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[ { "context": "Indian police have shot dead four men suspected of raping and killing a young female vet in Hyderabad last week. The men were in police detention and were taken back to the scene of the crime in the early hours of Friday. The suspects were shot when they tried to steal the officers' guns and escape, police told BBC Telugu. However, human rights organisations including Amnesty International have called for investigations to determine if these were extrajudicial killings. \"Extrajudicial killings are not a solution to preventing rape,\" said Avinash Kumar, executive director of Amnesty International India. The 27-year-old rape victim's charred remains were discovered last Thursday - leading to outrage and protests over alleged police inaction. After news of the killings broke, the victim's mother told the BBC, \"justice has been done\", while neighbours celebrated with firecrackers, and thousands of people took to the streets to hail the police. Ten armed policemen took the four suspects - who were not handcuffed - to the scene of the crime to reconstruct the incident early on Friday, said VC Sajjanar, police commissioner of the Hyderabad suburb of Cyberabad. The toll plaza where the rape and murder took place is close to the suburb, which houses a number of global tech companies like Microsoft and Google. The police were looking for the victim's phone, power bank and watch which were reported missing, the police commissioner said. \"The four men got together and started to attack the officers with stones and sticks and also snatched away weapons from two officers and started firing,\" the commissioner said, in response to questions about why the men had been killed. \"Although the officers maintained restraint and asked them to surrender, they continued to fire and attack us. This went on for 15 minutes. We retaliated and four accused got killed.\" Two officers suffered head injuries but these were not caused by bullets, he added. The two police officers were admitted to hospital, he said \"Let me tell you this. The law has taken its own course,\" he added. The police were heavily criticised after the rape and murder of the vet - particularly when the victim's family accused them of inaction for two hours. Analysis by G S Ram Mohan, BBC Telugu editor Police \"encounter killings\" - the term for an extrajudicial killing dressed up as an unavoidable police action - are nothing new in this part of the country. A long-running Maoist insurgency in the 1980s and 1990s saw many those suspected of involvement with the group being killed in a similar manner. VC Sajjanar, the commissioner of the police division that killed the four suspects on Friday, had in fact been involved in an encounter before - an incident which played out in a strikingly similar manner. He was superintendent of police when three people accused of carrying out an acid attack on a woman were killed at the scene of the crime by police. They were also taken there to \"recreate\" the crime and were reportedly shot while trying to escape. Supt Sajjanar received great adulation then and become a hero. BBC Telugu's Deepthi Bathini visited the family in their home, where neighbours could be seen celebrating the news by setting off firecrackers and distributing sweets. \"I can't put it into words. I felt happiness but also grief because my daughter will never come home,\" the victim's mother said. \"My daughter's soul is at peace now. Justice has been done. I never thought we would get justice. No other girl should experience what my daughter did.\" The mother added that she wanted the law on sexual assault and rape to be stricter. \"Men should be scared to even stare at women - because they will be punished,\" she said. News of the police action has been widely celebrated on social media. Many took to Twitter and Facebook to applaud the police, saying they had \"delivered justice\". The mother of a student who died after being gang-raped on a bus in capital Delhi in 2012 also hailed the killing. \"I am extremely happy with this punishment. Police have done a great job,\" she told ANI news agency. BBC Telugu reporter Satish Balla, reporting from the scene of the killings, said approximately 2,000 people had gathered, causing a huge traffic jam. Police were showered with rose petals. A few have questioned the police's version of events. Prakash Singh, a retired police officer and a key architect of police reforms, told the BBC the killings were \"entirely avoidable\". \"Abundant caution should be taken when people in custody are being taken to the court or the scene of the crime,\" he said. \"They should be secured, handcuffed and properly searched before they are taken out. All kinds of things can happen if the police are not careful.\" But Mr Singh said it was too early to say if the incident was an extrajudicial killing - known popularly in India as an \"encounter killing\". In the days after the rape and murder, thousands of people had protested at Hyderabad police station, insisting the killers faced the death penalty. Jaya Bachchan, a former Bollywood star who is now an MP in India's upper house of parliament, said earlier this week that the accused men should be \"lynched\". Several other MPs from across the political spectrum also condemned the brutal gang-rape and murder. Elsewhere in the country, there were other protests and vigils for the victim, who cannot be named under Indian law. The victim left home on her motorbike at about 18:00 local time (12:30 GMT) 10 days ago to go to a doctor's appointment. She called family later to say she had a flat tyre, and a lorry driver had offered to help. She said she was waiting near a toll plaza. Efforts to contact her afterwards were unsuccessful, and her body was discovered under a flyover last Thursday. Last week, three police officers were suspended when the victim's family accused them of not acting quickly enough when the woman was reported missing. Officers had suggested she may have eloped, relatives told the National Commission for Women, a government body. Rape and sexual violence against women have been in focus in India since the December 2012 gang-rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in the capital, Delhi. But there has been no sign that crimes against women are abating. According to government figures, police registered 33,658 cases of rape in India in 2017, an average of 92 rapes every day.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2234, "answer_start": 954, "text": "Ten armed policemen took the four suspects - who were not handcuffed - to the scene of the crime to reconstruct the incident early on Friday, said VC Sajjanar, police commissioner of the Hyderabad suburb of Cyberabad. The toll plaza where the rape and murder took place is close to the suburb, which houses a number of global tech companies like Microsoft and Google. The police were looking for the victim's phone, power bank and watch which were reported missing, the police commissioner said. \"The four men got together and started to attack the officers with stones and sticks and also snatched away weapons from two officers and started firing,\" the commissioner said, in response to questions about why the men had been killed. \"Although the officers maintained restraint and asked them to surrender, they continued to fire and attack us. This went on for 15 minutes. We retaliated and four accused got killed.\" Two officers suffered head injuries but these were not caused by bullets, he added. The two police officers were admitted to hospital, he said \"Let me tell you this. The law has taken its own course,\" he added. The police were heavily criticised after the rape and murder of the vet - particularly when the victim's family accused them of inaction for two hours." } ], "id": "700_0", "question": "How do the police explain the shooting?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3723, "answer_start": 3101, "text": "BBC Telugu's Deepthi Bathini visited the family in their home, where neighbours could be seen celebrating the news by setting off firecrackers and distributing sweets. \"I can't put it into words. I felt happiness but also grief because my daughter will never come home,\" the victim's mother said. \"My daughter's soul is at peace now. Justice has been done. I never thought we would get justice. No other girl should experience what my daughter did.\" The mother added that she wanted the law on sexual assault and rape to be stricter. \"Men should be scared to even stare at women - because they will be punished,\" she said." } ], "id": "700_1", "question": "How have the victim's family reacted?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4292, "answer_start": 3724, "text": "News of the police action has been widely celebrated on social media. Many took to Twitter and Facebook to applaud the police, saying they had \"delivered justice\". The mother of a student who died after being gang-raped on a bus in capital Delhi in 2012 also hailed the killing. \"I am extremely happy with this punishment. Police have done a great job,\" she told ANI news agency. BBC Telugu reporter Satish Balla, reporting from the scene of the killings, said approximately 2,000 people had gathered, causing a huge traffic jam. Police were showered with rose petals." } ], "id": "700_2", "question": "What about the wider reaction?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5416, "answer_start": 4293, "text": "A few have questioned the police's version of events. Prakash Singh, a retired police officer and a key architect of police reforms, told the BBC the killings were \"entirely avoidable\". \"Abundant caution should be taken when people in custody are being taken to the court or the scene of the crime,\" he said. \"They should be secured, handcuffed and properly searched before they are taken out. All kinds of things can happen if the police are not careful.\" But Mr Singh said it was too early to say if the incident was an extrajudicial killing - known popularly in India as an \"encounter killing\". In the days after the rape and murder, thousands of people had protested at Hyderabad police station, insisting the killers faced the death penalty. Jaya Bachchan, a former Bollywood star who is now an MP in India's upper house of parliament, said earlier this week that the accused men should be \"lynched\". Several other MPs from across the political spectrum also condemned the brutal gang-rape and murder. Elsewhere in the country, there were other protests and vigils for the victim, who cannot be named under Indian law." } ], "id": "700_3", "question": "Could the police have acted differently?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6050, "answer_start": 5417, "text": "The victim left home on her motorbike at about 18:00 local time (12:30 GMT) 10 days ago to go to a doctor's appointment. She called family later to say she had a flat tyre, and a lorry driver had offered to help. She said she was waiting near a toll plaza. Efforts to contact her afterwards were unsuccessful, and her body was discovered under a flyover last Thursday. Last week, three police officers were suspended when the victim's family accused them of not acting quickly enough when the woman was reported missing. Officers had suggested she may have eloped, relatives told the National Commission for Women, a government body." } ], "id": "700_4", "question": "How did the vet's murder happen?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6401, "answer_start": 6051, "text": "Rape and sexual violence against women have been in focus in India since the December 2012 gang-rape and murder of a young woman on a bus in the capital, Delhi. But there has been no sign that crimes against women are abating. According to government figures, police registered 33,658 cases of rape in India in 2017, an average of 92 rapes every day." } ], "id": "700_5", "question": "Are women any safer in India today?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US has been given 90 days to drop a special tax exemption for the giant aerospace company Boeing because it amounts to an unlawful subsidy. The World Trade Organization (WTO) made the order after investigating a complaint from the European Union. The tax cut was provided by the state of Washington in 2013 to ensure that wings for Boeing's new 777X jetliner were made only there. The tax cut was \"prohibited\" under its rules, said the WTO. The WTO decided that the measure, giving Boeing a special and very low \"business and occupation\" tax rate, was unlawful because it hinged on the aeroplane company being required to use local rather than imported materials - the wings - which in turn would distort trade. \"The Panel has found that the European Union has demonstrated that the B&O aerospace tax rate for the manufacturing or sale of commercial airplanes under the 777X programme... is a subsidy contingent upon the use of domestic over imported goods [and is] prohibited,\" said the WTO in its ruling. \"Accordingly, taking into account the nature of the prohibited subsidy found in this dispute, the Panel recommends that the United States withdraw it without delay and within 90 days,\" it added. However an EU complaint about six other tax measures was rejected, although they were still deemed to be subsidies. Boeing downplayed the impact of the WTO ruling against it. \"In total, the EU claimed that Boeing had received $8.7bn in subsidies. This claim was rejected by the WTO, which found future incentives totalling no more than $50 million a year to be impermissible,\" Boeing said. The aerospace company added: \"The WTO found that to date Boeing has received no benefit from the 777X (tax) rate incentive, and will not until 2020, because the first airplane will not be delivered until then.\" However the EU Trade Commissioner, Cecilia Malmstrom, adopted a different interpretation of the WTO ruling. \"The panel has found that the additional massive subsidies of $5.7bn provided by Washington state to Boeing are strictly illegal,\" she said. \"We expect the US to respect the rules, uphold fair competition and withdraw these subsidies without any delay\". Tom Enders, chief executive of Boeing's big rival Airbus, which in September was on the receiving end of a similar WTO ruling about EU subsidies - a complaint initiated by Boeing - held out an olive branch. \"I continue to think that the only way out of the ridiculous series of disputes initiated by the US is to agree on a set of globally applicable rules for the support of the civil aircraft industry, which would benefit both sides of the Atlantic,\" he said. Either side in the Boeing subsidy dispute - the EU or the US - can appeal against the WTO ruling.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2729, "answer_start": 1915, "text": "\"The panel has found that the additional massive subsidies of $5.7bn provided by Washington state to Boeing are strictly illegal,\" she said. \"We expect the US to respect the rules, uphold fair competition and withdraw these subsidies without any delay\". Tom Enders, chief executive of Boeing's big rival Airbus, which in September was on the receiving end of a similar WTO ruling about EU subsidies - a complaint initiated by Boeing - held out an olive branch. \"I continue to think that the only way out of the ridiculous series of disputes initiated by the US is to agree on a set of globally applicable rules for the support of the civil aircraft industry, which would benefit both sides of the Atlantic,\" he said. Either side in the Boeing subsidy dispute - the EU or the US - can appeal against the WTO ruling." } ], "id": "701_0", "question": "Global rules?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Thousands of people travelling across Central America en masse to the US are stuck on Mexico's southern border after a failed attempt to enter the country. Some of them broke through Guatemalan border fences but then clashed with Mexican riot police in no man's land. On Friday, US President Donald Trump thanked Mexico for its efforts in stopping the caravan of migrants. The migrants, mostly from Honduras, say they are fleeing violence and poverty, and include women and children. President Trump, who has threatened to close down the US border and cut aid to countries allowing the caravan to pass, said the military would be called upon if needed. \"They might as well turn back, they're not coming into this country,\" he told reporters on Friday. After talks on border security in Mexico, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the situation was reaching \"a moment of crisis\". Many of the migrants temporarily broke through barriers on a bridge which crosses the river border between Guatemala and Mexico. Dozens of Mexican police in riot gear fired tear gas to force them to retreat into no-man's land after being attacked with stones. A number of migrants jumped into the Suchiate river to reach rafts, while others either turned back towards Guatemala or simply sat down on the bridge. Several people were reportedly injured in the clash, including migrants, police and journalists. One woman nursing a baby told AFP she had lost two of her children in the chaos. \"We're running away from violence, and we arrive here and they just hit us more,\" Marta Ornelas Cazares, 28, said. \"I don't know what happened, I thought we were going to cross peacefully and then suddenly there were rocks flying and tear gas.