_2", "question": "Why is the flooding so bad?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4464, "answer_start": 3673, "text": "Nigeria's many dams are also seen to be part of the problem. Used for irrigation and fish-farming activities, some are located close to towns and villages. But observers say these useful water reservoirs are poorly maintained and during the rainy season they can sometimes burst, releasing torrents of water into nearby communities. The Lagdo dam in neighbouring Cameroon, which is on the Benue river that runs through Nigeria, also poses a danger of heavy flooding in Nigeria when the Cameroonian authorities decide to release the dam's excess water. To add to the problem, the Nigerian authorities have very few arrangements for evacuating endangered communities - even in the face of imminent flood risks. And when warnings are issued they are rarely heeded by the least well off locals." } ], "id": "1094_3", "question": "What about dams?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5137, "answer_start": 4465, "text": "Analysts say something concrete must be done to prevent the high death tolls seen in recent years. Destruction to property can be reduced by introducing effective town planning, respecting construction rules and regulations, and rooting out corruption in the building certification process. The number of fatalities and the impact on communities could be reduced if the authorities prepared themselves to forcibly evacuate those who are at imminent risk. Raising public awareness and encouraging people to become more aware of their urban environment are also key. Unless these practical measures are taken, experts say, floods will continue to destroy lives and property." } ], "id": "1094_4", "question": "What should Nigeria do?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Tropical Storm Barry, which is currently moving over the Gulf of Mexico, is likely to develop into a hurricane. It is forecast to hit the US city of New Orleans, which has already seen thunderstorms and flash floods. A state of emergency is in effect and residents in some low-lying areas have been asked to evacuate. The Mississippi river could come dangerously close to overtopping banks shielding the city, officials warn. It could rise as high as 20ft (6m) above sea level, they say, potentially exceeding the 20-25ft levees which protect the river from overflowing. \"We're confident the levees themselves are in good shape. The big focus is height,\" Ricky Boyett, a spokesman for the US Army Corps of Engineers, which maintains the fortifications, told AP news agency. On Wednesday morning, the New Orleans metro area was hit by as much as eight inches of rain over a three-hour period. Swamped streets saw rubbish bins overturned and vehicles flooded. Some parts of the city saw streets turn into lakes as deep as four feet. Kayakers were seen paddling on roadways. The National Hurricane Center said on Thursday morning that the storm was 95 miles south-east of the mouth of the Mississippi, with maximum windspeeds of 40mph (64 km/hr). When winds hit 74mph it will be declared a hurricane, which is predicted to happen before it makes landfall in the delta of the Mississippi River on Friday. The storm is predicted to dump 10-15 inches of rain on Friday and Saturday along the Louisiana coast and parts of Texas. Residents have been warned to stock up on drinking water and non-perishable food, as well as other emergency supplies. Plaquemines Parish, south of New Orleans, has ordered residents to evacuate. Vermilion Parish, to the west of the city, has asked some people living in low-lying areas to consider moving to higher ground. Storm surges are expected to see rivers and tides crest at levels far higher than average, officials warn. The primary danger is in the amount of water from surges and rainfall rather than wind damage, emergency responders say. The danger has been compounded by the abnormally high levels of water in the Mississippi, which is swollen from months of above-average rainfall. Tropical Storm Barry is currently \"moving very slowly to the west at 5mph\" the National Weather Center warned in an advisory on Thursday. It said the storm could produce tornados along southern portions of Louisiana and Mississippi. Officials warn that even if the storm does not form into a hurricane, heavy rain could still create dangerous conditions lasting for days. \"No one should take this storm lightly,\" said Governor John Bel Edwards as he declared a state of emergency. \"As we know all too well in Louisiana, low intensity does not necessarily mean low impact.\" New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell said the city's anti-flood water pumps are working at \"optimal capacity\", but cautioned: \"We cannot pump our way out of the water levels and the waterfalls that are expected to hit the city of New Orleans.