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Wall Street sinks as China turmoil hits global shares
|
7 January 2016
|
[
{
"context": "Wall Street shares closed sharply down after the suspension of trading on Chinese markets for the second time this week spread alarm among investors. After Asian and then European stock markets fell, Wall Street's Dow Jones and S&P 500 indexes shed 2.3%. Earlier, circuit-breakers triggered a suspension in Chinese trading following a 7% fall in the country's main index. Later on Thursday, the Chinese authorities said they were suspending the circuit-breaker system. The mechanism was brought in late last year to reduce volatility on China's markets and had not been triggered until this week. It will be lifted from Friday. The slump on Chinese markets prompted renewed panic on global markets. Share dealing was halted in the first 30 minutes, making it China's shortest trading day on record. The FTSE 100 share index in London closed down 2% at 5,954.08. Germany's Dax, down 2.3% at 9,979.85, while France's Cac 40 fell 1.7% to 4,403.58. On Wall Street, banks were among the biggest casualties, with giants Citigroup and Morgan Stanley falling 5%. Technology stocks were also hit. Apple slid 4.2%, Amazon 3.9%, Facebook 4.9% and Google parent Alphabet 2.3%. The tech-rich Nasdaq index closed down 3%. Amid the uncertainty, the euro gained nearly a cent against the dollar, rising to $1.0870. What does this mean for the rest of the world? The direct financial impact of lower share prices in China is moderate. There is not enough foreign investment in the Chinese market for it to be a major problem. The London consultancy Capital Economics has said foreigners own just 2% of shares. The issue is more about whether the financial turbulence shines a light on wider issues about the economic slowdown in China: is the economy heading for what's called a \"hard landing\", too sharp a slowdown? China is now such a big force in the global economy that it would inevitably affect the rest of the world. It is the second largest economy and the second largest importer of both goods and commercial services. Read more from Andrew Walker, BBC World Service Economics Correspondent The pound fell against the euro by more than a cent and a half, to EUR1.3408. Investors are nervous after the Chinese central bank moved to weaken the country's currency, the yuan, for the eighth day running, sparking fears of a currency war. This move is designed to boost exports by making Chinese goods cheaper outside the country, analysts have speculated. It is also being interpreted as an indication that consumer demand in China may be slowing more sharply than feared. Official economic growth in China is still running at just below 7%. But moves to devalue the yuan suggest attempts to shift the economy from an export-led one to a consumer and services-led one are running into problems. Legendary US billionaire investor George Soros has warned that 2016 could see a global financial crisis on as big a scale as that seen just eight years ago. Giving a speech to an economic forum in Sri Lanka, Mr Soros said China faced a \" major adjustment problem.\" He added: \"I would say it amounts to a crisis. When I look at the financial markets there is a serious challenge which reminds me of the crisis we had in 2008, according to Bloomberg. It is not the first time the billionaire hedge fund manager has warned of impending doom on the financial markets. In 2011 he warned the Greek debt crisis that consumed Europe was more serious than the 2008 financial crisis. Analysis: Karishma Vaswani, Asia business correspondent If at first you don't succeed - try and try again. Or maybe you don't. Especially if panic breaks out on your stock markets for a second day this week. The decision by China's regulators to suspend the brand new circuit-breaker mechanism - which only came into effect this week - tells you just how difficult it is to manage or control financial markets. But perhaps that's the point. Meddling in markets can only lead to misery - at least, that's certainly what many in China's financial circles may now be thinking. Read more from Karishma here China turmoil set to continue After the trading halt, the China Securities Regulatory Commission announced that major shareholders could not sell more than 1% of a company's shares within three months as of 9 January. It comes as a previous six-month ban of stock sales by major shareholders is set to expire on Friday. China's central bank began to devalue the yuan last year. Also, a World Bank report has highlighted weaknesses in China's economy. Buffeted by events in China, world stock markets are also being hit by oil prices falling to a 14-year-low. China is responsible for 17% of all the world's economic activity, so any downturn in spending there affects the rest of the world. Exporters to China could be hit hard as China is a key buyer of industrial commodities such as oil, copper and iron ore. There is now a lot more pressure on other Asian countries to depreciate their currencies in response to China's move. China's attempts to impose circuit breakers with a 7% threshold appear to have only added to the panic. On Wall Street, circuit breakers kick in at 20%. Amy Zhuang, a China analyst with Nordea Bank, told the BBC she expected \"a rush selling\" as soon as Chinese markets opened on Friday. Bernard Aw, market strategist at trading firm IG, said the negative sentiment was because of the perception that China may further weaken the yuan, igniting concerns over what that might mean for other economies. A weakening of the currency is often seen by investors as an indication that that the economy is not doing well and needs to be propped up by boosting exports. A lower yuan makes the cost of exporting goods for Chinese companies cheaper, giving the slowing factory sector a boost. - The measures were announced in December after a summer of dramatic market losses - used for the first time time on Monday and again on Thursday - They automatically stop trading in stock markets that drop or appreciate too sharply - a 15-minute break if the CSI 300 Index moves 5% from the market's previous close, or a whole-day halt if it moves 7% or more. - Supposedly introduced to limit panic buying and selling - which is more likely in small investor-dominated markets like China's - but critics say they only add to selling pressure the next day. After disappointing manufacturing data on Monday, the mainland benchmark index plunged 7%, triggering a global equities sell-off. The negative sentiment spilled over the border to Hong Kong, where the Hang Seng index also lost 3%, closing at 20,333.34 points. Japan's Nikkei 225 index finished down 2.3% to 17,767.34, while Australia's S&P/ASX 200 index lost 2.2% to 5,010.30 as energy shares dragged down the market.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4618,
"answer_start": 4380,
"text": "China's central bank began to devalue the yuan last year. Also, a World Bank report has highlighted weaknesses in China's economy. Buffeted by events in China, world stock markets are also being hit by oil prices falling to a 14-year-low."
}
],
"id": "1200_0",
"question": "Why is this happening now?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4871,
"answer_start": 4619,
"text": "China is responsible for 17% of all the world's economic activity, so any downturn in spending there affects the rest of the world. Exporters to China could be hit hard as China is a key buyer of industrial commodities such as oil, copper and iron ore."
}
],
"id": "1200_1",
"question": "Should we be worried?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5770,
"answer_start": 4872,
"text": "There is now a lot more pressure on other Asian countries to depreciate their currencies in response to China's move. China's attempts to impose circuit breakers with a 7% threshold appear to have only added to the panic. On Wall Street, circuit breakers kick in at 20%. Amy Zhuang, a China analyst with Nordea Bank, told the BBC she expected \"a rush selling\" as soon as Chinese markets opened on Friday. Bernard Aw, market strategist at trading firm IG, said the negative sentiment was because of the perception that China may further weaken the yuan, igniting concerns over what that might mean for other economies. A weakening of the currency is often seen by investors as an indication that that the economy is not doing well and needs to be propped up by boosting exports. A lower yuan makes the cost of exporting goods for Chinese companies cheaper, giving the slowing factory sector a boost."
}
],
"id": "1200_2",
"question": "What happens next?"
}
]
}
] |
Why journalists are leaving India's Chhattisgarh
|
30 May 2016
|
[
{
"context": "About 50 journalists from the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh recently gathered in Delhi to demand an end to intimidation at the hands of the authorities, and urged the government to provide a conducive environment for independent reportage. Since July 2015, at least four journalists have been arrested, two others left the state and many more continue to face harassment daily. \"The large number of journalists who have quit their profession in the past six months is probably unprecedented and that shows how grave the fear is,\" said Kamal Shukla, president of Patrakaar Suraksha Kanoon Sanyukt Sangarsh Samiti, a group fighting to bring a law to protect journalists in the state. The Chhattisgarh government on 20 May announced the formation of a high-level committee, consisting of journalists and civil servants, to investigate the arrests. Even though this move seems like a successful culmination of their protest, journalists say they will wait to see the working of this committee before rejoicing. The mineral-rich state of Chhattisgarh has witnessed an armed conflict for more than three decades. While the government encourages mineral extraction industries in the area, an armed left-wing rebel guerrilla group, called the Maoists, opposes it. The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of indigenous tribespeople and the rural poor who, they say, have been neglected by governments for decades. The southern Bastar region of the state is the epicentre of the violence. The conflict intensified after the state government signed agreements in mid-2015 to set up mega steel plants in the region. Activists say that to implement these agreements, the government had to weaken the rebels. Pledging to \"eradicate Maoists from the region\" by the end of 2016, the police launched an all-out attack against everyone they felt were Maoist sympathisers. \"Under the garb of attacking those supportive of the Maoist cause, the state began to indiscriminately target innocent tribal groups, so they could be coaxed into leaving their lands and migrate,\" said Bastar-based Aam Aadmi Party leader and human rights activist Soni Sori. \"In order for the state to win its bloody war against the tribal groups, any witnesses to their exploitation needed to be removed,\" she added. Journalists in Chhattisgarh are often the only credible source of information from far-flung areas. The northern and southern parts of the state have many remote villages, which are often unconnected by roads. In these forest-covered villages, people speak tribal languages, making local journalists, who work as freelancers for national newspapers, significant news gatherers. When tribal journalist Somaru Nag was arrested and charged with \"anti-state activities\" in July 2015, it largely went unnoticed. His family was informed about the arrest after three days. But activists started seeing a pattern after more journalists were subsequently arrested. Santosh Yadav, a freelancer for a Hindi newspaper, was arrested last September on more severe charges than Mr Nag. \"There was a lot of pressure on him to become a police informer and report on Maoist movements in his area,\" said Isha Khandelwal, Mr Yadav's lawyer. \"He had made the administration uncomfortable by reporting on state excesses,\" she told the BBC. However, Amit Kataria, the district collector of Bastar, insisted that Mr Yadav was a Maoist. Mr Yadav's arrest was enough to make other journalists anxious. On 10 October, about 300 journalists from all over the state protested in the capital city of Raipur. They sought the release of their arrested colleagues and demanded a legislation to protect journalists. The government did not respond. The protest was repeated in December in Bastar's largest commercial city, Jagdalpur. The state gave meek assurances, but nothing significant was announced. In January, a group of men belonging to a civil vigilante group began harassing Malini Subramanium, a contributor for news website Scroll.in. She was later forced to leave Bastar. BBC Hindi's Alok Putul got into trouble for his reports over the threats to Ms Subramanium. He was also investigating an alleged extrajudicial killing in Darbha Valley in Bastar when he was forewarned of a threat. A month later, Mr Putul was forced to move to Raipur to ensure his safety. In March, within a span of a week, two journalists - Prabhat Singh and Deepak Jaiswal - were arrested on different charges. The four arrested journalists continue to be in jail. In a report released in late March, the Editors' Guild of India said they could not find \"a single journalist who could claim with confidence that he/she was working without fear or pressure\". \"The state government wants the media to see its fight with the Maoists as a fight for the nation and expects the media to treat it as a national security issue, and not raise any questions about it,\" the guild said in its report. The fall of journalism in Bastar In a press conference in Raipur in February, the Inspector General of Police of Bastar region, SRP Kalluri, said he expected journalists to aid his fight against the Maoists. \"We don't care about the national media. You have a different way of looking at things. We work with the media in Bastar, that sits with us, eats with us, and comes in helicopters with us,\" he said. With several Hindi newspapers in circulation in Bastar, there is no dearth of information. However, what kind of information reaches the ordinary man in the region needs inspection. With hotels in Jagdalpur denying rooms to journalists and their phones being tapped indiscriminately, gathering news has become a challenge. \"Those who live in Bastar cannot report fearlessly,\" said Bappi Rai, president of South Bastar Reporters' Association. \"Now, it is getting tougher for those from Delhi and other places to come to tell our stories,\" he added.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3398,
"answer_start": 1014,
"text": "The mineral-rich state of Chhattisgarh has witnessed an armed conflict for more than three decades. While the government encourages mineral extraction industries in the area, an armed left-wing rebel guerrilla group, called the Maoists, opposes it. The rebels say they are fighting for the rights of indigenous tribespeople and the rural poor who, they say, have been neglected by governments for decades. The southern Bastar region of the state is the epicentre of the violence. The conflict intensified after the state government signed agreements in mid-2015 to set up mega steel plants in the region. Activists say that to implement these agreements, the government had to weaken the rebels. Pledging to \"eradicate Maoists from the region\" by the end of 2016, the police launched an all-out attack against everyone they felt were Maoist sympathisers. \"Under the garb of attacking those supportive of the Maoist cause, the state began to indiscriminately target innocent tribal groups, so they could be coaxed into leaving their lands and migrate,\" said Bastar-based Aam Aadmi Party leader and human rights activist Soni Sori. \"In order for the state to win its bloody war against the tribal groups, any witnesses to their exploitation needed to be removed,\" she added. Journalists in Chhattisgarh are often the only credible source of information from far-flung areas. The northern and southern parts of the state have many remote villages, which are often unconnected by roads. In these forest-covered villages, people speak tribal languages, making local journalists, who work as freelancers for national newspapers, significant news gatherers. When tribal journalist Somaru Nag was arrested and charged with \"anti-state activities\" in July 2015, it largely went unnoticed. His family was informed about the arrest after three days. But activists started seeing a pattern after more journalists were subsequently arrested. Santosh Yadav, a freelancer for a Hindi newspaper, was arrested last September on more severe charges than Mr Nag. \"There was a lot of pressure on him to become a police informer and report on Maoist movements in his area,\" said Isha Khandelwal, Mr Yadav's lawyer. \"He had made the administration uncomfortable by reporting on state excesses,\" she told the BBC. However, Amit Kataria, the district collector of Bastar, insisted that Mr Yadav was a Maoist."
}
],
"id": "1201_0",
"question": "Why are journalists facing threats?"
}
]
}
] |
Bitcoin trading starts on the huge CME exchange
|
18 December 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Bitcoin has moved another step towards mainstream investing with the start of trading on the huge Chicago Mercantile Exchange financial futures market. It comes as the value of the digital currency approached $20,000 on Sunday, before drifting below $19,000. Last week, Chicago's CBOE exchange began Bitcoin futures trading - bets on a future price - but CME is far bigger. On Sunday, the chairman of UBS bank and former Bundesbank head Axel Weber joined the chorus of Bitcoin warnings. \"Bitcoin is not money,\" he said in an interview, and urged regulators to intervene. Meanwhile the French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, has called for the issue to be discussed at the G20 summit of major economies in April. \"There is evidently a risk of speculation. We need to consider and examine this and see how... with all the other G20 members we can regulate bitcoin\", Mr Maire told the French news channel LCI. Bitcoin prices have surged this year: a single bitcoin stood at less than $1,000 in January and hit a record $19,783 on Sunday, according to Coindesk. Analysts believe CME's entry into the Bitcoin market will generate more interest in the crypto-currency, possibly pushing the price higher. The CBOE futures contract is based on a closing price of Bitcoin from the Gemini exchange, which is owned and operated by virtual currency entrepreneurs and brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss. However, the CME contract price will be culled from multiple exchanges, potentially offering investors more transparency about the value. \"The CME [futures] contract is based on a broader array of exchanges,\" said Matt Osborne, chief investment officer of Altegris, which has $2.5bn in alternative investments. \"So there is a possibility that the CME contract may generate more interest and more volume. \"Volumes are going to slowly increase as professional traders get comfortable with the price action and more importantly get comfortable with the volatility.\" Institutional investors are prohibited from buying Bitcoin directly because the market is unregulated, but they can buy futures contracts. Futures are contracts that allow investors to bet on the price of something at a future date. Investors can now bet on Bitcoin rising or falling in price without actually owning them. Futures are typically based on the price of a real commodity - such as oil. One of the controversial aspects of Bitcoin is that some do not see it as a \"thing\". Although it is called a currency, it can be argued it is an asset, or commodity, without any actual use or real assessable value. CBOE Bitcoin futures surged nearly 20% on their debut last Monday, and more than 4,000 contracts changed hands by the end of the day. But as interest in the digital currency increases, so do the warnings. Mr Weber told the Swiss Sunday newspaper that investors should resist jumping on the Bitcoin bandwagon, saying the bubble would inevitably burst. He said Bitcoin does not fulfil the three main functions of money because, in his view: it is not an effective means of payment; it is not a good measure of value (since prices are not written in Bitcoin); and it is not an effective way to store value, since it is inherently unstable. UBS advises clients against investing in the virtual currency, he said, because the bank does \"not consider it valuable and not sustainable\". To protect investors who do not take the bank's advice, \"regulators are needed,\" Mr Weber said. However, many people say financial regulation is difficult, if not impossible, because transparency was not part of Bitcoin's creation. Bitcoin was set up in 2008 by an individual or group calling themselves Satoshi Nakamoto, and was the first digital currency to successfully use cryptography to keep transactions secure and hidden.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2572,
"answer_start": 2098,
"text": "Futures are contracts that allow investors to bet on the price of something at a future date. Investors can now bet on Bitcoin rising or falling in price without actually owning them. Futures are typically based on the price of a real commodity - such as oil. One of the controversial aspects of Bitcoin is that some do not see it as a \"thing\". Although it is called a currency, it can be argued it is an asset, or commodity, without any actual use or real assessable value."
}
],
"id": "1202_0",
"question": "What are futures?"
}
]
}
] |
Help pours in for Chinese student who lived on 30 cents a day
|
1 November 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Well-wishers have donated almost a million yuan to a Chinese student who was hospitalised after living on 2 yuan ($0.30, PS0.20) a day for five years. The case of Wu Huayan shocked Chinese people after it hit the headlines earlier this week. The 24-year old woman became seriously malnourished while struggling to study and support her sick brother. Ms Wu's story also sparked anger at authorities for failing to recognise her plight and help her much earlier. After the story was reported, donations began pouring in for the college student in the city of Guiyang - reportedly totalling some 800,000 yuan ($114,000, PS88,000). Earlier, this month, the young woman went into hospital after having difficulty breathing, according to Chinese media. She was only 135cm (4ft 5ins) tall, weighing barely more than 20kg (43 pounds; three stones). The doctors found she was suffering from heart and kidney problems due to five years spent eating minimal amounts of food. She said she needed to save money to support her sick brother. Wu Huayan lost her mother when she was four and her father died when she was in school. She and her brother were then supported by their grandmother, and later by an uncle and aunt who could only support them with 300 yuan ($42, PS32) each month. Most of that money went on the medical bills of her younger brother, who had mental health problems. This meant Ms Wu spent only 2 yuan a day on herself, surviving largely off chillies and rice. The siblings are from Guizhou, one of the poorest provinces in China. The case sparked an outpouring of concern - and anger at authorities. Many people on social media said they wanted to help with donations, and many voiced concern about her college not helping her. One user called her situation \"worse than that of refugees in Afghanistan\", while another pointed to the extravagant cost of China's 70th anniversary celebrations, saying the money could have been better spent. Others expressed their admiration at her efforts to help her brother, while also persevering with her studies in college. Aside from the donations on crowd funding platforms, her teachers and classmates donated 40,000 yuan ($5,700; PS4,400), while local villagers collected 30,000 yuan to help her. Officials released a statement saying Ms Wu had been receiving the minimum government subsidy - thought to be between 300 and 700 yuan a month - and was now getting an emergency relief fund of 20,000 yuan. \"We will keep following the case of this strong-minded and kind girl,\" the Tongren City Civil Affairs Bureau said. \"We will actively co-operate with other relevant departments to solve the problem according to the minimum living standard and temporary assistance responsibility that the civil affairs department bears.\" The case of Wu Huayan has echoes of a story from 2018 when a Chinese boy arrived at school with his hair full of frozen ice. Dubbed \"Little Wang\", his story also went viral, leading to international donations from people impressed by his resilience, and shocked at his poverty. While China's economy has skyrocketed over the past decades, poverty has not disappeared, and inequality has grown. One major reason cited is the huge divide between rural and urban areas. According to the bureau, the per capita disposable income of a household in the capital Beijing was 57,229 yuan ($8,090; PS6,300) in 2017. As a point of comparison, in rural region of Guizhou where Ms Wu lives, that figure is around 16,703 yuan. China has moved from being \"moderately unequal in 1990 to being one of the world's most unequal countries,\" according to a 2018 report by the International Monetary Fund. According to the National Bureau of Statistics in 2017, 30.46 million rural people were still living below the national poverty line of $1.90 a day. China has previously pledged to \"eliminate\" poverty by 2020.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1538,
"answer_start": 628,
"text": "Earlier, this month, the young woman went into hospital after having difficulty breathing, according to Chinese media. She was only 135cm (4ft 5ins) tall, weighing barely more than 20kg (43 pounds; three stones). The doctors found she was suffering from heart and kidney problems due to five years spent eating minimal amounts of food. She said she needed to save money to support her sick brother. Wu Huayan lost her mother when she was four and her father died when she was in school. She and her brother were then supported by their grandmother, and later by an uncle and aunt who could only support them with 300 yuan ($42, PS32) each month. Most of that money went on the medical bills of her younger brother, who had mental health problems. This meant Ms Wu spent only 2 yuan a day on herself, surviving largely off chillies and rice. The siblings are from Guizhou, one of the poorest provinces in China."
}
],
"id": "1203_0",
"question": "What is Wu Huayan's story?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2772,
"answer_start": 1539,
"text": "The case sparked an outpouring of concern - and anger at authorities. Many people on social media said they wanted to help with donations, and many voiced concern about her college not helping her. One user called her situation \"worse than that of refugees in Afghanistan\", while another pointed to the extravagant cost of China's 70th anniversary celebrations, saying the money could have been better spent. Others expressed their admiration at her efforts to help her brother, while also persevering with her studies in college. Aside from the donations on crowd funding platforms, her teachers and classmates donated 40,000 yuan ($5,700; PS4,400), while local villagers collected 30,000 yuan to help her. Officials released a statement saying Ms Wu had been receiving the minimum government subsidy - thought to be between 300 and 700 yuan a month - and was now getting an emergency relief fund of 20,000 yuan. \"We will keep following the case of this strong-minded and kind girl,\" the Tongren City Civil Affairs Bureau said. \"We will actively co-operate with other relevant departments to solve the problem according to the minimum living standard and temporary assistance responsibility that the civil affairs department bears.\""
}
],
"id": "1203_1",
"question": "What has the reaction been?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3866,
"answer_start": 2773,
"text": "The case of Wu Huayan has echoes of a story from 2018 when a Chinese boy arrived at school with his hair full of frozen ice. Dubbed \"Little Wang\", his story also went viral, leading to international donations from people impressed by his resilience, and shocked at his poverty. While China's economy has skyrocketed over the past decades, poverty has not disappeared, and inequality has grown. One major reason cited is the huge divide between rural and urban areas. According to the bureau, the per capita disposable income of a household in the capital Beijing was 57,229 yuan ($8,090; PS6,300) in 2017. As a point of comparison, in rural region of Guizhou where Ms Wu lives, that figure is around 16,703 yuan. China has moved from being \"moderately unequal in 1990 to being one of the world's most unequal countries,\" according to a 2018 report by the International Monetary Fund. According to the National Bureau of Statistics in 2017, 30.46 million rural people were still living below the national poverty line of $1.90 a day. China has previously pledged to \"eliminate\" poverty by 2020."
}
],
"id": "1203_2",
"question": "How bad is poverty in China?"
}
]
}
] |
Do you have to rescue someone in danger?
|
21 July 2017
|
[
{
"context": "It is a harrowing video to watch: a man, crying out for help as he struggles to swim in the middle of a Florida pond. Off camera, the voices of five teens, mocking him. \"They drowning, what the heck,\" one laughs. \"Ain't nobody fixing to help you,\" another is heard to say. And, after his head disappeared under the water for the final time: \"Oh, he just died.\" The body of Jamel Dunn - a 32-year-old disabled father-of-two - was found in the water three days later, on 12 July. Up until that point, no one knew where he had gone. No one had called 911 to report a man in trouble. No one even knew anyone had witnessed the drowning until the video emerged on social media, and Dunn's family members saw it. Its contents have shocked the community in the city of Cocoa, on Florida's east coast. But the teens, aged between 14 and 16, will face no charges, prosecutors have said: there is nothing on the statute books which deal with an incident like this, they say. The vast majority of states in America do not put a \"duty to rescue\" on their citizens, but 10 do. But even these do not cover all instances. Florida is one of the few states to have such a law, but it only covers reporting a sexual battery if witnessed or suspected, according to The Volokh Conspiracy, a blog written mainly by law professors. In fact, only a few countries in the world have a law which means people have to help or risk prison time, including Germany, where four people are currently being prosecuted for \"unterlassene Hilfeleistung\" (failure to provide assistance). According to local reports in Germany, last October an 82-year-old man collapsed in a bank in Essen, but was then ignored by other customers, ranging in age from 39 to 62, for the next 20 minutes. A fifth customer eventually called an ambulance, but it was too late, and the man died a few days later in hospital. No-one in the case has been named. Perhaps the most high-profile instance of a law like this involved the death of Princess Diana. Seven photographers were accused of failing to render assistance by French investigators following the 1997 Paris crash which killed the princess, her boyfriend Dodi Al-Fayed and driver Henri Paul. The men had taken photographs rather than helping the dying occupants of the car, it was alleged. But after two years of investigation, all charges were dropped against them. But why would you have such rules? Surely people should help simply because it is the right thing to do? Sometimes, however, people are more worried about being landed with a bill - or getting into legal trouble. In China, that fear is so strong that when a two-year-old girl was struck in a hit-and-run accident in the city of Foshan, Guangdong Province, 18 people ignored her before one person stopped to help. Wang Yue, who was nicknamed \"Little Yueyue\" by Chinese media, later died in hospital. The case sparked a national debate about China's morality, one which reared its head again this year, when a woman was struck by a car but then ignored by pedestrians crossing the road moments later. But many social media users understood the decision, according to the New York Times. \"If I helped her to get up and sent her to the hospital, doctors would ask you to pay the medical bill,\" one wrote. \"Her relatives would come and beat you up indiscriminately.\" The teenagers in the Florida case, however, would not have ended up in trouble. Every state in the US has a \"good Samaritan law\", which largely protects those who try to help in an emergency situation from being sued. But whether or not this factored into their thinking is unknown. The teens were heard to mention alligators - but that would not have prevented them calling 911. As for the moral argument, Yvonne Martinez, the Cocoa Police Department spokeswoman, told Florida Today at least one of the boys did not seem worried by the implications of what they had done. \"There was no remorse, only a smirk,\" she said.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1899,
"answer_start": 362,
"text": "The body of Jamel Dunn - a 32-year-old disabled father-of-two - was found in the water three days later, on 12 July. Up until that point, no one knew where he had gone. No one had called 911 to report a man in trouble. No one even knew anyone had witnessed the drowning until the video emerged on social media, and Dunn's family members saw it. Its contents have shocked the community in the city of Cocoa, on Florida's east coast. But the teens, aged between 14 and 16, will face no charges, prosecutors have said: there is nothing on the statute books which deal with an incident like this, they say. The vast majority of states in America do not put a \"duty to rescue\" on their citizens, but 10 do. But even these do not cover all instances. Florida is one of the few states to have such a law, but it only covers reporting a sexual battery if witnessed or suspected, according to The Volokh Conspiracy, a blog written mainly by law professors. In fact, only a few countries in the world have a law which means people have to help or risk prison time, including Germany, where four people are currently being prosecuted for \"unterlassene Hilfeleistung\" (failure to provide assistance). According to local reports in Germany, last October an 82-year-old man collapsed in a bank in Essen, but was then ignored by other customers, ranging in age from 39 to 62, for the next 20 minutes. A fifth customer eventually called an ambulance, but it was too late, and the man died a few days later in hospital. No-one in the case has been named."
}
],
"id": "1204_0",
"question": "Crime?"
}
]
}
] |
Huawei: Why has UK not blocked Chinese firm's 5G kit?
|
28 November 2018
|
[
{
"context": "New Zealand government's move to prevent Huawei supplying a local mobile network with 5G equipment has raised questions about why the UK appears less concerned about use of the Chinese company's technology. A press release from Spark, the New Zealand company involved, said it had been deemed that the deployment posed \"significant security risks\" - a polite way of saying that Beijing might use the technology to spy on the country or disrupt its communications in a future dispute. The US and Australia had already closed the door on Huawei's involvement in their next-generation mobile networks. That means three members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance have now acted against the Shenzhen-based company. And one other member, Canada, is carrying out a security review of its own. So, there's a prospect that the UK could soon be the sole holdout, allowing Huawei to play a key role in delivering the data that everything from self-driving cars to smart city sensors will rely on. \"There are two factors at play here: 5G will be connected to everything as we go to the internet-of-things,\" said Ewan Lawson, from UK defence think tank Rusi. \"And concerns about foreign-sourced hardware were less intense than they are now.\" For its part, Huawei has said: \"[We are] aware of Spark's statement and we are looking into the situation. \"As a leading global supplier of telecoms equipment, we remain committed to developing trusted and secure solutions for our customers.\" The government argues not. \"This government and British telecoms operators work with Huawei at home and abroad to ensure the UK can continue to benefit from new technology while managing cyber-security risks,\" a Cabinet Office spokeswoman told BBC News. That work includes a facility nicknamed the Cell, in Banbury, Oxfordshire, where staff employed by Huawei but answering to GCHQ hunt for security flaws in the company's products. It has not uncovered evidence of hidden backdoors or other deliberate attempts of subterfuge. But its last report did identify shortcomings that led it to warn that it could offer only \"limited assurance\" that the company posed no threat. The UK government is also thought to have fired a shot across the bows last month, when it wrote to telecoms companies warning that a review of their infrastructure could lead to \"changes in the current rules\" that should be taken into account during \"procurement decisions\". Huawei was not mentioned by name, but the Financial Times - which revealed the letter's existence - said some industry executives interpreted it to mean a ban was still possible. But others have their doubts, noting that other political factors are at play. \"The letter did go out but the issue remains that in the absence of any definitive evidence of a problem, an unspecific security risk has to be weighed against trade opportunities,\" said Mr Lawson. \"If Huawei was banned, we don't know the extent to which China might well refuse to do business with us in other fields - and the timing for that would not be great with so much attention on the potential economic impacts of Brexit.\" Huawei opened its first office in the country in 2001 and soon had its equipment adopted by BT and Vodafone, which used it to support 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services as well as \"superfast\" fibre and other types of broadband connections to homes and businesses. Its kit includes mobile phone radio antennas and the routers and switches found in kerbside cabinets. Most of the country's mobile networks - Vodafone, EE and Three - are now working with Huawei to prepare their 5G offerings. O2's parent Telefonica has also tested its new equipment elsewhere and signalled that it might use it in the UK. In addition, Huawei says it has developed research and development partnerships with many of the country's leading academic institutions, including the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Cardiff and Imperial College. Its UK board of directors includes Lord Browne, the former chief of BP, and Sir Andrew Cahn, a former high-ranking civil servant. The company is keen to portray itself as a private company owned by its employees with no ties to the Chinese government beyond those of a law-abiding taxpayer. It can also lay claim to being one of the biggest spenders on research and development - it invested more than $13.2bn (PS10.3bn) last year and has said the figure will be even higher for 2018. But critics like to point out that its media-shy founder, Ren Zhengfei, was a former engineer in the country's army and joined the Communist Party in 1978. Furthermore, they question how free any major Chinese business can be from Beijing's influence. \"It's accepted practice in China that relationships between Chinese companies and the state have to be extremely close,\" said Prof Anthony Glees, director of the Buckingham University Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies. \"Many other countries have said no [to Huawei over 5G]. \"We've come to the matter late as we have already let them through the door.\" Another leading cyber-security expert agreed that Huawei could be co-opted into incapacitating the equipment it had sold. \"The obvious concern with 5G is whether there is a material risk of the Chinese being in a position to run a big denial-of-service attack on Britain in the event of a time of international tension,\" said Ross Anderson, professor of security engineering at the University of Cambridge. \"There is obviously a risk. China plays hardball and we have been hoping in vain for years that it would get nice as it got richer but that hasn't happened.\" For now, Beijing has been reticent to be seen to be too forceful in leaping to Huawei's defence. The Chinese government did warn against \"protectionism\" when a deal to sell Huawei's phones in the US fell through and then \"discriminatory practices\" when Australia banned local networks using its 5G equipment. But Chinese officials are already preoccupied with President Trump's threats of more trade tariffs and might see any effort to try to help Huawei as likely to backfire. Even so, eyebrows have still been raised by a decision to exclude its founder from a list of 100 key contributors to China's economy over the past 40 years recently published in the Communist Party's People's Daily newspaper. Whether that is because Mr Ren is viewed as being too close or not close enough to the government is unclear.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3114,
"answer_start": 1476,
"text": "The government argues not. \"This government and British telecoms operators work with Huawei at home and abroad to ensure the UK can continue to benefit from new technology while managing cyber-security risks,\" a Cabinet Office spokeswoman told BBC News. That work includes a facility nicknamed the Cell, in Banbury, Oxfordshire, where staff employed by Huawei but answering to GCHQ hunt for security flaws in the company's products. It has not uncovered evidence of hidden backdoors or other deliberate attempts of subterfuge. But its last report did identify shortcomings that led it to warn that it could offer only \"limited assurance\" that the company posed no threat. The UK government is also thought to have fired a shot across the bows last month, when it wrote to telecoms companies warning that a review of their infrastructure could lead to \"changes in the current rules\" that should be taken into account during \"procurement decisions\". Huawei was not mentioned by name, but the Financial Times - which revealed the letter's existence - said some industry executives interpreted it to mean a ban was still possible. But others have their doubts, noting that other political factors are at play. \"The letter did go out but the issue remains that in the absence of any definitive evidence of a problem, an unspecific security risk has to be weighed against trade opportunities,\" said Mr Lawson. \"If Huawei was banned, we don't know the extent to which China might well refuse to do business with us in other fields - and the timing for that would not be great with so much attention on the potential economic impacts of Brexit.\""
}
],
"id": "1205_0",
"question": "Is the UK just being complacent?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4059,
"answer_start": 3115,
"text": "Huawei opened its first office in the country in 2001 and soon had its equipment adopted by BT and Vodafone, which used it to support 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services as well as \"superfast\" fibre and other types of broadband connections to homes and businesses. Its kit includes mobile phone radio antennas and the routers and switches found in kerbside cabinets. Most of the country's mobile networks - Vodafone, EE and Three - are now working with Huawei to prepare their 5G offerings. O2's parent Telefonica has also tested its new equipment elsewhere and signalled that it might use it in the UK. In addition, Huawei says it has developed research and development partnerships with many of the country's leading academic institutions, including the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford, Cardiff and Imperial College. Its UK board of directors includes Lord Browne, the former chief of BP, and Sir Andrew Cahn, a former high-ranking civil servant."
}
],
"id": "1205_1",
"question": "How strong are Huawei's existing UK ties?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 6409,
"answer_start": 4060,
"text": "The company is keen to portray itself as a private company owned by its employees with no ties to the Chinese government beyond those of a law-abiding taxpayer. It can also lay claim to being one of the biggest spenders on research and development - it invested more than $13.2bn (PS10.3bn) last year and has said the figure will be even higher for 2018. But critics like to point out that its media-shy founder, Ren Zhengfei, was a former engineer in the country's army and joined the Communist Party in 1978. Furthermore, they question how free any major Chinese business can be from Beijing's influence. \"It's accepted practice in China that relationships between Chinese companies and the state have to be extremely close,\" said Prof Anthony Glees, director of the Buckingham University Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies. \"Many other countries have said no [to Huawei over 5G]. \"We've come to the matter late as we have already let them through the door.\" Another leading cyber-security expert agreed that Huawei could be co-opted into incapacitating the equipment it had sold. \"The obvious concern with 5G is whether there is a material risk of the Chinese being in a position to run a big denial-of-service attack on Britain in the event of a time of international tension,\" said Ross Anderson, professor of security engineering at the University of Cambridge. \"There is obviously a risk. China plays hardball and we have been hoping in vain for years that it would get nice as it got richer but that hasn't happened.\" For now, Beijing has been reticent to be seen to be too forceful in leaping to Huawei's defence. The Chinese government did warn against \"protectionism\" when a deal to sell Huawei's phones in the US fell through and then \"discriminatory practices\" when Australia banned local networks using its 5G equipment. But Chinese officials are already preoccupied with President Trump's threats of more trade tariffs and might see any effort to try to help Huawei as likely to backfire. Even so, eyebrows have still been raised by a decision to exclude its founder from a list of 100 key contributors to China's economy over the past 40 years recently published in the Communist Party's People's Daily newspaper. Whether that is because Mr Ren is viewed as being too close or not close enough to the government is unclear."
}
],
"id": "1205_2",
"question": "Does Huawei pose a real threat?"
}
]
}
] |
Slovak PM Fico threatens boycott of 'rip-off food'
|
19 July 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Laying out three products, Prime Minister Robert Fico has said it is time Slovaks get the right to the same quality of food as other Europeans. Why was it that the same brand of fish fingers had more fish in neighbouring Austria, he asked. Mr Fico said it was a serious problem that he would raise with Czech, Polish and Hungarian leaders on Wednesday. If the European Commission fails to act, he has threatened import restrictions from other EU countries. \"We have to defend ourselves, we can't accept this,\" he said on Tuesday, describing the issue as a scandal. Alongside the fish fingers lay packets of fabric softener and coffee. Any boycott of products from another EU member state would violate competition rules but the Slovak leader said he would be compelled to act if the Commission did not. As a last resort, he would consider a citizens' initiative of a million signatures. A senior EU official said this week she would do all she could to fight against a \"double-standard market\". Mr Fico's complaints about food quality chime across the four Visegrad states in Central Europe. Earlier this year Czech Agriculture Minister Marian Jurecka told the BBC that one brand of iced tea sold in Germany had 40% more tea extract than the same sold in the Czech market. He made a similar complaint about lunch meat. \"Sometimes I reckon we're a kind of garbage can for the producers - what's left over, they send to the Czech Republic\"- Sarka Zedinkova, Czech Republic Hungary's food safety authority, Nebih, found earlier this year that a chocolate spread and a packet of wafers were of a different quality to those sold in Austria. Polish business website Gazeta Prawna even asked whether it was a case of \"food racism\". While companies are free to sell food with different ingredients if they are correctly labelled, more importantly they are also required to be fair to consumers under EU rules. A European Commission spokesman said the evidence so far suggested there was no systematic attempt by producers and retailers to vary food quality for different states. The problem was limited to certain products, he told the BBC. EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova said on Monday she would start a dialogue with producers and retailers as many people felt they were being treated as second-class consumers. \"We need to join forces to tackle this problem that appears to be present only in some EU countries,\" she said.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1319,
"answer_start": 995,
"text": "Mr Fico's complaints about food quality chime across the four Visegrad states in Central Europe. Earlier this year Czech Agriculture Minister Marian Jurecka told the BBC that one brand of iced tea sold in Germany had 40% more tea extract than the same sold in the Czech market. He made a similar complaint about lunch meat."
}
],
"id": "1206_0",
"question": "Food racism?"
}
]
}
] |
'AlDub': A social media phenomenon about love and lip-synching
|
28 October 2015
|
[
{
"context": "It is a surreal and wildly popular show which has smashed global social media records. But few outside the Philippines have even heard of the phenomenon called AlDub. What follows is everything you need to know about lip-synching, being in love with somebody you have never met and how to break records on Twitter. For several months, viewers across the Philippines have been tuning in to watch 'Eat Bulaga!', a popular afternoon variety show, which features a skit with a pair of lovers who have never met in the flesh. On the show, their romance is conducted via a split screen and as it developed, obstacles after obstacle cropped up to prevent the onscreen duo from meeting. 'AlDub' is a play on the first names of Filipino actors Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza (who plays the character Yaya Dub on the show), both stars with huge followings on social media. It all became too much for the multitudes of adoring fans, who began to take action on social media by lobbying for the couple to finally meet in person. Each week, an episode spawned multiple and hugely popular Twitter hashtags to this end. \"Brangelina has got nothing on AlDub, they are my favourite super power couple - I love them so much,\" gushed Filipino Twitter user Maria Joy Coloma, a fan from Cebu province. \"When will AlDub ever overcome the odds and unite? That will be when my life becomes complete,\" lamented another Twitter user Desiree Lopez in the capital city of Manila. On 24 October, fans got their wish and for the first time, finally got to see the couple meet - on the set of a huge charity concert celebrating the show's 36th anniversary. Thousands attended the event and in just one day, the hashtag #AlDubEBTamangPanahon (translation: AlDub, in the right time) drew more than 41 million tweets, smashing the previous Twitter record held by Brazil's 2014 Fifa World Cup defeat to Germany. And it isn't just the local fans. US politicians and even alternative rock bands, have declared their love for the show and its young stars. TV host and blogger Daphne Osena Paez explains that their love story appealed to all sectors of Filipino society and was created by playing on a popular formula used in the Philippine entertainment industry. \"Actors and actresses are often paired up so fans hope they end up together in real life. But what's different about 'AlDub'... is that it wasn't just the creation of a TV network or movie production,\" she said. Their pairing began on live TV when they started reacting to each other spontaneously within the Eat Bulaga variety show. Now, she says, they are the most popular \"love team\" in the Philippines. But another key to their popularity is their ability to connect with ordinary people. \"They appear very down-to-earth,\" says BBC presenter Rico Hizon, who admits to being a huge fan of the series. \"I believe that one big reason they are so popular is because the actors are very humble despite their massive success - they keep thanking fans as well as everyone who supports their work. The Philippines is a musical country where the online art of Dubsmash has become a craze. Dubsmash allows social media users to lip-synch over catchy songs, speeches or film quotes, and is featured prominently on the show. Skilful lip-synching was what propelled Maine Mendoza, who was already an internet celebrity and known as the \"dubsmash queen\", onto the show in the first place. She began interacting via a split-screen with Alden and the rest is history. Amazingly, neither of the characters have any speaking lines on the show. Instead, they express their adoration for each other by blending lines from popular love songs and movies. Thanks to her role as Yaya Dub, Ms Mendoza has now become the third fastest-growing celebrity on Twitter, after US singers Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. Twitter called it a \"global phenomenon\" after it most recently broke social media records. However, one earlier hashtag which followed after a controversial episode that saw Yaya Dub almost marry another character, spawned 800,000 tweets in a day. Other regular hashtags related to the show, regularly draw millions of tweets. \"'AlDub' was a global phenomenon on Twitter and it shows how our platform, as the social soundtrack to TV, has really connected Filipinos who love a good love story,\" the site's Asia Pacific Vice President Rishi Jaitly told Philippine news portal Rappler. \"None of it was planned,\" adds Ms Paez. \"It's not like the show hired social media experts to strategise a plan - they realised what they had: a new and younger social-media savvy audience.\" For many in the Philippines, the fact that the show broke a global social media record was no surprise. Analysts say Filipinos are particularly social and community-centric. \"There is often a strong connection between an individual and his community or home town,\" Ms Paez told the BBC. The internet has become one of the most natural places for Filipinos to forge community.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1453,
"answer_start": 315,
"text": "For several months, viewers across the Philippines have been tuning in to watch 'Eat Bulaga!', a popular afternoon variety show, which features a skit with a pair of lovers who have never met in the flesh. On the show, their romance is conducted via a split screen and as it developed, obstacles after obstacle cropped up to prevent the onscreen duo from meeting. 'AlDub' is a play on the first names of Filipino actors Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza (who plays the character Yaya Dub on the show), both stars with huge followings on social media. It all became too much for the multitudes of adoring fans, who began to take action on social media by lobbying for the couple to finally meet in person. Each week, an episode spawned multiple and hugely popular Twitter hashtags to this end. \"Brangelina has got nothing on AlDub, they are my favourite super power couple - I love them so much,\" gushed Filipino Twitter user Maria Joy Coloma, a fan from Cebu province. \"When will AlDub ever overcome the odds and unite? That will be when my life becomes complete,\" lamented another Twitter user Desiree Lopez in the capital city of Manila."
}
],
"id": "1207_0",
"question": "What or who is 'AlDub'?"
}
]
}
] |
What is behind clashes in Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regions?
|
18 September 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Thousands of people have fled Ethiopia's Somali region following deadly clashes in recent days between ethnic Somalis and Oromos. The BBC's Kalkidan Yibeltal looks at the cause of the conflict and whether it can be stopped. Dozens of people are reported to have died in clashes across Ethiopia's Oromia and Somali regions in recent days. According to Adisu Arega, Oromia government's spokesperson, 18 people have been killed. Twelve of those victims are ethnic Somalis, Mr Adisu told the BBC. The figures are however disputed by the Somali regional government, which says that more than 30 ethnic Somalis have been killed in the Oromia town of Awaday. Mr Adisu said the clashes had displaced at least 55,000 people, some of whom have taken refuge in makeshift camps at a stadium in the eastern city of Harar, whilst others are camping at police stations. Local administrators have now asked aid agencies operating in the area to provide humanitarian assistance. Following intense anti-government protests that plagued the Horn of Africa country during most of 2016, the government imposed a 10-month state of emergency, which was lifted in July. While this heightened state of alert calmed most of the restive areas in the Oromia region, it did not stop cross-border clashes in the Oromia and Somali areas. In February and March, hundreds were reported to have been killed in the southern Oromia district of Negele Borena after an incursion by a paramilitary force called the Liyu Police, which is backed by the Somali region. Ethnic Oromos allege that the Liyu Police, which has previously been accused by rights groups of human rights violations, of being behind the current attacks. The Somali regional government has however rejected the allegations and charged that senior officials in the Oromia government were sympathisers of the Oromo Liberation Front, which is categorised as a terrorist organisation by the Ethiopian government. While conflicts have been common between the two bordering communities, the public finger-pointing by top regional officials is unprecedented and could exacerbate the current conflict. \"We don't believe this is expected from a responsible senior government official,\" Communication Minister Negeri Lencho told the BBC. Ethiopia's political arrangement - federalism structured along ethno-linguistic lines - dictates that ethnic borders are also usually political ones. Critics argue that this structure is a tinder box that allows minor conflicts to escalate. Oromia and Somali are, respectively, the two largest regions in the country by area size, sharing a border of more than 1,400 km (870 miles). While Somalis are mostly pastoralists, living from their animals, Oromos tend to be farmers, as well as pastoralists. Both communities inhabit the areas around the regional border. Historically, their relationship has been characterised by territorial competition which often leads to disputes and conflicts over resources, including wells and grazing land. These conflicts can cause the displacement of tens of thousands of people. In 2004, a referendum to decide on the fate of more than 420 kebeles - the country's smallest administrative unit - gave 80% of them to Oromia. Following the outcome, tens of thousands of ethnic Somalis reportedly fled the areas for fear of repercussions. The decision has still not been implemented and this is one factor behind the current conflict. Since the two communities are largely pastoralist and cross borders in search for pasture for their animals, it is difficult to clearly demarcate their boundaries. Additionally, clashes that occur between the two communities can easily spread to neighbouring regions and countries because of shared ethnic ties. The recent conflict has reportedly inspired the killing of two Ethiopians of Oromo origin in Hargeisa, capital of the self-declared republic of Somaliland. People are reportedly trying to escape the violence by fleeing to the Kenyan side of the southern border town of Moyale, which also has a history of Oromo-Somali conflict. Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has ordered that regional security forces be withdrawn from the border areas, with federal police patrolling the main roads instead. He also urged local community leaders to support the government's peace efforts. But it is not clear whether this will be enough to prevent the conflict from spreading.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2499,
"answer_start": 962,
"text": "Following intense anti-government protests that plagued the Horn of Africa country during most of 2016, the government imposed a 10-month state of emergency, which was lifted in July. While this heightened state of alert calmed most of the restive areas in the Oromia region, it did not stop cross-border clashes in the Oromia and Somali areas. In February and March, hundreds were reported to have been killed in the southern Oromia district of Negele Borena after an incursion by a paramilitary force called the Liyu Police, which is backed by the Somali region. Ethnic Oromos allege that the Liyu Police, which has previously been accused by rights groups of human rights violations, of being behind the current attacks. The Somali regional government has however rejected the allegations and charged that senior officials in the Oromia government were sympathisers of the Oromo Liberation Front, which is categorised as a terrorist organisation by the Ethiopian government. While conflicts have been common between the two bordering communities, the public finger-pointing by top regional officials is unprecedented and could exacerbate the current conflict. \"We don't believe this is expected from a responsible senior government official,\" Communication Minister Negeri Lencho told the BBC. Ethiopia's political arrangement - federalism structured along ethno-linguistic lines - dictates that ethnic borders are also usually political ones. Critics argue that this structure is a tinder box that allows minor conflicts to escalate."
}
],
"id": "1208_0",
"question": "How serious is the trouble?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3426,
"answer_start": 2500,
"text": "Oromia and Somali are, respectively, the two largest regions in the country by area size, sharing a border of more than 1,400 km (870 miles). While Somalis are mostly pastoralists, living from their animals, Oromos tend to be farmers, as well as pastoralists. Both communities inhabit the areas around the regional border. Historically, their relationship has been characterised by territorial competition which often leads to disputes and conflicts over resources, including wells and grazing land. These conflicts can cause the displacement of tens of thousands of people. In 2004, a referendum to decide on the fate of more than 420 kebeles - the country's smallest administrative unit - gave 80% of them to Oromia. Following the outcome, tens of thousands of ethnic Somalis reportedly fled the areas for fear of repercussions. The decision has still not been implemented and this is one factor behind the current conflict."
}
],
"id": "1208_1",
"question": "What is behind the conflict?"
}
]
}
] |
Italy takes a shine to China's New Silk Road
|
21 March 2019
|
[
{
"context": "China's president lands in Rome on Thursday, where he is expected to sign a landmark infrastructure deal that has raised eyebrows and suspicions among Italy's Western allies. Xi Jinping's project is a New Silk Road which, just like the ancient trade route, aims to link China to Europe. The upside for Italy is a potential flood of investment and greater access to Chinese markets and raw materials. But amid China's growing influence and questions over its intentions, Italy's Western allies in the European Union and United States have concerns. The New Silk Road has another name - the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) - and it involves a wave of Chinese funding for major infrastructure projects around the world, in a bid to speed Chinese goods to markets further afield. Critics see it as also representing a bold bid for geo-political and strategic influence. It has already funded trains, roads, and ports, with Chinese construction firms given lucrative contracts to connect ports and cities - funded by loans from Chinese banks. The levels of debt owed by African and South Asian nations to China have raised concerns in the West and among citizens - but roads and railways have been built that would not exist otherwise: - In Uganda, Chinese millions built a 50km (30 mile) road to the international airport - In Tanzania, a small coastal town may become the continent's largest port - In Europe too, Chinese firms managed to buy 51% of the port authority in Piraeus port near Athens in 2016, after years of economic crisis in Greece Italy, however, will be the first top-tier global power - a member of the G7 - to take the money offered by China. It is one of the world's top 10 largest economies - yet Rome finds itself in a curious situation. The collapse of the Genoa bridge in August killed dozens of people and made Italy's crumbling infrastructure a major political issue for the first time in decades. And Italy's economy is far from booming. The country slipped into recession at the end of 2018, and its national debt levels are among the highest in the eurozone. Italy's populist government came to power in June 2018 with high-spending plans but had to peg them back after a stand-off with the EU. It is in this context that China's deal is being offered - funding that could rejuvenate Italy's grand old port cities along the Maritime Silk Road. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has mentioned the cities of Trieste and Genoa as likely candidates. \"The way we see it, it is an opportunity for our companies to take the opportunity of China's growing importance in the world,\" said Italy's undersecretary of state for trade and investment, Michele Geraci. \"We feel that amongst our European partners, Italy has been left out. We have wasted a little bit of time,\" he told the BBC. Italy's move is \"largely symbolic\", according to Peter Frankopan, professor of Global History at Oxford University and a writer on The Silk Roads. But even Rome admitting the BRI is worth exploring \"has a value for Beijing\", he said. \"It adds gloss to the existing scheme and also shows that China has an important global role.\" \"The seemingly innocuous move comes at a sensitive time for Europe and the European Union, where there is suddenly a great deal of trepidation not only about China, but about working out how Europe or the EU should adapt and react to a changing world,\" Prof Frankopan told the BBC. \"But there is more at stake here too,\" he added. \"If investment does not come from China to build ports, refineries, railway lines and so on, then where will it come from?\" Ahead of his arrival, President Xi declared that the friendship between the two nations was \"rooted in a rich historical legacy\". \"Made in Italy has become synonymous with high quality products. Italian fashion and furnishings fully meet the taste of Chinese consumers; pizza and tiramisu are liked by young Chinese people,\" he wrote in an article published by Corriere della Sera. That \"made in Italy\" label carries a reputation for quality worldwide, and is legally protected for products items processed \"mainly\" in Italy. In recent years, Chinese factories based in Italy using Chinese labour have been challenging that mark of quality. Better connections for cheap raw materials from China - and the return of finished products from Italy - could exaggerate that practice. The non-binding deal being signed by the two countries on Thursday comes amid questions over whether Chinese firm Huawei should be permitted to build essential communications networks - after the United States expressed concern they could help Beijing spy on the West. That is not part of the current negotiations in Italy. But a little over a week before the deal was due to be signed, the European Commission released a joint statement on \"China's growing economic power and political influence\" and the need to \"review\" relations. As President Xi tours Rome, EU leaders in Brussels will be considering 10 points for relations with China. While they include deepening engagement, they also involve plans to \"address the distortive effects of foreign state ownership\" as well as \"security risks posed by foreign investment in critical assets, technologies and infrastructure\". In March, US National Security Council spokesman Garrett Marquis pointed out that Italy was a major economy and did not need to \"lend legitimacy to China's vanity infrastructure project\". Members of Italy's ruling right-wing League party have their owns concerns about national security Interior Minister Matteo Salvini warned that he did not want to see foreign businesses \"colonising\" Italy. \"Before allowing someone to invest in the ports of Trieste or Genoa, I would think about it not once but a hundred times,\" Salvini warned. Italian officials are keen to point out that the deal being signed is not an international treaty, and is non-binding. \"There are no specific projects,\" Mr Geraci said. \"It is more of an accord that sets the scene.\" Other European nations already accept Chinese investment through something called the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, he said - something the UK was the first to sign up to. \"And then one by one, France, Germany, Italy and everyone else also followed suit,\" Mr Geraci said. Similarly, he believes Italy's neighbours will soon follow it into the Belt and Road initiative. \"I do believe that this time Italy is actually leading Europe - which I understand may be a surprise to most,\" he added.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4368,
"answer_start": 2807,
"text": "Italy's move is \"largely symbolic\", according to Peter Frankopan, professor of Global History at Oxford University and a writer on The Silk Roads. But even Rome admitting the BRI is worth exploring \"has a value for Beijing\", he said. \"It adds gloss to the existing scheme and also shows that China has an important global role.\" \"The seemingly innocuous move comes at a sensitive time for Europe and the European Union, where there is suddenly a great deal of trepidation not only about China, but about working out how Europe or the EU should adapt and react to a changing world,\" Prof Frankopan told the BBC. \"But there is more at stake here too,\" he added. \"If investment does not come from China to build ports, refineries, railway lines and so on, then where will it come from?\" Ahead of his arrival, President Xi declared that the friendship between the two nations was \"rooted in a rich historical legacy\". \"Made in Italy has become synonymous with high quality products. Italian fashion and furnishings fully meet the taste of Chinese consumers; pizza and tiramisu are liked by young Chinese people,\" he wrote in an article published by Corriere della Sera. That \"made in Italy\" label carries a reputation for quality worldwide, and is legally protected for products items processed \"mainly\" in Italy. In recent years, Chinese factories based in Italy using Chinese labour have been challenging that mark of quality. Better connections for cheap raw materials from China - and the return of finished products from Italy - could exaggerate that practice."
}
],
"id": "1209_0",
"question": "So what's in it for China?"
}
]
}
] |
Why has Kenya been facing serious shortages of human blood?
|
16 February 2020
|
[
{
"context": "Kenya is facing a shortage of blood supplies in its hospitals, with relatives and friends of patients increasingly having to put out calls for people to donate. The Kenya Red Cross has been posting some of these social media appeals on Twitter. Already this month, they have posted appeals for more than 10 people who need blood in different hospitals around the country. So how much blood does Kenya need and why are there shortages? Based on World Health Organization guidelines for the proportion of donors relative to total population, Kenya should be collecting as much as one million units of blood a year. Kenya's population is 47 million, so even if just 1% donated blood, the country would have at least 470,000 units. But in 2018/2019, only 164,000 units of blood were collected, much less than these guidelines, as Kenyans are reluctant to donate. The figures have not changed much over the years. In addition, in 2018, 77% of people who donated blood were first-time donors. Repeat blood donors are better as they ensure a regular supply of blood and reduce the cost and effort involved in trying to find first-time donors. The vast majority of funding for this blood collection programme - some 80% - came from outside donors, according to a recent government report. This ensured there was money for essential supplies, personnel and other blood safety-related costs. The funding also went towards an outreach programme with mobile units collecting blood in schools, universities and other public places around the country. The main donor was the US government through the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief - known as Pepfar for short. It's a programme to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/Aids around the world. Kenya was a major beneficiary of this, but funding was cut back last September, as a result of which supplies and equipment for the blood collection programme stopped. Ruweida Obo, a member of the national assembly, says the problem has been over-reliance on donors. \"When the funds were cut the government didn't have an alternative plan in place,\" she says. A government report in December warned of the impending risk, saying that \"the national blood transfusion service stands at risk of extremely diminished collection\" and called for \"urgent funding from the exchequer\". But the funding was not provided on time. Dr Fridah Govedi, the head of the national blood transfusion service, admits that the government was caught off guard by the US decision to end funding, saying they had expected it to run up to March 2020. \"There was a gap in ensuring sustainability... I think that was an oversight,\" she told the BBC. She acknowledged that at one point after donor funding ended in September, they were down to 1,000 units of blood a day. \"We require a minimum of at least 1,500 units daily, and ideally 3,000 units per day to be fully stable,\" she says. But she insists that currently the country is collecting between 2,500 and 3,000 units per day, and is now able to fund blood collection through reallocating resources at the Health Ministry. Doctors have, however, told the BBC they are still experiencing shortages. Dr Thuranira Kaugiria, a public health advocate, believes more autonomy should be given to the national blood transfusion service, rather than it being controlled by the government. But he says the country is suffering because not enough people give blood. \"If only 1% of Kenyans donated blood we would have enough. But even with the funding, we don't usually have enough blood. We need to instil a blood-donating culture,\" he told the BBC. Dr Govedi says Kenyans do not appreciate the importance of donating blood. \"Some people believe that if you donate blood you will die, or if you give blood it is a bad omen. Some also fear being tested - that they could be called back for results - that's the fear of the unknown.\" The government has been holding public blood donation events. It is also targeting adult donors to avoid blood shortages during school holidays as it relies heavily on donations by secondary school pupils. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1135,
"answer_start": 435,
"text": "Based on World Health Organization guidelines for the proportion of donors relative to total population, Kenya should be collecting as much as one million units of blood a year. Kenya's population is 47 million, so even if just 1% donated blood, the country would have at least 470,000 units. But in 2018/2019, only 164,000 units of blood were collected, much less than these guidelines, as Kenyans are reluctant to donate. The figures have not changed much over the years. In addition, in 2018, 77% of people who donated blood were first-time donors. Repeat blood donors are better as they ensure a regular supply of blood and reduce the cost and effort involved in trying to find first-time donors."
}
],
"id": "1210_0",
"question": "How much blood does Kenya collect?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3177,
"answer_start": 1136,
"text": "The vast majority of funding for this blood collection programme - some 80% - came from outside donors, according to a recent government report. This ensured there was money for essential supplies, personnel and other blood safety-related costs. The funding also went towards an outreach programme with mobile units collecting blood in schools, universities and other public places around the country. The main donor was the US government through the President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief - known as Pepfar for short. It's a programme to help save the lives of those suffering from HIV/Aids around the world. Kenya was a major beneficiary of this, but funding was cut back last September, as a result of which supplies and equipment for the blood collection programme stopped. Ruweida Obo, a member of the national assembly, says the problem has been over-reliance on donors. \"When the funds were cut the government didn't have an alternative plan in place,\" she says. A government report in December warned of the impending risk, saying that \"the national blood transfusion service stands at risk of extremely diminished collection\" and called for \"urgent funding from the exchequer\". But the funding was not provided on time. Dr Fridah Govedi, the head of the national blood transfusion service, admits that the government was caught off guard by the US decision to end funding, saying they had expected it to run up to March 2020. \"There was a gap in ensuring sustainability... I think that was an oversight,\" she told the BBC. She acknowledged that at one point after donor funding ended in September, they were down to 1,000 units of blood a day. \"We require a minimum of at least 1,500 units daily, and ideally 3,000 units per day to be fully stable,\" she says. But she insists that currently the country is collecting between 2,500 and 3,000 units per day, and is now able to fund blood collection through reallocating resources at the Health Ministry. Doctors have, however, told the BBC they are still experiencing shortages."
}
],
"id": "1210_1",
"question": "Why have shortages emerged?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4106,
"answer_start": 3178,
"text": "Dr Thuranira Kaugiria, a public health advocate, believes more autonomy should be given to the national blood transfusion service, rather than it being controlled by the government. But he says the country is suffering because not enough people give blood. \"If only 1% of Kenyans donated blood we would have enough. But even with the funding, we don't usually have enough blood. We need to instil a blood-donating culture,\" he told the BBC. Dr Govedi says Kenyans do not appreciate the importance of donating blood. \"Some people believe that if you donate blood you will die, or if you give blood it is a bad omen. Some also fear being tested - that they could be called back for results - that's the fear of the unknown.\" The government has been holding public blood donation events. It is also targeting adult donors to avoid blood shortages during school holidays as it relies heavily on donations by secondary school pupils."
}
],
"id": "1210_2",
"question": "How can the situation be improved?"
}
]
}
] |
Jacob Zuma: The dates that explain why S Africa president quit
|
16 March 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Jacob Zuma has resigned as president of South Africa after facing pressure from his own party to do so. His presidency covered more than a third of South Africa's time after apartheid, but it was dogged by scandal. So what led to him quitting? Here's a timeline of the key events. At this point, Mr Zuma had been a popular and charismatic deputy president of South Africa for six years - but he lost his job after being implicated in a corruption trial. He had long been viewed as a possible successor to then-President Thabo Mbeki. As a teenager, he had joined the fight against apartheid with the African National Congress (ANC) and its underground military wing before being jailed on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela. In 1997, he became the deputy president of the ruling ANC, and was then named as South Africa's deputy president in 1999. Later, he became embroiled in controversy over a 30bn rand ($5bn; PS3bn in 2009) arms deal involving a number of European companies. Mr Zuma's financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, went on to be found guilty of corruption and fraud. During the trial, Mr Zuma was implicated in the corruption allegations, and while he has always denied the claims, he lost his job. He was charged in 2007. Mr Zuma's race for the presidency was in its last stretch when prosecutors dropped the charges against him over the arms deal. South Africa's chief prosecutor said phone-tap evidence suggested the 2007 charges had been politically motivated. The main opposition called it an \"abuse\" of the prosecutor's role. However Mr Zuma, by then the president of the ANC, went on to win the presidency of the country two weeks later. South Africa's highest court ruled that Mr Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money spent on his private home. An anti-corruption body found he had spent $23m (PS15m) on his rural home in Nkandla in the KwaZulu-Natal province, adding a swimming pool and amphitheatre. He later repaid the money. Not for the first time, he faced calls to stand down. Not for the last time, he didn't. South Africa's Supreme Court of Appeal ruled that Mr Zuma must face 18 charges of corruption, fraud, racketeering and money laundering relating to the 1999 arms deal. This all came about because the opposition Democratic Alliance brought a case before a Pretoria court, demanding that the president face charges. Mr Zuma lodged an appeal, but lost it. On 16 March 2018 he found himself facing prosecution on 16 of the 18 corruption charges - for 783 instances of alleged wrongdoing. First of all, a Pretoria court ordered Mr Zuma to set up a judicial inquiry into corruption claims against him and his associates, which he eventually did in January. The inquiry was one of the recommendations made by the country's anti-corruption watchdog to curb state influence-peddling, which the president had tried to challenge. Judge Dunstan Mlambo described Mr Zuma's attempt to challenge the rulings as \"ill-advised\" and an abuse of the judicial process. Then, separately, a judge ruled the president had abused the judicial process by trying to block a report on corruption. The figures that keep appearing in allegations against Mr Zuma are the wealthy Indian-born Gupta family, who are accused of using their relationship with the president to influence cabinet appointments and obtain lucrative government contracts. The Guptas and Mr Zuma deny any wrongdoing but the allegations will not go away. In the race to succeed Mr Zuma after 10 years as head of the ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa - South Africa's deputy president - came out on top. He took over the party at a time it was losing popular support under Mr Zuma. He campaigned as the anti-Zuma candidate, promising to target corruption. His victory put him in a position of strength over the president, and made him a leading candidate to succeed him. On Tuesday, the ANC told Mr Zuma to step down or face a vote of no-confidence. Then, on Wednesday, he said in a televised statement he said he was quitting with immediate effect but that he disagreed with the party's decision. \"No life should be lost in my name and also the ANC should never be divided in my name,\" he said.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2069,
"answer_start": 1652,
"text": "South Africa's highest court ruled that Mr Zuma had violated the constitution when he failed to repay government money spent on his private home. An anti-corruption body found he had spent $23m (PS15m) on his rural home in Nkandla in the KwaZulu-Natal province, adding a swimming pool and amphitheatre. He later repaid the money. Not for the first time, he faced calls to stand down. Not for the last time, he didn't."
}
],
"id": "1211_0",
"question": "31 March 2016: Nice pool, who paid for it?"