\" The Mexican authorities said those with valid passports and visas would be allowed in immediately, though this is believed to apply to only a minority of the migrants. They warned that anyone without papers would have to apply for refugee status or turn back, and anyone who crossed illegally would be detained and deported. According to AFP, they started to allow a small number of people - including women and children - who were seeking refugee status to pass the border late on Friday. They were put on to trucks and taken into shelters. Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said he had spoken to his Guatemalan counterpart and asked permission to send his country's civil protection force to the area to help the migrants. \"I also asked for authorisation to hire ground transportation for anyone who wants to return and an air bridge for special cases of women, children, the elderly and the sick,\" Hernandez tweeted. The two leaders are due to meet later on Saturday to discuss the situation. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said the border clash was \"unprecedented\" and accused some of the migrants of attacking police. Human rights groups have criticised the US and Mexican response to the caravan. Erika Guevara-Rosas of Amnesty International said in a statement: \"These families deserve dignity and respect to ensure that no-one is illegally returned to situations where they could risk serious harm due to violence.\" Since his campaign days, Mr Trump has lambasted illegal immigrants, and this latest caravan comes after a major immigration crackdown. Changes to detention rules saw thousands of migrant children detained and separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border earlier this year, sparking national and international condemnation. Mr Trump's threats come weeks before the mid-term elections on 6 November, which could see Democrats unseating Republicans in the House of Representatives. According to a Kaiser Foundation poll, immigration is the most important issue for 15% of all voters, though the number jumps to 25% among Republican voters. While Mr Trump has sent National Guard troops to the border before, it is unclear what he means by shutting it down entirely, and whether that would affect businesses or people with legitimate visas. And according to international law, the US cannot deport asylum seekers without first determining the validity of their claim. An estimated 10% of the population of Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras have fled danger, forced gang recruitment and dismal economic opportunities. The region has one of the highest murder rates in the world. The UN reported murder rates in 2015 in Honduras standing at 63.75 deaths per 100,000 and El Salvador at 108.64 deaths. Jari Dixon, an opposition politician in Honduras, tweeted on Monday that the caravan was not \"seeking the American dream\" but \"fleeing the Honduras nightmare\". In a statement on Tuesday, Honduras' foreign ministry urged its citizens to \"not let themselves be used by a movement that is clearly political and seeks to disrupt the governability, stability and peace\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2255, "answer_start": 879, "text": "Many of the migrants temporarily broke through barriers on a bridge which crosses the river border between Guatemala and Mexico. Dozens of Mexican police in riot gear fired tear gas to force them to retreat into no-man's land after being attacked with stones. A number of migrants jumped into the Suchiate river to reach rafts, while others either turned back towards Guatemala or simply sat down on the bridge. Several people were reportedly injured in the clash, including migrants, police and journalists. One woman nursing a baby told AFP she had lost two of her children in the chaos. \"We're running away from violence, and we arrive here and they just hit us more,\" Marta Ornelas Cazares, 28, said. \"I don't know what happened, I thought we were going to cross peacefully and then suddenly there were rocks flying and tear gas.\" The Mexican authorities said those with valid passports and visas would be allowed in immediately, though this is believed to apply to only a minority of the migrants. They warned that anyone without papers would have to apply for refugee status or turn back, and anyone who crossed illegally would be detained and deported. According to AFP, they started to allow a small number of people - including women and children - who were seeking refugee status to pass the border late on Friday. They were put on to trucks and taken into shelters." } ], "id": "702_0", "question": "What happened on the border?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3151, "answer_start": 2256, "text": "Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez said he had spoken to his Guatemalan counterpart and asked permission to send his country's civil protection force to the area to help the migrants. \"I also asked for authorisation to hire ground transportation for anyone who wants to return and an air bridge for special cases of women, children, the elderly and the sick,\" Hernandez tweeted. The two leaders are due to meet later on Saturday to discuss the situation. Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto said the border clash was \"unprecedented\" and accused some of the migrants of attacking police. Human rights groups have criticised the US and Mexican response to the caravan. Erika Guevara-Rosas of Amnesty International said in a statement: \"These families deserve dignity and respect to ensure that no-one is illegally returned to situations where they could risk serious harm due to violence.\"" } ], "id": "702_1", "question": "What will happen to them now?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4123, "answer_start": 3152, "text": "Since his campaign days, Mr Trump has lambasted illegal immigrants, and this latest caravan comes after a major immigration crackdown. Changes to detention rules saw thousands of migrant children detained and separated from their parents at the US-Mexico border earlier this year, sparking national and international condemnation. Mr Trump's threats come weeks before the mid-term elections on 6 November, which could see Democrats unseating Republicans in the House of Representatives. According to a Kaiser Foundation poll, immigration is the most important issue for 15% of all voters, though the number jumps to 25% among Republican voters. While Mr Trump has sent National Guard troops to the border before, it is unclear what he means by shutting it down entirely, and whether that would affect businesses or people with legitimate visas. And according to international law, the US cannot deport asylum seekers without first determining the validity of their claim." } ], "id": "702_2", "question": "Why is Trump concerned?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Russian blogger has been given a three-and-a-half year suspended sentence after he posted a video of himself playing Pokemon Go in a church The court in the city of Yekaterinburg found Ruslan Sokolovsky guilty of insulting religious believers and inciting hatred. During the trial, Sokolovsky, now aged 22, had pleaded not guilty. He filmed himself playing the popular game in the local Orthodox church in August 2016. He was arrested shortly afterwards. On Thursday, Sokolovsky was also found guilty of \"illegal trafficking of special technical equipment\" after a pen with a built-in video camera had been discovered during the search of his home. During the trial, the prosecution had asked for Sokolovsky to be jailed for three-and-a-half years. After the verdict was announced, the blogger said he was relieved. \"Until the very last moment I didn't know what the sentencing would be, that's why I was very nervous and feared I would get a real prison term,\" he told BBC Russian. He said he had already apologised to religious believers, adding that the way he delivered his video was \"too cynical for Russian society\". Sokolovsky also said he would consult his lawyers about whether he should appeal against the verdict. The video from the church built in remembrance of Tsar Nicholas II and his family was posted by Sokolovsky in August 2016, quickly attracting many viewers. It was published apparently in response to warnings that playing such games in church might have legal consequences. In the video, Sokolovsky - just before going inside the church - is seen saying that the risk of being arrested is \"complete nonsense\". \"Who could get offended if you're just walking around with your smartphone in a church?\" It's an augmented reality game on smartphones, which uses GPS. Users play by walking around the real world catching cutesy little virtual monsters like Pikachu and Jigglypuff in places near their phone location and training them to fight each other. The monsters in it were first popular in the 1990s when they started on the Nintendo Game Boy. Pokemon Go: All you need to know Oh, take your pick... An American woman found a body while she was looking for a Pokemon in a river near her home. Police said the man had died within the last 24 hours and no foul play was suspected. Four people were arrested in Missouri after they used the game to lure players to remote places and then rob them at gunpoint. In response, the makers of Pokemon Go have said people should \"play with friends when going to new or unfamiliar places\" and \"remember to be safe and alert at all times\". The anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church in the US is the location of a gym in the game, and players planted a pink \"Clefairy\" Pokemon called Love is Love there. The church has responded with a series of social media posts calling the Pokemon a sodomite. There have also been plenty of reports of people falling over and grazing or cutting themselves because they're not paying attention to what's in front of them while they play.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3030, "answer_start": 2104, "text": "Oh, take your pick... An American woman found a body while she was looking for a Pokemon in a river near her home. Police said the man had died within the last 24 hours and no foul play was suspected. Four people were arrested in Missouri after they used the game to lure players to remote places and then rob them at gunpoint. In response, the makers of Pokemon Go have said people should \"play with friends when going to new or unfamiliar places\" and \"remember to be safe and alert at all times\". The anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church in the US is the location of a gym in the game, and players planted a pink \"Clefairy\" Pokemon called Love is Love there. The church has responded with a series of social media posts calling the Pokemon a sodomite. There have also been plenty of reports of people falling over and grazing or cutting themselves because they're not paying attention to what's in front of them while they play." } ], "id": "703_0", "question": "What's the weirdest thing that's happened someone playing it?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The UN says it is alarmed by reports of the mass detention of Uighurs in China and called for the release of those held on a counter terrorism \"pretext\". It comes after a UN committee heard reports that up to one million Muslim Uighurs in western Xinjiang region, were held in re-education camps. Beijing has denied the allegations but admitted that some religious extremists were being held for re-education. China blames Islamist militants and separatists for unrest in the region. During a review earlier this month, members of the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said credible reports suggested Beijing had \"turned the Uighur autonomous region into something that resembles a massive internment camp\". China responded that Uighurs enjoyed full rights but Beijing made a rare admission that \"those deceived by religious extremism... shall be assisted by resettlement and re-education\". BBC Newsnight: Is China brainwashing Uighurs? Xinjiang has seen intermittent violence - followed by crackdowns - for years. The UN body on Thursday released its concluding observation, criticising the \"broad definition of terrorism and vague references to extremism and unclear definition of separatism in Chinese legislation\". The committee called on Beijing to: - End the practice of detention without lawful charge, trial and conviction; - Immediately release individuals currently detained under these circumstances; - Provide the number of people held as well as the grounds for their detention; - Conduct \"impartial investigations into all allegations of racial, ethnic and ethno-religious profiling\". Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have submitted reports to the UN committee documenting claims of mass imprisonment, in camps where inmates are forced to swear loyalty to China's President Xi Jinping. The World Uyghur Congress said in its report that detainees are held indefinitely without charge, and forced to shout Communist Party slogans. It said they are poorly fed, and reports of torture are widespread. Most inmates have never been charged with a crime, it is claimed, and do not receive legal representation. The latest UN statement comes amid worsening religious tensions elsewhere in China. In the north-western Ningxia region, hundreds of Muslims have been engaged in a standoff with authorities to prevent their mosque from being demolished. The Uighurs are a Muslim ethnic minority mostly based in China's far-western region of Xinjiang. They make up around 45% of the population there. Xinjiang is officially designated as an autonomous region within China, like Tibet to its south. Reports that more and more Uighurs and other Muslim minorities are being detained in Xinjiang have been circulating for some months. China is said to carry out the detentions under the guise of combating religious extremism.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1633, "answer_start": 1050, "text": "The UN body on Thursday released its concluding observation, criticising the \"broad definition of terrorism and vague references to extremism and unclear definition of separatism in Chinese legislation\". The committee called on Beijing to: - End the practice of detention without lawful charge, trial and conviction; - Immediately release individuals currently detained under these circumstances; - Provide the number of people held as well as the grounds for their detention; - Conduct \"impartial investigations into all allegations of racial, ethnic and ethno-religious profiling\"." } ], "id": "704_0", "question": "What does the UN say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2431, "answer_start": 1634, "text": "Human rights groups including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have submitted reports to the UN committee documenting claims of mass imprisonment, in camps where inmates are forced to swear loyalty to China's President Xi Jinping. The World Uyghur Congress said in its report that detainees are held indefinitely without charge, and forced to shout Communist Party slogans. It said they are poorly fed, and reports of torture are widespread. Most inmates have never been charged with a crime, it is claimed, and do not receive legal representation. The latest UN statement comes amid worsening religious tensions elsewhere in China. In the north-western Ningxia region, hundreds of Muslims have been engaged in a standoff with authorities to prevent their mosque from being demolished." } ], "id": "704_1", "question": "What is China accused of?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Austrians are now digesting the drama surrounding the election of their new president. An extremely divisive race. The traditional centre-left and centre-right parties - which have governed Austria in one form or another since 1945 - were decimated during the first round. And the poll nearly, so very nearly resulted in a head of state from a right-wing populist party. The rest of Europe watched and gawped. Is Europe lurching to the far right? Europe's nationalist surge, country by country TV debate turns to 'slugfest' Could this be a portentous sign of things to come elsewhere in Europe - Italy, France or Denmark for example, where right-wing populists are gaining in strength and influence? Was this Austria returning to its \"far-right\" past? Joerg Haider, who led Austria's Freedom Party until 2005, was well-known for his Nazi-praising comments. In the end, the prospect of a Freedom Party president disturbed (just) enough Austrians to induce them to vote for the Green-Party-backed Independent candidate. But are the now-defeated presidential hopeful, Norbert Hofer, and his Freedom Party actually 'far right'? Not even Austrians can agree, never mind the international media covering this story. Former Austrian vice chancellor Hannes Androsch told me it was a nonsensical over-simplification - \"far too black and white\". The Freedom Party has a far-right core that doesn't reflect the opinions of all its members, he told me, and, he insisted, is not at all representative of all its voters. \"They come to the Freedom Party out of protest. For a number of different reasons.