\" She, and other city officials, asked people to bring in their rubbish bins and clear yards and streets in order to prevent debris from choking street drains and gutters or becoming airborne \"projectiles\". New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said officers were \"all hands of deck\" and said all leave had been cancelled for police officers. He asked people to remain in their homes and not to attempt to drive their car through standing water due to the danger of being swept away or stranded. Fire officials warn that in the event of a power outage, residents should be careful not to overheat or mismanage electrical generators, and should refrain from using candles unless necessary due to the danger of sparking a fire. The National Guard has sent a large contingent to New Orleans to assist in rescue and recovery operations, and to transport equipment into the city.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3918, "answer_start": 2794, "text": "New Orleans Mayor Latoya Cantrell said the city's anti-flood water pumps are working at \"optimal capacity\", but cautioned: \"We cannot pump our way out of the water levels and the waterfalls that are expected to hit the city of New Orleans.\" She, and other city officials, asked people to bring in their rubbish bins and clear yards and streets in order to prevent debris from choking street drains and gutters or becoming airborne \"projectiles\". New Orleans Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said officers were \"all hands of deck\" and said all leave had been cancelled for police officers. He asked people to remain in their homes and not to attempt to drive their car through standing water due to the danger of being swept away or stranded. Fire officials warn that in the event of a power outage, residents should be careful not to overheat or mismanage electrical generators, and should refrain from using candles unless necessary due to the danger of sparking a fire. The National Guard has sent a large contingent to New Orleans to assist in rescue and recovery operations, and to transport equipment into the city." } ], "id": "1095_0", "question": "How is New Orleans preparing?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "If you want to know what coffee and elections have in common, ask Starbucks. In May, the US giant ran a campaign in the Philippines called \"care to vote\", which rewarded customers with a free drink if they turned out to vote in the country's general election. Having visited a polling station, all customers had to do was show an ink-stained voting finger to a barista in order to get their complimentary coffee or other beverage. \"Our intent was simple,\" says Keith Cole, head of marketing for Starbucks Philippines. \"By helping to increase voter participation we believe more people will have an opportunity to make their votes count.\" From campaigning on voting rights, to sustainability, healthy eating, and gender equality, businesses are increasingly speaking out about societal issues, in the hope of influencing - and improving - our behaviour. The aim, they say, is to use their power and influence for good, and not just for profit. But with corporate scandals never far from the news, can we seriously take their word for it? The idea that brands might encourage us to be better citizens is not new. UK chocolate manufacturer Cadbury and US carmaker Ford invested heavily in the towns where their employees lived in the 19th and 20th Centuries, and in return expected workers to uphold certain values - both in and outside work. But today such efforts tend to be more consumer-facing, the aim being to promote social good while encouraging brand loyalty. Take the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, which has been calling for a wider definition of female beauty since 2004. Run by Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever, the owner of toiletries brand Dove, it aims to celebrate women of all shapes and sizes. Unilever says the scheme has \"pioneered the use of attainable images of beauty\" in advertising, using women \"with real curves\". At the same time, Unilever saw annual sales of Dove products reportedly increase from $2.5bn (PS1.9bn) to $4bn in 2014. Another example is Dutch brewer Heineken, which has promoted moderate drinking in its advertising since 2011. Heineken PR manager Milly Hutchinson says that the firm believes it has \"a role to play in society\", and the \"perfect platform to spread the message of moderate consumption\". However, she adds that the firm is also reflecting a \"discernible shift in consumer behaviour\", as its own research shows that a majority of young adults now limit the amount of alcohol they drink. A Heineken survey published in January found that 75% of drinkers aged between 21 and 35 limited the amount of alcohol they drank on the majority of their nights out. The study was conducted across five countries - the US, the UK, the Netherlands, Mexico and Brazil. Charlotte West, from UK charity Business in the Community - which encourages businesses to make a positive difference to society or their local community - says it is true that a growing number of firms are making their campaigning voices heard. She says that the trend has been partly driven by the rise of social media, which has empowered consumers to hold brands to account in an unprecedented way. And so firms are having to respond. \"More and more, customers want businesses to stand for social impact, and in our changing world they have to play a bigger role in solving societal problems,\" she adds. However, Laura Spence, professor of business ethics at Royal Holloway, University of London, cautions that \"there is bound to be some enlightened self interest in these campaigns\". She adds: \"Companies can see that being associated with a certain practice reflects well on the them, and might bring in additional customers. \"But they can risk seeming preachy too, which doesn't always play well.