}
]
}
] |
Why is Australia investigating its banks?
|
12 February 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Finance is Australia's biggest industry, and its banks are some of the most profitable in the world. But now the nation's highest form of public inquiry is examining misconduct by the nation's banks and financial institutions. The royal commission follows a decade of scandals that have rocked the sector. Australia's \"Big Four\" - Commonwealth Bank (CBA), ANZ, National Australia Bank (NAB) and Westpac - collectively have about 80% of the country's banking market. A recent government-funded report found the sector was \"unquestionably strong\", but criticised levels of competition and transparency. All four major banks have faced misconduct allegations. They include: - Risky financial advice: Commonwealth Bank customers lost millions of dollars due to inappropriate advice from financial planners. - Dodgy mortgages: About 20 NAB bankers were sacked after issuing home loans based on incorrect or incomplete documentation. - Rate-rigging lawsuits: All four banks were accused of manipulating a key interest rate benchmark. - Alleged breaches of anti money laundering laws: Commonwealth Bank admitted it was late to disclose 53,000 suspect ATM transactions. Analysts estimate that Australian banks have paid more than A$1bn (PS550m; $780m) in penalties and compensation since the 2008 financial crisis. Despite this, the banking giants have continued to post large profits, sometimes at record levels. Momentum grew from continued public debate about whether banks were putting profits and shareholders ahead of customers. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had initially opposed an inquiry, but agreed in December that one was needed to restore confidence in the sector. He said the royal commission would extend to the entire financial industry, including superannuation - or pension contributions - insurance and wealth management sectors. The biggest banks said they welcomed the inquiry as a way to end \"political uncertainty\". The catchily-titled 'Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry' will examine misconduct which has already been established in the sector - as well as allegations about other wrongdoing. It also has the remit to look at possible gaps in how the industry is monitored and regulated. Anyone can make submissions to the inquiry - with bank customers among those expected to give plenty of input. The commissioners will have the power to examine documents, call witnesses and take evidence. The inquiry is scheduled to take 12 months. The banks say they remain confident about the process, but some industry watchers have predicted further damaging revelations. The inquiry can make recommendations to reform the industry, and even prosecutions, if it finds wrongdoing. But it cannot award compensation for individual cases or even directly tell institutions to take action. But it can propose redress schemes. Critics have said a year-long inquiry may not be able to sufficiently investigate all allegations. The most recent royal commission, which covered child sexual abuse, ran for four years.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 600,
"answer_start": 306,
"text": "Australia's \"Big Four\" - Commonwealth Bank (CBA), ANZ, National Australia Bank (NAB) and Westpac - collectively have about 80% of the country's banking market. A recent government-funded report found the sector was \"unquestionably strong\", but criticised levels of competition and transparency."
}
],
"id": "1212_0",
"question": "How dominant are Australia's banks?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1405,
"answer_start": 601,
"text": "All four major banks have faced misconduct allegations. They include: - Risky financial advice: Commonwealth Bank customers lost millions of dollars due to inappropriate advice from financial planners. - Dodgy mortgages: About 20 NAB bankers were sacked after issuing home loans based on incorrect or incomplete documentation. - Rate-rigging lawsuits: All four banks were accused of manipulating a key interest rate benchmark. - Alleged breaches of anti money laundering laws: Commonwealth Bank admitted it was late to disclose 53,000 suspect ATM transactions. Analysts estimate that Australian banks have paid more than A$1bn (PS550m; $780m) in penalties and compensation since the 2008 financial crisis. Despite this, the banking giants have continued to post large profits, sometimes at record levels."
}
],
"id": "1212_1",
"question": "What have been the scandals?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1933,
"answer_start": 1406,
"text": "Momentum grew from continued public debate about whether banks were putting profits and shareholders ahead of customers. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull had initially opposed an inquiry, but agreed in December that one was needed to restore confidence in the sector. He said the royal commission would extend to the entire financial industry, including superannuation - or pension contributions - insurance and wealth management sectors. The biggest banks said they welcomed the inquiry as a way to end \"political uncertainty\"."
}
],
"id": "1212_2",
"question": "Why was an inquiry deemed necessary?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2644,
"answer_start": 1934,
"text": "The catchily-titled 'Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry' will examine misconduct which has already been established in the sector - as well as allegations about other wrongdoing. It also has the remit to look at possible gaps in how the industry is monitored and regulated. Anyone can make submissions to the inquiry - with bank customers among those expected to give plenty of input. The commissioners will have the power to examine documents, call witnesses and take evidence. The inquiry is scheduled to take 12 months. The banks say they remain confident about the process, but some industry watchers have predicted further damaging revelations."
}
],
"id": "1212_3",
"question": "What will be investigated?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2894,
"answer_start": 2645,
"text": "The inquiry can make recommendations to reform the industry, and even prosecutions, if it finds wrongdoing. But it cannot award compensation for individual cases or even directly tell institutions to take action. But it can propose redress schemes."
}
],
"id": "1212_4",
"question": "What could happen afterwards?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3081,
"answer_start": 2895,
"text": "Critics have said a year-long inquiry may not be able to sufficiently investigate all allegations. The most recent royal commission, which covered child sexual abuse, ran for four years."
}
],
"id": "1212_5",
"question": "Could the inquiry fall short?"
}
]
}
] |
Hungary president signs controversial 'slave law'
|
20 December 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Hungarian president Janos Ader has passed a new law that nearly doubles how much overtime employees can work. The law boosts the overtime employers can demand from 250 to 400 hours, while payment can be delayed by three years. Mr Ader said employees must give written consent and wouldn't be penalised for refusing extra hours. It comes after days of protests in Hungary against the so-called 'slave law,' which Hungary's parliament approved on 12 December. \"I studied the changes to the labour law, and its provisions do not run contrary to the constitution,\" Mr Ader said in a statement. He also argued that the terms of the new law were no more strict that labour regulations in other comparable EU countries. Sixteen trade unions are reportedly planning strikes in Hungary as a response to the reforms. Last Sunday, at least 10,000 protestors gathered in the capital Budapest during a fifth consecutive day of demonstrations. During protests, two MPs were thrown out of the offices of state broadcaster MTVA for trying to broadcast a petition against the measures. In a video shot by a local activist, the two MPs were thrown out of the TV station could be heard shouting in protest at security guards during the scuffle. Prime Minister Viktor Orban's policies have typically enjoyed widespread support, despite repeated condemnation from other EU nations. In elections earlier this year, the prime minister's Fidesz party won a two-thirds majority in parliament, making it relatively easy to enact his policies. The government says the laws address a serious labour shortage. The country's unemployment rate, at 4.2% in 2017, is one of the lowest in the EU. Hungary's population has been in decline for years, as deaths outpace births, according to the European statistics agency. Hungary is also experiencing a \"brain drain\" as well-educated people take advantage of free movement within Europe. The problem is serious enough to have prompted a 2015 programme to encourage young people to return home, offering housing and employment support. Fidesz MEP Gyorgy Schopflin previously told the BBC the reforms had been \"heavily distorted by the opposition\". There was \"no coercion\" involved in working overtime, and workers would be \"paid monthly, not in three years\", he said. The governing Fidesz party has said protests are the work of foreign mercenaries paid by Hungarian-born US billionaire George Soros. Mr Soros denies this and says the Hungarian authorities are using him as a scapegoat.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2499,
"answer_start": 1517,
"text": "The government says the laws address a serious labour shortage. The country's unemployment rate, at 4.2% in 2017, is one of the lowest in the EU. Hungary's population has been in decline for years, as deaths outpace births, according to the European statistics agency. Hungary is also experiencing a \"brain drain\" as well-educated people take advantage of free movement within Europe. The problem is serious enough to have prompted a 2015 programme to encourage young people to return home, offering housing and employment support. Fidesz MEP Gyorgy Schopflin previously told the BBC the reforms had been \"heavily distorted by the opposition\". There was \"no coercion\" involved in working overtime, and workers would be \"paid monthly, not in three years\", he said. The governing Fidesz party has said protests are the work of foreign mercenaries paid by Hungarian-born US billionaire George Soros. Mr Soros denies this and says the Hungarian authorities are using him as a scapegoat."
}
],
"id": "1213_0",
"question": "Why does the government say reforms are needed?"
}
]
}
] |
Black Friday: I feel guilty about how much I return
|
29 November 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Harriet Houghton loves shopping for clothes. There is an excitement, she says, when she discovers something fresh that she feels good in. But because Harriet shops mainly online, she often finds that what looks good on a computer is disappointing in reality, and she ends up sending most of it back. This week alone, for example, she returned PS250 worth of shopping. \"In person, things can be wildly unflattering,\" she says. Harriet is a so-called serial returner, someone who buys items and returns most of them, putting already struggling shops under pressure. People like her are a problem for retailers, particularly in the peak sales season around Black Friday and in the run-up to Christmas. Rebound, a technology firm that helps shops to manage returns, predicts handling the process will cost UK retailers PS2.6bn over the next month. Harriet thinks it would be a good idea if retailers banned serial returners because it would encourage her to make more considered decisions. She also worries about the environmental impact of returning so many clothes. \"I feel guilty about it a lot,\" she says. Reports have suggested that it can cost a retailer twice the price of delivery for a product to be returned to the supply chain. When a coat comes back to the warehouse it has to reprocessed, cleaned, repaired, repackaged and made ready for its new owner. In total, it will pass through seven pairs of hands before it is back on sale again. Rebound says online clothing firms, where the fit can be difficult to gauge, are particularly hard hit. Christmas is the worst time of year for High Street retailers because the peak shopping period means the returns process can be delayed. As a result, by the time a product makes it back onto the shelves it might be considered old and have to be sold at a discount. The day that shops promote special offers was the name given to the event when it was set up in the US. Traditionally it has always started the day after the American holiday of Thanksgiving, when shops in the US drop their prices for 24 hours. It was designed by shops and other retailers to encourage people to start splashing the cash in the run-up to Christmas. Some say it became known as Black Friday because it was the day that many stores became profitable. Increasingly, retailers are fighting back. According to a recent survey by Barclaycard, one in five has made their returns policy tougher, especially when they can tell that shoppers have used items before returning them. But it's not just the retailers that are suffering. For every item returned, there is an environmental cost to processing the return. Greenpeace is running a campaign to counter the consumerism promoted by holidays such as Black Friday and asking people to turn to home-made gifts this holiday season. \"We're encouraging people to get together to make things instead of buying them, repair stuff instead of throwing it away, and share experiences instead of hoarding more gadgets, toys and clothes that will soon turn to waste,\" says Greenpeace UK's head of climate, Rosie Rogers. And not all retailers are taking part in Black Friday. Supermarket chain Asda, which was one of the first retailers to start Black Friday promotions in the UK, has said it will not take part because its year-round deals are good enough. An Asda spokesperson said: \"We don't just want to offer our customers great deals for one day of the year, which is why we keep our prices low every day.\" Smaller retailers are also resisting. Yorkshire businesswoman Debbie Gillespie, who makes bespoke wedding cakes, is refusing to take part because she believes she offers good value to her customers all year round. She has built up the baking business that she runs from her kitchen in Huddersfield over the past five years. \"Why should the customers I have, who want to pay the right amount of money, be disadvantaged by a quick deal? I don't think it is fair on them,\" she says. When she says that when she shops herself, she would rather pay the proper price for something, especially if it is offered by a local business. \"I base my business on honesty and integrity. Dishing out Black Friday deals doesn't sit right with me.\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2281,
"answer_start": 1816,
"text": "The day that shops promote special offers was the name given to the event when it was set up in the US. Traditionally it has always started the day after the American holiday of Thanksgiving, when shops in the US drop their prices for 24 hours. It was designed by shops and other retailers to encourage people to start splashing the cash in the run-up to Christmas. Some say it became known as Black Friday because it was the day that many stores became profitable."
}
],
"id": "1214_0",
"question": "What is Black Friday?"
}
]
}
] |
Federal Reserve eyes more US interest rate rises
|
11 April 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Some members of the Federal Reserve are urging the bank to consider raising interest rates more quickly, in what could mark a turn from the gradual approach it has taken in recent years. They expect stronger economic growth and inflation to warrant more aggressive action over the medium term. Their views were laid out in the minutes of the bank's March meeting, published on Wednesday. Share markets, which watch rates closely, dipped on the release. The Fed uses interest rates as its primary tool to keep the US economy on a path of sustained growth and controlled inflation. It lowered rates dramatically during the financial crisis to spur economic activity, but the Fed has been raising rates slowly in recent years as the economy strengthened. \"Almost all\" participants agreed that a gradual approach to raising interest rates remained appropriate in the medium term, according to the minutes. However, \"a number of participants\" said they expect stronger growth and inflation in the next few years, suggesting the path for interest rates \"would likely be slightly steeper than they had previously expected\", according to the minutes. Members also discussed the need to state \"at some point\" that its policies would likely move from trying to spur economic activity, to being neutral - or even a \"restraining factor\". The discussions come after a pick-up in growth last year, which pushed the unemployment rate down to 4.1% - the lowest level since 2000. Economists predict that recently approved tax cuts and public spending will spur further growth, and possibly inflation. However, trade disputes, most prominently about tariffs on goods in the US and China, are a worry. An increase in the Fed's benchmark federal funds rate typically leads to higher rates for consumers and businesses. Savers benefit, but borrowing becomes more expensive, which can dampen activity in industries such as housing and car sales and raise costs for businesses that rely on debt.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1973,
"answer_start": 752,
"text": "\"Almost all\" participants agreed that a gradual approach to raising interest rates remained appropriate in the medium term, according to the minutes. However, \"a number of participants\" said they expect stronger growth and inflation in the next few years, suggesting the path for interest rates \"would likely be slightly steeper than they had previously expected\", according to the minutes. Members also discussed the need to state \"at some point\" that its policies would likely move from trying to spur economic activity, to being neutral - or even a \"restraining factor\". The discussions come after a pick-up in growth last year, which pushed the unemployment rate down to 4.1% - the lowest level since 2000. Economists predict that recently approved tax cuts and public spending will spur further growth, and possibly inflation. However, trade disputes, most prominently about tariffs on goods in the US and China, are a worry. An increase in the Fed's benchmark federal funds rate typically leads to higher rates for consumers and businesses. Savers benefit, but borrowing becomes more expensive, which can dampen activity in industries such as housing and car sales and raise costs for businesses that rely on debt."
}
],
"id": "1215_0",
"question": "Slightly steeper?"
}
]
}
] |
Is this America's most hated family?
|
22 March 2019
|
[
{
"context": "You might never have heard of the Sackler family but you may well have enjoyed their money. The Anglo-American billionaire dynasty are prolific philanthropists and some of Britain's best-known art galleries, museums, theatres and universities have benefited from their generosity. But behind the money is a firm called Purdue Pharma, a US company owned by many of the Sacklers which makes opioids - a class of drugs linked to the deaths of thousands of Americans. Now, some in the arts say they don't want the Sacklers' money anymore. This week alone, the Tate said it would no longer take funds from the family while the National Portrait Gallery and the Sackler Trust said they would not proceed with a PS1m donation. And in New York, the Solomon R Guggenheim Museum, which has received a total of $9m (PS6.8m) from the Sacklers, said it did not plan to accept any more gifts from the family The family's fortune, estimated at $13bn by Forbes magazine, was started by three brothers from Brooklyn, New York. Arthur, Mortimer, and Raymond Sackler were all doctors and in the early 1950s they bought a medicine company called Purdue Frederick which would become Purdue Pharma. Each of the brothers owned a third of the firm but when Arthur Sackler died in 1987, Mortimer and Raymond bought out his stake. Purdue Pharma went on to invent OxyContin, a prescription painkiller with a slow release formula which hit the US market in 1996. Much of the Sackler family's fortune comes from Purdue Pharma. Thanks to the billions generated by Purdue and donated by the Sacklers, the family name can be found adorning a wing of the Louvre in Paris, in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York as well as the V&A, the Serpentine and Shakespeare's Globe in London among many, many others. But Andrew Kolodny, co-director of the Opioid Policy Research Collaborative at Brandeis University, describes the philanthropy as \"reputation laundering\". \"That's what they were doing with all of this money they were giving to museums and to universities,\" he says. \"Their wealth was earned through the sales of a drug similar to heroin.'\" A spokesperson for Sackler family members said, \"For more than half a century, several generations of Sacklers have supported respected institutions that play crucial roles in health, research, education, the arts and the humanities. It has been a privilege to support the vital work of these organizations and we remain dedicated to doing so. \"While plaintiffs' court filings have created an erroneous picture and resulted in unwarranted criticism, we remain committed to playing a substantive role in addressing this complex public health crisis. \"Our hearts go out to those affected by drug abuse or addiction.\" Raymond Sackler died in 2017. His son Richard, who is known within Purdue as Dr Richard, was chairman and president of Purdue. Others involved or have been with Purdue are Raymond Sackler's wife Beverly, their other son Jonathan and Raymond Sackler's grandson David. Mortimer, who was awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen, died in 2010. His wife Dame Theresa Sackler - a trustee of the V&A - has been a board member at Purdue as have Mortimer's daughters Ilene Sackler Lefcourt and Kathe Sackler and son Mortimer Sackler. Purdue Pharma is facing hundreds and hundreds of lawsuits because of OxyContin. The company is one of a number opioid manufacturers and distributors who are accused of using misleading marketing about the drug and downplaying concerns about abuse and addiction to encourage doctors to prescribe more of it. Purdue Pharma strongly denies the claims. Dr Kolodny says that opioids had mostly been used to treat people with cancer, for end of life care or after surgery for a limited time. He says: \"There wasn't very much money to be made if OxyContin had only been prescribed to people at the end of life with cancer because end of life cancer pain is not that common and people won't be on your drug for very long at the end of life. \"So the way you can do well with a pharmaceutical product is if doctors prescribe it for common problems like lower back pain or headaches. If you have a drug that is difficult to stop taking you've got a pretty good recipe for financial success.\" With prescription opiods in more bathroom cabinets across America, family members were becoming exposed. Dr Kolodny says that for people in their 20s, who may have tried a prescription opioid \"for fun\" and become hooked, it was difficult for them to get more off a doctor because they looked healthy. \"The pills on the street, even in 2001 were very expensive, he says. \"So young white people in the US in their 20s and 30s started switching from pills to heroin.\" With powerful opioids like Fentanyl entering the illegal drugs market, the risk of overdose increased. With Fentanyl, the opioid epidemic which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says began with prescription painkillers then heroin, is now in its third wave. Purdue says that OxyContin \"constitutes an exceedingly small per cent of the prescription opioids prescribed in the US\" which it says is less than 2%. Dr Kolodny says: \"Certainly there were other drug companies that saw how well this was working out for Purdue and got into it early on as well.\" But he claims: \"Purdue got the ball rolling.\" Among the lawsuits facing Purdue are some that name members of the Sackler family. In particular, the complaint by Massachusetts Attorney General, Maura Healey, recently released a number of potentially damning documents and alleges that \"they directed deceptive sales and marketing practices deep within Purdue\". It paints the Sacklers as forceful board members, intent on pushing Purdue Pharma's salesforce to persuade doctors to prescribe more and more OxyContin at higher doses to their patients. It also presents Richard Sackler as someone who does not view OxyContin as contributing to opioid addiction, instead blaming the individuals themselves. In an email included the Massachusetts complaint, Richard Sackler wrote: \"We have to hammer on the abusers in every way possible. They are the culprits and the problem. They are reckless criminals.\" Purdue Pharma forcefully denies the claims made in the lawsuit and has filed a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed. It says it is \"is replete with sensational and inflammatory allegations\" and is \"oversimplified scapegoating based on a distorted account of the facts unsupported by applicable law\". This week in the US, the House Oversight Committee said it is seeking information from Purdue about which Sacklers sat on the board as well as documents detailing marketing strategies for selling OxyContin. There has also been speculation that Purdue Pharma may filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy which would automatically stay all litigation against the company and allow the firm to be reorganised. For the some of the people who have been campaigning against the Sacklers, announcements by the Tate and the National Portrait Gallery are \"very welcome\". LA Kauffman, an activist and author who is a member of Prescription Addiction Intervention Now, a group started by US photographer. Nan Goldin who became dependent on OxyContin, says it is a sign \"the tide is really turning\". But she says while it is important to \"acknowledge that this was a bold step for institutions to take\", she asks; \"If museums don't stand for the basic value of human life what do they stand for?\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5324,
"answer_start": 3263,
"text": "Purdue Pharma is facing hundreds and hundreds of lawsuits because of OxyContin. The company is one of a number opioid manufacturers and distributors who are accused of using misleading marketing about the drug and downplaying concerns about abuse and addiction to encourage doctors to prescribe more of it. Purdue Pharma strongly denies the claims. Dr Kolodny says that opioids had mostly been used to treat people with cancer, for end of life care or after surgery for a limited time. He says: \"There wasn't very much money to be made if OxyContin had only been prescribed to people at the end of life with cancer because end of life cancer pain is not that common and people won't be on your drug for very long at the end of life. \"So the way you can do well with a pharmaceutical product is if doctors prescribe it for common problems like lower back pain or headaches. If you have a drug that is difficult to stop taking you've got a pretty good recipe for financial success.\" With prescription opiods in more bathroom cabinets across America, family members were becoming exposed. Dr Kolodny says that for people in their 20s, who may have tried a prescription opioid \"for fun\" and become hooked, it was difficult for them to get more off a doctor because they looked healthy. \"The pills on the street, even in 2001 were very expensive, he says. \"So young white people in the US in their 20s and 30s started switching from pills to heroin.\" With powerful opioids like Fentanyl entering the illegal drugs market, the risk of overdose increased. With Fentanyl, the opioid epidemic which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says began with prescription painkillers then heroin, is now in its third wave. Purdue says that OxyContin \"constitutes an exceedingly small per cent of the prescription opioids prescribed in the US\" which it says is less than 2%. Dr Kolodny says: \"Certainly there were other drug companies that saw how well this was working out for Purdue and got into it early on as well.\" But he claims: \"Purdue got the ball rolling.\""
}
],
"id": "1216_0",
"question": "What is the issue?"
}
]
}
] |
Sweden brings back military conscription amid Baltic tensions
|
2 March 2017
|
[
{
"context": "The Swedish government has decided to reintroduce military conscription - a move backed by the country's MPs. The decision means that 4,000 men and women will be called up for service from 1 January 2018, a defence ministry spokeswoman told the BBC. They will be selected from about 13,000 young people born in 1999, who will be asked to undergo a military assessment, Marinette Nyh Radebo said. Non-aligned Sweden is worried about Russia's Baltic military drills. In September, a Swedish garrison was restored to Gotland, a big island lying between the Swedish mainland and the three ex-Soviet Baltic states. Ms Nyh Radebo said the return to conscription was prompted by \"the security change in our neighbourhood\". \"The Russian illegal annexation of Crimea [in 2014], the conflict in Ukraine and the increased military activity in our neighbourhood are some of the reasons,\" she said. Sweden's conscription remains highly selective, however. The total obliged to serve is a small fraction of more than 90,000 Swedes who reach conscription age every year. The 13,000 who undergo the military tests will be a mixture of volunteers and conscripts. \"You are part of the conscript system once you've done the tests - men and women are treated equally,\" Ms Nyh Radebo said. \"The authorities choose the ones who are willing, interested and motivated.\" Russian menace pushes Sweden towards Nato Norway breaks tradition to host US troops Baltic warning of Russian test for Nato Poland to sign up 35,000 paramilitaries The conscripts will serve for nine to 12 months. The aim is to encourage them either to become military professionals or, later, to join the reserves. \"If we want full and trained military units, the voluntary system needs to be complemented by compulsory military service,\" Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish public broadcaster SVT. Sweden had military conscription until 2010, but previously only men were drafted. Ms Nyh Radebo said that \"70% of parliament is behind the decision to strengthen the military and co-operation with the countries around us\". The closest co-operation is with Finland, she added. Sweden and Finland are not in Nato, but co-operate closely with the alliance. Their Nordic neighbours Norway and Denmark are in Nato. The Swedish recruitment system will be modelled on Norway's, Ms Nyh Radebo said. A Swedish government report on defence priorities for 2016-2020 says recruitment of reserve squad leaders, soldiers and sailors has \"proved to be problematic\". It details a range of measures to boost Swedish military capabilities, citing \"the deteriorating security situation in Europe, particularly in light of the Russian aggression against Ukraine\". Deeper defence co-operation with Finland is \"critical\", it says. According to a 2015 research paper by Barbara Kunz of the IFRI Security Studies Center, Sweden has about 52,000 full-time military personnel - 20,000 of them permanent staff and most of the others Home Guard members. Most of the 28 EU member states abolished military conscription. France and the UK - the main pillars of Nato defence in western Europe - made their armed forces fully professional (France in 2001, the UK in 1963). Germany suspended conscription in 2011, but provision for it remains in the constitution. There is a debate now about reintroducing some form of national service. During the Cold War, national service meant that West Germany could mobilise 495,000 soldiers and boost the numbers to about 1.2 million if necessary with reservists. Turkey has the second-largest armed forces in Nato, after the US military. Turkey has conscription for all men over the age of 20. They must serve between six and 15 months. Neighbouring Greece - a Nato partner - has compulsory military service (nine months) for men from the age of 19. Cyprus - a longstanding source of Greek-Turkish tension - also has conscription. Denmark and Norway have limited conscription, but their forces are overwhelmingly professional. Estonia and Lithuania - small Baltic states wary of Russian moves near their borders - have similar recruitment policies. Finland however requires all men from the age of 18 to serve up to 347 days in the armed forces. They are later counted as reserves and can be required to take military refresher courses. For women military service is voluntary. In Russia all men aged 18-27 have to spend a year in the armed forces. Ukraine brought back conscription in 2014, when tensions with Russia escalated. Switzerland operates a militia system, whereby men have to serve periods in the armed forces from 19 to 34 years of age, and keep their equipment at home.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1055,
"answer_start": 610,
"text": "Ms Nyh Radebo said the return to conscription was prompted by \"the security change in our neighbourhood\". \"The Russian illegal annexation of Crimea [in 2014], the conflict in Ukraine and the increased military activity in our neighbourhood are some of the reasons,\" she said. Sweden's conscription remains highly selective, however. The total obliged to serve is a small fraction of more than 90,000 Swedes who reach conscription age every year."
}
],
"id": "1217_0",
"question": "Why is this happening?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1937,
"answer_start": 1056,
"text": "The 13,000 who undergo the military tests will be a mixture of volunteers and conscripts. \"You are part of the conscript system once you've done the tests - men and women are treated equally,\" Ms Nyh Radebo said. \"The authorities choose the ones who are willing, interested and motivated.\" Russian menace pushes Sweden towards Nato Norway breaks tradition to host US troops Baltic warning of Russian test for Nato Poland to sign up 35,000 paramilitaries The conscripts will serve for nine to 12 months. The aim is to encourage them either to become military professionals or, later, to join the reserves. \"If we want full and trained military units, the voluntary system needs to be complemented by compulsory military service,\" Defence Minister Peter Hultqvist told Swedish public broadcaster SVT. Sweden had military conscription until 2010, but previously only men were drafted."
}
],
"id": "1217_1",
"question": "How will it work?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2981,
"answer_start": 1938,
"text": "Ms Nyh Radebo said that \"70% of parliament is behind the decision to strengthen the military and co-operation with the countries around us\". The closest co-operation is with Finland, she added. Sweden and Finland are not in Nato, but co-operate closely with the alliance. Their Nordic neighbours Norway and Denmark are in Nato. The Swedish recruitment system will be modelled on Norway's, Ms Nyh Radebo said. A Swedish government report on defence priorities for 2016-2020 says recruitment of reserve squad leaders, soldiers and sailors has \"proved to be problematic\". It details a range of measures to boost Swedish military capabilities, citing \"the deteriorating security situation in Europe, particularly in light of the Russian aggression against Ukraine\". Deeper defence co-operation with Finland is \"critical\", it says. According to a 2015 research paper by Barbara Kunz of the IFRI Security Studies Center, Sweden has about 52,000 full-time military personnel - 20,000 of them permanent staff and most of the others Home Guard members."
}
],
"id": "1217_2",
"question": "How does this impact regional security?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4647,
"answer_start": 2982,
"text": "Most of the 28 EU member states abolished military conscription. France and the UK - the main pillars of Nato defence in western Europe - made their armed forces fully professional (France in 2001, the UK in 1963). Germany suspended conscription in 2011, but provision for it remains in the constitution. There is a debate now about reintroducing some form of national service. During the Cold War, national service meant that West Germany could mobilise 495,000 soldiers and boost the numbers to about 1.2 million if necessary with reservists. Turkey has the second-largest armed forces in Nato, after the US military. Turkey has conscription for all men over the age of 20. They must serve between six and 15 months. Neighbouring Greece - a Nato partner - has compulsory military service (nine months) for men from the age of 19. Cyprus - a longstanding source of Greek-Turkish tension - also has conscription. Denmark and Norway have limited conscription, but their forces are overwhelmingly professional. Estonia and Lithuania - small Baltic states wary of Russian moves near their borders - have similar recruitment policies. Finland however requires all men from the age of 18 to serve up to 347 days in the armed forces. They are later counted as reserves and can be required to take military refresher courses. For women military service is voluntary. In Russia all men aged 18-27 have to spend a year in the armed forces. Ukraine brought back conscription in 2014, when tensions with Russia escalated. Switzerland operates a militia system, whereby men have to serve periods in the armed forces from 19 to 34 years of age, and keep their equipment at home."
}
],
"id": "1217_3",
"question": "Which other European countries have conscription?"
}
]
}
] |
Joseph Kony - child kidnapper, warlord, 'prophet'
|
27 July 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Described at different times as a terrorist, prophet and brutal killer, Ugandan Joseph Kony, who is wanted for war crimes, has escaped capture for more than two decades. His rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) is notorious for abducting thousands of children to use as soldiers or sex slaves. A former Catholic altar boy, he has waged war and ordered violent attacks, first in his own country and then, after being forced out, in South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Central African Republic (CAR). At one time he was pursued by Ugandan and US troops but they gave up the chase in 2017 arguing that with his dwindling band of followers he had become a spent force. Following a 2005 International Criminal Court arrest warrant Mr Kony is wanted on 12 counts of crimes against humanity and 21 counts of war crimes. He is accused of brutalising civilians in northern Uganda through murder, abduction, mutilation and the burning of property. From the 1990s, LRA attacks became infamous. Rebel fighters would hack off their victims' limbs or parts of their faces. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes, tens of thousands were killed and thousands of others were abducted for fighting and sexual slavery. Mr Kony himself is thought to have taken many of the captured women as wives. He also has an unknown number of children, two of whom, Salim and Ali, have been sanctioned by the US for their alleged role in LRA activities. Born in the early 1960s into an Acholi peasant family in Odek, a village in northern Uganda, Mr Kony is remembered as an amiable boy. \"He played football and was a brilliant dancer,\" one of his former classmates said, recalling the rebel leader's days at Odek primary. He became a traditional healer after leaving primary school, but in the 1980s was drawn to the Holy Spirit Movement led by charismatic figure Alice Auma, better known as Alice Lakwena. She said she was fighting for the rights of the Acholi people who were feeling marginalised in the turbulent politics of 1980s Uganda. They felt excluded from power after President Milton Obote, who was from the north, was overthrown in a military rebellion, and eventually replaced by current President Yoweri Museveni in 1986. Despite promising her followers protection from bullets, Ms Auma's movement was defeated in 1988 and she fled to Kenya. The LRA was founded in the aftermath of that defeat saying it continued to support the people of the north and wanted to install a government based on the biblical 10 commandments. What that meant in practical terms was never clear. At one time the LRA was popular in the north, but that waned as the group's brutality increased. Mr Kony has used religion and traditional beliefs to inspire his followers but some question his sincere commitment to those ideas. Author Ledio Cakaj, who has interviewed hundreds of LRA defectors, told the Washington Post that the LRA leader \"has never been rigid about anything except his own survival\". Mr Kony sees himself as a spirit medium. \"They will tell us what is going to happen. They say, 'You, Mr Joseph, tell your people that the enemy is planning to come and attack,'\" he has explained. In a 2006 film broadcast on the BBC, one of his close allies, Captain Sunday, said that through the help of spirits the LRA leader could see the future. He was also immortal, the captain added. \"I will communicate with Museveni through the holy spirits and not through the telephone,\" Mr Kony once said. He has created an aura of mysticism around himself and his rebels follow strict rules and rituals. \"When you go to fight you make the sign of the cross first. If you fail to do this, you will be killed,\" one young fighter who escaped from the LRA told US-based Human Rights Watch. \"You must also take oil and draw a cross on your chest, your forehead, and each shoulder, and you must make a cross in oil on your gun. They say that the oil is the power of the Holy Spirit.\" He has also used terror to maintain control, beating and killing followers who were caught trying to flee. Some former fighters have said they complied with the leader's orders out of fear. Ex-commander Kenneth Banya told the BBC in 2012 that he had sex with a minor because he was threatened with death if he left her alone. Mr Kony has described himself as a \"freedom fighter\" but has been accused of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in the north of Uganda. He has used biblical references to explain why it was necessary to kill his own people, since they had, in his view, failed to support his cause. In his first interview in 2006, filmed at his jungle base at the time in DR Congo, he insisted he was not the monster he was portrayed to be. \"Let me tell you clearly what happened in Uganda. [President] Museveni went into the villages and cut off the ears of the people, telling the people that it was the work of the LRA. I cannot cut the ear of my brother; I cannot kill the eye of my brother.\" In 2005, the LRA was forced out of Uganda by the army and the rebels went into what was then Sudan (now South Sudan) and eventually set up camp in the border area with DR Congo. Mr Kony's fighters continued to spread terror targeting and killing local people for provisions. They later moved to CAR where they acted more like a criminal outfit engaging in poaching and illegal mining. There have been attempts to make peace, but talks fell apart in 2008 because the LRA leader wanted assurances that he and his allies would not be prosecuted. But some LRA fighters are being prosecuted. The ICC trial of LRA commander Dominic Ongwen on 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity began in December 2016. Other key figures have either been killed, captured, or have given themselves up. Mr Kony's global notoriety increased in 2012 because of the social media campaign that used the hashtag #Kony2012. A video posted online by the US advocacy group Invisible Children was watched tens of millions of times. It inspired a public outcry, which included celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, to boost the hunt for Mr Kony. About 100 US troops had already been deployed to central Africa in 2011 to support an African Union-led mission against the LRA, but #Kony2012 increased the pressure to get results. The film proved controversial, especially in Uganda, where critics said it oversimplified a complex subject, but Invisible Children said it succeeded in extending the US mission. However, Mr Kony has not been found and in 2017 the US and Ugandan armies ended their efforts to track him down. They argued that his ability to cause trouble had been degraded and he was no longer a threat.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1458,
"answer_start": 677,
"text": "Following a 2005 International Criminal Court arrest warrant Mr Kony is wanted on 12 counts of crimes against humanity and 21 counts of war crimes. He is accused of brutalising civilians in northern Uganda through murder, abduction, mutilation and the burning of property. From the 1990s, LRA attacks became infamous. Rebel fighters would hack off their victims' limbs or parts of their faces. Hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes, tens of thousands were killed and thousands of others were abducted for fighting and sexual slavery. Mr Kony himself is thought to have taken many of the captured women as wives. He also has an unknown number of children, two of whom, Salim and Ali, have been sanctioned by the US for their alleged role in LRA activities."
}
],
"id": "1218_0",
"question": "What is he accused of?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2241,
"answer_start": 1459,
"text": "Born in the early 1960s into an Acholi peasant family in Odek, a village in northern Uganda, Mr Kony is remembered as an amiable boy. \"He played football and was a brilliant dancer,\" one of his former classmates said, recalling the rebel leader's days at Odek primary. He became a traditional healer after leaving primary school, but in the 1980s was drawn to the Holy Spirit Movement led by charismatic figure Alice Auma, better known as Alice Lakwena. She said she was fighting for the rights of the Acholi people who were feeling marginalised in the turbulent politics of 1980s Uganda. They felt excluded from power after President Milton Obote, who was from the north, was overthrown in a military rebellion, and eventually replaced by current President Yoweri Museveni in 1986."
}
],
"id": "1218_1",
"question": "Where is he from?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2998,
"answer_start": 2242,
"text": "Despite promising her followers protection from bullets, Ms Auma's movement was defeated in 1988 and she fled to Kenya. The LRA was founded in the aftermath of that defeat saying it continued to support the people of the north and wanted to install a government based on the biblical 10 commandments. What that meant in practical terms was never clear. At one time the LRA was popular in the north, but that waned as the group's brutality increased. Mr Kony has used religion and traditional beliefs to inspire his followers but some question his sincere commitment to those ideas. Author Ledio Cakaj, who has interviewed hundreds of LRA defectors, told the Washington Post that the LRA leader \"has never been rigid about anything except his own survival\"."
}
],
"id": "1218_2",
"question": "What does the LRA want?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4297,
"answer_start": 2999,
"text": "Mr Kony sees himself as a spirit medium. \"They will tell us what is going to happen. They say, 'You, Mr Joseph, tell your people that the enemy is planning to come and attack,'\" he has explained. In a 2006 film broadcast on the BBC, one of his close allies, Captain Sunday, said that through the help of spirits the LRA leader could see the future. He was also immortal, the captain added. \"I will communicate with Museveni through the holy spirits and not through the telephone,\" Mr Kony once said. He has created an aura of mysticism around himself and his rebels follow strict rules and rituals. \"When you go to fight you make the sign of the cross first. If you fail to do this, you will be killed,\" one young fighter who escaped from the LRA told US-based Human Rights Watch. \"You must also take oil and draw a cross on your chest, your forehead, and each shoulder, and you must make a cross in oil on your gun. They say that the oil is the power of the Holy Spirit.\" He has also used terror to maintain control, beating and killing followers who were caught trying to flee. Some former fighters have said they complied with the leader's orders out of fear. Ex-commander Kenneth Banya told the BBC in 2012 that he had sex with a minor because he was threatened with death if he left her alone."
}
],
"id": "1218_3",
"question": "Why is he described by some as a 'prophet'?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4998,
"answer_start": 4298,
"text": "Mr Kony has described himself as a \"freedom fighter\" but has been accused of being responsible for the deaths of thousands of people in the north of Uganda. He has used biblical references to explain why it was necessary to kill his own people, since they had, in his view, failed to support his cause. In his first interview in 2006, filmed at his jungle base at the time in DR Congo, he insisted he was not the monster he was portrayed to be. \"Let me tell you clearly what happened in Uganda. [President] Museveni went into the villages and cut off the ears of the people, telling the people that it was the work of the LRA. I cannot cut the ear of my brother; I cannot kill the eye of my brother.\""
}
],
"id": "1218_4",
"question": "Why has he used violence against his own people?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5792,
"answer_start": 4999,
"text": "In 2005, the LRA was forced out of Uganda by the army and the rebels went into what was then Sudan (now South Sudan) and eventually set up camp in the border area with DR Congo. Mr Kony's fighters continued to spread terror targeting and killing local people for provisions. They later moved to CAR where they acted more like a criminal outfit engaging in poaching and illegal mining. There have been attempts to make peace, but talks fell apart in 2008 because the LRA leader wanted assurances that he and his allies would not be prosecuted. But some LRA fighters are being prosecuted. The ICC trial of LRA commander Dominic Ongwen on 70 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity began in December 2016. Other key figures have either been killed, captured, or have given themselves up."
}
],
"id": "1218_5",
"question": "What has happened to the LRA?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 6691,
"answer_start": 5793,
"text": "Mr Kony's global notoriety increased in 2012 because of the social media campaign that used the hashtag #Kony2012. A video posted online by the US advocacy group Invisible Children was watched tens of millions of times. It inspired a public outcry, which included celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, to boost the hunt for Mr Kony. About 100 US troops had already been deployed to central Africa in 2011 to support an African Union-led mission against the LRA, but #Kony2012 increased the pressure to get results. The film proved controversial, especially in Uganda, where critics said it oversimplified a complex subject, but Invisible Children said it succeeded in extending the US mission. However, Mr Kony has not been found and in 2017 the US and Ugandan armies ended their efforts to track him down. They argued that his ability to cause trouble had been degraded and he was no longer a threat."
}
],
"id": "1218_6",
"question": "What about #Kony2012?"
}
]
}
] |
Taiwan election: Tsai bids for second term against contender Han
|
11 January 2020
|
[
{
"context": "Polls have closed in Taiwan's presidential election, whose outcome will shape the island's relationship with China. Tsai Ing-wen, running for a second term, favours the status quo, and does not want closer ties with Beijing. Meanwhile, her main rival, Han Kuo-yu, promises to ease tensions with China. Ahead of the vote, Ms Tsai was leading in the polls - which some observers attribute to her support for the protests in Hong Kong. Her stance is popular with those who fear Taiwan being overtaken by mainland China. Beijing says the island must be unified with the mainland one day. President Tsai insists Taiwan's future should be decided by its 23 million people. Voters were also choosing the next members of the Taiwanese legislature, where Ms Tsai's party has had a majority. About 19 million people were registered to vote in Saturday's election. Polling stations closed at 16:00 (08:00 GMT) and results are expected before the end of the day. For practical purposes, Taiwan is an independent state - it has its own elected government, constitution and military. But China has claimed sovereignty over it since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. It says Taiwan must eventually be reunited with China, by force if necessary. China refuses to have diplomatic relations with any country that recognises Taiwan as a sovereign nation. All but a handful of countries have picked Beijing, but most maintain an ambiguous relationship with Taiwan through trade. The US is also legally bound to supply Taiwan with the means to defend itself. Ms Tsai wants to \"maintain the existing mechanisms\", according to her website - meaning she does not want to compromise Taiwan's de facto independence. In a speech on the Hong Kong protests in June, she said \"anyone who tries to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy, or use them as political bargaining chips, will fail\". She had also rejected Taiwan ever operating under the \"one country, two systems\" political system used in Hong Kong since it returned to China in 1997 - calling it \"not viable\". Speaking to the BBC this week, she said Taiwan should \"learn a lesson\" from Hong Kong: \"If we don't insist [on maintaining Taiwan's independence], we'll be losing everything we have now.\" Mr Han and his party the Kuomintang (KMT) favour closer ties with China - which they say will bring economic growth - but do not seek unification. The KMT once ruled China, before fleeing to Taiwan in 1949 after losing to the communist forces in the civil war. Mr Han made a high-profile visit to Hong Kong and China in March, and has reportedly said a formal declaration of Taiwanese independence would be \"scarier then syphilis\". A third candidate, James Soong, is running for his minor People First Party. Although the economy has grown during Ms Tsai's presidency, exports have fallen and wage growth is sluggish. Saturday is also the first presidential election since Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. The move was rejected in a series of referendums, but parliament passed a special law in order to comply with an earlier court ruling. Ms Tsai said it was \"a big step towards true equality\". Ms Tsai, 63, was a law professor before entering politics. She studied at Cornell in the US and the London School of Economics, as well as in Taiwan. She is accused of being elitist, but her stance on same-sex marriage, language rights and other issues have won her support among younger voters. Mr Han, 62 and currently mayor of Kaohsiung, is seen as more down-to-earth, and has projected a plain-talking everyman image. He has embraced nicknames, including \"bald guy\", and a recent talk-show appearance saw the host apologise for poking fun at him. \"Continue, everyone is happy,\" he replied. \"It's good in a society with a democratic and free atmosphere... just one request, no jokes about my hairline!\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1546,
"answer_start": 952,
"text": "For practical purposes, Taiwan is an independent state - it has its own elected government, constitution and military. But China has claimed sovereignty over it since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. It says Taiwan must eventually be reunited with China, by force if necessary. China refuses to have diplomatic relations with any country that recognises Taiwan as a sovereign nation. All but a handful of countries have picked Beijing, but most maintain an ambiguous relationship with Taiwan through trade. The US is also legally bound to supply Taiwan with the means to defend itself."
}
],
"id": "1219_0",
"question": "What is Taiwan's status?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2751,
"answer_start": 1547,
"text": "Ms Tsai wants to \"maintain the existing mechanisms\", according to her website - meaning she does not want to compromise Taiwan's de facto independence. In a speech on the Hong Kong protests in June, she said \"anyone who tries to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and democracy, or use them as political bargaining chips, will fail\". She had also rejected Taiwan ever operating under the \"one country, two systems\" political system used in Hong Kong since it returned to China in 1997 - calling it \"not viable\". Speaking to the BBC this week, she said Taiwan should \"learn a lesson\" from Hong Kong: \"If we don't insist [on maintaining Taiwan's independence], we'll be losing everything we have now.\" Mr Han and his party the Kuomintang (KMT) favour closer ties with China - which they say will bring economic growth - but do not seek unification. The KMT once ruled China, before fleeing to Taiwan in 1949 after losing to the communist forces in the civil war. Mr Han made a high-profile visit to Hong Kong and China in March, and has reportedly said a formal declaration of Taiwanese independence would be \"scarier then syphilis\". A third candidate, James Soong, is running for his minor People First Party."
}
],
"id": "1219_1",
"question": "Where do the candidates stand on China?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3175,
"answer_start": 2752,
"text": "Although the economy has grown during Ms Tsai's presidency, exports have fallen and wage growth is sluggish. Saturday is also the first presidential election since Taiwan became the first place in Asia to legalise same-sex marriage. The move was rejected in a series of referendums, but parliament passed a special law in order to comply with an earlier court ruling. Ms Tsai said it was \"a big step towards true equality\"."
}
],
"id": "1219_2",
"question": "What are the other issues?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3881,
"answer_start": 3176,
"text": "Ms Tsai, 63, was a law professor before entering politics. She studied at Cornell in the US and the London School of Economics, as well as in Taiwan. She is accused of being elitist, but her stance on same-sex marriage, language rights and other issues have won her support among younger voters. Mr Han, 62 and currently mayor of Kaohsiung, is seen as more down-to-earth, and has projected a plain-talking everyman image. He has embraced nicknames, including \"bald guy\", and a recent talk-show appearance saw the host apologise for poking fun at him. \"Continue, everyone is happy,\" he replied. \"It's good in a society with a democratic and free atmosphere... just one request, no jokes about my hairline!\""
}
],
"id": "1219_3",
"question": "What are the candidates' backgrounds?"
}
]
}
] |
Macron is a sponsor of terrorism, says Turkish foreign minister
|
28 November 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Turkey's foreign minister has accused French President Emmanuel Macron of being a \"sponsor of terrorism\", dismissing the French leader's criticism of Turkey's Syria offensive. Mevlut Cavusoglu told reporters that Mr Macron wanted to be the leader of Europe but was \"wobbling\". Last month Mr Macron angered Turkey by hosting an official from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Turkey views a section of the group - the YPG - as terrorists. The spat between Turkey and France comes in the week before the two Nato allies are due to attend a summit of the alliance in the UK. Earlier on Thursday, Mr Macron said he stood by comments made three weeks ago when he described Nato as \"brain dead\". He said members of the alliance needed a \"wake-up call\" as they were no longer co-operating on a range of key issues. He also criticised Nato's failure to respond to the military offensive by Turkey in northern Syria. Addressing reporters in parliament on Thursday, Mr Cavusoglu said: \"He [Macron] is already the sponsor of the terrorist organisation and constantly hosts them at the Elysee. If he says his ally is the terrorist organisation... there is really nothing more to say. \"Right now, there is a void in Europe, [Macron] is trying to be its leader, but leadership comes naturally.\" Turkey was angered when Mr Macron held talks in Paris on 8 October with SDF spokeswoman Jihane Ahmed. Mr Macron's office said the meeting was to express France's solidarity with the SDF in its fight against the Islamic State group, and also to reiterate concerns about the prospect of a Turkish military operation in Syria. A day later, Turkey launched an offensive in northern Syria to create a \"safe zone\" cleared of Kurdish militias. Ties between Turkey and its Nato allies have been under strain since Ankara bought the advanced Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system earlier this year. With only days before next week's brief Nato summit outside London, this row between France and Turkey is the last thing the alliance needs. It illustrates how events in north-eastern Syria are straining relations within Nato. President Macron has repeatedly criticised both Washington's abrupt withdrawal of support for the Kurds and Turkey's related offensive into Syria - two strategic decisions that were taken without consulting other Nato allies. Turkey, for its part, sees France as far too friendly towards the Kurds. It wants Nato as a whole to back its position in Syria. Above all this episode underscores Turkey's drift away from Nato and the West. Its purchase of a sophisticated Russian air defence system is an extraordinary step for a Nato ally. The problem is that Turkey's size and geographical position make it an important, albeit for many a troublesome, player in Nato despite some analysts questioning if it really should be in the alliance at all. Mr Macron was speaking at a news conference with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in the week before alliance leaders meet in the UK for its 70th anniversary. In a 7 November interview, Mr Macron stressed what he saw as a waning commitment to the transatlantic alliance by its main guarantor, the US. Allies said at the time they disagreed with his assessment. \"I totally stand by raising these ambiguities because I believe it was irresponsible of us to keep talking about financial and technical matters given the stakes we currently face,\" he said on Thursday. \"A wake-up call was necessary. I'm glad it was delivered, and I'm glad everyone now thinks we should rather think about our strategic goals.\" On Turkey, he said he respected its security interests after it suffered \"many terrorist attacks on its soil\". But he added: \"One cannot on one hand say that we are allies, and with respect to this demand our solidarity; and on the other hand, put its allies in the face of a military offensive done as a 'fait accompli' which endangers the action of the coalition against Islamic State, which Nato is part of.\" Mr Macron said Nato needed to clarify who or what the alliance stood against, adding that he disagreed that Russia or China were the enemies. US President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to pull most US forces out of north-eastern Syria in October took European Nato members by surprise. The move opened the way for Turkey to push into Syria and create what it termed a security zone along its border. Kurdish forces, which had been helping the US fight the Islamic State group, were expelled from the area. Mr Trump has frequently accused European Nato members of failing to provide their fair share of military spending and for relying too heavily on the US for their defence.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1891,
"answer_start": 922,
"text": "Addressing reporters in parliament on Thursday, Mr Cavusoglu said: \"He [Macron] is already the sponsor of the terrorist organisation and constantly hosts them at the Elysee. If he says his ally is the terrorist organisation... there is really nothing more to say. \"Right now, there is a void in Europe, [Macron] is trying to be its leader, but leadership comes naturally.\" Turkey was angered when Mr Macron held talks in Paris on 8 October with SDF spokeswoman Jihane Ahmed. Mr Macron's office said the meeting was to express France's solidarity with the SDF in its fight against the Islamic State group, and also to reiterate concerns about the prospect of a Turkish military operation in Syria. A day later, Turkey launched an offensive in northern Syria to create a \"safe zone\" cleared of Kurdish militias. Ties between Turkey and its Nato allies have been under strain since Ankara bought the advanced Russian S-400 surface-to-air missile system earlier this year."
}
],
"id": "1220_0",
"question": "What did Cavusoglu say?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4130,
"answer_start": 2863,
"text": "Mr Macron was speaking at a news conference with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, in the week before alliance leaders meet in the UK for its 70th anniversary. In a 7 November interview, Mr Macron stressed what he saw as a waning commitment to the transatlantic alliance by its main guarantor, the US. Allies said at the time they disagreed with his assessment. \"I totally stand by raising these ambiguities because I believe it was irresponsible of us to keep talking about financial and technical matters given the stakes we currently face,\" he said on Thursday. \"A wake-up call was necessary. I'm glad it was delivered, and I'm glad everyone now thinks we should rather think about our strategic goals.\" On Turkey, he said he respected its security interests after it suffered \"many terrorist attacks on its soil\". But he added: \"One cannot on one hand say that we are allies, and with respect to this demand our solidarity; and on the other hand, put its allies in the face of a military offensive done as a 'fait accompli' which endangers the action of the coalition against Islamic State, which Nato is part of.\" Mr Macron said Nato needed to clarify who or what the alliance stood against, adding that he disagreed that Russia or China were the enemies."
}
],
"id": "1220_1",
"question": "What did the French president say?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4666,
"answer_start": 4131,
"text": "US President Donald Trump's abrupt decision to pull most US forces out of north-eastern Syria in October took European Nato members by surprise. The move opened the way for Turkey to push into Syria and create what it termed a security zone along its border. Kurdish forces, which had been helping the US fight the Islamic State group, were expelled from the area. Mr Trump has frequently accused European Nato members of failing to provide their fair share of military spending and for relying too heavily on the US for their defence."
}
],
"id": "1220_2",
"question": "What's the issue with Nato?"
}
]
}
] |
Uruguay election: Voters choose president in second round
|
24 November 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Voters in Uruguay have gone to the polls to elect a new president, after no candidate secured enough votes to win outright in the first round. The candidate for the centre-left Broad Front coalition, Daniel Martinez, secured the most votes in the poll held on 27 October. Mr Martinez now faces Luis Lacalle Pou of the conservative National Party. Voters named the economy as a major concern, with only 22% of citizens in one poll rating the economy as good. Crime also dominated much of the pre-election debate after the murder rate increased by 46% last year. The Broad Front coalition has ruled Uruguay for 14 years. Opinion polls suggest Mr Lacalle Pou, who secured the backing of some of the lower-placed presidential candidates, is ahead of Mr Martinez in round two. Daniel Martinez, Broad Front Mr Martinez, a 62-year-old former mayor of Montevideo, has promised renewed efforts to create jobs and fight inequality, campaigning under the slogan \"Not losing what has been good, but doing it better\". He resigned as mayor in April to launch his presidential bid. Supporters credited him with keeping the capital's economy in surplus through cuts to subsidies and improved tax controls. Critics, however, have pointed to signs of a weakening national economy under Broad Front rule. The former socialist activist and pro-business engineer, Mr Martinez also served as senator and as minister of industry, energy and mining. He has promised more surveillance cameras and community policing to tackle crime. Luis Lacalle Pou, National Party The 46-year-old conservative and very pro-business candidate is the son of former Uruguayan President Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera, who governed from 1990 to 1995. He has been a member of Congress since 1999, when he was 26. Analysts say he has benefited from the formation of a solid coalition of different opposition parties since the first round, putting him within sight of ending almost 15 years of left-wing government. He has campaigned on promises to observe fiscal responsibility and reactivate the economy, criticising the \"reckless spending\" of previous governments. Mr Lacalle Pou plans to put more police on the streets, but also wants to tackle the high cost of living through austerity measures. His critics say his government plan could put at risk social programmes that currently benefit many Uruguayans.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2363,
"answer_start": 619,
"text": "Opinion polls suggest Mr Lacalle Pou, who secured the backing of some of the lower-placed presidential candidates, is ahead of Mr Martinez in round two. Daniel Martinez, Broad Front Mr Martinez, a 62-year-old former mayor of Montevideo, has promised renewed efforts to create jobs and fight inequality, campaigning under the slogan \"Not losing what has been good, but doing it better\". He resigned as mayor in April to launch his presidential bid. Supporters credited him with keeping the capital's economy in surplus through cuts to subsidies and improved tax controls. Critics, however, have pointed to signs of a weakening national economy under Broad Front rule. The former socialist activist and pro-business engineer, Mr Martinez also served as senator and as minister of industry, energy and mining. He has promised more surveillance cameras and community policing to tackle crime. Luis Lacalle Pou, National Party The 46-year-old conservative and very pro-business candidate is the son of former Uruguayan President Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera, who governed from 1990 to 1995. He has been a member of Congress since 1999, when he was 26. Analysts say he has benefited from the formation of a solid coalition of different opposition parties since the first round, putting him within sight of ending almost 15 years of left-wing government. He has campaigned on promises to observe fiscal responsibility and reactivate the economy, criticising the \"reckless spending\" of previous governments. Mr Lacalle Pou plans to put more police on the streets, but also wants to tackle the high cost of living through austerity measures. His critics say his government plan could put at risk social programmes that currently benefit many Uruguayans."
}
],
"id": "1221_0",
"question": "Who are the candidates?"
}
]
}
] |
Qasem Soleimani: Thousands mourn assassinated Iranian general
|
4 January 2020
|
[
{
"context": "Thousands of Iraqis have followed the coffin of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, killed in a US air strike at Baghdad airport on Friday. Soleimani, viewed as a terrorist by the White House, was the architect of Iran's Middle East operations and Iran has vowed to take \"severe revenge\". The funeral procession which began in Baghdad on Saturday marks the beginning of days of mourning for Soleimani. His body is due to be returned to Iran for burial in his home town. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has promised members of the dead commander's family that Americans will \"feel the impact\" of their \"criminal act... for years ahead\". The crowds in Baghdad were also there to mourn the death of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi who commanded the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah group and effectively led the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) - an umbrella of militias in Iraq dominated by groups aligned with Iran. Both Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone, where the US embassy is located, and Balad air base north of the city came under rocket fire on Saturday but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Mourners gathered in Baghdad in the early hours, waving Iraqi and militia flags and chanting \"death to America\". The funeral began at the city's Al Muthana Airport, then moved to the gate of the Green Zone. As the procession snaked though the streets, some mourners carried portraits of Soleimani while others held portraits of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Later, the procession left for the Shia Muslim holy cities of Karbala and Najaf. Reports say the bodies of Soleimani and four other Iranians killed in the air strike will be flown on Saturday evening to Iran, which has declared three days of mourning for the assassinated general. His funeral in Iran is to be held on Tuesday. Some Iraqis, conversely, celebrated in Baghdad's streets at the news of Soleimani's death. He was accused of orchestrating violent crackdowns on peaceful pro-democracy protests there in recent months. Iran's retaliation is certain, but when, where, how is not. For now, the priority is to cement Qasem Soleimani's status as a national hero, to ensure he remains powerful in death as in life. Elaborate plans for his funeral have been expanded, a mix of carefully scripted ceremony with outpourings of grief filling the streets. It begins in Baghdad where he died, and where so much of his legacy lives. From there his remains travel to Iran's holy city of Mashhad, to his hometown Kerman, and then to Tehran where the supreme leader will preside over final prayers - a rare honour, to send another signal. Ayatollah Khamenei has promoted his loyal officer to lieutenant general. More important is to elevate his martyrdom, to draw in rivals who resented his status and Iranians who reviled his costly foreign adventures. Iranian leaders hope his killing will unite a nation as it stares at a far more uncertain future. Its leaders have pledged to avenge the death of the man who led the Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Soleimani, 62, was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran after Ayatollah Khamenei. The Quds Force reported directly to the ayatollah, and Soleimani was hailed as a heroic national figure. Visiting Soleimani's family members at their house in Tehran, President Rouhani said: \"The Americans really did not realise what grave error they have committed. \"Revenge for his blood will be exacted on that day when the filthy hands of America will be cut off forever from the region.\" Ayatollah Khamenei said earlier that revenge would be \"forceful\" while a senior IRGC general, Gholamali Abuhamzeh, said 35 US targets had been identified in the region \"as well as Tel Aviv\" - the most populous city in Israel. He also raised the prospect of attacks on US warships in the Gulf. At a march in Tehran on Saturday, one demonstrator told Reuters: \"[Soleimani] was a man who - unlike many of our officials - was an enemy for our enemies and treated our own people very well. Therefore he was very popular. So, the only thing we want of our statesmen and our supreme leader is... to take revenge.\" Simmering US-Iranian hostilities had escalated rapidly last week after the US conducted air strikes in Iraq and Syria against Kataib Hezbollah, which the US blamed for an earlier rocket attack that killed an American civilian contractor. Pro-Iranian militia attacked the US embassy in Baghdad in response. In a letter to the UN Security Council, responding to the strike on Soleimani, Iran's UN ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi said that Iran reserved the right to self-defence under international law. Analysts said Iran could deploy cyber-attacks against the US, or attempt to strike US military targets or interests in the Middle East. It says it has deployed an additional 3,000 troops to the Middle East to help respond to any backlash from the strike. US citizens have been advised to leave Iraq immediately via any means possible, while the UK Foreign Office hardened its travel advice for Iran and Iraq. Two previous US presidents, Barack Obama and George W Bush, had rejected a strike on the general as too risky. Defending the operation to kill Soleimani, US President Donald Trump accused \"the number one terrorist anywhere in the world\" of \"plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel\". No details were given of the alleged planned attacks and a New York Times correspondent has quoted two unnamed US officials as telling her that evidence of such plotting was \"razor thin\". Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, that the US killing of Soleimani was an abuse of military power while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who also phoned Mr Zarif, said the killing \"grossly\" violated the norms of international law. Meanwhile, Iraq's PMF retracted their own report of a deadly new air strike on a convoy on Saturday, Reuters reports. Iran supports a variety of Shia militia groups in neighbouring Iraq. Soleimani had just arrived at Baghdad airport and was travelling in a convoy alongside officials from such militia when their cars were hit by several US missiles. Iraq now finds itself in a difficult position as an ally both of Iran and of the US. Thousands of US troops remain in the country to assist in the broader struggle against the Sunni Muslim Islamic State (IS) group but Iraq's government insists the US has acted beyond the terms of this agreement. Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi labelled the missile strike as a \"brazen violation of Iraq's sovereignty and a blatant attack on the nation's dignity\" and Iraq's parliament announced it would hold an emergency meeting on Sunday.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2027,
"answer_start": 1125,
"text": "Mourners gathered in Baghdad in the early hours, waving Iraqi and militia flags and chanting \"death to America\". The funeral began at the city's Al Muthana Airport, then moved to the gate of the Green Zone. As the procession snaked though the streets, some mourners carried portraits of Soleimani while others held portraits of Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Later, the procession left for the Shia Muslim holy cities of Karbala and Najaf. Reports say the bodies of Soleimani and four other Iranians killed in the air strike will be flown on Saturday evening to Iran, which has declared three days of mourning for the assassinated general. His funeral in Iran is to be held on Tuesday. Some Iraqis, conversely, celebrated in Baghdad's streets at the news of Soleimani's death. He was accused of orchestrating violent crackdowns on peaceful pro-democracy protests there in recent months."
}
],
"id": "1222_0",
"question": "How did the Iraqi stage of the funeral proceed?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4826,
"answer_start": 2946,
"text": "Its leaders have pledged to avenge the death of the man who led the Quds Force, an elite unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Soleimani, 62, was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran after Ayatollah Khamenei. The Quds Force reported directly to the ayatollah, and Soleimani was hailed as a heroic national figure. Visiting Soleimani's family members at their house in Tehran, President Rouhani said: \"The Americans really did not realise what grave error they have committed. \"Revenge for his blood will be exacted on that day when the filthy hands of America will be cut off forever from the region.\" Ayatollah Khamenei said earlier that revenge would be \"forceful\" while a senior IRGC general, Gholamali Abuhamzeh, said 35 US targets had been identified in the region \"as well as Tel Aviv\" - the most populous city in Israel. He also raised the prospect of attacks on US warships in the Gulf. At a march in Tehran on Saturday, one demonstrator told Reuters: \"[Soleimani] was a man who - unlike many of our officials - was an enemy for our enemies and treated our own people very well. Therefore he was very popular. So, the only thing we want of our statesmen and our supreme leader is... to take revenge.\" Simmering US-Iranian hostilities had escalated rapidly last week after the US conducted air strikes in Iraq and Syria against Kataib Hezbollah, which the US blamed for an earlier rocket attack that killed an American civilian contractor. Pro-Iranian militia attacked the US embassy in Baghdad in response. In a letter to the UN Security Council, responding to the strike on Soleimani, Iran's UN ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi said that Iran reserved the right to self-defence under international law. Analysts said Iran could deploy cyber-attacks against the US, or attempt to strike US military targets or interests in the Middle East."
}
],
"id": "1222_1",
"question": "How has Iran responded to the assassination?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 6012,
"answer_start": 4827,
"text": "It says it has deployed an additional 3,000 troops to the Middle East to help respond to any backlash from the strike. US citizens have been advised to leave Iraq immediately via any means possible, while the UK Foreign Office hardened its travel advice for Iran and Iraq. Two previous US presidents, Barack Obama and George W Bush, had rejected a strike on the general as too risky. Defending the operation to kill Soleimani, US President Donald Trump accused \"the number one terrorist anywhere in the world\" of \"plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel\". No details were given of the alleged planned attacks and a New York Times correspondent has quoted two unnamed US officials as telling her that evidence of such plotting was \"razor thin\". Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, that the US killing of Soleimani was an abuse of military power while Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who also phoned Mr Zarif, said the killing \"grossly\" violated the norms of international law. Meanwhile, Iraq's PMF retracted their own report of a deadly new air strike on a convoy on Saturday, Reuters reports."
}
],
"id": "1222_2",
"question": "What measures is the US taking?"