\" One large one is migration: Austria is struggling to integrate the tens of thousands of asylum seekers who moved here last year. Officials say their country took in more refugees per capita than any other EU nation. Public resentments have been heightened by rising unemployment. \"The Austrian boat is full,\" one Hofer voter told me. \"We're a small country. We can't be like [German Chancellor Angela] Merkel, saying: 'Come in, come in!' \"We have our own poor, Austrian poor, who need help.\" \"Austria First\" is the Freedom Party slogan. They describe themselves as a party of the centre, of the Austrian people, neither right nor left wing. That's something Marine Le Pen of France likes to say about her National Front party too. And like the French National Front, the Freedom Party has invested in a makeover in order to appeal to discontented mainstream voters. Despite failing to make it to the presidential palace, it will interpret this vote as a huge success. Once relegated to the far-right fringes, the Freedom Party is now deemed politically viable by half of all Austrian voters. \"This is far more a European problem than an Austrian problem, Austrian diplomat Wolfgang Petritsch told me. \"These parties have managed to make it OK, normal to vote for them. It's not a big deal anymore. And that is what is so dangerous.\" The Freedom Party is now looking ahead to Austria's general election. It is currently polling as the country's most popular party. Conceding defeat today, Mr Hofer said his party would live to fight another day. \"Of course I am saddened,\" he said on Facebook. \"But please don't be disheartened. The effort in this election campaign is not wasted. It is an investment for the future.\" But Hannes Androsch is dismissive. \"Yes, they've made it to the mainstream as a party of protest,\" he told me \"But building up Austria to be a fairytale castle that needs to be defended is no plan for the future. \"This is a wake-up call for the traditional parties in Austria - and in Europe as a whole - to address their voters' concerns. \"But the window of opportunity to do this is a narrow one.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1719, "answer_start": 700, "text": "Was this Austria returning to its \"far-right\" past? Joerg Haider, who led Austria's Freedom Party until 2005, was well-known for his Nazi-praising comments. In the end, the prospect of a Freedom Party president disturbed (just) enough Austrians to induce them to vote for the Green-Party-backed Independent candidate. But are the now-defeated presidential hopeful, Norbert Hofer, and his Freedom Party actually 'far right'? Not even Austrians can agree, never mind the international media covering this story. Former Austrian vice chancellor Hannes Androsch told me it was a nonsensical over-simplification - \"far too black and white\". The Freedom Party has a far-right core that doesn't reflect the opinions of all its members, he told me, and, he insisted, is not at all representative of all its voters. \"They come to the Freedom Party out of protest. For a number of different reasons.\" One large one is migration: Austria is struggling to integrate the tens of thousands of asylum seekers who moved here last year." } ], "id": "705_0", "question": "'Far right' too black and white?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US Secretary of State, Rex Tillerson, has called on the rest of the world to help force North Korea to give up its nuclear ambitions. Speaking to the UN Security Council, he called on China in particular to leverage its trade links as influence. But the Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, said the key to solving the problem did not lie with his country. Tensions have increased lately, with both North and South Korea conducting military exercises. The US has sent warships and an anti-missile system to reassure the South, where thousands of American soldiers are stationed. North Korea has made repeated attempts to miniaturise nuclear warheads and fit them on long-range missiles capable of reaching the US. Mr Tillerson warned the UN Security Council in New York of \"catastrophic consequences\" if it did not act, saying it was \"likely only a matter of time before North Korea develops the capability to strike the US mainland\". The US would use military force if necessary, he added. He urged other countries to suspend diplomatic ties with Pyongyang and isolate its financial institutions. In comments that seemed directed at China, he accused Council members of not fully enforcing existing sanctions against the North. UN sanctions include a ban on selling North Korea arms, fuel, a host of items that could be used for weapons-making. Also on the list are luxury goods including pearl jewellery and snowmobiles worth $2,000 (PS1,540) or more. Since last year, all cargo entering or leaving North Korea must also be inspected. But a recent UN study found that fragments from a North Korean missile test included electronics that had been sourced either from or via Chinese enterprises. The US has separate, stricter sanctions including a blanket ban on trade and a blacklist of anyone dealing with North Korea. Asked on Friday by US broadcaster NPR if the US was prepared to hold direct talks with North Korea, Mr Tillerson replied: \"Obviously, that would be the way we would like to solve this. But North Korea has to decide they're ready to talk to us about the right agenda.\" China's foreign minister warned against military intervention, saying: \"The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters.\" \"Peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula through dialogue and negotiations represents the only right choice that is practical and viable,\" Mr Wang added. He also repeated a Chinese proposal for a halt to Pyongyang's military programme in return for a freeze on joint US-South Korea military drills. The US has rejected the idea in the past, saying the nuclear programme must stop first. What is this new approach the secretary of state wants to see from the United Nations? He laid out three elements: strictly enforce existing sanctions, impose new ones, and isolate North Korea diplomatically. And he signalled greater US resolve to pursue this agenda. Most significantly he threatened US sanctions against entities and individuals in other countries that support North Korea's illegal activities. That may be putting Chinese banks on notice. He also called UN members to downgrade or suspend diplomatic relations - hoping to cut North Korea's useful links with nations like Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. And he clarified the stakes: the new US campaign is driven by its own national security considerations, he said. So it's serious. The level of concern on the Security Council will be tested if North Korea conducts another nuclear or big missile test; that would be the most likely trigger for any move to new sanctions. - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov said the use of force would be \"completely unacceptable\" but he also called on North Korea to end its nuclear and missile programmes - UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson told the Security Council that while negotiations \"must at some point form part of the solution\", North Korea should first \"make verifiable progress\" towards denuclearisation. Among other developments in recent weeks: - North Korea carried out a failed missile launch and held a massive military parade in an apparent show of strength - The US deployed a group of warships and a submarine to the region - Pyongyang reacted angrily, threatening a \"super-mighty pre-emptive strike\" - The US began installing a controversial $1bn (PS775m) anti-missile system system called Thaad in South Korea - which Mr Trump said South Korea should pay for. Seoul said on Friday there was \"no change\" in its position that the US pays for it - Mr Tillerson and US Vice President Mike Pence visited South Korea, reiterating that \"all options were on the table\" in dealing with the North", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1822, "answer_start": 1231, "text": "UN sanctions include a ban on selling North Korea arms, fuel, a host of items that could be used for weapons-making. Also on the list are luxury goods including pearl jewellery and snowmobiles worth $2,000 (PS1,540) or more. Since last year, all cargo entering or leaving North Korea must also be inspected. But a recent UN study found that fragments from a North Korean missile test included electronics that had been sourced either from or via Chinese enterprises. The US has separate, stricter sanctions including a blanket ban on trade and a blacklist of anyone dealing with North Korea." } ], "id": "706_0", "question": "What are the sanctions on North Korea?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2659, "answer_start": 1823, "text": "Asked on Friday by US broadcaster NPR if the US was prepared to hold direct talks with North Korea, Mr Tillerson replied: \"Obviously, that would be the way we would like to solve this. But North Korea has to decide they're ready to talk to us about the right agenda.\" China's foreign minister warned against military intervention, saying: \"The use of force does not solve differences and will only lead to bigger disasters.\" \"Peaceful settlement of the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula through dialogue and negotiations represents the only right choice that is practical and viable,\" Mr Wang added. He also repeated a Chinese proposal for a halt to Pyongyang's military programme in return for a freeze on joint US-South Korea military drills. The US has rejected the idea in the past, saying the nuclear programme must stop first." } ], "id": "706_1", "question": "What did the US and China say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Swiss village may have to evacuate for over a decade while authorities clear a huge World War Two arms dump. The defence ministry concluded last year that the cache posed an \"unacceptable\" risk to the nearby people of Mitholz. Now, authorities say residents may have to leave while they clear the site. \"Depending on how the work develops, residents should expect the evacuation to last up to more than 10 years,\" the ministry said. Residents would have to approve the plan to leave the area. A public consultation is under way to see how best to proceed. \"People live there who have been rooted in the village for generations,\" Brigitte Rindlisbacher, chair of the Mitholz working group, reportedly said. \"It hurts to see them in this situation.\" The depot partially exploded in 1947, killing nine people and destroying the nearby train station. But more than 70 years later, about 3,500 tonnes of ammunition remain buried under rock at the site. The 2018 report said the risks had been underestimated for decades, and removing the explosives could be \"very complex\", as rock would probably have to be removed layer by layer. Officials believe preparing the site for evacuation will take at least ten years as well - including building an emergency road to bypass the area. Any evacuation for the town's residents would probably not begin until 2031. Assessors at the dump are due to publish a report on 17 April. The 800 nearby residents are in shock at the news, Swiss public broadcaster RTS reports. One person told RTS the plan \"makes my stomach ache\", while another said: \"If they ask us to leave then they will have to offer us compensation.\" A plan to simply bury the dump under even more rock is also being considered. Switzerland has not fought in a war since 1815, including World War Two. But for four years during the conflict, Switzerland was entirely surrounded by Nazi Germany and its allies. At one point German leader Adolf Hitler even commissioned invasion plans. In response to the threat, the Swiss called up hundreds of thousands of men. They developed a defensive plan known as the National Redoubt - a series of fortifications deep inside the mountainous country which could be defended against attackers.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1729, "answer_start": 750, "text": "The depot partially exploded in 1947, killing nine people and destroying the nearby train station. But more than 70 years later, about 3,500 tonnes of ammunition remain buried under rock at the site. The 2018 report said the risks had been underestimated for decades, and removing the explosives could be \"very complex\", as rock would probably have to be removed layer by layer. Officials believe preparing the site for evacuation will take at least ten years as well - including building an emergency road to bypass the area. Any evacuation for the town's residents would probably not begin until 2031. Assessors at the dump are due to publish a report on 17 April. The 800 nearby residents are in shock at the news, Swiss public broadcaster RTS reports. One person told RTS the plan \"makes my stomach ache\", while another said: \"If they ask us to leave then they will have to offer us compensation.\" A plan to simply bury the dump under even more rock is also being considered." } ], "id": "707_0", "question": "What is the arms dump?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2231, "answer_start": 1730, "text": "Switzerland has not fought in a war since 1815, including World War Two. But for four years during the conflict, Switzerland was entirely surrounded by Nazi Germany and its allies. At one point German leader Adolf Hitler even commissioned invasion plans. In response to the threat, the Swiss called up hundreds of thousands of men. They developed a defensive plan known as the National Redoubt - a series of fortifications deep inside the mountainous country which could be defended against attackers." } ], "id": "707_1", "question": "Wasn't Switzerland neutral in World War Two?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The United States is offering a reward of up to $1m (PS750,000) for information about one of the sons of the late al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden. Hamza Bin Laden is emerging as a leader of the Islamist militant group, officials say. He is thought to be based near the Afghan-Pakistani border. In recent years, he has released audio and video messages calling on followers to attack the US and its Western allies in revenge for his father's killing. In 2011, US special forces killed Osama Bin Laden in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. He approved the attacks on the US on 11 September 2001, in which nearly 3,000 people were killed. On Friday, Saudi Arabia's interior ministry announced it had stripped Hamza Bin Laden of his citizenship. In March 2018, he appeared in an audio message urging citizens of Saudi Arabia to prepare for jihad against their monarchs. Hamza Bin Laden, who is believed to be about 30 years old, was officially designated by the US as a global terrorist two years ago. The US state department says he married the daughter of Mohammed Atta, who hijacked one of the four commercial aircraft used in the 2001 attacks, and crashed it into one of the World Trade Center towers in New York. Letters from Osama Bin Laden seized from his compound indicated that he had been grooming Hamza, thought to be his favourite son, to replace him as leader of al-Qaeda. Hamza Bin Laden is believed to have spent years with his mother in Iran, where it is thought his wedding took place, while other reports suggest he may have lived in Pakistan, Afghanistan or Syria. \"We do believe he's probably in the Afghan-Pakistan border [sic] and... he'll cross into Iran. But he could be anywhere though in... south central Asia,\" said Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security Michael Evanoff. Analysis by Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent US counter-terrorism officials have been growing increasingly concerned that Hamza Bin Laden could emerge as a charismatic leader of a revitalised al-Qaeda. After the killing of Hamza's father, Osama, by US Navy Seal commandos in Pakistan in 2011, al-Qaeda was largely eclipsed by its even more fanatical rival, the Islamic State group (IS). The nominal al-Qaeda leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, is a dull, bespectacled Egyptian strategist who has failed to inspire. But western intelligence figures, including MI6 chief Alex Younger, warn that al-Qaeda has not gone away. It has used its recent low profile to rebuild and reorganise, planning more attacks on the West and its allied governments across the Middle East and Africa. Al-Qaeda always said it was a mistake for IS to declare a physical caliphate which could then be attacked by a US-led coalition. They were proved right and now both organisations present an ongoing threat of terrorist attacks. - Emerged in Afghanistan in the late 1980s, as Arab volunteers joined US-backed Afghan mujahideen fighting to expel the occupying Soviet forces - Osama Bin Laden set up an organisation to help the volunteers, which became known as al-Qaeda, or \"the base\" - He left Afghanistan in 1989, returning in 1996 to run military training camps for thousands of foreign Muslims - Al-Qaeda declared \"holy war\" on Americans, Jews and their allies The US-led war in Afghanistan following the 2001 attacks toppled the Taliban regime which had given Osama Bin Laden and his group sanctuary. In recent years, al-Qaeda was overshadowed by IS, which attracted global attention, fighters and funds, and carried out a number of attacks on Western targets and allies. \"Al-Qaeda during this period has been relatively quiet, but that is a strategic pause, not a surrender,\" said US Co-ordinator for Counter-terrorism Nathan Sales. \"Today's al-Qaeda is not stagnant. It's rebuilding and it continues to threaten the United States and its allies.... Make no mistake, al-Qaeda retains both the capability and the intent to hit us.