\" But what of the growing trend for businesses to get involved in campaigns with less obvious corporate benefits? Examples include Apple chief Tim Cook's campaigning on gay rights in the US, or Facebook's chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg, who advocates gender equality. Ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's (which is also owned by Unilever) even launched a new flavour in May called Empower Mint (peppermint ice cream with fudge brownies and fudge swirls) as part of its \"democracy is in your hands\" campaign for increased voting rights in the US. Among other things, Vermont-based Ben & Jerry's wants to see an end to voters having to produce ID cards when they go to vote in numerous US states, saying this disadvantages people from the black community, as they are less likely to have the required identification. But businesses can incur our wrath when they speak out, too, as happened to Starbucks with its #RaceTogether campaign last year. Hoping to encourage racial tolerance, the company encouraged its baristas to start conversations about race with customers, and to write #RaceTogether on takeaway cups. It followed national protests in the US over police killings of several black men. But there was a huge backlash on social media, with many calling the campaign disingenuous, and others saying they did not want to talk about race while being served coffee. The campaign was quickly dropped, but Starbucks says it has learned from the experience, and stands by its desire to get involved. \"Any time you take on a controversial topic there is risk involved, but we knew race relations was an important topic,\" says a spokesperson. \"We felt that we could use our scale and footprint to help create a safe space for these conversations to take place across the country.\" Vicki Loomes, an analyst at consultancy Trendwatching, says: \"If companies are going to campaign on an issue, it needs to be something they are invested in long-term and aligned with what they do.\" She adds: \"It cannot be a three-month marketing campaign, talking about something like immigration, simply because it is the most newsworthy topic going around.\" Ms West of Business in the Community agrees. \"People can see through rubbish, so it has to be authentic and honest and relevant to your brand.\" Clearly companies must strike a delicate balance when weighing in on social issues, but it seems that we would rather they tried than did nothing at all. \"Businesses have realised they can't just grow and take away from people,\" says Ms West. \"They have to grow while giving back, which I think is a really responsible capitalist approach.\" Follow Business Brain editor Will Smale on Twitter @WillSmale1", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1966, "answer_start": 1037, "text": "The idea that brands might encourage us to be better citizens is not new. UK chocolate manufacturer Cadbury and US carmaker Ford invested heavily in the towns where their employees lived in the 19th and 20th Centuries, and in return expected workers to uphold certain values - both in and outside work. But today such efforts tend to be more consumer-facing, the aim being to promote social good while encouraging brand loyalty. Take the Dove Campaign for Real Beauty, which has been calling for a wider definition of female beauty since 2004. Run by Anglo-Dutch consumer goods giant Unilever, the owner of toiletries brand Dove, it aims to celebrate women of all shapes and sizes. Unilever says the scheme has \"pioneered the use of attainable images of beauty\" in advertising, using women \"with real curves\". At the same time, Unilever saw annual sales of Dove products reportedly increase from $2.5bn (PS1.9bn) to $4bn in 2014." } ], "id": "1096_0", "question": "Real beauty?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Trump has told Americans to \"get their shots\" as measles cases spread across the country. \"The vaccinations are so important,\" he told reporters outside the White House. Nearly 700 cases have been reported across 22 states amid a resurgence of the highly infectious disease, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says. Mr Trump has previously appeared to link vaccines and autism. Public health experts say there is no link. Vaccination rates have dropped steadily in the US with many parents objecting for philosophical or religious reasons. Others, known as \"anti-vaxxers\", believe discredited information that vaccines cause autism in children. The CDC says measles cases have reached a level not seen since 2000, when the disease was eliminated from the US. Mr Trump's warning comes as hundreds of staff and students at universities in the Californian city of Los Angeles have been quarantined over