}
]
}
] |
The transgender tailor who died in Saudi custody
|
17 May 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Mohammad Amin was a family man, with a wife, four sons and five daughters. But on 26 February, a contingent of Saudi police who broke up a party of transgender Pakistanis in Riyadh found him in women's clothes, wearing jewellery and make-up, and being addressed by others as Meeno Baji - the last name a customary title for an elder sister. Cross-dressing is not tolerated in Saudi Arabia, so Mohammad and 34 others were rounded up and thrown in Azizia prison. Mohammad died that night. Pakistani activists say he was beaten by policemen with clubs and hosepipes, causing his chronic heart condition to deteriorate. The Saudi authorities were quick to deny the allegations of mistreatment, saying he had a heart attack in custody. Pakistani officials followed suit by accusing him of indulging in \"illegal and immoral activities\". But Meeno's family, friends and some transgender rights activists paint a different picture of the person, and the events of that last night in Riyadh. Meeno was born Mohammad Amin in Barikot town in Swat in 1957 to a family of tenant farmers. He had three brothers and four sisters. At some point during his adolescent years he became a ladies' tailor with a shop in Barikot. But unlike most transgender women from Pakistan's rural hinterland who seek anonymity by leaving home, Mohammad stuck with his family. He married a woman from his tribe in the mid-1980s and a decade later he left for Saudi Arabia on a work visa as a ladies' tailor - a job he held for most of the rest of his life. We can only guess at his real sexual identity. Social taboos prevent his family and childhood friends from speaking openly. We know, however, that apart from tailoring, Meeno's favourite pastime was to hang out with the area's trans women who lived together and earned a living by dancing at wedding parties or occasional prostitution. These activities led to discussions at home. \"He was not a 'moorata' [local slang for trans woman], but he did keep their company which created occasional tensions in the family,\" says his eldest son, Sar Zameen, who is married with children and also works in Saudi Arabia, as a driver. \"His parents and siblings reprimanded him; we, his children, boycotted him for a while; my mother would argue with him often. \"We would tell him that you are giving everyone a bad name; say your prayers. But he would say he couldn't give up his friends. He was not an angry man, but such talk at home often landed him in a bad mood.\" Despite this, Sar Zameen remembers his father as a kind and loving person. He put Sar Zameen in an expensive school before he travelled to Saudi Arabia, at a time when he did not have much income. He also kept the house well supplied, and was often around to offer financial support when relatives or neighbours stumbled on bad luck. The family's only complaint, says Sar Zameen, was that \"he never told us how much money he had, though many of his friends knew\". One of those friends, a local transgender woman called Spogmai (not her real name), shines some light on this. \"Meeno spent a lot of money on looking fresh and attractive,\" she said. \"She got an expensive facelift done at a clinic in Rawalpindi, and also took a dozen skin-whitening injections. Besides, she had several laser hair removal jobs done on her face and body. She was a beauty.\" Farzana Jan, a trans woman who works with a Peshawar-based transgender rights group, Blue Veins, met Meeno in the late 1990s during the latter's first trip home from Saudi Arabia. Farzana Jan was a dancer then, years before she became a rights activist. \"Meeno came to see me with three other friends. They were in men's clothes but their clean faces, manicured hands and made-up eyebrows gave them away. They were all from rural Swat, mostly tailors. \"They had brought me some gifts. Meeno introduced herself and said Ibrahim Ustad [a locally well-known trans woman who kept an open house for the transgender community in Swat's main city, Mingora] was her guru [guardian, in the transgender community]. \"They had heard that there was a new dancer on the Peshawar circuit, and so they had come to see me. They wanted me to dance for them. When they were leaving, Meeno promised that when she came the next time, she would bring me some fine maxi dresses.\" Meeno brought Farzana Jan many precious gifts on her subsequent visits, she says. Those who knew Meeno more intimately say she had another, more secret life which others could guess at but never found out about for sure. Spogmai said that Meeno had a 30-year love affair with a man from her native town, until that man died in 2008. \"Gul Bacha [not his real name] was a 'real' man, with a family of his own, but they were both in love with each other,\" she says. They went to Saudi Arabia together, and lived together in Riyadh. When Gul died of heart failure in 2008, Meeno accompanied his body to Barikot and then did not return to Saudi Arabia for several years. A year after Gul's death, Meeno, then 54, was diagnosed with a heart condition, unusual in a family known for longevity. Spogmai believes Meeno took Gul's loss to heart and that, even though it was not apparent, Meeno's double life was taking its toll on her health. During those years, Meeno would spend a lot of time with her transgender friends. \"We had a niche for ourselves in a photographer's shop in Barikot bazaar. Or sometimes I would call her over to our place in Mingora,\" she said. \"All friends would sit together and chat or have singing sessions. Her health had taken away her voice. She could no longer sing as well as she used to, but she would try.\" Meeno tried to keep herself busy tailoring clothes at home. Two of her sons were in Saudi Arabia, which meant family money was still coming in. But then she couldn't take life at home any more - she felt she would be more at peace with herself if she went abroad, says Spogmai. She departed in 2013. Spogmai says that in Riyadh Meeno tried some relationships, but none succeeded. When she came back to Pakistan on her last trip in the autumn of 2015, she told her friends jokingly: \"Your mother remarried, but the guy was not man enough, so we divorced.\" She told them there was someone else she had her eye on, though. \"She told us, 'your mother will soon marry again'. 'In which lane this time,' we would quip back, suggesting she had a potential lover in every street of the town.\" In February 2016, Meeno headed back to Riyadh for what turned out to be the last time. Farzana Jan, who is popular with the transgender community because of her social work, was kept in the loop by a transgender group who were planning a birthday party for one of the \"sisters\" at a guesthouse in Riyadh on 26 February 2017. On 24 February, she received a call. \"The birthday girl and another one were planning to adopt Meeno as their mother at the party and there was confusion over rituals. They wanted my advice,\" she says. \"They were not planning any music or dance, but some of them did wear women's clothing and jewellery and make-up.\" But then came terrible news. At about 0300 on 27 February, Farzana Jan was awoken by a WhatsApp message from an unidentified caller. It contained a number of pictures of people, some in dresses, their eyes blanked with a pink marker. \"I was puzzled. I replied, asking who this was, and who were the people in those pictures. I then received a voice message stating who the people were and what had happened. I looked at the pictures again, and the faces started to become alive and familiar...\" A Riyadh-based newspaper carried a report of the arrests, but it was Farzana Jan who came out with the claim that the police had tortured everyone at the party and that at least two of them, including Meeno, had been bundled into hessian sacks and beaten with clubs. According to initial reports provided to Farzana Jan by her contacts in Riyadh, both had died, though no evidence of a second body ever emerged. Only Meeno's body was shipped back to Pakistan, in the second week of March. Some transgender rights activists who have been calling for Islamabad to lodge a protest with Riyadh advised Meeno's family to allow a post-mortem of the body in Pakistan but the family refused, thereby foregoing crucial medical evidence. One of those activists, Qamar Naseem of Blue Veins, received the body at Islamabad airport and says he had a chance to open the casket and look at Meeno's face. \"Her teeth were broken and a part of the torn upper gum was hanging loose in her mouth. I took some pictures of the face.\" But in the absence of a post-mortem report, that has not impressed the authorities. Meanwhile, the Pakistani Senate has responded to pressure from activists to form a committee to liaise with the Saudi authorities and establish how Meeno died. But few expect a positive outcome - the two states have a \"special relationship\" that harbours no embarrassing spats over citizen's rights. The facts of Meeno's death may never fully be known. But what is clear is she spent her life torn between the necessity of being Mohammad Amin, the husband and father, and an enduring urge to be her other self.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3333,
"answer_start": 983,
"text": "Meeno was born Mohammad Amin in Barikot town in Swat in 1957 to a family of tenant farmers. He had three brothers and four sisters. At some point during his adolescent years he became a ladies' tailor with a shop in Barikot. But unlike most transgender women from Pakistan's rural hinterland who seek anonymity by leaving home, Mohammad stuck with his family. He married a woman from his tribe in the mid-1980s and a decade later he left for Saudi Arabia on a work visa as a ladies' tailor - a job he held for most of the rest of his life. We can only guess at his real sexual identity. Social taboos prevent his family and childhood friends from speaking openly. We know, however, that apart from tailoring, Meeno's favourite pastime was to hang out with the area's trans women who lived together and earned a living by dancing at wedding parties or occasional prostitution. These activities led to discussions at home. \"He was not a 'moorata' [local slang for trans woman], but he did keep their company which created occasional tensions in the family,\" says his eldest son, Sar Zameen, who is married with children and also works in Saudi Arabia, as a driver. \"His parents and siblings reprimanded him; we, his children, boycotted him for a while; my mother would argue with him often. \"We would tell him that you are giving everyone a bad name; say your prayers. But he would say he couldn't give up his friends. He was not an angry man, but such talk at home often landed him in a bad mood.\" Despite this, Sar Zameen remembers his father as a kind and loving person. He put Sar Zameen in an expensive school before he travelled to Saudi Arabia, at a time when he did not have much income. He also kept the house well supplied, and was often around to offer financial support when relatives or neighbours stumbled on bad luck. The family's only complaint, says Sar Zameen, was that \"he never told us how much money he had, though many of his friends knew\". One of those friends, a local transgender woman called Spogmai (not her real name), shines some light on this. \"Meeno spent a lot of money on looking fresh and attractive,\" she said. \"She got an expensive facelift done at a clinic in Rawalpindi, and also took a dozen skin-whitening injections. Besides, she had several laser hair removal jobs done on her face and body. She was a beauty.\""
}
],
"id": "1223_0",
"question": "Who was Meeno?"
}
]
}
] |
China blocks Hong Kong lawmakers in a reminder of who is in charge
|
7 November 2016
|
[
{
"context": "\"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it\" is an 18th Century trumpet call for free speech, one often repeated by parliamentarians around the world... but never in China. The message from Beijing to its unruly territory 2,000km (1,350 miles) south is, by contrast, \"we disapprove of what you say and we hereby decree that you have no right to say it\". China has now spoken on the question of whether elected members of Hong Kong's legislature can use that public platform to campaign for ideas offensive to China and the answer is a resounding no. In a unanimous decision by a panel of the Communist Party-controlled national parliament, Hong Kong has been reminded that the freedoms it enjoys are ultimately at the whim of Beijing. Today's \"interpretation\" of Hong Kong's mini-constitution is one of the most significant interventions in Hong Kong's legal system in two decades of Chinese rule. It is the first time China's parliament, without the request of either the Hong Kong government or Court of Final Appeal, has interpreted the mini-constitution at a time when the issue is under active consideration in a Hong Kong court. Why didn't China's politicians wait till after a court ruling on whether two legislators might be allowed to retake their oaths? Li Fei, the chairman of the Basic Law Committee of China's parliament, made the logic clear when he said the Chinese government \"is determined to firmly confront the pro-independence forces without any ambiguity\". The interpretation is a highly confrontational move which plunges Hong Kong into a new phase of its long running political and constitutional crisis. But Beijing's move comes in response to an equally confrontational move from the other side. The two lawmakers, Sixtus Leung and Yau Wai-ching, who used their swearing-in ceremony to insult China and talk of a \"Hong Kong nation\" should have known that a Chinese government so sensitive to questions of national pride and dignity would feel it had no choice but to act. It was no surprise when China's parliament said their words and actions had \"posed a grave threat to national sovereignty and security\", with Li Fei adding: \"The central government's attitude is absolute. There will be no leniency.\" The scope of Monday's interpretation will raise inevitable questions about whether China is interpreting Hong Kong law, which is allowed, or re-writing it, which is not. And apart from disqualifying the two young legislators at the heart of the crisis, it will raise a raft of questions about the way in which some of the other newly elected young democracy activists took their oaths. For example, does reciting the oath in slow motion or using eccentric intonation contravene the interpretation's insistence on \"genuine\" sincerity and solemnity? Who will decide? And if Beijing doesn't like the decision of a Hong Kong court, what will it do next? For that matter, where does Beijing's intervention leave the ongoing review of the oath taking question in Hong Kong's courts? The Hong Kong Bar Association warned in advance that an interpretation of the Basic Law by the Chinese parliament at this moment would be a severe blow to the territory's judicial independence. On Tuesday it plans a silent protest, yet another worry for police after Sunday's tense standoff with thousands of protesters outside a Chinese government office in Hong Kong. But for Beijing, all these problems are small ones. Its bottom line is that a handful of perceived troublemakers in a city of 7m people cannot be allowed to trump the needs of a Chinese nation of 1.3bn. A row over judicial independence, a constitutional crisis even, is a price China's leaders are prepared to pay to get the independence genie back in the bottle. Beijing sees any talk of independence as threatening Chinese sovereignty. Separatism is a crime and in Tibet or Xinjiang, campaigning for independence results in a lengthy jail term. When the leader of Taiwan's China friendly opposition party Hung Hsiu-chu visited Beijing last week, Taiwanese press reported Chinese President Xi Jinping as telling her that the Chinese Communist Party \"would be overthrown by the people if it failed to properly deal with Taiwanese pro-independence\". Mr Xi knows that his credibility and that of the party will suffer if \"the people\" see an independence movement take hold among Chinese citizens in Hong Kong. In this context, to allow elected members of Hong Kong's legislature to use the public platform of the Legislative Council to insult China and talk of a Hong Kong nation is unthinkable. Two worldviews collide here. One in which Chinese identity trumps all others and where Mr Xi's \"great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation\" requires all compatriots to unite under one flag. The other worldview, shared by many young people in Hong Kong and Taiwan, is that democratic freedoms trump all else, including Chinese citizenship. If they can't have meaningful democracy under Chinese rule, then this constituency conclude that perhaps they should do without Chinese rule. These worldviews are simply not compatible. Worse, every time Beijing uses the stick rather than the carrot to bring Hong Kong to heel, it alienates young voters further. Until this year hardly anyone in Hong Kong talked of self-determination or independence, but now such ideas are gaining currency. As Beijing's interpretation of the law disqualifies their elected representatives, the question for Hong Kong's young democracy activists is whether they can capitalise on popular indignation, and where to take their defiance next.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5623,
"answer_start": 4267,
"text": "Mr Xi knows that his credibility and that of the party will suffer if \"the people\" see an independence movement take hold among Chinese citizens in Hong Kong. In this context, to allow elected members of Hong Kong's legislature to use the public platform of the Legislative Council to insult China and talk of a Hong Kong nation is unthinkable. Two worldviews collide here. One in which Chinese identity trumps all others and where Mr Xi's \"great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation\" requires all compatriots to unite under one flag. The other worldview, shared by many young people in Hong Kong and Taiwan, is that democratic freedoms trump all else, including Chinese citizenship. If they can't have meaningful democracy under Chinese rule, then this constituency conclude that perhaps they should do without Chinese rule. These worldviews are simply not compatible. Worse, every time Beijing uses the stick rather than the carrot to bring Hong Kong to heel, it alienates young voters further. Until this year hardly anyone in Hong Kong talked of self-determination or independence, but now such ideas are gaining currency. As Beijing's interpretation of the law disqualifies their elected representatives, the question for Hong Kong's young democracy activists is whether they can capitalise on popular indignation, and where to take their defiance next."
}
],
"id": "1224_0",
"question": "Fuelling the fire?"
}
]
}
] |
Nusrat Jahan Rafi: Death penalty for 16 who set student on fire
|
24 October 2019
|
[
{
"context": "A Bangladesh court has sentenced 16 people to death for the murder of a student set on fire after accusing her teacher of sexual harassment. Nusrat Jahan Rafi, 19, died in April in Feni, a small town some 160km (100 miles) outside the capital Dhaka. Those convicted of murder included the headteacher Nusrat had accused of harassment and two female classmates. Her murder shocked the country and led to a series of protests demanding justice for Nusrat. The trial has been one of the quickest in a country where such cases usually take years to conclude. Prosecutor Hafez Ahmed told reporters it proved \"that nobody will get away with murder in Bangladesh\". However, the quick conclusion of the case did little to ease her mother's agony on Thursday. \"I can't forget her for a moment,\" Shirin Akhtar told news agency Reuters through tears upon hearing the verdict. \"I still feel the pain that she went through.\" Lawyers for the defendants say they will appeal. The investigation into Nusrat's death revealed a conspiracy to silence her which included her own classmates and a number of powerful men from within the community. Three teachers, including the headmaster, Siraj Ud Doula, who police say ordered the killing from prison after he was arrested under suspicion of harassment, were found guilty by the court on Thursday. Another two of the defendants convicted, Ruhul Amin and Maksud Alam, are local leaders of the ruling Awami League party. A number of local police were found to have collaborated with those convicted in spreading false information that Nusrat had committed suicide. The officers were not among those tried for Nusrat's murder. Nusrat's family, who supported her decision to go to police back in March, have since been given police protection. Her brother Mahmudul Hasan Noman said they were still in fear for their lives. \"You already know they threatened me in public inside the courtroom,\" he told reporters. \"I am very afraid. I am urging the prime minister to ensure our security. And the police super should also keep a track on our wellbeing.\" However, the family welcomed the verdict, asking for the sentence to be carried out quickly. In Bangladesh, the death penalty is carried out by hanging Akbar Hossain, BBC Bengali, in Feni When the judge announced the verdict, some of the defendants burst into tears, while others shouted out across the courtroom that they had been denied justice. But in Bangladesh, it is more usually women like Nusrat who are denied justice. Sexual harassment in Bangladesh's education institutions - including madrassas like the one Nusrat attended - is widespread, while the cost of speaking out is high. She was lured to her school's rooftop on 6 April this year, 11 days after she reported the headmaster to police for repeatedly touching her inappropriately. Nusrat was then surrounded by four or five people wearing burqas, pressuring her to withdraw her complaint. When she refused, they set her on fire. According to police, they had hoped to make it look like a suicide. Instead, she managed to escape and get help. But knowing she was badly hurt, she gave a statement which her brother filmed on his phone. \"The teacher touched me, I will fight this crime till my last breath,\" she says, naming some of her attackers. Nusrat, who had sustained burns to 80% of her body, died four days later, on 10 April. Sexual harassment is thought to be relatively commonplace in Bangladesh: a recent report by charity ActionAid earlier this year found 80% of women working in Bangladesh's garment industry have either seen or experienced sexual violence at work. Meanwhile, women's rights group Mahila Parishad said that, in the first six months of 2019, a total of 26 women were killed after being sexually assaulted, 592 were allegedly raped and 113 women said they were gang raped. However, these are just the reported figures: there are fears the true number is far higher. Speaking out like Nusrat is still uncommon as reporting sexual harassment carries risks. Victims often face judgement from their communities, harassment, in person and online, and in some cases violent attacks. Nusrat was particularly unusual because she went to the police. They filmed her statement on a mobile phone - which was later leaked to the media. Meanwhile, protesters took to the streets to demand the release of the headmaster, leading her family to fear for her safety. The case sparked mass protests in Bangladesh and shone a spotlight on the vulnerability of victims of sexual assault and harassment in the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina publicly pledged that \"none of the culprits will be spared from legal action\". Her interest in the case was praised by the family. \"We never imagined that justice will be ensured so fast by the prime minister,\" Mahmudul Hasan Noman told reporters. \"We want to express our gratitude to her directly in person. Hopefully she will give us a chance to do it. \" The police initially dismissed the sexual harassment allegations but laid charges against the 16 accused in May. The specially fast-tracked hearing took just 62 days to complete. Activists say the killing exposed a culture of impunity around sex crimes. Whether more victims of sexual abuse will feel emboldened to come forward following Nusrat's case remains to be seen.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3377,
"answer_start": 2670,
"text": "She was lured to her school's rooftop on 6 April this year, 11 days after she reported the headmaster to police for repeatedly touching her inappropriately. Nusrat was then surrounded by four or five people wearing burqas, pressuring her to withdraw her complaint. When she refused, they set her on fire. According to police, they had hoped to make it look like a suicide. Instead, she managed to escape and get help. But knowing she was badly hurt, she gave a statement which her brother filmed on his phone. \"The teacher touched me, I will fight this crime till my last breath,\" she says, naming some of her attackers. Nusrat, who had sustained burns to 80% of her body, died four days later, on 10 April."
}
],
"id": "1225_0",
"question": "What happened to Nusrat?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4421,
"answer_start": 3378,
"text": "Sexual harassment is thought to be relatively commonplace in Bangladesh: a recent report by charity ActionAid earlier this year found 80% of women working in Bangladesh's garment industry have either seen or experienced sexual violence at work. Meanwhile, women's rights group Mahila Parishad said that, in the first six months of 2019, a total of 26 women were killed after being sexually assaulted, 592 were allegedly raped and 113 women said they were gang raped. However, these are just the reported figures: there are fears the true number is far higher. Speaking out like Nusrat is still uncommon as reporting sexual harassment carries risks. Victims often face judgement from their communities, harassment, in person and online, and in some cases violent attacks. Nusrat was particularly unusual because she went to the police. They filmed her statement on a mobile phone - which was later leaked to the media. Meanwhile, protesters took to the streets to demand the release of the headmaster, leading her family to fear for her safety."
}
],
"id": "1225_1",
"question": "How widespread is sexual abuse in Bangladesh?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5327,
"answer_start": 4422,
"text": "The case sparked mass protests in Bangladesh and shone a spotlight on the vulnerability of victims of sexual assault and harassment in the country. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina publicly pledged that \"none of the culprits will be spared from legal action\". Her interest in the case was praised by the family. \"We never imagined that justice will be ensured so fast by the prime minister,\" Mahmudul Hasan Noman told reporters. \"We want to express our gratitude to her directly in person. Hopefully she will give us a chance to do it. \" The police initially dismissed the sexual harassment allegations but laid charges against the 16 accused in May. The specially fast-tracked hearing took just 62 days to complete. Activists say the killing exposed a culture of impunity around sex crimes. Whether more victims of sexual abuse will feel emboldened to come forward following Nusrat's case remains to be seen."
}
],
"id": "1225_2",
"question": "How did the public react to Nusrat's murder?"
}
]
}
] |
Brexit: How Europe does second referendums
|
18 December 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Another week goes by, and there's more Brexit confusion, and heightened calls for a second referendum. Prime Minister Theresa May has warned such a vote would \"break faith with the British people\", but campaigners argue it may be the only way to solve the deadlock which is currently gripping Parliament. Is it right to ask voters to take a view on the same issue more than once? If so, what circumstances should be proffered as a reason? And do people really change their minds in a matter of months - with a slight adjustment of terms, or a little more information - or does it take years and a substantial shift in culture or demographics? A few countries in Europe have had that experience when a first referendum on a European Union issue didn't quite go the way the government of the day expected. So what did these countries do - and can the UK learn anything from its neighbours? Ireland - unlike all other members of the EU - is legally obliged to put treaties to a vote before they can be implemented because they need to change their written constitution. But because EU treaties have to be unanimous, a \"no\" vote also means the treaty cannot take effect anywhere else, which throws a bit of a spanner in the works. What were they deciding? Irish voters have twice rejected EU treaties. In 2001, it was the Treaty of Nice - which amended the Maastricht Treaty and sought to prepare the institutions of the EU for its anticipated enlargement. Then, seven years later, it was the turn of the Lisbon Treaty, which was an attempt to streamline the EU. How did they vote? Just 35% turned out to vote on the Treaty of Nice in 2001, with 54% backing \"no\". In 2008, with the Lisbon Treaty, turnout was higher at 53%. However, the Irish once again rejected the change by 53.4% to 46.6%. What happened next In both cases, Ireland changed its mind. In October 2002, more than 62% voted to back the Treaty of Nice on a turnout of almost 50%. Changing the people's minds would literally come down to vigorous campaigning and an amendment which promised to keep Ireland out of any future common European defence force. It also contained a proviso that any further votes on the Nice treaty would go through a parliamentary vote rather than a referendum. And in 2009, just 16 months after the first attempt - with turnout just 5% higher - 67% of the country backed the Lisbon Treaty. EU leaders - desperate to keep the treaty alive - had returned to the drawing board, and added what were described as important safeguards by the Irish. - Read more: Ireland and the EU - a special case What were they deciding? The French were given the vote on the draft EU constitution in 2005. How did they vote? Almost 55% rejected the proposed constitution when it went to the ballot box in May 2005, despite the country's leaders campaigning for the \"yes\" vote. What happened next? After voters in France and the Netherlands rejected the constitution, EU leaders returned to the drawing board and came up with the Lisbon Treaty. In many ways, it was similar to the constitution. However, instead of replacing the previous treaties, it was an amendment. Despite the similarities, and support for a second referendum, the French government decided against putting the treaty forward for a vote. Instead, they opted to put it to France's MPs and senators, who met in a special congress at Versailles in February 2008. This time, the vote passed easily, by 560 to 181, with a number of MPs abstaining. What were they deciding? Norwegians were asked back in 1972 whether they wanted to join the EU - then known as the European Economic Community. How did they vote? They rejected it, with 53.5% voting against joining. What happened next? It was another 22 years before the Norwegians were asked again whether or not they wanted to become an EU member. In theory, the country's demographic and the nature of the EU itself had changed in that time - potentially leaving space for a different answer. It wasn't to be. This time, 52.2% rejected membership. But, despite the tightening margin and polls which at points have suggested the country is becoming more pro-EU, there has been no third attempt to join. What were the Danes deciding? It seems in the case of the Danish, it could be a case of once bitten, twice shy when it comes to potentially divisive referendums. It goes back to 1992, when the Maastricht Treaty - which created the European Union and the single currency - was put to a vote in the northern European state. How did they vote? Just more than half - 50.7% - rejected the treaty, on a turnout of 83.1%. What happened next? A number of amendments were made, including exempting them from adopting the euro, and the referendum was held again. This time, with turnout more than 3% higher, 56.7% voted in favour of the treaty. More than a decade after the rejection - and then acceptance - of the Maastricht Treaty, Denmark watched as France and the Netherlands rejected the European constitution. So, it made a decision: rather than risk a No vote, no referendum was held at all on either the constitution, or the Lisbon treaty which followed. However, it should be noted they weren't the only ones to back out of the vote. Countries like the UK also backed out of a vote on the constitution, with - as mentioned above - only Ireland allowing a vote on the Lisbon Treaty.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5368,
"answer_start": 4188,
"text": "What were the Danes deciding? It seems in the case of the Danish, it could be a case of once bitten, twice shy when it comes to potentially divisive referendums. It goes back to 1992, when the Maastricht Treaty - which created the European Union and the single currency - was put to a vote in the northern European state. How did they vote? Just more than half - 50.7% - rejected the treaty, on a turnout of 83.1%. What happened next? A number of amendments were made, including exempting them from adopting the euro, and the referendum was held again. This time, with turnout more than 3% higher, 56.7% voted in favour of the treaty. More than a decade after the rejection - and then acceptance - of the Maastricht Treaty, Denmark watched as France and the Netherlands rejected the European constitution. So, it made a decision: rather than risk a No vote, no referendum was held at all on either the constitution, or the Lisbon treaty which followed. However, it should be noted they weren't the only ones to back out of the vote. Countries like the UK also backed out of a vote on the constitution, with - as mentioned above - only Ireland allowing a vote on the Lisbon Treaty."
}
],
"id": "1226_0",
"question": "Denmark: A lesson learnt?"
}
]
}
] |
Balakot air strike: Pakistan shows off disputed site on eve of India election
|
10 April 2019
|
[
{
"context": "The authorities in Pakistan have allowed foreign media and defence attaches to visit the site of a disputed Indian air strike in February. They were given access to an Islamic school in Balakot, where Indian media say militants were killed in retaliation for an attack in Kashmir. The large building appeared to be fully intact and the Pakistani army denied it had been used as a terror camp. The visit to the school was held on the eve of a general election in India. Pakistan and India have been engaged in an information war over the Balakot site, where Pakistan says the bombs on 26 February landed in an empty area and hurt no-one. India insists it killed a large number of Jaish-e-Mohamed group militants and destroyed their camp in retaliation for a suicide attack two weeks earlier in Indian-administered Kashmir, which killed 40 paramilitary police troopers. That attack was the deadliest against Indian forces in Kashmir in decades and raised fears of a new war between India and Pakistan, which are both nuclear powers. Foreign journalists and diplomats were taken by the Pakistani army on the visit to Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state. They were shown a medium-sized crater which the army said had been made by an Indian air force bomb. A single house had been slightly damaged by the blast and a man had been injured, the BBC's Usman Zahid reports. The visitors also saw some fallen trees. They were then taken to the Taleem ul Quran madrassa, the first such visit by foreign media. The large hilltop building is said to have capacity for 2,500 children. Pakistani army spokesman Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor insisted the madrassa did \"no harm\" and that Indian allegations that it was a terror training camp had \"no truth\". Some 150-200 children could be seen reciting the Koran in a mosque at the school. However, a teacher and a student interviewed by the BBC said they were all local people and that the madrassa had been shut since the Indian attack. While the media were allowed to take interviews they were told to keep them short and it was clear that the tour was being restricted. Contacted by the BBC, India's external affairs ministry said it stood by its statement last month that the \"counter-terrorism strike of 26 February\" had \"achieved the intended objective\". \"The fact that media was taken on a conducted tour to the site only after a month and a half after the incident speaks for itself,\" a ministry official added on Wednesday. When journalists from Al Jazeera visited the area - but not the madrassa - in February, they saw a sign for the school which listed Jaish-e-Mohamed founder Masood Azhar as its \"leader\". The Balakot air strike has played a major role in the election campaign of Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi who has called on first-time voters to dedicate their ballots to the pilots involved, India Today reports. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told the BBC this week that peace with India over Kashmir would be \"tremendous\" for the wider region. October 1947: First war between India and Pakistan over Kashmir just two months after they become independent nations. August 1965: The neighbours fight another brief war over Kashmir. December 1971: India supports East Pakistan's bid to become independent. The Indian air force conducts bombing raids inside Pakistan. The war ends with the creation of Bangladesh. May 1999: Pakistani soldiers and militants occupy Indian military posts in Kargil mountains. India launches air and ground strikes and the intruders are pushed back. October 2001: A devastating attack on the state assembly in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 38. Two months later, an attack on the Indian parliament in Delhi leaves 14 dead. November 2008: Co-ordinated attacks on Mumbai's main railway station, luxury hotels and a Jewish cultural centre kill 166 people. India blames Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba. January 2016: Four-day attack on Indian air base in Pathankot leaves seven Indian soldiers and six militants dead. 18 September 2016: Attack on army base in Uri in Indian-administered Kashmir kills 19 soldiers. 30 September 2016: India says it carried \"surgical strikes\" on militants in Pakistani Kashmir. Islamabad denies strikes took place. 14 February 2019: Pulwama suicide bombing kills at least 40 Indian police troopers in Indian-administered Kashmir, India retaliates with air strike two weeks later",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2097,
"answer_start": 1031,
"text": "Foreign journalists and diplomats were taken by the Pakistani army on the visit to Balakot in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa state. They were shown a medium-sized crater which the army said had been made by an Indian air force bomb. A single house had been slightly damaged by the blast and a man had been injured, the BBC's Usman Zahid reports. The visitors also saw some fallen trees. They were then taken to the Taleem ul Quran madrassa, the first such visit by foreign media. The large hilltop building is said to have capacity for 2,500 children. Pakistani army spokesman Maj-Gen Asif Ghafoor insisted the madrassa did \"no harm\" and that Indian allegations that it was a terror training camp had \"no truth\". Some 150-200 children could be seen reciting the Koran in a mosque at the school. However, a teacher and a student interviewed by the BBC said they were all local people and that the madrassa had been shut since the Indian attack. While the media were allowed to take interviews they were told to keep them short and it was clear that the tour was being restricted."
}
],
"id": "1227_0",
"question": "What were the media shown on Wednesday?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2998,
"answer_start": 2098,
"text": "Contacted by the BBC, India's external affairs ministry said it stood by its statement last month that the \"counter-terrorism strike of 26 February\" had \"achieved the intended objective\". \"The fact that media was taken on a conducted tour to the site only after a month and a half after the incident speaks for itself,\" a ministry official added on Wednesday. When journalists from Al Jazeera visited the area - but not the madrassa - in February, they saw a sign for the school which listed Jaish-e-Mohamed founder Masood Azhar as its \"leader\". The Balakot air strike has played a major role in the election campaign of Indian Prime Minster Narendra Modi who has called on first-time voters to dedicate their ballots to the pilots involved, India Today reports. Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan told the BBC this week that peace with India over Kashmir would be \"tremendous\" for the wider region."
}
],
"id": "1227_1",
"question": "What does India say?"
}
]
}
] |
Brazil election: Voters debate the merits of democracy as far-right candidate leads polls
|
5 October 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Should Brazil stick to democracy, or not? Unlikely as it might seem to outsiders, this has been a key debating point as Latin America's largest country edges towards its election. With just two days to go, a new survey by Datafolha suggests 69% of Brazilians believe democracy is the best way forward. However, some are concerned that leading candidate Jair Bolsonaro - a far-right former army captain - will threaten this path. He has talked positively of the military junta which ruled the country from 1964 to 1985, and promised to fill his cabinet with generals. \"I'm in favour of a dictatorship!\" he said boldly in a 1993 speech, Reuters news agency reports. \"We will never resolve grave national problems with this irresponsible democracy!\" Current polling has him on a comfortable 35%, which is set to take him into the second round where he is likely to meet left-wing Fernando Haddad, standing for the Workers' Party (PT). In the candidates' final meeting on Thursday night, the future of the democracy was addressed. Mr Bolsonaro did not take part, under doctors' orders. He was stabbed at a campaign rally in September and was only released from hospital last weekend. However, he did manage to give a television interview to a channel that has given him favourable coverage. It was aired simultaneously and his critics said it was a move to avoid being challenged. Guilherme Boulos, a candidate for the Socialism and Liberty party, used the debate to send a warning to viewers. \"[The dictatorship] was 30 years ago now, but I think we have never been so close to what happened back then...\" he said. \"This is always how it starts out: guns, sorting things out with violence, human lives worth nothing.\" He has vowed to get tough on crime after a spike in the homicide rate. He has said he will loosen gun laws so citizens can protect themselves. His approval rating has climbed and he picked up even more supporters after he was attacked. Datafolha's polling suggests he is also the current leading choice for young people and Brazilian women, even though he is known for having made misogynist, racist and homophobic comments. Polling companies give him roughly a 30% chance of winning the race outright, according to Reuters news agency. His supporters hope more voters might be silently in his camp but are not making their intentions known to pollsters. However, most analysts believe he will end up in the 28 October run-off, and current projections suggest his likely run-off with Mr Haddad is too close to call. Mr Haddad has 22% support for the first round. Despite being former mayor of Sao Paulo, he is largely unknown in many parts of the vast country. He was only named as the candidate for just over three weeks before election day. The party was pinning its hopes on ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva but he was banned from standing as he is serving prison time for corruption convictions. A criminal investigation has seen a number of Brazilian politicians jailed for corruption, including Lula and various other PT leaders, losing the party many voters.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3087,
"answer_start": 1716,
"text": "He has vowed to get tough on crime after a spike in the homicide rate. He has said he will loosen gun laws so citizens can protect themselves. His approval rating has climbed and he picked up even more supporters after he was attacked. Datafolha's polling suggests he is also the current leading choice for young people and Brazilian women, even though he is known for having made misogynist, racist and homophobic comments. Polling companies give him roughly a 30% chance of winning the race outright, according to Reuters news agency. His supporters hope more voters might be silently in his camp but are not making their intentions known to pollsters. However, most analysts believe he will end up in the 28 October run-off, and current projections suggest his likely run-off with Mr Haddad is too close to call. Mr Haddad has 22% support for the first round. Despite being former mayor of Sao Paulo, he is largely unknown in many parts of the vast country. He was only named as the candidate for just over three weeks before election day. The party was pinning its hopes on ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva but he was banned from standing as he is serving prison time for corruption convictions. A criminal investigation has seen a number of Brazilian politicians jailed for corruption, including Lula and various other PT leaders, losing the party many voters."
}
],
"id": "1228_0",
"question": "What are Bolsonaro's chances?"
}
]
}
] |
Algeria election: Fresh protests as Tebboune replaces Bouteflika
|
13 December 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Algerian capital, Algiers, in protest at the results of Thursday's presidential election. They chanted slogans against the winner, ex-PM Abdelmadjid Tebboune, a former loyalist of ousted leader Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Protesters are demanding that the whole political establishment be swept away. Polling day itself was marred by protests and calls for people to boycott the election. Mr Tebboune, 74, took 58% of the vote - enough to avoid a second round. But he and the four other candidates were criticised for being closely linked with the rule of Mr Bouteflika. President Bouteflika stepped down following mass demonstrations across the country. But anti-government rallies have continued since then unabated. \"The vote is rigged. Your elections are of no concern to us and your president will not govern us,\" demonstrators chanted in central Algiers on Friday. \"Tebboune is worse than Bouteflika,\" said one of the protesters, Meriem, a 31-year-old civil servant. \"We did not vote and we will not back down.\" Mr Tebboune rose from a long career as a civil servant to become prime minister in 2017 but lasted just seven months after falling out with influential businessmen. He also served as housing minister and information minister. In his election campaign he promised to pursue taxpayer money \"stolen and hidden abroad\". Mr Tebboune has been dubbed \"the chosen one\" by social media users, who see him as close to army chief Gen Ahmed Gaid Salah, the county's de facto leader. Electoral officials say about nine million people voted on Thursday - a turnout of about 40%. \"The turnout is satisfying and it will give the new president enough backing to implement his reforms,\" said Ahmed Mizab, a commentator on state television. For nearly a year, thousands of Algerians have protested every Friday in the capital and other cities against any elections under the current government. They wanted all officials associated with the regime of ousted President Bouteflika. including interim President Abdelkader Bensalah and Prime Minister Nouredine Bedoui, to be removed from office. \"No election with the gangs\", \"they must all be removed\" protesters have chanted week after week, referring to the politicians and businessmen in the inner circle of the ousted president whom they see as corrupt. They say new faces must be brought in to organise \"real elections\" in a country where the winner of presidential elections has always been easy to guess. On Thursday, protesters briefly overran a polling station in Algiers. An attempt by police to disperse the crowd failed. Two more voting centres were stormed in the Kabylie region, east of the capital. It was army chief Gen Salah who triggered the removal of President Bouteflika, his former ally, when he called for his office to be vacated. The move was designed to appease nationwide protests against Mr Bouteflika seeking a fifth term. Since Mr Bouteflika's ousting in April, there have been sweeping arrests of wealthy businessmen and high-profile officials close to the former president and his inner circle. They include his brother Said Bouteflika who was jailed for 15 years for conspiring against the state and undermining the military, along with former intelligence chiefs Mohamed Mediene Toufik and Athmane Bachir Tartag, as well as leftist party leader Louisa Hanoun. Corruption and money laundering convictions have also landed two former prime ministers in jail - Ahmed Ouyahia was given a 15-year sentence, and Abdelmalek Sellal 12 years. On the same charges, former cabinet ministers Youcef Yousfi and Mahdjoub Bedda have each been handed 10-year sentences, while businessmen Ali Haddad, Ahmed Mazouz, Hassan Arbaoui and Mohamed Bairi were each jailed for seven years. An international arrest warrant has been issued against another cabinet minister, Abdesalem Bouchoureb, who is believed to have fled the country. He has been sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison. It is likely these men will appeal against their sentences. While anti-government protesters have celebrated the prosecution of such figures - whom they dub \"the gang\" - they remain determined to continue until their demands are met.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2714,
"answer_start": 1795,
"text": "For nearly a year, thousands of Algerians have protested every Friday in the capital and other cities against any elections under the current government. They wanted all officials associated with the regime of ousted President Bouteflika. including interim President Abdelkader Bensalah and Prime Minister Nouredine Bedoui, to be removed from office. \"No election with the gangs\", \"they must all be removed\" protesters have chanted week after week, referring to the politicians and businessmen in the inner circle of the ousted president whom they see as corrupt. They say new faces must be brought in to organise \"real elections\" in a country where the winner of presidential elections has always been easy to guess. On Thursday, protesters briefly overran a polling station in Algiers. An attempt by police to disperse the crowd failed. Two more voting centres were stormed in the Kabylie region, east of the capital."
}
],
"id": "1229_0",
"question": "Why are people protesting?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4236,
"answer_start": 2715,
"text": "It was army chief Gen Salah who triggered the removal of President Bouteflika, his former ally, when he called for his office to be vacated. The move was designed to appease nationwide protests against Mr Bouteflika seeking a fifth term. Since Mr Bouteflika's ousting in April, there have been sweeping arrests of wealthy businessmen and high-profile officials close to the former president and his inner circle. They include his brother Said Bouteflika who was jailed for 15 years for conspiring against the state and undermining the military, along with former intelligence chiefs Mohamed Mediene Toufik and Athmane Bachir Tartag, as well as leftist party leader Louisa Hanoun. Corruption and money laundering convictions have also landed two former prime ministers in jail - Ahmed Ouyahia was given a 15-year sentence, and Abdelmalek Sellal 12 years. On the same charges, former cabinet ministers Youcef Yousfi and Mahdjoub Bedda have each been handed 10-year sentences, while businessmen Ali Haddad, Ahmed Mazouz, Hassan Arbaoui and Mohamed Bairi were each jailed for seven years. An international arrest warrant has been issued against another cabinet minister, Abdesalem Bouchoureb, who is believed to have fled the country. He has been sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison. It is likely these men will appeal against their sentences. While anti-government protesters have celebrated the prosecution of such figures - whom they dub \"the gang\" - they remain determined to continue until their demands are met."
}
],
"id": "1229_1",
"question": "What has changed since Bouteflika left?"
}
]
}
] |
BBC stars' pay to be revealed in annual report
|
19 July 2017
|
[
{
"context": "The pay received by the BBC's biggest stars is to be revealed in the corporation's annual report later. It is the first time this information will be made public. The review, to be published at 11:00 BST, will list the 96 stars who earn more than PS150,000 a year. Altogether, their earnings total almost PS30m. Only one third of the names on the list are women. BBC director general Lord Hall said it highlighted a need to \"go further and faster\" on gender issues. However, he stressed the corporation was \"pushing faster than any other major broadcaster\". Lord Hall said he wanted to close the gender pay gap and have equality on screen and radio by 2020, saying that over the last three years nearly two-thirds of new people and those promoted on TV and radio were women. \"Is this progress enough? It's absolutely not,\" he said. The BBC said that its overall talent bill has been reduced by more than PS4m over the last financial year, to PS194m. \"I completely understand that to lots and lots of people these are very large sums but we are a global broadcaster, in a very competitive market,\" Lord Hall told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. \"And we have to be competitive but not foolishly. \"No-one would want us to be paying sums where it's not at a discount to the market. People expect us to have great broadcasters, great presenters, great stars but pay them less than they would get in the market.\" He said he was \"satisfied\" that every one of the 96 top earners were worth the money. The BBC's annual report looks back over the previous year's performance and publishes details about the corporation's finances and spending. It will also look at TV and radio viewing figures, and online engagement. It may also examine the BBC's competition, such as Netflix. Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said publishing the salaries of stars earning more than PS150,000 would bring the BBC \"in line with the civil service\" on transparency. She told the Commons last September that it would help ensure the BBC \"produces value for money for the licence fee\" and that more transparency could lead to savings that could be \"invested in even more great programmes\". Lord Hall said the publication of top salaries, which he had fought, was a \"bad idea\" because it could tempt other broadcasters with deep pockets to poach stars creating an inflationary effect on pay. He also urged caution when comparing rates paid to different individuals, saying their responsibilities may vary widely even if their on-air roles appeared similar. ITV's programmes chief Kevin Lygo called the proposal a \"mean-spirited, nosey way of looking at things\" during last year's Edinburgh Television Festival. The corporation already publishes data on how much it spends on talent including information about how many people earn above certain pay bands without naming them. Former Conservative culture secretary John Whittingdale, who proposed the BBC should go further by revealing stars' pay, told the Today programme: \"If somebody is earning the equivalent of 1,000 households' licence fees put together, going to one single person, then the licence fee payer deserves to know.\" Presenters such as Graham Norton, Claudia Winkleman, Gary Lineker and Chris Evans are expected to be there. Leading journalists Fiona Bruce, Andrew Marr, John Humphrys and political editor Laura Kuenssberg are also expected to be included. The revelations are required under the BBC's new Royal Charter. On the list, the stars' names will appear within PS50,000 pay bands. The sums will only include pay for work carried out directly for the BBC, not other production companies. For example, Norton's will cover pay for his Radio 2 radio show and Eurovision, but not his chatshow which is produced by independent company, So Television. According to last year's annual report, 109 TV and radio presenters earned more than PS150,000 in the financial year 2015-16. But they were not named at the time. From next year, any stars employed by the newly-formed BBC Studios, which produces Antiques Roadshow and Doctor Who, will not be included on the list. This is because it will become a commercial operation and will operate and be treated in the same way as an independent production company. Some have. Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tweeted: \"Happy BBC salary day. I blame my agent and the other TV channels that pay more. Now where did I put my tin helmet?\" In a Twitter exchange, he admitted that he has turned down a bigger salary from a privately-owned broadcaster in the past. Asked why, he replied: \"Because I love and value my job and BBC Sport.\" Andrew Marr said it's \"uncomfortable for all of us\". \"I'm well paid but I'm much less overpaid, perhaps, than people working for rival organisations who won't go through this process,\" he said, according to reported the Telegraph last month. But Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman said last year: \"I'm all for it. We get paid an awful lot of money and it's a marketplace. It's bonkers. \"I love working for the BBC. I know that commercial stations pay a whole lot more - double, three times, four times. But I totally understand why people would want to know.\" We should also find out how the BBC's television and radio channels and stations have performed over the last year. And it's also a chance to discover more about the BBC's audiences - who is tuning in to TV, radio and the websites, for instance. (The BBC is struggling to attract younger audiences, as it faces competition from YouTube, social media and gaming). Trust issues in news and the rise of competition from the likes of Netflix (which released impressive growth numbers this week) and Amazon Prime could also feature. 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": 4240,
"answer_start": 3150,
"text": "Presenters such as Graham Norton, Claudia Winkleman, Gary Lineker and Chris Evans are expected to be there. Leading journalists Fiona Bruce, Andrew Marr, John Humphrys and political editor Laura Kuenssberg are also expected to be included. The revelations are required under the BBC's new Royal Charter. On the list, the stars' names will appear within PS50,000 pay bands. The sums will only include pay for work carried out directly for the BBC, not other production companies. For example, Norton's will cover pay for his Radio 2 radio show and Eurovision, but not his chatshow which is produced by independent company, So Television. According to last year's annual report, 109 TV and radio presenters earned more than PS150,000 in the financial year 2015-16. But they were not named at the time. From next year, any stars employed by the newly-formed BBC Studios, which produces Antiques Roadshow and Doctor Who, will not be included on the list. This is because it will become a commercial operation and will operate and be treated in the same way as an independent production company."
}
],
"id": "1230_0",
"question": "Who might be among the talent listed?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5187,
"answer_start": 4241,
"text": "Some have. Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker tweeted: \"Happy BBC salary day. I blame my agent and the other TV channels that pay more. Now where did I put my tin helmet?\" In a Twitter exchange, he admitted that he has turned down a bigger salary from a privately-owned broadcaster in the past. Asked why, he replied: \"Because I love and value my job and BBC Sport.\" Andrew Marr said it's \"uncomfortable for all of us\". \"I'm well paid but I'm much less overpaid, perhaps, than people working for rival organisations who won't go through this process,\" he said, according to reported the Telegraph last month. But Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman said last year: \"I'm all for it. We get paid an awful lot of money and it's a marketplace. It's bonkers. \"I love working for the BBC. I know that commercial stations pay a whole lot more - double, three times, four times. But I totally understand why people would want to know.\""
}
],
"id": "1230_1",
"question": "Have the stars spoken out about the move?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5716,
"answer_start": 5188,
"text": "We should also find out how the BBC's television and radio channels and stations have performed over the last year. And it's also a chance to discover more about the BBC's audiences - who is tuning in to TV, radio and the websites, for instance. (The BBC is struggling to attract younger audiences, as it faces competition from YouTube, social media and gaming). Trust issues in news and the rise of competition from the likes of Netflix (which released impressive growth numbers this week) and Amazon Prime could also feature."
}
],
"id": "1230_2",
"question": "What else might come out of the report?"
}
]
}
] |
Nigeria election 2019: Poll halted in last-minute drama
|
16 February 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Nigeria has delayed its presidential and parliamentary elections for a week, in a dramatic night-time move. The Independent National Electoral Commission (Inec) made the announcement just five hours before the polls were due to open on Saturday. \"Proceeding with the election as scheduled is no longer feasible,\" commission chairman Mahmood Yakubu said, citing logistical issues. The two main candidates have asked people to remain calm and be patient. Mr Yakubu said the difficult decision to postpone was needed to ensure a free and fair vote. The presidential and parliamentary votes have been rescheduled for Saturday 23 February. Governorship, state assembly and federal area council elections have been rescheduled until Saturday 9 March. The announcement came after an emergency meeting at the Inec headquarters in the capital, Abuja. Nigeria's two main political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), swiftly condemned the move and accused each other of trying to manipulate the vote. President Muhammadu Buhari, of the APC party, urged calm and appealed to Nigerians to \"refrain from civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development\". His main rival Atiku Abubakar has called for calm over the next seven days saying: \"I'm appealing to Nigerians to please come out and vote and I'm asking them to be patient about it.\" Voters have reacted with a mixture of anger, frustration and resignation. Responses to Inec's tweet about the postponement were brutal with one man calling it \"the height of incompetence\". Another described Inec as \"a huge disgrace\". Many had made long journeys to vote. In the northern town of Daura, Musa Abubakar, who had travelled 550km (342 miles) from Abuja to take part in the election, told the BBC that he \"couldn't believe\" what had happened. Hajiya Sa'adatu said she was \"greatly disappointed\" to learn of the delay when she came out to cast her vote in the northern city of Kano. But others have been saying that the postponement should mean that everything goes smoothly next week. Michael Momodu, in Delta state south-east Nigeria, said that he still believed that \"the right things will take place\" and that \"God will deliver\". Election chief Mahmood Yakubu said the decision was made following a \"careful review\" of the election \"operational plan\", adding that there was a \"determination to conduct free, fair and credible elections\". He said the delay was necessary to give the commission time to address vital issues and \"maintain the quality of our elections\", but did not provide further details. In the past two weeks several Inec offices have been set alight, with thousands of electronic smart card readers and voter cards destroyed. There have also been claims of shortages of election material in some of the country's 36 states. By Damian Zane, BBC News, in Lagos At first it seemed like another bout of fake news, but disbelief has been replaced by outrage and disappointment. The last elections, in 2015, were also postponed, but the announcement coming five hours before the vote is a new record. Those Nigerians who had intended to vote would have planned their day around it. The whole country was essentially going to shut down as travel was restricted, so the only options were to stay at home or go to the polling station. Many have also already travelled to the places where they were registered to vote. They will be left wondering what they will do for the next week. The country is known for pulling things off at the last minute, but this time it wasn't to be. This will have left a sour taste in the mouths of the electorate, which is already cynical about the political process. Nigeria has been forced to bolster its security, with the run-up to the elections marred by violence. On Friday, officials in north-west Nigeria reported the discovery of the bodies of 66 people, 22 of them children and 12 women, killed by \"criminal elements\". The future of Africa's most populous nation and largest economy is at stake. Whoever wins will have to address power shortages, corruption, security problems and a sluggish economy. There are 73 registered candidates in the presidential election, but campaigning has been dominated by President Buhari, 76, and his main challenger, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, 72. Mr Buhari says he has built a strong foundation for prosperity, but his rival says Nigeria is not functioning. Both men are from the mainly Muslim north of the country. While both are in their 70s, more than half of Nigeria's 84 million registered voters are under 35. Yes. Nigeria is not new to voting postponements - previous elections in 2011 and 2015 were delayed by several days. In 2015, the country ordered the closure of all its land and sea borders ahead of tightly contested elections amid reports that foreigners planned to cross into Nigeria to vote. That same year, one of the candidates died while the votes were being counted.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2305,
"answer_start": 842,
"text": "Nigeria's two main political parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), swiftly condemned the move and accused each other of trying to manipulate the vote. President Muhammadu Buhari, of the APC party, urged calm and appealed to Nigerians to \"refrain from civil disorder and remain peaceful, patriotic and united to ensure that no force or conspiracy derail our democratic development\". His main rival Atiku Abubakar has called for calm over the next seven days saying: \"I'm appealing to Nigerians to please come out and vote and I'm asking them to be patient about it.\" Voters have reacted with a mixture of anger, frustration and resignation. Responses to Inec's tweet about the postponement were brutal with one man calling it \"the height of incompetence\". Another described Inec as \"a huge disgrace\". Many had made long journeys to vote. In the northern town of Daura, Musa Abubakar, who had travelled 550km (342 miles) from Abuja to take part in the election, told the BBC that he \"couldn't believe\" what had happened. Hajiya Sa'adatu said she was \"greatly disappointed\" to learn of the delay when she came out to cast her vote in the northern city of Kano. But others have been saying that the postponement should mean that everything goes smoothly next week. Michael Momodu, in Delta state south-east Nigeria, said that he still believed that \"the right things will take place\" and that \"God will deliver\"."
}
],
"id": "1231_0",
"question": "What's the reaction?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4686,
"answer_start": 4044,
"text": "The future of Africa's most populous nation and largest economy is at stake. Whoever wins will have to address power shortages, corruption, security problems and a sluggish economy. There are 73 registered candidates in the presidential election, but campaigning has been dominated by President Buhari, 76, and his main challenger, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, 72. Mr Buhari says he has built a strong foundation for prosperity, but his rival says Nigeria is not functioning. Both men are from the mainly Muslim north of the country. While both are in their 70s, more than half of Nigeria's 84 million registered voters are under 35."
}
],
"id": "1231_1",
"question": "How important is this poll?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5059,
"answer_start": 4687,
"text": "Yes. Nigeria is not new to voting postponements - previous elections in 2011 and 2015 were delayed by several days. In 2015, the country ordered the closure of all its land and sea borders ahead of tightly contested elections amid reports that foreigners planned to cross into Nigeria to vote. That same year, one of the candidates died while the votes were being counted."
}
],
"id": "1231_2",
"question": "Has Nigeria had election issues before?"
}
]
}
] |
Aboriginal Australians born overseas cannot be deported, court rules
|
11 February 2020
|
[
{
"context": "Australia's High Court has said Aboriginal people hold a special status under the law so cannot be deported - even if they are not citizens. The ruling is being seen as a historic moment for the recognition of Australia's first inhabitants. The case relates to an appeal by two men who have Aboriginal heritage but foreign citizenship, and were to be deported over their criminal record. The government said the ruling created \"a new category of persons\" under law. Brendan Thoms and Daniel Love - who had no prior connection - were born in New Zealand and Papua New Guinea respectively but moved to Australia as children. Each man has Aboriginal heritage and one Australian parent. Both have children who are Australian citizens and were themselves permanent residents. The two men both had criminal records and had both served jail sentences for violent assault. Under controversial Australian laws, foreigners - or aliens - must lose their right to live and work in the country if they are sentenced to a year or more in prison. Both men had their visas cancelled in 2018, but appealed against the order. The High Court had been asked to rule for the first time on whether, as indigenous people, Love and Thoms could really be considered \"aliens\" under the constitution. The men's lawyers argued that the men could not be considered alien because of their deep ancestral roots to Australia. The judges ruled four to three that Aboriginal Australians were \"not within the reach\" of the constitutional references to foreign citizens. \"Aboriginal Australians have a special cultural, historical and spiritual connection with the territory of Australia, which is central to their traditional laws and customs and which is recognised by the common law,\" said the ruling. The existence of that connection, they said, meant Aboriginal Australians could not be classed as \"alien\" under the law. Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said the ruling \"created a new category of persons; neither an Australian citizen under the Australian Citizenship Act, nor a non-citizen\". The government was still considering the implications, he said, and would \"consider the best methods to review other cases which may be impacted\". Though the ruling will only directly affect a small number of people, it is being seen as a step forward for the legal recognition of indigenous Australians overall. Claire Gibbs, a lawyer for the two men, told reporters afterwards: \"This case isn't about citizenship, it is about who belongs here. \"What this means, and what the real significance of this case is, is that Aboriginal people, regardless of where they are born, will have protection from deportation.\" For Brendan Thoms the issue is clear cut - he has been released from detention and will not be deported to New Zealand. He comes from the Gunggari people, and has legally recognised traditional rights to Gunggari land. \"Brendan has had 500 sleepless nights worrying he could be deported at any time, and that is now thankfully at an end,\" said Ms Gibbs. \"He is very happy to have been released and to now be reunited with his family at long last.\" However it remains unclear what this means for Daniel Love. He comes from the Kamileroi people, but the judges could not agree whether he had been accepted as a member of the tribe, so could not say whether he qualified for the special status. Aboriginal Australians lived in the country for at least 47,000 years before the arrival of European settlers, and subsequently suffered centuries of violence and oppression. Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders make up about 3% of the population, and are among the nation's most disadvantaged. Consistent government reports have found that indigenous people are disadvantaged across the board, from child mortality rates and life expectancy, to literacy, academic success and employment rates. Australia has never reached a treaty with its indigenous peoples, which many argue this would bring important recognition. Work has begun on a treaty in the state of Victoria. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are also not recognised in the constitution, though there is ongoing debate about doing so. More BBC stories on Aboriginal people and culture",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2215,
"answer_start": 1108,
"text": "The High Court had been asked to rule for the first time on whether, as indigenous people, Love and Thoms could really be considered \"aliens\" under the constitution. The men's lawyers argued that the men could not be considered alien because of their deep ancestral roots to Australia. The judges ruled four to three that Aboriginal Australians were \"not within the reach\" of the constitutional references to foreign citizens. \"Aboriginal Australians have a special cultural, historical and spiritual connection with the territory of Australia, which is central to their traditional laws and customs and which is recognised by the common law,\" said the ruling. The existence of that connection, they said, meant Aboriginal Australians could not be classed as \"alien\" under the law. Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said the ruling \"created a new category of persons; neither an Australian citizen under the Australian Citizenship Act, nor a non-citizen\". The government was still considering the implications, he said, and would \"consider the best methods to review other cases which may be impacted\"."
}
],
"id": "1232_0",
"question": "What did the court rule?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3374,
"answer_start": 2216,
"text": "Though the ruling will only directly affect a small number of people, it is being seen as a step forward for the legal recognition of indigenous Australians overall. Claire Gibbs, a lawyer for the two men, told reporters afterwards: \"This case isn't about citizenship, it is about who belongs here. \"What this means, and what the real significance of this case is, is that Aboriginal people, regardless of where they are born, will have protection from deportation.\" For Brendan Thoms the issue is clear cut - he has been released from detention and will not be deported to New Zealand. He comes from the Gunggari people, and has legally recognised traditional rights to Gunggari land. \"Brendan has had 500 sleepless nights worrying he could be deported at any time, and that is now thankfully at an end,\" said Ms Gibbs. \"He is very happy to have been released and to now be reunited with his family at long last.\" However it remains unclear what this means for Daniel Love. He comes from the Kamileroi people, but the judges could not agree whether he had been accepted as a member of the tribe, so could not say whether he qualified for the special status."
}
],
"id": "1232_1",
"question": "What does this mean for Thoms and Love?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4190,
"answer_start": 3375,
"text": "Aboriginal Australians lived in the country for at least 47,000 years before the arrival of European settlers, and subsequently suffered centuries of violence and oppression. Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders make up about 3% of the population, and are among the nation's most disadvantaged. Consistent government reports have found that indigenous people are disadvantaged across the board, from child mortality rates and life expectancy, to literacy, academic success and employment rates. Australia has never reached a treaty with its indigenous peoples, which many argue this would bring important recognition. Work has begun on a treaty in the state of Victoria. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are also not recognised in the constitution, though there is ongoing debate about doing so."
}
],
"id": "1232_2",
"question": "What is the status of Aboriginal people in Australia?"
}
]
}
] |
The death of the weekly supermarket shop
|
5 October 2014
|
[
{
"context": "\"I tend to avoid the big stores as there's so much choice and they're very busy,\" says Gaynor Francis, a 37-year-old working mum of two. She does an online shop once a month, which she supplements with weekly top-up shops, typically at convenience stores, for essentials such as fresh fruit and veg and milk. Today she's doing a rare top-up shop at the Sainsbury's Sydenham superstore, a hypermarket in south-east London, but she hasn't enjoyed it and has ended up spending more than she intended. \"I want to go in and out and I get distracted by the people and the choice, it's just overwhelming,\" she tells me. Like many urban areas, competitors to the Sydenham store are not far away. Just five minutes away on foot there's a Lidl, or if you turn the other way a Tesco Express. It's this kind of proximity to rivals that has helped fuel the dramatic change in shopping habits. New Sainsbury's boss Mike Coupe said the industry had \"changed beyond all recognition\", with \"customers shopping very differently to the way they were shopping even a year ago\". These changes, experienced by all the \"Big Four\" supermarkets, suggest that the era of the once-a-week big shop is nearing an end. People are tending to buy less but are shopping more frequently and have \"segmented\" their shopping, buying items from different places based on either price or convenience. Shoppers now visit four different grocery stores a month on average, with almost half of them visiting two stores on the same trip, according to food research firm IGD. Tony Middleton, a 44-year-old father of one, is a prime example. He's arrived at Sainsbury's via Lidl, where he goes almost daily. \"I go to Lidl first, and then if they haven't got the right stuff I come here,\" he says. He does a weekly essentials shop at the hypermarket, but says the food in Lidl is \"cheaper and tastes better\", particularly the bread, fruit and vegetables. The 2008 financial crisis and consequent recession, which forced \"middle England\" to change their shopping habits to save money, has driven much of this shift, according to Shore Capital analyst Clive Black. \"People who don't have any money have always shopped week to week, but in the last five years, with wages compressed, middle England has had to find money and that has changed the way they shop.\" Despite the economy improving, the habit of shopping little and often has stuck. Analysts attribute this to a variety of reasons, including the desire to cook fresh food from scratch, the nascent rise in popularity of specialised foods such as artisan breads and craft beers, not wanting to waste food by throwing it away and, of course, time. While much has been made of the impact of online shopping, it still accounts for just 4.4% of total sales in the year to April, according to IGD, which expects it to reach 8.3% of all sales by 2019. It's the convenience sector that has been the biggest beneficiary of the change in shopping habits. IGD found shoppers used convenience stores more than any other type of store format, and expects the sector to account for nearly a quarter of all food and grocery sales by 2019. \"Shoppers now expect grocery retailing to organise itself around their lives rather than building their routines around store opening hours. They expect to buy whatever they want, any time, any place in the most convenient way to them,\" says IGD chief executive Joanne Denney-Finch. What's more, this \"small promiscuous behaviour at the end of the road\" has dramatically changed brand loyalty, says Ben Perkins, head of consumer research at accountancy firm Deloitte. People now shop from a variety of different brands and no longer identify themselves as, say, a \"Tesco\" or a \"Sainsbury's\" shopper. \"There's now a whole generation of people who have never shopped in a supermarket on a Saturday, never known a world without the internet. They are the families of tomorrow.\" Mr Perkins says there is \"little chance\" that once this generation reaches a certain age, and has its own children, that its behaviour will change. But age is not the only demographic at play. There has also been a steady increase in the number of single people, now accounting for 7.7 million households and the second most common type of living arrangement, according to the Office for National Statistics. Forty-year-old primary school teacher Kiran Garcha, who lives in London's Hatton Cross, falls into this category. She does a once-a-month shop at a large Tesco, but then visits her Sainsbury's Local in between. \"I pop in quite often, probably around twice a week, often on my way home from work. It's half a mile down the road, there's free parking right outside and there's never much of a queue. Because it's small I know exactly where everything is and can pick it up easily,\" she tells me. The supermarkets have ramped up their expansion of the format accordingly. Both Sainsbury's and Tesco now have more convenience stores than supermarkets, while Morrisons and Asda are also investing significantly in the sector. Yet it's still only a tiny part of their sales, less than 8% of total sales in the case of Sainsbury's. Veteran retailer Bill Grimsey, a former chief executive of DIY store Wickes and Iceland, who has already written a report on how to improve the High Street, believes the prognosis is grim. \"In the next five to 10 years one of the Big Four could disappear. It's not beyond the bounds of possibility,\" he says, pointing to the demise of the once mighty 800-store Woolworths as an example. Yet even the most pessimistic analysts believe this is unlikely. IGD predicts that less money will be spent at superstores and hypermarkets by 2019, but still expects them to represent 35% of the total grocery market. The stores will also help to service the rising shift to online and click-and-collect orders And as Planet Retail analyst David Gray points out, the supermarkets are still making profits, most of which come from their big stores, just less than previously. \"The headline numbers look bad. But even if sales are going backward, they're still profitable and there's still a value to that.\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 6136,
"answer_start": 5144,
"text": "Veteran retailer Bill Grimsey, a former chief executive of DIY store Wickes and Iceland, who has already written a report on how to improve the High Street, believes the prognosis is grim. \"In the next five to 10 years one of the Big Four could disappear. It's not beyond the bounds of possibility,\" he says, pointing to the demise of the once mighty 800-store Woolworths as an example. Yet even the most pessimistic analysts believe this is unlikely. IGD predicts that less money will be spent at superstores and hypermarkets by 2019, but still expects them to represent 35% of the total grocery market. The stores will also help to service the rising shift to online and click-and-collect orders And as Planet Retail analyst David Gray points out, the supermarkets are still making profits, most of which come from their big stores, just less than previously. \"The headline numbers look bad. But even if sales are going backward, they're still profitable and there's still a value to that.\""
}
],
"id": "1233_0",
"question": "Collapse on the cards?"
}
]
}
] |
Jeff Bezos: Amazon boss accuses National Enquirer of blackmail
|
8 February 2019
|
[
{
"context": "The world's richest man, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has accused the owner of a US gossip magazine of trying to blackmail him over private pictures. He said the National Enquirer's parent company, American Media Inc (AMI), wanted him to stop investigating how they had obtained his private messages. Hours after Mr Bezos announced his divorce last month, the magazine published details, including private messages, of an extramarital affair. AMI says the company \"acted lawfully\". \"American Media believes fervently that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the story of Mr Bezos. Further, at the time of the recent allegations made by Mr Bezos, it was in good faith negotiations to resolve all matters with him,\" the company said in a statement. \"Nonetheless, in light of the nature of the allegations published by Mr Bezos, the Board has convened and determined that it should promptly and thoroughly investigate the claims. Upon completion of that investigation, the Board will take whatever appropriate action is necessary.\" In a stunning blog post on Thursday, Mr Bezos posted an email he said had been sent to his intermediaries by AMI's representatives threatening to publish \"intimate photos\" of him and his lover, former TV host Lauren Sanchez. The billionaire, who also owns the Washington Post newspaper, said AMI had wanted him to make a \"false public statement\" that the National Enquirer's coverage of him and his mistress was not politically motivated. According to emails included by Mr Bezos in his blog, an AMI lawyer proposed on Wednesday that the photos would not be published in return for a public statement \"affirming that [Bezos and his team] have no knowledge or basis\" to suspect such a motive. It comes after Mr Bezos' investigator suggested they had \"strong leads\" to suspect political reasons. \"Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail,\" wrote Mr Bezos, \"I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten.\" Early in the blog post, Mr Bezos mentions AMI's links to President Donald Trump. Reacting to the allegations on Friday, AMI said the company \"believes fervently that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the story of Mr Bezos\". AMI said that they had been \"in good faith negotiations to resolve all matters with him\" when the allegations were made, and that the board \"has convened and determined that it should promptly and thoroughly investigate the claims\". Mr Bezos said his ownership of the Washington Post was a \"complexifier\" for him because he had made enemies of \"certain powerful people\", including President Trump, who is a friend of AMI's boss, David Pecker. AMI recently admitted in court that it had co-ordinated with the Trump presidential campaign to pay a Playboy model $150,000 (PS115,000) in hush money to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Mr Trump. Mr Bezos notes in his blog post how the publisher had confessed to the so-called \"catch and kill\" deal to bury Karen McDougal's politically embarrassing story. AMI's agreement to co-operate with federal authorities means it will not face criminal charges over the payments, Manhattan prosecutors announced in December. Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen - who facilitated the hush money at the direction, he says, of Mr Trump - has already admitted violating campaign finance laws. The Amazon boss did not try to hide the potential for embarrassment, writing \"of course I don't want personal photos published\" and noting what he called \"AMI's long-earned reputation for weaponising journalistic privileges\". \"But,\" he continued, \"I also won't participate in their well-known practice of blackmail, political favours, political attacks, and corruption. \"I prefer to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out.\" His blog contained itemised details of 10 pictures in an email from the magazine's editor, Dylan Howard, who said they had been \"obtained during our newsgathering\". New Yorker writer Ronan Farrow tweeted that he \"and at least one other prominent journalist\" had been subject to similar \"stop digging or we'll ruin you\" threats from AMI. Mr Bezos said \"AMI's claim of newsworthiness is that the photos are necessary to show Amazon shareholders that my business judgment is terrible\". But the Amazon boss countered that the firm's results \"speak for themselves\". Dylan Howard's name, along with those of two National Enquirer reporters, appeared on an 11-page story the magazine published on 9 January containing alleged details of Mr Bezos' affair with Ms Sanchez. The tabloid labelled it \"the biggest investigation in Enquirer history!\". This has been the focus of Mr Bezos's private investigators. The probe has been led by security Gavin de Becker - who is the billionaire's long-term head of security. He has said that \"strong leads point to political motives\" over the leak, but has not divulged much further information. Last week he said Lauren Sanchez's brother, Michael, had become one of the focuses of their investigation. Mr Sanchez, a publicist who lives in West Hollywood, has strongly rejected involvement. \"I am not dignifying de Becker's passive aggressive allegations or his crazy conspiracy theories,\" he said in a statement to Page Six. He also said he had recommended his sister fire Mr de Becker. US media report that Mr Sanchez knows AMI's David Pecker - as well as other people with links to Mr Trump including his former campaign aides Carter Page and Roger Stone. Mr Stone was indicted by the special counsel's Russia investigation last month. He has confirmed to the Daily Beast that he knows Mr Sanchez - describing him as a \"very good guy\".",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2084,
"answer_start": 1029,
"text": "In a stunning blog post on Thursday, Mr Bezos posted an email he said had been sent to his intermediaries by AMI's representatives threatening to publish \"intimate photos\" of him and his lover, former TV host Lauren Sanchez. The billionaire, who also owns the Washington Post newspaper, said AMI had wanted him to make a \"false public statement\" that the National Enquirer's coverage of him and his mistress was not politically motivated. According to emails included by Mr Bezos in his blog, an AMI lawyer proposed on Wednesday that the photos would not be published in return for a public statement \"affirming that [Bezos and his team] have no knowledge or basis\" to suspect such a motive. It comes after Mr Bezos' investigator suggested they had \"strong leads\" to suspect political reasons. \"Rather than capitulate to extortion and blackmail,\" wrote Mr Bezos, \"I've decided to publish exactly what they sent me, despite the personal cost and embarrassment they threaten.\" Early in the blog post, Mr Bezos mentions AMI's links to President Donald Trump."