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1800, "answer_start": 867, "text": "Hamza Bin Laden, who is believed to be about 30 years old, was officially designated by the US as a global terrorist two years ago. The US state department says he married the daughter of Mohammed Atta, who hijacked one of the four commercial aircraft used in the 2001 attacks, and crashed it into one of the World Trade Center towers in New York. Letters from Osama Bin Laden seized from his compound indicated that he had been grooming Hamza, thought to be his favourite son, to replace him as leader of al-Qaeda. Hamza Bin Laden is believed to have spent years with his mother in Iran, where it is thought his wedding took place, while other reports suggest he may have lived in Pakistan, Afghanistan or Syria. \"We do believe he's probably in the Afghan-Pakistan border [sic] and... he'll cross into Iran. But he could be anywhere though in... south central Asia,\" said Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security Michael Evanoff." } ], "id": "708_0", "question": "What is known about him?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Australia has controversially repealed a law which allowed sick refugees held offshore to be treated in the country. The government's push to scrap the \"medevac\" law - passed by opposition MPs in February - has drawn criticism as cruel and inhumane. But Prime Minister Scott Morrison argued the law had presented a \"national security\" risk. At least 12 people have died under Australia's offshore detention policy. Since 2013, the nation has sent asylum seekers arriving by boat to detention centres on Nauru and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Canberra has defended the controversial policy by arguing that it stops deaths at sea and disrupts human trafficking. It followed public outrage about the health crisis of detainees - including children - on the islands of Nauru and Manus Island (PNG). There were reports that children as young as 11 were attempting suicide. That led to the passage of the medevac bill - the first time in decades that a government had lost a vote on its own legislation in the lower house. Experts have repeatedly warned of inadequate medical facilities on the islands, while the UN has previously described the camp conditions as \"inhumane\". The medevac law allowed for doctors to evacuate ill people to Australia for urgent medical treatment. The government said as a result of the medevac law, 135 refugees were brought to the mainland for treatment this year. It argued the law had been a \"border protection\" risk and was a \"loophole\" for refugee advocates to bring asylum seekers into Australia. \"[The] weak and bad medevac laws must be repealed in order to strengthen our national security again,\" said the government's Senate leader, Mathias Cormann. In opposing the repeal, opposition MPs said the government was \"devoid of a heart\". \"This will deny sick people treatment. It will deny sick people the opportunity to see a doctor,\" said Labor Senator Kristina Keneally. Opinion polls had shown that 62% of voters supported the law. It secured the support of a key independent lawmaker, Jacqui Lambie, to get the numbers in the Senate on Wednesday. Ms Lambie argued the law \"was not a national security threat\", but said it gave too much discretion to doctors. Opposition senators accused the government of \"secrecy\" in striking the last-minute deal. \"Members of the cabinet of Australia are coming in to vote on a deal they haven't even seen,\" said Penny Wong, the Labor opposition's Senate leader. A Greens senator, Nick McKim, said the vote was \"a dark day for the majority of Australians who support the medevac legislation\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1961, "answer_start": 655, "text": "It followed public outrage about the health crisis of detainees - including children - on the islands of Nauru and Manus Island (PNG). There were reports that children as young as 11 were attempting suicide. That led to the passage of the medevac bill - the first time in decades that a government had lost a vote on its own legislation in the lower house. Experts have repeatedly warned of inadequate medical facilities on the islands, while the UN has previously described the camp conditions as \"inhumane\". The medevac law allowed for doctors to evacuate ill people to Australia for urgent medical treatment. The government said as a result of the medevac law, 135 refugees were brought to the mainland for treatment this year. It argued the law had been a \"border protection\" risk and was a \"loophole\" for refugee advocates to bring asylum seekers into Australia. \"[The] weak and bad medevac laws must be repealed in order to strengthen our national security again,\" said the government's Senate leader, Mathias Cormann. In opposing the repeal, opposition MPs said the government was \"devoid of a heart\". \"This will deny sick people treatment. It will deny sick people the opportunity to see a doctor,\" said Labor Senator Kristina Keneally. Opinion polls had shown that 62% of voters supported the law." } ], "id": "709_0", "question": "What was 'medevac' about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2558, "answer_start": 1962, "text": "It secured the support of a key independent lawmaker, Jacqui Lambie, to get the numbers in the Senate on Wednesday. Ms Lambie argued the law \"was not a national security threat\", but said it gave too much discretion to doctors. Opposition senators accused the government of \"secrecy\" in striking the last-minute deal. \"Members of the cabinet of Australia are coming in to vote on a deal they haven't even seen,\" said Penny Wong, the Labor opposition's Senate leader. A Greens senator, Nick McKim, said the vote was \"a dark day for the majority of Australians who support the medevac legislation\"." } ], "id": "709_1", "question": "How did the government succeed this time?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Following the signing of a revised peace agreement between Colombia's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc), and the Colombian government, BBC News takes a closer look at the guerrilla group which has been fighting the longest-running armed insurgency in the Western Hemisphere. The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc, after the initials in Spanish) are Colombia's largest rebel group. They were founded in 1964 as the armed wing of the Communist Party and follow a Marxist-Leninist ideology. Their main founders were small farmers and land workers who had banded together to fight against the staggering levels of inequality in Colombia at the time. While the Farc have some urban groups, they have always been an overwhelmingly rural guerrilla organisation. The security forces estimate that there are between 6,000 and 7,000 active fighters within the ranks of the Farc. They think there are another 8,500 civilians who make up the Farc's support network. This is down considerably from the estimated 20,000 active fighters they are believed to have had around 2002. The rebels are organised in small tactical groups that in turn make up larger fighting units which are organised in regional \"blocs\". They are controlled by the Secretariat, a group of less than a dozen top commanders who devise the overarching strategy of the Farc. The Farc's top leader is Rodrigo Londono Echeverri, better know by his alias Timochenko. Read more about Timochenko here. The Farc were founded at a time of brutal repression against any form of action considered subversive. Colombia has historically been a country which suffers from huge levels of inequality, where vast swathes of land are owned by a very small elite. This is partly due to the fact that the Colombian state sold off large tracts of land to private owners in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries to pay for its debts. Some of the founders of the Farc had established an agricultural commune in the region of Marquetalia, in central Tolima province. Inspired by the Cuban revolution in the 1950s, they demanded more rights and control over the land. But their communist ideals were seen as a threat by big landowners and the state, which sent in the army to disband the commune, or Marquetalia Republic as it had come to be known. The Farc say that it was after the clashes with the army in Marquetalia that they decided to make their struggle an armed one. No, Colombia went through a 10-year civil war before the Farc were even founded. During the period known simply as La Violencia (The Violence), between 200,000 and 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed. La Violencia was triggered by the assassination in 1948 of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan, a popular presidential candidate for the Liberal Party. His shooting in Bogota caused riots in the capital, which were followed by 10 years of conflict pitting the followers of the Liberal Party against those of the Conservative Party. The man who would later become the top leader of the Farc, Manuel \"Sureshot\" Marulanda, had fought in La Violencia. Human rights groups have often accused the Farc of forcibly recruiting poor farmers and children. The Farc say that everyone who joined them did so voluntarily. According to their own figures, there were 21 children under the age of 15 in their ranks in May 2016. Most of their fighters are from poor, rural communities and include both men and women of all ages. Some of those who have left the Farc speak of being lured by the promise of adventure and the kudos of carrying a gun. The main enemy of the Farc have been the Colombian security forces. Farc fighters have attacked police stations and military posts, and ambushed patrols. But they have also blown up oil pipelines, electricity pylons and bridges and bombed social clubs. Many of their victims have been civilians. They have included children who died when home-made Farc explosives fell short of a rural police station and hit a school, and thousands of people maimed by landmines laid by the Farc. Thousands of people were kidnapped by the Farc for ransom. One police officer, Luis Mendieta, was seized in an attack on a police station in 1998 and held for 14 years before being freed by the army in a rescue operation dubbed Chameleon. Analysts think the Farc are among the richest rebel movements in the world. Guerrilla commanders have denied the group has stashed away large sums of money Colombia is one of the main producers of cocaine and the rebels get a large part of their income from drug trafficking or levying \"taxes\" on those who do. They have also resorted to extortion and kidnapping for ransom to fill their coffers. The Farc have been hit hard by the Colombian security forces over the past years. The Colombian army and police received millions of dollars in funding and training from the US government, much of which they invested in fighting the rebels. Many of the top leaders of the Farc were killed or died within the past decade. In 2008, senior rebel leader Raul Reyes was killed in a bombing raid and Farc founder Manuel Marulanda died of natural causes. In 2011, Alfonso Cano, who took over from Manuel Marulanda, was also killed in a bombing raid. The number of active fighters also diminished from its estimated high of 20,000 to around 7,000 after thousands of guerrilla fighters were demobilised or killed. The Farc themselves insist that they wanted peace all along but that the conditions were not right before.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 802, "answer_start": 312, "text": "The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc, after the initials in Spanish) are Colombia's largest rebel group. They were founded in 1964 as the armed wing of the Communist Party and follow a Marxist-Leninist ideology. Their main founders were small farmers and land workers who had banded together to fight against the staggering levels of inequality in Colombia at the time. While the Farc have some urban groups, they have always been an overwhelmingly rural guerrilla organisation." } ], "id": "710_0", "question": "Who are the Farc?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1112, "answer_start": 803, "text": "The security forces estimate that there are between 6,000 and 7,000 active fighters within the ranks of the Farc. They think there are another 8,500 civilians who make up the Farc's support network. This is down considerably from the estimated 20,000 active fighters they are believed to have had around 2002." } ], "id": "710_1", "question": "How many Farc fighters are there?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1501, "answer_start": 1113, "text": "The rebels are organised in small tactical groups that in turn make up larger fighting units which are organised in regional \"blocs\". They are controlled by the Secretariat, a group of less than a dozen top commanders who devise the overarching strategy of the Farc. The Farc's top leader is Rodrigo Londono Echeverri, better know by his alias Timochenko. Read more about Timochenko here." } ], "id": "710_2", "question": "How are they organised?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2458, "answer_start": 1502, "text": "The Farc were founded at a time of brutal repression against any form of action considered subversive. Colombia has historically been a country which suffers from huge levels of inequality, where vast swathes of land are owned by a very small elite. This is partly due to the fact that the Colombian state sold off large tracts of land to private owners in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries to pay for its debts. Some of the founders of the Farc had established an agricultural commune in the region of Marquetalia, in central Tolima province. Inspired by the Cuban revolution in the 1950s, they demanded more rights and control over the land. But their communist ideals were seen as a threat by big landowners and the state, which sent in the army to disband the commune, or Marquetalia Republic as it had come to be known. The Farc say that it was after the clashes with the army in Marquetalia that they decided to make their struggle an armed one." } ], "id": "710_3", "question": "Why did they take up arms?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3105, "answer_start": 2459, "text": "No, Colombia went through a 10-year civil war before the Farc were even founded. During the period known simply as La Violencia (The Violence), between 200,000 and 300,000 people are estimated to have been killed. La Violencia was triggered by the assassination in 1948 of Jorge Eliecer Gaitan, a popular presidential candidate for the Liberal Party. His shooting in Bogota caused riots in the capital, which were followed by 10 years of conflict pitting the followers of the Liberal Party against those of the Conservative Party. The man who would later become the top leader of the Farc, Manuel \"Sureshot\" Marulanda, had fought in La Violencia." } ], "id": "710_4", "question": "Was Colombia peaceful before the Farc?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3588, "answer_start": 3106, "text": "Human rights groups have often accused the Farc of forcibly recruiting poor farmers and children. The Farc say that everyone who joined them did so voluntarily. According to their own figures, there were 21 children under the age of 15 in their ranks in May 2016. Most of their fighters are from poor, rural communities and include both men and women of all ages. Some of those who have left the Farc speak of being lured by the promise of adventure and the kudos of carrying a gun." } ], "id": "710_5", "question": "Who joined the Farc?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4308, "answer_start": 3589, "text": "The main enemy of the Farc have been the Colombian security forces. Farc fighters have attacked police stations and military posts, and ambushed patrols. But they have also blown up oil pipelines, electricity pylons and bridges and bombed social clubs. Many of their victims have been civilians. They have included children who died when home-made Farc explosives fell short of a rural police station and hit a school, and thousands of people maimed by landmines laid by the Farc. Thousands of people were kidnapped by the Farc for ransom. One police officer, Luis Mendieta, was seized in an attack on a police station in 1998 and held for 14 years before being freed by the army in a rescue operation dubbed Chameleon." } ], "id": "710_6", "question": "Who do they fight?