fears they may have contracted measles. Those who were at risk of being infected were asked to stay at home unless they could prove their immunity. As of Thursday, 82 people at the University of California (UCLA) were unable to provide vaccination records, the university says. At California State University, 156 people - including library employees and students - could not provide records and remain in quarantine, AP news agency reported. Mr Trump's latest comments contrast markedly from his previous public statements about vaccinations. During a Republican primary debate in 2015, he suggested vaccines were responsible for what he called an \"epidemic\" of autism. He said he was in favour of vaccines, but wanted \"smaller doses over a longer period of time\". He also held meetings with several prominent anti-vaccine campaigners ahead of the 2016 election. He has also linked vaccinations to autism in earlier social media posts. Measles is a highly infectious disease and can cause serious health complications, including damage to the lungs and brain. But despite the dangers, vaccination rates are declining in many countries. There have been more than 110,000 measles cases worldwide in the first three months of 2019 - a rise of 300% compared to last year, World Health Organization figures show. The increase in measles cases in the US \"is part of a global trend seen over the past few years as other countries struggle with declining vaccination rates\" the CDC says.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1867, "answer_start": 1374, "text": "Mr Trump's latest comments contrast markedly from his previous public statements about vaccinations. During a Republican primary debate in 2015, he suggested vaccines were responsible for what he called an \"epidemic\" of autism. He said he was in favour of vaccines, but wanted \"smaller doses over a longer period of time\". He also held meetings with several prominent anti-vaccine campaigners ahead of the 2016 election. He has also linked vaccinations to autism in earlier social media posts." } ], "id": "1097_0", "question": "What has Trump said about vaccines?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2411, "answer_start": 1868, "text": "Measles is a highly infectious disease and can cause serious health complications, including damage to the lungs and brain. But despite the dangers, vaccination rates are declining in many countries. There have been more than 110,000 measles cases worldwide in the first three months of 2019 - a rise of 300% compared to last year, World Health Organization figures show. The increase in measles cases in the US \"is part of a global trend seen over the past few years as other countries struggle with declining vaccination rates\" the CDC says." } ], "id": "1097_1", "question": "How serious is the measles outbreak?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hundreds of people put on high-visibility jackets in imitation of French protesters as they marched in central London against government cuts. Organisers from The People's Assembly Against Austerity described Saturday's march as the arrival in the UK of the \"yellow vests\" movement that rocked France in November 2018. They even brought two campaigners from across the Channel to seal the relationship. But they are not the only group to claim the spirit of the yellow vests, with pro-Brexit demonstrators outside Parliament also putting on high-vis jackets. So why are demonstrators battling over this symbol? \"English people, you look good in yellow!\" said a message on the jacket of Erick Simon. He is one of the gilet jaunes, as they are known in France, who travelled from Normandy with fellow organiser, Laurie Martin. Ms Martin said she came \"to support the British because our demands are the same as those fighting austerity across Europe\". Many protesters said they had been inspired by events in France. Kylie Crawley said she wanted to stand against cuts to services for her 17-year-old daughter, Kacee, who has Down's syndrome. \"To me the French yellow vests were ordinary people wanting to get out and tell people how bad things had got and how they wanted change,\" she said. Jim Scott, who got up at 04:00 GMT to travel from west Wales to the protest, said the vests had become a powerful \"symbol for change\". \"They're facing the same things in France: austerity, cuts to public services, expanding the gap between rich and poor. That's how this movement has started.\" As the march began, one protester cried, \"Let's show the French what we can do!\" Meanwhile, another group of protesters was outside Parliament, also in yellow vests. They waved the union jack, burned EU flags and denounced \"left-wing scum\". \"We're not far right, we're just right,\" they chanted. In France, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has said violent far-right and far-left groups have both infiltrated the gilet jaunes protests. But Tom Griffiths from the People's Assembly, which organised the UK anti-austerity march, said that because the movement had \"burst out of the streets\", it meant different things to different people. He said marchers, who carried banners in support of migrants, stood against racism and fascism. \"We are absolutely not allowing the far right to take over the yellow vest movement in this country. They've been forced out the yellow vest movement in France and they'll be forced out the yellow vest movement in this country,\" he said. For some, the jackets sent out a message of togetherness. Katerina Kohler, who was at the People's Assembly stall selling them for PS3 each, said: \"It gives us a nice unity for people all to wear the vests.