}
],
"id": "1234_0",
"question": "What did Bezos say?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2464,
"answer_start": 2085,
"text": "Reacting to the allegations on Friday, AMI said the company \"believes fervently that it acted lawfully in the reporting of the story of Mr Bezos\". AMI said that they had been \"in good faith negotiations to resolve all matters with him\" when the allegations were made, and that the board \"has convened and determined that it should promptly and thoroughly investigate the claims\"."
}
],
"id": "1234_1",
"question": "What has AMI said?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3365,
"answer_start": 2465,
"text": "Mr Bezos said his ownership of the Washington Post was a \"complexifier\" for him because he had made enemies of \"certain powerful people\", including President Trump, who is a friend of AMI's boss, David Pecker. AMI recently admitted in court that it had co-ordinated with the Trump presidential campaign to pay a Playboy model $150,000 (PS115,000) in hush money to keep quiet about her alleged affair with Mr Trump. Mr Bezos notes in his blog post how the publisher had confessed to the so-called \"catch and kill\" deal to bury Karen McDougal's politically embarrassing story. AMI's agreement to co-operate with federal authorities means it will not face criminal charges over the payments, Manhattan prosecutors announced in December. Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen - who facilitated the hush money at the direction, he says, of Mr Trump - has already admitted violating campaign finance laws."
}
],
"id": "1234_2",
"question": "Why does Bezos mention Trump?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4642,
"answer_start": 3366,
"text": "The Amazon boss did not try to hide the potential for embarrassment, writing \"of course I don't want personal photos published\" and noting what he called \"AMI's long-earned reputation for weaponising journalistic privileges\". \"But,\" he continued, \"I also won't participate in their well-known practice of blackmail, political favours, political attacks, and corruption. \"I prefer to stand up, roll this log over, and see what crawls out.\" His blog contained itemised details of 10 pictures in an email from the magazine's editor, Dylan Howard, who said they had been \"obtained during our newsgathering\". New Yorker writer Ronan Farrow tweeted that he \"and at least one other prominent journalist\" had been subject to similar \"stop digging or we'll ruin you\" threats from AMI. Mr Bezos said \"AMI's claim of newsworthiness is that the photos are necessary to show Amazon shareholders that my business judgment is terrible\". But the Amazon boss countered that the firm's results \"speak for themselves\". Dylan Howard's name, along with those of two National Enquirer reporters, appeared on an 11-page story the magazine published on 9 January containing alleged details of Mr Bezos' affair with Ms Sanchez. The tabloid labelled it \"the biggest investigation in Enquirer history!\"."
}
],
"id": "1234_3",
"question": "What about Bezos' reputation?"
}
]
}
] |
Germany AfD: Merkel fires minister over far right row
|
8 February 2020
|
[
{
"context": "German Chancellor Angela Merkel has dismissed a minister for praising the election of a liberal candidate who was supported by the far right. The candidate, Thomas Kemmerich, won an election in the state of Thuringia with the backing of the far-right AfD party. Christian Hirte, who belongs to Mrs Merkel's CDU party, tweeted his congratulations afterwards. Mr Kemmerich's victory with AfD support was seen as a political earthquake. Mrs Merkel said it was \"unforgiveable\". Wednesday's election broke a taboo in German politics that mainstream parties do not work with the far right, and led to outrage among Ms Merkel's centre-left coalition partners in the national government, the Social Democrats (SPD). As the vote sent shockwaves through Germany, Mr Hirte tweeted to FDP politician Mr Kemmerich: \"Your election as a candidate of the middle shows once again that the Thuringian [left-wing] red-green alliance has been voted out for good.\" The tweet was widely condemned, and Sven Kindler, Green Party member of the German parliament - the Bundestag - replied: \"Forming pacts with Nazis and also giving your congratulations, what a shame.\" Mr Hirte was a minister for former East German states and secretary of state for the economy and energy. In a brief statement, Mrs Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said: \"The chancellor has today proposed to the federal president the dismissal of Secretary of State Christian Hirte.\" In a follow-up tweet sent on Saturday, Mr Hirte confirmed that he had been fired. \"Chancellor Merkel has told me... that I can no longer be the Federal Government Commissioner for the new states,\" he wrote. \"Therefore, following her suggestion, I have asked for my discharge.\" This was the first time in post-war Germany that a leader has been helped into office by the far right. Mainstream parties officially oppose any deals with the AfD, which has grown to become the main opposition party in the Bundestag. Faced with a major backlash to his election win, Mr Kemmerich announced on Thursday that he would resign - just 25 hours after he was elected - and called for a snap election. The following day he said his lawyers had advised him to stay on temporarily, but reversed this on Saturday, announced he was standing down \"with immediate effect\". He has said he would turn down a pay package of EUR93,000 (PS79,000; $102,000), which he was legally entitled to under Thuringia law even though he only served one day in office. Senior MPs in Thuringia's parliament plan to meet on 18 February to decide on a constitutional way to re-run the election for state premier. No replacement has been chosen yet for Mr Kemmerich. There are calls for the public to vote in fresh regional elections in Thuringia, but Chancellor Merkel's Christian Democrats (CDU) are resisting that option. The CDU and the SPD were holding crisis talks on Saturday.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2463,
"answer_start": 1709,
"text": "This was the first time in post-war Germany that a leader has been helped into office by the far right. Mainstream parties officially oppose any deals with the AfD, which has grown to become the main opposition party in the Bundestag. Faced with a major backlash to his election win, Mr Kemmerich announced on Thursday that he would resign - just 25 hours after he was elected - and called for a snap election. The following day he said his lawyers had advised him to stay on temporarily, but reversed this on Saturday, announced he was standing down \"with immediate effect\". He has said he would turn down a pay package of EUR93,000 (PS79,000; $102,000), which he was legally entitled to under Thuringia law even though he only served one day in office."
}
],
"id": "1235_0",
"question": "What happened in Thuringia?"
}
]
}
] |
What next for Brexit in 2018?
|
31 December 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Anyone who tells you they know how Brexit is going to play out in 2018 isn't to be trusted. After last year's rollercoaster, almost anything could happen. Another general election? A big shift in the public mood? Both are possibilities - perhaps unlikely, but not to be ruled out entirely. The only predictable thing is unpredictability. And among both arch-Brexiteers, and ardent Remainers, there is a sense that it is still all to play for. But the government insists that the UK will leave the EU on March 29 2019, and in the meantime Brexit negotiations will gather pace. Welcome to phase two. So what is supposed to happen next? First of all, the joint EU-UK report on \"sufficient progress\" needs to be turned into a legal text that will form the basis of a formal withdrawal agreement. And there are still plenty of details that remain unresolved. Expect the debate about what \"full alignment\" at the Irish border really means to re-emerge at regular intervals. At the end of January, formal negotiations are also due to begin on a transition period after Brexit. The EU's position is that the transition has to take place under all existing rules and regulations (including budget payments, the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice and the free movement of people), and that it should come to an end on 31 December 2020. No-one in the UK seems entirely happy about the transition proposals. Many businesses say it won't be long enough for them to be ready for a new world after the UK leaves. On the other hand, many supporters of Brexit say the transition will leave the UK as a \"vassal state\" - following rules without any say in making them. Either way, the idea of a transition suggests that you know where you are heading. But the debate on the \"end state\" of Brexit has barely begun. Prime Minister Theresa May is likely to give another big speech on Brexit - perhaps in early February - which may give us further clues about what the UK actually wants. But first she needs to reach some sort of consensus within her own cabinet. Does the UK stick as close as possible to the EU after Brexit, to try to preserve current economic links? Or does it forge a new path on its own? The best of both worlds may not be on offer. But formal negotiations on the outlines of a future relationship - on trade, security and so on - are not expected to start until April. It will be, says the European Council President Donald Tusk, a \"furious race against time\". The EU wants to have the withdrawal agreement (including transition arrangements), and a broad political declaration about the future relationship (NOT a full trade deal), finalised by October. That will give time for the withdrawal agreement to be ratified in full before the UK leaves in March 2019. It needs the approval of a qualified majority of the remaining 27 EU member states, as well as simple majorities in the UK and European parliaments. Until those votes are cast, no-one can say for sure that the withdrawal agreement will be successfully concluded. So Brexit will continue to take up an enormous amount of political time and energy throughout the year. Anyone hoping for certainty should probably look away now.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 967,
"answer_start": 598,
"text": "So what is supposed to happen next? First of all, the joint EU-UK report on \"sufficient progress\" needs to be turned into a legal text that will form the basis of a formal withdrawal agreement. And there are still plenty of details that remain unresolved. Expect the debate about what \"full alignment\" at the Irish border really means to re-emerge at regular intervals."
}
],
"id": "1236_0",
"question": "What next?"
}
]
}
] |
Mario Cerciello Rega: Huge manhunt for killers of Italian policeman
|
26 July 2019
|
[
{
"context": "A huge manhunt is under way for the killers of an Italian policeman stabbed to death in the centre of Rome while trying to make an arrest. Two men believed to be North Africans are being sought after Mario Cerciello Rega, 35, died confronting suspected thieves, Italian media report. The thieves are said to have stolen a bag, then arranged to meet and sell it back to the owner for EUR100 (PS90; $111). Two Americans have been arrested in connection with the theft of the bag. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini has offered his condolences on Twitter, describing the dead Carabinieri officer as \"a hero, a boy with all his life ahead\". Earlier, he called for whoever killed the policeman to face \"forced labour in prison for as long as he lives\". Hours after the death became known, Italian state police (Polizia di Stato) stopped their cars outside the Carabinieri's general headquarters and sounded their sirens in tribute to the officer. On Thursday evening, an Italian man, 40, was sitting in a city square, Piazza Mastai, when his bag containing EUR100 and a mobile phone was stolen, Il Corriere della Sera reports. Two men were apparently later caught on CCTV running away with the bag but others may also have been involved. After the owner called his own phone, someone on the other end offered to sell the bag back to him in another part of the city, the Prati district. The owner then alerted the police. The suspected thieves were waiting in the early hours of Friday for the owner to turn up when, instead, Vice-Brigadier Rega and a colleague appeared. One of the suspects produced a knife and stabbed the policeman eight times, including once in the heart, before they fled, Ansa news agency reports. The police officer was taken to hospital but died of his injuries. Four people are being questioned at a Carabiniere barracks in connection with the case, Ansa adds. The two Americans being investigated over the theft of the bag were picked up at a hotel by police on Friday morning. Vice-Brigadier Rega had been married only 43 days and had returned from his honeymoon just this week. \"Mario was a lovely lad,\" Sandro Ottaviani, commander of Rome's Piazza Farnese Carabinieri station, was quoted as saying by Ansa. \"He never held back at work and he was a figurehead for the whole district. He always helped everyone. He did voluntary work, accompanying sick people to Lourdes and Loreto. Every Tuesday he went to Termini train station to feed the needy.\" His funeral will be held on Monday, in the same church in which he was married. The killing shocked Italy and prompted tributes from across the country. On social media pages, the Carabinieri paid tribute to Mario Cerciello Rega's \"unconditional and brave dedication\", and said his loss would be felt by his 110,000 fellow Carabinieri officers. Flowers have also been left at the Carabinieri station in Rome's Piazza Fornese.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1996,
"answer_start": 940,
"text": "On Thursday evening, an Italian man, 40, was sitting in a city square, Piazza Mastai, when his bag containing EUR100 and a mobile phone was stolen, Il Corriere della Sera reports. Two men were apparently later caught on CCTV running away with the bag but others may also have been involved. After the owner called his own phone, someone on the other end offered to sell the bag back to him in another part of the city, the Prati district. The owner then alerted the police. The suspected thieves were waiting in the early hours of Friday for the owner to turn up when, instead, Vice-Brigadier Rega and a colleague appeared. One of the suspects produced a knife and stabbed the policeman eight times, including once in the heart, before they fled, Ansa news agency reports. The police officer was taken to hospital but died of his injuries. Four people are being questioned at a Carabiniere barracks in connection with the case, Ansa adds. The two Americans being investigated over the theft of the bag were picked up at a hotel by police on Friday morning."
}
],
"id": "1237_0",
"question": "What do we know about what happened?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2895,
"answer_start": 1997,
"text": "Vice-Brigadier Rega had been married only 43 days and had returned from his honeymoon just this week. \"Mario was a lovely lad,\" Sandro Ottaviani, commander of Rome's Piazza Farnese Carabinieri station, was quoted as saying by Ansa. \"He never held back at work and he was a figurehead for the whole district. He always helped everyone. He did voluntary work, accompanying sick people to Lourdes and Loreto. Every Tuesday he went to Termini train station to feed the needy.\" His funeral will be held on Monday, in the same church in which he was married. The killing shocked Italy and prompted tributes from across the country. On social media pages, the Carabinieri paid tribute to Mario Cerciello Rega's \"unconditional and brave dedication\", and said his loss would be felt by his 110,000 fellow Carabinieri officers. Flowers have also been left at the Carabinieri station in Rome's Piazza Fornese."
}
],
"id": "1237_1",
"question": "Who was the victim?"
}
]
}
] |
Syria 'chemical attack': Russia and US in fierce row at UN
|
9 April 2018
|
[
{
"context": "The US and Russia have traded barbs at a UN Security Council meeting on the alleged chemical attack in Syria. Russian representative Vassily Nebenzia said the incident in Douma was staged and that US military action in response could have \"grave repercussions\". US envoy Nikki Haley said Russia - a Syrian military backer - had the \"blood of Syrian children\" on its hands. Earlier, the UN human rights chief said world powers were treating chemical weapons use with a \"collective shrug\". US President Donald Trump pledged later on Monday that the incident would \"be met forcefully\", adding that the US had a lot of military options and a decision on a response would be taken \"tonight\" or \"shortly\". Calling Syrian President Bashar al-Assad a \"monster\", Ms Haley said that if the UN Security Council acts or not, \"either way, the United States will respond\". \"Meetings are ongoing, important decisions are being weighed even as we speak,\" she said. Washington has not ruled out military strikes. In April last year, the US fired cruise missiles at a Syrian airbase after a Sarin nerve agent attack on the opposition-held town of Khan Sheikhoun killed more than 80 people. International investigators held the Syrian government responsible. The Syrian-American Medical Society said more than 500 people were brought to medical centres in Douma, in the Eastern Ghouta region, near the capital Damascus, with symptoms \"indicative of exposure to a chemical agent\". It said this included breathing difficulties, bluish skin, mouth foaming, corneal burns and \"the emission of chlorine-like odour\". Neither the death toll nor what exactly occurred can be verified as the area is blocked off with access denied. The estimates of how many people died in the suspected chemical attack range from 42 to more than 60 people, but medical groups say numbers could rise as rescue workers gain access to basements where hundreds of families had sought refuge from bombing. The French representative at the UN Security Council said poison gas had deliberately been used as it could seep down to the basements. The US, France and UK have led international condemnation of the alleged attack, with the Syrian government and its Russian backers denying any responsibility. Mr Nebenzia, presenting Russia's case that rebels in Douma staged the event for their own ends, painted the incident and its fallout as part of a US-led effort to hurt Russia with a \"broad arsenal of methods\", including slander, insults and \"hawkish rhetoric\". In an angry statement, he invited investigators from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to fly to Syria as soon as Tuesday, saying that Russian troops would escort them to the site of the alleged attack. Moscow has said its experts have not found \"any trace of chlorine or any other chemical substance used against civilians\". Mr Nebenzia said the tone taken against Russia had gone beyond what was acceptable even during the Cold War and warned against a US military response. \"Armed force under mendacious pretext against Syria, where, at the request of the legitimate government of a country, Russian troops have been deployed, could lead to grave repercussions,\" he said. The escalation of tension comes as relations between Russia and the West have plunged to their worst level in decades, following the poisoning in March of an ex-spy in England that the UK blamed on Moscow, and alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election. The poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with what the British government says was a military-grade Novichok nerve agent of a type developed by Russia led to the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western allies, to which Moscow responded in kind. Following the alleged attack, Syria and Russia reached an evacuation deal with the Jaish al-Islam rebels, who up until now have been holding Douma. Moscow said military operations there had been halted. Under the deal, 100 buses are said to be moving 8,000 fighters and 40,000 of their relatives out of the battered town. Hostages who had been held by the rebels are being set free. The development means pro-government forces have now taken full control of the Eastern Ghouta. Analysts say this is President Assad's biggest military success since the fall of Aleppo in 2016. It follows a weeks-long government offensive in which more than 1,600 people were killed. Separately on Monday, monitors said at least 13 civilians were killed and scores injured in the north-western city of Idlib, after an explosion that destroyed a large, multi-storey building. The cause of the blast was not clear. Idlib province is mainly controlled by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an alliance led by a former branch of al-Qaeda. The area has seen a big influx of civilians and fighters from other war-torn regions.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2252,
"answer_start": 1240,
"text": "The Syrian-American Medical Society said more than 500 people were brought to medical centres in Douma, in the Eastern Ghouta region, near the capital Damascus, with symptoms \"indicative of exposure to a chemical agent\". It said this included breathing difficulties, bluish skin, mouth foaming, corneal burns and \"the emission of chlorine-like odour\". Neither the death toll nor what exactly occurred can be verified as the area is blocked off with access denied. The estimates of how many people died in the suspected chemical attack range from 42 to more than 60 people, but medical groups say numbers could rise as rescue workers gain access to basements where hundreds of families had sought refuge from bombing. The French representative at the UN Security Council said poison gas had deliberately been used as it could seep down to the basements. The US, France and UK have led international condemnation of the alleged attack, with the Syrian government and its Russian backers denying any responsibility."
}
],
"id": "1238_0",
"question": "What happened on Saturday?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3218,
"answer_start": 2253,
"text": "Mr Nebenzia, presenting Russia's case that rebels in Douma staged the event for their own ends, painted the incident and its fallout as part of a US-led effort to hurt Russia with a \"broad arsenal of methods\", including slander, insults and \"hawkish rhetoric\". In an angry statement, he invited investigators from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to fly to Syria as soon as Tuesday, saying that Russian troops would escort them to the site of the alleged attack. Moscow has said its experts have not found \"any trace of chlorine or any other chemical substance used against civilians\". Mr Nebenzia said the tone taken against Russia had gone beyond what was acceptable even during the Cold War and warned against a US military response. \"Armed force under mendacious pretext against Syria, where, at the request of the legitimate government of a country, Russian troops have been deployed, could lead to grave repercussions,\" he said."
}
],
"id": "1238_1",
"question": "What did Russia say at the UN?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3748,
"answer_start": 3219,
"text": "The escalation of tension comes as relations between Russia and the West have plunged to their worst level in decades, following the poisoning in March of an ex-spy in England that the UK blamed on Moscow, and alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US election. The poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia with what the British government says was a military-grade Novichok nerve agent of a type developed by Russia led to the mass expulsion of Russian diplomats by Western allies, to which Moscow responded in kind."
}
],
"id": "1238_2",
"question": "What is the wider context?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4863,
"answer_start": 3749,
"text": "Following the alleged attack, Syria and Russia reached an evacuation deal with the Jaish al-Islam rebels, who up until now have been holding Douma. Moscow said military operations there had been halted. Under the deal, 100 buses are said to be moving 8,000 fighters and 40,000 of their relatives out of the battered town. Hostages who had been held by the rebels are being set free. The development means pro-government forces have now taken full control of the Eastern Ghouta. Analysts say this is President Assad's biggest military success since the fall of Aleppo in 2016. It follows a weeks-long government offensive in which more than 1,600 people were killed. Separately on Monday, monitors said at least 13 civilians were killed and scores injured in the north-western city of Idlib, after an explosion that destroyed a large, multi-storey building. The cause of the blast was not clear. Idlib province is mainly controlled by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an alliance led by a former branch of al-Qaeda. The area has seen a big influx of civilians and fighters from other war-torn regions."
}
],
"id": "1238_3",
"question": "What else is happening in Syria?"
}
]
}
] |
Florida shooting: Gun control law moves step closer
|
8 March 2018
|
[
{
"context": "New gun control measures for Florida have passed another legal hurdle, weeks after one of the worst school shootings in US history. The state's House of Representatives passed a bill raising the age to buy a gun from 18 to 21 and imposing a three-day waiting period on all gun sales. The bill, already passed by the Senate, now goes to the state governor. Seventeen people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on 14 February. Expelled former student Nikolas Cruz, 19, has been charged in the attack. He was formally indicted by a grand jury on Wednesday on 34 counts, including 17 counts of premeditated first-degree murder and 17 counts of attempted first-degree murder. He is suspected of using a legally bought AR-15 semi-automatic rifle to carry out the 10-minute attack, gunning down teachers and students. In addition to raising the age and bringing in the three-day waiting period, the legislation: - Introduces a voluntary armed \"guardian programme\" for schools, named after Aaron Feis, a coach who died in the Parkland shooting. It allows school personnel to be armed, subject to school district approval and specialist training - Classroom teachers are excluded from carrying arms unless they have a security forces background - Bans devices, such as bump stocks, that modify a semi-automatic weapon to fully automatic - Raises mental health funding and increases the power to seize or ban guns under mental health concerns The legislation does not include a ban on the sale of assault-style weapons like the AR-15, despite it being a key demand of Parkland students and their parents. Florida law already mandates a three-day waiting period for the purchase of a handgun but a person as young as 18 can buy a rifle with no waiting period. The Republican-controlled House debated the bill for about eight hours on Wednesday before voting 67-50 in favour. Ryan Petty, whose daughter was among those killed, hailed the House's vote in a tweet. He said: \"We know that when it comes to preventing future acts of school violence, today's vote is just the beginning of our journey.\" State Democratic Party legislators who backed the bill said it was necessary despite the \"poison pill\" of allowing more guns in schools under the guardian programme. Florida now joins at least six other states in allowing school employees to carry firearms. Following the Parkland shooting, many surviving students had lobbied politicians for greater gun control. Gun control activists will hope the Florida measures will be a turning point in their battle with the powerful National Rifle Association and others who defend firearms ownership under the Second Amendment of the US constitution. On the day the vote passed, a 17-year-old woman student was killed in a suspected accidental shooting at a high school in Alabama. Governor Rick Scott will need to sign the bill, known as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, into law. It will automatically become law within 15 days unless he vetoes it. Mr Scott has not yet said he will back it, telling reporters he would \"review the bill line by line\" and consult victims' families. He has previously said he opposes US President Donald Trump's call to arm teachers. He had also previously opposed increasing the purchase age from 18 to 21.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1901,
"answer_start": 849,
"text": "In addition to raising the age and bringing in the three-day waiting period, the legislation: - Introduces a voluntary armed \"guardian programme\" for schools, named after Aaron Feis, a coach who died in the Parkland shooting. It allows school personnel to be armed, subject to school district approval and specialist training - Classroom teachers are excluded from carrying arms unless they have a security forces background - Bans devices, such as bump stocks, that modify a semi-automatic weapon to fully automatic - Raises mental health funding and increases the power to seize or ban guns under mental health concerns The legislation does not include a ban on the sale of assault-style weapons like the AR-15, despite it being a key demand of Parkland students and their parents. Florida law already mandates a three-day waiting period for the purchase of a handgun but a person as young as 18 can buy a rifle with no waiting period. The Republican-controlled House debated the bill for about eight hours on Wednesday before voting 67-50 in favour."
}
],
"id": "1239_0",
"question": "What is in the new law?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2848,
"answer_start": 1902,
"text": "Ryan Petty, whose daughter was among those killed, hailed the House's vote in a tweet. He said: \"We know that when it comes to preventing future acts of school violence, today's vote is just the beginning of our journey.\" State Democratic Party legislators who backed the bill said it was necessary despite the \"poison pill\" of allowing more guns in schools under the guardian programme. Florida now joins at least six other states in allowing school employees to carry firearms. Following the Parkland shooting, many surviving students had lobbied politicians for greater gun control. Gun control activists will hope the Florida measures will be a turning point in their battle with the powerful National Rifle Association and others who defend firearms ownership under the Second Amendment of the US constitution. On the day the vote passed, a 17-year-old woman student was killed in a suspected accidental shooting at a high school in Alabama."
}
],
"id": "1239_1",
"question": "Has the move been welcomed?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3334,
"answer_start": 2849,
"text": "Governor Rick Scott will need to sign the bill, known as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, into law. It will automatically become law within 15 days unless he vetoes it. Mr Scott has not yet said he will back it, telling reporters he would \"review the bill line by line\" and consult victims' families. He has previously said he opposes US President Donald Trump's call to arm teachers. He had also previously opposed increasing the purchase age from 18 to 21."
}
],
"id": "1239_2",
"question": "What happens now?"
}
]
}
] |
Black and in the police: 'I've been called a traitor'
|
1 February 2020
|
[
{
"context": "\"There's such a bad stereotype of black people joining the police - I want to break away from that.\" Alisha Sunneh, 20, is a university student who is in the process of enrolling to become a police officer in Manchester where she lives. She says her family and some friends are critical of her plans. \"My parents are so against it, my dad says I should know which line I stand on.\" According to government data, in March 2019 just over 93% of police officers in England and Wales were white, compared to only 1.2% who were black, and 6.9% who were BME overall. There has been a slight increase over the past decade - in 2009 it was 1% who were black and 3.9% BME - but the force is still not representative of the general population. When Love Island's Mike Boateng, 24, first revealed he used to be a police officer, he received a mixed response on social media. There were also words of encouragement... While he's been in the Love Island villa, Mike Boateng's career in the police has come under scrutiny. His family has issued a statement in response to reports suggesting he is under investigation by Greater Manchester Police (GMP) for alleged \"inappropriate behaviour\". He denies the allegations. GMP said in a statement to The Manchester Evening News: \"Allegations were made regarding an officer in 2019 which are currently under investigation by the Professional Standards Branch. It is inappropriate to comment further whilst the investigation is ongoing.\" Mike's family also alleged that he had experienced discrimination during his training with the force. GMP confirmed that a complaint had been made in 2017. A spokesperson said: \"There is absolutely no place for racism within GMP - it is important that all our staff are treated fairly and with respect and we have made significant improvements to the diversity of our workforce over recent years.\" Alex Jagne, 24, is a police officer from Bristol. Growing up, he dreamed of joining the force and would spend hours watching police shows on TV - much to his family's annoyance. At first family members had reservations about him joining the police, but now Alex says \"my family are massively supportive\". But it's been a bigger ask to get his mates to support his career choice. \"People have had their own experiences and preconceptions of the police. I've been told several times that I am a traitor to the black community. \"Throwing negative comments around doesn't help because it makes other black people feel they can't apply,\" he says. \"There's a complicated history in terms of the way black people have historically been treated by the police,\" says Adam Pugh, an ex-police officer and anti-racism campaigner. \"There's a real mistrust. I don't think the police have properly tried to address that.\" It's been 20 years since an inquiry into Stephen Lawrence's death found London's Metropolitan Police to be \"institutionally racist\". The inquiry said the government should make it a priority to \"increase trust and confidence in policing amongst minority ethnic communities\". \"Charities like the Stephen Lawrence Trust have done important work and made changes,\" Adam tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. \"But we still see the same disparities - in terms of stop and search or black people having excessive force used against them.\" Black people in England and Wales were nine-and-a-half times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched in 2017/18, according to the Home Office, and Metropolitan Police officers are four times more likely to use force against black people compared to white people, according to Met Police data from 2018. Growing up on a council estate in south east London, Adam saw the tensions between the police and the black community play out. \"No black person on that estate wanted to be a police officer because they were stopped and searched every day or spoken to like dirt. \"To encourage more young black people to apply they have to build that relationship between the two communities - that's going to take time and commitment.\" The Home Office told Radio 1 Newsbeat that work is underway in the police to ensure a \"more representative workforce\". \"Our drive to recruit 20,000 officers over three years gives us a significant opportunity to attract a wide range of people into a career in policing and support the police to become more representative of the communities they serve. \"As well as recruiting new officers, it is vital that forces continue to look at retention and progression as a means of ensuring representation at all levels and in policing.\" Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4560,
"answer_start": 2507,
"text": "\"There's a complicated history in terms of the way black people have historically been treated by the police,\" says Adam Pugh, an ex-police officer and anti-racism campaigner. \"There's a real mistrust. I don't think the police have properly tried to address that.\" It's been 20 years since an inquiry into Stephen Lawrence's death found London's Metropolitan Police to be \"institutionally racist\". The inquiry said the government should make it a priority to \"increase trust and confidence in policing amongst minority ethnic communities\". \"Charities like the Stephen Lawrence Trust have done important work and made changes,\" Adam tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. \"But we still see the same disparities - in terms of stop and search or black people having excessive force used against them.\" Black people in England and Wales were nine-and-a-half times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched in 2017/18, according to the Home Office, and Metropolitan Police officers are four times more likely to use force against black people compared to white people, according to Met Police data from 2018. Growing up on a council estate in south east London, Adam saw the tensions between the police and the black community play out. \"No black person on that estate wanted to be a police officer because they were stopped and searched every day or spoken to like dirt. \"To encourage more young black people to apply they have to build that relationship between the two communities - that's going to take time and commitment.\" The Home Office told Radio 1 Newsbeat that work is underway in the police to ensure a \"more representative workforce\". \"Our drive to recruit 20,000 officers over three years gives us a significant opportunity to attract a wide range of people into a career in policing and support the police to become more representative of the communities they serve. \"As well as recruiting new officers, it is vital that forces continue to look at retention and progression as a means of ensuring representation at all levels and in policing.\""
}
],
"id": "1240_0",
"question": "So why aren't more black people joining the force?"
}
]
}
] |
US tax bill: Republicans agree sweeping changes
|
16 December 2017
|
[
{
"context": "US Republicans from both houses of Congress have revealed their joint bill for the biggest overhaul of the country's tax system in 30 years. The plan brings the US corporate tax rate down to 21% from the current 35%. The top individual income tax drops to 37% from 39.6%. President Donald Trump campaigned on a pledge to cut taxes, and passing the legislation marks a significant victory. He has said he wants the bill signed into law before Christmas. Democrats have argued that the tax cuts will favour only the rich and offer little to the middle class. The non-partisan Joint Committee on Taxation said on Friday the measures would add as much as $1.4tn (PS1tn) to the $20tn national debt over 10 years. The Senate and the House of Representatives - which both have Republican majorities - are due to vote on the measures next week. Friday's agreement came after hours of talks in which the bill's supporters sought to win over wavering Republicans. Senator Marco Rubio added his support following changes to child tax credit, reports said. Fellow Senator Bob Corker, who had opposed the original bill, also said he would back the draft bill despite reservations. Kevin Brady, Republican chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said he was \"very excited about this moment\". \"It's been 31 years in the making and took a lot of hard work,\" he told reporters. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington The pieces are falling in place for Donald Trump's tax bill, which now seems almost guaranteed to become law. This will certainly satisfy critics within the Republican Party, particularly the big-business donors, who were lamenting Congress's inability to enact even modest parts of their party's legislative agenda. The question, however, is whether the success here will do anything to reverse the president's low poll numbers and dispel the growing consensus that Republicans are in for a rough ride in next year's mid-term congressional elections. At the very least this will make it easier for the party incumbents to survive primary challenges from anti-establishment outsiders who otherwise would have railed against a do-nothing Congress. The tax bill's overall unpopularity according to recent polls, however, may do little to improve the party's standings in the eyes of the general public. Cutting corporate tax rates, whether or not it is in the long-term interest of the nation, is unlikely to capture the imagination of the average American. Republicans are now in a position to fully take credit for a booming economy, however - and they have 11 months to make the case to voters that they deserve to stay in power. The proposed new measures ran into opposition from a senior UN official on Friday, who said they could worsen social inequality in the US. Philip Alston, the UN Special Rapporteur on Extreme Poverty who has been on a two-week fact-finding visit to US States, said the tax bill threatened to \"blow apart\" social welfare provision. \"The US Congress is trying desperately to pass a tax bill that, if adopted, would represent the single most dramatic increase in inequality that could be imagined,\" he said.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2649,
"answer_start": 1369,
"text": "Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington The pieces are falling in place for Donald Trump's tax bill, which now seems almost guaranteed to become law. This will certainly satisfy critics within the Republican Party, particularly the big-business donors, who were lamenting Congress's inability to enact even modest parts of their party's legislative agenda. The question, however, is whether the success here will do anything to reverse the president's low poll numbers and dispel the growing consensus that Republicans are in for a rough ride in next year's mid-term congressional elections. At the very least this will make it easier for the party incumbents to survive primary challenges from anti-establishment outsiders who otherwise would have railed against a do-nothing Congress. The tax bill's overall unpopularity according to recent polls, however, may do little to improve the party's standings in the eyes of the general public. Cutting corporate tax rates, whether or not it is in the long-term interest of the nation, is unlikely to capture the imagination of the average American. Republicans are now in a position to fully take credit for a booming economy, however - and they have 11 months to make the case to voters that they deserve to stay in power."
}
],
"id": "1241_0",
"question": "Can tax bill boost Trump in polls?"
}
]
}
] |
North Korea tests submarine-capable missile fired from sea
|
3 October 2019
|
[
{
"context": "North Korea has confirmed it test-fired a new type of a ballistic missile, a significant escalation from the short-range tests it has conducted since May. The missile - which was able to carry a nuclear weapon - was the North's 11th test this year. But this one, fired from a platform at sea, was capable of being launched from a submarine. Being submarine-capable is important as it means North Korea could launch missiles far outside its territory. According to South Korean officials, the missile flew about 450km (280 miles) and reached an altitude of 910km before landing in the sea. That means the missile flew twice as high as the International Space Station, but previous North Korean tests have gone higher. It came down in the Sea of Japan, also known in South Korea as the East Sea. Japan said it landed in its exclusive economic zone - a band of 200km around Japanese territory. The test came hours after North Korea said nuclear talks with the US would resume. The missile was launched from the sea soon after 07:00 on Wednesday (22:00 GMT Tuesday), about 17km north-east of the coastal city of Wonsan. North Korea's state news agency KCNA said on Thursday the missile was a Pukguksong-3 test-fired at a high angle, designed to \"contain external threat and bolster self-defence\". It added there was \"no adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries\". Unlike previous tests, there were no pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the launch. In the previous 10 missile tests carried out this year, only short-range projectiles were fired. If the missile was launched on a standard trajectory, instead of a vertical one, it could have travelled around 1,900 km (1,200 miles). That would have put all of South Korea and Japan within range. But being launched from a submarine can make missiles harder to detect, and allows them to get closer to other targets. North Korea's existing Romeo-class submarines, which were built in the 1990s, are believed to have a range of about 7,000 km, the Reuters news agency said. This would make a one-way trip to near Hawaii possible. The north's submarines are, however, diesel-powered and easier to detect. By Ankit Panda, North Korea analyst North Korea's introduction of the Pukguksong-3 submarine-launched ballistic missile is a grave moment for North East Asian regional security - and a reminder of what has been lost over nearly two years of all-show-no-substance diplomacy. This missile is destined for a submarine, but it wasn't launched from one. North Korea's engineers may have deemed it too risky to stake their one operational ballistic missile submarine in a test. Nevertheless, the missile appears to have successfully completed its flight with flying colours. The Pukguksong-3, if it had been flown at a more normal angle, could have reached all of Japan's four main islands and all of South Korea from the centre of the Sea of Japan. Most seriously, it represents the largest-ever solid-fuel system seen in North Korea. Solid-fuel missiles have many advantages over their liquid-fuel counterparts. They offer greater responsiveness and flexibility; unlike their liquid counterparts, they do not require extensive fuelling and preparation before use. This test underscores why the United States must make extensive efforts to freeze North Korea's qualitative progress on missile technologies. Ankit Panda is adjunct senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists and author of forthcoming book Kim Jong Un and the Bomb. Before the missile test, North Korea and the US confirmed that preliminary nuclear talks would take place \"within the next week\". The US state department responded to the test by calling on Pyongyang to \"refrain from provocations\" and \"remain engaged in substantive and sustained negotiations\" aimed at bringing denuclearisation. Negotiations between the US and North Korea have stalled since the Hanoi summit between President Donald Trump and Mr Kim in February ended without an agreement. Experts said the proximity of the test and the talks announcement was deliberate. \"North Korea wants to make its negotiating position quite clear before talks even begin,\" Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest in Washington DC told the AFP news agency. \"Pyongyang seems set to push Washington to back off from past demands of full denuclearisation, for what are only promises of sanctions relief.\" North Korea is banned from using ballistic missiles by UN Security Council resolutions, and is under US and UN sanctions for its nuclear programme. Reports suggest that, in the upcoming talks, the US may offer a suspension of UN sanctions on North Korean textile and coal exports for 36 months. In return, it wants the closure of the Yongbyon nuclear facility, and the end of uranium enrichment. This is \"less than the all-or-nothing approach Washington has taken so far\", Vox reports.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1567,
"answer_start": 974,
"text": "The missile was launched from the sea soon after 07:00 on Wednesday (22:00 GMT Tuesday), about 17km north-east of the coastal city of Wonsan. North Korea's state news agency KCNA said on Thursday the missile was a Pukguksong-3 test-fired at a high angle, designed to \"contain external threat and bolster self-defence\". It added there was \"no adverse impact on the security of neighbouring countries\". Unlike previous tests, there were no pictures of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at the launch. In the previous 10 missile tests carried out this year, only short-range projectiles were fired."
}
],
"id": "1242_0",
"question": "What do we know about this missile?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2172,
"answer_start": 1568,
"text": "If the missile was launched on a standard trajectory, instead of a vertical one, it could have travelled around 1,900 km (1,200 miles). That would have put all of South Korea and Japan within range. But being launched from a submarine can make missiles harder to detect, and allows them to get closer to other targets. North Korea's existing Romeo-class submarines, which were built in the 1990s, are believed to have a range of about 7,000 km, the Reuters news agency said. This would make a one-way trip to near Hawaii possible. The north's submarines are, however, diesel-powered and easier to detect."
}
],
"id": "1242_1",
"question": "Why is 'submarine-capable' significant?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4902,
"answer_start": 3510,
"text": "Before the missile test, North Korea and the US confirmed that preliminary nuclear talks would take place \"within the next week\". The US state department responded to the test by calling on Pyongyang to \"refrain from provocations\" and \"remain engaged in substantive and sustained negotiations\" aimed at bringing denuclearisation. Negotiations between the US and North Korea have stalled since the Hanoi summit between President Donald Trump and Mr Kim in February ended without an agreement. Experts said the proximity of the test and the talks announcement was deliberate. \"North Korea wants to make its negotiating position quite clear before talks even begin,\" Harry Kazianis of the Center for the National Interest in Washington DC told the AFP news agency. \"Pyongyang seems set to push Washington to back off from past demands of full denuclearisation, for what are only promises of sanctions relief.\" North Korea is banned from using ballistic missiles by UN Security Council resolutions, and is under US and UN sanctions for its nuclear programme. Reports suggest that, in the upcoming talks, the US may offer a suspension of UN sanctions on North Korean textile and coal exports for 36 months. In return, it wants the closure of the Yongbyon nuclear facility, and the end of uranium enrichment. This is \"less than the all-or-nothing approach Washington has taken so far\", Vox reports."
}
],
"id": "1242_2",
"question": "How will this affect US talks?"
}
]
}
] |
Parliament shutdown sought 'in clandestine manner', said judges
|
12 September 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Details of the Court of Session judgement which ruled the suspension of parliament was unlawful have been revealed. The 68-page document has been published giving the full reasons for the decision. It revealed the three Inner House judges believed the move was sought in a \"clandestine\" manner. They concluded that the \"true reason\" for the prorogation was to reduce the time available for scrutiny of Brexit. Lord Brodie, Lord Carloway and Lord Young also thought none of the evidence explained why the shutdown needed to last for as long as five weeks. On Wednesday, Scotland's highest civil court ruled that Boris Johnson's decision to suspend parliament was \"improper\" and \"unlawful\". The case was brought by a group of more than 70 parliamentarians and led by SNP MP Joanna Cherry QC. The three senior Scottish judges concluded it had been done with \"the purpose of stymying parliament\". The decision overturned an earlier ruling from the court, which said last week that Mr Johnson had not broken the law. On Thursday evening, the full opinions of each judge were released. The Lord President Lord Carloway Lord Carloway 's view was that the tenor of Boris Johnson's remarks and the discussion around them - revealed in the documents - pointed to various factors being used to publicly deflect from the real reason for the prorogation. He added the suspension of parliament had been sought in a \"clandestine manner,\" and that there was no reason for a prorogation for such a long length of time. He said: \"The circumstances demonstrate that the true reason for the prorogation is to reduce the time available for parliamentary scrutiny of Brexit at a time when such scrutiny would appear to be a matter of considerable importance, given the issues at stake. \"This is in the context of an anticipated no-deal Brexit, in which case no further consideration of matters by parliament is required. The Article 50 period, as extended, will have expired and withdrawal will occur automatically.\" He said: \"Put shortly, prorogation was being mooted specifically as a means to stymie any further legislation regulating Brexit. \"There is remarkably little said about the reason for the prorogation in the respondent's pleadings.\" Lord Drummond Young Lord Young said he concluded the only inference that could be drawn was that the government, and the prime minister in particular, wished to restrict debate in parliament for as long as possible during the period leading up to the European Council meeting on 17-18 October and the scheduled date of Britain's departure from the European Union, adding that in his opinion that was not a proper purpose for proroguing parliament. He said; \"The matter clearly calls for parliamentary scrutiny. The effect of the prorogation under consideration, in particular its length, is that proper parliamentary scrutiny is rendered all but impossible.\" Lord Brodie Lord Brodie said when the action petition was first presented, those bringing the court action were not in a position to frame an argument that was subject to a court of law, but that the landscape changed with the prime minister's letter to MPs on 28 August and the disclosure to the court of copies of three redacted documents. A UK government appeal against the ruling will be heard by the Supreme Court in London next week.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3325,
"answer_start": 1080,
"text": "The Lord President Lord Carloway Lord Carloway 's view was that the tenor of Boris Johnson's remarks and the discussion around them - revealed in the documents - pointed to various factors being used to publicly deflect from the real reason for the prorogation. He added the suspension of parliament had been sought in a \"clandestine manner,\" and that there was no reason for a prorogation for such a long length of time. He said: \"The circumstances demonstrate that the true reason for the prorogation is to reduce the time available for parliamentary scrutiny of Brexit at a time when such scrutiny would appear to be a matter of considerable importance, given the issues at stake. \"This is in the context of an anticipated no-deal Brexit, in which case no further consideration of matters by parliament is required. The Article 50 period, as extended, will have expired and withdrawal will occur automatically.\" He said: \"Put shortly, prorogation was being mooted specifically as a means to stymie any further legislation regulating Brexit. \"There is remarkably little said about the reason for the prorogation in the respondent's pleadings.\" Lord Drummond Young Lord Young said he concluded the only inference that could be drawn was that the government, and the prime minister in particular, wished to restrict debate in parliament for as long as possible during the period leading up to the European Council meeting on 17-18 October and the scheduled date of Britain's departure from the European Union, adding that in his opinion that was not a proper purpose for proroguing parliament. He said; \"The matter clearly calls for parliamentary scrutiny. The effect of the prorogation under consideration, in particular its length, is that proper parliamentary scrutiny is rendered all but impossible.\" Lord Brodie Lord Brodie said when the action petition was first presented, those bringing the court action were not in a position to frame an argument that was subject to a court of law, but that the landscape changed with the prime minister's letter to MPs on 28 August and the disclosure to the court of copies of three redacted documents. A UK government appeal against the ruling will be heard by the Supreme Court in London next week."
}
],
"id": "1243_0",
"question": "What did they say?"
}
]
}
] |
1MDB scandal: 'Will the real Malaysian Official 1 please stand up?'
|
21 July 2016
|
[
{
"context": "After years of speculation and allegations of corruption, Malaysians woke up to a major development in the 1MDB scandal. The US Department of Justice said it would seize more than $1bn (PS761m) in assets allegedly bought with funds diverted from the state fund and alleged that \"Malaysian official 1\" received hundreds of millions of dollars from 1MDB. The individual, who was not named but was referenced 32 times, was described as a \"high-ranking official in the Malaysian government\". Many Malaysians believe that the reference is to Prime Minister Najib Razak and the term started being used as a replacement for his name on social media. Mr Najib has always denied all wrongdoing. #MalaysianOfficial1 quickly became the most trending topic on the Twitter in Malaysia on Thursday with thousands chiming in. Elsewhere, #1MDB, #Najib, Wolf of Wall Street and Jho Low, which were all linked to 1MDB, were all trending on Twitter. In this cartoon, a woman is seen asking a man, drawn in the likeness of Mr Najib if he wants to eat curry, with him replying that he doesn't want it as it's too spicy. In Malay, curry is commonly spelt as Kari, which also happen to be the acronyms for the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative (KARI), the name of a US unit established to curb high-level public corruption around the world. The 1MDB scandal has been described by the US government as the largest single action ever brought under KARI. Other users made light of the scandal in other ways. The Hollywood film Wolf of Wall Street was produced by a production firm co-founded by Mr Najib's stepson Riza Aziz, who has been named in the court papers While others implied there was another film going on closer to home that was much more interesting. References to pop culture lyrics were also involved. Malaysian cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, known more commonly as Zunar, used a cartoon to make his thoughts known on the issue. The cartoonist was last year charged with nine counts of sedition and faces up to 43 years in prison. He says his cartoons are directed towards \"fighting the tyranny and corruption of the Malaysian government\". The cartoon shows a \"domino effect\" of the 1MDB scandal, according to Zunar. \"The two cartoon characters below show [a] police chief and the public accounts committee chief,\" Zunar told the BBC. \"They are supposed to take action, but instead they choose to be a bunch of lackeys. When things get worse, they run.\" \"Even though the [Department of Justice] action only affects Riza and Jho Low, in my opinion, the domino effect will come to Najib and Rosmah [Mr Najib's wife], either legally or politically,\" he added. The 1MDB incident did not feature in the country's newspapers on Thursday, with The Star online, a local newspaper with a large online presence, running a story about organised crime as their headline. Bernama, which is the country's official news agency, reproduced a statement on their website by Malaysia's communications and multimedia minister in which he called 1MDB the subject of \"unprecedented politically-motivated attacks\" and said and that the law suit \"has nothing to do with the Prime Minister\". Users on Twitter were quick to pick up the apparent lack of news. In 2015, Malaysia blocked news websites and shutdown newspapers that had run articles on the corruption allegations surrounding PM Najib Razak. It also issued an arrest warrant for the editor of the Sarawak Report website who accused the country of \"silencing free media\".",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2655,
"answer_start": 811,
"text": "Elsewhere, #1MDB, #Najib, Wolf of Wall Street and Jho Low, which were all linked to 1MDB, were all trending on Twitter. In this cartoon, a woman is seen asking a man, drawn in the likeness of Mr Najib if he wants to eat curry, with him replying that he doesn't want it as it's too spicy. In Malay, curry is commonly spelt as Kari, which also happen to be the acronyms for the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative (KARI), the name of a US unit established to curb high-level public corruption around the world. The 1MDB scandal has been described by the US government as the largest single action ever brought under KARI. Other users made light of the scandal in other ways. The Hollywood film Wolf of Wall Street was produced by a production firm co-founded by Mr Najib's stepson Riza Aziz, who has been named in the court papers While others implied there was another film going on closer to home that was much more interesting. References to pop culture lyrics were also involved. Malaysian cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, known more commonly as Zunar, used a cartoon to make his thoughts known on the issue. The cartoonist was last year charged with nine counts of sedition and faces up to 43 years in prison. He says his cartoons are directed towards \"fighting the tyranny and corruption of the Malaysian government\". The cartoon shows a \"domino effect\" of the 1MDB scandal, according to Zunar. \"The two cartoon characters below show [a] police chief and the public accounts committee chief,\" Zunar told the BBC. \"They are supposed to take action, but instead they choose to be a bunch of lackeys. When things get worse, they run.\" \"Even though the [Department of Justice] action only affects Riza and Jho Low, in my opinion, the domino effect will come to Najib and Rosmah [Mr Najib's wife], either legally or politically,\" he added."
}
],
"id": "1244_0",
"question": "Want some curry?"
}
]
}
] |
Brazil elections: Hate crimes reported include a murder and a swastika attack
|
12 October 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Tension ahead of the Brazilian elections has been linked to a string of violent attacks, including one case being treated as political murder, according to local media. A woman also had a swastika carved into her flesh by supporters of far-right presidential candidate, Jair Bolsonaro. An impending run-off vote between him and leftist Fernando Haddad is polarising the nation. Mr Bolsonaro has dismissed the violent attacks as isolated. AFP news agency has reported several cases of election-related violence, saying supporters of Mr Haddad were particularly targeted. The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji) has also registered more than 60 physical attacks on reporters, which took place \"in a political, partisan and electoral context\". Mr Bolsonaro is running on a tough-on-crime platform, but his critics say his language - and reputation - incite violence. He has denied this. \"I ask people to stop. But I don't control them,\" he said. \"If a guy wearing one of my T-shirts goes too far, what can I do?\" He said violent attacks have also come from the other side too. He was stabbed at a rally in September and spent time in intensive care. Romualdo Rosario da Costa, a 63-year-old master of the Brazilian martial art capoeira, was stabbed to death in a bar in the north-eastern city, Salvador, in the early hours of Monday, just after the first round of the election. The attacker, Paulo Sergio Ferreira de Santana, told police his motivations were political. He was angry when Da Costa said he was supporting Mr Bolsonaro's rival, and reportedly went home to pick up a knife, and then returned to the bar to stab the victim 12 times. The swastika attack was also on Monday. A gang of men attacked a 19-year-old woman in the southern state of Porto Alegre, drawing the symbol onto her skin with a penknife. The woman - who has not been named - was carrying an LGBT flag and an anti-Bolsonaro sticker, according to Globo news. Mr Bolsonaro is known for his homophobic comments, including once saying he would rather have a dead son than a gay son. Trans singer Julyanna Barbosa was attacked last Saturday in Nova Iguacu, Rio de Janeiro state. She said her assailants shouted about their support for Mr Bolsonaro, saying \"these trash people have to die\". The Guardian reports that football fans have been chanting: \"Bolsonaro will kill all queers\". Violence has been rising in the country for some time and it has been a main focus of the election campaign. Analysts say this is why voters have turned to Mr Bolsonaro. Gay rights organisation Grupo Gay da Bahia said 2017 was the deadliest year for the country's LGBT community, with 387 killings. It fears that number could increase further this year as more than 300 people been killed in anti-LGBT hate crimes so far, it says. The former army captain's law-and-order rhetoric appeals to supporters, but his critics fear it will create more problems. He has said police should have been allowed to kill criminals more freely, with questions asked later. Those who kill \"10, 15 or 20\" should get a medal, he said in August. He also wants to relax gun laws for citizens. In the past, he has said more people should have been killed during the country's dictatorship (1964-1985). Responding to recent political violence, Mr Haddad said: \"We need to sit at the table with the people without guns at their waist\". Mr Bolonaro said he refused to turn into a \"peace and love\" character to win votes. Polls suggest Mr Bolsonaro will be elected president after the 28 October run-off. The latest estimates from the Datafolha polling organisation put Mr Bolsonaro on 58%, with Mr Haddad trailing on 42%. Mr Haddad's party, the Workers' Party, is unpopular with many voters after a number of its politicians became embroiled in a corruption scandal. Rights group Conectas Derechos Humanos says candidates need to \"ask their constituents to act in a peaceful and tolerant manner\".",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3948,
"answer_start": 3473,
"text": "Polls suggest Mr Bolsonaro will be elected president after the 28 October run-off. The latest estimates from the Datafolha polling organisation put Mr Bolsonaro on 58%, with Mr Haddad trailing on 42%. Mr Haddad's party, the Workers' Party, is unpopular with many voters after a number of its politicians became embroiled in a corruption scandal. Rights group Conectas Derechos Humanos says candidates need to \"ask their constituents to act in a peaceful and tolerant manner\"."
}
],
"id": "1245_0",
"question": "Where does it go from here?"
}
]
}
] |
SNC-Lavalin division pleads guilty to fraud over Libya activities
|
18 December 2019
|
[
{
"context": "A division of Canadian engineering firm SNC-Lavalin has pleaded guilty to a single fraud charge related to its Libya dealings between 2001 and 2011. The plea comes as part of a settlement that saw other charges faced by the Montreal-based company withdrawn. The firm's construction division will pay a C$280m ($213m; PS163m) fine and faces a probation period. The case embroiled Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a political crisis last year. In August, a federal ethics commissioner found Mr Trudeau had breached ethics rules by improperly trying to influence a former minister in the SNC-Lavalin affair. Former justice minister and attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould had accused Mr Trudeau and his staff of spending months trying to convince her that taking SNC-Lavalin to trial would cost Canadians jobs, and their party votes. Mr Trudeau has maintained that he was looking to protect jobs after the company warned a conviction at trial risked damaging its business. The company and two of its subsidiaries were facing fraud and corruption charges in relation to bribes offered to Libyan officials between 2001-11. SNC-Lavalin had openly lobbied for an agreement that would allow it to avoid prosecution and instead face alternative penalties. It has said it had cleaned house and changed its ways since 2012. In 2015, SNC-Lavalin and two of its subsidiaries - SNC-Lavalin Construction and SNC-Lavalin International - were charged with corruption of a foreign public official and fraud. In a statement of facts filed in the Court of Quebec on Wednesday, the company admitted that over the course of a decade almost C$48m ($36m; PS28m) was directed to Saadi Gaddafi, one of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's sons. In exchange for the payments, Mr Gaddafi used his influence to secure construction contracts for the benefit of SNC-Lavalin's construction division, \"altering the competitive bidding process and causing a loss or a risk of loss to the Libyan people\", according to a statement from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Amounts totalling over C$73m were also paid through two representative companies to two former SNC-Lavalin executives, Ben Aissa and Sami Bebawi \"for their personal benefit\". Aissa pleaded guilty in Switzerland in 2014 to charges that included corruption, fraud, and money laundering. A Quebec jury found Bebawi guilty of fraud, corruption of a foreign public official, laundering proceeds of crime and two counts of possession of proceeds of crime on 15 December. SNC-Lavalin is one of the world's largest engineering and construction companies and employs some 9,000 people in Canada. The company said it did not anticipate the case having any long-term adverse affect on its overall business. \"This is a game changer for the company and finally allows us to put this issue behind us,\" said SNC-Lavalin president Ian Edwards in a statement. \"I apologise for this past misconduct and welcome the opportunity to move forward.\" Trading of the firm's stocks was briefly halted on the Toronto Stock Exchange prior to the news. The head of the public prosecution service, Kathleen Roussel, praised the federal prosecutors for their work \"in the face of unprecedented public attention\".",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2511,
"answer_start": 1315,
"text": "In 2015, SNC-Lavalin and two of its subsidiaries - SNC-Lavalin Construction and SNC-Lavalin International - were charged with corruption of a foreign public official and fraud. In a statement of facts filed in the Court of Quebec on Wednesday, the company admitted that over the course of a decade almost C$48m ($36m; PS28m) was directed to Saadi Gaddafi, one of former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's sons. In exchange for the payments, Mr Gaddafi used his influence to secure construction contracts for the benefit of SNC-Lavalin's construction division, \"altering the competitive bidding process and causing a loss or a risk of loss to the Libyan people\", according to a statement from the Public Prosecution Service of Canada. Amounts totalling over C$73m were also paid through two representative companies to two former SNC-Lavalin executives, Ben Aissa and Sami Bebawi \"for their personal benefit\". Aissa pleaded guilty in Switzerland in 2014 to charges that included corruption, fraud, and money laundering. A Quebec jury found Bebawi guilty of fraud, corruption of a foreign public official, laundering proceeds of crime and two counts of possession of proceeds of crime on 15 December."
}
],
"id": "1246_0",
"question": "What is the background?"
}
]
}
] |
Meng Wanzhou: China park rewards Huawei phone owners
|
18 December 2018
|
[
{
"context": "A popular tourist attraction has become the latest Chinese company to show solidarity with Huawei's chief finance officer, Meng Wanzhou, who was arrested in Canada on 1 December. Shennong Mountain Scenic Park in eastern Henan province said it would waive the $9.40 (65 yuan) ticket fee for anyone carrying a Huawei phone. Ms Meng, who was given bail in Canada, faces extradition to the US on charges of breaking Iran sanctions. Her case has upped tensions with China. \"Use Huawei phones, shoot grand photos on the mountain,\" a notice on the Shennong park's social media account said. \"We wish friends around the world who support Huawei success and bliss.\" The offer would last until 29 December, the South China Morning Post reported. But it was met with some criticism among China's social media users, who claimed it was discriminatory. Huawei phone owners are being offered other enticements too. They can get a 20% discount at a bar in Beijing. At least one firm has threatened to penalise anyone buying Apple products. A few days ago, Menpad - a Shenzhen-based LED and display manufacturer - offered subsidies to any employees buying Huawei phones. It also pledged to fine anyone who bought an Apple iPhone. US prosecutors allege Ms Meng, 46, used a Huawei subsidiary called Skycom to evade sanctions on Iran between 2009 and 2014. They also allege she publicly misrepresented Skycom as being a separate company from Huawei, and that she deceived banks about the true relationship between the two companies. Ms Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei's founder, has denied any wrongdoing and said she will contest the allegations. Life of Huawei's high-flying heiress The US has been investigating the Chinese telecoms giant, the world's second largest smartphone maker, since 2016, believing that it used Skycom to bring US manufacturing equipment and millions of dollars in transactions to Iran in violation of sanctions. Ms Meng's detention comes amid an increasingly acrimonious trade dispute between Washington and Beijing. China is angry at her detention, saying she has not violated any laws. Beijing has threatened severe consequences unless Canada releases the executive. Since her arrest, two Canadians - a former diplomat and a businessman - have been detained in China on suspicion of harming national security. US President Donald Trump said last week that he might intervene in the US justice department's case against Ms Meng if it would serve national security interests or help achieve a trade deal with China. \"If I think it's good for what will be certainly the largest trade deal ever made - which is a very important thing - what's good for national security, I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary,\" he told Reuters news agency. Canada reacted by urging Mr Trump not to politicise the situation. \"Our extradition partners should not seek to politicise the extradition process or use it for ends other than the pursuit of justice,\" Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2030,
"answer_start": 1214,
"text": "US prosecutors allege Ms Meng, 46, used a Huawei subsidiary called Skycom to evade sanctions on Iran between 2009 and 2014. They also allege she publicly misrepresented Skycom as being a separate company from Huawei, and that she deceived banks about the true relationship between the two companies. Ms Meng, who is the daughter of Huawei's founder, has denied any wrongdoing and said she will contest the allegations. Life of Huawei's high-flying heiress The US has been investigating the Chinese telecoms giant, the world's second largest smartphone maker, since 2016, believing that it used Skycom to bring US manufacturing equipment and millions of dollars in transactions to Iran in violation of sanctions. Ms Meng's detention comes amid an increasingly acrimonious trade dispute between Washington and Beijing."
}
],
"id": "1247_0",
"question": "Why the focus on Huawei?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2325,
"answer_start": 2031,
"text": "China is angry at her detention, saying she has not violated any laws. Beijing has threatened severe consequences unless Canada releases the executive. Since her arrest, two Canadians - a former diplomat and a businessman - have been detained in China on suspicion of harming national security."
}
],
"id": "1247_1",
"question": "What has China said?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3015,
"answer_start": 2326,
"text": "US President Donald Trump said last week that he might intervene in the US justice department's case against Ms Meng if it would serve national security interests or help achieve a trade deal with China. \"If I think it's good for what will be certainly the largest trade deal ever made - which is a very important thing - what's good for national security, I would certainly intervene if I thought it was necessary,\" he told Reuters news agency. Canada reacted by urging Mr Trump not to politicise the situation. \"Our extradition partners should not seek to politicise the extradition process or use it for ends other than the pursuit of justice,\" Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said."
}
],
"id": "1247_2",
"question": "What have the US and Canada said?"
}
]
}
] |
Kabul mourns 100 dead after ambulance bomb
|
28 January 2018
|
[
{
"context": "More than 100 people are now known to have been killed in a suicide bombing on Saturday in Kabul. Attackers drove an ambulance past a police checkpoint to get to a crowded street in a district full of government buildings and embassies. Afghanistan's government has declared a day of mourning for Sunday, as funerals take place and relatives search hospitals for survivors. The Taliban - a hardline Islamist group - said it was behind the attack. It was the deadliest attack in Afghanistan for months and took place a week after an attack on a Kabul hotel in which 22 people were killed. Interior minister Wais Barmak said a number of people died in hospital overnight and the death toll now stood at 103, with 235 wounded. Most of the injured are men. Witnesses say the area - also home to offices of the European Union, a hospital and a shopping zone known as Chicken Street - was crowded with people when the bomb exploded on Saturday at about 12:15 local time (08:45 GMT). Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, said the attacker got through a security checkpoint after telling police he was taking a patient to nearby Jamhuriat hospital. He detonated the bomb at a second checkpoint, said Mr Rahimi. The International Committee of the Red Cross said the use of an ambulance was \"harrowing\". A Taliban spokesman later linked the attack to US efforts to assist Afghan forces with troops and air strikes. In a statement, Zabihullah Mujahid said: \"If you go ahead with a policy of aggression and speak from the barrel of a gun, don't expect Afghans to grow flowers in response.\" By BBC Pakistan Correspondent Secunder Kermani Outside the Wazir Akbar Khan hospital in central Kabul a middle-aged women breaks down in tears, screaming hysterically: \"Mother, mother!\" A young man, a bandage around his hand, is trying to console her - but is sobbing furiously himself. Every few minutes a hospital official announces a name on a loudspeaker, and an anxious relative rushes to enter the hospital building to get an update about his or her relative. As well as sorrow, there's anger in Kabul. One man standing outside another hospital tells me he blames the government for not doing more to stop this attack and the many others that have preceded it over the past year. Kabul used to be one of the most secure places in the country - now it increasingly feels like one of the most dangerous. Back at the Wazir Akbar Khan hospital, a man is making his way to the morgue to look for his cousin's body. He tells me they've already seen dozens of corpses in different hospitals. He doesn't find his cousin's remains here either, and so sets off to continue his search. The Afghan government has condemned the bombing as a crime against humanity, and accused Pakistan of providing support to the attackers. The Taliban control large swathes of Afghanistan and parts of neighbouring Pakistan. Pakistan denies supporting militants that carry out attacks in Afghanistan. This month, the US cut its security aid to Pakistan, saying it had failed to take action against terrorist networks on its soil. US President Donald Trump condemned the attack and said it \"renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners\". UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: \"Indiscriminate attacks against civilians are a serious violation of human rights and humanitarian laws, and can never be justified.\" In France, the Eiffel Tower turned off its lights at midnight on Saturday as a mark of respect for the dead and injured. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote on Twitter: \"The city of Paris and Parisians are with the Afghan people who are once again facing terrorist barbarity,\" she said. The attack is the deadliest in Kabul in several months. In October, 176 people were killed in bomb attacks across Afghanistan in one week. The country's security forces in particular have suffered heavy casualties at the hands of the Taliban, who want to re-impose their strict version of Islamic law in the country. In May, 150 people were killed by a suicide bomb attack in Kabul. The Taliban denied any role, but the Afghan government says its affiliate, the Haqqani group, carried it out with support from Pakistan. - The hardline Islamic Taliban movement swept to power in Afghanistan in 1996 after the civil war which followed the Soviet-Afghan war, and were ousted by the US-led invasion five years later, but returned to run some key areas - In power, they imposed a brutal version of Sharia law, such as public executions and amputations, and banned women from public life - Men had to grow beards and women to wear the all-covering burka; television, music and cinema were banned - They sheltered al-Qaeda leaders before and after being ousted - since then they have fought a bloody insurgency which continues today - In 2016, Afghan civilian casualties hit a new high - a rise attributed by the UN largely to the Taliban - Civilian casualties remained at high levels in 2017, the UN said",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1602,
"answer_start": 753,
"text": "Witnesses say the area - also home to offices of the European Union, a hospital and a shopping zone known as Chicken Street - was crowded with people when the bomb exploded on Saturday at about 12:15 local time (08:45 GMT). Nasrat Rahimi, deputy spokesperson for the Interior Ministry, said the attacker got through a security checkpoint after telling police he was taking a patient to nearby Jamhuriat hospital. He detonated the bomb at a second checkpoint, said Mr Rahimi. The International Committee of the Red Cross said the use of an ambulance was \"harrowing\". A Taliban spokesman later linked the attack to US efforts to assist Afghan forces with troops and air strikes. In a statement, Zabihullah Mujahid said: \"If you go ahead with a policy of aggression and speak from the barrel of a gun, don't expect Afghans to grow flowers in response.\""
}
],
"id": "1248_0",
"question": "What happened in the latest attack?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3683,
"answer_start": 2684,
"text": "The Afghan government has condemned the bombing as a crime against humanity, and accused Pakistan of providing support to the attackers. The Taliban control large swathes of Afghanistan and parts of neighbouring Pakistan. Pakistan denies supporting militants that carry out attacks in Afghanistan. This month, the US cut its security aid to Pakistan, saying it had failed to take action against terrorist networks on its soil. US President Donald Trump condemned the attack and said it \"renews our resolve and that of our Afghan partners\". UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said: \"Indiscriminate attacks against civilians are a serious violation of human rights and humanitarian laws, and can never be justified.\" In France, the Eiffel Tower turned off its lights at midnight on Saturday as a mark of respect for the dead and injured. Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo wrote on Twitter: \"The city of Paris and Parisians are with the Afghan people who are once again facing terrorist barbarity,\" she said."