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4705, "answer_start": 4309, "text": "Analysts think the Farc are among the richest rebel movements in the world. Guerrilla commanders have denied the group has stashed away large sums of money Colombia is one of the main producers of cocaine and the rebels get a large part of their income from drug trafficking or levying \"taxes\" on those who do. They have also resorted to extortion and kidnapping for ransom to fill their coffers." } ], "id": "710_7", "question": "How do they finance themselves?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5517, "answer_start": 4706, "text": "The Farc have been hit hard by the Colombian security forces over the past years. The Colombian army and police received millions of dollars in funding and training from the US government, much of which they invested in fighting the rebels. Many of the top leaders of the Farc were killed or died within the past decade. In 2008, senior rebel leader Raul Reyes was killed in a bombing raid and Farc founder Manuel Marulanda died of natural causes. In 2011, Alfonso Cano, who took over from Manuel Marulanda, was also killed in a bombing raid. The number of active fighters also diminished from its estimated high of 20,000 to around 7,000 after thousands of guerrilla fighters were demobilised or killed. The Farc themselves insist that they wanted peace all along but that the conditions were not right before." } ], "id": "710_8", "question": "Why did they join the peace process?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The suspect in a shooting at YouTube HQ visited a local shooting range just hours before the attack in San Bruno on Tuesday, police said. Nasim Aghdam, who made videos on the platform, legally owned the semi-automatic handgun used in the shooting, police chief Ed Barberini said. She was found dead at the scene, apparently of a self-inflicted wound. Police said the motive for the shooting appeared to be that Aghdam was \"upset with the policies\" of YouTube. Earlier reports suggested the 39-year-old believed YouTube was filtering her videos, and reducing the money she could make on the platform. Three people with gunshot wounds were transported to hospital. Two were released on Tuesday night, but one victim, a man in his 30s, remains in serious condition. \"At this point, we have no indication that she was selecting individuals to fire at,\" Mr Barberini said. \"There's absolutely no link or relationship that we've identified.\" Mr Barberini said police were trying to access Aghdam's social media accounts \"in order to further comprehend\" her motive. He added that no other suspects were found at the scene, and that police were not searching for anyone else. Mr Barberini also responded to US media reports that Aghdam's family had warned police she might go to YouTube because she \"hated the company.\" \"We did not have any information, and we're not aware of any information passed on to any other agency,\" he told reporters. Mr Barberini said Aghdam appeared to have accessed the YouTube campus through a parking area, but said police were still investigating what security, if any, she had bypassed. Local police had previously provided YouTube with \"critical incident\" training, he said. Nasim Aghdam lived in San Diego in southern California. Police have revealed few details about her, but US media said she ran a number of channels and a website, posting videos on a variety of subjects including those highlighting animal cruelty. The channels have now been deleted. Aghdam has been variously described as a vegan bodybuilder, artist and rapper. In January 2017 she posted a video complaining that YouTube was filtering her content, leading to fewer views. On her website she also ranted about the firm, saying: \"Videos of targeted users are filtered and merely relegated, so that people can hardly see their videos.\" She also quotes Adolf Hitler, saying: \"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.\" She also wrote: \"There is no equal growth opportunity on YouTube or any other video sharing site. Your channel will grow if they want [it] to!\" Aghdam's father, Ismail, told local US media she was angry because YouTube had stopped paying her for videos. He said Aghdam had been reported missing on Monday after not answering calls for two days. Police later found her sleeping in her car in Mountain View, 25km (15 miles) south of the YouTube offices and reported this to her family, but they did not detain her. Her father told police she might go to YouTube as she \"hated the company\", local media said. YouTube terminated her account following the shooting. Her Instagram and Facebook accounts have also been removed. The suspect is reported to have approached an outdoor patio and dining area at the offices in San Bruno, near San Francisco, at about lunchtime on Tuesday and opened fire with a handgun. San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said officers arrived at the offices at 12:48 (19:48 GMT) local time to find a \"chaotic scene\", with numerous people fleeing. Fire officials also said they responded to a fire alarm set off at the same time - though it is not clear if Aghdam or an employee triggered the alarm. Employees were seen leaving with their hands raised, forming a queue to be individually frisked by police. Inside the complex officers then found the body of Nasim Aghdam, killed by a self-inflicted wound. Some 1,700 people work at the YouTube HQ. The company is owned by Google and is the area's biggest employer. Such \"active shooter\" incidents are overwhelmingly carried out by men - an FBI report found that out of 160 incidents between 2000-2013, only six of the people who opened fire were women.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3182, "answer_start": 1701, "text": "Nasim Aghdam lived in San Diego in southern California. Police have revealed few details about her, but US media said she ran a number of channels and a website, posting videos on a variety of subjects including those highlighting animal cruelty. The channels have now been deleted. Aghdam has been variously described as a vegan bodybuilder, artist and rapper. In January 2017 she posted a video complaining that YouTube was filtering her content, leading to fewer views. On her website she also ranted about the firm, saying: \"Videos of targeted users are filtered and merely relegated, so that people can hardly see their videos.\" She also quotes Adolf Hitler, saying: \"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it.\" She also wrote: \"There is no equal growth opportunity on YouTube or any other video sharing site. Your channel will grow if they want [it] to!\" Aghdam's father, Ismail, told local US media she was angry because YouTube had stopped paying her for videos. He said Aghdam had been reported missing on Monday after not answering calls for two days. Police later found her sleeping in her car in Mountain View, 25km (15 miles) south of the YouTube offices and reported this to her family, but they did not detain her. Her father told police she might go to YouTube as she \"hated the company\", local media said. YouTube terminated her account following the shooting. Her Instagram and Facebook accounts have also been removed." } ], "id": "711_0", "question": "What do we know of the suspect?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4186, "answer_start": 3183, "text": "The suspect is reported to have approached an outdoor patio and dining area at the offices in San Bruno, near San Francisco, at about lunchtime on Tuesday and opened fire with a handgun. San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said officers arrived at the offices at 12:48 (19:48 GMT) local time to find a \"chaotic scene\", with numerous people fleeing. Fire officials also said they responded to a fire alarm set off at the same time - though it is not clear if Aghdam or an employee triggered the alarm. Employees were seen leaving with their hands raised, forming a queue to be individually frisked by police. Inside the complex officers then found the body of Nasim Aghdam, killed by a self-inflicted wound. Some 1,700 people work at the YouTube HQ. The company is owned by Google and is the area's biggest employer. Such \"active shooter\" incidents are overwhelmingly carried out by men - an FBI report found that out of 160 incidents between 2000-2013, only six of the people who opened fire were women." } ], "id": "711_1", "question": "What happened in the attack?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hong Kong's rule of law has been pushed to the \"brink of total collapse\" after more than five months of protests, police have warned. The warning came as protesters clashed with police across the city on Tuesday. At the Chinese University of Hong Kong, police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at protesters who built barricades on the campus. Earlier in the day, around 1,000 protesters rallied in central Hong Kong during the lunch hour blocking roads Protesters, wearing office clothes, were seen chanting: \"Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong!\" The demonstrations come just a day after the territory saw a marked escalation in violence, with police shooting one activist in the torso. A pro-Beijing supporter was set on fire by anti-government protesters. The protests started in June against a now-withdrawn plan to allow extradition to mainland China, but have since morphed into wider demonstrations, with activists demanding greater democracy and police accountability in Hong Kong. On Tuesday afternoon, police spokesman Kong Wing-cheung hit out at the protesters, saying they had \"countless examples of rioters using random and indiscriminate violence against innocent\" people. \"Hong Kong's rule of law has been pushed to the brink of total collapse as masked rioters recklessly escalate their violence under the hope that they can get away with it,\" he told reporters, adding that Monday's attack on the pro-Beijing supporter was being investigated as attempted murder. Speaking at the same conference, Supt Li Kwai-wah defended the officer's decision to shoot the protester on Monday. \"We found out that our colleague did not only face threat from one person, instead it was a group of people with an organised plan attempting to steal the gun,\" he said. \"In a situation like this, we believe our police are reacting according to the guideline, to protect themselves as well as the people around them.\" Both the protester and the pro-Beijing supporter remain in hospital, with the latter in a critical condition. Clashes erupted at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with police firing tear gas to disperse students, while at City University there was a standoff between students and riot police which continued into the evening. Police continued to use tear gas to try to disperse the protesters who responded with bricks and petrol bombs. Hundreds of protesters remain at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Students built roadblocks on streets in and around City University campus to stop police from entering. At one stage, a van used as part of a street barricade was set on fire. Students at Hong Kong Polytechnic also tried to disrupt traffic near their campus. In the morning, suspended railway services and road closures had already led to long traffic jams in the early rush hour. At noon, protesters moved into the city's central business district for a flash mob protest. Protests continued to intensify throughout the day. A Christmas tree inside Festival Walk shopping mall was set on fire by protesters while others were seen smashing a glass railing with hammers. Train stations were closed across the city. Eight universities have announced they will suspend classes on Wednesday. Monday's protests saw 260 people arrested bringing the number to more than 3,000 since the protests began in June. Grace Tsoi, BBC World Service, at the Chinese University of Hong Kong The ground was strewn with bricks. The air was filled with the smell of tear gas. Fire was raging on campus. Hundreds of protesters, most of them clad in black, formed human chains to pass bricks and supplies to the front line. Protesters set up makeshift stations to make petrol bombs using motor oil, flour and detergent non-stop. One of the best universities in Hong Kong has turned into a battlefield after another day of intense clashes between students, who have been at the forefront of anti-government protests, and police. The Chinese University students have been putting up resistance since the morning. On Monday, police seemed to change strategy by deploying forces to campuses. Students told me they should not be allowed there. The university's management has tried to deescalate the situation. Vice-chancellor Rocky Tuan was also tear gassed as he was negotiating with police. Dozens of students have been injured, including at least one hit in the eye by a projectile. The night is young and students swear they will not surrender. Hong Kong is part of China but as a former British colony it has some autonomy and people have more rights. The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms. The bill was withdrawn in September but demonstrations continued and now call for full democracy and an inquiry into police behaviour. Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent and in October the city banned all face masks.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3331, "answer_start": 2029, "text": "Clashes erupted at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, with police firing tear gas to disperse students, while at City University there was a standoff between students and riot police which continued into the evening. Police continued to use tear gas to try to disperse the protesters who responded with bricks and petrol bombs. Hundreds of protesters remain at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Students built roadblocks on streets in and around City University campus to stop police from entering. At one stage, a van used as part of a street barricade was set on fire. Students at Hong Kong Polytechnic also tried to disrupt traffic near their campus. In the morning, suspended railway services and road closures had already led to long traffic jams in the early rush hour. At noon, protesters moved into the city's central business district for a flash mob protest. Protests continued to intensify throughout the day. A Christmas tree inside Festival Walk shopping mall was set on fire by protesters while others were seen smashing a glass railing with hammers. Train stations were closed across the city. Eight universities have announced they will suspend classes on Wednesday. Monday's protests saw 260 people arrested bringing the number to more than 3,000 since the protests began in June." } ], "id": "712_0", "question": "What happened on Tuesday?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4947, "answer_start": 4451, "text": "Hong Kong is part of China but as a former British colony it has some autonomy and people have more rights. The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms. The bill was withdrawn in September but demonstrations continued and now call for full democracy and an inquiry into police behaviour. Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent and in October the city banned all face masks." } ], "id": "712_1", "question": "Why are there protests in Hong Kong?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Israel has bombed Iranian targets inside Syria - leading to fears confrontations between the two powerful arch-foes could get worse. Here's the background to what is happening. Ever since the Iranian revolution in 1979, when religious hardliners came to power, Iran's leaders have called for Israel's elimination. Iran rejects Israel's right to exist, considering it an illegitimate occupier of Muslim land. Israel sees Iran as a threat to its existence and has always said Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. Its leaders are worried by Iran's expansion in the Middle East. Israel has watched anxiously as its neighbour Syria has been consumed by war since 2011. Israel has stayed out of the fighting between the Syrian government and rebels. But Iran has played a bigger and bigger role backing Syria's government by sending thousands of fighters and military advisers. Israel is also worried that Iran is trying to secretly send weapons to fighters in Lebanon - Israel's neighbour - who also threaten Israel. Israel's prime minister has repeatedly said that his country would not let Iran create bases in Syria which could be used against Israel. So as Iran has become stronger in Syria, Israel has intensified its strikes on Iranian targets there. No. Iran has long backed groups which target Israel - such as Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas. But a direct war would be massively destructive for both sides. Iran has an arsenal of long-range missiles and heavily armed allies on Israel's borders. Israel has a very strong army and is said to have nuclear weapons. It is also solidly backed by the United States.