\" Some marchers declined to wear the high-vis jackets in case the symbolism might be misinterpreted, however. Antonia Bright, a campaigner with the anti-racism group Movement for Justice, said she wanted to \"steer away from white populism\". \"I don't need it to march for what I am standing for,\" she said. On Saturday, France put 80,000 police officers on duty to cope with thousands of gilets jaunes demonstrators across the country. In London, by contrast, hundreds of people attended the anti-austerity march. BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said the pro-Brexit demonstration was smaller and attracted between 200 and 300 people. The French protests were a grassroots movement, born online, and initially targeted against fuel taxes. The yellow vests were used as a symbol because every French driver is legally required to carry one in their vehicle. In the UK, protesters said they either bought their jackets online, picked them up at the stall or, in several cases, already had one they used for stewarding at other protests. And while the French protesters were outside of established political organisations, the British anti-austerity march brought together several trade unions and campaign groups, and was attended by Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell. Many attendees said they hoped the movement grew in the UK to become as powerful as its French counterpart. Sharon Stafford-Jones said she had been in France recently where she said there was \"a wonderful community spirit coming together\" over the protests. But Jeremy Jennings, professor of political theory at King's College London, was sceptical about whether the movement would translate. He said: \"The situation in France is pretty desperate. I can see why someone would want to try and use that mobilisation in Britain, but I'd be surprised if it took off.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3071, "answer_start": 1665, "text": "Meanwhile, another group of protesters was outside Parliament, also in yellow vests. They waved the union jack, burned EU flags and denounced \"left-wing scum\". \"We're not far right, we're just right,\" they chanted. In France, Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has said violent far-right and far-left groups have both infiltrated the gilet jaunes protests. But Tom Griffiths from the People's Assembly, which organised the UK anti-austerity march, said that because the movement had \"burst out of the streets\", it meant different things to different people. He said marchers, who carried banners in support of migrants, stood against racism and fascism. \"We are absolutely not allowing the far right to take over the yellow vest movement in this country. They've been forced out the yellow vest movement in France and they'll be forced out the yellow vest movement in this country,\" he said. For some, the jackets sent out a message of togetherness. Katerina Kohler, who was at the People's Assembly stall selling them for PS3 each, said: \"It gives us a nice unity for people all to wear the vests.\" Some marchers declined to wear the high-vis jackets in case the symbolism might be misinterpreted, however. Antonia Bright, a campaigner with the anti-racism group Movement for Justice, said she wanted to \"steer away from white populism\". \"I don't need it to march for what I am standing for,\" she said." } ], "id": "1098_0", "question": "Is it a right-wing or left-wing symbol?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4615, "answer_start": 3072, "text": "On Saturday, France put 80,000 police officers on duty to cope with thousands of gilets jaunes demonstrators across the country. In London, by contrast, hundreds of people attended the anti-austerity march. BBC home affairs correspondent Daniel Sandford said the pro-Brexit demonstration was smaller and attracted between 200 and 300 people. The French protests were a grassroots movement, born online, and initially targeted against fuel taxes. The yellow vests were used as a symbol because every French driver is legally required to carry one in their vehicle. In the UK, protesters said they either bought their jackets online, picked them up at the stall or, in several cases, already had one they used for stewarding at other protests. And while the French protesters were outside of established political organisations, the British anti-austerity march brought together several trade unions and campaign groups, and was attended by Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell. Many attendees said they hoped the movement grew in the UK to become as powerful as its French counterpart. Sharon Stafford-Jones said she had been in France recently where she said there was \"a wonderful community spirit coming together\" over the protests. But Jeremy Jennings, professor of political theory at King's College London, was sceptical about whether the movement would translate. He said: \"The situation in France is pretty desperate. I can see why someone would want to try and use that mobilisation in Britain, but I'd be surprised if it took off.