}
],
"id": "1248_1",
"question": "What was the response?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4203,
"answer_start": 3684,
"text": "The attack is the deadliest in Kabul in several months. In October, 176 people were killed in bomb attacks across Afghanistan in one week. The country's security forces in particular have suffered heavy casualties at the hands of the Taliban, who want to re-impose their strict version of Islamic law in the country. In May, 150 people were killed by a suicide bomb attack in Kabul. The Taliban denied any role, but the Afghan government says its affiliate, the Haqqani group, carried it out with support from Pakistan."
}
],
"id": "1248_2",
"question": "How does it compare to other recent attacks?"
}
]
}
] |
Emanuela Orlandi case: Vatican attempts new search to solve mystery
|
20 July 2019
|
[
{
"context": "The Vatican made its latest attempt on Saturday to unravel the mystery of the disappearance of a teenage Italian girl 36 years ago. The first attempt on 11 July exhumed two tombs a tip-off had said might contain Emanuela Orlandi's remains. But it only deepened the mystery as even the bones of two princesses thought to be there were missing. Experts on Saturday examined two ossuaries - small chambers where dead are buried - found in the first search. Bones were unearthed from the ossuaries and analysed at the site. Analysis of the bones would continue next Saturday, the Vatican said. Ms Orlandi's family hopes the search at the Vatican's Pontifical Teutonic College holds the key to a mystery that has gripped Italy since 1983. The search focused on the college, where the first exhumations took place in the cemetery there. During the first search, the two ossuaries were discovered under a trapdoor in the floor of a nearby building. Interim director of the Holy See Press, Alessandro Gisotti, told Vatican News that the ossuaries were in \"an area adjacent to the princess' tombs'. He said forensic experts were analysing any remains \"according to international protocols\" but could not say how long it would take. The scientists will be able to date any bones within the space of just five hours - although formal identification by DNA would take a lot longer. One expert appointed by the Orlandi family was present. The Vatican thinks the bones of the princesses may have been moved during work in the 1960s and 1970s. Inside the world's smallest state, the Teutonic Cemetery is easy to miss. The plot of land, located on the original site of the Emperor Nero circus, is tucked away behind high walls in the shadow of St Peter's Basilica. The cemetery is normally used as a burial ground for German-speaking members of Catholic institutions. Tourists aren't allowed along the path which leads towards the graveyard. The nearest you can get is a gate protected by a single Swiss Guard. On 22 June 1983, Emanuela was on her way back home from a flute lesson. She was seen at a bus stop in the centre of Rome. Then, she simply vanished. No-one has seen her since. Decades of speculation have followed. Was she kidnapped and killed? If so, where is her body? Emanuela's family have had to chase endless leads and rumours. \"Many people tell me, just let it go, enjoy your life, don't think about it anymore,\" her older brother Pietro told the BBC. \"But I can't let go. I couldn't be at peace if this is not solved.\" Attention has always focused on the fact that Emanuela was the daughter of a Vatican City employee. In March 2019, the Orlandi family received an anonymous letter. It showed a picture of an angel above a tomb in the Vatican's Teutonic Cemetery. Was this a clue to where Emanuela was buried? The family knew that it had to approach the Vatican. But it had had no luck with its previous inquiries. The family made a general request to the Vatican to open the tomb at the Teutonic Cemetery. A Vatican City state tribunal then granted the request.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1994,
"answer_start": 1529,
"text": "Inside the world's smallest state, the Teutonic Cemetery is easy to miss. The plot of land, located on the original site of the Emperor Nero circus, is tucked away behind high walls in the shadow of St Peter's Basilica. The cemetery is normally used as a burial ground for German-speaking members of Catholic institutions. Tourists aren't allowed along the path which leads towards the graveyard. The nearest you can get is a gate protected by a single Swiss Guard."
}
],
"id": "1249_0",
"question": "What is the Teutonic Cemetery?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2620,
"answer_start": 1995,
"text": "On 22 June 1983, Emanuela was on her way back home from a flute lesson. She was seen at a bus stop in the centre of Rome. Then, she simply vanished. No-one has seen her since. Decades of speculation have followed. Was she kidnapped and killed? If so, where is her body? Emanuela's family have had to chase endless leads and rumours. \"Many people tell me, just let it go, enjoy your life, don't think about it anymore,\" her older brother Pietro told the BBC. \"But I can't let go. I couldn't be at peace if this is not solved.\" Attention has always focused on the fact that Emanuela was the daughter of a Vatican City employee."
}
],
"id": "1249_1",
"question": "What happened to Emanuela?"
}
]
}
] |
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam refuses to quit over racism row
|
2 February 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has denied he was in a racist photo that appeared in his 1984 student yearbook page after initially apologising for it. Mr Northam, a Democrat, said he recognised that people would find this \"hard to believe\". He also admitted blackening his face to impersonate singer Michael Jackson at an event in the same year. Top US Democrats have called on him to resign. But he says he will stay on. The picture showed a man in blackface and another man in Ku Klux Klan robes. Former Vice-President Joe Biden said Mr Northam had lost all moral authority. Black politicians in Virginia called it \"disgusting\" and Republicans also urged him to resign. He said he had initially taken responsibility for the photo, which he described as \"clearly racist and offensive\". But he said that on reflection with his family and friends he had concluded that he was neither of the people in the photo. \"It has taken time to make sure that it's not me but I'm convinced I'm not on that photo,\" he said. He said that he had however blackened his face at a dance contest in San Antonio. \"It is because my memory of that is so vivid that I do not believe I am in the photo in the yearbook,\" he said. Mr Northam said he was not asking for forgiveness for his past actions but for \"the opportunity to demonstrate without a shadow of a doubt that the person I was then is not the person I am today\". The statement on Saturday came after he said on Friday that he was \"deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now\". Mr Northam's yearbook page, which came from the paediatric neurologist's time at Eastern Virginia Medical School, was first published by conservative website Big League Politics. The Virginian-Pilot newspaper tweeted a picture of the page which it said it obtained from the medical school library. An official from the medical school verified the photo and told the Huffington Post that it had come from a \"student-produced publication\". The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, which comprises African Americans elected to the state legislature, described the images as \"disgusting, reprehensible and offensive\". \"These pictures rip off the scabs of an excruciatingly painful history and are a piercing reminder of this nation's sins. Those who would excuse the pictures are just as culpable,\" it said in a statement. In a tweet, Mr Biden said Mr Northam should resign immediately. Calls for his resignation also came from four Democratic candidates for president - Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and Texan mayor Julian Castro. The photo also prompted a swift backlash from conservatives, including Jack Wilson, the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, who called on Mr Northam to step down. \"Racism has no place in Virginia,\" he said in a statement. \"These pictures are wholly inappropriate. If Governor Northam appeared in blackface or dressed in a KKK robe, he should resign immediately.\" Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is considering a presidential run in 2020, also called for Mr Northam to resign. The Ku Klux Klan is one of the oldest and most infamous hate groups in the US, and has targeted African Americans, Jews, Catholics and immigrants, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups. The group has a long history, with KKK membership peaking in the 1920s.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1593,
"answer_start": 673,
"text": "He said he had initially taken responsibility for the photo, which he described as \"clearly racist and offensive\". But he said that on reflection with his family and friends he had concluded that he was neither of the people in the photo. \"It has taken time to make sure that it's not me but I'm convinced I'm not on that photo,\" he said. He said that he had however blackened his face at a dance contest in San Antonio. \"It is because my memory of that is so vivid that I do not believe I am in the photo in the yearbook,\" he said. Mr Northam said he was not asking for forgiveness for his past actions but for \"the opportunity to demonstrate without a shadow of a doubt that the person I was then is not the person I am today\". The statement on Saturday came after he said on Friday that he was \"deeply sorry for the decision I made to appear as I did in this photo and for the hurt that decision caused then and now\"."
}
],
"id": "1250_0",
"question": "What did Northam say?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2031,
"answer_start": 1594,
"text": "Mr Northam's yearbook page, which came from the paediatric neurologist's time at Eastern Virginia Medical School, was first published by conservative website Big League Politics. The Virginian-Pilot newspaper tweeted a picture of the page which it said it obtained from the medical school library. An official from the medical school verified the photo and told the Huffington Post that it had come from a \"student-produced publication\"."
}
],
"id": "1250_1",
"question": "How has this come about?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3435,
"answer_start": 2032,
"text": "The Virginia Legislative Black Caucus, which comprises African Americans elected to the state legislature, described the images as \"disgusting, reprehensible and offensive\". \"These pictures rip off the scabs of an excruciatingly painful history and are a piercing reminder of this nation's sins. Those who would excuse the pictures are just as culpable,\" it said in a statement. In a tweet, Mr Biden said Mr Northam should resign immediately. Calls for his resignation also came from four Democratic candidates for president - Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, and Texan mayor Julian Castro. The photo also prompted a swift backlash from conservatives, including Jack Wilson, the chairman of the Republican Party of Virginia, who called on Mr Northam to step down. \"Racism has no place in Virginia,\" he said in a statement. \"These pictures are wholly inappropriate. If Governor Northam appeared in blackface or dressed in a KKK robe, he should resign immediately.\" Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, who is considering a presidential run in 2020, also called for Mr Northam to resign. The Ku Klux Klan is one of the oldest and most infamous hate groups in the US, and has targeted African Americans, Jews, Catholics and immigrants, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center, which tracks hate groups. The group has a long history, with KKK membership peaking in the 1920s."
}
],
"id": "1250_2",
"question": "What reaction has there been?"
}
]
}
] |
Trump: I did not record ex-FBI chief James Comey
|
22 June 2017
|
[
{
"context": "US President Donald Trump has stated he did not make secret recordings of ex-FBI chief James Comey, despite an earlier hint to the contrary. He tweeted that he \"did not make, and do not have, any such recordings\", a day before he was required to hand over any such tapes by Congress. Mr Trump kick-started speculation of recordings in a tweet he posted days after firing Mr Comey in May. He said: \"James Comey better hope there are no 'tapes' of our conversations\". This tweet resulted in a flurry of allegations and speculation that Mr Comey was fired in order to hamper the FBI's investigation into alleged Russian interference in last year's election and possible collusion between the Trump campaign team and Moscow. Whatever its intention, the tweet ultimately led to the appointment of a special counsel that has taken over the investigation. It all stems from last year's presidential election and mounting evidence that Russian cyber hackers targeted US electoral systems in order to help Donald Trump win - something Moscow has strongly denied. Within days of his appointment as Mr Trump's new National Security Adviser in February, Mike Flynn resigned after it emerged he had lied to federal agents about a conversation about sanctions with the Russian ambassador before taking office. Other key members of Mr Trump's campaign team have also been accused of meeting key Russian officials before taking office; it is illegal to conduct US diplomacy as a private citizen. Although Mr Trump has made no secret of his desire to have greater links with Russia - and even shared highly-sensitive \"codeword\" material with them last month - he has adamantly denied any collusion to alter the result of the election. But the ongoing leaks of alleged links and the FBI probe clearly rattled him. Russia: The 'cloud' over the White House How Trump's Russia trouble unfolded At a meeting in the Oval Office in February, President Trump made the unusual request to speak alone with Mr Comey. It was during this one-to-one meeting, Mr Comey testified to Congress earlier this month, that Mr Trump asked him to \"let go\" any possible prosecution of Mr Flynn. He was also asked to give assurances of his loyalty. Mr Comey confirmed for the first time in March that the FBI was indeed investigating possible links between Mr Trump's campaign aides and the Russian government. A few weeks later, in a move that shocked Washington, Mr Trump fired Mr Comey. He told NBC News: \"When I decided to just do it [fire Mr Comey] I said to myself, I said 'you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story...\" James Comey: From 'brave' to fired Did Trump fire Comey as part of a cover-up? Three days later on 12 May, in what was then perceived to be a threat to Mr Comey, he tweeted: \"James Comey better hope that there are no \"tapes\" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!\" Mr Comey then leaked memos he had written of his own private meetings with Mr Trump, and expanded on the contents when he appeared before Congress. When asked whether he thought the conversation had been recorded, Mr Comey replied: \"Lordy, I hope there are tapes.\" Trump v Comey: Who said what The House Intelligence Committee, which is also investigating Russian meddling in the election, sent a letter to the White House on 9 June asking that, if the tapes exist, they be handed over by Friday. Mr Trump tweeted on Thursday: \"With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea... whether there are \"tapes\" or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.\" Asked why it took more than a month to end speculation about the tapes, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said: \"You guys asked for an answer, he gave you one, he said he would have it to you by the end of this week, which he did, and beyond timing of that I can't speak anything further.\" There are elements of Donald Trump's presidency that come straight from a reality TV show. You saw it when he was assembling key figures for his administration. You would see them arrive for interviews as if it was an audition, and Mr Trump talked in those terms. Much of the way Donald Trump operates seems to follow on from the time he was on The Apprentice when you would have to wait until the end of the episode to see who would be hired and who would be fired. There is an element of that in the White House. There is great theatricality over some of the most serious issues. For instance, on something like the Paris climate change deal he says he will make an announcement at the end of the week, even though he already knows what that decision is going to be, he is gaming it. This is something new. Not just in US politics, but in any politics I've reported on from anywhere around the world.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2205,
"answer_start": 849,
"text": "It all stems from last year's presidential election and mounting evidence that Russian cyber hackers targeted US electoral systems in order to help Donald Trump win - something Moscow has strongly denied. Within days of his appointment as Mr Trump's new National Security Adviser in February, Mike Flynn resigned after it emerged he had lied to federal agents about a conversation about sanctions with the Russian ambassador before taking office. Other key members of Mr Trump's campaign team have also been accused of meeting key Russian officials before taking office; it is illegal to conduct US diplomacy as a private citizen. Although Mr Trump has made no secret of his desire to have greater links with Russia - and even shared highly-sensitive \"codeword\" material with them last month - he has adamantly denied any collusion to alter the result of the election. But the ongoing leaks of alleged links and the FBI probe clearly rattled him. Russia: The 'cloud' over the White House How Trump's Russia trouble unfolded At a meeting in the Oval Office in February, President Trump made the unusual request to speak alone with Mr Comey. It was during this one-to-one meeting, Mr Comey testified to Congress earlier this month, that Mr Trump asked him to \"let go\" any possible prosecution of Mr Flynn. He was also asked to give assurances of his loyalty."
}
],
"id": "1251_0",
"question": "What is the context?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3989,
"answer_start": 2206,
"text": "Mr Comey confirmed for the first time in March that the FBI was indeed investigating possible links between Mr Trump's campaign aides and the Russian government. A few weeks later, in a move that shocked Washington, Mr Trump fired Mr Comey. He told NBC News: \"When I decided to just do it [fire Mr Comey] I said to myself, I said 'you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story...\" James Comey: From 'brave' to fired Did Trump fire Comey as part of a cover-up? Three days later on 12 May, in what was then perceived to be a threat to Mr Comey, he tweeted: \"James Comey better hope that there are no \"tapes\" of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!\" Mr Comey then leaked memos he had written of his own private meetings with Mr Trump, and expanded on the contents when he appeared before Congress. When asked whether he thought the conversation had been recorded, Mr Comey replied: \"Lordy, I hope there are tapes.\" Trump v Comey: Who said what The House Intelligence Committee, which is also investigating Russian meddling in the election, sent a letter to the White House on 9 June asking that, if the tapes exist, they be handed over by Friday. Mr Trump tweeted on Thursday: \"With all of the recently reported electronic surveillance, intercepts, unmasking and illegal leaking of information, I have no idea... whether there are \"tapes\" or recordings of my conversations with James Comey, but I did not make, and do not have, any such recordings.\" Asked why it took more than a month to end speculation about the tapes, White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said: \"You guys asked for an answer, he gave you one, he said he would have it to you by the end of this week, which he did, and beyond timing of that I can't speak anything further.\""
}
],
"id": "1251_1",
"question": "What happened next?"
}
]
}
] |
How the London election works
|
30 March 2016
|
[
{
"context": "On 5 May 2016 Londoners go to the polls to elect a mayor and 25 members of the London Assembly. The mayor and the London Assembly make up the Greater London Authority (GLA). Transport, policing, environment, and housing and planning in London are the four big areas which the mayor controls. The mayor also creates policies for arts and culture, business, fire, health, regeneration, sport and young people in London. The London Assembly debates the mayor's policies, The assembly must also be consulted over the GLA budget. It can reject mayoral policies or amend the draft budget if two-thirds of assembly members agree to do so. Polling stations are open from 0700 until 2200 on 5 May. Registered voters will be given three ballot papers - pink, yellow and orange. After polls close, ballot boxes are stored overnight and counting begins from 0900 on Friday. Results are expected on Friday evening. Using the pink ballot paper, voters choose their first and second preferences for mayor. The votes are counted and if a candidate has won more than 50% of first preferences, they are elected mayor. If no candidate has won more than 50%, all but the top two candidates are eliminated. Any second preferences for the top two candidates from the eliminated candidates are added to their totals. Whoever has the most votes combined is declared the winner. Second preferences on the ballot papers of the top two candidates for one of the other top candidates are not counted. Voters have two ballot papers to choose the two types of London Assembly member. The yellow ballot paper is used to choose the constituency member. Voters choose one candidate, who if elected will represent their area of London. Ballots are counted and whoever has won the most is elected. The orange ballot paper is used to choose one of the 11 additional London-wide assembly members, who represent the whole city. This time, voters choose one political party or an individual standing as an independent candidate. London-wide seats are allocated using proportional representation, using a mathematical formula called modified D'Hondt.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 417,
"answer_start": 174,
"text": "Transport, policing, environment, and housing and planning in London are the four big areas which the mayor controls. The mayor also creates policies for arts and culture, business, fire, health, regeneration, sport and young people in London."
}
],
"id": "1252_0",
"question": "What does the London mayor do?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 631,
"answer_start": 418,
"text": "The London Assembly debates the mayor's policies, The assembly must also be consulted over the GLA budget. It can reject mayoral policies or amend the draft budget if two-thirds of assembly members agree to do so."
}
],
"id": "1252_1",
"question": "What does the London Assembly do?"
}
]
}
] |
Christian Dior and Gucci owners drop super-skinny models
|
6 September 2017
|
[
{
"context": "The fashion houses behind brands including Christian Dior and Gucci have said they will stop using underweight models for their catwalk shows. LVMH and Kering, two of the biggest fashion firms in the world, made the move amid criticism the industry encourages eating disorders. Models must be bigger than a French size 32, which typically equates to a UK size six or US size zero, LVMH said. The firms will also not use models under the age of 16 for adult clothes. Kering's billionaire chairman Francois-Henri Pinault said the firms hoped to \"inspire the entire industry to follow suit\". The two French companies' brands also include Givenchy, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Marc Jacobs, Thomas Pink, Fendi and Stella McCartney. One of the other brands covered is LVMH's Louis Vuitton, which was criticised by a model in May over her treatment. Danish model Ulrikke Hoyer said she had been asked to starve herself in the run-up to a show. The casting director denied the claim. Critics argue catwalk models promote an unhealthy and unrealistic body image, whereas fashion industry insiders have said clothes hang better on tall, thin women. Denise Hatton, chief executive for YMCA England & Wales, a founding partner of the Be Real Campaign for body confidence, said LVMH and Kering's plan was a \"step in the right direction\". But she added: \"While some people are naturally slim, the average woman in the UK wears a size 16 and we'd like to see more diversity on our catwalk that truthfully reflects our society, with all its shapes, sizes, ethnicities and more.\" The move by the two French firms comes after a law banning ultra-thin models came into effect in the country in May. Those who break the French law face fines of up to 75,000 euros (PS69,000) or jail sentences of up to six months. Models must also be able to present a valid medical certificate that they are fit to work. Kering and LVMH said their worldwide charter would go further, adding that models would be given a psychologist or therapist while at work. LVMH director Antoine Arnault said: \"I am deeply committed to ensuring that the working relationship between LVMH Group brands, agencies and models goes beyond simply complying with the legal requirements.\" Mr Pinault said the companies wanted to make \"a real difference in the working conditions of fashion models\". \"Respecting the dignity of all women has always been both a personal commitment for me and a priority for Kering as a group,\" the group's chairman added. The companies' changes will come into effect before Paris Fashion Week this month. Eating disorder charity Beat said it \"oversimplifies the issue\" to suggest the fashion industry was the main cause of body image problems. \"But we do know the ideals presented within the fashion industry can exacerbate and prolong the illness, and we encourage the promotion of healthy body image and ideals in this area,\" Beat said. Last week, the former editor of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, told the BBC that \"skinny as a rake\" was no longer seen by many women as the ideal body type. She also said the choice of catwalk models was not to do with how most people wanted to dress. \"That's to do with the way fashion designers want their clothes to look,\" she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2589,
"answer_start": 1574,
"text": "The move by the two French firms comes after a law banning ultra-thin models came into effect in the country in May. Those who break the French law face fines of up to 75,000 euros (PS69,000) or jail sentences of up to six months. Models must also be able to present a valid medical certificate that they are fit to work. Kering and LVMH said their worldwide charter would go further, adding that models would be given a psychologist or therapist while at work. LVMH director Antoine Arnault said: \"I am deeply committed to ensuring that the working relationship between LVMH Group brands, agencies and models goes beyond simply complying with the legal requirements.\" Mr Pinault said the companies wanted to make \"a real difference in the working conditions of fashion models\". \"Respecting the dignity of all women has always been both a personal commitment for me and a priority for Kering as a group,\" the group's chairman added. The companies' changes will come into effect before Paris Fashion Week this month."
}
],
"id": "1253_0",
"question": "Why are they making this change?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3292,
"answer_start": 2590,
"text": "Eating disorder charity Beat said it \"oversimplifies the issue\" to suggest the fashion industry was the main cause of body image problems. \"But we do know the ideals presented within the fashion industry can exacerbate and prolong the illness, and we encourage the promotion of healthy body image and ideals in this area,\" Beat said. Last week, the former editor of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, told the BBC that \"skinny as a rake\" was no longer seen by many women as the ideal body type. She also said the choice of catwalk models was not to do with how most people wanted to dress. \"That's to do with the way fashion designers want their clothes to look,\" she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme."
}
],
"id": "1253_1",
"question": "How does fashion influence body image?"
}
]
}
] |
Worboys review: What we have learned
|
19 March 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Until the two-day judicial review hearing, very little was known about John Worboys' 10 years' in custody - and the reasons why the Parole Board granted his release. From legal submissions at the High Court hearing, and documents presented to the court, a picture has built up of a man who was in denial about his offending for most of his sentence. Worboys pleaded not guilty at his trial in 2009, brought a legal challenge against his convictions a year later, and, after being refused permission to bring the appeal, applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to consider his case. Even four years later when he settled civil claims brought by 11 of his victims, paying PS241,000 compensation, he did not accept liability. According to legal papers from the Mayor of London, a forensic psychologist reported in June 2013 that Worboys had not engaged in any programmes focused on his offending. A separate psychologist, in January 2015, wrote that Worboys maintained that sexual contact with the 12 victims in the cases he was convicted of was consensual. But just four months later there was a dramatic change: Worboys admitted the offences. Worboys' offender supervisor, a member of prison staff, wrote that the former black cab driver had said he felt \"ashamed\" of his behaviour after reflecting on media coverage about Jimmy Savile, and \"needed to show victim empathy\". A forensic psychologist who interviewed him in June 2015 said he was \"nervous\" and \"tearful\" and wanted to give victims \"their due\" and \"say thank you\" by taking responsibility. \"He also said he had maintained hope that his convictions would be overturned, and that this expectation now felt unrealistic, which was a further motivation to take responsibility for his sexual offending,\" the psychologist wrote. Indeed, Worboys had withdrawn his CCRC application in May that year, at the same time as his admission of responsibility. His apparent sudden about-turn came nine months before his eight-year minimum term was due to expire and four months before his first parole hearing, in September 2015. Phillippa Kaufmann QC, who represented two of Worboys' victims at the judicial review hearing, suggested this was no coincidence. The Parole Board decided the 60-year-old should remain in a 'closed' prison because of the level of risk he posed. In fact, he's been held in Category A, high-security, prison accommodation for his entire sentence. In 2015, on the psychologist's advice, Worboys - who has changed his name to John Radford - began a sex offender treatment programme. In 2017, however, the effectiveness of it was called into question by research showing they do not reduce the likelihood of reoffending and may in fact increase it slightly. The Ministry of Justice scrapped the schemes, yet according to Ms Kaufmann that point was missed by the parole panel at his second, successful, parole hearing. Ahead of that hearing, in November last year, there appeared to be a consensus Worboys had not made enough progress in custody to warrant release, let alone a move to an 'open' prison, where inmates spend time in the community to help them adjust to life on the outside and test whether they're ready for such a move. Worboys' probation officer, known as an offender manager, said he was at the \"start of his treatment pathway\" which needed to be \"full and thorough given the seriousness and proliferation of his offending\". The High Court was told that in an interview in March that year, Worboys had described his victims as \"happy drunks...not nasty\" saying that by consuming alcohol they had \"no respect for themselves\". The offender supervisor agreed that he was not ready to be let out, as did a psychologist, commissioned by the prison authorities, who suggested only a review of Worboys' security category. But by the time of the parole hearing, last November, there was a sharp divergence of views. The psychologist, who'd been instructed by Worboys on a previous occasion, said they felt Worboys could now be \"safely managed\" in the community as he presented a \"low risk\" of sexual reoffending. Crucially, two other psychologists, who both gave evidence on Worboys' behalf, came to the same conclusion. Ranged against them were four prison and probation staff, consisting of two offender managers and a senior prison psychologist, who all said Worboys had to move gradually to lower security jails before release. The case had also been discussed at meetings of MAPPA (Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements), a group of police, probation and prison staff responsible for managing violent and dangerous offenders. MAPPA believed Worboys still posed a high risk of harm and should not be released. The parole panel, which the Parole Board said was chaired by an \"experienced\" female member and included a psychologist and a lawyer, also heard evidence from prison officers and Worboys himself - the Board said he was \"questioned in detail\". The Justice Secretary, who opposed release, was represented and one victim submitted a statement. The Panel, which had a 363-pages long dossier of information about Worboys, reached its decision, puzzlingly, on Boxing Day last year, though it wasn't made public until January. It concluded it was no longer necessary for Worboys to be held in prison because he'd taken \"full responsibility\" for his offending, learnt to be \"open and honest\", had a \"good insight\" into his risk factors and posed a \"low risk of future sexual offending\". The Panel said the risks he posed were not \"imminent\" and were \"manageable\" in the community, adding that an increase in risk was not \"inevitable\" and would be detected.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1149,
"answer_start": 350,
"text": "Worboys pleaded not guilty at his trial in 2009, brought a legal challenge against his convictions a year later, and, after being refused permission to bring the appeal, applied to the Criminal Cases Review Commission to consider his case. Even four years later when he settled civil claims brought by 11 of his victims, paying PS241,000 compensation, he did not accept liability. According to legal papers from the Mayor of London, a forensic psychologist reported in June 2013 that Worboys had not engaged in any programmes focused on his offending. A separate psychologist, in January 2015, wrote that Worboys maintained that sexual contact with the 12 victims in the cases he was convicted of was consensual. But just four months later there was a dramatic change: Worboys admitted the offences."
}
],
"id": "1254_0",
"question": "How did he react in prison?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2426,
"answer_start": 1150,
"text": "Worboys' offender supervisor, a member of prison staff, wrote that the former black cab driver had said he felt \"ashamed\" of his behaviour after reflecting on media coverage about Jimmy Savile, and \"needed to show victim empathy\". A forensic psychologist who interviewed him in June 2015 said he was \"nervous\" and \"tearful\" and wanted to give victims \"their due\" and \"say thank you\" by taking responsibility. \"He also said he had maintained hope that his convictions would be overturned, and that this expectation now felt unrealistic, which was a further motivation to take responsibility for his sexual offending,\" the psychologist wrote. Indeed, Worboys had withdrawn his CCRC application in May that year, at the same time as his admission of responsibility. His apparent sudden about-turn came nine months before his eight-year minimum term was due to expire and four months before his first parole hearing, in September 2015. Phillippa Kaufmann QC, who represented two of Worboys' victims at the judicial review hearing, suggested this was no coincidence. The Parole Board decided the 60-year-old should remain in a 'closed' prison because of the level of risk he posed. In fact, he's been held in Category A, high-security, prison accommodation for his entire sentence."
}
],
"id": "1254_1",
"question": "Why did he change his mind about his crimes?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3419,
"answer_start": 2427,
"text": "In 2015, on the psychologist's advice, Worboys - who has changed his name to John Radford - began a sex offender treatment programme. In 2017, however, the effectiveness of it was called into question by research showing they do not reduce the likelihood of reoffending and may in fact increase it slightly. The Ministry of Justice scrapped the schemes, yet according to Ms Kaufmann that point was missed by the parole panel at his second, successful, parole hearing. Ahead of that hearing, in November last year, there appeared to be a consensus Worboys had not made enough progress in custody to warrant release, let alone a move to an 'open' prison, where inmates spend time in the community to help them adjust to life on the outside and test whether they're ready for such a move. Worboys' probation officer, known as an offender manager, said he was at the \"start of his treatment pathway\" which needed to be \"full and thorough given the seriousness and proliferation of his offending\"."
}
],
"id": "1254_2",
"question": "What treatment did he receive?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5656,
"answer_start": 3420,
"text": "The High Court was told that in an interview in March that year, Worboys had described his victims as \"happy drunks...not nasty\" saying that by consuming alcohol they had \"no respect for themselves\". The offender supervisor agreed that he was not ready to be let out, as did a psychologist, commissioned by the prison authorities, who suggested only a review of Worboys' security category. But by the time of the parole hearing, last November, there was a sharp divergence of views. The psychologist, who'd been instructed by Worboys on a previous occasion, said they felt Worboys could now be \"safely managed\" in the community as he presented a \"low risk\" of sexual reoffending. Crucially, two other psychologists, who both gave evidence on Worboys' behalf, came to the same conclusion. Ranged against them were four prison and probation staff, consisting of two offender managers and a senior prison psychologist, who all said Worboys had to move gradually to lower security jails before release. The case had also been discussed at meetings of MAPPA (Multi-agency Public Protection Arrangements), a group of police, probation and prison staff responsible for managing violent and dangerous offenders. MAPPA believed Worboys still posed a high risk of harm and should not be released. The parole panel, which the Parole Board said was chaired by an \"experienced\" female member and included a psychologist and a lawyer, also heard evidence from prison officers and Worboys himself - the Board said he was \"questioned in detail\". The Justice Secretary, who opposed release, was represented and one victim submitted a statement. The Panel, which had a 363-pages long dossier of information about Worboys, reached its decision, puzzlingly, on Boxing Day last year, though it wasn't made public until January. It concluded it was no longer necessary for Worboys to be held in prison because he'd taken \"full responsibility\" for his offending, learnt to be \"open and honest\", had a \"good insight\" into his risk factors and posed a \"low risk of future sexual offending\". The Panel said the risks he posed were not \"imminent\" and were \"manageable\" in the community, adding that an increase in risk was not \"inevitable\" and would be detected."
}
],
"id": "1254_3",
"question": "So how was the decision made to release him?"
}
]
}
] |
CIA director Gina Haspel's Thailand torture ties
|
4 May 2018
|
[
{
"context": "When Gina Haspel was nominated as the next head of the CIA in March, it re-opened debate on a murky period of recent US history - the use of secretive overseas prisons to torture terror suspects. As the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head reports, the spotlight has fallen on Thailand, and one such \"black site\" which Haspel once ran. In early April 2002, a plane took off from an undisclosed air base in Pakistan, en route to Thailand. On board was a special passenger. Abu Zubaydah, a 31-year-old Saudi-born Palestinian, believed to be one of Osama Bin Laden's top lieutenants, had been captured a few days earlier in a joint US-Pakistani raid on Al Qaeda safe houses in Faisalabad. He was now in the hands of CIA agents, who had decided to make him the first \"high-value detainee\" to be subjected to what they called \"enhanced interrogation techniques\" - something human rights groups say amounts to torture. But they needed somewhere to do it. In December 2014 the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI) published an executive summary of a confidential 6,000 page report on these techniques. The place where Abu Zubaydah and at least two other high-value detainees were interrogated is referred to only as Detention Site Green. Thailand is not named as the host country. US and Thai officials have consistently denied the existence of such a facility, although the Thai denials have at times been less than wholehearted. But a senior former Thai national security official has confirmed to the BBC that Detention Site Green was located inside the Royal Thai Air Force base in Udon Thani in the north-east. It was not large - just a CIA safe house on the base, he said. The Americans could operate there so long as the Thai government was kept informed. \"Whenever someone was captured by the Americans, either in other countries or inside Thailand, they were brought through the site, and later sent off again in an American plane,\" the official recalls. The SSCI's report runs through the CIA's reasons for choosing Thailand: - US military custody was rejected because they would have to inform the International Committee for the Red Cross. - The large detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba was also unsuitable, as they believed secrecy would be difficult to maintain there, and either the FBI or US military might try to take charge of the interrogation. President Bush approved the transfer of Abu Zubaydah to Detention Site Green on 29 March 2002. The Thai government was informed, and gave its consent, on the same day. The choice of Thailand, and Udon Thani, would have made sense for a number of reasons: - The two countries were treaty allies. - Close US-Thai cooperation in military and intelligence affairs went back to the early days of the Cold War. - In the 1960s Thailand allowed the US to use air bases on its territory to bomb communist targets in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. - Udon Thani was one of the main US bases, and was heavily used by the CIA at the time, which had its own fleet of aircraft. By the time the CIA was considering bringing Al Qaeda suspects to Thailand in 2002, the country had a new prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, a confident but abrasive leader who wanted to move his country in a different direction. He was publicly much cooler towards the Americans than his predecessors, partly driven by the resentment felt by many Thai businesses towards the US for its perceived failure to support them during the 1997 financial crisis. Mr Thaksin also sought closer ties with China. He insisted that Thailand should remain neutral in President George Bush's war on terror, and was adamant that Thailand did not have a terrorist problem. Later he would chide the US for criticising his human rights record, complaining that he was not Washington's \"lackey\". But behind Mr Thaksin's defiant public face, relations between the two countries, and in particular their military, intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, remained close. Several months before the 9-11 attacks in New York, the CIA had formed a secret new organisation known as the Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Center, bringing together personnel from three Thai agencies with their US counterparts to track down Islamic militants in South East Asia. Despite this, when the CIA first requested the use of Detention Site Green to interrogate suspects, it clearly had some difficulties with the Thais. The SSCI report mentions a request made to the CIA for some kind of \"support\" from the officials responsible for the site. This \"support\" was apparently given, but then the Thai officials were replaced by less compliant colleagues, nearly forcing the CIA to close down the facility. The CIA country chief was, says the report, able to negotiate keeping it open. The report also refers to at least eight Thai officials, presumably senior, who knew of the secret site, and the agency assumed that many more people probably also knew of it. With major newspapers beginning to pick up bits of information about the detainment site, the CIA believed increased publicity, and the embarrassment this would cause the Thais, would eventually force it to close. This is in fact what happened in December 2002, two months after Gina Haspel is believed to have taken charge of it. During his capture in Pakistan, Abu Zubaydah had been badly injured, and went straight to hospital after his arrival in Thailand. But by 15 April he was transferred to Detention Site Green. His cell was described in a CIA cable as \"white with no natural lighting or windows, but with four halogen lights pointed into the cell...\" Security officers wore all black uniforms, including boots, gloves, balaclavas, and goggles to keep Abu Zubaydah from identifying the officers, as well as to prevent Abu Zubaydah \"from seeing the security guards as individuals who he may attempt to establish a relationship or dialogue with\". The security officers communicated by hand signals when they were with Abu Zubaydah and used handcuffs and leg shackles to maintain control. In addition, either loud rock music was played or noise generators were used to enhance Abu Zubaydah's \"sense of hopelessness\". According to the report: - He was first kept in isolation for 47 days, during which time he was also questioned by the FBI. - From 4 August, for at least 20 days, he was subjected to harsher treatment by CIA agents; confinement for more than 200 hours in a narrow, coffin-like box, and nearly 30 hours in a smaller box only 50cm wide. - He was also slammed against the wall, and \"waterboarded\" 83 times - strapped naked to a bench, his face covered with a cloth, which was then saturated with water, causing him to choke and vomit. By the time Gina Haspel took over Detention Site Green, the intensive interrogation of Abu Zubydah was over. One other al Qaeda suspect, Abd al Rahim al Nashiri, was also waterboarded The controversial methods used on Abu Zubaydah did not produce any useful information. By all accounts he had been co-operative during the softer FBI questioning. What Gina Haspel's exact role was is still unclear. The BBC contacted the CIA for clarification of her role in Thailand. The CIA stated that it was unable to comment on our questions, but directed us to a correction made in another article about Gina Haspel, in which it was stated that she took on her supervisory role in Thailand after the waterboarding of Abu Zubaydah had finished. Senator Dianne Feinstein, the former chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, has demanded that Gina Haspel's part in running Detention Site Green, and in a CIA order in 2005 to destroy 92 videotapes of the interrogations conducted there, must be made public so that the Senate can make an informed judgement about her suitability to head the agency. When Detention Site Green was closed in December 2002, Abu Zubaydah was flown to another CIA secret detention site in Poland. Eventually he was taken, via several other locations, to Guantanamo Bay, where he was seen in public for the first time in August 2016, 14 years after his capture. The US now acknowledges that he was not as important in Al Qaeda as they originally thought. The exact building used to detain and interrogate him in Udon Thani air base is still undisclosed. Since the closure of Detention Site Green, Thai US relations have been strained by two military coups, but close military and intelligence co-operation has continued, regardless of the public diplomatic positions of each country. The White House, meanwhile, issued a statement on 3 May urging the Senate to endorse Ms Haspel's nomination as soon as possible. It quotes former director of CIA Clandestine Service John Bennet as saying she has taken on some of the \"most demanding and least rewarding\" assignments in her career, \"because she felt it was her duty\". \"That sense of patriotism\", says the White House statement, \"is precisely what Americans deserve in a CIA director.\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4005,
"answer_start": 1983,
"text": "The SSCI's report runs through the CIA's reasons for choosing Thailand: - US military custody was rejected because they would have to inform the International Committee for the Red Cross. - The large detention facility at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba was also unsuitable, as they believed secrecy would be difficult to maintain there, and either the FBI or US military might try to take charge of the interrogation. President Bush approved the transfer of Abu Zubaydah to Detention Site Green on 29 March 2002. The Thai government was informed, and gave its consent, on the same day. The choice of Thailand, and Udon Thani, would have made sense for a number of reasons: - The two countries were treaty allies. - Close US-Thai cooperation in military and intelligence affairs went back to the early days of the Cold War. - In the 1960s Thailand allowed the US to use air bases on its territory to bomb communist targets in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. - Udon Thani was one of the main US bases, and was heavily used by the CIA at the time, which had its own fleet of aircraft. By the time the CIA was considering bringing Al Qaeda suspects to Thailand in 2002, the country had a new prime minister, Thaksin Shinawatra, a confident but abrasive leader who wanted to move his country in a different direction. He was publicly much cooler towards the Americans than his predecessors, partly driven by the resentment felt by many Thai businesses towards the US for its perceived failure to support them during the 1997 financial crisis. Mr Thaksin also sought closer ties with China. He insisted that Thailand should remain neutral in President George Bush's war on terror, and was adamant that Thailand did not have a terrorist problem. Later he would chide the US for criticising his human rights record, complaining that he was not Washington's \"lackey\". But behind Mr Thaksin's defiant public face, relations between the two countries, and in particular their military, intelligence and law-enforcement agencies, remained close."
}
],
"id": "1255_0",
"question": "Why Thailand?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5304,
"answer_start": 4006,
"text": "Several months before the 9-11 attacks in New York, the CIA had formed a secret new organisation known as the Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Center, bringing together personnel from three Thai agencies with their US counterparts to track down Islamic militants in South East Asia. Despite this, when the CIA first requested the use of Detention Site Green to interrogate suspects, it clearly had some difficulties with the Thais. The SSCI report mentions a request made to the CIA for some kind of \"support\" from the officials responsible for the site. This \"support\" was apparently given, but then the Thai officials were replaced by less compliant colleagues, nearly forcing the CIA to close down the facility. The CIA country chief was, says the report, able to negotiate keeping it open. The report also refers to at least eight Thai officials, presumably senior, who knew of the secret site, and the agency assumed that many more people probably also knew of it. With major newspapers beginning to pick up bits of information about the detainment site, the CIA believed increased publicity, and the embarrassment this would cause the Thais, would eventually force it to close. This is in fact what happened in December 2002, two months after Gina Haspel is believed to have taken charge of it."
}
],
"id": "1255_1",
"question": "Thai co-operation or resistance?"
}
]
}
] |
Trump's infrastructure blueprint 'a scam'
|
12 February 2018
|
[
{
"context": "US President Donald Trump has unveiled his long-touted plan to revamp US infrastructure, but critics labelled it a \"scam\". Mr Trump wants Congress to authorise $200bn (PS144bn) over a decade to spend on roads, highways, ports and airports. The president hopes the US states and private sector will stimulate another $1.3tn in improvements. The plan was a Trump election promise, but it could entail Americans paying higher local taxes, fees and tolls. The blueprint is part of a $4.4tn budget proposal which abandons the long-held Republican goal of balancing the federal budget within a decade. \"We have spent $7 trillion in the Middle East, $7 trillion. What a mistake,\" Mr Trump said at the White House on Monday. \"And we're trying to build roads and bridges and fix bridges that are falling down and we have a hard time getting the money and its crazy.\" A senior administration official who briefed reporters over the weekend said the $200bn investment would be paid for \"out of savings from other areas of the federal budget\". The plan calls for $50bn of public funding dedicated to modernising infrastructure in rural areas, many of which voted for Mr Trump in the 2016 elections. The proposal includes $100bn for an incentives programme \"to spur additional dedicated funds from States, localities, and the private sector\". The administration also seeks $20bn in loans and bonds to finance projects including transportation and water. The blueprint allows states to add or increase tolls on inter-state highways, and to charge fees to use highway rest areas. However, it bans states from charging for \"essential services such as water or access to restrooms\". The plan also seeks to reduce the time required to obtain environmental permits. The Trump administration is planning to sell off Reagan National and Dulles International airports near Washington DC as part of the proposal. \"The Federal Government owns and operates certain infrastructure that would be more appropriately owned by State, local, or private entities,\" the plan says. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington If there's one thing politicians love, it's infrastructure spending. It creates jobs, pleases businesses and gives officeholders something tangible to point to when constituents ask what they've done for them lately. So it's quite a remarkable achievement for the Trump administration to have come up with an infrastructure plan that will likely be of limited popularity and difficult to pass in Congress. The main problem for the White House is that the proposal allocates no new funds for bridges, railways, roads and tunnels. Instead, it recommends taking money out of other government programmes - although it leaves to Congress the unenviable task of determining what gets the axe. In addition, the plan leans heavily on states and localities to pick up the tab for the projects. Their budgets are always tight, and recent cuts to federal deductions for state and local taxes will make it harder to raise revenue. Then there's the private funding component of the proposal. While it seems attractive in theory, tolls and fees that line corporate pockets have long been unpopular with Americans. This doesn't mean an infrastructure bill won't happen. Chances are, however, what Congress passes will look very different from what was presented on Monday. The plan already faces stiff opposition. It does not offer as much new federal funding as Democrats seek. They have advocated public infrastructure investment of five times the amount just proposed by Mr Trump. \"After a full year of empty boasts, the president has finally unveiled a puny infrastructure scam that fully fails to meet the need in America's communities,\" said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. On the right, deficit hawks are likely to baulk at any new spending unless savings can found elsewhere in the budget. Some critics say the administration's plan is a bid to privatise the nation's infrastructure, shifting the cost burden on to states, which would pass it on to citizens. Environmentalists say the proposal to streamline the review process for permits would increase risks to vulnerable wildlife. \"It's a scam to line the pockets of corporate polluters by gutting protections for our environment,\" said the Center for American Progress. But one prominent business group was full of praise for the president's proposal. \"It could help us reclaim our rightful place as a global leader on true 21st-century infrastructure,\" said Jay Timmons, head of the National Association of Manufacturers. The administration has called this proposal a starting point for negotiations. But Mr Trump has made it a legislative priority this year, as November's mid-term congressional elections loom. The president met state and local officials on Monday, including the governors of Wisconsin, Louisiana, Virginia and Maine. He will try to sell the proposal to congressional leaders on Wednesday.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2047,
"answer_start": 858,
"text": "A senior administration official who briefed reporters over the weekend said the $200bn investment would be paid for \"out of savings from other areas of the federal budget\". The plan calls for $50bn of public funding dedicated to modernising infrastructure in rural areas, many of which voted for Mr Trump in the 2016 elections. The proposal includes $100bn for an incentives programme \"to spur additional dedicated funds from States, localities, and the private sector\". The administration also seeks $20bn in loans and bonds to finance projects including transportation and water. The blueprint allows states to add or increase tolls on inter-state highways, and to charge fees to use highway rest areas. However, it bans states from charging for \"essential services such as water or access to restrooms\". The plan also seeks to reduce the time required to obtain environmental permits. The Trump administration is planning to sell off Reagan National and Dulles International airports near Washington DC as part of the proposal. \"The Federal Government owns and operates certain infrastructure that would be more appropriately owned by State, local, or private entities,\" the plan says."
}
],
"id": "1256_0",
"question": "What's in the blueprint?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3355,
"answer_start": 2048,
"text": "Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington If there's one thing politicians love, it's infrastructure spending. It creates jobs, pleases businesses and gives officeholders something tangible to point to when constituents ask what they've done for them lately. So it's quite a remarkable achievement for the Trump administration to have come up with an infrastructure plan that will likely be of limited popularity and difficult to pass in Congress. The main problem for the White House is that the proposal allocates no new funds for bridges, railways, roads and tunnels. Instead, it recommends taking money out of other government programmes - although it leaves to Congress the unenviable task of determining what gets the axe. In addition, the plan leans heavily on states and localities to pick up the tab for the projects. Their budgets are always tight, and recent cuts to federal deductions for state and local taxes will make it harder to raise revenue. Then there's the private funding component of the proposal. While it seems attractive in theory, tolls and fees that line corporate pockets have long been unpopular with Americans. This doesn't mean an infrastructure bill won't happen. Chances are, however, what Congress passes will look very different from what was presented on Monday."
}
],
"id": "1256_1",
"question": "A legislative bridge to nowhere?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4573,
"answer_start": 3356,
"text": "The plan already faces stiff opposition. It does not offer as much new federal funding as Democrats seek. They have advocated public infrastructure investment of five times the amount just proposed by Mr Trump. \"After a full year of empty boasts, the president has finally unveiled a puny infrastructure scam that fully fails to meet the need in America's communities,\" said House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi. On the right, deficit hawks are likely to baulk at any new spending unless savings can found elsewhere in the budget. Some critics say the administration's plan is a bid to privatise the nation's infrastructure, shifting the cost burden on to states, which would pass it on to citizens. Environmentalists say the proposal to streamline the review process for permits would increase risks to vulnerable wildlife. \"It's a scam to line the pockets of corporate polluters by gutting protections for our environment,\" said the Center for American Progress. But one prominent business group was full of praise for the president's proposal. \"It could help us reclaim our rightful place as a global leader on true 21st-century infrastructure,\" said Jay Timmons, head of the National Association of Manufacturers."
}
],
"id": "1256_2",
"question": "What's the response?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4960,
"answer_start": 4574,
"text": "The administration has called this proposal a starting point for negotiations. But Mr Trump has made it a legislative priority this year, as November's mid-term congressional elections loom. The president met state and local officials on Monday, including the governors of Wisconsin, Louisiana, Virginia and Maine. He will try to sell the proposal to congressional leaders on Wednesday."
}
],
"id": "1256_3",
"question": "What next?"
}
]
}
] |
UK and EU fail to strike Brexit talks deal
|
4 December 2017
|
[
{
"context": "The UK and EU have failed to reach an agreement to move to the next stage of Brexit talks, Theresa May has said. The prime minister said talks would reconvene \"before the end of the week\" and she was \"confident we will conclude this positively\". The talks are understood to have broken down after the Democratic Unionist Party refused to accept concessions on the Irish border issue. Downing Street said that was not the only outstanding problem. Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said a deal had been done, but the UK appeared to change its mind over the Irish border question after pressure from the DUP. \"I am surprised and disappointed that the British government now appears not to be in a position to conclude what was agreed earlier today,\" he told a press conference in Dublin. BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg said: \"Is it a complete disaster? No. Does it mean this whole process is totally doomed? No, it does not. Is it a pretty significant disappointment? Yes, it is. \"Officially, the line out of government tonight is that Number 10 was not taking a deal for granted... but a government source has actually told me that as recently as this morning the prime minister was told that the DUP had been squared off.\" Northern Ireland's DUP has 10 MPs at Westminster, and their support is vital to the government. This is because the Conservatives are without a Commons majority since June's general election, and rely on a deal with the DUP to ensure they can survive key votes. How the talks broke down Mrs May is understood to have broken off from talks with European Commission President Jean-Claude Junker to speak to DUP leader Arlene Foster. The UK had reportedly been prepared to accept that Northern Ireland may remain in the EU's customs union and single market in all but name. But Mrs Foster then said her party \"will not accept any form of regulatory divergence\" that separates Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. \"During the call it was made plain to the PM that the DUP had significant concerns about the deal being discussed that gave concessions to the Dublin government,\" said the BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg. \"I understand Mrs Foster told Theresa May that she would not be able to support such a deal. \"It's been suggested too that there are 20 or so Conservative MPs who had serious misgivings about the compromises that were understood to be on the table.\" DUP leader Arlene Foster said her party would not accept any Brexit deal that \"separates\" Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Her party's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson claimed Brussels has been trying to \"bounce the prime minister into acceding to the shape of a deal they want\" and many of her own backbenchers would not accept it. He said the DUP objected to the form of words used in a draft document, which he said referred to \"regulatory alignment\" and \"no regulatory divergence\" between Northern Ireland and the EU. Both phrases were \"simply EU speak for keeping Northern Ireland in the European market\" and \"in effect, part of the United Kingdom would be kept within the single market,\" he said. Asked if the DUP would pull out of the confidence and supply agreement they have with the Conservative government in Westminster over this issue, he said: \"I think that her (Theresa May) problem isn't going to be just with the DUP\". Leo Varadkar says he wants a written guarantee that there will be no return to a \"hard border\" between the Republic and Northern Ireland - and this is what he thought he had got. \"I am surprised and disappointed that the British government now appears not to be in a position to conclude what was agreed earlier today,\" he said. \"I accept that the prime minister has asked for more time and I know that she faces many challenges, and I acknowledge that she is negotiating in good faith. \"But my position and that of the Irish government is unequivocal: Ireland wants to proceed to phase two. \"However, we cannot agree to do this unless we have firm guarantees that there will not be a hard border in Ireland under any circumstances.\" He said it was important to listen to the DUP, but also to bear in mind the position of other parties in Northern Ireland - and it should not be forgotten that the majority in Northern Ireland voted to remain in the EU. Speaking at a joint press conference in Brussels with Mr Juncker, Mrs May said: \"We have been negotiating hard. And a lot of progress has been made. And on many of the issues there is a common understanding. \"And it is clear, crucially, that we want to move forward together. \"But on a couple of issues some differences do remain which require further negotiation and consultation.\" The European Commission President said \"it was not possible to reach complete agreement today\" despite their \"best efforts\". But he added: \"I have to say that we were narrowing our positions to a huge extent today, thanks to the British prime minister, thanks to the willingness of the European Commission to have a fair deal with Britain. \"I'm still confident that we can reach sufficient progress before the European Council of 15 December. \"This is not a failure, this is the start of the very last round. \"I'm very confident that we will reach an agreement in the course of this week.\" Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: \"The real reason for today's failure is the grubby deal the government did with the DUP after the election.\" He added that \"Labour has been clear from the outset that we need a jobs-first Brexit deal that works for the whole of the United Kingdom\". Conservative MPs emerging from a Downing Street briefing on the talks said they had been told Mrs May had not agreed the proposal on regulatory alignment put forward by the Irish government. Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said that the Conservatives were \"as one\" with the DUP on the importance of keeping the United Kingdom together, and the mood among Tory MPs in the meeting was \"contented, not divisive or unhappy\". Backbench Remain supporter Anna Soubry said no Conservative MP wanted Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK, which she said would be \"a gift\" to the Scottish National Party. The \"simple solution\" would be for the whole of the UK to remain in the single market and customs union, she added. Lib Dem Brexit spokesman Tom Brake said: \"As each day goes by, it becomes clearer that the best deal for everyone is to stay in Europe. The people of the UK must be given a vote on the deal and an opportunity to exit from Brexit.\" Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said that if Northern Ireland was allowed to operate under different rules there was \"surely no good practical reason\" why other parts of the UK could not do the same - a message echoed by Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. The EU says it will only recommend the start of talks about future trade arrangements when it deems \"sufficient progress\" has been made on three issues - the status of expat citizens, the \"divorce\" bill and the Northern Ireland border. The UK has been set a deadline of this week to come forward with an improved offer on them, and hopes that the go-ahead for future talks will then be given at an EU leaders' summit on 14-15 December. On the \"divorce bill\", the UK is understood to have recently increased its offer, which could be worth up to 50bn euros (PS44bn). On the issue of rights for the three million EU citizens in Britain, the UK has agreed that those who already have permanent residence will not have to pay to apply for settled status. Those making a first time application for the right to stay after Brexit, however, will face a charge - reportedly similar to the cost of applying for a passport. Settled status will grant those who have spent five years in the UK equal rights on healthcare, education, benefits and pensions to British citizens. Ministers have already suggested people legally resident in the UK before an as yet unspecified cut-off date will be allowed to stay and they want to make the process \"as easy as renewing a driving licence\".",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3349,
"answer_start": 2408,
"text": "DUP leader Arlene Foster said her party would not accept any Brexit deal that \"separates\" Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK. Her party's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson claimed Brussels has been trying to \"bounce the prime minister into acceding to the shape of a deal they want\" and many of her own backbenchers would not accept it. He said the DUP objected to the form of words used in a draft document, which he said referred to \"regulatory alignment\" and \"no regulatory divergence\" between Northern Ireland and the EU. Both phrases were \"simply EU speak for keeping Northern Ireland in the European market\" and \"in effect, part of the United Kingdom would be kept within the single market,\" he said. Asked if the DUP would pull out of the confidence and supply agreement they have with the Conservative government in Westminster over this issue, he said: \"I think that her (Theresa May) problem isn't going to be just with the DUP\"."
}
],
"id": "1257_0",
"question": "Why is the DUP unhappy about the plan?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4686,
"answer_start": 4304,
"text": "Speaking at a joint press conference in Brussels with Mr Juncker, Mrs May said: \"We have been negotiating hard. And a lot of progress has been made. And on many of the issues there is a common understanding. \"And it is clear, crucially, that we want to move forward together. \"But on a couple of issues some differences do remain which require further negotiation and consultation.\""
}
],
"id": "1257_1",
"question": "What did Theresa May say?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5276,
"answer_start": 4687,
"text": "The European Commission President said \"it was not possible to reach complete agreement today\" despite their \"best efforts\". But he added: \"I have to say that we were narrowing our positions to a huge extent today, thanks to the British prime minister, thanks to the willingness of the European Commission to have a fair deal with Britain. \"I'm still confident that we can reach sufficient progress before the European Council of 15 December. \"This is not a failure, this is the start of the very last round. \"I'm very confident that we will reach an agreement in the course of this week.\""
}
],
"id": "1257_2",
"question": "What did Jean-Claude Juncker say?"
}
]
}
] |
Turner Prize 2017: Lubaina Himid's win makes history
|
6 December 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Lubaina Himid has become the oldest winner of the Turner Prize, and the first black woman to pick up the art award. The 63-year-old Zanzibar-born, Preston-based artist won the PS25,000 prize for work addressing racial politics and the legacy of slavery. The judges praised her \"uncompromising tackling of issues including colonial history and how racism persists today\". She was named the winner at a ceremony in Hull, currently UK City of Culture. Described in February by the Daily Telegraph as \"the under-appreciated hero of black British art\", Himid made her name in the 1980s as one of the leaders of the British black arts movement - both painting and curating exhibitions of similarly overlooked artists. But she has now got the recognition she deserves. Her section of the Turner Prize exhibition in Hull contains work from the 1980s to today, including wooden figures, pottery and newspapers that she has painted on. The centrepiece is 1987's A Fashionable Marriage, based on William Hogarth's Marriage A-la Mode, which features a cast of cut-out characters including a flirting Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. There are also porcelain dinner sets, found in junk shops. Himid has painted images of black slaves on some and aristocrats - some of whom are vomiting at the news of the abolition of slavery - on others. She has also painted over parts of newspaper pages to show how they \"used black people in a very subtle way which could be said to undermine their identity.\" She is professor of contemporary art at the University of Central Lancashire and was made an MBE in 2010 for services to black women's art. The Turner Prize panel said they admired Himid's \"expansive and exuberant approach to painting which combines satire and a sense of theatre\". They also said they \"acknowledged her role as an influential curator and educator who continues to speak urgently to the moment\". Himid said she was \"thrilled\" to win, and thanked a list of long-time supporters in her acceptance speech. She said: \"To the art and cultural historians who cared enough to write essays about my work for decades - thank you, you gave me sustenance in the wilderness years.\" Lubaina Himid's Turner win is being put down to the well-documented rule change that did away with its 50-or-younger age restriction, which had been in place since 1991. Clearly, the 63-year-old artist wouldn't - couldn't - have won without the removal of the age cap. But there was another, less publicised rule change this year that also benefited her. For the first time the jurors were allowed to take into account the work each artist displayed in the Turner Prize exhibition. \"What?\" you may ask. \"Hasn't that always been the case? Why wouldn't they take the exhibition the public see - and therefore judge by - into account?\" Goodness knows why, but they didn't. Which might help explain some of the previous winners, and certainly makes sense of Himid receiving the contemporary art award for an exhibition packed with work she made some time ago. Her tableau A Fashionable Marriage, a satirical and political 1980s take on a scene from Hogarth's 18th Century series Marriage A-la Mode, was the single best work of art in the entire Turner Prize exhibition. It would have been a worthy winner when she made it in 1986 and - thanks to the rule change - it was a worthy winner last night. Speaking to BBC News afterwards, Himid said some of the art establishment was now catching up with her. \"I was overlooked by critics, by press, but I was never overlooked by art historians or curators or other artists,\" she said. She said her win probably wouldn't change people's perspectives and attitudes, but added: \"I think it will get people talking, which is the point of my work.\" Asked how she would spend the PS25,000 cheque, she said: \"I spend quite a lot of my money working with other artists, sometimes asking them to make things or helping them to make things when maybe they didn't get a grant or whatever. \"So I'll do a bit of that. And I'll buy some shoes.\" After a change in the rules, this was the first time since 1991 that artists over the age of 50 were eligible for the prize, which used to be infamous for rewarding outrageous YBAs [Young British Artists]. As well as Himid, 52-year-old Birmingham painter Hurvin Anderson made it on to this year's shortlist. Tate Britain director Alex Farquharson, who chaired this year's jury, said there was a desire to celebrate artists who had previously been neglected by the mainstream. And there was a very international feel to the shortlist, which also included Stuttgart-born Andrea Buttner and film-maker Rosalind Nashashibi, who was born in Croydon to Palestinian-Irish parents. Their work is on show at the Ferens art gallery in Hull until 7 January. 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": 1627,
"answer_start": 449,
"text": "Described in February by the Daily Telegraph as \"the under-appreciated hero of black British art\", Himid made her name in the 1980s as one of the leaders of the British black arts movement - both painting and curating exhibitions of similarly overlooked artists. But she has now got the recognition she deserves. Her section of the Turner Prize exhibition in Hull contains work from the 1980s to today, including wooden figures, pottery and newspapers that she has painted on. The centrepiece is 1987's A Fashionable Marriage, based on William Hogarth's Marriage A-la Mode, which features a cast of cut-out characters including a flirting Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan. There are also porcelain dinner sets, found in junk shops. Himid has painted images of black slaves on some and aristocrats - some of whom are vomiting at the news of the abolition of slavery - on others. She has also painted over parts of newspaper pages to show how they \"used black people in a very subtle way which could be said to undermine their identity.\" She is professor of contemporary art at the University of Central Lancashire and was made an MBE in 2010 for services to black women's art."
}
],
"id": "1258_0",
"question": "Who is Lubaina Himid?"
}
]
}
] |
Turkey's Erdogan calls for border treaty review in Greece visit
|
7 December 2017
|
[
{
"context": "The first visit to Greece by a Turkish head of state in 65 years has got off to a tense start, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his host swapping pointed remarks. Mr Erdogan said the 1923 treaty that settled Turkey's borders after World War One was not being applied fairly. But Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos rejected any change to the Treaty of Lausanne. Relations between the two Nato members have been uneasy for decades. Many issues. Long-standing disputes over uninhabited islands in the Aegean brought both countries to the brink of war in 1996. They have also failed to reach a peace deal in divided Cyprus - the north of the island was invaded by Turkey in 1974 in response to a military coup backed by Athens. Turkey also says the rights of the Muslim minority of Turkish origin in north-eastern Greece are not being respected. In Athens, Mr Erdogan said they were not allowed to chose their own mufti, or Islamic legal expert, with the role instead being appointed by Greece. The Turkish government is also unhappy with Greece's Supreme Court decision that blocked the extradition of eight Turkish soldiers who fled to the country after allegedly participating in last year's failed coup. Mr Erdogan said he urged the extradition of the group. Meanwhile, Greece complains that Turkey has repeatedly violated its air and naval space. But tensions between these neighbours date back to the 1830s, when Greece won its independence from the Ottoman Empire. The blunt exchange over the Treaty of Lausanne happened on the first of a two-day visit by the Turkish leader, during a joint press conference. Mr Erdogan claimed that the treatment of Muslims in Greece showed that Athens was failing to adhere to the treaty. \"The necessary support is not being provided to them in terms of investments... and there is discrimination going on,\" he said, complaining also that some points of the treaty needed clarity. Responding to that, Mr Pavlopoulos - who is also one of Greece's foremost law experts - said: \"This treaty, to us, is not negotiable, this treaty does not have any gaps, does not need a review nor an update. This treaty is valid as it is.\" Later, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said both countries agreed to launch \"confidence building measures\", and said it was important for them to talk calmly about their different perspectives. Alongside Mr Erdogan, he added: \"We need to express our differences and our disputes in a constructive manner, without hyperbole or provocation, and with respect to the other side's opinion.\" The visit, described by Mr Erdogan as \"historic\", is taking a place amid a major security operation. Both governments hope the visit will mark a new chapter in bilateral relations, with joint infrastructure projects being signed off, the BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Athens.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1476,
"answer_start": 439,
"text": "Many issues. Long-standing disputes over uninhabited islands in the Aegean brought both countries to the brink of war in 1996. They have also failed to reach a peace deal in divided Cyprus - the north of the island was invaded by Turkey in 1974 in response to a military coup backed by Athens. Turkey also says the rights of the Muslim minority of Turkish origin in north-eastern Greece are not being respected. In Athens, Mr Erdogan said they were not allowed to chose their own mufti, or Islamic legal expert, with the role instead being appointed by Greece. The Turkish government is also unhappy with Greece's Supreme Court decision that blocked the extradition of eight Turkish soldiers who fled to the country after allegedly participating in last year's failed coup. Mr Erdogan said he urged the extradition of the group. Meanwhile, Greece complains that Turkey has repeatedly violated its air and naval space. But tensions between these neighbours date back to the 1830s, when Greece won its independence from the Ottoman Empire."
}
],
"id": "1259_0",
"question": "What is the source of the tensions?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2827,
"answer_start": 1477,
"text": "The blunt exchange over the Treaty of Lausanne happened on the first of a two-day visit by the Turkish leader, during a joint press conference. Mr Erdogan claimed that the treatment of Muslims in Greece showed that Athens was failing to adhere to the treaty. \"The necessary support is not being provided to them in terms of investments... and there is discrimination going on,\" he said, complaining also that some points of the treaty needed clarity. Responding to that, Mr Pavlopoulos - who is also one of Greece's foremost law experts - said: \"This treaty, to us, is not negotiable, this treaty does not have any gaps, does not need a review nor an update. This treaty is valid as it is.\" Later, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said both countries agreed to launch \"confidence building measures\", and said it was important for them to talk calmly about their different perspectives. Alongside Mr Erdogan, he added: \"We need to express our differences and our disputes in a constructive manner, without hyperbole or provocation, and with respect to the other side's opinion.\" The visit, described by Mr Erdogan as \"historic\", is taking a place amid a major security operation. Both governments hope the visit will mark a new chapter in bilateral relations, with joint infrastructure projects being signed off, the BBC's Mark Lowen reports from Athens."
}
],
"id": "1259_1",
"question": "What's happening with the visit?"
}
]
}
] |
Moon Jae-in: South Korean liberal claims presidency
|
9 May 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Liberal candidate Moon Jae-in has claimed victory in South Korea's presidential election. Mr Moon favours greater dialogue with North Korea, in a change to current South Korean policy. \"I will be president for all South Koreans,\" he told cheering supporters in Gwanghwamun Square in the capital Seoul. The early election was called after a corruption scandal led to the impeachment of the former president. Park Geun-hye is accused of allowing a close friend to extort money from companies. She denies all wrongdoing. With 80% of the votes counted, Mr Moon was ahead with 40% of the total, the National Election Commission said. His conservative challenger, former prosecutor Hong Joon-pyo, was next with 25.5% followed by centrist candidate Ahn Cheol-soo on 21.4%. Mr Moon is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday. A Moon Jae-in presidency would represent a real shift in attitude towards North Korea. His policy is to increase contact with North Korea, in contrast to the tighter sanctions of the last ten years. He is unhappy about the deployment of a US anti-missile system on South Korean soil. When Mr Moon was last in government, in the early 2000s, South Korea had a \"Sunshine Policy\" which meant co-operation with North Korea, a policy which was abandoned as North Korea tested nuclear weapons. As policy in South Korea looks like shifting, many sceptics remain who think that no amount of talking to Kim Jong-un will persuade him to renounce either his despotic power or his nuclear ambitions. For the last eight years, Seoul and Washington have been in lock-step over North Korea, with ever tighter sanctions and isolation. That is not Mr Moon's way. Is it Donald Trump's? The son of refugees from North Korea, Mr Moon was jailed while a student in the 1970s for leading protests against military ruler Park Chung-hee - Ms Park's father. Later, he served in South Korea's special forces before becoming a human rights lawyer. He served as a senior aide to liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, who committed suicide in 2009 after leaving office amid bribery allegations. Mr Moon, of the centre-left Democratic Party, unsuccessfully ran against Ms Park in 2012 elections. He has positioned himself as the man who can move the country on from the scandals of Ms Park's era. \"I feel that not only my party and myself but also the people have been more desperate for a change of government,\" he said while casting his vote. Mr Moon has advocated greater dialogue with the North while maintaining pressure and sanctions, in contrast to Ms Park who cut almost all ties. He has been critical of the two previous conservative administrations for failing to stop North Korea's weapons development. But while tensions on the Korean peninsula ensured the election was closely watched, for South Koreans the priority has been corruption and the economy, with youth unemployment stubbornly high. Mr Moon has talked of reforming South Korea's huge family-run conglomerates, known as chaebols, which dominate the domestic economy.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2424,
"answer_start": 1684,
"text": "The son of refugees from North Korea, Mr Moon was jailed while a student in the 1970s for leading protests against military ruler Park Chung-hee - Ms Park's father. Later, he served in South Korea's special forces before becoming a human rights lawyer. He served as a senior aide to liberal President Roh Moo-hyun, who committed suicide in 2009 after leaving office amid bribery allegations. Mr Moon, of the centre-left Democratic Party, unsuccessfully ran against Ms Park in 2012 elections. He has positioned himself as the man who can move the country on from the scandals of Ms Park's era. \"I feel that not only my party and myself but also the people have been more desperate for a change of government,\" he said while casting his vote."