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 573, "answer_start": 177, "text": "Ever since the Iranian revolution in 1979, when religious hardliners came to power, Iran's leaders have called for Israel's elimination. Iran rejects Israel's right to exist, considering it an illegitimate occupier of Muslim land. Israel sees Iran as a threat to its existence and has always said Iran must not get a nuclear weapon. Its leaders are worried by Iran's expansion in the Middle East." } ], "id": "713_0", "question": "Why are Israel and Iran enemies?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1250, "answer_start": 574, "text": "Israel has watched anxiously as its neighbour Syria has been consumed by war since 2011. Israel has stayed out of the fighting between the Syrian government and rebels. But Iran has played a bigger and bigger role backing Syria's government by sending thousands of fighters and military advisers. Israel is also worried that Iran is trying to secretly send weapons to fighters in Lebanon - Israel's neighbour - who also threaten Israel. Israel's prime minister has repeatedly said that his country would not let Iran create bases in Syria which could be used against Israel. So as Iran has become stronger in Syria, Israel has intensified its strikes on Iranian targets there." } ], "id": "713_1", "question": "What has Syria got to do with it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1639, "answer_start": 1251, "text": "No. Iran has long backed groups which target Israel - such as Hezbollah and the Palestinian militant organisation Hamas. But a direct war would be massively destructive for both sides. Iran has an arsenal of long-range missiles and heavily armed allies on Israel's borders. Israel has a very strong army and is said to have nuclear weapons. It is also solidly backed by the United States." } ], "id": "713_2", "question": "Have Iran and Israel ever actually been at war?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Seven MPs have resigned from the Labour Party in protest at Jeremy Corbyn's approach to Brexit and anti-Semitism. They are: Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Mike Gapes, Gavin Shuker and Ann Coffey. Ms Berger said Labour had become institutionally anti-Semitic and she was \"embarrassed and ashamed\" to stay. Mr Corbyn said he was \"disappointed\" the MPs had felt unable to continue working for the policies that \"inspired millions\" at the 2017 election. Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell said the \"honourable thing for them to do\" would be to stand down as MPs and seek to return to Parliament in by-elections. Labour's deputy leader Tom Watson, in a video message on Facebook, urged the \"hard left\" to stop celebrating the departure of the seven MPs, saying it was \"a moment for regret and reflection not for a mood of anger or a tone of triumph\". \"Betrayal narratives and shouting insults at the departed might make some feel better briefly but it does nothing to address the reasons that good colleagues might want to leave,\" said Mr Watson. He said Luciana Berger's decision to quit was a \"wake-up call for the Labour Party\" over anti-Semitism, saying: \"We were slow to acknowledge we had a problem and even slower to deal with it.\" Labour had to \"broaden out\" and become more tolerant, he said, adding: \"I love this party. But sometimes I no longer recognise it, that is why I do not regard those who have resigned today as traitors.\" The seven MPs, who all back a further EU referendum, are not launching a new political party - they will sit in Parliament as the Independent Group. But Chuka Umunna said they had \"taken the first step\" and urged other Labour MPs - and members of other parties - to join them in \"building a new politics\". \"It is time we dumped this country's old-fashioned politics and created an alternative that does justice to who we are today and gives this country a politics fit for the here and now - the 21st Century,\" he said at a launch event in central London. He said there would be \"no merger\" with the Liberal Democrats, who have 11 MPs, and the group wanted to \"build a new alternative\". The group rejected comparisons with the Social Democratic Party - which broke away from the Labour Party in the early 1980s but eventually merged with the Liberal Party - saying it was a different era and they would not be contesting by-elections. In a founding statement on its website, the group sets out its approach to the economy, public services and security, as well as Brexit. One of the seven MPs, Angela Smith, has, meanwhile, had to apologise after being criticised for a comment about skin colour on BBC Two's Politics Live programme. In a discussion about race, the MP appeared to say: \"It's not just about being black or a funny tinge.\" She has since posted a video on Twitter apologising for the comment, adding: \"I am very upset that I misspoke so badly.\" By BBC Political Correspondent Iain Watson Defections to the Independent Group are likely to increase - but it will need to attract some of those beyond Labour to become a proper \"centre party\". Two more MPs were undecided about whether to be at the launch, one of them was 90% but clearly not 100% there. And more still may be persuaded to go unless they see a more robust response to anti-Semitism. But strong supporters of the Blair/Brown governments such as Peter Kyle and Ben Bradshaw are staying to fight their corner on Brexit and it's likely in the short term the numbers who do go will be small. This is no simple centrists v left, or indeed, ultra left split. However, the reaction of left-wing activists to today's drama could be crucial. If they feel fired up to de-select those who share the politics of the defectors but who have no intention of leaving Labour, the splinter could yet become a more sizeable split. Each of the seven took turns to explain their personal reasons for quitting the party. Ms Berger said: \"I am leaving behind a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation.\" Chris Leslie said Labour under Mr Corbyn had been \"hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left\". Mike Gapes said he was \"sickened that Labour is now perceived by many as a racist, anti-Semitic party\" and \"furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit\". Senior Labour figures, including former leader Ed Miliband and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, expressed their dismay at the split, with Mr Khan saying on Facebook that the seven MPs were friends of his but he would not be joining their new group and it was a \"desperately sad day\". In a statement, Jeremy Corbyn said: \"I am disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945.\" GMB leader Tim Roache described the MPs' actions as \"unforgiveable\", adding that they were \"hardly the Magnificent Seven\". Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, said there was a \"strong whiff of hypocrisy\" about the resigning MPs because they had stood on a manifesto at the 2017 general election that \"promised to respect the 2016 referendum taking us out of Europe\". Jon Lansman, the founder of the pro-Corbyn Momentum campaign group, said he had \"personal sympathy\" for Ms Berger because of the \"hate and abuse\" she had suffered. But he said the other six MPs were malcontents opposed to Mr Corbyn's leadership, telling BBC Radio 4's World at One: \"These are people who are not heavyweights and do not have clear policies.\" Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said the split was \"not unexpected, or unwelcome\" and his party was open to \"working with like-minded groups and individuals in order to give the people the final say on Brexit, with the option to remain in the EU\". Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis said the resignations had confirmed that Labour \"has become the Jeremy Corbyn Party - failing to take action on everything from tackling anti-Jewish racism to keeping our country safe\". Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, whose new Brexit Party launched earlier this year, tweeted: \"This moment may not look very exciting but it is the beginning of something bigger in British politics - realignment.\" The resignation of seven Labour MPs leaves Jeremy Corbyn with 248 MPs under his leadership. For now, the new group will sit as independents, but could soon form a new political party. Five other MPs are already sitting as independents after leaving the Labour Party for various reasons, but they are not part of an organised group. Separately, Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya was kicked out of the party when she was jailed in January. There are two other independent MPs - former Lib Dem Stephen Lloyd, who quit his party because he disagrees with them on Brexit, and North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon - a former Ulster Unionist. Not necessarily. Parties are membership organisations that are registered with the Electoral Commission and stand candidates in elections. They also have a leader. One major advantage of forming a party - rather than just a Parliamentary group - is that you qualify for government money to help with research, which may be a factor in the new group taking the next step. Under the rules of Parliament, none of the MPs who have resigned from Labour today have to put themselves forward for re-election in their constituencies.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2920, "answer_start": 1462, "text": "The seven MPs, who all back a further EU referendum, are not launching a new political party - they will sit in Parliament as the Independent Group. But Chuka Umunna said they had \"taken the first step\" and urged other Labour MPs - and members of other parties - to join them in \"building a new politics\". \"It is time we dumped this country's old-fashioned politics and created an alternative that does justice to who we are today and gives this country a politics fit for the here and now - the 21st Century,\" he said at a launch event in central London. He said there would be \"no merger\" with the Liberal Democrats, who have 11 MPs, and the group wanted to \"build a new alternative\". The group rejected comparisons with the Social Democratic Party - which broke away from the Labour Party in the early 1980s but eventually merged with the Liberal Party - saying it was a different era and they would not be contesting by-elections. In a founding statement on its website, the group sets out its approach to the economy, public services and security, as well as Brexit. One of the seven MPs, Angela Smith, has, meanwhile, had to apologise after being criticised for a comment about skin colour on BBC Two's Politics Live programme. In a discussion about race, the MP appeared to say: \"It's not just about being black or a funny tinge.\" She has since posted a video on Twitter apologising for the comment, adding: \"I am very upset that I misspoke so badly.\"" } ], "id": "714_0", "question": "What is the new group trying to do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3849, "answer_start": 2921, "text": "By BBC Political Correspondent Iain Watson Defections to the Independent Group are likely to increase - but it will need to attract some of those beyond Labour to become a proper \"centre party\". Two more MPs were undecided about whether to be at the launch, one of them was 90% but clearly not 100% there. And more still may be persuaded to go unless they see a more robust response to anti-Semitism. But strong supporters of the Blair/Brown governments such as Peter Kyle and Ben Bradshaw are staying to fight their corner on Brexit and it's likely in the short term the numbers who do go will be small. This is no simple centrists v left, or indeed, ultra left split. However, the reaction of left-wing activists to today's drama could be crucial. If they feel fired up to de-select those who share the politics of the defectors but who have no intention of leaving Labour, the splinter could yet become a more sizeable split." } ], "id": "714_1", "question": "Could more MPs defect to new group?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4307, "answer_start": 3850, "text": "Each of the seven took turns to explain their personal reasons for quitting the party. Ms Berger said: \"I am leaving behind a culture of bullying, bigotry and intimidation.\" Chris Leslie said Labour under Mr Corbyn had been \"hijacked by the machine politics of the hard left\". Mike Gapes said he was \"sickened that Labour is now perceived by many as a racist, anti-Semitic party\" and \"furious that the Labour leadership is complicit in facilitating Brexit\"." } ], "id": "714_2", "question": "What did the defecting MPs say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4830, "answer_start": 4308, "text": "Senior Labour figures, including former leader Ed Miliband and London Mayor Sadiq Khan, expressed their dismay at the split, with Mr Khan saying on Facebook that the seven MPs were friends of his but he would not be joining their new group and it was a \"desperately sad day\". In a statement, Jeremy Corbyn said: \"I am disappointed that these MPs have felt unable to continue to work together for the Labour policies that inspired millions at the last election and saw us increase our vote by the largest share since 1945.\"" } ], "id": "714_3", "question": "How did it go down with other Labour MPs?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5585, "answer_start": 4831, "text": "GMB leader Tim Roache described the MPs' actions as \"unforgiveable\", adding that they were \"hardly the Magnificent Seven\". Unite general secretary Len McCluskey, a close ally of Mr Corbyn, said there was a \"strong whiff of hypocrisy\" about the resigning MPs because they had stood on a manifesto at the 2017 general election that \"promised to respect the 2016 referendum taking us out of Europe\". Jon Lansman, the founder of the pro-Corbyn Momentum campaign group, said he had \"personal sympathy\" for Ms Berger because of the \"hate and abuse\" she had suffered. But he said the other six MPs were malcontents opposed to Mr Corbyn's leadership, telling BBC Radio 4's World at One: \"These are people who are not heavyweights and do not have clear policies.\"" } ], "id": "714_4", "question": "What about the unions and Momentum?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6282, "answer_start": 5586, "text": "Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said the split was \"not unexpected, or unwelcome\" and his party was open to \"working with like-minded groups and individuals in order to give the people the final say on Brexit, with the option to remain in the EU\". Conservative Party Chairman Brandon Lewis said the resignations had confirmed that Labour \"has become the Jeremy Corbyn Party - failing to take action on everything from tackling anti-Jewish racism to keeping our country safe\". Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, whose new Brexit Party launched earlier this year, tweeted: \"This moment may not look very exciting but it is the beginning of something bigger in British politics - realignment.\"" } ], "id": "714_5", "question": "How have other parties reacted?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6911, "answer_start": 6283, "text": "The resignation of seven Labour MPs leaves Jeremy Corbyn with 248 MPs under his leadership. For now, the new group will sit as independents, but could soon form a new political party. Five other MPs are already sitting as independents after leaving the Labour Party for various reasons, but they are not part of an organised group. Separately, Peterborough MP Fiona Onasanya was kicked out of the party when she was jailed in January. There are two other independent MPs - former Lib Dem Stephen Lloyd, who quit his party because he disagrees with them on Brexit, and North Down MP Lady Sylvia Hermon - a former Ulster Unionist." } ], "id": "714_6", "question": "How many MPs are independent?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7437, "answer_start": 6912, "text": "Not necessarily. Parties are membership organisations that are registered with the Electoral Commission and stand candidates in elections. They also have a leader. One major advantage of forming a party - rather than just a Parliamentary group - is that you qualify for government money to help with research, which may be a factor in the new group taking the next step. Under the rules of Parliament, none of the MPs who have resigned from Labour today have to put themselves forward for re-election in their constituencies." } ], "id": "714_7", "question": "Don't the new Independent Group have to form a party?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Washington Post employees have condemned the paper after it suspended a journalist for tweets about the late US basketball legend Kobe Bryant. Felicia Sonmez posted a link to a 2016 article about historical sexual assault allegations against Bryant in the wake of his death in a helicopter crash. She received death threats, and has since deleted the post. But the paper then placed her on administrative leave - prompting a condemnatory letter from colleagues. \"Instead of protecting and supporting a reporter in the face of abuse, The Post placed her on administrative leave,\" the Washington Post Guild letter to the editors reads. It describes the paper's social media guidelines as \"vague and inconsistently enforced\", and says the newspaper has not clearly explained why she was suspended. More than 300 Washington Post employees have signed the letter in support of Ms Sonmez. The growing list includes Pulitzer Prize winners David Fahrenthold and Beth Reinhard, and White House Bureau Chief Philip Rucker. The newspaper's media critic Erik Wemple described Ms Somnez's suspension as \"misguided\" in a Monday column. Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were among the nine people who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday, sparking an outpouring of grief around the world. The player was considered one of the greatest in the history of basketball, winning five NBA championships and two Olympic Gold medals during his 20-year career. In 2003, Bryant was accused of sexual assault by a 19-year-old woman. The case was dropped after she refused to testify in court. She had received death threats after a clerical error saw her name published online. Bryant repeatedly denied the allegations but later apologised and settled a civil case out of court. In the wake of Bryant's death, Sonmez tweeted a 2016 Daily Beast story about the rape allegations against the basketball player. The article includes police interviews with the accuser and with Bryant from 2003. Sonmez did not write the piece, and posted it on her Twitter feed without comment. She was swiftly criticised for the timing and content of her tweet. In her response Sonmez called the attacks \"eye-opening\" but defended her decision to post the link saying the way her post was received \"speaks volumes about the pressure people come under to stay silent in these cases\". Sonmez herself came forward in 2018 with allegations about sexual misconduct by Jonathan Kaiman, then a Los Angeles Times journalist. He later resigned, although he says the pair had consensual sex and their perceptions of what happened differ. On Monday she also tweeted an image of her email inbox showing her attackers, which included the names and email addresses of the senders. The journalist contacted her editors to tell them she was being threatened. Washington Post managing editor Tracy Grant then told her to delete the tweets, and sent her an email suggesting she \"consider a hotel or a friend's place for this evening\", the New York Times reported. She was later told she had been suspended with pay. A statement by Grant said Sonmez had \"displayed poor judgment that undermined the work of her colleagues\", and that she was on paid leave until the paper could determine if the posts broke their social media policy. Colleagues swiftly condemned the suspension. \"What did Sonmez do to deserve this brushback? She tweeted out a very good story from the Daily Beast,\" wrote the Washington Post's Mr Wemple. \"If journalists at The Post are prone to suspension for tweeting stories off their beats, the entire newsroom should be on administrative leave.\" The Washington Post Guild said the paper should have shown more support for a woman who had come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. \"Assault survivors inside and outside this newsroom deserve treatment that is fair and transparent; that does not blame victims or compromise the safety of survivors,\" their letter reads. The Washington Post has not commented further.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3281, "answer_start": 1767, "text": "In the wake of Bryant's death, Sonmez tweeted a 2016 Daily Beast story about the rape allegations against the basketball player. The article includes police interviews with the accuser and with Bryant from 2003. Sonmez did not write the piece, and posted it on her Twitter feed without comment. She was swiftly criticised for the timing and content of her tweet. In her response Sonmez called the attacks \"eye-opening\" but defended her decision to post the link saying the way her post was received \"speaks volumes about the pressure people come under to stay silent in these cases\". Sonmez herself came forward in 2018 with allegations about sexual misconduct by Jonathan Kaiman, then a Los Angeles Times journalist. He later resigned, although he says the pair had consensual sex and their perceptions of what happened differ. On Monday she also tweeted an image of her email inbox showing her attackers, which included the names and email addresses of the senders. The journalist contacted her editors to tell them she was being threatened. Washington Post managing editor Tracy Grant then told her to delete the tweets, and sent her an email suggesting she \"consider a hotel or a friend's place for this evening\", the New York Times reported. She was later told she had been suspended with pay. A statement by Grant said Sonmez had \"displayed poor judgment that undermined the work of her colleagues\", and that she was on paid leave until the paper could determine if the posts broke their social media policy." } ], "id": "715_0", "question": "Why was the journalist suspended?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3994, "answer_start": 3282, "text": "Colleagues swiftly condemned the suspension. \"What did Sonmez do to deserve this brushback? She tweeted out a very good story from the Daily Beast,\" wrote the Washington Post's Mr Wemple. \"If journalists at The Post are prone to suspension for tweeting stories off their beats, the entire newsroom should be on administrative leave.\" The Washington Post Guild said the paper should have shown more support for a woman who had come forward with allegations of sexual misconduct. \"Assault survivors inside and outside this newsroom deserve treatment that is fair and transparent; that does not blame victims or compromise the safety of survivors,\" their letter reads. The Washington Post has not commented further." } ], "id": "715_1", "question": "What was the reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) came to Tal Maarouf in the early hours of the morning, a surprise attack that took the lightly guarded village by surprise. \"They came to our house, and kicked in the door,\" said a woman who was among a small group of villagers taken away. She did not want to be named. \"We were terrified,\" she added. \"It was dark, and the children were crying and screaming. They pointed their guns at us and said: 'Get moving, and if you talk to the kids in Kurdish, we'll shoot you.' We shut up and walked.\" They were taken to a nearby village, Tal Hamis, which is still under the control of ISIS, a jihadist rebel group whose practices are so extreme that it has even been disavowed by al-Qaeda. The women were questioned and later released with the children. Some of the men are still being held. ISIS occupied Tal Maarouf for less than 24 hours. The Popular Protection Units (YPG) - the mainly Kurdish militia that controls this \"canton\", known as al-Jazira, along the Turkish and Iraqi borders in remote north-eastern Syria - rallied for a counter-attack, and the ISIS fighters pulled out. They left behind an extraordinary trail of devastation in a village now virtually deserted except for chickens, cats, stray dogs and YPG fighters. Any building associated with the YPG was ransacked and torched. But by far the greatest damage was done to the village's two mosques, which were systematically demolished - not the collateral damage of war, but deliberate destruction. There was even a pile of ashes and charred pages where a collection of Korans had been burnt, the verses of some of its Surahs still clearly identifiable on the delicately carbonised leaves. For most Muslims, these would be the ultimate acts of desecration because they consider the Koran the sacred word of God. But the mosques and the adjacent seminary and residences, which were also torched, belonged to the Naqshabandis, members of a liberal Sufi sect of Sunni Islam who would be regarded as heretics by hardline fundamentalists such as ISIS. That, presumably, would also explain the burning of the Korans, on the grounds that they had been contaminated and defiled by being handled by such \"heretics\". The most recent eminence of the sect, Sheikh Mohammed Mashouq al-Khaznawi, was abducted and killed, allegedly by the Syrian government, in 2005. He had famously said: \"I am Kurdish first, and Muslim second.\" But the struggle here is not simply one between Syrian Kurds and Arabs. At a cemetery in a muddy field near the village of Ain al-Khadra, we attended the highly emotional funeral of Tahsin al-Mushawwa, from the big Arab tribe of al-Tayy. Although an Arab, he was a fighter - going by the nom de guerre Zagros - with the mainly-Kurdish YPG. He was fatally wounded when a suicide bomber from ISIS blew himself up near a YPG checkpoint. Thousands of Kurds flocked to the cemetery and joined his Arab relatives weeping and grieving for the young man. \"We have no problems among ourselves,\" said Tahsin's angry cousin Jamal al-Kharouf. \"The trouble is these terrorist takfiri gangs sent by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey,\" he added, referring to extremists who believe Muslim society has reverted to a state of non-belief, legitimising attacks on other Muslims. \"And behind them, the West is sending us their terrorists, the scum of Europe. They grow beards, but they have nothing to do with Islam. What kind of Muslim would destroy a mosque and desecrate the grave of a sheikh who taught generations of students?\" ISIS itself said that two of its fighters killed at Tal Maarouf were from the United Arab Emirates. We were given access to a jail where the mainly Kurdish security force, Asayesh, is holding Islamist rebel prisoners we were told had been captured by the YPG during clashes, or intercepted on failed suicide- or car-bombing operations. The handful of prisoners paraded for us were all said to be Syrians, both Arabs and Kurds, though we were not allowed to speak to them. But we were shown the passports and identity papers that the YPG said were found on the bodies of nine fighters from ISIS or the al-Nusra Front - the only official al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria - killed in recent clashes. They were three Turks, three Iraqis, and one each from Tunisia, Libya and Bahrain. Stamps on their passports showed that the Arabs had transited through Turkey. A separate register bearing the insignia of al-Nusra logged the details of another 35 fighters, many of them clearly from outside Syria. Another nearby village, Gerhok, was occupied by al-Nusra's Eagle Brigade for six months last year. Although the village - lying close to the oilfields at Rumaylan - has an Arab majority, the entire population fled and only returned after the YPG had driven out al-Nusra. \"Al-Nusra was interested in the oil,\" said Ali al-Salih, head of the local farmers' association. \"Now that they've gone, things are stable and we can enjoy our homes again. But the oil is still a problem - there's a kind of anarchy.\" \"Gangs fight over it at night, and people are refining it by hand at the roadside. It's ruining our crops and our health, and we're getting nothing out of it.\" Hospital officials say the most common ailment in the area now is pulmonary problems caused by the pollution from hundreds of primitive mini-refineries pumping acrid black smoke into the air. \"Even so, there's no way we would want al-Nusra or the other terrorist groups back,\" Mr Salih added. \"Now, I can receive you as my guest. If they were around, you wouldn't last five minutes. They'd probably kill you in my house.\" Officials of the YPG militia and its political affiliate, the Democratic Union Party (PYD), say they have lost more than 500 fighters repelling ISIS, al-Nusra and allied Islamist groups. \"We may have political differences with the rest of the Syrian opposition, but our basic problem is with the groups like ISIS and al-Nusra, which are linked to al-Qaeda,\" said Aldar Khalil, a senior PYD figure. \"They are trying to penetrate here and make Syria a centre and base for themselves, so we have to confront them and fight them.\" \"It seems ISIS have taken a strategic decision to make war on us, and not just us - they want to control the area, and they'll fight any force that stands in their way.\" The PYD and its affiliates announced in January the establishment of \"democratic self-administration\" in the three Kurdish-dominated cantons - al-Jazira in the north-east, Ain al-Arab (Kobani in Kurdish) in the central sector, and around Ifrin in the far north-west. Despite the move, they have denied accusations that they want to join them up and pursue a path of autonomy verging on virtual independence, as the Kurds next door in Iraq have done. \"We are part of Syria, regardless of the ruling regime,\" said Mr Khalil. \"The regime is one thing, and the state is another. You can be at odds with the regime and want to change it, but not the geography of Syria. These cantons remain tied to Syria and subject to the central state.\" That ambivalence, which has drawn accusations of collusion with the regime, is evident as you move around Qamishli, the biggest town in the al-Jazira canton. A huge portrait of the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad adorns the entrance to the busy post office. Syrian troops man positions around a base in the centre of town, and control the nearby airport. A statue of the president's father and predecessor, Hafez al-Assad, stands untouched in a busy square, one of the few to survive the uprising around the country. Syrian secret police officers in their trademark black leather jackets saunter casually past Kurdish Asayesh police stations. There are many other signs of de facto co-existence between the state and the Kurdish forces. That is hardly surprising. The PYD is strongly linked to the Turkish rebel Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Pictures of the imprisoned PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, adorn offices throughout the Syrian Kurdish areas. Syria backed the PKK in the 1980s and 1990s and harboured Ocalan until a Turkish military mobilisation forced Damascus to expel him in 1998, enabling his subsequent capture and detention in Kenya the next year. So ties between the regime and the PKK and its affiliates go back a long way. It is taken as axiomatic among many residents of the Kurdish-majority cantons that there must be invisible high-level co-ordination between the regime and the PYD, even if at the grassroots nothing is known. But there is another, contradictory yet widely held, perception: that the regime is also in cahoots with ISIS and other Islamist groups that the Kurds are fighting. Again, the roots of alleged regime complicity with radical Islamist networks go back 10 years to the war in Iraq, when Damascus was bitterly accused by Iraqi officials, the Americans and others, of facilitating and encouraging jihadists to cross the border to join the insurgency. Now, Kurds and others point to circumstantial evidence of collusion between the government and the jihadists. There are many stories of government forces refraining from bombarding ISIS positions, but targeting them if other rebel groups take them over. \"The regime seems to have a hand in everything, and we don't know who is friend or foe,\" said one puzzled Kurd. The \"self-administration\" announced by the PYD and its allies remains largely theoretical or vestigial for the moment. Throughout the al-Jazira canton, teachers, hospital staff, municipal workers and others continue to be paid by the Syrian state, and official paperwork has to be done through government offices in the provincial capital, Hassakeh. The course that the PYD is charting is not universally approved in the cantons, and is strongly criticised by rival political factions which accuse it of imposing itself through the guns of the YPG. Although sounding public opinion is difficult, many Kurds seem to agree that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which predominates in neighbouring northern Iraqi Kurdistan, is more popular than the PYD despite the latter's control on the ground in Syria.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 10113, "answer_start": 8287, "text": "It is taken as axiomatic among many residents of the Kurdish-majority cantons that there must be invisible high-level co-ordination between the regime and the PYD, even if at the grassroots nothing is known. But there is another, contradictory yet widely held, perception: that the regime is also in cahoots with ISIS and other Islamist groups that the Kurds are fighting. Again, the roots of alleged regime complicity with radical Islamist networks go back 10 years to the war in Iraq, when Damascus was bitterly accused by Iraqi officials, the Americans and others, of facilitating and encouraging jihadists to cross the border to join the insurgency. Now, Kurds and others point to circumstantial evidence of collusion between the government and the jihadists. There are many stories of government forces refraining from bombarding ISIS positions, but targeting them if other rebel groups take them over. \"The regime seems to have a hand in everything, and we don't know who is friend or foe,\" said one puzzled Kurd. The \"self-administration\" announced by the PYD and its allies remains largely theoretical or vestigial for the moment. Throughout the al-Jazira canton, teachers, hospital staff, municipal workers and others continue to be paid by the Syrian state, and official paperwork has to be done through government offices in the provincial capital, Hassakeh. The course that the PYD is charting is not universally approved in the cantons, and is strongly criticised by rival political factions which accuse it of imposing itself through the guns of the YPG. Although sounding public opinion is difficult, many Kurds seem to agree that the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), which predominates in neighbouring northern Iraqi Kurdistan, is more popular than the PYD despite the latter's control on the ground in Syria." } ], "id": "716_0", "question": "Colluding with al-Qaeda?