\"" } ], "id": "1098_1", "question": "How is the movement different from France?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US says it is sending aid to crisis-hit Venezuela following a request from Juan Guaido, the opposition leader who has declared himself interim president. Mr Guaido's move last month won swift backing from the US and others but triggered a power struggle. Venezuela's President Nicolas Maduro has accused him of mounting a coup and retains major international allies. He has dismissed US offers of aid as a pretext for military intervention. Saturday saw thousands take to the streets of the capital Caracas for protests in support of both President Maduro and Mr Guaido. Crucially, Mr Maduro retains the support of the military, but ahead of the demonstrations Mr Guaido was given a boost after an air force general - Francisco Yanez - became the highest-ranking military official yet to pledge support for the opposition leader. Mr Guaido says he has held secret meetings with the military to win support for ousting Mr Maduro and also reached out to China, one of Mr Maduro's most important backers. Mr Guaido does not control any territory in Venezuela, so instead he is planning to set up collection centres in neighbouring countries where Venezuelans have fled to. He said he wanted to set up an international coalition to gather aid at three points, and press Venezuela's army to let it into the country. In a tweet, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said plans were being advanced this weekend. Mr Maduro has rejected letting aid into the country, telling supporters on Saturday \"we've never been nor are we a country of beggars\". US President Donald Trump has told CBS that the use of military force remains \"an option\". - Juan Guaido's move to declare himself president split the international community. Here's where key powers stand on Venezuela - Despite the crisis, Mr Maduro is still supported by the army, in part because military officials hold influential positions and would be compromised by a change of government - The US has imposed fresh sanctions on Venezuela. This is why these ones will hurt Venezuela has suffered economic turmoil for years, with hyperinflation and shortages of essentials such as food and medicine. Millions have fled. In January, Mr Maduro was sworn in for a second term following disputed elections which many opposition leaders did not contest because they were in jail or boycotting them. Later that month, Mr Guaido, who is head of Venezuela's National Assembly, declared himself president. He says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate. On Saturday he said protests would continue until his supporters had achieved \"freedom\". More than 20 countries have recognised Mr Guaido as Venezuela's interim president. Russia, China and Turkey are among those who have publicly backed President Maduro. Sunday sees the expiration of a deadline set by several European countries - including France, Britain, Germany and Spain - for Mr Maduro to call presidential elections. If he does not, they say, they will recognise Mr Guaido as president. Mr Maduro says he remains Venezuela's legitimate president and has rejected new presidential polls. He has though offered early parliamentary elections and talks with the opposition.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1639, "answer_start": 1006, "text": "Mr Guaido does not control any territory in Venezuela, so instead he is planning to set up collection centres in neighbouring countries where Venezuelans have fled to. He said he wanted to set up an international coalition to gather aid at three points, and press Venezuela's army to let it into the country. In a tweet, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said plans were being advanced this weekend. Mr Maduro has rejected letting aid into the country, telling supporters on Saturday \"we've never been nor are we a country of beggars\". US President Donald Trump has told CBS that the use of military force remains \"an option\"." } ], "id": "1099_0", "question": "How will the aid scheme work?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2647, "answer_start": 2029, "text": "Venezuela has suffered economic turmoil for years, with hyperinflation and shortages of essentials such as food and medicine. Millions have fled. In January, Mr Maduro was sworn in for a second term following disputed elections which many opposition leaders did not contest because they were in jail or boycotting them. Later that month, Mr Guaido, who is head of Venezuela's National Assembly, declared himself president. He says the constitution allows him to assume power temporarily when the president is deemed illegitimate. On Saturday he said protests would continue until his supporters had achieved \"freedom\"." } ], "id": "1099_1", "question": "How did we get here?" } ] } ]