}
],
"id": "1260_0",
"question": "Who is Moon?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3020,
"answer_start": 2425,
"text": "Mr Moon has advocated greater dialogue with the North while maintaining pressure and sanctions, in contrast to Ms Park who cut almost all ties. He has been critical of the two previous conservative administrations for failing to stop North Korea's weapons development. But while tensions on the Korean peninsula ensured the election was closely watched, for South Koreans the priority has been corruption and the economy, with youth unemployment stubbornly high. Mr Moon has talked of reforming South Korea's huge family-run conglomerates, known as chaebols, which dominate the domestic economy."
}
],
"id": "1260_1",
"question": "What are his policies?"
}
]
}
] |
Can Thai peace talks with rebels succeed?
|
28 February 2013
|
[
{
"context": "Ever since a dramatic raid on a Thai army base in January 2004 announced an aggressive new drive for a separate Islamic state in the far south of Thailand, a great deal about this insurgency has remained a puzzle. Who are its leaders? What exactly do they want? How many are there? Are they prepared to negotiate? It seems some of them are. Hassan Taib, from an older generation of campaigners who largely abandoned their armed struggle against the Thai state in the 1990s, has just signed an agreement with Lt-Gen Paradorn Pattanathabutr, secretary general of Thailand's National Security Council. It sets out a loose framework for talks between the two sides, due to start in two weeks. That is significant progress. It commits the Thai government to recognise the insurgents as a negotiating partner with political demands that must be listened to. But who does Hassan Taib represent? He is from one of the many factions of PULO (Pattani United Liberation Organisation), which has had little role in the recent insurgency. Now he calls himself a leader of the BRN (Barisan Revolusi Nasional), another broad umbrella group with little influence over the fighters on the ground. Last year, he was involved in a previous attempt at peace talks with Thaksin Shinawatra, the exiled former prime minister and sister of the current Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. Those talks went nowhere. There was an uproar in Thailand when it was revealed that Mr Thaksin was involved. The movement thought to be closer to the fighters, or juwae as they call themselves, is a more militant breakaway from the BRN, the BRN-C. But it has no clear leadership and is not thought to be involved in this latest initiative. Indeed, the young men who carry out the almost-daily attacks in Thailand's southernmost provinces have shown no signs of being ready to talk about anything. They do not speak to journalists or officials or make any demands. If there is one man who might be able to act as a bridge between the militants and those like Hassan Taib, who say they are negotiating for them, it is probably Sapae-ing Basor, says Don Pathan, who has been reporting the southern conflict for more than a decade. He is the former head of an Islamic school who is often referred to as a kind of spiritual leader for Malay Muslims in Thailand. But he has been in hiding since criminal charges were brought against him eight years ago. The Thai government has not indicated any willingness to reach out to him or offer him immunity. Nor has the Thai side expressed any readiness to discuss political concessions like autonomy, which might tempt some of the insurgents to support the talks. Yingluck Shinawatra did air the idea of autonomy in her election campaign of 2011, but swiftly dropped it after strong opposition from the army. The Thai military, which is the dominant force in the far south, is uneasy about any concessions which might give the insurgents greater legitimacy or threaten the integrity of the state. So why has this initiative been announced now, with such fanfare? The enthusiasm of the Malaysian government is one factor. Prime Minister Najib Razak must call an election within the next few weeks - success, or the appearance of it, in helping fellow Malays over the border might help bolster his sliding support. Ms Yingluck too would like to be able to show some progress, after a daring raid by the insurgents on an army base this month brought home to Thais how little has been done to end the conflict. Perhaps, once the talks get started, they may acquire enough momentum to attract the interest of some of the fighting groups on the ground. Only when they are involved, along with civil society groups with strong roots in the far south, is any meaningful progress likely to occur.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3789,
"answer_start": 2509,
"text": "Nor has the Thai side expressed any readiness to discuss political concessions like autonomy, which might tempt some of the insurgents to support the talks. Yingluck Shinawatra did air the idea of autonomy in her election campaign of 2011, but swiftly dropped it after strong opposition from the army. The Thai military, which is the dominant force in the far south, is uneasy about any concessions which might give the insurgents greater legitimacy or threaten the integrity of the state. So why has this initiative been announced now, with such fanfare? The enthusiasm of the Malaysian government is one factor. Prime Minister Najib Razak must call an election within the next few weeks - success, or the appearance of it, in helping fellow Malays over the border might help bolster his sliding support. Ms Yingluck too would like to be able to show some progress, after a daring raid by the insurgents on an army base this month brought home to Thais how little has been done to end the conflict. Perhaps, once the talks get started, they may acquire enough momentum to attract the interest of some of the fighting groups on the ground. Only when they are involved, along with civil society groups with strong roots in the far south, is any meaningful progress likely to occur."
}
],
"id": "1261_0",
"question": "Why now?"
}
]
}
] |
North Korea nuclear talks: US envoy Biegun in Pyongyang
|
6 February 2019
|
[
{
"context": "The US envoy for North Korea has been holding talks in Pyongyang, paving the way for a second leadership summit. Stephen Biegun arrived just as US President Donald Trump confirmed he would meet North Korea's Kim Jong-un in Vietnam on 27-28 February. The two leaders will build on the vague denuclearisation commitments they made when they met in Singapore last June. Meanwhile, the UN has warned that North Korea is continuing its nuclear programme and breaking sanctions. The report said actions including the illegal transfer of banned goods at sea could make sanctions - the international community's main way of putting pressure on North Korea - \"ineffective\". The Singapore summit generated significant coverage and optimism, but delivered very few concrete developments. Both sides said they were committed to denuclearisation, but with no details of how this would be carried out or verified. Experts caution that despite Mr Trump's declaration that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat, the country has never said it would give up its nuclear weapons programme without similar concessions from the US. After holding talks with officials in South Korea, Mr Biegun travelled to Pyongyang to talk with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Hyok-chol. Mr Biegun said he wanted to achieve some \"concrete deliverables\". The US state department has said his visit will \"advance further progress on the commitments the president and Chairman Kim made in Singapore\". The US wants North Korea to make a full declaration of all its nuclear weapons facilities and commit to destroying them, under international supervision - something North Korea has never said it will do. In a speech at Stanford University last week, Mr Biegun said the US would not agree to lift sanctions until this happens, but he indicated it could provide assistance in other ways, saying: \"We did not say we will not do anything until you do everything.\" He also said Kim Jong-un had previously committed to \"the dismantlement and destruction\" of all North Korea's plutonium and uranium facilities, which provide the material for nuclear weapons. But a report to the UN Security Council on Monday suggested North Korea was continuing its nuclear and missiles programmes, while making efforts to protect its facilities from possible future strike. The confidential report, a copy of which was seen by news agencies, also said North Korea was routinely breaking international sanctions. The report said there had been a \"massive increase in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products and coal\" - where material is moved from non-North Korean ships out at sea to evade monitoring. The international sanctions against North Korea are designed to severely limit its import and export abilities, with the aim of putting pressure on the country to give up its nuclear ambitions. But Reuters quoted the report as saying that violations on this scale \"render the latest UN sanctions ineffective\". Laura Bicker, BBC News, Seoul This UN report states what to many is blindingly obvious - North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes \"remain intact\" despite the \"tremendous progress\" hailed by the Trump administration. But Pyongyang's pledges, which we have heard through either the South Koreans or the Americans, were very specific. They said they would destroy a nuclear testing site and dismantle a rocket launch site. The North Koreans have at no point said they will hand over all their weapons nor that they would stop building them. This is why getting a detailed deal is so important. North Korea has, through the South Korean president, pledged to destroy a nuclear processing plant, but only if the US takes corresponding steps. We expect this to be the focus of at least some of the talks between the two sides over the next few weeks. What is interesting about this report, and perhaps more worrying for the Trump administration, is that their main diplomatic tool to encourage Kim Jong-un to get to the negotiating table may now be \"ineffective\". There have been many reports of illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil and coal over the last year, but sanctions monitors now say there is a \"massive increase\". If Pyongyang is finding a way around these strict sanctions, then it means Washington's maximum pressure strategy is never going to work. We are entering a pivotal month in this peninsula's future and this report highlights the challenges facing the Trump administration. It also raises the question, that if these talks fail, and sanctions are no longer effective, what does the US do next?",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4594,
"answer_start": 2970,
"text": "Laura Bicker, BBC News, Seoul This UN report states what to many is blindingly obvious - North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programmes \"remain intact\" despite the \"tremendous progress\" hailed by the Trump administration. But Pyongyang's pledges, which we have heard through either the South Koreans or the Americans, were very specific. They said they would destroy a nuclear testing site and dismantle a rocket launch site. The North Koreans have at no point said they will hand over all their weapons nor that they would stop building them. This is why getting a detailed deal is so important. North Korea has, through the South Korean president, pledged to destroy a nuclear processing plant, but only if the US takes corresponding steps. We expect this to be the focus of at least some of the talks between the two sides over the next few weeks. What is interesting about this report, and perhaps more worrying for the Trump administration, is that their main diplomatic tool to encourage Kim Jong-un to get to the negotiating table may now be \"ineffective\". There have been many reports of illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil and coal over the last year, but sanctions monitors now say there is a \"massive increase\". If Pyongyang is finding a way around these strict sanctions, then it means Washington's maximum pressure strategy is never going to work. We are entering a pivotal month in this peninsula's future and this report highlights the challenges facing the Trump administration. It also raises the question, that if these talks fail, and sanctions are no longer effective, what does the US do next?"
}
],
"id": "1262_0",
"question": "Is the main diplomacy tool ineffective?"
}
]
}
] |
Facebook admits failings over emotion manipulation study
|
3 October 2014
|
[
{
"context": "Facebook said it will change the way it does research, but stopped short of apologising for a controversial experiment it conducted this year. In June, the site was criticised for manipulating the news feeds of nearly 700,000 users without their consent. The network said it was \"unprepared\" for the backlash it received. \"[We] have taken to heart the comments and criticism. It is clear now that there are things we should have done differently,\" Facebook said. In a blog, chief technology officer Mike Schroepfer said the company should have \"considered other non-experimental ways to do this research\". He added: \"In releasing the study, we failed to communicate clearly why and how we did it.\" The social network controlled the news feed of users over a one-week period in 2012 without their knowledge to manage which emotional expressions they were exposed to. The experiment was part of a study by Facebook and two US universities. The social network said at the time it was to gauge whether \"exposure to emotions led people to change their own posting behaviours\". However, the company was widely criticised for manipulating material from people's personal lives in order to play with user emotions or make them sad. In response on Thursday, Facebook said that it was introducing new rules for conducting research on users with clearer guidelines, better training for researchers and a stricter review process. But, it did not state whether or not it would notify users - or seek their consent - before starting a study. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) in London, which supports data privacy for individuals, said Facebook's comments were \"a step in the right direction\", but it hoped to hear more about how the social network intends to improve transparency. \"Organisations who want to process people's personal information without explicitly asking for their permission, for instance to carry out research, always need to proceed with caution,\" an ICO spokesman said. IDC research analyst Jan van Vonno said it was Facebook's responsibility to notify users of any studies they were partaking in. \"They're going to continue that research and what they should do is make users aware of what they're doing and that's not really what they're doing right now,\" Mr van Vonno said. An apology would be a sign of regret and they obviously don't regret any of their actions because they think it's for the benefit of their own platform.\" It was still important for Facebook to study consumer behaviour so it could maximize the impact advertisers had on the platform, which remains a huge source of revenue for the company, Mr van Vonno added. The company's mobile advertising revenue jumped 151% in the second quarter of this year from 2013 and accounted for more than 60% of its overall ad revenue. Just this week, Facebook relaunched Atlas, an advertising platform it bought from Microsoft last year, to improve the effectiveness of its ads.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2955,
"answer_start": 1989,
"text": "IDC research analyst Jan van Vonno said it was Facebook's responsibility to notify users of any studies they were partaking in. \"They're going to continue that research and what they should do is make users aware of what they're doing and that's not really what they're doing right now,\" Mr van Vonno said. An apology would be a sign of regret and they obviously don't regret any of their actions because they think it's for the benefit of their own platform.\" It was still important for Facebook to study consumer behaviour so it could maximize the impact advertisers had on the platform, which remains a huge source of revenue for the company, Mr van Vonno added. The company's mobile advertising revenue jumped 151% in the second quarter of this year from 2013 and accounted for more than 60% of its overall ad revenue. Just this week, Facebook relaunched Atlas, an advertising platform it bought from Microsoft last year, to improve the effectiveness of its ads."
}
],
"id": "1263_0",
"question": "Should Facebook apologise?"
}
]
}
] |
Cyclist Charlie Alliston guilty over pedestrian's death
|
23 August 2017
|
[
{
"context": "A cyclist who knocked over and killed a 44-year-old woman in east London last year has been cleared of her manslaughter. But Charlie Alliston, 20, was found guilty of causing bodily harm by \"wanton or furious driving\". Alliston was riding a fixed gear bike with no front brakes when he hit mum-of-two Kim Briggs as she was crossing the road in her lunch break. She suffered serious head injuries and died a week later in hospital. Alliston later went online to defend himself following the crash, claiming Mrs Briggs was at fault before deleting the comment when he realised how serious her injuries were. He told the Old Bailey his comments had been stupid and not thought through. Alliston was riding a fixie - a fixed-wheel bicycle with no front brake used by track racing cyclists - across a junction on Old Street, Shoreditch, last February when he said he saw HR consultant Mrs Briggs step out into the road while looking at her phone. He told the court he shouted to warn her and slowed down to between 10 and 14 miles an hour. Alliston said he shouted again and swerved to avoid her but Mrs Briggs stepped back into his path. He claimed he was not aware a brake was a legal requirement to ride on the road and said even with one he wouldn't have been able to stop in time. But crash investigators who studied CCTV of the incident concluded Alliston would have been able to stop and avoid the collision if the bike had been fitted with a front brake. Alliston was charged with an admittedly archaic offence - but it is the closest to dangerous driving a cyclist can be charged with. Unlike a dangerous cycling charge, causing GBH by wanton and furious driving takes into account injury. It may sound slightly eccentric, but perhaps it is down to its wording which was coined in 1861. Introduced under the Offences Against the Person Act, the charge was created to deter people from driving horse carriages recklessly. It is now used when it is not possible to prosecute under the Road Traffic Act 1988 - ie, when the vehicle in the crime was not mechanically propelled - and in cases of serious injury or death caused by a cyclist's actions. It carries a maximum penalty of two years' imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Previous successful prosecutions under the offence include those against cyclists Darryl Gittoes and Darren Hall, who both knocked down pedestrians who later died. Judge Wendy Joseph QC ordered a pre-sentence report, but made it clear she was considering a jail sentence for Alliston. She said: \"I have not seen one iota of remorse from Mr Alliston at all at any stage.\" He is due to be sentenced on 18 September. In a statement read in court, Matthew Briggs paid tribute to his \"wonderful\" wife, with whom he had a daughter aged 11 and a son aged 14. He said: \"She was quick to smile, slow to judge and even slower to anger.\" The case has raised questions about safety and responsibility on the road. Mrs Briggs' family said they plan to campaign for tougher cycling laws to protect pedestrians. Mr Briggs described the trial as \"gruelling and painful\". He added: \"Out of this senseless carnage, I shall try to bring change to the law and change to attitudes. \"Perhaps in this way I can honour my wife.\" Duncan Dollimore, head of advocacy and campaigns at Cycling UK, said: \"Riding a fixed wheel bicycle on busy roads without a front brake is illegal, stupid and endangers other road users especially pedestrians. \"Charlie Alliston's actions had tragic consequences for Kim Briggs' family and it was entirely right that this led to his prosecution.\" Alliston's fixed-wheel track bike is the sort more commonly seen at an Olympic velodrome, being raced at great speeds. In evidence, he told jurors he had no idea there were regulations that \"fixies\" have to have front brakes for use on the road. The Pedal Cycle Construction and Use Regulations 1983 states a fixed wheel bicycle must have a front brake in addition to the rear fixed wheel before it can be lawfully ridden on a public road. A fixed-wheel counts as a rear brake, however it needs a calliper on the front to legally ride it on a public road.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4138,
"answer_start": 3583,
"text": "Alliston's fixed-wheel track bike is the sort more commonly seen at an Olympic velodrome, being raced at great speeds. In evidence, he told jurors he had no idea there were regulations that \"fixies\" have to have front brakes for use on the road. The Pedal Cycle Construction and Use Regulations 1983 states a fixed wheel bicycle must have a front brake in addition to the rear fixed wheel before it can be lawfully ridden on a public road. A fixed-wheel counts as a rear brake, however it needs a calliper on the front to legally ride it on a public road."
}
],
"id": "1264_0",
"question": "What are the laws for riding 'fixies'?"
}
]
}
] |
Louisiana passes law banning abortions after heartbeat is detected
|
31 May 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Louisiana's Democratic governor has signed a highly restrictive new abortion law that bans the procedure after a foetal heartbeat is detected. The law could prohibit abortions as early as six weeks into pregnancy. State legislators overwhelmingly backed the bill on Wednesday, by 79 votes to 23 and Governor John Bel Edwards signed the bill into law on Thursday. It is the latest in a raft of anti-abortion measures which are expected to face legal challenges. Four other states have passed similar limits to abortion this year. In a statement, Governor Edwards said: \"I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for [the law] to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone.\" He did not hold a signing ceremony. Governor Edwards has long opposed abortion. Support for abortion restrictions has put some state Democrats at odds with the national party, which views access to the procedure as a core plank of its platform. Women throughout the US have staged protests against the Lousiana legislation, and major Hollywood stars and production companies have vowed to boycott states that implement such bans. Disney, Netflix and WarnerMedia have all publicly threatened to rethink production in these states if the laws take effect. So-called heartbeat laws seek to make abortion illegal as soon as a foetal heartbeat is detectable. In most cases, this is at the six-week mark of a pregnancy - before many women even know they are pregnant. Although Louisiana's stringent law does allow abortions in cases where the pregnant woman's life is in danger, it does not include exemptions for pregnancies resulting from incest or rape. But the law will only come into force if a federal court upholds a similar ban passed in neighbouring Mississippi. A judge temporarily blocked the Mississippi law when it was passed. US President Donald Trump has appointed two conservative judges to the Supreme Court since taking office, and analysts say conservatives across the US see this as the moment to challenge the 1973 Roe vs Wade ruling - which granted women the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion. Louisiana is the fifth state to pass a heartbeat law, after Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and Mississippi. The US Supreme Court earlier this year narrowly blocked new abortion restrictions in Louisiana, which would have required doctors who provide abortion services to be certified to practise at a nearby hospital - which critics say would have limited the right to abortion and would cause two of the state's abortion clinics to close. Meanwhile, Alabama has passed an outright ban on the procedure in nearly all cases. None of these laws are yet to take effect, however. US President Donald Trump has said he is against abortion except where the pregnancy endangers the mother's life, or results from rape or incest.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2213,
"answer_start": 1341,
"text": "So-called heartbeat laws seek to make abortion illegal as soon as a foetal heartbeat is detectable. In most cases, this is at the six-week mark of a pregnancy - before many women even know they are pregnant. Although Louisiana's stringent law does allow abortions in cases where the pregnant woman's life is in danger, it does not include exemptions for pregnancies resulting from incest or rape. But the law will only come into force if a federal court upholds a similar ban passed in neighbouring Mississippi. A judge temporarily blocked the Mississippi law when it was passed. US President Donald Trump has appointed two conservative judges to the Supreme Court since taking office, and analysts say conservatives across the US see this as the moment to challenge the 1973 Roe vs Wade ruling - which granted women the right to choose whether or not to have an abortion."
}
],
"id": "1265_0",
"question": "What are heartbeat laws?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2928,
"answer_start": 2214,
"text": "Louisiana is the fifth state to pass a heartbeat law, after Georgia, Kentucky, Ohio and Mississippi. The US Supreme Court earlier this year narrowly blocked new abortion restrictions in Louisiana, which would have required doctors who provide abortion services to be certified to practise at a nearby hospital - which critics say would have limited the right to abortion and would cause two of the state's abortion clinics to close. Meanwhile, Alabama has passed an outright ban on the procedure in nearly all cases. None of these laws are yet to take effect, however. US President Donald Trump has said he is against abortion except where the pregnancy endangers the mother's life, or results from rape or incest."
}
],
"id": "1265_1",
"question": "Which states have passed restrictions?"
}
]
}
] |
Ultra-processed foods 'make you eat more'
|
16 May 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Ultra-processed foods lead people to eat more and put on weight, the first trial to assess their impact suggests. Volunteers had every morsel of food they ate monitored for a month. And when given ultra-processed food, they ate 500 calories a day more than when they were given unprocessed meals. The US National Institutes of Health said ultra-processed foods may be affecting hunger hormones in the body, leading people to keep eating. There are scientific arguments about the definition of ultra-processed food but lead researcher Dr Kevin Hall said it was like \"pornography - it's hard to define but you know it when you see it\". Warning signs include: - ingredients you cannot pronounce - more than five ingredients listed on the packet - anything your grandmother would not recognise as food Twenty people gave up a month of their time to live in a laboratory. For a fortnight they were given either ultra-processed meals or unprocessed ones and then the diets were switched for the second half of the study. The participants were allowed to eat as much as they wanted and researchers closely monitored what passed their lips. During their ultra-processed foods fortnight, the volunteers, on average, ate an extra 508 calories a day and put on 2lb (1kg). Dr Hall, from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, told BBC News: \"This is the first study to demonstrate that there there is a causal relationship. \"Ultra-processed foods led to increases in calorie intake and in body weight and in fat. \"It's suggestive that this may be playing a role in the larger population.\" Dr Hall said previous studies had estimated the \"obesity epidemic\" in the US was caused by people eating an extra 250-300 calories a day. The explanation is, for now, elusive. The human guinea pigs reported both meals were equally tasty, so a preference for ultra-processed was not to blame. The nutritional content of the two diets was also carefully matched to ensure they had equal amounts of sugars, other carbohydrates, fats and fibre. One potential explanation is the impact of industrially processed foods on the hormones that alter the desire to eat. Dr Hall told BBC News: \"When people were consuming the unprocessed diet, one of the appetite-suppression hormones (called PYY) that has been shown in other studies to be related to restraining people's appetite actually went up despite the fact that they're now eating less calories.\" The study also showed the levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin went down on the unprocessed diet.. The study is on a limited number of people only and for a short period of time, so it is unclear if the findings apply more broadly. Some people on the diet ate an extra 1,500 calories on the ultra-processed diet, while others ate roughly the same. Dr Gunter Kuhnle, from the University of Reading, said processing food was often important \"for palatability, safety and preservation\". He said: \"This is a well designed and well conducted study with interesting, although perhaps not surprising, outcomes. \"It seems that participants found ultra-processed food more palatable, ate more quickly and consequently more - possibly because it took longer for them to feel full. \"A very interesting outcome of the study is the cost-per-energy: the ultra-processed diet was considerably cheaper than the unprocessed control diet, and this is likely to have implications from a public health point of view.\" Follow James on Twitter.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2550,
"answer_start": 1746,
"text": "The explanation is, for now, elusive. The human guinea pigs reported both meals were equally tasty, so a preference for ultra-processed was not to blame. The nutritional content of the two diets was also carefully matched to ensure they had equal amounts of sugars, other carbohydrates, fats and fibre. One potential explanation is the impact of industrially processed foods on the hormones that alter the desire to eat. Dr Hall told BBC News: \"When people were consuming the unprocessed diet, one of the appetite-suppression hormones (called PYY) that has been shown in other studies to be related to restraining people's appetite actually went up despite the fact that they're now eating less calories.\" The study also showed the levels of the hunger hormone ghrelin went down on the unprocessed diet.."
}
],
"id": "1266_0",
"question": "But why?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3474,
"answer_start": 2551,
"text": "The study is on a limited number of people only and for a short period of time, so it is unclear if the findings apply more broadly. Some people on the diet ate an extra 1,500 calories on the ultra-processed diet, while others ate roughly the same. Dr Gunter Kuhnle, from the University of Reading, said processing food was often important \"for palatability, safety and preservation\". He said: \"This is a well designed and well conducted study with interesting, although perhaps not surprising, outcomes. \"It seems that participants found ultra-processed food more palatable, ate more quickly and consequently more - possibly because it took longer for them to feel full. \"A very interesting outcome of the study is the cost-per-energy: the ultra-processed diet was considerably cheaper than the unprocessed control diet, and this is likely to have implications from a public health point of view.\" Follow James on Twitter."
}
],
"id": "1266_1",
"question": "Does this explain the obesity crisis?"
}
]
}
] |
Who is US journalist Lindsey Snell detained in Turkey?
|
1 September 2016
|
[
{
"context": "An American journalist has been arrested by Turkish authorities and charged with violating a military zone, US officials have confirmed. Lindsey Snell was arrested earlier this month, US state department spokesman John Kirby said. The Florida native recently posted on Facebook that she was kidnapped in July by Jabhat al Nusra, formerly al-Qaeda's Syrian affiliate, and had escaped. The US said it was in touch with Turkish officials regarding the case. Ms Snell is being held at a prison in the southern Hatay Province and consular officials had visited her on 26 August, Mr Kirby added. According to her Facebook page, Ms Snell is a native of Daytona, Florida, and had been living in Istanbul. The American describes herself on her Twitter page as a video journalist. She also has worked as a freelancer for Vocativ, but has not worked with them in months, a Vocativ spokeswoman told the BBC. Vocativ said they were \"very concerned\" about Ms Snell and were continuing to monitor the situation, she added. Ms Snell also attended University of Florida and Fordham University's School of Law, according to her social media profiles. Ms Snell said in her most recent Facebook post on 5 August that she was held in a cave prison by militants even though she was given permission to film in their territory in Syria. \"I must apologise to my friends and colleagues for all the pain and worry this caused you. I love you all, and I appreciate every effort made to secure my release,\" her post said. Ms Snell, who identified herself as Muslim, said she had been staying with the family of one of the militant group's recent martyrs when she was \"arrested.\" \"Because of my unique situation, I was able to convince my captors to give me the use of a phone...which ultimately let me plan my escape, but which also let me document much of my captivity in photos and video,\" she continued. Two days later, she was taken into custody by Turkish authorities. According to the Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak, Ms Snell was detained near the country's Syrian border. \"A US journalist was captured while she was trying to cross the border illegally; she was taken to court and remanded. The trial phase is ongoing. For now, we do not know if she is a spy or not,\" Hatay Governor Ercan Topaca told national media outlet Anadolu Agency. A state department official told the BBC it is unclear why she travelled to Syria and whether her profession as a journalist had anything to do with her arrest. Ms Snell's arrest comes amid strained relations between the US and Turkey after Turkish forces targeted Kurdish fighters in Syria. The US has criticised Ankara for pursuing Kurdish forces, whom Turkey considers terrorists, along with the so-called Islamic State inside Syria. The US depends on Kurdish forces for supporting in the battle against IS in northern Syria. The country is also reeling after a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 15 July. At least 246 people died during the attempted coup and more than 2,000 others were injured. President Erdogan has accused the US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen of orchestrating the army-led attempted coup. Mr Gulen has denied any involvement. Turkish authorities have also cracked down on media outlets in recent weeks, shuttering 131 media organisations in the wake of the failed coup. Many of the media outlets are linked to Mr Gulen.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1132,
"answer_start": 590,
"text": "According to her Facebook page, Ms Snell is a native of Daytona, Florida, and had been living in Istanbul. The American describes herself on her Twitter page as a video journalist. She also has worked as a freelancer for Vocativ, but has not worked with them in months, a Vocativ spokeswoman told the BBC. Vocativ said they were \"very concerned\" about Ms Snell and were continuing to monitor the situation, she added. Ms Snell also attended University of Florida and Fordham University's School of Law, according to her social media profiles."
}
],
"id": "1267_0",
"question": "Who is Lindsey Snell?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1945,
"answer_start": 1133,
"text": "Ms Snell said in her most recent Facebook post on 5 August that she was held in a cave prison by militants even though she was given permission to film in their territory in Syria. \"I must apologise to my friends and colleagues for all the pain and worry this caused you. I love you all, and I appreciate every effort made to secure my release,\" her post said. Ms Snell, who identified herself as Muslim, said she had been staying with the family of one of the militant group's recent martyrs when she was \"arrested.\" \"Because of my unique situation, I was able to convince my captors to give me the use of a phone...which ultimately let me plan my escape, but which also let me document much of my captivity in photos and video,\" she continued. Two days later, she was taken into custody by Turkish authorities."
}
],
"id": "1267_1",
"question": "What was she doing in Syria?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2767,
"answer_start": 1946,
"text": "According to the Turkish pro-government newspaper Yeni Safak, Ms Snell was detained near the country's Syrian border. \"A US journalist was captured while she was trying to cross the border illegally; she was taken to court and remanded. The trial phase is ongoing. For now, we do not know if she is a spy or not,\" Hatay Governor Ercan Topaca told national media outlet Anadolu Agency. A state department official told the BBC it is unclear why she travelled to Syria and whether her profession as a journalist had anything to do with her arrest. Ms Snell's arrest comes amid strained relations between the US and Turkey after Turkish forces targeted Kurdish fighters in Syria. The US has criticised Ankara for pursuing Kurdish forces, whom Turkey considers terrorists, along with the so-called Islamic State inside Syria."
}
],
"id": "1267_2",
"question": "What has Turkey said about it?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3392,
"answer_start": 2768,
"text": "The US depends on Kurdish forces for supporting in the battle against IS in northern Syria. The country is also reeling after a failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on 15 July. At least 246 people died during the attempted coup and more than 2,000 others were injured. President Erdogan has accused the US-based cleric Fetullah Gulen of orchestrating the army-led attempted coup. Mr Gulen has denied any involvement. Turkish authorities have also cracked down on media outlets in recent weeks, shuttering 131 media organisations in the wake of the failed coup. Many of the media outlets are linked to Mr Gulen."
}
],
"id": "1267_3",
"question": "Why is the US-Turkey relationship so important?"
}
]
}
] |
Trump travel ban: US states launch legal challenges
|
10 March 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Several US states have launched legal challenges against President Donald Trump's revised travel ban. Mr Trump signed an executive order placing a 90-day ban on people from six mainly Muslim countries on Monday. New York maintains the new directive is a ban on Muslims while Washington says it is harmful to the state. Oregon and Massachusetts later also joined. The ban begins on 16 March, with the White House saying it is \"very confident\" of winning in court. Mr Trump's original order was more expansive but it was defeated after a legal challenge initially mounted by Washington and Minnesota. Lawyers for those states say their original complaint applies to the revised order and are pursuing their cases. Other states have joined the bid too, while Hawaii has launched a separate action. Oregon - said the order hurts residents, employers, universities health care system and economy Washington - it has \"same illegal motivations as the original\" and harms residents, although fewer than the first ban Minnesota - questioned the legality of the move, suggesting the Trump administration can't override the initial ban with a fresh executive order New York - \"a Muslim ban by another name\", said the attorney general Massachusetts - new ban \"remains a discriminatory and unconstitutional attempt to make good on his campaign promise to implement a Muslim ban\" Hawaii - argued it would harm its Muslim population, tourism and foreign students The revised ban bars new visas for people from: Somalia, Iran, Syria, Sudan, Libya and Yemen. It also temporarily blocks all refugees. The previous order, which Mr Trump signed in January, was blocked in federal courts and sparked mass protests as well as confusion at airports. But critics maintain the revised travel ban discriminates against Muslims. \"President Trump's latest executive order is a Muslim ban by another name, imposing policies and protocols that once again violate the Equal Protection Clause and Establishment Clause of the United State Constitution,\" said New York Attorney General Eric T Schneiderman after announcing his legal challenge. Washington state Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who was the first to sue over the original ban, said he would ask a federal judge to rule that the temporary restraining order halting the first travel ban \"remains in effect\". \"We're asserting that the president cannot unilaterally declare himself free of the court's restraining order and injunction,\" he said. Though the White House has faced mounting criticism over its immigration orders, Trump supporters say the president is fulfilling his campaign promises to protect Americans. Citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, the other six countries on the original 27 January order, will once more be subject to a 90-day travel ban. Iraq has been taken off the banned list because its government has boosted visa screening and data sharing, White House officials said. The new directive says refugees already approved by the State Department can enter the US. It also lifts an indefinite ban on all Syrian refugees. Green Card holders (legal permanent residents of the US) from the named countries will not be affected. The new order does not give priority to religious minorities, unlike the previous directive. Critics of the Trump administration had argued that this was an unlawful policy showing preference to Christian refugees.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3412,
"answer_start": 2645,
"text": "Citizens of Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, the other six countries on the original 27 January order, will once more be subject to a 90-day travel ban. Iraq has been taken off the banned list because its government has boosted visa screening and data sharing, White House officials said. The new directive says refugees already approved by the State Department can enter the US. It also lifts an indefinite ban on all Syrian refugees. Green Card holders (legal permanent residents of the US) from the named countries will not be affected. The new order does not give priority to religious minorities, unlike the previous directive. Critics of the Trump administration had argued that this was an unlawful policy showing preference to Christian refugees."
}
],
"id": "1268_0",
"question": "What is different about the new order?"
}
]
}
] |
Saudi Arabia tourism: So what is there to see?
|
13 October 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Saudi Arabia's recent decision to fling open its doors to foreign tourists has sent a mild ripple of excitement running through the travel industry. A vast and hitherto largely closed country is now there to be experienced. So what exactly is there to see in Saudi Arabia? Why go at all, in fact? It's hardly a budget destination like South East Asia, it's blazingly hot for eight months of the year, there is no political freedom, no free speech, no alcohol allowed, very little mingling of the sexes and - like several other countries in the Middle East - it has a much-criticised human rights record. Well the first thing to note is that Saudi Arabia is far more diverse in landscape and scenery than you might imagine. Yes, geographically, the bulk of the country is desert but then there are the soaring, juniper-clad, 3,000m- (9,900ft) high mountains of the Asir in the south-west, the azure reefs of the Red Sea, the date palm oasis of Al-Hofuf and the winding backstreets and spice markets of Jeddah. I've been lucky enough to travel around much of the country most years since the late 1980s - Saudis often joke that I've seen more of their country than they have - so here is a shortlist of my favourite places to visit. This steamy, Red Sea trading port was the capital until 1982, when it moved to Riyadh. Jeddah today is a beguiling and culturally rich melting pot where every race of the Red Sea is represented. It is a perennially warm, open-air city where Egyptians sit at cafe tables, puffing on shisha waterpipes and playing backgammon beneath the street lights. Yemeni tailors squat cross-legged in clothing shops working late into the night while Somali, Eritrean and Djiboutian women lay out displays of spices in the street market. In the winding, cobbled backstreets of the old district, known as the Balad, it's not unusual to hear the language of the Ethiopian highlands mingle with Arabic and Hindi. Jeddah is also the gateway to Mecca and Medina for the two million-plus Muslims who make the Hajj pilgrimage each year. Further up the coast there are beach resorts and scuba diving opportunities, although many of the offshore coral reefs have been destroyed in recent years. There are expatriates who have lived in Saudi Arabia for more than a decade yet never visited this gem down in the far south-west corner of the country, next to Yemen. They are missing a treat. The landscape can be lush and verdant, even in high summer and I have even seen a juniper forest turn white after a sudden hailstorm. An estimated 500,000 wild Hamadryas baboons inhabit the mountains, along with hornbills, eagles and dazzling blue agamid lizards. The landscape is dotted with basalt stone watch towers, a legacy of the tribal fighting that used to take place here a century ago. In recent years the region has opened up to domestic tourism, with a cable car descending from the lofty heights to a picturesque hillside village called Rijal al-Ma'. In a canyon called Wadi Habala, named after the rope that used to lower provisions down the cliff face to the villagers who lived on its slopes, there are breathtaking views over the hazy mountain ridges that descend towards the Red Sea. The ancient Nabataean ruins in the far northwest of the country are remarkable, not just for their preserved carvings reminiscent of Petra in Jordan to the north, but also for their stark and beautiful desert setting. This is the Hijaz, the historic western edge of the Arabian Peninsula, where TE Lawrence fought the Turkish army in the Arab revolt of 1917 and where remnants of the old Hijaz railway can still be seen. For years the Saudi authorities largely kept quiet about Mada'in Saleh as the religious fundamentalists were less than keen on promoting something dating from a pre-Islamic civilisation, known in Arabic as \"the Age of Ignorance\". Under the new, multi-billion dollar tourism promotion scheme, it will be very much on the map. The date palm oasis of al-Hofuf covers a vast area of eastern Saudi Arabia, said to be the largest of its kind in the world, and creates a lush green world of streams and gardens. But the really spectacular attraction here is the ghostly cave complex inside al-Qarah Mountain, registered in 2018 as a Unesco cultural heritage site. The natural caves, carved by wind and water erosion, take a bit of climbing to get into but are well worth the effort, especially as they are significantly cooler than the heat outside. Saudis, for the most part, welcome foreign visitors but this new openness does not come without risks. Where two very different civilisations come into contact - the liberal West and the conservative Saudis - there is always the chance of a misunderstanding or offence. Women should never be photographed in public and Saudi husbands can be fiercely protective of their wives' modesty. Outside the main cities of Riyadh, Jeddah and Eastern Province many local people have never had any contact with Westerners and may be suspicious, especially when cameras and phones are brought out. So be careful where you point them and always ask permission! - Visas can be obtained online for nationals of 49 countries - Women are only required to dress \"modestly\" and do not have to be veiled - Unmarried couples can now share hotel rooms, breaking a longstanding taboo in this religiously conservative Islamic society This is not the first time Saudi Arabia has made a major push to attract tourists. The last time was in 2000, when it hired French alpine instructors from Chamonix to take holidaying Saudis rock-climbing and paragliding. But grand plans to expand this fledgling industry ground to a halt the following year after the 9/11 terror attacks in the US which were carried out by, among others, 15 Saudi nationals. Since then the country has fought and defeated an insurgency by al-Qaeda in the mid-2000s and is currently trying to extricate itself from a war in neighbouring Yemen that has seen cross-border missile strikes. Despite that, the country is largely safe with minimal crime and violence (though if you're a British citizen it is always best to check the Foreign Office travel advisory).",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 6163,
"answer_start": 5371,
"text": "This is not the first time Saudi Arabia has made a major push to attract tourists. The last time was in 2000, when it hired French alpine instructors from Chamonix to take holidaying Saudis rock-climbing and paragliding. But grand plans to expand this fledgling industry ground to a halt the following year after the 9/11 terror attacks in the US which were carried out by, among others, 15 Saudi nationals. Since then the country has fought and defeated an insurgency by al-Qaeda in the mid-2000s and is currently trying to extricate itself from a war in neighbouring Yemen that has seen cross-border missile strikes. Despite that, the country is largely safe with minimal crime and violence (though if you're a British citizen it is always best to check the Foreign Office travel advisory)."
}
],
"id": "1269_0",
"question": "Is it safe?"
}
]
}
] |
Brian May on 40 years of Bohemian Rhapsody: 'I still listen to it in the car'
|
29 October 2015
|
[
{
"context": "Bohemian Rhapsody celebrates its 40th birthday on 31 October, 2015. Guitarist Brian May recalls the song's creation, and why he'll never grow tired of hearing it. How many songs become so ingrained in popular culture that they get their own nickname? Not many - but Bo Rap is one of them. A sprawling, six-minute rock opera, it has been Christmas number one twice, soundtracked a pivotal scene in Wayne's World, and sold 2.44 million copies in the UK alone. Not bad for a song the record company said would never be played on the radio. Written by frontman Freddie Mercury, Bohemian Rhapsody was painstakingly pieced together in six studios, pushing 1970s recording technology to its limits. The song's multi-tracked 'bismillahs' and 'scaramouches' were overdubbed so often that the tapes became virtually transparent. But the band never lost faith in the track. \"We all realised it was something wonderful and we should give it our heart and soul,\" says Brian May. To mark the 40th anniversary, the guitarist looked back at the writing process, the boundary-breaking music video, and the song's resurrection in Wayne's World. There was no demo. It was all in Freddie's head and on lots of little pieces of paper, which he used to make notes on. And I mean literally notes. He would put A, C#, D in little blocks. So Freddie had the framework in his head and he and Roger [Taylor, drums] and John [Deacon, bass] set out each part as a backing track. Then we set about embroidering it. The heavy bit was a great opportunity for us to be at full pelt as a rock band. But that big, heavy riff came from Freddie, not me. That was something he played with his left hand in octaves on the piano. So I had that as a guide - and that's very hard to do, because Freddie's piano playing was exceptional, although he didn't think so. In fact, he thought he was a bit of a mediocre piano player and stopped doing it later on in our career. We were told it was going to be a hard sell, but it ended up being easy because Kenny Everett stole the tape from a playback session we had to launch the Night At The Opera album and took it upon himself to go out and play it to death. That made everybody else sit up. All the rest of the radio outlets thought: \"Oh God, we'd better get on this quick or else we'll be left behind!\" I know it's been called the first ever music video, but it's hard to actually define these things. I know for a fact the Beatles made 35mm films of tracks - but ours was more like a mini-movie. It was filmed with the express purpose of giving it to Top of the Pops. For those of us who remember it, it wasn't a classy programme. Top of the Pops didn't have a good reputation amongst musicians. Nobody liked it, really. It always seemed like a bit of a travesty. If your music had any meaning, it seemed to trickle away when you were standing on a box in a studio with lots of kids around. But you could hardly knock it because it was the way that records were sold. Bohemian Rhapsody probably wasn't the most difficult track [from A Night At The Opera] to perform live. If we'd tried to do Good Company, for instance, or The Prophet's Song, it would have been much harder. So, in putting together the tour, there was no particular worry about Bohemian Rhapsody. But we thought it was kind of pointless to try to recreate that huge, multi-part operatic section with just the four of us. So the solution we came to was we would go off stage, change our frocks, and come back and crash into the heavy section. That operatic section has very often been a light show or a video show in our concerts - and I would rather have it that way than stumble through it and do something which is nothing like the record. It just makes much more sense to me to regard it as a performance art piece. We played it on TV for the first time on The Old Grey Whistle Test, which screened an entire show [from London's Hammersmith Apollo] on Christmas Eve, 1975. That was a very big deal for us. It was totally and completely live. No delay or anything. If we'd had time to think about it, we would have got really nervous, but in fact we just ploughed in and thought \"aha, we're ready for this\". Precocious boys. I didn't know Mike Myers [who wrote and starred in the film] but he rang me up out of the blue and said: \"We've done this amazing sequence in our new film - can we have your approval? And can you get Freddie to hear it?\" So he sent me a cassette and I took it around to Freddie, who was not in a good state at that time. He was... He was confined to his bed, but I took it round and played it to him and he loved it. Strangely enough, the humour in it was quite close to our own. Because we did that kind of thing in the car, bouncing up and down to our own tracks! There's a layer of humour in Queen songs - and Mike Myers managed to find it in Bohemian Rhapsody. It made it into a different kind of classic, and propelled it to a second life in the States. There's a huge irony there - because there was a time when we completely owned America and we would tour there every year. It seemed like we couldn't go wrong - and then we lost America for various reasons, which are now history. Freddie had a very dark sense of humour. And he used to say: \"I suppose I'll have to die before we get America back.\" And, in a sense, that was what happened. And it was Wayne's World - which came completely out of nowhere - that made it happen. I do think Freddie enjoyed the fact there were so many interpretations of the lyrics. It's an outlandish song. I think it's beyond analysis. That's not me trying to be evasive. I just think that's why we love songs - they can do something to us that a piece of text can't. I have my own ideas and feelings about Bohemian Rhapsody - but I hate talking about it, and I generally refuse. I'm not sick of it. You can't complain that people want to talk about it all these years later. I still enjoy hearing it. If it comes on the radio, I'll turn it up and listen. But no air guitar. I'm too old for air guitar now. A DVD of Queen's 1975 show at the Hammersmith Apollo will be released on 20 November.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5822,
"answer_start": 5438,
"text": "I do think Freddie enjoyed the fact there were so many interpretations of the lyrics. It's an outlandish song. I think it's beyond analysis. That's not me trying to be evasive. I just think that's why we love songs - they can do something to us that a piece of text can't. I have my own ideas and feelings about Bohemian Rhapsody - but I hate talking about it, and I generally refuse."
}
],
"id": "1270_0",
"question": "BUT WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?"
}
]
}
] |
Barnaby Joyce: Australia PM's remarks 'inept', deputy says
|
16 February 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Australian Deputy PM Barnaby Joyce has sharply criticised the nation's leader, Malcolm Turnbull, in an escalation of tensions that have rocked the government. On Thursday, Mr Turnbull admonished Mr Joyce for making a \"shocking error\" over his affair with a former staffer - saying it had set off a \"world of woe\". It prompted the PM to officially ban sex between ministers and their staff. Mr Joyce said Mr Turnbull's remarks were \"inept\" and \"unnecessary\". \"In many instances, they caused further harm,\" said Mr Joyce, who leads junior coalition party the Nationals. The opposition party, Labor, said the Liberal-Nationals coalition was \"in crisis\". Mr Joyce said he would try to repair his relationship with Mr Turnbull, but again stared down calls to resign. Mr Turnbull has repeatedly said Mr Joyce's future is a decision for the Nationals, most of whom have publicly backed their leader. Mr Joyce's relationship with his former media adviser, Vikki Campion, has raised several politically damaging questions since it was revealed last week. Hywel Griffith, BBC News Sydney correspondent It's just two months since Barnaby Joyce and Malcolm Turnbull posed in matching plaid shirts as they celebrated \"getting the band back together\" after Mr Joyce's by-election victory. It looks like the band has struck some musical differences. Mr Joyce clearly didn't like being openly castigated by the PM over his extramarital affair, and so has gone on the attack. As the leaders of different parties within a coalition, you would expect a little friction from time to time. But by engaging in some very public name-calling, the pair have given the opposition plenty of ammunition for the days and weeks ahead. On Thursday, Mr Turnbull said Mr Joyce's affair had caused \"terrible hurt and humiliation\" to his estranged wife Natalie Joyce, their four daughters and Ms Campion. Mr Joyce said on Friday: \"I would not wish on friend nor foe the hurt, the scrutiny, the intense intrusion into your life that I have gone through [in] this process.\" Leader of the Opposition Bill Shorten said the government was \"eating itself alive\", and called on Mr Turnbull to sack Mr Joyce immediately. \"When the two most senior leaders of the government hate each other and are criticising each other, the people of Australia's interests are not being served,\" Mr Shorten said. Mr Turnbull technically has the power to sack Mr Joyce, but such a move would be politically untenable, said Australian Broadcasting Corp election analyst Antony Green. \"It's very difficult for the prime minister to sack him without breaking the coalition agreement,\" he said. The coalition has only a one-seat majority in the House of Representatives. Mr Joyce has faced scrutiny over the timing of two jobs offered to Ms Campion within the Nationals last year, and whether he sought a gift of free housing from a businessman. Mr Joyce denies ministerial standards were broken in either case. He will take a week of leave from Monday, meaning he will not be acting prime minister when Mr Turnbull conducts a visit to the US. Mr Joyce had only returned to parliament in December after briefly losing his job over his New Zealand dual citizenship.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1704,
"answer_start": 1046,
"text": "Hywel Griffith, BBC News Sydney correspondent It's just two months since Barnaby Joyce and Malcolm Turnbull posed in matching plaid shirts as they celebrated \"getting the band back together\" after Mr Joyce's by-election victory. It looks like the band has struck some musical differences. Mr Joyce clearly didn't like being openly castigated by the PM over his extramarital affair, and so has gone on the attack. As the leaders of different parties within a coalition, you would expect a little friction from time to time. But by engaging in some very public name-calling, the pair have given the opposition plenty of ammunition for the days and weeks ahead."
}
],
"id": "1271_0",
"question": "Whatever happened to the bromance?"
}
]
}
] |
Trump impeachment: White House withheld Ukraine aid just after Zelensky call
|
22 December 2019
|
[
{
"context": "The White House sought to freeze aid to Ukraine just 91 minutes after President Trump spoke to President Volodymyr Zelensky by phone in July, a newly-released government email has revealed. The email, telling the Pentagon to \"hold off\", was sent by a senior White House official. In the phone call, Mr Trump asked the Ukrainian leader to investigate his political rival, Democrat Joe Biden. Mr Trump has been impeached for abuse of power over the issue. Democrats say the phone call shows Mr Trump used the office for personal political gain. A US whistleblower who heard about the conversation raised concerns, which ultimately triggered the impeachment inquiry. Mr Trump was formally impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives on Wednesday, but is unlikely to be removed from office as the case will go to trial in the US Senate, where his Republican party has a majority. The newly-released email was obtained by the Center for Public Integrity following a court order in a freedom of information case. It shows that a senior White House official, Mike Duffey, contacted senior defence officials about withholding Ukraine's aid just over an hour-and-a-half after Mr Trump ended a 25 July call with President Zelensky. A rough transcript of that call was declassified by the White House following a whistleblower complaint it was being covered-up. The transcript shows Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky to \"do us a favour\" and investigate Joe Biden, currently a frontrunner to be the Democratic candidate in the 2020 White House race, and his son Hunter Biden, who had previously worked for a Ukrainian energy company. In the email Mr Duffey asks that the Department of Defense \"hold off\" on providing aid following the administration's plan to review. \"Given the sensitive nature of the request, I appreciate your keeping that information closely held to those who need to know to execute direction,\" the email reads. Rachel Semmel, a spokeswoman for the Office of Management and Budget, dismissed the characterisation of the email in a statement to US media on Sunday. \"It's reckless to tie the hold of funds to the phone call. As has been established and publicly reported, the hold was announced in an interagency meeting on July 18,\" CNN quoted her as saying. \"To pull a line out of one email and fail to address the context is misleading and inaccurate.\" Meanwhile the top Democrat in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, said the email proved the need for new witnesses and evidence at President Trump's impeachment trial. \"If there was ever an argument that we need Mr Duffey to come and testify, this is that information. This email is explosive,\" Mr Schumer said. \"A top administration official, one that we requested, is saying, stop the aid 90 minutes after Trump called Zelensky and said keep it hush, hush. What more do you need to request a witness?\" \"Until we hear from the witnesses, until we get the documents, the American people will correctly assume that those blocking their testimony were aiding and abetting a cover up, plain and simple,\" Mr Schumer added. \"So I'll close by saying this: President Trump, release the emails, let the witnesses testify, what are you afraid of?\" The start date of the trial is in doubt, as partisan wrangling between the parties continues. Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader who will determine the terms of the trial, wants the case to be considered without testimony. But Democrats say new witnesses should be heard in the Senate, including at least four current and former White House aides with knowledge of the Ukraine affair. They want Mr McConnell to clarify whose testimony will be allowed. Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic Speaker of the House, has postponed sending the impeachment charges to the Senate until the rules of the Senate trial are acceptable to her party. Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday that the Democrats' case in the \"impeachment hoax\" was \"dead\" and called Ms Pelosi \"crazy Nancy\". Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the 100-seat chamber, making a conviction - which requires a two-thirds vote - extremely unlikely. - A SIMPLE GUIDE: If you want a basic take, this one's for you - GO DEEPER: Here's a 100, 300 and 800-word summary of the story - A STATE DIVIDED: What New Hampshire makes of it - YOUR QUESTIONS: Will Trump really testify? - HISTORY: Can an impeached president remain popular? - CASE FOR & AGAINST: What legal scholars say about Trump conduct - WHAT'S IMPEACHMENT? A political process to remove a president",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1934,
"answer_start": 896,
"text": "The newly-released email was obtained by the Center for Public Integrity following a court order in a freedom of information case. It shows that a senior White House official, Mike Duffey, contacted senior defence officials about withholding Ukraine's aid just over an hour-and-a-half after Mr Trump ended a 25 July call with President Zelensky. A rough transcript of that call was declassified by the White House following a whistleblower complaint it was being covered-up. The transcript shows Mr Trump asked Mr Zelensky to \"do us a favour\" and investigate Joe Biden, currently a frontrunner to be the Democratic candidate in the 2020 White House race, and his son Hunter Biden, who had previously worked for a Ukrainian energy company. In the email Mr Duffey asks that the Department of Defense \"hold off\" on providing aid following the administration's plan to review. \"Given the sensitive nature of the request, I appreciate your keeping that information closely held to those who need to know to execute direction,\" the email reads."
}
],
"id": "1272_0",
"question": "What's in the email?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3209,
"answer_start": 1935,
"text": "Rachel Semmel, a spokeswoman for the Office of Management and Budget, dismissed the characterisation of the email in a statement to US media on Sunday. \"It's reckless to tie the hold of funds to the phone call. As has been established and publicly reported, the hold was announced in an interagency meeting on July 18,\" CNN quoted her as saying. \"To pull a line out of one email and fail to address the context is misleading and inaccurate.\" Meanwhile the top Democrat in the US Senate, Chuck Schumer, said the email proved the need for new witnesses and evidence at President Trump's impeachment trial. \"If there was ever an argument that we need Mr Duffey to come and testify, this is that information. This email is explosive,\" Mr Schumer said. \"A top administration official, one that we requested, is saying, stop the aid 90 minutes after Trump called Zelensky and said keep it hush, hush. What more do you need to request a witness?\" \"Until we hear from the witnesses, until we get the documents, the American people will correctly assume that those blocking their testimony were aiding and abetting a cover up, plain and simple,\" Mr Schumer added. \"So I'll close by saying this: President Trump, release the emails, let the witnesses testify, what are you afraid of?\""
}
],
"id": "1272_1",
"question": "What has the reaction been?"
}
]
}
] |
Kidnapped Qatari hunting party of 26 freed in Iraq after 16 months
|
21 April 2017
|
[
{
"context": "A group of Qatari hunters - including members of the ruling family - have been freed 16 months after being kidnapped in Iraq, officials say. The Iraqi interior ministry said \"all 26\" were in Baghdad and would be handed over to a Qatari envoy. The hunters were abducted by gunmen in a desert area of Iraq near the Saudi border in December 2015. A large-scale search was launched but very little information was known about the group's whereabouts or condition. On Friday, the group was flown back to Qatar's capital, Doha, Iraqi officials said. Their release was part of a far-reaching regional deal involving the evacuation of civilians in neighbouring Syria, AFP news agency reports, citing sources close to the negotiations. \"The interior ministry has received the Qatari hunters, all 26 of them,\" an Iraqi interior ministry official told AFP, adding: \"They will be handed over to the Qatari envoy.\" Footage later released by the ministry showed some of the former hostages dressed in white gowns and red headscarves as they were greeted by officials in the high security Green Zone in Iraq's capital, Baghdad. They were then seen in the video boarding a Qatar Airways plane at Baghdad airport. State media later confirmed that they had landed in Doha. The group was seized in December 2015 while on a licensed hunting trip near the border with Saudi Arabia. The hostages were abducted when gunmen swept into their camp at dawn in four-by-four vehicles. The hunting party is widely believed to include one or several more prominent members of the Qatari royal family, although they have not been identified. They were hunting the Asian houbara bustard, akin to a small turkey, using falcons trained to home in on their quarry. Their release is said to be connected to a complex deal in Syria involving the evacuation of four besieged towns, which was announced earlier this week. However, the interior ministry has not provided details confirming this. The Guardian newspaper has reported that an Iraqi militia with strong ties to Iran, a key backer of the Syrian government and its ally Hezbollah, was holding the Qatari hunters. It says the deal involves the Syrian Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham, Iran, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Qatar. A Qatari royal and a Pakistani man were freed earlier this month. Also on Friday, a spokesman for Ahrar al-Sham told Reuters that the Syrian government was going to release 500 prisoners into rebel-held territory, as part of a swap deal. It is an agreement to end the sieges of four towns - two surrounded by pro-government forces, two by rebel and Islamist fighters - in eastern Syria. Foah and Kefraya are mainly Shia Muslim, government-held towns, close to the border with Lebanon, which have been besieged since March 2015. Madaya and Zabadani are rebel-held towns in the north-east, which have been besieged since June 2015 by the Syrian army and fighters from Lebanon's Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement. Conditions have been desperate, especially in Madaya and Zabadani, with severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel. International aid deliveries have been infrequent and required careful negotiation. Government air drops have eased the situation in Foah and Kefraya somewhat. Under the exchange deal, residents of Foah and Kefraya are being bussed to government-held Aleppo, while people in Madaya and Zabadani are being taken to rebel-held areas. The evacuations began last week, but were held up after a bomb attack hit the convoy of buses from the two government-held towns, killing at least 126 people including 68 children. Thousands of evacuees from Foah and Kefraya have also been held up at a staging point for 48 hours, but a rebel involved in the operation told AFP that the buses had left after the news of the release of government-held prisoners. According to AFP, the current phase of evacuations involves 8,000 people from Foah and Kafraya, and 2,500 civilians and rebels from Madaya and Zabadani. A second phase is to begin in June.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1728,
"answer_start": 1255,
"text": "The group was seized in December 2015 while on a licensed hunting trip near the border with Saudi Arabia. The hostages were abducted when gunmen swept into their camp at dawn in four-by-four vehicles. The hunting party is widely believed to include one or several more prominent members of the Qatari royal family, although they have not been identified. They were hunting the Asian houbara bustard, akin to a small turkey, using falcons trained to home in on their quarry."
}
],
"id": "1273_0",
"question": "What's known about the kidnapping?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2492,
"answer_start": 1729,
"text": "Their release is said to be connected to a complex deal in Syria involving the evacuation of four besieged towns, which was announced earlier this week. However, the interior ministry has not provided details confirming this. The Guardian newspaper has reported that an Iraqi militia with strong ties to Iran, a key backer of the Syrian government and its ally Hezbollah, was holding the Qatari hunters. It says the deal involves the Syrian Islamist group Ahrar al-Sham, Iran, the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Qatar. A Qatari royal and a Pakistani man were freed earlier this month. Also on Friday, a spokesman for Ahrar al-Sham told Reuters that the Syrian government was going to release 500 prisoners into rebel-held territory, as part of a swap deal."
}
],
"id": "1273_1",
"question": "Why are they being released?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4012,
"answer_start": 2493,
"text": "It is an agreement to end the sieges of four towns - two surrounded by pro-government forces, two by rebel and Islamist fighters - in eastern Syria. Foah and Kefraya are mainly Shia Muslim, government-held towns, close to the border with Lebanon, which have been besieged since March 2015. Madaya and Zabadani are rebel-held towns in the north-east, which have been besieged since June 2015 by the Syrian army and fighters from Lebanon's Shia Muslim Hezbollah movement. Conditions have been desperate, especially in Madaya and Zabadani, with severe shortages of food, medicine and fuel. International aid deliveries have been infrequent and required careful negotiation. Government air drops have eased the situation in Foah and Kefraya somewhat. Under the exchange deal, residents of Foah and Kefraya are being bussed to government-held Aleppo, while people in Madaya and Zabadani are being taken to rebel-held areas. The evacuations began last week, but were held up after a bomb attack hit the convoy of buses from the two government-held towns, killing at least 126 people including 68 children. Thousands of evacuees from Foah and Kefraya have also been held up at a staging point for 48 hours, but a rebel involved in the operation told AFP that the buses had left after the news of the release of government-held prisoners. According to AFP, the current phase of evacuations involves 8,000 people from Foah and Kafraya, and 2,500 civilians and rebels from Madaya and Zabadani. A second phase is to begin in June."
}
],
"id": "1273_2",
"question": "What is the 'four towns' deal?"
}
]
}
] |
Nigeria closes Abuja airport for repairs
|
9 March 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Nigeria has closed its main airport in the capital, Abuja, for six weeks to allow badly needed repairs to be carried out. It comes after airlines threatened to stop flying there because of safety concerns over the state of the runway. From now, those wishing to travel to Abuja are being encouraged to instead fly to the northern city of Kaduna, 190km (120 miles) away. But all but one international airline has refused to fly there. Ethiopian Airlines is currently the only company offering international flights to Kaduna, which has been hit recently by a spate of kidnappings. The government has set up a dedicated Abuja Airport Closure website, where passengers can book free bus tickets for the two-hour journey by road. \"The runway has deteriorated to such an extent that it requires complete reconstruction,\" the government said. \"This cannot be done at night. Furthermore, the runway has been maintained mostly through closure at night in the past several years, but is has reached a state where that method will not work anymore.\" All domestic flights are being rerouted to Kaduna, a small regional airport. The shuttle bus to Abuja will take two hours on a good day, more with traffic. Like most Nigerian roads it is bumpy but the government has undertaken some repairs on it in preparation for the airport commuters. On the international front however there are not many options. Most international airlines said they were worried about security. Some also expressed concern that the equipment at Kaduna airport was not of a high enough standard. Henrietta Yakubu from the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that plans had been put in place to protect passengers and to transfer them in luxury buses. \"The police boss has assured members of the public that for each luxury bus on the highway, there will a police patrol vehicle on the front and behind,\" she said. \"A police checkpoint will also be set up every one kilometre on the road between Kaduna and Abuja.\" In February two German archaeologists were kidnapped while working on a dig near the Kaduna-Abuja road. That sounded the final death knell on efforts by the Nigerian government to convince international airlines to fly there. The government has promised extra security on the Abuja-to-Kaduna highway but that will not reassure many passengers or airline bosses. Even in Lagos and Abuja they hire police escorts for their crew. Southern Kaduna has also been in the news recently over ethnic clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen which may put some passengers off travelling there. However that conflict is further west in very rural areas and unlikely to spread to the Abuja-Kaduna road. The airport in the commercial capital, Lagos, has more international flights than Abuja but it would be a 12-hour drive to Abuja, at the very least. Though it may be safer, the Abuja-to-Lagos road is in terrible disrepair. Some embassies in Abuja have talked about the possibility of flying to Enugu, a six-hour road trip from Abuja, in case of an emergency. It is hard to tell just what impact the closure will have or how many people will choose not to fly. Nigeria's biggest airline Arik has introduced a reduced schedule. But flying in Nigeria is incredibly unpredictable anyway, with flights often delayed for hours and then cancelled. Nigerian air travellers are already extremely resilient and will most likely weather this latest storm just fine. However, it is also likely to affect Nigeria's postal service, as 40% of the country's international mail is transported through Abuja. It is bad. There are two major holes in the runway and several serious cracks and bumps. In August a South African Airways plane damaged its landing gear when it hit one of the potholes. Although no-one was injured, the plane was out of commission for four days. Many of the major airlines threatened to stop flying if the runway wasn't fixed. Successive governments have ignored the problem for more than 15 years. The runway was supposed to be upgraded in 2002 - it was built in 1982 and was only meant to have a 20-year lifespan. That is because of a cocktail of corruption and incompetence on the part of those in charge. But with gaping potholes now posing a real danger, the problem is impossible to ignore.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2019,
"answer_start": 1040,
"text": "All domestic flights are being rerouted to Kaduna, a small regional airport. The shuttle bus to Abuja will take two hours on a good day, more with traffic. Like most Nigerian roads it is bumpy but the government has undertaken some repairs on it in preparation for the airport commuters. On the international front however there are not many options. Most international airlines said they were worried about security. Some also expressed concern that the equipment at Kaduna airport was not of a high enough standard. Henrietta Yakubu from the Federal Aviation Authority of Nigeria told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme that plans had been put in place to protect passengers and to transfer them in luxury buses. \"The police boss has assured members of the public that for each luxury bus on the highway, there will a police patrol vehicle on the front and behind,\" she said. \"A police checkpoint will also be set up every one kilometre on the road between Kaduna and Abuja.\""
}
],
"id": "1274_0",
"question": "What are people going to do?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2712,
"answer_start": 2020,
"text": "In February two German archaeologists were kidnapped while working on a dig near the Kaduna-Abuja road. That sounded the final death knell on efforts by the Nigerian government to convince international airlines to fly there. The government has promised extra security on the Abuja-to-Kaduna highway but that will not reassure many passengers or airline bosses. Even in Lagos and Abuja they hire police escorts for their crew. Southern Kaduna has also been in the news recently over ethnic clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen which may put some passengers off travelling there. However that conflict is further west in very rural areas and unlikely to spread to the Abuja-Kaduna road."
}
],
"id": "1274_1",
"question": "Is it safe to fly to Kaduna?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3071,
"answer_start": 2713,
"text": "The airport in the commercial capital, Lagos, has more international flights than Abuja but it would be a 12-hour drive to Abuja, at the very least. Though it may be safer, the Abuja-to-Lagos road is in terrible disrepair. Some embassies in Abuja have talked about the possibility of flying to Enugu, a six-hour road trip from Abuja, in case of an emergency."
}
],
"id": "1274_2",
"question": "Could I go to Lagos instead?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3603,
"answer_start": 3072,
"text": "It is hard to tell just what impact the closure will have or how many people will choose not to fly. Nigeria's biggest airline Arik has introduced a reduced schedule. But flying in Nigeria is incredibly unpredictable anyway, with flights often delayed for hours and then cancelled. Nigerian air travellers are already extremely resilient and will most likely weather this latest storm just fine. However, it is also likely to affect Nigeria's postal service, as 40% of the country's international mail is transported through Abuja."
}
],
"id": "1274_3",
"question": "What will the impact be?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3947,
"answer_start": 3604,
"text": "It is bad. There are two major holes in the runway and several serious cracks and bumps. In August a South African Airways plane damaged its landing gear when it hit one of the potholes. Although no-one was injured, the plane was out of commission for four days. Many of the major airlines threatened to stop flying if the runway wasn't fixed."
}
],
"id": "1274_4",
"question": "How bad is the Abuja runway?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4317,
"answer_start": 3948,
"text": "Successive governments have ignored the problem for more than 15 years. The runway was supposed to be upgraded in 2002 - it was built in 1982 and was only meant to have a 20-year lifespan. That is because of a cocktail of corruption and incompetence on the part of those in charge. But with gaping potholes now posing a real danger, the problem is impossible to ignore."
}
],
"id": "1274_5",
"question": "Why did it get so bad before anything was done?"
}
]
}
] |
Fast fashion: Inside the fight to end the silence on waste
|
31 July 2018
|
[
{
"context": "At a time when our waste and our environmental impact is firmly under the spotlight, news in early July that fashion brand Burberry had burned almost PS30m ($40m) of stock has caused outrage. The company admitted destroying the unsold clothes, accessories and perfume instead of selling it off cheaply, in order to protect the brand's exclusivity and value. It added that it had captured the energy from the burning to try and make the process more environmentally friendly. But how widespread is stock destruction at this level? Orsola de Castro is the co-founder and creative director of activist group Fashion Revolution, who lobby brands on production transparency. She describes landfilling and burning as fashion's \"dirtiest open secret\" and says she has been waiting decades for a story like Burberry's to emerge. The BBC contacted 35 high-end designers and high-street retailers to ask about their practice. Only six replied with breakdowns or further information, and the rest said they could not help or did not respond at all. The secretive nature of the industry makes it difficult to accurately quantify the scale of the problem - but with global production now exceeding 100 billion garments a year, groups are warning of \"potentially catastrophic\" environmental damage if current growth trends continue. After more than 1,100 people died in a garment factory collapse in Bangladesh five years ago, pressure has also mounted on western retailers to be transparent about their supply chain. Many now opt to publish end-of-year reports that detail progress on workers' rights and environmental sustainability. The information about Burberry's stock burning was released in one such report - and Orsola points out that the designer is in fact one of the most transparent. So why is stock destruction even a thing? Designer brands typically work on much lower stock levels than high-street retailers, so their waste stock should be lower. Retailer Inditex (who own brands like Zara and Bershka) work on a similar model - buying small batches at the start of the season and using customer popularity to gauge how much more to produce. Larger commercial producers have greater stock levels and tend to first reduce prices to shift their product, then recycle or resell what is left. In some cases, external companies that specialise in moving on unsold goods are used by some retailers. Others have adopted initiatives to donate unwanted clothes to NGOs and social enterprises. But environmental activists say fashion's waste problem is much bigger than just unsold stock. They blame 'fast fashion' - a term describing our high rate of fashion consumption fuelled by the quantity of new clothes that go on sale. Research collated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation suggests that global clothing production has doubled in the past 15 years, with garments on average being worn much less and discarded quicker than ever before. The majority of used clothes we donate to charity have traditionally been re-sold abroad, but now even that demand is in decline. Demand in developing markets is however on the increase, with nations such as Rwanda instead opting to generate textiles independently, in part because of the low quality of donated products from fast-fashion retailers. While our passion for fashion is at least part of the problem, experts say the industry itself needs to be smarter with production to lessen environmental damage. Initiatives for change are happening - the 2020 Circular Fashion System Commitment was adopted by dozens of brands at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit in May 2017. The conference was organised by a group called Global Fashion Agenda, who want brands to adopt initiatives like using monofibres instead of synthetic and mixed-fibre fabrics, which are hard to break down in the recycling process. Scientists have also warned that polyester-type materials are adding to the problem of ocean plastic pollution. It is estimated that only 1% of our clothing is ultimately recycled into new garments because of this complexity - instead becoming items like insulation and cloths, which in turn may end up in landfill. By May 2018, 12.5% of the global fashion market had signed up to the 2020 targets - including big global names like Nike, Asos and Gap. Certain brands are capitalising on the environmental wave to set ambitious targets for themselves: Adidas for example have committed to only using recycling plastic in their shoes by 2024 and H&M says it hopes to only use sustainable materials in its production by 2030. The UK government recently announced it would look into the environmental impact of fast fashion with the European Parliament also setting ambitious targets on circularity for consumer and business textile waste. Jack Ostrowski, founder and CEO of the reGAIN app which helps people recycle unwanted clothing, believes fast fashion is not just an industry problem but a social one too. \"People simply don't understand how big negative impact fashion industry is on the environment and how quickly that has to change,\" he says. \"It just simply cannot continue in the way it is now.\" He has developed an app that encourages consumers to recycle their clothes by offering incentives such as retailer discounts. He believes retailers who profit from clothes have a responsibility to better inform, facilitate and incentivise recycling from customers. The sentiment is echoed by activists such as Greenpeace, who say fashion's circularity targets do not go far enough. They say the industry needs to stop marketing cheap fast-fashion altogether, advocating for a slowdown our current consumption level. Part of fashion retailers' advertising strategy to younger audiences is now through social media. Popular figures are brought on board for line collaborations and online influencers are sent goods for free to help promote them to their followers. \"There's going to be a tipping point where consumers will start seeing this act of hoarding or hauling goods as negative,\" Orsola from Fashion Revolution says. \"Which influencers right now will film themselves drinking from 50 different plastic straws because they're 50 different colours? That would look so wrong right now but two years ago would have been fine.\" She has worked in the fashion industry for years advocating for upcycling of products. This also has currency in the online world - with bloggers and social media accounts sharing advice on how to repair, reuse or repurpose our clothes in inventive ways. Asked for advice on how to resist the temptation to spend, she recommends people return to engaging emotionally with their clothing - learning to love the things they own and taking longer to consider future purchases. \"Torture yourself a little bit! Because actually waiting for something, waiting to see if you really, really want it, waiting to see if it has a function in your life and then buying it is beautiful.\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4559,
"answer_start": 3283,
"text": "While our passion for fashion is at least part of the problem, experts say the industry itself needs to be smarter with production to lessen environmental damage. Initiatives for change are happening - the 2020 Circular Fashion System Commitment was adopted by dozens of brands at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit in May 2017. The conference was organised by a group called Global Fashion Agenda, who want brands to adopt initiatives like using monofibres instead of synthetic and mixed-fibre fabrics, which are hard to break down in the recycling process. Scientists have also warned that polyester-type materials are adding to the problem of ocean plastic pollution. It is estimated that only 1% of our clothing is ultimately recycled into new garments because of this complexity - instead becoming items like insulation and cloths, which in turn may end up in landfill. By May 2018, 12.5% of the global fashion market had signed up to the 2020 targets - including big global names like Nike, Asos and Gap. Certain brands are capitalising on the environmental wave to set ambitious targets for themselves: Adidas for example have committed to only using recycling plastic in their shoes by 2024 and H&M says it hopes to only use sustainable materials in its production by 2030."
}
],
"id": "1275_0",
"question": "How is the industry changing?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 6944,
"answer_start": 4560,
"text": "The UK government recently announced it would look into the environmental impact of fast fashion with the European Parliament also setting ambitious targets on circularity for consumer and business textile waste. Jack Ostrowski, founder and CEO of the reGAIN app which helps people recycle unwanted clothing, believes fast fashion is not just an industry problem but a social one too. \"People simply don't understand how big negative impact fashion industry is on the environment and how quickly that has to change,\" he says. \"It just simply cannot continue in the way it is now.\" He has developed an app that encourages consumers to recycle their clothes by offering incentives such as retailer discounts. He believes retailers who profit from clothes have a responsibility to better inform, facilitate and incentivise recycling from customers. The sentiment is echoed by activists such as Greenpeace, who say fashion's circularity targets do not go far enough. They say the industry needs to stop marketing cheap fast-fashion altogether, advocating for a slowdown our current consumption level. Part of fashion retailers' advertising strategy to younger audiences is now through social media. Popular figures are brought on board for line collaborations and online influencers are sent goods for free to help promote them to their followers. \"There's going to be a tipping point where consumers will start seeing this act of hoarding or hauling goods as negative,\" Orsola from Fashion Revolution says. \"Which influencers right now will film themselves drinking from 50 different plastic straws because they're 50 different colours? That would look so wrong right now but two years ago would have been fine.\" She has worked in the fashion industry for years advocating for upcycling of products. This also has currency in the online world - with bloggers and social media accounts sharing advice on how to repair, reuse or repurpose our clothes in inventive ways. Asked for advice on how to resist the temptation to spend, she recommends people return to engaging emotionally with their clothing - learning to love the things they own and taking longer to consider future purchases. \"Torture yourself a little bit! Because actually waiting for something, waiting to see if you really, really want it, waiting to see if it has a function in your life and then buying it is beautiful.\""
}
],
"id": "1275_1",
"question": "An end to fast fashion?"
}
]
}
] |
Refugee footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi fights extradition to Bahrain
|
11 December 2018
|
[
{
"context": "A Bahraini footballer is facing extradition from Thailand, despite international calls for his release. Hakeem Al-Araibi, 25, who holds refugee status in Australia, was detained in Bangkok last month on an Interpol warrant put out by Bahrain. He was sentenced in Bahrain for vandalism but denies the charges. Australia, football's governing body Fifa and rights groups have condemned his arrest as there are fears for his safety if he is sent back to Bahrain. Mr Al-Araibi claims he will be tortured if extradited. The footballer fled to Australia in 2014 where he was granted political asylum last year and plays for Melbourne football club Pascoe Vale. He was on a holiday in Thailand when authorities detained him at a Bangkok airport on 27 November. On Tuesday he appeared at a Bangkok court where his detention was extended for 60 days. He was denied bail. \"I don't want to go back to Bahrain - I want to go back to Australia. I didn't do anything in Bahrain. I'm a refugee in Australia,\" he told reporters as he was led into court. In 2014, Hakeem Al-Araibi was sentenced in absentia in Bahrain to 10 years in prison for vandalising a police station. His home country's embassy in Thailand said on Twitter the footballer was wanted \"for security cases\". The former member of Bahrain's national soccer team denies all allegations. \"If I am deported to Bahrain, don't forget me, and if once I'm there you hear me saying things, don't believe me,\" he wrote on Facebook last week. \"I know what will happen to me and I know I will be tortured to confess things that I have never done.\" Mr Al-Araibi told Human Rights Watch (HRW) that if sent back to Bahrain his life would be in danger and that he had already been tortured there following Arab Spring protests in 2012. He has been a vocal critic of Bahraini authorities and HRW says he is also targeted because of his brother's political activism. Australia says it is in high level diplomatic talks with Thailand, seeking the football player's safe return. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said her country was \"concerned by the ongoing detention of Mr Hakeem Al-Araibi and calls for his immediate return to Australia\". Australia's Football Federation and international governing body Fifa have both also called for his release. Melbourne club Pascoe Vale sent an open letter to the Thai prime minister asking for their player to be protected \"as a recognised refugee in Australia\". \"He should not be forcibly returned to Bahrain, a country from which he has escaped persecution and fears return,\" the letter urges. The club also posted a video message from the player speaking from his detention cell in Bangkok. Human Rights Watch Asia Director Brad Adams said Thailand needed to realise \"the grave dangers facing\" the football player if returned to Bahrain. Thailand does not have an extradition treaty with Bahrain which would regulate conditions of when and how an alleged criminal could be handed over. Yet even without such a treaty, countries can request a wanted citizen to be extradited. Rights groups though point out that in the current case there are international rules that should bar Bangkok from handing over a person if they might be tortured. HRW's Asia Deputy Director Phil Robertson said on Twitter that warrants like the one used in the current case, \"do NOT apply to recognized #refugees like Hakeem al-Araibi\". London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy warned that Thailand would breach international law if it was to extradite the football player. \"Extraditing registered refugees and returning them to territories where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture, or other ill-treatment violates Thailand's obligations under international law, including the UN Convention Against Torture,\" the rights group said in a statement. According to Amnesty International, Thailand in 2014 extradited a 21-year old man to Bahrain in response to an Interpol warrant. Amnesty said there \"are credible reports that he was tortured when he returned to Bahrain\".",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1899,
"answer_start": 1038,
"text": "In 2014, Hakeem Al-Araibi was sentenced in absentia in Bahrain to 10 years in prison for vandalising a police station. His home country's embassy in Thailand said on Twitter the footballer was wanted \"for security cases\". The former member of Bahrain's national soccer team denies all allegations. \"If I am deported to Bahrain, don't forget me, and if once I'm there you hear me saying things, don't believe me,\" he wrote on Facebook last week. \"I know what will happen to me and I know I will be tortured to confess things that I have never done.\" Mr Al-Araibi told Human Rights Watch (HRW) that if sent back to Bahrain his life would be in danger and that he had already been tortured there following Arab Spring protests in 2012. He has been a vocal critic of Bahraini authorities and HRW says he is also targeted because of his brother's political activism."
}
],
"id": "1276_0",
"question": "Why is he wanted?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2810,
"answer_start": 1900,
"text": "Australia says it is in high level diplomatic talks with Thailand, seeking the football player's safe return. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said her country was \"concerned by the ongoing detention of Mr Hakeem Al-Araibi and calls for his immediate return to Australia\". Australia's Football Federation and international governing body Fifa have both also called for his release. Melbourne club Pascoe Vale sent an open letter to the Thai prime minister asking for their player to be protected \"as a recognised refugee in Australia\". \"He should not be forcibly returned to Bahrain, a country from which he has escaped persecution and fears return,\" the letter urges. The club also posted a video message from the player speaking from his detention cell in Bangkok. Human Rights Watch Asia Director Brad Adams said Thailand needed to realise \"the grave dangers facing\" the football player if returned to Bahrain."
}
],
"id": "1276_1",
"question": "What is Australia doing?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4047,
"answer_start": 2811,
"text": "Thailand does not have an extradition treaty with Bahrain which would regulate conditions of when and how an alleged criminal could be handed over. Yet even without such a treaty, countries can request a wanted citizen to be extradited. Rights groups though point out that in the current case there are international rules that should bar Bangkok from handing over a person if they might be tortured. HRW's Asia Deputy Director Phil Robertson said on Twitter that warrants like the one used in the current case, \"do NOT apply to recognized #refugees like Hakeem al-Araibi\". London-based Bahrain Institute for Rights and Democracy warned that Thailand would breach international law if it was to extradite the football player. \"Extraditing registered refugees and returning them to territories where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture, or other ill-treatment violates Thailand's obligations under international law, including the UN Convention Against Torture,\" the rights group said in a statement. According to Amnesty International, Thailand in 2014 extradited a 21-year old man to Bahrain in response to an Interpol warrant. Amnesty said there \"are credible reports that he was tortured when he returned to Bahrain\"."
}
],
"id": "1276_2",
"question": "What are the rules surrounding extradition?"
}
]
}
] |
Bolivia mayor has hair forcibly cut by crowd of protesters
|
7 November 2019
|
[
{
"context": "The mayor of a small town in Bolivia has been attacked by opposition protesters who dragged her through the streets barefoot, covered her in red paint and forcibly cut her hair. Patricia Arce of the governing Mas party was handed over to police in Vinto after several hours. It is the latest in a series of violent clashes between government supporters and opponents in the wake of controversial presidential elections. At least three people have died so far. A group of anti-government protesters was blocking a bridge in Vinto, a small town in Cochabamba province in central Bolivia, as part of their ongoing demonstrations following the presidential election on 20 October. Rumours spread that two opposition protesters had been killed nearby in clashes with supporters of incumbent president, Evo Morales, prompting an angry group to march to the town hall. The protesters accused Mayor Arce of having bussed in supporters of the president to try and break a blockade they had set up and blamed her for the reported deaths, one of which was later confirmed. Amid shouts of \"murderess, murderess\" masked men dragged her through the streets barefoot to the bridge. There, they made her kneel down, cut her hair and doused her in red paint. They also forced her to sign a resignation letter. Ms Arce was eventually handed over to the police who took her to a local health centre. Her office was set alight and the windows of the town hall were smashed. The person killed in clashes between supporters and opponents of President Morales was identified as 20-year-old student Limbert Guzman Vasquez. Doctors said Mr Guzman Vasquez had a fractured skull which may have been caused by an explosive device. He is the third person to be killed since the clashes between the two sides erupted on 20 October. Tension has been running high since election night when the results count was inexplicably paused for 24 hours. The suspension prompted suspicions among supporters of opposition candidate Carlos Mesa that the result had been rigged to allow Mr Morales, who has been in power since 2006 to stay on for another five years. The final result gave Mr Morales just over the 10-percentage-point lead he needed to win outright in the first round of the presidential election. Election observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) expressed their concerns and an audit by the body is currently underway. However, Mr Mesa has rejected the audit arguing that it was agreed without his or his party's input. Mr Morales has accused Mr Mesa of staging a coup d'etat and supporters of each side have squared off in La Paz and other cities.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1453,
"answer_start": 460,
"text": "A group of anti-government protesters was blocking a bridge in Vinto, a small town in Cochabamba province in central Bolivia, as part of their ongoing demonstrations following the presidential election on 20 October. Rumours spread that two opposition protesters had been killed nearby in clashes with supporters of incumbent president, Evo Morales, prompting an angry group to march to the town hall. The protesters accused Mayor Arce of having bussed in supporters of the president to try and break a blockade they had set up and blamed her for the reported deaths, one of which was later confirmed. Amid shouts of \"murderess, murderess\" masked men dragged her through the streets barefoot to the bridge. There, they made her kneel down, cut her hair and doused her in red paint. They also forced her to sign a resignation letter. Ms Arce was eventually handed over to the police who took her to a local health centre. Her office was set alight and the windows of the town hall were smashed."
}
],
"id": "1277_0",
"question": "What happened?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1801,
"answer_start": 1454,
"text": "The person killed in clashes between supporters and opponents of President Morales was identified as 20-year-old student Limbert Guzman Vasquez. Doctors said Mr Guzman Vasquez had a fractured skull which may have been caused by an explosive device. He is the third person to be killed since the clashes between the two sides erupted on 20 October."
}
],
"id": "1277_1",
"question": "Who died?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2638,
"answer_start": 1802,
"text": "Tension has been running high since election night when the results count was inexplicably paused for 24 hours. The suspension prompted suspicions among supporters of opposition candidate Carlos Mesa that the result had been rigged to allow Mr Morales, who has been in power since 2006 to stay on for another five years. The final result gave Mr Morales just over the 10-percentage-point lead he needed to win outright in the first round of the presidential election. Election observers from the Organization of American States (OAS) expressed their concerns and an audit by the body is currently underway. However, Mr Mesa has rejected the audit arguing that it was agreed without his or his party's input. Mr Morales has accused Mr Mesa of staging a coup d'etat and supporters of each side have squared off in La Paz and other cities."
}
],
"id": "1277_2",
"question": "What's behind the clashes?"
}
]
}
] |
Rohingya crisis: Myanmar general hit by US sanctions
|
21 December 2017
|
[
{
"context": "The US has sanctioned a Myanmar general accused of leading an ethnic cleansing campaign against the Rohingya people. Maung Maung Soe is among a host of world figures blacklisted by the US over human rights and corruption allegations. The crisis in Myanmar has seen more than 650,000 Rohingya flee for neighbouring Bangladesh since August. Myanmar's military says it is fighting Rohingya militants and denies targeting civilians. The exodus began earlier this year when Myanmar's army launched a counter-insurgency operation in northern Rakhine state after militants attacked police posts and killed members of the security forces. Many who reached Bangladesh - some with bullet or other wounds - said Burmese troops backed by local Buddhist mobs had burned their villages and attacked and killed civilians. The UN has described the military offensive in Rakhine as a \"textbook example of ethnic cleansing\". In its statement, the US Treasury said Maung Maung Soe \"oversaw the military operation in Burma's Rakhine State responsible for widespread human rights abuse against Rohingya civilians\". Last month he was transferred from his post, but Myanmar's Ministry of Defence gave no reason for the move. This week, the UN's investigator into human rights in Myanmar was barred from entering the country. The government said they barred Yanghee Lee because she was \"not impartial and objective\", but Ms Lee said the decision suggested \"something terribly awful\" was happening in Rakhine. The Rohingya people are predominantly Muslim. The Myanmar government considers them to be immigrants from Bangladesh and does not recognise them as citizens, despite their generations-long presence in the country. The Trump administration said it was sanctioning 52 individuals and entities. They include: - Pakistani surgeon Mukhtar Hamid Shah, who is accused of kidnapping and removing the organs of impoverished labourers - Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who stepped down in January after 22 years in power - Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the late Uzbek strongman president, who the US said \"headed a powerful organised crime syndicate\". She is currently in detention. - Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler, who the US accused of amassing a fortune through \"opaque and corrupt mining and oil deals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo\". The sanctions freezes any of the individuals and entities' assets and bans US citizens from doing business with them. US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said it sent the message that there was \"a steep price to pay for their misdeeds\".",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2572,
"answer_start": 1699,
"text": "The Trump administration said it was sanctioning 52 individuals and entities. They include: - Pakistani surgeon Mukhtar Hamid Shah, who is accused of kidnapping and removing the organs of impoverished labourers - Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who stepped down in January after 22 years in power - Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the late Uzbek strongman president, who the US said \"headed a powerful organised crime syndicate\". She is currently in detention. - Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler, who the US accused of amassing a fortune through \"opaque and corrupt mining and oil deals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo\". The sanctions freezes any of the individuals and entities' assets and bans US citizens from doing business with them. US Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin said it sent the message that there was \"a steep price to pay for their misdeeds\"."
}
],
"id": "1278_0",
"question": "Who else is the US targeting?"
}
]
}
] |
North Korea nuclear talks: Hanoi to host Trump summit with Kim
|
9 February 2019
|
[
{
"context": "US President Donald Trump says his second summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be held in the Vietnamese capital Hanoi. The two men will meet on 27-28 February for talks expected to focus on persuading the communist state to give up its nuclear weapons programme. Modern relations with Vietnam are seen as a model for US ties with the North. A US envoy held \"very productive\" talks with the North to prepare for the new summit, Mr Trump said. The first summit between President Trump and Mr Kim in Singapore last June generated significant coverage and optimism but delivered very few concrete developments. Both sides said they were committed to denuclearisation but gave no details of how this would be carried out or verified. Mr Trump announced in his State of the Union address on Tuesday that he would meet Mr Kim in Vietnam but did not say where exactly the summit would take place. On Friday evening Washington time, he tweeted that they would meet in Hanoi for \"advancing the cause of peace\". Hanoi was the capital of communist North Vietnam during the bloody conflict between 1965 and 1973 which Americans refer to as the \"Vietnam War\" and the Vietnamese call the \"American War\". Since the war, in which millions of civilians and combatants died, reunified Vietnam has rebuilt relations with America while remaining a communist state. North Korea isolated itself from the outside world after the Korean War ended in 1953, and only began to mend ties with US-backed South Korea in recent years. South Korean presidential spokesman Kim Eui-kyeom said this week that Vietnam was the best choice of host for the next summit because it and America used to \"point a gun and knife at each other\", Reuters news agency reports. Vietnam is also seen as a model of economic and political reform for the North to follow. An unnamed White House official with knowledge of the second summit's planning told CBS News Vietnam had been chosen in part because of its good relationships with both the US and North Korea. The post-war trajectory of relations between America and Vietnam was, the official added, a hopeful model for potential warmer relations between the US and North Korea. US envoy Stephen Biegun spent three days in discussions on the Korean peninsula. In the Northern capital Pyongyang, he met his counterpart Kim Hyok-chol and discussed the \"Singapore summit commitments of complete denuclearisation\", a US state department statement says. The two envoys will meet again before the summit. Mr Biegun warned of \"some hard work to do with the DPRK [North Korea] between now and then\". In South Korea, the US envoy briefed Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. \"I am confident that if both sides stay committed, we can make real progress,\" he told reporters. President Trump tweeted that North Korea could become an economic \"rocket\". Experts caution that despite Mr Trump's assertion that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat, the country has never said it would give up its nuclear weapons programme without similar concessions from the US. The US wants North Korea to make a full declaration of all its nuclear weapons facilities and commit to destroying them, under international supervision. In a speech at Stanford University last week, Mr Biegun said the US would not agree to lift sanctions until this happens but he indicated it could provide assistance in other ways, saying: \"We did not say we will not do anything until you do everything.\" He also said Kim Jong-un had previously committed to \"the dismantlement and destruction\" of all North Korea's plutonium and uranium facilities, which provide the material for nuclear weapons. The UN has warned that North Korea is continuing its nuclear programme and breaking sanctions. A confidential report to the Security Council earlier this week said actions including the illegal transfer of banned goods at sea could make sanctions - the international community's main way of putting pressure on North Korea - \"ineffective\". The report said there had been a \"massive increase in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products and coal\", where material is moved from non-North Korean ships out at sea to evade monitoring. The international sanctions against North Korea are designed to severely limit its import and export abilities, with the aim of putting pressure on the country to give up its nuclear ambitions.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1013,
"answer_start": 742,
"text": "Mr Trump announced in his State of the Union address on Tuesday that he would meet Mr Kim in Vietnam but did not say where exactly the summit would take place. On Friday evening Washington time, he tweeted that they would meet in Hanoi for \"advancing the cause of peace\"."
}
],
"id": "1279_0",
"question": "Why Hanoi?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2849,
"answer_start": 2193,
"text": "US envoy Stephen Biegun spent three days in discussions on the Korean peninsula. In the Northern capital Pyongyang, he met his counterpart Kim Hyok-chol and discussed the \"Singapore summit commitments of complete denuclearisation\", a US state department statement says. The two envoys will meet again before the summit. Mr Biegun warned of \"some hard work to do with the DPRK [North Korea] between now and then\". In South Korea, the US envoy briefed Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha. \"I am confident that if both sides stay committed, we can make real progress,\" he told reporters. President Trump tweeted that North Korea could become an economic \"rocket\"."
}
],
"id": "1279_1",
"question": "What preparations are being made?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4399,
"answer_start": 2850,
"text": "Experts caution that despite Mr Trump's assertion that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat, the country has never said it would give up its nuclear weapons programme without similar concessions from the US. The US wants North Korea to make a full declaration of all its nuclear weapons facilities and commit to destroying them, under international supervision. In a speech at Stanford University last week, Mr Biegun said the US would not agree to lift sanctions until this happens but he indicated it could provide assistance in other ways, saying: \"We did not say we will not do anything until you do everything.\" He also said Kim Jong-un had previously committed to \"the dismantlement and destruction\" of all North Korea's plutonium and uranium facilities, which provide the material for nuclear weapons. The UN has warned that North Korea is continuing its nuclear programme and breaking sanctions. A confidential report to the Security Council earlier this week said actions including the illegal transfer of banned goods at sea could make sanctions - the international community's main way of putting pressure on North Korea - \"ineffective\". The report said there had been a \"massive increase in illegal ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products and coal\", where material is moved from non-North Korean ships out at sea to evade monitoring. The international sanctions against North Korea are designed to severely limit its import and export abilities, with the aim of putting pressure on the country to give up its nuclear ambitions."
}
],
"id": "1279_2",
"question": "Is optimism premature?"
}
]
}
] |
Gambia: Appeal after rape claim against ex-president Jammeh
|
26 June 2019
|
[
{
"context": "The Gambian government has called on all women and girls in the country to report any sexual violence committed by former President Yahya Jammeh. The appeal comes after former beauty queen Fatou \"Toufah\" Jallow told the BBC she had been raped by Mr Jammeh when he was in office in 2015. The BBC has tried, without success, to contact Mr Jammeh about the claims. He lives in exile in Equatorial Guinea. A spokesman for his APRC party denied the accusations. \"We as a party and the Gambian people are tired of the steady stream of unfounded allegations that have been reported against our ex-president,\" said Ousman Rambo Jatta, in a written statement to the BBC. \"The ex-president has no time to react to lies and smear campaigns. He is a very respectable God-fearing and pious leader who has nothing but respect for our Gambian women,\" the deputy APRC leader said. Warning: Some people may find some of the content in this article upsetting Ms Jallow, 23, told the BBC she wanted to meet Mr Jammeh, 54, in court so he could face justice. Her testimony is part of a Human Rights Watch and Trial International report that details another alleged rape and sexual assault by Mr Jammeh. Gambian Attorney General Abubacar Tambadou issued a statement praising the courage of Ms Jallow. He said the ex-president abused his position as head of state to the detriment of many Gambians and called the reports of rape and sexual assault \"despicable\". A commission has now been set up to investigate reports of human rights violations committed during Mr Jammeh's 22 years in office. Current President Adama Barrow has said he will await the commission's final report before pursuing requests for Mr Jammeh's possible extradition from Equatorial Guinea. Ms Jallow said she was 18 when she met Mr Jammeh after winning a beauty pageant in 2014 in the capital, Banjul. In the months following her coronation, she said the former president acted as a father figure when they met, offering her advice, gifts and money, and also arranging for running water to be installed in her family home. Then at a dinner organised by an aide to the president, she says he asked her to marry him. She refused and rebuffed other enticements from the aide to agree to the offer. Ms Jallow said the aide then insisted she attend a religious ceremony at State House in her role as beauty queen in June 2015. But when she arrived, she was taken to the president's private residence. \"It was clear what this was going to be,\" she said, describing Mr Jammeh's anger at her for rejecting him. Ms Jallow says he slapped her and injected her in her arm with a needle. \"He rubbed his genitals in my face, pushed me down to my knees, pulled my dress up and sodomised me.\" The young woman says afterwards she locked herself at home for three days and then decided to flee to neighbouring Senegal. Once in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, Ms Jallow sought the assistance of various human rights organisations. Weeks later, she was approved protection status and moved to Canada, where she has been living since.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1740,
"answer_start": 1182,
"text": "Gambian Attorney General Abubacar Tambadou issued a statement praising the courage of Ms Jallow. He said the ex-president abused his position as head of state to the detriment of many Gambians and called the reports of rape and sexual assault \"despicable\". A commission has now been set up to investigate reports of human rights violations committed during Mr Jammeh's 22 years in office. Current President Adama Barrow has said he will await the commission's final report before pursuing requests for Mr Jammeh's possible extradition from Equatorial Guinea."
}
],
"id": "1280_0",
"question": "What is the government doing about the allegations?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3064,
"answer_start": 1741,
"text": "Ms Jallow said she was 18 when she met Mr Jammeh after winning a beauty pageant in 2014 in the capital, Banjul. In the months following her coronation, she said the former president acted as a father figure when they met, offering her advice, gifts and money, and also arranging for running water to be installed in her family home. Then at a dinner organised by an aide to the president, she says he asked her to marry him. She refused and rebuffed other enticements from the aide to agree to the offer. Ms Jallow said the aide then insisted she attend a religious ceremony at State House in her role as beauty queen in June 2015. But when she arrived, she was taken to the president's private residence. \"It was clear what this was going to be,\" she said, describing Mr Jammeh's anger at her for rejecting him. Ms Jallow says he slapped her and injected her in her arm with a needle. \"He rubbed his genitals in my face, pushed me down to my knees, pulled my dress up and sodomised me.\" The young woman says afterwards she locked herself at home for three days and then decided to flee to neighbouring Senegal. Once in Dakar, the Senegalese capital, Ms Jallow sought the assistance of various human rights organisations. Weeks later, she was approved protection status and moved to Canada, where she has been living since."
}
],
"id": "1280_1",
"question": "What did Fatou 'Toufah' Jallow say?"
}
]
}
] |
Benazir Bhutto: Five cleared of ex-Pakistan PM murder
|
31 August 2017
|
[
{
"context": "A special Pakistani court has acquitted five suspected Taliban members of conspiracy to murder former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 2007. The judges cited lack of evidence against them, but jailed two others, who were policemen, for negligence in failing to prevent the killing. The court also declared ex-President Pervez Musharraf, who has been charged in the case, a fugitive from justice. Ms Bhutto was killed in a gun and bomb attack after an election rally. Mr Musharraf, an ex-army chief, has lived in self-imposed exile since last year, and faces having his property confiscated. He has not commented on the verdict and has denied having any role in the killing. His government blamed the assassination on Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud, who denied any involvement. He was killed in a US drone attack in 2009. The chairman of Ms Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party (PPP), her son Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, said on Twitter that Thursday's court ruling was \"unacceptable\" and that it would explore legal options. Her daughter, Aseefa Bhuto Zardari, said: \"We still await justice. Abettors punished but those truly guilty of my mothers murder roam free.\" She added: \"There will be no justice till Pervez Musharraf answers for his crimes.\" A dominant figure in Pakistani politics, Ms Bhutto served twice as the country's prime minister, from 1988 to 1990 and from 1993 to 1996. Young and glamorous, she successfully portrayed herself as a refreshing contrast to the male-dominated political establishment. But after her second fall from power, she became associated in the eyes of some with corruption and bad governance. Ms Bhutto left Pakistan in 1999, but returned in October 2007 after then-President Musharraf granted her and others an amnesty from corruption charges. She was set to take part in an election called by Mr Musharraf for January 2008. But her homecoming procession in Karachi was bombed by suspected militants. She survived the attack, which killed well over 150 people, but would be assassinated two months later. A dominant figure in Pakistan M Ilyas Khan, BBC News, Islamabad The judgment has taken nearly 10 years in coming, but we are still none the wiser about the key question - who ordered Benazir Bhutto's murder? Many point to precedents. The 1951 murder of Pakistan's first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, remains shrouded in mystery, as do the circumstances that led to the 1988 air crash that killed military ruler Zia ul-Haq. Pakistani politics has always been seen as a nest of murky intrigue. The country's failure to set up robust democratic institutions has encouraged this. For many, Benazir Bhutto was one of the last leaders who could entrench liberal, secular values. Since her death, the country's drift towards a more religious and less tolerant society has gathered pace while the state has become ever more militarised. Ms Bhutto's killing sent shockwaves across Pakistan, but the exact cause of her death is disputed. She was attacked as she was leaving a rally in Rawalpindi on 27 December 2007. She was standing upright in her armoured vehicle, with her head exposed above the open roof escape hatch, waving to the crowd when an attacker opened fire. Seconds later, a bomb was set off at the scene which left some 20 other people dead. A report by UK police - asked by the Pakistani government to investigate the case - concluded she was killed as a result of the explosion. The impact of the blast forced Ms Bhutto's head to collide violently against the side of the escape hatch. The report also said the attack was the work of one person, who first fired at Ms Bhutto's vehicle and then set off a suicide bomb. The findings appeared to support the government's view that she died as a result of head injuries. In 2010, a UN report said her death could have been prevented and that Mr Musharraf's government failed to provide enough protection - at the time his aides dismissed the report as a \"pack of lies\". Q&A: The assassination Ms Bhutto was one of the three big names in recent Pakistani politics, alongside Mr Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif. Both have fallen from grace in recent years. Mr Musharraf, who toppled Mr Sharif in a coup in 1999 and served as president between 2001 and 2008, has faced a number of charges from the time of his rule. They include one accusing him of treason for imposing emergency rule in 2007, another alleging the unlawful dismissal of judges in 2007, a third over a deadly raid on the Red Mosque in Islamabad in 2007 and over Ms Bhutto's killing. After his resignation in August 2008, he left the country facing impeachment proceedings - and returned only in 2013. But three years later, after being allowed by the Supreme Court to seek medical treatment abroad, he again went into self-imposed exile in Dubai, refusing to return to the country and face the charges against him. Mr Sharif was ousted by the Supreme Court last month over corruption allegations. The decision came after an investigation into his family's wealth following the leak of the Panama Papers in 2016, which linked Mr Sharif's children to offshore companies and assets not shown on his family's wealth statement.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2879,
"answer_start": 2077,
"text": "M Ilyas Khan, BBC News, Islamabad The judgment has taken nearly 10 years in coming, but we are still none the wiser about the key question - who ordered Benazir Bhutto's murder? Many point to precedents. The 1951 murder of Pakistan's first prime minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, remains shrouded in mystery, as do the circumstances that led to the 1988 air crash that killed military ruler Zia ul-Haq. Pakistani politics has always been seen as a nest of murky intrigue. The country's failure to set up robust democratic institutions has encouraged this. For many, Benazir Bhutto was one of the last leaders who could entrench liberal, secular values. Since her death, the country's drift towards a more religious and less tolerant society has gathered pace while the state has become ever more militarised."
}
],
"id": "1281_0",
"question": "How important was she in Pakistani politics?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5185,
"answer_start": 3998,
"text": "Ms Bhutto was one of the three big names in recent Pakistani politics, alongside Mr Musharraf and Nawaz Sharif. Both have fallen from grace in recent years. Mr Musharraf, who toppled Mr Sharif in a coup in 1999 and served as president between 2001 and 2008, has faced a number of charges from the time of his rule. They include one accusing him of treason for imposing emergency rule in 2007, another alleging the unlawful dismissal of judges in 2007, a third over a deadly raid on the Red Mosque in Islamabad in 2007 and over Ms Bhutto's killing. After his resignation in August 2008, he left the country facing impeachment proceedings - and returned only in 2013. But three years later, after being allowed by the Supreme Court to seek medical treatment abroad, he again went into self-imposed exile in Dubai, refusing to return to the country and face the charges against him. Mr Sharif was ousted by the Supreme Court last month over corruption allegations. The decision came after an investigation into his family's wealth following the leak of the Panama Papers in 2016, which linked Mr Sharif's children to offshore companies and assets not shown on his family's wealth statement."
}
],
"id": "1281_1",
"question": "What happened after her death?"
}
]
}
] |
Meghan Markle: Who could design the dress for the next royal wedding?
|
28 November 2017
|
[
{
"context": "When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle posed for photos after announcing their engagement on Monday, Ms Markle wore a white coat from a brand called Line the Label. The Canadian brand's website then received so many visitors it crashed under the volume of traffic. It proves the world's eyes are now firmly watching the US actress - and what she wears - ahead of the royal wedding. Clarence House announced the couple will marry in spring 2018, which - as any bride-to-be will know - means Ms Markle needs to act quickly to find her perfect wedding dress. So which designer will she choose? Asked what she would wear to walk down the aisle, Ms Markle previously told Hello! magazine her perfect dress would be \"classic and simple\". She made the comments after her character in the US legal drama Suits got married, adding: \"I personally prefer dresses that are whimsical or subtly romantic\". \"She is covering all bases there,\" says Katie Rosseinsky, a fashion writer for Grazia Daily. \"She's been photographed wearing Erdem and Antonio Berardi recently. Erdem has that whimsical element of design which she likes, so that could be an option.\" British designer Berardi on the other hand is famed for the classic and simple look which Ms Markle says she favours. \"I could also see her in something a bit more directional like Emilia Wickstead, who is also one of Kate's favourite designers,\" says Rosseinsky. \"It would be a cool option, not super-embellished, but with interesting shapes that photograph well.\" Rosseinsky describes Ms Markle - who appeared at the Invictus Games in Toronto in ripped jeans in September - as \"a relaxed, casual dresser\". \"It's very different to the coat dresses we see Kate [the Duchess of Cambridge] and other royals wearing. Will she be compelled to smarten up?\" asks Rosseinsky. Jodie Davis, co-executive producer of TV show Entertainment Tonight Canada, thinks the wedding will have some Canadian input, as Ms Markle lived there for more than six years while filming Suits. Davis says those ripped jeans at the Invictus Games sold out after the 36-year-old appeared in them. \"It became the 'it' look in the city,\" he says, adding that Ms Markle made the Toronto Life magazine's list of most influential people during her time there. Davis says he thinks there will be \"ethical brands from the US and Canada\" involved in the wedding, reflecting Markle's charity work. \"There are rumours there will be a Canadian influence in the wedding photos or the dress itself,\" he says. \"She definitely brings a very relaxed but stylish and chic look when she's out and about. She's the opposite to the character in Suits, which is well tailored power-dressing.\" Christine Ross, who is the editorial director of Meghan's Mirror - a fashion blog chronicling Ms Markle's style - agrees. \"Her style hasn't changed since before Harry - it's quite modern and edgy but with a bohemian softness, so it's a relaxed vibe,\" she says. \"I expect her wedding dress will be quite classic but modern and structural. She will pick a diplomatic brand - with a British or American choice. She will be demure with maybe a crisp satin, but definitely modern.\" Ross says while the Duchess of Cambridge has a \"traditional\" look, Ms Markle \"will be a bit more trendy and fearless\". \"It's because she's an American - the culture is a lot different,\" she explains \"Kate is an upper middle class British girl and Meghan grew up in LA, it's a completely different lifestyle.\" Mark Niemierko, a celebrity wedding planner, says he's \"excited and intrigued\" by what form the wedding will take. \"She could choose a Vera Wang, or Oscar de la Renta, Monique Lhuillier is also very chic, very classic,\" he says naming three of the most respected American dress design houses. \"If she goes down the British route it could be Christopher Bailey at Burberry. Another really good option would be Stella McCartney, which would play into Meghan's ethical credentials. \"Alice Temperley is also really ethical, but would be a bit slinky, so it would really depend on the location. If you're getting married at Westminster Abbey you need a dress to fill it.\" Niemierko, who planned James Corden's wedding to Julia Carey in 2012, adds: \"Meghan is not from British high society and there is a whole new raft of people at British Vogue who are also not from society. \"Alexandra Schulman [the former British Vogue editor] played a big part in advising Kate for her wedding dress. So Edward Enninful might be a great influence. That would be really interesting.\" But on the other hand, it may even be US Vogue editor Anna Wintour who advises Ms Markle. \"Wintour is incredibly powerful and takes great personal interest in things like this,\" says Niemerko. \"Harry will play his part. He's the young, cool one. He'll be encouraging her to be herself.\" Whatever happens, certain to be a big influence is Jessica Mulroney, a friend and stylist to Ms Markle. Mulroney is also the stylist for Canada's first lady, Sophie Trudeau, and runs a New York wedding boutique. \"They're very close friends,\" says Grazia's Rosseinsky, who thinks Mulroney's influence on Ms Markle is clear. \"If you look at the earlier photos of Meghan, she's definitely become more polished. I think that's definitely the influence of Jessica Mulroney. \"When you style one of the most powerful and most photographed women in the world like Sophie Trudeau, you will definitely bring some tips across.\" The fashion writer thinks Mulroney will not only play a part in the look of Prince Harry's wife-to-be for the pending nuptials, but also in the future. \"I imagine she will definitely be involved in the wedding,\" she says. \"She will also be very good for diplomatic dressing. Kate is good at throwing a nod to labels from the countries she's visiting. Jessica Mulroney will be already used to this from styling Sophie Trudeau.\" Wedding planner Niemerko adds that whatever Ms Markle's choice of dress, only one thing is important. \"The most exciting thing about the wedding is being yourselves,\" he says. \"They're marrying for love - which is the best way.\" 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": 3467,
"answer_start": 2264,
"text": "Davis says he thinks there will be \"ethical brands from the US and Canada\" involved in the wedding, reflecting Markle's charity work. \"There are rumours there will be a Canadian influence in the wedding photos or the dress itself,\" he says. \"She definitely brings a very relaxed but stylish and chic look when she's out and about. She's the opposite to the character in Suits, which is well tailored power-dressing.\" Christine Ross, who is the editorial director of Meghan's Mirror - a fashion blog chronicling Ms Markle's style - agrees. \"Her style hasn't changed since before Harry - it's quite modern and edgy but with a bohemian softness, so it's a relaxed vibe,\" she says. \"I expect her wedding dress will be quite classic but modern and structural. She will pick a diplomatic brand - with a British or American choice. She will be demure with maybe a crisp satin, but definitely modern.\" Ross says while the Duchess of Cambridge has a \"traditional\" look, Ms Markle \"will be a bit more trendy and fearless\". \"It's because she's an American - the culture is a lot different,\" she explains \"Kate is an upper middle class British girl and Meghan grew up in LA, it's a completely different lifestyle.\""
}
],
"id": "1282_0",
"question": "Canadian influence?"
}
]
}
] |
Borussia Dortmund bombs: Part of an elaborate scam?
|
21 April 2017
|
[
{
"context": "It could have been taken from the plot of a James Bond film. A criminal, desperate to make a quick buck, decides to bomb a bus filled with top-flight football players on their way to one of the club's most important games of the year. In the resulting chaos, shares in the club plummet, and the wrong-doer makes his money and escapes into the night - albeit, potentially chased by 007. But while it may sound like a tale dreamed up by Hollywood scriptwriters, this is actually what police believe happened on 11 April, when the Borussia Dortmund football team were on their way to a Champions League game. Police initially believed the bombing - which left Spanish footballer Marc Bartra needing surgery - was the work of terrorists, helped to that conclusion by a number of letters purportedly written by Islamic extremists left near the site. But they soon concluded something was amiss, and turned their attentions to a 28-year-old investor named only as Sergej W, whom they have now charged with attempted murder. It is surely one of the more bizarre accusations of recent times, and raises a number of questions - not least... Yes, in Casino Royale, Bond's nemesis Le Chiffre decided to short sell shares from an aircraft manufacturer in order to fund a terrorist organisation. His plan was to push down the value of the shares by blowing up the company's recently unveiled plane, the largest in the world. In this case, however, the plot failed when Bond foiled it. There are several ways a trader could have made money in this instance. The process used in Casino Royale is known as \"short selling\", and is basically when traders bet on a share price falling to make a quick profit. It involves someone borrowing a long-term investor's shares for a fee, and selling them on to a third party. When the shares fall, the trader quickly buys them back for less money. The stocks are then returned to the long-term investor, who is not worried by the decline because they weren't planning on selling yet anyway. This was also the method used by speculators portrayed in the 2012 film, The Big Short. Here's another explanation - this time with apples - from the BBC's Aaron Heslehurst: A second way is by buying \"put options\". A put option on a share or some other asset is a contract which allows an investor to sell the asset at an agreed price. If the market price falls, they can then buy the asset more cheaply and sell it - or exercise the option - at the higher price to whoever sold the option, and pocket the price difference. If the police are proved right, the trader in this case was backing up his bet by ensuring the shares definitely did take the hit, by blowing up a bus. This is almost certainly the first time someone has tried to blow up a football team in order to make money. More usually on the less ethical end of the market, the stock might be pushed over the edge by a few well-placed rumours. It doesn't take much. Indeed, back in 2012, all it took was a tweet to send share prices plummeting. A hacker broke into the Associated Press Twitter account and claimed then-President Barack Obama had been injured in an attack on the White House. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 150 points as more than 4,000 people retweeted it.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1471,
"answer_start": 1132,
"text": "Yes, in Casino Royale, Bond's nemesis Le Chiffre decided to short sell shares from an aircraft manufacturer in order to fund a terrorist organisation. His plan was to push down the value of the shares by blowing up the company's recently unveiled plane, the largest in the world. In this case, however, the plot failed when Bond foiled it."
}
],
"id": "1283_0",
"question": "Did this actually happen in Bond?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2689,
"answer_start": 1472,
"text": "There are several ways a trader could have made money in this instance. The process used in Casino Royale is known as \"short selling\", and is basically when traders bet on a share price falling to make a quick profit. It involves someone borrowing a long-term investor's shares for a fee, and selling them on to a third party. When the shares fall, the trader quickly buys them back for less money. The stocks are then returned to the long-term investor, who is not worried by the decline because they weren't planning on selling yet anyway. This was also the method used by speculators portrayed in the 2012 film, The Big Short. Here's another explanation - this time with apples - from the BBC's Aaron Heslehurst: A second way is by buying \"put options\". A put option on a share or some other asset is a contract which allows an investor to sell the asset at an agreed price. If the market price falls, they can then buy the asset more cheaply and sell it - or exercise the option - at the higher price to whoever sold the option, and pocket the price difference. If the police are proved right, the trader in this case was backing up his bet by ensuring the shares definitely did take the hit, by blowing up a bus."
}
],
"id": "1283_1",
"question": "But how do you make money by making shares fall?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3260,
"answer_start": 2690,
"text": "This is almost certainly the first time someone has tried to blow up a football team in order to make money. More usually on the less ethical end of the market, the stock might be pushed over the edge by a few well-placed rumours. It doesn't take much. Indeed, back in 2012, all it took was a tweet to send share prices plummeting. A hacker broke into the Associated Press Twitter account and claimed then-President Barack Obama had been injured in an attack on the White House. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 150 points as more than 4,000 people retweeted it."
}
],
"id": "1283_2",
"question": "Has anything like this happened before?"
}
]
}
] |
Denmark election: Social Democrats win as PM admits defeat
|
6 June 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Denmark's Liberal Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has conceded victory in the country's general election, paving the way for Social Democrat leader Mette Frederiksen to take power. At 41, Ms Frederiksen is set to be the country's youngest ever prime minister. The centre-left Social Democrats won 25.9% of the vote and her bloc secured 91 of the 179 seats in parliament. Support for the anti-immigration Danish People's Party (DPP) dived, four years after becoming second biggest party. Immigration was still a key factor in the election, along with climate change and welfare cuts, and the Social Democrats bolstered their support with a tougher migration policy. \"Together we have created a hope that we can change Denmark, that we can improve Denmark,\" Mette Frederiksen told supporters. Denmark becomes the third Nordic country in a year to elect a leftist government, following Sweden and Finland. Mr Rasmussen's Liberal Party has been in power for 14 of the last 18 years and won power from the Social Democrats in 2015. \"We had a really good election, but there will be a change of government,\" the prime minister conceded. During the campaign, the Social Democrats pledged to increase public spending, increase taxes for businesses and the wealthy, and partially roll back pension reforms so that people who have worked for 40 years can retire earlier. Denmark's main parties are traditionally organised into the left-wing \"red bloc\" and right-wing \"blue bloc\". The five-party red bloc is headed by the centre-left Social Democrats, who have spent the past four years in opposition. The blue bloc is splintered into eight parties. The pro-EU Liberal Party (Venstre) has ruled Denmark since 2015, forming a coalition with the Conservative People's Party and the Liberal Alliance. Venstre improved on its 2015 election performance, increasing its share of the vote by almost 4% to 23.4%. But its Liberal Alliance was one of the biggest losers, seeing its seats fall from 13 to four in the Folketing (parliament). Its leader Anders Samuelsen was under pressure to resign in the wake of the results. Venstre also became the biggest Danish party in the European Parliament last month and promised in the national elections to put extra money into the welfare system and crack down on immigration. The nationalist DPP, which supported the Venstre-led government lost 21 of its 37 seats, the biggest such fall since 1973. Welfare: Many voters were concerned over the fate of the country's cherished welfare model, which has faced years of cuts amid struggles by successive governments to deal with ageing populations. Danes pay some of the highest taxes in the world to support a generous cradle-to-grave welfare state. But they say cuts mean they are increasingly paying for services that used to be free and worry that further austerity measures could erode key services such as health care and education. The environment: Some 57% of Danes wanted the next government to prioritise climate change, according to a Gallup poll released in February. For younger voters, aged between 18 and 35, the figure was 69%. Immigration: Major parties on the right and left adopted anti-immigration policies. Both the Liberal Party and the Social Democrats said doing so would help to protect the welfare system.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2426,
"answer_start": 1135,
"text": "During the campaign, the Social Democrats pledged to increase public spending, increase taxes for businesses and the wealthy, and partially roll back pension reforms so that people who have worked for 40 years can retire earlier. Denmark's main parties are traditionally organised into the left-wing \"red bloc\" and right-wing \"blue bloc\". The five-party red bloc is headed by the centre-left Social Democrats, who have spent the past four years in opposition. The blue bloc is splintered into eight parties. The pro-EU Liberal Party (Venstre) has ruled Denmark since 2015, forming a coalition with the Conservative People's Party and the Liberal Alliance. Venstre improved on its 2015 election performance, increasing its share of the vote by almost 4% to 23.4%. But its Liberal Alliance was one of the biggest losers, seeing its seats fall from 13 to four in the Folketing (parliament). Its leader Anders Samuelsen was under pressure to resign in the wake of the results. Venstre also became the biggest Danish party in the European Parliament last month and promised in the national elections to put extra money into the welfare system and crack down on immigration. The nationalist DPP, which supported the Venstre-led government lost 21 of its 37 seats, the biggest such fall since 1973."
}
],
"id": "1284_0",
"question": "Why did centre left win?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3305,
"answer_start": 2427,
"text": "Welfare: Many voters were concerned over the fate of the country's cherished welfare model, which has faced years of cuts amid struggles by successive governments to deal with ageing populations. Danes pay some of the highest taxes in the world to support a generous cradle-to-grave welfare state. But they say cuts mean they are increasingly paying for services that used to be free and worry that further austerity measures could erode key services such as health care and education. The environment: Some 57% of Danes wanted the next government to prioritise climate change, according to a Gallup poll released in February. For younger voters, aged between 18 and 35, the figure was 69%. Immigration: Major parties on the right and left adopted anti-immigration policies. Both the Liberal Party and the Social Democrats said doing so would help to protect the welfare system."
}
],
"id": "1284_1",
"question": "What were the key issues?"
}
]
}
] |
Brexit: EU migration rules 'to end straight after no-deal'
|
19 August 2019
|
[
{
"context": "The UK government has said EU free movement rules will end immediately if there is a no-deal Brexit on 31 October. Theresa May had considered phasing out the rules if the UK leaves the EU without an agreement, but those plans have now been dropped. The change would affect the rights of EU citizens who arrive in the UK from November onwards. A Lib Dem MP has criticised the move as \"irresponsible and reckless\". Under Mrs May, two options had been considered to prolong the rules, which allow EU nationals to live and work freely in other countries in the bloc, under no deal. One option was for the rules to be extended until January 2021, and another was to allow EU citizens to stay for three months before applying for a longer stay. Those plans have been dropped by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in favour of a new approach to be set out at a later stage. Speaking on Monday, Mr Johnson said the UK would not \"become hostile to immigration,\" but it would be \"democratically controlled\" after Brexit. The Home Office said EU citizens currently living in the UK would still have until December 2020 to apply for the right to remain under its settled status scheme. \"Freedom of movement as it currently stands will end on 31 October when the UK leaves the EU, a spokesperson said. \"After Brexit the government will introduce a new, fairer immigration system that prioritises skills and what people can contribute to the UK, rather than where they come from.\" A Downing Street spokeswoman added that \"tougher criminality rules\" for those coming to the UK will be introduced. Under the withdrawal agreement, negotiated with the EU by former Prime Minister Mrs May, freedom of movement would have stayed for a two-year transition period. However, MPs repeatedly voted down Mrs May's deal and unless an agreement can be reached the UK will leave without a deal on 31 October. Mr Johnson has said he wants to reach a new agreement with the EU but is willing to leave without a deal if one cannot be agreed. In a no-deal scenario, those EU citizens with the right to permanent residence in the UK - which is granted after they have lived in the UK for five years - should not see their rights affected. EU nationals who are already in the UK can apply for settled status or pre-settled status in the same way as now. An end to freedom of movement would not affect those EU citizens coming for holidays and short trips, but would impact those who wish to work or study in the UK. The changes to freedom of movement will not directly affect Irish citizens. In May, British and Irish ministers signed a deal to guarantee free movement for their citizens crossing the Irish border and cross-border access for study and health care. Conservative MP Alberto Costa, who has campaigned on the issue, described the government's announcement as \"a deeply concerning move\" and criticised \"a total lack of clarity\". He also warned: \"What we do with EU nationals post-Brexit will be mirrored by EU states towards British citizens in the EU. \"If the British government abruptly terminates the legal arrangements in respect of citizens it will directly negatively impact on innocent British citizens working in the EU.\" Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Sir Ed Davey accused the government of being \"irresponsible and reckless\". He said \"employers up and down the country won't know what the law is\", adding \"this will hugely increase the damage cause by a no-deal Brexit\". The 3million group, which campaigns for the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, said ending free movement without putting legal provisions in place for those who have not applied under the settled status scheme \"will mean that millions of lawful citizens will have their legal status removed overnight\". Director of the Migration Observatory, Madeleine Sumption, said ending freedom of movement could \"simply mean ending the role of EU law in governing the rights of EU citizens here and replacing it with UK law\". But she said it could also mean introducing a new \"substantially more restrictive\" system. She said it would be \"quite difficult\" to enforce any new rules before the process of registering those EU citizens who have already been living in the UK for years has been completed. As it stands, the policy of freedom of movement will automatically transfer into UK law on exit day as stipulated in the Withdrawal Act. Ministers can change some regulations by statutory instrument - a form of secondary legislation - but only to address \"deficiencies\". This is why the government needed to introduce the Immigration Bill, the first clause of which ends freedom of movement. But this has been shelved - partly to avoid it being used by rebels to take control of parliament - and is unlikely to be passed before exit day. BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the logistics of the new scheme still had to be worked out. \"You've got to remember this: 40 million people arrive from the EU - EU nationals - every year into the UK,\" he said. \"So for the ports and airports that will mean enhanced checks if freedom of movement rules are abolished straightaway and that will put quite a burden on the staff working at Britain's ports and airports.\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2724,
"answer_start": 2005,
"text": "In a no-deal scenario, those EU citizens with the right to permanent residence in the UK - which is granted after they have lived in the UK for five years - should not see their rights affected. EU nationals who are already in the UK can apply for settled status or pre-settled status in the same way as now. An end to freedom of movement would not affect those EU citizens coming for holidays and short trips, but would impact those who wish to work or study in the UK. The changes to freedom of movement will not directly affect Irish citizens. In May, British and Irish ministers signed a deal to guarantee free movement for their citizens crossing the Irish border and cross-border access for study and health care."
}
],
"id": "1285_0",
"question": "Who will be affected?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4247,
"answer_start": 2725,
"text": "Conservative MP Alberto Costa, who has campaigned on the issue, described the government's announcement as \"a deeply concerning move\" and criticised \"a total lack of clarity\". He also warned: \"What we do with EU nationals post-Brexit will be mirrored by EU states towards British citizens in the EU. \"If the British government abruptly terminates the legal arrangements in respect of citizens it will directly negatively impact on innocent British citizens working in the EU.\" Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Sir Ed Davey accused the government of being \"irresponsible and reckless\". He said \"employers up and down the country won't know what the law is\", adding \"this will hugely increase the damage cause by a no-deal Brexit\". The 3million group, which campaigns for the rights of EU citizens living in the UK, said ending free movement without putting legal provisions in place for those who have not applied under the settled status scheme \"will mean that millions of lawful citizens will have their legal status removed overnight\". Director of the Migration Observatory, Madeleine Sumption, said ending freedom of movement could \"simply mean ending the role of EU law in governing the rights of EU citizens here and replacing it with UK law\". But she said it could also mean introducing a new \"substantially more restrictive\" system. She said it would be \"quite difficult\" to enforce any new rules before the process of registering those EU citizens who have already been living in the UK for years has been completed."
}
],
"id": "1285_1",
"question": "What has been the reaction?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5216,
"answer_start": 4248,
"text": "As it stands, the policy of freedom of movement will automatically transfer into UK law on exit day as stipulated in the Withdrawal Act. Ministers can change some regulations by statutory instrument - a form of secondary legislation - but only to address \"deficiencies\". This is why the government needed to introduce the Immigration Bill, the first clause of which ends freedom of movement. But this has been shelved - partly to avoid it being used by rebels to take control of parliament - and is unlikely to be passed before exit day. BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw said the logistics of the new scheme still had to be worked out. \"You've got to remember this: 40 million people arrive from the EU - EU nationals - every year into the UK,\" he said. \"So for the ports and airports that will mean enhanced checks if freedom of movement rules are abolished straightaway and that will put quite a burden on the staff working at Britain's ports and airports.\""
}
],
"id": "1285_2",
"question": "Can the government drop freedom of movement?"
}
]
}
] |
Misogyny could become hate crime as legal review is announced
|
6 September 2018
|
[
{
"context": "A review is to take place into whether misogynistic conduct should be treated as a hate crime, following Labour MP Stella Creasy's call to change the law. The move was announced during a debate on proposed legislation to criminalise upskirting in England and Wales. The Law Commission will review how sex and gender characteristics are treated within existing hate crime laws and whether new offences are needed. Ms Creasy said it sent a message to \"young women we are on their side\". On Wednesday, MPs approved the Voyeurism Bill, which would ban the taking of unsolicited pictures under someone's clothing, known as upskirting, in England and Wales. Proposals to create a new criminal offence, which is already on the statute book in Scotland, will now be considered by the House of Lords. Ms Creasy, the MP for Walthamstow, wanted to amend the draft law to allow judges to take into account whether people convicted of hate crimes against women should get a tougher sentence if it was \"motivated\" by misogyny or if misogyny was deemed to be an aggravating factor. Misogyny involves showing dislike, contempt or ingrained prejudice against women. Justice Minister Lucy Frazer said the Voyeurism Bill was not the right vehicle for seeking such a change in the law but said she sympathised with Ms Creasy's views. She said ministers would fund a review into the \"coverage and approach\" of hate crime laws. \"We, as a government, are concerned our hate crime legislation is up to date and consistent. \"This review will include how protected characteristics, including sex and gender characteristics, should be considered by new or existing hate crime law.\" Ms Creasy said the government's commitment to review existing laws and consider whether there was a need for new offences sent a hugely positive signal. \"For the first time we are now saying as a country that misogyny is not a part of life, it is something that shouldn't be tolerated, and it is something we are going to tackle,\" she said. \"We have just sent a message to every young woman in this country that we are on their side.\" She has called for an extension of a pilot project by Nottinghamshire Police, which has for two years been recording misogynistic behaviour as either hate crime or hate incidents, depending on whether or not it is criminal. Nottinghamshire Police, which has been recording misogyny as a hate crime since 2016, defines misogyny as \"incidents against women that are motivated by the attitude of men towards women and includes behaviour targeted at women by men simply because they are women\". Examples include sexual assault, indecent exposure, groping, taking unwanted photographs on mobiles, upskirting, online abuse, being followed home, whistling, sexually explicit language, threatening/aggressive/intimidating behaviour, and unwanted sexual advances. However, not all hate crimes are criminal offences according to the legal definition.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2930,
"answer_start": 2314,
"text": "Nottinghamshire Police, which has been recording misogyny as a hate crime since 2016, defines misogyny as \"incidents against women that are motivated by the attitude of men towards women and includes behaviour targeted at women by men simply because they are women\". Examples include sexual assault, indecent exposure, groping, taking unwanted photographs on mobiles, upskirting, online abuse, being followed home, whistling, sexually explicit language, threatening/aggressive/intimidating behaviour, and unwanted sexual advances. However, not all hate crimes are criminal offences according to the legal definition."
}
],
"id": "1286_0",
"question": "What is misogyny hate crime?"
}
]
}
] |
Snow in Europe: Deadly winter storm brings chaos
|
2 March 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Large parts of Europe have endured another night of freezing conditions as a Siberian weather system continues to bring chaos. Blizzards and heavy snowfall have closed roads, rail services and schools and forced the cancellations of hundreds of flights. The unusually cold spell is being felt as far south as the Mediterranean. The number of weather-related deaths rose to as many as 55 with 21 victims in Poland, most of them rough sleepers. It triggered a warning from the World Health Organization that the poor, the homeless and migrants would be hardest hit by the big freeze. \"Those most at risk of cold-related illness include elderly people, children, and people who have chronic diseases or physical or mental limitations,\" it said as a statement. The weather system has been given various nicknames - in the UK it is \"the Beast from the East\" while the Dutch call it the \"Siberian bear\" and Swedes the \"snow cannon\". Snow has even appeared on the normally balmy beaches of the French Riviera. Ireland remains braced for what is predicted to be its heaviest snowfall in decades as Storm Emma moves in from the south. Flights in and out of Dublin airport were suspended with service disruptions expected to continue until Saturday at the earliest. The airport in the Swiss city of Geneva was forced to shut down on Thursday morning but was reopened after the runway was cleared using snow ploughs. In France, about 2,000 drivers were stranded on a motorway near the city of Montpellier, with some complaining of being stuck for as long as 24 hours. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport was also hit by freezing winds with KLM airlines cancelling or delaying dozens of flights. Some rail services operated by Eurostar between London, Paris and Brussels were axed. As well as those in Poland, weather-related casualties were reported as far south as Spain and Italy. Seven people have died since Sunday in Slovakia, AFP news agency reports, and six more in the Czech Republic in recent days. One of three victims in Spain was a homeless man who had been sleeping in an abandoned truck, officials said. Five people were reported dead in Lithuania, four in France, two each in Serbia, Italy, Slovenia and Romania and one each in the UK and the Netherlands, AFP added. In the French capital, Paris, authorities set up emergency shelters for the city's roughly 3,000 homeless. Ukraine, which has further snowstorms forecast in the days to come, has found itself in a fresh row with Russia over gas supplies. The Russian state-run gas giant Gazprom said it would not restart gas shipments - expected on Thursday - because agreements had not been finalised. The shipments would have been the first from Russia since 2015. Ukrainian energy agency Naftogaz accused Gazprom of violating contractual obligations and the European Commission later stepped in to act as a broker between the two. Moscow and Kiev have been at loggerheads since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Some parts of Europe are expected to see temperatures rise over the next couple of days, although Ireland and parts of southern England are braced for the effects of Storm Emma which is moving up from Portugal and France. On Thursday, Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar urged people to stay indoors until the storm passed later on Friday. \"The risk to life and limb presented by the severe weather conditions should not be underestimated by anyone,\" he said following a meeting with emergency officials. \"It is not safe to be outside in such conditions.\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1762,
"answer_start": 757,
"text": "The weather system has been given various nicknames - in the UK it is \"the Beast from the East\" while the Dutch call it the \"Siberian bear\" and Swedes the \"snow cannon\". Snow has even appeared on the normally balmy beaches of the French Riviera. Ireland remains braced for what is predicted to be its heaviest snowfall in decades as Storm Emma moves in from the south. Flights in and out of Dublin airport were suspended with service disruptions expected to continue until Saturday at the earliest. The airport in the Swiss city of Geneva was forced to shut down on Thursday morning but was reopened after the runway was cleared using snow ploughs. In France, about 2,000 drivers were stranded on a motorway near the city of Montpellier, with some complaining of being stuck for as long as 24 hours. Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport was also hit by freezing winds with KLM airlines cancelling or delaying dozens of flights. Some rail services operated by Eurostar between London, Paris and Brussels were axed."
}
],
"id": "1287_0",
"question": "Where are the problems?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2370,
"answer_start": 1763,
"text": "As well as those in Poland, weather-related casualties were reported as far south as Spain and Italy. Seven people have died since Sunday in Slovakia, AFP news agency reports, and six more in the Czech Republic in recent days. One of three victims in Spain was a homeless man who had been sleeping in an abandoned truck, officials said. Five people were reported dead in Lithuania, four in France, two each in Serbia, Italy, Slovenia and Romania and one each in the UK and the Netherlands, AFP added. In the French capital, Paris, authorities set up emergency shelters for the city's roughly 3,000 homeless."
}
],
"id": "1287_1",
"question": "Where have the deaths been?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2971,
"answer_start": 2371,
"text": "Ukraine, which has further snowstorms forecast in the days to come, has found itself in a fresh row with Russia over gas supplies. The Russian state-run gas giant Gazprom said it would not restart gas shipments - expected on Thursday - because agreements had not been finalised. The shipments would have been the first from Russia since 2015. Ukrainian energy agency Naftogaz accused Gazprom of violating contractual obligations and the European Commission later stepped in to act as a broker between the two. Moscow and Kiev have been at loggerheads since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014."
}
],
"id": "1287_2",
"question": "What else is going on?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3537,
"answer_start": 2972,
"text": "Some parts of Europe are expected to see temperatures rise over the next couple of days, although Ireland and parts of southern England are braced for the effects of Storm Emma which is moving up from Portugal and France. On Thursday, Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar urged people to stay indoors until the storm passed later on Friday. \"The risk to life and limb presented by the severe weather conditions should not be underestimated by anyone,\" he said following a meeting with emergency officials. \"It is not safe to be outside in such conditions.\""
}
],
"id": "1287_3",
"question": "What is the forecast?"
}
]
}
] |
What is the 9/11 bill and why is it so controversial?
|
29 September 2016
|
[
{
"context": "A new bill passed through the US Congress is creating a storm - with President Barack Obama and the CIA warning of its dire consequences. In passing the law that allows legal action against Saudi Arabia over the 9/11 attacks, Congress over-ruled a veto by Mr Obama for the first time in his presidency. So why is it so controversial, and what are its wider implications? The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) was brought by the families of 9/11 victims, to allow them to sue any member of the Saudi government suspected of playing a role in the attacks. In practice, the bill permits civil claims against a foreign state or official for injuries, death, or damages from an act of international terrorism. Fifteen of the 19 terrorist who hijacked planes on 9/11 were Saudi nationals, and it has long been rumoured that senior Saudi officials were in some way linked to the attack. Official inquiries since 2001 have found there is no evidence of either the Saudi government or senior Saudi individuals funding al-Qaeda. However, a previously classified document earlier this year revealed \"while in the United States, some of the 9/11 hijackers were in contact with, and received support or assistance from, individuals who may be connected to the Saudi government\". While the document did not provide any direct evidence of top-level Saudi involvement, it did raise new questions. A veto is one of the most significant tools an American president has at his disposal, and has been used more than 2,500 times in America's history to prevent the passage of legislation. According to the US' House of Representatives, even the threat of a veto can bring about changes. Congress can overrule a veto however - but only if it has the support of two-thirds of the House and Senate. This has only happened on 110 occasions since 1792. Despite this, it is unusual for a president in recent years to get through two terms without congress overruling a veto. George W Bush had four overturned, while Bill Clinton had two during his tenure. The last presidency to go unchallenged was that of Lyndon B Johnson. President Barack Obama, who has only used a veto on 12 occasions and had, until now, never had one overruled, fears the amended law will leave America open to similar suits from other countries - especially as there is little consensus internationally on what constitutes an act of terrorism. Stephen Vladeck, professor of law at the University of Texas, explained: \"The real concern is that the more the US weakens the concept of foreign sovereign immunity, the more that the weakening will be used against it. \"President Obama is concerned that [something like] a drone strike against a suspected al-Qaeda target in Yemen or Pakistan or Somalia could very well be deemed by those countries as terrorism which could subject the US to significant liability in those courts.\" But Terry Strada, national chair for 9/11 Families United For Justice Against Terrorism, has disagreed that the bill could backfire in the way the White House has warned. \"If we're not funding terrorist organisations and killing people, then we don't have anything to worry about,\" she said. The bill may also have an impact on relations with Saudi Arabia, a key ally for the US in the Middle East. Salman al-Ansari, president of the Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee, said Saudi Arabia could reduce valuable security and intelligence co-operation as a result. The idea was to \"clear away\" obstacles and force an American court to answer whether and to what extent the Saudi government was involved in the 9/11 attacks. But Professor Vladeck says in its creation the bill has created more blocks which will \"probably\" lead to \"more litigation\". And even if the outcome is successful for the families, it will be little more than symbolic, he believes. \"The problem with JASTA is, it does not allow an American court to seize Saudi assets, or any foreign sovereign's assets, for this kind of claim,\" he says. \"So the best the plaintiffs can hope for is a piece of paper that says, yes the Saudi government was indirectly responsible because of funding, no you don't get any damages.\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 720,
"answer_start": 371,
"text": "The Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act (JASTA) was brought by the families of 9/11 victims, to allow them to sue any member of the Saudi government suspected of playing a role in the attacks. In practice, the bill permits civil claims against a foreign state or official for injuries, death, or damages from an act of international terrorism."
}
],
"id": "1288_0",
"question": "What is the bill?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1396,
"answer_start": 721,
"text": "Fifteen of the 19 terrorist who hijacked planes on 9/11 were Saudi nationals, and it has long been rumoured that senior Saudi officials were in some way linked to the attack. Official inquiries since 2001 have found there is no evidence of either the Saudi government or senior Saudi individuals funding al-Qaeda. However, a previously classified document earlier this year revealed \"while in the United States, some of the 9/11 hijackers were in contact with, and received support or assistance from, individuals who may be connected to the Saudi government\". While the document did not provide any direct evidence of top-level Saudi involvement, it did raise new questions."
}
],
"id": "1288_1",
"question": "Why would the families want to sue?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2113,
"answer_start": 1397,
"text": "A veto is one of the most significant tools an American president has at his disposal, and has been used more than 2,500 times in America's history to prevent the passage of legislation. According to the US' House of Representatives, even the threat of a veto can bring about changes. Congress can overrule a veto however - but only if it has the support of two-thirds of the House and Senate. This has only happened on 110 occasions since 1792. Despite this, it is unusual for a president in recent years to get through two terms without congress overruling a veto. George W Bush had four overturned, while Bill Clinton had two during his tenure. The last presidency to go unchallenged was that of Lyndon B Johnson."
}
],
"id": "1288_2",
"question": "What is a veto?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3464,
"answer_start": 2114,
"text": "President Barack Obama, who has only used a veto on 12 occasions and had, until now, never had one overruled, fears the amended law will leave America open to similar suits from other countries - especially as there is little consensus internationally on what constitutes an act of terrorism. Stephen Vladeck, professor of law at the University of Texas, explained: \"The real concern is that the more the US weakens the concept of foreign sovereign immunity, the more that the weakening will be used against it. \"President Obama is concerned that [something like] a drone strike against a suspected al-Qaeda target in Yemen or Pakistan or Somalia could very well be deemed by those countries as terrorism which could subject the US to significant liability in those courts.\" But Terry Strada, national chair for 9/11 Families United For Justice Against Terrorism, has disagreed that the bill could backfire in the way the White House has warned. \"If we're not funding terrorist organisations and killing people, then we don't have anything to worry about,\" she said. The bill may also have an impact on relations with Saudi Arabia, a key ally for the US in the Middle East. Salman al-Ansari, president of the Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee, said Saudi Arabia could reduce valuable security and intelligence co-operation as a result."
}
],
"id": "1288_3",
"question": "Why didn't Obama want the bill?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4186,
"answer_start": 3465,
"text": "The idea was to \"clear away\" obstacles and force an American court to answer whether and to what extent the Saudi government was involved in the 9/11 attacks. But Professor Vladeck says in its creation the bill has created more blocks which will \"probably\" lead to \"more litigation\". And even if the outcome is successful for the families, it will be little more than symbolic, he believes. \"The problem with JASTA is, it does not allow an American court to seize Saudi assets, or any foreign sovereign's assets, for this kind of claim,\" he says. \"So the best the plaintiffs can hope for is a piece of paper that says, yes the Saudi government was indirectly responsible because of funding, no you don't get any damages.\""
}
],
"id": "1288_4",
"question": "What happens next?"
}
]
}
] |
Trump submits answers to Mueller's Russia inquiry
|
21 November 2018
|
[
{
"context": "US President Donald Trump has submitted his written answers to the special counsel over alleged Russian meddling during the 2016 presidential campaign. Mr Trump's lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said some of the questions posed by special counsel Robert Mueller had gone \"beyond the scope of a legitimate inquiry\". Last week Mr Trump said he had answered the questions \"very easily\". The US president strongly denies any collusion with Russia, calling Mr Mueller's investigation \"a witch hunt\". On Tuesday, Mr Giuliani confirmed that Mr Trump's answers had been handed over to investigators, adding that the president had provided \"unprecedented co-operation\" and that it was time to \"bring this inquiry to a conclusion\". In an interview published with Axios on Wednesday, Mr Giuliani revealed the questions were not regarding obstruction of justice - something observers have suggested Mr Trump could be accused of with his interactions with the former FBI director James Comey. Mr Giuliani expressed confidence about his client's legal position, and also said he did not think there was any way Mr Mueller could compel testimony from the president under subpoena, because of Mr Trump's \"executive privilege\". \"I don't think they have any evidence of collusion of any kind. I think their obstruction case, as a legal matter, doesn't exist,\" the lawyer said. Separately, a report in the New York Times says that Mr Trump earlier this year requested that prosecutions be opened against his 2016 presidential opponent Hillary Clinton and Mr Comey. The report, which quotes unnamed sources, states that Mr Trump's request was rebuffed by then White House Counsel Donald McGahn, who advised him to hold off in order to avoid opening himself up to accusations of abuse of power. Mr McGahn went on to warn Mr Trump, the report adds, that asking authorities to investigate his rivals could leave him facing possible impeachment. In 2016, Mr Trump accused Mrs Clinton of putting the US \"in danger\" over her use of a private email while secretary of state. He has also accused Mr Comey of lying under oath before Congress. In 2016, US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia had used a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media in an attempt to turn the election against Democratic candidate Mrs Clinton. A team of investigators led by Mr Mueller is looking into whether anyone from Mr Trump's campaign colluded in the effort. It has been established that senior members of Mr Trump's team met Russian officials, and that several of these meetings were not initially disclosed. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr, met a Russian lawyer during the campaign who was said to have \"dirt\" on Mrs Clinton, and former adviser George Papadopoulos has admitted lying to the FBI about meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia. Four people connected with Mr Trump's campaign and presidency - campaign chairman Paul Manafort, advisers Rick Gates and George Papadopoulos, as well as former national security adviser Michael Flynn - have been charged. However, the US president denies any wrongdoing and no solid evidence has emerged to implicate him.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3175,
"answer_start": 2105,
"text": "In 2016, US intelligence agencies concluded that Russia had used a state-authorised campaign of cyber attacks and fake news stories planted on social media in an attempt to turn the election against Democratic candidate Mrs Clinton. A team of investigators led by Mr Mueller is looking into whether anyone from Mr Trump's campaign colluded in the effort. It has been established that senior members of Mr Trump's team met Russian officials, and that several of these meetings were not initially disclosed. The president's son, Donald Trump Jr, met a Russian lawyer during the campaign who was said to have \"dirt\" on Mrs Clinton, and former adviser George Papadopoulos has admitted lying to the FBI about meetings with alleged go-betweens for Russia. Four people connected with Mr Trump's campaign and presidency - campaign chairman Paul Manafort, advisers Rick Gates and George Papadopoulos, as well as former national security adviser Michael Flynn - have been charged. However, the US president denies any wrongdoing and no solid evidence has emerged to implicate him."
}
],
"id": "1289_0",
"question": "What is behind the Russia investigation?"
}
]
}
] |
Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 pilots 'could not stop nosedive'
|
4 April 2019
|
[
{
"context": "The Ethiopian Airlines plane that crashed last month nosedived several times before it hit the ground, a preliminary report has said. Pilots \"repeatedly\" followed procedures recommended by Boeing before the crash, according to the first official report into the disaster. Boeing's boss has admitted for the first time a failure in the jet's anti-stall system was a factor in the crash. Flight ET302 crashed after take-off from Addis Ababa, killing 157 people. Despite their efforts, pilots \"were not able to control the aircraft\", Transport Minister Dagmawit Moges said. It was the second crash of a Boeing 737 Max aircraft in five months. Last October, Lion Air flight JT 610 crashed into the sea near Indonesia killing all 189 people on board. In a news conference in Addis Ababa, Ms Dagmawit said: \"The crew performed all the procedures repeatedly [that were] provided by the manufacturer but were not able to control the aircraft.\" The 737 Max family of aircraft was grounded following the Ethiopian Airlines crash, a move affecting more than 300 planes. The preliminary report did not attribute blame for the crash. But it says the crew were fully qualified to conduct the flight, and that they performed all the expected procedures correctly. The report goes on to recommend that Boeing review the 737 Max's \"flight control system related to flight controllability\" and that aviation regulators ensure this is done before the aircraft goes back into the air. Crash investigators have focused their attention on the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) - software designed to help prevent the 737 Max from stalling. The software reacts when sensors in the nose of the aircraft show the jet is climbing at too steep an angle, which can cause a plane to stall. The report does not mention the MCAS by name, but it does detail during the minutes after take off the problems the pilots were having in trying to control the aircraft's angle of flight. At one point the captain called out three times \"pull up\", and seconds after instructed the first officer to tell Air Traffic Control that they had a flight control problem. In a statement on Thursday, the chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, said he was \"very proud\" of the pilots' \"high level of professional performance\". \"It was very unfortunate they could not recover the airplane from the persistence of nosediving,\" the airline said in a statement. An investigation into the Lion Air flight suggested the system malfunctioned, and forced the plane's nose down more than 20 times before it crashed into the sea. The preliminary report from Indonesian investigators found that a faulty sensor on the aircraft wrongly triggered MCAS without the pilots' knowledge. Boeing has been working on an upgrade of the MCAS software since the Lion Air crash. It has said the system can be disabled - allowing pilots to regain control if there appears to be a problem. But the latest comments from Ethiopian officials suggest that pilots could not regain control, despite following procedures recommended by Boeing. By Tom Burridge, BBC transport correspondent Two crashes, five months apart, with a total of 346 people dead. Both preliminary crash reports suggest a new design to the 737 Max 8 malfunctioned, pushing each plane repeatedly into a nosedive. One lawsuit has been filed. More are likely. The suffering of those who've lost loved ones can't be quantified. But the commercial toll for the manufacturer and damage to its reputation, at this stage, can't be either. Hundreds of 737 Maxs are grounded worldwide. Thousands of orders are, for now on ice, and some could even be in jeopardy. The Max was Boeing's answer to Airbus' A320: a single-aisle, fuel-efficient short-haul plane. But in the opinion of one experienced 737 pilot, the new anti-stall system, which was added to the aircraft and contributed to both crashes, was \"flawed\". Boeing is working to fix it. It needs to get the aircraft certified as safe and back in the air as soon as it can. Read more from Tom here. In a statement on Thursday, Boeing's chairman and chief executive Dennis Muilenburg said that following the release of the report it was \"apparent\" that in both flights, the MCAS software was \"activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information\". He added: \"As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. It's our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it.\" Earlier, Boeing said in a statement: \"To ensure unintended MCAS activation will not occur again, Boeing has developed and is planning to release a software update to MCAS and an associated comprehensive pilot training and supplementary education program for the 737 MAX.\" The company said the update \"adds additional layers of protection and will prevent erroneous data from causing MCAS activation. Flight crews will always have the ability to override MCAS and manually control the airplane\". Boeing has issued guidance to pilots on how to manage MCAS, and it plans to install an extra warning system on all 737 Max aircraft, which was previously an optional safety feature. It is also revising pilot training to provide \"enhanced understanding of the 737 Max\" flight system and crew procedures. The plane-maker says the upgrades are not an admission that MCAS caused the crashes.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2448,
"answer_start": 1059,
"text": "The preliminary report did not attribute blame for the crash. But it says the crew were fully qualified to conduct the flight, and that they performed all the expected procedures correctly. The report goes on to recommend that Boeing review the 737 Max's \"flight control system related to flight controllability\" and that aviation regulators ensure this is done before the aircraft goes back into the air. Crash investigators have focused their attention on the Manoeuvring Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS) - software designed to help prevent the 737 Max from stalling. The software reacts when sensors in the nose of the aircraft show the jet is climbing at too steep an angle, which can cause a plane to stall. The report does not mention the MCAS by name, but it does detail during the minutes after take off the problems the pilots were having in trying to control the aircraft's angle of flight. At one point the captain called out three times \"pull up\", and seconds after instructed the first officer to tell Air Traffic Control that they had a flight control problem. In a statement on Thursday, the chief executive of Ethiopian Airlines, Tewolde GebreMariam, said he was \"very proud\" of the pilots' \"high level of professional performance\". \"It was very unfortunate they could not recover the airplane from the persistence of nosediving,\" the airline said in a statement."
}
],
"id": "1290_0",
"question": "What did the report say about the cause of the crash?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3101,
"answer_start": 2449,
"text": "An investigation into the Lion Air flight suggested the system malfunctioned, and forced the plane's nose down more than 20 times before it crashed into the sea. The preliminary report from Indonesian investigators found that a faulty sensor on the aircraft wrongly triggered MCAS without the pilots' knowledge. Boeing has been working on an upgrade of the MCAS software since the Lion Air crash. It has said the system can be disabled - allowing pilots to regain control if there appears to be a problem. But the latest comments from Ethiopian officials suggest that pilots could not regain control, despite following procedures recommended by Boeing."
}
],
"id": "1290_1",
"question": "What happened to the Lion Air flight?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4072,
"answer_start": 3102,
"text": "By Tom Burridge, BBC transport correspondent Two crashes, five months apart, with a total of 346 people dead. Both preliminary crash reports suggest a new design to the 737 Max 8 malfunctioned, pushing each plane repeatedly into a nosedive. One lawsuit has been filed. More are likely. The suffering of those who've lost loved ones can't be quantified. But the commercial toll for the manufacturer and damage to its reputation, at this stage, can't be either. Hundreds of 737 Maxs are grounded worldwide. Thousands of orders are, for now on ice, and some could even be in jeopardy. The Max was Boeing's answer to Airbus' A320: a single-aisle, fuel-efficient short-haul plane. But in the opinion of one experienced 737 pilot, the new anti-stall system, which was added to the aircraft and contributed to both crashes, was \"flawed\". Boeing is working to fix it. It needs to get the aircraft certified as safe and back in the air as soon as it can. Read more from Tom here."
}
],
"id": "1290_2",
"question": "Analysis: What does the report mean for Boeing?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5431,
"answer_start": 4073,
"text": "In a statement on Thursday, Boeing's chairman and chief executive Dennis Muilenburg said that following the release of the report it was \"apparent\" that in both flights, the MCAS software was \"activated in response to erroneous angle of attack information\". He added: \"As pilots have told us, erroneous activation of the MCAS function can add to what is already a high workload environment. It's our responsibility to eliminate this risk. We own it and we know how to do it.\" Earlier, Boeing said in a statement: \"To ensure unintended MCAS activation will not occur again, Boeing has developed and is planning to release a software update to MCAS and an associated comprehensive pilot training and supplementary education program for the 737 MAX.\" The company said the update \"adds additional layers of protection and will prevent erroneous data from causing MCAS activation. Flight crews will always have the ability to override MCAS and manually control the airplane\". Boeing has issued guidance to pilots on how to manage MCAS, and it plans to install an extra warning system on all 737 Max aircraft, which was previously an optional safety feature. It is also revising pilot training to provide \"enhanced understanding of the 737 Max\" flight system and crew procedures. The plane-maker says the upgrades are not an admission that MCAS caused the crashes."
}
],
"id": "1290_3",
"question": "What is Boeing doing to improve the aircraft's safety?"
}
]
}
] |
Stockholm attack: 'Suspect device' in Sweden crash lorry
|
9 April 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Swedish police have confirmed they discovered a suspect device inside the lorry which was driven into a Stockholm department store on Friday. The device was found in the driver's seat, National Police Commissioner Dan Eliasson said, but it was not known whether it was a bomb. Mr Eliasson also said the suspect in custody was from Uzbekistan, 39, and known to security services. The hijacked lorry was driven into Ahlens department store in the capital. Four people were killed - 10 remain in hospital, including a child. Two are in intensive care. Eyewitnesses: Lorry was 'trying to hit people' Late on Saturday, police in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, found a \"bomb-like device\" in the Groenland district of the city and detained a man. The area was cordoned off and a controlled explosion carried out. Police say further investigations are continuing. The suspect, who was not named, was known to the security services. However, he had only been seen as a \"marginal character\", Mr Eliasson said. The head of Swedish security police, Anders Thornberg, said the suspect was \"a person who has previously figured in our intelligence flow\". It is not clear if the suspect was resident in Sweden. Mr Eliasson said police had reason to believe the suspect was the man behind the attack. But he added: \"We still cannot rule out that more people are involved.\" On Saturday, there were reports of more police raids in Sweden. However, police told Reuters they had not made any further arrests. Police say it is too early to tell what the \"technical device\" in the lorry was - only that \"it should not be there\". \"I cannot say at this stage that this is a bomb or some sort of flammable material,\" Mr Eliasson said. \"We are doing a technical investigation.\" Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has called it a terrorist attack, with borders tightened at his request. \"Terrorists want us to be afraid, want us to change our behaviour, want us to not live our lives normally, but that is what we're going to do.\" \"Terrorists can never defeat Sweden, never,\" Mr Lofven said. \"We're also determined to continue to be an open society; a democratic society.\" The mayor of Stockholm, Karin Wanngard, reiterated that Stockholm was open. \"This is not an attack that's about the colour of your skin,\" she said. \"We can show that with good integration, with an openness and a friendly behaviour, we are stronger together and it doesn't matter where you come from.\" Sweden's king, Carl XVI Gustaf, said: \"We are all shaken by what has happened.\" He added that those \"who want to help, are more than those who want to hurt us\". \"Unfortunately we've experienced many acts of violence before and we have coped and we will now too.\" There will be a minute's silence in Sweden at midday on Monday to commemorate the dead. Sweden has generally low crime rates, and has been ranked as one of the safest countries in the world. In 2010, two bombs detonated in central Stockholm, killing the attacker - an Iraq-born Swedish man - and injuring two others. In October 2015, a masked man who was believed to have far-right sympathies killed a teacher and pupil in a sword attack. In February, US President Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden, and blamed it on the country's asylum policy - baffling many Swedes. Sweden has taken in nearly 200,000 refugees and migrants in recent years - more per capita than any other European country. However, there was a drop in numbers last year after the country introduced new border checks. Separately, Sweden is believed to have the highest number of Islamic State group 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. - 14 July 2016, Nice, France: A man drove a lorry for 2km (1.2 miles) through a large crowd gathered to watch Bastille Day fireworks in Nice. Eighty-six people were killed, and more than 300 injured. - 28 November 2016, Ohio, United States: An 18-year-old student rammed his car into a group of pedestrians at Ohio State University and stabbed others. Eleven people were injured before he was shot and killed. - 19 December 2016, Berlin, Germany: The attack in Berlin killed 12 people and injured 49, when a man drove a lorry through the crowded Breitscheidplatz Christmas market. So-called Islamic State said one of its \"soldiers\" carried out the attack. - 22 March 2017, London, United Kingdom: Five people died and at least 50 were injured when a car mounted the pavement on London's Westminster bridge and drove at high speed through pedestrians. The attacker then entered the parliament complex on foot and fatally stabbed a police officer, before being shot. - 23 March 2017, Antwerp, Belgium: A man was caught by soldiers after he drove at a crowd. Knives, a non-lethal gun and a dangerous substance were found in his car - but no-one was injured. Terror charges were later dropped.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1486,
"answer_start": 855,
"text": "The suspect, who was not named, was known to the security services. However, he had only been seen as a \"marginal character\", Mr Eliasson said. The head of Swedish security police, Anders Thornberg, said the suspect was \"a person who has previously figured in our intelligence flow\". It is not clear if the suspect was resident in Sweden. Mr Eliasson said police had reason to believe the suspect was the man behind the attack. But he added: \"We still cannot rule out that more people are involved.\" On Saturday, there were reports of more police raids in Sweden. However, police told Reuters they had not made any further arrests."
}
],
"id": "1291_0",
"question": "What do we know about the Stockholm suspect?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1749,
"answer_start": 1487,
"text": "Police say it is too early to tell what the \"technical device\" in the lorry was - only that \"it should not be there\". \"I cannot say at this stage that this is a bomb or some sort of flammable material,\" Mr Eliasson said. \"We are doing a technical investigation.\""
}
],
"id": "1291_1",
"question": "Was there a bomb in the lorry?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2797,
"answer_start": 1750,
"text": "Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has called it a terrorist attack, with borders tightened at his request. \"Terrorists want us to be afraid, want us to change our behaviour, want us to not live our lives normally, but that is what we're going to do.\" \"Terrorists can never defeat Sweden, never,\" Mr Lofven said. \"We're also determined to continue to be an open society; a democratic society.\" The mayor of Stockholm, Karin Wanngard, reiterated that Stockholm was open. \"This is not an attack that's about the colour of your skin,\" she said. \"We can show that with good integration, with an openness and a friendly behaviour, we are stronger together and it doesn't matter where you come from.\" Sweden's king, Carl XVI Gustaf, said: \"We are all shaken by what has happened.\" He added that those \"who want to help, are more than those who want to hurt us\". \"Unfortunately we've experienced many acts of violence before and we have coped and we will now too.\" There will be a minute's silence in Sweden at midday on Monday to commemorate the dead."
}
],
"id": "1291_2",
"question": "What is the Swedish government doing?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3785,
"answer_start": 2798,
"text": "Sweden has generally low crime rates, and has been ranked as one of the safest countries in the world. In 2010, two bombs detonated in central Stockholm, killing the attacker - an Iraq-born Swedish man - and injuring two others. In October 2015, a masked man who was believed to have far-right sympathies killed a teacher and pupil in a sword attack. In February, US President Donald Trump cited a non-existent terror attack in Sweden, and blamed it on the country's asylum policy - baffling many Swedes. Sweden has taken in nearly 200,000 refugees and migrants in recent years - more per capita than any other European country. However, there was a drop in numbers last year after the country introduced new border checks. Separately, Sweden is believed to have the highest number of Islamic State group 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."
}
],
"id": "1291_3",
"question": "Has Sweden experienced similar attacks before?"
}
]
}
] |
Puerto Rico votes in referendum to become US state
|
12 June 2017
|
[
{
"context": "The US territory of Puerto Rico has voted to ask Congress to make it America's 51st state. More than 97% of voters favoured attempting to join the US over becoming independent or remaining a self-governing territory. However, just 23% of the electorate turned up to cast their ballot amid an opposition boycott, and its results are non-binding. The final decision is also not in their hands but up to Congress. It did not act on the previous referendum's result, which was the first time ever a majority of valid votes were cast for statehood in the former Spanish colony. Close to 30% of all voters in that election cast blank or invalid ballots, a situation which generated doubts about the vote's political legitimacy. The 2017 referendum was called by the government of the island against a background of economic crisis, which some attribute at least partially to Puerto Rico's unusual legal status, halfway between independence and full statehood. Opponents of the vote back keeping the status quo. The current governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo (\"Ricky\") Rossello, who was sworn in on 2 January, campaigned on a promise of seeking full statehood for the island, which he says is needed to solve the current economic recession affecting Puerto Rico, the worst in decades. The economic crisis has led to large government deficits, a severe cutback in public services, an increase in local utility rates and sales taxes as well as ongoing protests against local and federal authorities, which are expected to continue. The island's government says it cannot meet all of its $72bn (PS56bn) debt obligations. Statehood advocates point out that while US laws have allowed other heavily indebted US local governments to seek bankruptcy protection, Puerto Rico has fewer means of legal defence because it is not a US state. Proponents of statehood also argue that if it became fully integrated into the Union, Puerto Rico would receive more federal spending to reactivate the economy, which currently has an unemployment rate close to 12%. All Puerto Ricans are already US citizens, with unrestricted rights to settle on the US mainland. But if they obtained statehood, Puerto Ricans living on the island would for the first time be able to vote in US presidential elections, and would elect lawmakers with the right to vote in the US Congress. Puerto Ricans would also become eligible for the full welfare benefits currently available to US citizens living in the 50 states. On the other hand, Puerto Ricans on the island would have to start paying full federal income taxes. They currently do not pay US income taxes on earnings obtained on the island. Few expect current US lawmakers to be very enthusiastic about eventual statehood for Puerto Rico. One big reason is that the Republican-controlled US Congress might be wary of a move that could erode their majority in both houses by allowing the Democratic-leaning Puerto Rican electorate to choose two new senators and several members of the House of Representatives. Also, granting Puerto Rico statehood would lead to greater federal spending on the island, which could prove unpopular at a time when the Republican majority in Congress is calling for sweeping spending cuts. Puerto Rico would be the poorest state in the Union, with many of its residents becoming eligible for greater federal welfare payments.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1521,
"answer_start": 1006,
"text": "The current governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo (\"Ricky\") Rossello, who was sworn in on 2 January, campaigned on a promise of seeking full statehood for the island, which he says is needed to solve the current economic recession affecting Puerto Rico, the worst in decades. The economic crisis has led to large government deficits, a severe cutback in public services, an increase in local utility rates and sales taxes as well as ongoing protests against local and federal authorities, which are expected to continue."
}
],
"id": "1292_0",
"question": "Why was a new referendum called?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2037,
"answer_start": 1522,
"text": "The island's government says it cannot meet all of its $72bn (PS56bn) debt obligations. Statehood advocates point out that while US laws have allowed other heavily indebted US local governments to seek bankruptcy protection, Puerto Rico has fewer means of legal defence because it is not a US state. Proponents of statehood also argue that if it became fully integrated into the Union, Puerto Rico would receive more federal spending to reactivate the economy, which currently has an unemployment rate close to 12%."
}
],
"id": "1292_1",
"question": "How could becoming a US state help Puerto Rico solve its financial problems?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2652,
"answer_start": 2038,
"text": "All Puerto Ricans are already US citizens, with unrestricted rights to settle on the US mainland. But if they obtained statehood, Puerto Ricans living on the island would for the first time be able to vote in US presidential elections, and would elect lawmakers with the right to vote in the US Congress. Puerto Ricans would also become eligible for the full welfare benefits currently available to US citizens living in the 50 states. On the other hand, Puerto Ricans on the island would have to start paying full federal income taxes. They currently do not pay US income taxes on earnings obtained on the island."
}
],
"id": "1292_2",
"question": "How would everyday life change if the island became a US state?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3366,
"answer_start": 2653,
"text": "Few expect current US lawmakers to be very enthusiastic about eventual statehood for Puerto Rico. One big reason is that the Republican-controlled US Congress might be wary of a move that could erode their majority in both houses by allowing the Democratic-leaning Puerto Rican electorate to choose two new senators and several members of the House of Representatives. Also, granting Puerto Rico statehood would lead to greater federal spending on the island, which could prove unpopular at a time when the Republican majority in Congress is calling for sweeping spending cuts. Puerto Rico would be the poorest state in the Union, with many of its residents becoming eligible for greater federal welfare payments."
}
],
"id": "1292_3",
"question": "What happens next?"
}
]
}
] |
US and China edge closer to 'epic' trade deal, says Trump
|
5 April 2019
|
[
{
"context": "President Donald Trump says the US has found agreement on some of the toughest points in trade talks with China. He said a deal could come in the next four weeks, but added some sticking points remained. The Chinese echoed the optimism, with President Xi Jinping touting substantial progress, according to the Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The US and China have been in talks since December trying to end a trade war that is hurting the global economy. Mr Trump said the US and China had agreed on \"a lot of the most difficult points\" but that \"we have some ways to go\". He was speaking from the White House, before a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu He. The US president said if there was a deal, he would hold a summit with President Xi. \"This is an epic deal, historic - if it happens,\" said Mr Trump. \"This is the Grand Daddy of them all and we'll see if it happens. It's got a very good chance of happening.\" Sticking points in negotiations in recent weeks have included how fast to roll back tariffs and how a deal would be enforced. Mr Trump suggested at the press conference that some of these persisted. He said it would be tough for the US to allow trade to continue with China in the same way as in the past, if a deal did not materialise. The world's two largest economies imposed tariffs on billions of dollars worth of one another's goods over the past year. Negotiations between them have continued since a trade truce was agreed in December, but have at times been rocky. The BBC's China correspondent Robin Brant said that both sides were - yet again - giving conflicting signals. Mr Liu said the US and China had reached a new consensus on important issues like the text of the economic and trade agreement, Xinhua reported. While that echoed Mr Trump's comments, US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer sounded more cautious. He said there were still some major issues left in trade talks, according to reports. Mr Brant said there was clearly still significant distance between the two sides on the crucial issue of enforcement. The US accuses China of stealing intellectual property from American firms, forcing them to transfer technology to China. Washington wants Beijing to make changes to its economic policies, which it says unfairly favour domestic companies through subsidies and other support, and wants China to buy more US goods to rein in a lofty trade deficit. China accuses the US of launching the largest trade war in economic history, and is unlikely to embrace broader structural changes to its economy. Failure to achieve a deal may see the US more than double the 10% tariffs on $200bn (PS153bn) of Chinese goods and impose fresh tariffs. Mr Trump has in the past threatened to tax all Chinese goods going into the US. The US has already imposed tariffs on $250bn worth of Chinese goods, and China has retaliated with duties on $110bn of US products. The damaging trade war has already cast a shadow over global trade and the world economy.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2552,
"answer_start": 2060,
"text": "The US accuses China of stealing intellectual property from American firms, forcing them to transfer technology to China. Washington wants Beijing to make changes to its economic policies, which it says unfairly favour domestic companies through subsidies and other support, and wants China to buy more US goods to rein in a lofty trade deficit. China accuses the US of launching the largest trade war in economic history, and is unlikely to embrace broader structural changes to its economy."
}
],
"id": "1293_0",
"question": "What's being discussed?"
}
]
}
] |
Carlos Ghosn lawyer stunned as Nissan ex-boss flees Japan for Lebanon
|
31 December 2019
|
[
{
"context": "A lawyer for former Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn says he is \"dumbfounded\" by the news that his client has fled to Lebanon after jumping bail in Japan. \"We were completely caught by surprise,\" defence team head Junichiro Hironaka told reporters, adding that he had not spoken with Mr Ghosn. On Tuesday, Nissan's ex-CEO, who was awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges, confirmed he had left Japan. He said he had not fled justice but escaped \"political persecution\". The 65-year-old was one of the most powerful figures in the global car industry until his arrest in November 2018. He was born in Brazil to parents of Lebanese descent and was raised in Beirut, before travelling to France for further education. The French and Lebanese foreign ministries say they have no knowledge of the circumstances of Mr Ghosn's departure from Japan and subsequent arrival in Lebanon. Lebanese media has said he flew in on a private jet in via Turkey. \"I am dumbfounded,\" Mr Hironaka told reporters later on Tuesday. \"I don't even know if we can contact him. I don't know how we will proceed beyond that.\" He added that his legal team was still in possession of his passports. Mr Ghosn was released on $9m bail in April under strict conditions that barred him from travelling abroad. How he could have left Japan remains unclear. It is not known whether he was holding duplicate passports - as some businesspeople are sometimes allowed to do. There was video surveillance of his home, and he had restricted phone and computer usage. Mr Ghosn released a statement after news agencies on Monday reported he had travelled to Lebanon. Confirming he had gone to the Middle Eastern country, Mr Ghosn said he would \"no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied. \"I have not fled justice - I have escaped injustice and political persecution.\" Mr Ghosn has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Analysis by Quentin Sommerville, BBC News, Beirut The former Nissan boss will have no trouble finding somewhere safe and luxurious to stay in Lebanon. Of Lebanese heritage, Mr Ghosn spent his early years here with family members. He's much celebrated and even appears on one of the country's postage stamps. He is also the co-founder of the IXSIR vineyard here, which boasts wines that are rich and \"of remarkable elegance\". Escaping Japan would have been difficult given that his three passports were taken from him, but Lebanon has less than stringent border controls. Mr Ghosn is said to have arrived by private jet on Sunday evening and someone of his stature would have been able to breeze through immigration. When in town, he is often escorted by the security services. He's been held in Japan for more than a year and in that time Lebanon has changed dramatically. Months of protests against corruption and the political elite have ousted the prime minister, and there's a full-blown economic crisis. Japan gives millions in aid to Lebanon and will want Mr Ghosn returned. He may have successfully fled Japan, but he hasn't escaped his troubles. Once considered a hero in Japan for turning around Nissan - even becoming the subject of a Japanese comic book - Mr Ghosn spent 108 days in custody after his arrest in Tokyo in November 2018. Nissan sacked him three days after his arrest. Prosecutors allege that he underreported his salary and diverted money from the carmaker to cover potential personal trading losses. He is also accused of transferring Nissan funds to a dealership in Oman, and skimming off $5m for his personal use. Mr Ghosn denies all the charges.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1523,
"answer_start": 943,
"text": "\"I am dumbfounded,\" Mr Hironaka told reporters later on Tuesday. \"I don't even know if we can contact him. I don't know how we will proceed beyond that.\" He added that his legal team was still in possession of his passports. Mr Ghosn was released on $9m bail in April under strict conditions that barred him from travelling abroad. How he could have left Japan remains unclear. It is not known whether he was holding duplicate passports - as some businesspeople are sometimes allowed to do. There was video surveillance of his home, and he had restricted phone and computer usage."
}
],
"id": "1294_0",
"question": "What did his lawyer say?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1975,
"answer_start": 1524,
"text": "Mr Ghosn released a statement after news agencies on Monday reported he had travelled to Lebanon. Confirming he had gone to the Middle Eastern country, Mr Ghosn said he would \"no longer be held hostage by a rigged Japanese justice system where guilt is presumed, discrimination is rampant, and basic human rights are denied. \"I have not fled justice - I have escaped injustice and political persecution.\" Mr Ghosn has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing."
}
],
"id": "1294_1",
"question": "What did Carlos Ghosn say?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 3650,
"answer_start": 3130,
"text": "Once considered a hero in Japan for turning around Nissan - even becoming the subject of a Japanese comic book - Mr Ghosn spent 108 days in custody after his arrest in Tokyo in November 2018. Nissan sacked him three days after his arrest. Prosecutors allege that he underreported his salary and diverted money from the carmaker to cover potential personal trading losses. He is also accused of transferring Nissan funds to a dealership in Oman, and skimming off $5m for his personal use. Mr Ghosn denies all the charges."
}
],
"id": "1294_2",
"question": "What charges does Carlos Ghosn face?"
}
]
}
] |
Everest: British man among latest mountain deaths
|
25 May 2019
|
[
{
"context": "A British man died on Saturday minutes after summiting Mount Everest, bringing to 10 the total death toll this season on the world's highest peak. Robin Haynes Fisher, 44, reportedly fell ill while descending from the summit. An Irish man, Kevin Hynes, also died on Everest on Friday. Nepal is facing scrutiny for issuing a record 381 permits, at $11,000 (PS8,600) each, for this year's Spring season. There have been reports of overcrowding and queuing climbers near the summit. This week a photograph showing the tailbacks on Everest has been shared widely on social media. Mr Fisher made it to Everest's summit on Saturday morning but collapsed and died only 150m down from the peak, his expedition company confirmed. Guides tried to help Mr Fisher after he \"suddenly fell down\", Murari Sharma of Everest Parivar Expedition said. Despite efforts to wake him and to give him oxygen and water, the climber remained unresponsive and guides radioed their base camp to confirm he had died just 45 minutes after Mr Fisher had stood atop the mountain. Reports said one of his Sherpa guides had also complained of feeling ill, and was rescued to a lower camp. A statement from the Birmingham-based British climber's family paid tribute to an \"aspirational adventurer\" who \"lived life to the full\". \"We are deeply saddened by his loss as he still had so many more adventures and dreams to fulfil, the statement added. \"Everyone who ever met him in any capacity will always remember the positive impact he had on their lives.\" Kevin Hynes, 56, from Ireland died on Friday on the northern Tibet side of the mountain. The father-of-two passed away in his tent at 7,000m (23,000ft) after turning back before reaching the mountain's peak. Other deaths from this week include four people from India, one person from Nepal, an Austrian and an American. A second Irish man, professor Seamus Lawless, is presumed dead after falling on the mountain last week. In a statement on Friday, his family said that the search for his body had been called off in order to not endanger others. There are some 41 teams with 378 climbers who have permits to climb Everest during the spring climbing season in Nepal. That season lasts about three months and generally runs from March through May, and is usually a time when the weather is relatively warmer, views clearer and the chances of snow and rain lower. However, conditions this year have been worse than usual, with high winds leaving a large number of climbers a narrow time frame to reach the summit. This has led to long queues at difficult points on the mountain, exposing climbers to physically taxing conditions for longer than expected. Rising numbers of people climbing - and dying - on Everest has led for calls for permits to be limited. The number of people climbing Everest in 2019 could - after the busy autumn climbing season - exceed last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1519,
"answer_start": 576,
"text": "Mr Fisher made it to Everest's summit on Saturday morning but collapsed and died only 150m down from the peak, his expedition company confirmed. Guides tried to help Mr Fisher after he \"suddenly fell down\", Murari Sharma of Everest Parivar Expedition said. Despite efforts to wake him and to give him oxygen and water, the climber remained unresponsive and guides radioed their base camp to confirm he had died just 45 minutes after Mr Fisher had stood atop the mountain. Reports said one of his Sherpa guides had also complained of feeling ill, and was rescued to a lower camp. A statement from the Birmingham-based British climber's family paid tribute to an \"aspirational adventurer\" who \"lived life to the full\". \"We are deeply saddened by his loss as he still had so many more adventures and dreams to fulfil, the statement added. \"Everyone who ever met him in any capacity will always remember the positive impact he had on their lives.\""
}
],
"id": "1295_0",
"question": "What happened after British climber began his descent?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2067,
"answer_start": 1520,
"text": "Kevin Hynes, 56, from Ireland died on Friday on the northern Tibet side of the mountain. The father-of-two passed away in his tent at 7,000m (23,000ft) after turning back before reaching the mountain's peak. Other deaths from this week include four people from India, one person from Nepal, an Austrian and an American. A second Irish man, professor Seamus Lawless, is presumed dead after falling on the mountain last week. In a statement on Friday, his family said that the search for his body had been called off in order to not endanger others."
}
],
"id": "1295_1",
"question": "Who else had died on Everest this week?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2932,
"answer_start": 2068,
"text": "There are some 41 teams with 378 climbers who have permits to climb Everest during the spring climbing season in Nepal. That season lasts about three months and generally runs from March through May, and is usually a time when the weather is relatively warmer, views clearer and the chances of snow and rain lower. However, conditions this year have been worse than usual, with high winds leaving a large number of climbers a narrow time frame to reach the summit. This has led to long queues at difficult points on the mountain, exposing climbers to physically taxing conditions for longer than expected. Rising numbers of people climbing - and dying - on Everest has led for calls for permits to be limited. The number of people climbing Everest in 2019 could - after the busy autumn climbing season - exceed last year's record of 807 people reaching the summit."
}
],
"id": "1295_2",
"question": "Why have there been so many fatalities?"
}
]
}
] |
MH17: Four charged with shooting down plane over Ukraine
|
19 June 2019
|
[
{
"context": "For the first time since Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 was shot down in July 2014, prosecutors have announced charges against suspects in the case. Three Russians and a Ukrainian have been charged with bringing a missile into the area in eastern Ukraine and with murdering 298 passengers and crew. The passenger flight was en route from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur when it was shot down over conflict-hit Ukraine. Russia said the accusations against its military were \"absolutely threadbare\". International arrest warrants have been issued for the four suspects and a court case will begin in the Netherlands on 9 March 2020. The Dutch-led joint investigation team (JIT) named the men as Igor Girkin, Sergei Dubinsky and Oleg Pulatov from Russia, as well as Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko. The JIT, which is seeking to try the suspects under Dutch law, had previously said it had a \"long list\" of persons of interest and appealed again for witnesses as the investigation continued. The most prominent of the four is Igor Girkin (also known as Strelkov), who prosecutors say is a former colonel in Russia's FSB intelligence service. He was given the minister of defence title in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. He is believed to be the highest military officer in the area who was in direct contact with the Russian Federation. In a statement Mr Girkin said: \"I can only say that militia did not shoot down the Boeing.\" The others charged are: - Sergei Dubinsky (known as Khmury), who prosecutors say was employed by Russia's GRU military intelligence agency, was a deputy of Mr Girkin and in regular contact with Russia - Oleg Pulatov, known as Giurza, who the JIT says was a former soldier of GRU special forces and deputy head of the intelligence service in Donetsk - Ukrainian national Leonid Kharchenko, who has no military background but led a combat unit as a commander in eastern Ukraine, according to prosecutors \"These suspects are seen to have played an important role in the death of 298 innocent civilians\", said Dutch chief prosecutor Fred Westerbeke. \"Although they did not push the button themselves, we suspect them of close co-operation to get the [missile launcher] where it was, with the aim to shoot down an aeroplane.\" Investigators, he added, had \"evidence showing that Russia provided the missile launcher\". The investigative website Bellingcat has named 12 people it accuses of being involved in transporting the missile used to down MH17, including the four charged by the JIT. The passenger jet left Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport at 10:15 GMT on 17 July 2014 and was due to arrive at Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia the following day. A few hours after take-off, the plane lost contact with air traffic control about 50km (30 miles) from the Russia-Ukraine border. At the time, an armed conflict was raging on the ground in eastern Ukraine between Russian-backed separatists and Ukrainian government forces, and several government military aircraft had been downed in the previous weeks, while government air strikes were being carried out on rebel-held areas. The plane crashed in the Donetsk area, in territory controlled by separatists. Parts of the wreckage were found distributed over an area of about 50 sq km (19 square miles). In October 2015, the Dutch Safety Board concluded the plane had been hit by a Buk missile, causing it to break apart in mid-air. The JIT - which includes officials from the Netherlands, Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine - concluded in May 2018 that the missile system belonged to the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile brigade, based in the western Russian city of Kursk. It produced evidence that it said proved how the missile system had reached eastern Ukraine. Russia responded by denying any of its anti-aircraft missile systems had ever crossed the Ukrainian border. Australia and the Netherlands have both officially held Russia responsible for the crash. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called upon Russia to \"ensure that any indicted individuals currently in Russia face justice\". But Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it rejected the findings of the JIT which were \"aimed at discrediting the Russian Federation in the eyes of the international community\". Unnamed Dutch officials have told news agencies that Russia refused to co-operate with the investigation but the foreign ministry denied this, saying Russia had always been interested in establishing the truth. Russia accused the JIT of using dubious \"sources of information\", including evidence \"fabricated\" by Ukraine, while ignoring evidence offered by Russia. In July 2015, it vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that sought to set up a special tribunal to prosecute those responsible. Under Article 61 of Russia's constitution, no Russian citizen can be extradited to another state. A former rebel official in Donetsk, Andrei Purgin, said it was \"absurd\" to accuse the separatists of involvement in downing the plane, Russia's Interfax news agency reports. Asked by AFP news agency, Ukrainian security services said they had \"no information\" on Leonid Kharchenko's whereabouts or whether he was even still alive. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the Dutch-led inquiry's conclusions, Reuters news agency reports. He said he hoped \"those who are guilty of this brazen murder of innocent children, woman and men will be put in the dock\". UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Russia \"must co-operate fully with the prosecution and provide any assistance it requests\" in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2166, which was passed in response to the downing of MH17. \"The international community stands together against the impunity of those responsible for the despicable murder of 298 innocent people,\" he added. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the bringing of charges marked an \"important milestone in the efforts to uncover the full truth and ensure that justice is done\". A total of 283 passengers, including 80 children, and 15 crew members were killed on the flight. The dead included 193 Dutch nationals, 43 Malaysians, 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians, 10 Britons, four Belgians, four Germans, three Philippine nationals, one New Zealander and one Canadian. Speaking ahead of Wednesday's announcement, Silene Fredriksz, who lost her son Bryce, said that in the five years since the downing of MH17, some relatives had died not knowing the truth. \"We all get older... I hope that I will know the truth before I close my eyes,\" she said. Barry Sweeney, father of 28-year-old British victim Liam, said he was still looking for the truth. \"It's not going to bring anyone back, but if I found out why it happened, it would bring a bit of closure,\" he said.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2516,
"answer_start": 977,
"text": "The most prominent of the four is Igor Girkin (also known as Strelkov), who prosecutors say is a former colonel in Russia's FSB intelligence service. He was given the minister of defence title in the rebel-held eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. He is believed to be the highest military officer in the area who was in direct contact with the Russian Federation. In a statement Mr Girkin said: \"I can only say that militia did not shoot down the Boeing.\" The others charged are: - Sergei Dubinsky (known as Khmury), who prosecutors say was employed by Russia's GRU military intelligence agency, was a deputy of Mr Girkin and in regular contact with Russia - Oleg Pulatov, known as Giurza, who the JIT says was a former soldier of GRU special forces and deputy head of the intelligence service in Donetsk - Ukrainian national Leonid Kharchenko, who has no military background but led a combat unit as a commander in eastern Ukraine, according to prosecutors \"These suspects are seen to have played an important role in the death of 298 innocent civilians\", said Dutch chief prosecutor Fred Westerbeke. \"Although they did not push the button themselves, we suspect them of close co-operation to get the [missile launcher] where it was, with the aim to shoot down an aeroplane.\" Investigators, he added, had \"evidence showing that Russia provided the missile launcher\". The investigative website Bellingcat has named 12 people it accuses of being involved in transporting the missile used to down MH17, including the four charged by the JIT."
}
],
"id": "1296_0",
"question": "Who are the suspects?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5172,
"answer_start": 3929,
"text": "US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called upon Russia to \"ensure that any indicted individuals currently in Russia face justice\". But Russia's foreign ministry said in a statement that it rejected the findings of the JIT which were \"aimed at discrediting the Russian Federation in the eyes of the international community\". Unnamed Dutch officials have told news agencies that Russia refused to co-operate with the investigation but the foreign ministry denied this, saying Russia had always been interested in establishing the truth. Russia accused the JIT of using dubious \"sources of information\", including evidence \"fabricated\" by Ukraine, while ignoring evidence offered by Russia. In July 2015, it vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that sought to set up a special tribunal to prosecute those responsible. Under Article 61 of Russia's constitution, no Russian citizen can be extradited to another state. A former rebel official in Donetsk, Andrei Purgin, said it was \"absurd\" to accuse the separatists of involvement in downing the plane, Russia's Interfax news agency reports. Asked by AFP news agency, Ukrainian security services said they had \"no information\" on Leonid Kharchenko's whereabouts or whether he was even still alive."
}
],
"id": "1296_1",
"question": "Will the suspects ever face trial?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 5958,
"answer_start": 5173,
"text": "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the Dutch-led inquiry's conclusions, Reuters news agency reports. He said he hoped \"those who are guilty of this brazen murder of innocent children, woman and men will be put in the dock\". UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said Russia \"must co-operate fully with the prosecution and provide any assistance it requests\" in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2166, which was passed in response to the downing of MH17. \"The international community stands together against the impunity of those responsible for the despicable murder of 298 innocent people,\" he added. Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said the bringing of charges marked an \"important milestone in the efforts to uncover the full truth and ensure that justice is done\"."
}
],
"id": "1296_2",
"question": "Who has welcomed the charges?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 6740,
"answer_start": 5959,
"text": "A total of 283 passengers, including 80 children, and 15 crew members were killed on the flight. The dead included 193 Dutch nationals, 43 Malaysians, 27 Australians, 12 Indonesians, 10 Britons, four Belgians, four Germans, three Philippine nationals, one New Zealander and one Canadian. Speaking ahead of Wednesday's announcement, Silene Fredriksz, who lost her son Bryce, said that in the five years since the downing of MH17, some relatives had died not knowing the truth. \"We all get older... I hope that I will know the truth before I close my eyes,\" she said. Barry Sweeney, father of 28-year-old British victim Liam, said he was still looking for the truth. \"It's not going to bring anyone back, but if I found out why it happened, it would bring a bit of closure,\" he said."
}
],
"id": "1296_3",
"question": "Who were the victims?"
}
]
}
] |
Austria may disband far-right group over link to NZ attack suspect
|
28 March 2019
|
[
{
"context": "Austria's government has said it may disband a far-right group that received a donation from the main suspect in the New Zealand mosque attacks. The suspect, Brenton Tarrant, also visited Austria on a European tour late last year, the government confirmed. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said the government was investigating whether the Identitarian Movement Austria (IBO) was a \"terrorist organisation\". Mr Tarrant gave the IBO about EUR1,500 (PS1,290), prosecutors say. The group's leader, Martin Sellner, confirmed the donation but denied any ties to the suspect. Mr Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian and self-proclaimed white supremacist, has been charged with murder in connection with attacks at two mosques in the city of Christchurch in which 50 people were killed. He visited Austria from 27 November to 4 December last year, Austrian Interior Minister Herbert Kickl said, adding that Mr Tarrant's possible links with Austrian extremists were being investigated. The Christchurch suspect arrived in Austria from Hungary and later travelled to the Estonian capital Tallinn, covering 2,000km (1,243 miles) in a hire car, Mr Kickl said. Mr Tarrant had also visited North Korea in 2014 in a tour group including three Austrians, Mr Kickl told Austrian MPs. Earlier Chancellor Kurz said \"we can now confirm that there was financial support, and so a link, between the New Zealand attacker and the Identitarian Movement in Austria\". \"Our position on this is very clear, no kind of extremism whatsoever - whether it's radical Islamists or right-wing extremist fanatics - has any place in our society,\" he said. He said the IBO would be dissolved if it was deemed to be a terrorist group. Mr Kurz's own conservative Austrian People's Party is in coalition with the far-right Freedom Party, making Austria the only country in Western Europe with a far-right presence in government. Freedom Party leader and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache said on Wednesday that his party had \"nothing to do with the Identitarians\". The Identitarians are a pan-European far-right movement hostile to multiculturalism, claiming to \"defend\" white Europeans against immigrants from Africa and the Middle East. In 2017, they helped charter a ship to stop migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Libya. They have spread a conspiracy theory on the web known as \"the great replacement\", which sees immigrants as a threat to \"white\" Western culture. That theory was in Mr Tarrant's \"manifesto\". He also made numerous references to 1683 - a symbolic date for Identitarians, as the year when Ottoman Turks were defeated at the gates of Vienna. Demographic data disproves the notion that non-European immigrants could turn white Europeans into a minority. In a video posted online on Monday, Mr Sellner said he had received an email containing a \"disproportionately large\" donation from a person named \"Tarrant\". He said he had sent a \"thank you\" reply as he did with other donations. \"I have nothing to do with this terror attack,\" Mr Sellner said, arguing that his organisation was a peaceful anti-immigration group. He said investigators raided his flat in Vienna on Monday and seized his phone, computer, and other devices. Austrian authorities confirmed last week that Brenton Tarrant had visited Austria, reportedly in November, although details of his stay there are unknown.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2732,
"answer_start": 2020,
"text": "The Identitarians are a pan-European far-right movement hostile to multiculturalism, claiming to \"defend\" white Europeans against immigrants from Africa and the Middle East. In 2017, they helped charter a ship to stop migrants crossing the Mediterranean from Libya. They have spread a conspiracy theory on the web known as \"the great replacement\", which sees immigrants as a threat to \"white\" Western culture. That theory was in Mr Tarrant's \"manifesto\". He also made numerous references to 1683 - a symbolic date for Identitarians, as the year when Ottoman Turks were defeated at the gates of Vienna. Demographic data disproves the notion that non-European immigrants could turn white Europeans into a minority."
}
],
"id": "1297_0",
"question": "Who are the Identitarians?"
}
]
}
] |
Kenya election: Kenyatta vows to overcome divisions
|
28 November 2017
|
[
{
"context": "Uhuru Kenyatta has vowed to overcome Kenya's divisions after being sworn in for a second term as president, at a ceremony boycotted by the opposition. Speaking after his inauguration in the capital Nairobi, he said he would try to incorporate some of the opposition's ideas \"in the spirit of inclusivity\". Two people died when police clashed with opposition supporters in the city. Opposition leader Raila Odinga announced plans to be sworn in himself as president next month. He boycotted last month's repeat election and has not recognised Mr Kenyatta's victory. Mr Kenyatta was officially re-elected with 98% of the vote on 26 October but just under 39% of voters turned out. The original election on 8 August was held again after being annulled by the Supreme Court on grounds of irregularities. Embarking on his second and last term in office, he promised to act as \"the custodian of the dreams of all\" Kenyans. Without specifying whether he would reach out to Mr Odinga, he said: \"We may have chosen different candidates and different visions, but each one of us voted for a better life. \"To my competitors, and in the spirit of inclusivity, I will endeavour to incorporate some of their ideas. The election was not a contest between a good dream and a bad dream. It was a contest between two competing visions. \"I will devote my time and energy to build bridges, to unite and bring prosperity to all Kenyans.\" Spectators inside Nairobi's Kasarani sports stadium were entertained by music and dance performances, while the military paraded. However, there were scenes of chaos outside when people without seats tried to rush in and were driven back by police with tear gas and batons, with some officers on horseback. Big screens had been promised so that tens of thousands of people could watch the ceremony from outside the stadium but no screens were provided, AFP news agency reports. Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Rwandan President Paul Kagame were among a number of African leaders at the inauguration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also expected in Nairobi but for a later event in the presidential palace, the Jerusalem Post reports. Chief Justice David Maraga said the August election had not been \"conducted in accordance with the constitution\" and declared it \"invalid, null and void\". The Supreme Court ruled that the result had been \"neither transparent nor verifiable\". But Mr Odinga urged his supporters to boycott the second vote because he said no reforms had been made to the electoral commission since the original poll. Correspondents say the election dispute has left Kenya deeply divided. About 50 people are reported to have been killed in violence since the August ballot. By Anne Soy, BBC News, Nairobi There were confrontations between police and opposition supporters in the suburb of Doonholm. Angry protesters lit tyres, barricaded roads and threw stones at the police and some ruling party supporters. \"No Raila, no peace,\" they shouted as police lobbed tear gas canisters to disperse them. \"We do not recognise Uhuru Kenyatta,\" one protester holding a sling loaded with a stone told me. Another protester said he was angry that the police had blocked access to the venue where the opposition had planned to hold a rally. Mr Odinga told the BBC that they wanted to mourn the death of their supporters who were allegedly killed by police over the past week-and-a-half. The police have denied shooting and killing any opposition supporters. Addressing his supporters on a road in Nairobi, Mr Odinga said he himself would be sworn in as president on 12 December. According to Mr Odinga, Mr Kenyatta was elected by \"just a small section of the country\". Local media and police sources reported the deaths of two people, at least one of whom was shot as police battled protesters with tear gas and batons. Opposition activists had been trying to hold a rally in the city's Jacaranda grounds, far away from the stadium, to commemorate 50 or so people killed since the August vote. In the opposition stronghold of Kisumu, in the west of the country, local people told BBC News they were not happy with the inauguration. \"I am going to peacefully accept and move on but I won't recognise this presidency,\" said one man. A woman said Mr Kenyatta had not won fairly. \"So we feel that it's not time to move on,\" she said. \"It will not be an easy thing to do.\"",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1416,
"answer_start": 800,
"text": "Embarking on his second and last term in office, he promised to act as \"the custodian of the dreams of all\" Kenyans. Without specifying whether he would reach out to Mr Odinga, he said: \"We may have chosen different candidates and different visions, but each one of us voted for a better life. \"To my competitors, and in the spirit of inclusivity, I will endeavour to incorporate some of their ideas. The election was not a contest between a good dream and a bad dream. It was a contest between two competing visions. \"I will devote my time and energy to build bridges, to unite and bring prosperity to all Kenyans.\""
}
],
"id": "1298_0",
"question": "What did Kenyatta say exactly?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1894,
"answer_start": 1417,
"text": "Spectators inside Nairobi's Kasarani sports stadium were entertained by music and dance performances, while the military paraded. However, there were scenes of chaos outside when people without seats tried to rush in and were driven back by police with tear gas and batons, with some officers on horseback. Big screens had been promised so that tens of thousands of people could watch the ceremony from outside the stadium but no screens were provided, AFP news agency reports."
}
],
"id": "1298_1",
"question": "How did the inauguration unfold?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2184,
"answer_start": 1895,
"text": "Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Rwandan President Paul Kagame were among a number of African leaders at the inauguration. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was also expected in Nairobi but for a later event in the presidential palace, the Jerusalem Post reports."
}
],
"id": "1298_2",
"question": "Which foreign leaders attended?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2739,
"answer_start": 2185,
"text": "Chief Justice David Maraga said the August election had not been \"conducted in accordance with the constitution\" and declared it \"invalid, null and void\". The Supreme Court ruled that the result had been \"neither transparent nor verifiable\". But Mr Odinga urged his supporters to boycott the second vote because he said no reforms had been made to the electoral commission since the original poll. Correspondents say the election dispute has left Kenya deeply divided. About 50 people are reported to have been killed in violence since the August ballot."
}
],
"id": "1298_3",
"question": "Why was the election re-run?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 4421,
"answer_start": 3512,
"text": "Addressing his supporters on a road in Nairobi, Mr Odinga said he himself would be sworn in as president on 12 December. According to Mr Odinga, Mr Kenyatta was elected by \"just a small section of the country\". Local media and police sources reported the deaths of two people, at least one of whom was shot as police battled protesters with tear gas and batons. Opposition activists had been trying to hold a rally in the city's Jacaranda grounds, far away from the stadium, to commemorate 50 or so people killed since the August vote. In the opposition stronghold of Kisumu, in the west of the country, local people told BBC News they were not happy with the inauguration. \"I am going to peacefully accept and move on but I won't recognise this presidency,\" said one man. A woman said Mr Kenyatta had not won fairly. \"So we feel that it's not time to move on,\" she said. \"It will not be an easy thing to do.\""
}
],
"id": "1298_4",
"question": "How are the opposition responding?"
}
]
}
] |
DR Congo election candidates refuse to back code of conduct
|
29 December 2018
|
[
{
"context": "Opposition candidates in Sunday's election in the Democratic Republic of Congo have refused to approve a statement aimed at reducing tension before the poll. The elections are taking place two years later than scheduled and the run-up has been marred by violence. Three leading presidential candidates held talks in the capital on Saturday. But afterwards opposition figures Martin Fayulu and Felix Tshisekedi said they would not endorse the peace pact. They said officials had rejected changes they had suggested to the text. With less than a day before the election, there are concerns over groups not being allowed to vote, and over electronic machines being used for the first time. If everything passes without incident, this will be the first peaceful transition in DR Congo since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. The current president, Joseph Kabila, took over from his assassinated father Laurent in 2001, but he is barred from running for another term under the constitution. He was supposed to step down two years ago, but the election was postponed after the electoral commission said it needed more time to register voters. The decision triggered violent clashes, as the opposition accused Joseph Kabila of trying to cling on to power. Then last week, the election was delayed again, for seven days, because of problems deploying voting materials to polling sites. This all came after thousands of electronic voting machines were destroyed in a fire in Kinshasa. Three leading candidates and electoral officials met in a Kinshasa hotel on Saturday. Leading opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, a former oil tycoon, had said the aim was to \"sign an agreement which ensures we will all behave correctly during an after the electoral process\". But AFP later quoted Mr Fayulu as saying that he and Mr Tshisekedi, the son of a late long-term opposition leader, wanted amendments and refused to sign the text. This week, voting in three districts was postponed until March, with the electoral commission blaming insecurity and an Ebola virus outbreak. About 1.2m people will not be able to vote on Sunday as a result, in a country of close to 40m voters. The decision in effect cancelled their votes, as the new president is due to be sworn in by mid-January regardless. A crowd attacked an Ebola clinic in the east of the country after the announcement. On Saturday, opposition candidate Theodore Ngoy tried to get the constitutional court to hold an emergency session to consider holding the vote in those areas. But the BBC's Salim Kikeke in Kinshasa says the chances of the election being reinstated there are slim. Separately, Mr Kabila gave a round of interviews on Saturday defending the record of a government that has been criticised for corruption and rights abuses. He is backing former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary in the election. \"I firmly believe that everything will be all right on Sunday,\" he told France's Le Monde newspaper. The vast central African state is rich in mineral resources and is the world's leading producer of cobalt, used to power mobile phones and electric cars. However, it has high levels of poverty, bad infrastructure, and a political and business elite accused of enriching itself at the expense of the poor. It has also been at the centre of what some observers call \"Africa's world war\", between 1997 and 2003. The conflict, which dragged in regional states, claimed up to six million lives, either as a direct result of fighting or because of disease and malnutrition.",
"qas": [
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 1486,
"answer_start": 687,
"text": "If everything passes without incident, this will be the first peaceful transition in DR Congo since it gained independence from Belgium in 1960. The current president, Joseph Kabila, took over from his assassinated father Laurent in 2001, but he is barred from running for another term under the constitution. He was supposed to step down two years ago, but the election was postponed after the electoral commission said it needed more time to register voters. The decision triggered violent clashes, as the opposition accused Joseph Kabila of trying to cling on to power. Then last week, the election was delayed again, for seven days, because of problems deploying voting materials to polling sites. This all came after thousands of electronic voting machines were destroyed in a fire in Kinshasa."
}
],
"id": "1299_0",
"question": "What's the context for these elections?"
},
{
"answers": [
{
"answer_end": 2976,
"answer_start": 1487,
"text": "Three leading candidates and electoral officials met in a Kinshasa hotel on Saturday. Leading opposition candidate Martin Fayulu, a former oil tycoon, had said the aim was to \"sign an agreement which ensures we will all behave correctly during an after the electoral process\". But AFP later quoted Mr Fayulu as saying that he and Mr Tshisekedi, the son of a late long-term opposition leader, wanted amendments and refused to sign the text. This week, voting in three districts was postponed until March, with the electoral commission blaming insecurity and an Ebola virus outbreak. About 1.2m people will not be able to vote on Sunday as a result, in a country of close to 40m voters. The decision in effect cancelled their votes, as the new president is due to be sworn in by mid-January regardless. A crowd attacked an Ebola clinic in the east of the country after the announcement. On Saturday, opposition candidate Theodore Ngoy tried to get the constitutional court to hold an emergency session to consider holding the vote in those areas. But the BBC's Salim Kikeke in Kinshasa says the chances of the election being reinstated there are slim. Separately, Mr Kabila gave a round of interviews on Saturday defending the record of a government that has been criticised for corruption and rights abuses. He is backing former Interior Minister Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary in the election. \"I firmly believe that everything will be all right on Sunday,\" he told France's Le Monde newspaper."
}
],
"id": "1299_1",
"question": "What's the latest?"
}
]
}
] |
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