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump says he will withdraw the US from an Obama-era nuclear agreement with Iran. Calling it \"decaying and rotten\", he said the deal was \"an embarrassment\" to him \"as a citizen\". Going against advice from European allies, he said he would reimpose economic sanctions that were waived when the deal was signed in 2015. In response, Iran said it was preparing to restart uranium enrichment, key for making both nuclear energy and weapons. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said: \"The US has announced that it doesn't respect its commitments. \"I have ordered the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran to be ready for action if needed, so that if necessary we can resume our enrichment on an industrial level without any limitations.\" He said he would \"wait a few weeks\" to speak to allies and the other signatories to the nuclear deal first. \"If we achieve the deal's goals in cooperation with other members of the deal, it will remain in place,\" he said. The so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) curbed Iran's nuclear activities in return for the lifting of sanctions that had been imposed by the UN, US and EU. Mr Trump had previously complained that the deal only limited Iran's nuclear activities for a fixed period; had failed to stop the development of ballistic missiles; and had handed Iran a $100bn (PS74bn) windfall that it used \"as a slush fund for weapons, terror, and oppression\" across the Middle East. \"It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of this deal,\" Mr Trump said. \"The Iran deal is defective to its core.\" Former President Barack Obama, who signed the deal on behalf of the US three years ago, called Mr Trump's announcement \"misguided\". The US Treasury said economic sanctions would not be reimposed on Iran immediately, but would be subject to 90-day and 180-day wind-down periods. In a statement on its website, it said sanctions would be reimposed on the industries mentioned in the 2015 deal, including Iran's oil sector, aircraft exports, precious metals trade, and Iranian government attempts to buy US dollar banknotes. US National Security Advisor John Bolton is reported as saying that European companies doing business with Iran will have to finish within six months or face US sanctions. Analysis by Jonathan Marcus, BBC defence and diplomatic correspondent With a stroke of his pen President Trump has jeopardised the one agreement - good or bad -that seeks to constrain Iran's nuclear ambitions. He launched a scathing assault on the deal and its deficiencies, but he offered no alternative policy to put in its place. He has put US diplomacy on a collision course with some of Washington's closest allies. And some fear that he may have brought a new and catastrophic regional war in the Middle East that much closer. France, Germany and the UK - whose leaders had tried to change Mr Trump's mind - have said they \"regret\" the American decision. The foreign ministry of Russia, another signatory, said it was \"deeply disappointed\". The European Union's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, said the EU was \"determined to preserve\" the deal. Former President Obama said on Facebook that the deal was working and was in US interests. \"Walking away from the JCPOA turns our back on America's closest allies, and an agreement that our country's leading diplomats, scientists, and intelligence professionals negotiated. \"At a time when we are all rooting for diplomacy with North Korea to succeed, walking away from the JCPOA risks losing a deal that accomplishes - with Iran - the very outcome that we are pursuing with the North Koreans,\" he said. The United Nations secretary general's spokesman said Antonio Guterres was \"deeply concerned\" at the announcement and called on the other signatories to abide by their commitments. But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he \"fully supports\" Mr Trump's \"bold\" withdrawal from a \"disastrous\" deal. And Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional rival, says it \"supports and welcomes\" Mr Trump's moves towards pulling out of the deal. The so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) saw Iran agree to limit the size of its stockpile of enriched uranium - which is used to make reactor fuel, but also nuclear weapons - for 15 years and the number of centrifuges installed to enrich uranium for 10 years. Iran also agreed to modify a heavy water facility so it could not produce plutonium suitable for a bomb. In return, sanctions imposed by the UN, US and EU that had crippled Iran's economy were lifted. The deal was agreed between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, UK, France, China and Russia - plus Germany. Iran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful, and its compliance with the deal has been verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2316, "answer_start": 1755, "text": "The US Treasury said economic sanctions would not be reimposed on Iran immediately, but would be subject to 90-day and 180-day wind-down periods. In a statement on its website, it said sanctions would be reimposed on the industries mentioned in the 2015 deal, including Iran's oil sector, aircraft exports, precious metals trade, and Iranian government attempts to buy US dollar banknotes. US National Security Advisor John Bolton is reported as saying that European companies doing business with Iran will have to finish within six months or face US sanctions." } ], "id": "717_0", "question": "When will the sanctions restart?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4104, "answer_start": 2850, "text": "France, Germany and the UK - whose leaders had tried to change Mr Trump's mind - have said they \"regret\" the American decision. The foreign ministry of Russia, another signatory, said it was \"deeply disappointed\". The European Union's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, said the EU was \"determined to preserve\" the deal. Former President Obama said on Facebook that the deal was working and was in US interests. \"Walking away from the JCPOA turns our back on America's closest allies, and an agreement that our country's leading diplomats, scientists, and intelligence professionals negotiated. \"At a time when we are all rooting for diplomacy with North Korea to succeed, walking away from the JCPOA risks losing a deal that accomplishes - with Iran - the very outcome that we are pursuing with the North Koreans,\" he said. The United Nations secretary general's spokesman said Antonio Guterres was \"deeply concerned\" at the announcement and called on the other signatories to abide by their commitments. But Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he \"fully supports\" Mr Trump's \"bold\" withdrawal from a \"disastrous\" deal. And Saudi Arabia, Iran's regional rival, says it \"supports and welcomes\" Mr Trump's moves towards pulling out of the deal." } ], "id": "717_1", "question": "What reaction has there been worldwide?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4886, "answer_start": 4105, "text": "The so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) saw Iran agree to limit the size of its stockpile of enriched uranium - which is used to make reactor fuel, but also nuclear weapons - for 15 years and the number of centrifuges installed to enrich uranium for 10 years. Iran also agreed to modify a heavy water facility so it could not produce plutonium suitable for a bomb. In return, sanctions imposed by the UN, US and EU that had crippled Iran's economy were lifted. The deal was agreed between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, UK, France, China and Russia - plus Germany. Iran insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful, and its compliance with the deal has been verified by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)." } ], "id": "717_2", "question": "What was agreed under the deal?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A man believes his wife would still be alive if the probation service had acted on warnings and sent a convicted murderer back to prison. Simon Mellors, from Nottingham, murdered his former partner Pearl Black in 1999, then killed Janet Scott after being released from prison on licence. Her husband, Chris Scott, said Mellors threatened to kill them both and followed Janet to work before she died. The Ministry of Justice said a full review into the case is under way. \"If the probation service had done something and informed the police and had Mellors been arrested my wife would still be alive,\" said Mr Scott. Mellors was released from prison in 2014. He was in a relationship with Mrs Scott while she was temporarily separated from her husband in 2017, and killed her after she got back together with Mr Scott. Mellors stabbed the 51-year-old at her home in Nursery Road, Arnold, Nottinghamshire, on 29 January then drove her towards Nottingham city centre. She escaped and ran towards a traffic officer for help, but Mellors drove his car into both of them, injuring the traffic officer and killing Mrs Scott instantly. Mellors died in prison after being charged with her murder and the attempted murder of the traffic officer. He is thought to have killed himself. Mr Scott said his wife knew Mellors was going to kill her. \"She knew it was coming,\" he said. \"I said 'Look, you've got nothing to worry about, I'm here, I'm going to protect you, nothing is going to happen'.\" \"This has hit me so hard it has just ripped my life apart.\" Pearl Black's brother and sister, George and Mary Black, wrote to the Parole Board before Mellors was released from prison, to warn them that he would kill again. Ms Black said: \"The Parole Board have let us down totally. The justice system has let us down by not listening to us when we warned them this man would commit murder again.\" Mr Black said: \"Two good women died by the hands of this monster. \"The different agencies should have picked up on this because he had been stalking Janet.\" The families of both murdered woman are supporting each other and want the justice system held to account over Mrs Scott's death. They have started a petition for a register so that people can find out whether someone is a convicted murderer before getting into a relationship with them. Janet and her older sister, Susan Thomson, were at a pub in Nottingham just before Easter 2017 when she met Mellors. Mrs Thomson said Mellors did not tell her sister about the murder conviction for at least six to eight weeks. \"If she had knew this she would never have got involved with him,\" said Mrs Thomson. \"She was just a very caring person and she always said to me everybody deserves a second chance in life.\" Janet's brother-in-law Keith Thomson, who had known her since she was 10 years old, said she had already \"formed an attachment\" to Mellors by the time she found out about his murder conviction. The Thomsons said Janet tried to end the relationship several times but Mellors would not accept it. They said that Janet complained to Mellors' probation officer about his behaviour. \"I knew that my sister sent texts to the probation officer because she rung me up when she did it and told me so,\" said Mrs Thomson. \"I feel that Simon should have been told, or pulled in, or something done about it, while he was stalking my sister.\" Mellors murdered 36-year-old Pearl Black on 6 May 1999 at her home in Ewe Lamb Lane, Bramcote, Nottinghamshire. He battered her head repeatedly with an iron bar then strangled her with cable ties. Mellors denied murder, claiming diminished responsibility because he was depressed at the time, but the jury rejected this and convicted him. He was given a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years to be served in prison, but Mellors appealed against his sentence and it was reduced to 12 years. He was released on licence after the Parole Board deemed it was safe to do so. It said in a statement: \"The Parole Board directed the release of Simon Mellors following an oral hearing on 28 February 2014. We cannot comment on the specifics of the case.\" When someone serving a life sentence is released on licence they can be recalled to prison at any time if they are considered to be a risk to the public. Mr Scott said his wife raised concerns about Mellors with his probation officer numerous times, and even had the officer's phone number stored in her phone. Her concerns included a threat made by Mellors shortly before Christmas 2017. \"Mellors told Janet 'I'm going to kill Chris and then I'm going to kill you, because if I can't have you nobody can',\" said Mr Scott. He said Mellors approached his wife and \"pestered\" her on her way to work at Lidl on 25 January - four days before she died - then returned to the store later that morning. \"Janet did text me and say that she reported it to the probation service,\" said Mr Scott. \"As far as I was concerned that was a relief and I would have thought they had done the right thing and contacted the police and had Mellors taken off the street.\" Both families blame the original judge for not giving Mellors a longer sentence, the Parole Board for releasing him, and the probation service for not sending him back to prison. An inquiry known as a serious further offence review is being carried out which will examine the probation service. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: \"This is a tragic case and our sincere condolences are with the victim's family and friends. \"Serious further offences such as this are very rare, but each one is taken extremely seriously and investigated fully. \"A full review into this case is under way, and we will carefully consider the findings to make sure all possible lessons are learnt.\" An inquest to examine the circumstances of Mrs Scott's death has also been opened and adjourned.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3372, "answer_start": 2326, "text": "Janet and her older sister, Susan Thomson, were at a pub in Nottingham just before Easter 2017 when she met Mellors. Mrs Thomson said Mellors did not tell her sister about the murder conviction for at least six to eight weeks. \"If she had knew this she would never have got involved with him,\" said Mrs Thomson. \"She was just a very caring person and she always said to me everybody deserves a second chance in life.\" Janet's brother-in-law Keith Thomson, who had known her since she was 10 years old, said she had already \"formed an attachment\" to Mellors by the time she found out about his murder conviction. The Thomsons said Janet tried to end the relationship several times but Mellors would not accept it. They said that Janet complained to Mellors' probation officer about his behaviour. \"I knew that my sister sent texts to the probation officer because she rung me up when she did it and told me so,\" said Mrs Thomson. \"I feel that Simon should have been told, or pulled in, or something done about it, while he was stalking my sister.\"" } ], "id": "718_0", "question": "Did Janet Scott know Mellors was a murderer?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4120, "answer_start": 3373, "text": "Mellors murdered 36-year-old Pearl Black on 6 May 1999 at her home in Ewe Lamb Lane, Bramcote, Nottinghamshire. He battered her head repeatedly with an iron bar then strangled her with cable ties. Mellors denied murder, claiming diminished responsibility because he was depressed at the time, but the jury rejected this and convicted him. He was given a life sentence with a minimum of 14 years to be served in prison, but Mellors appealed against his sentence and it was reduced to 12 years. He was released on licence after the Parole Board deemed it was safe to do so. It said in a statement: \"The Parole Board directed the release of Simon Mellors following an oral hearing on 28 February 2014. We cannot comment on the specifics of the case.\"" } ], "id": "718_1", "question": "Why was Mellors originally jailed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5070, "answer_start": 4121, "text": "When someone serving a life sentence is released on licence they can be recalled to prison at any time if they are considered to be a risk to the public. Mr Scott said his wife raised concerns about Mellors with his probation officer numerous times, and even had the officer's phone number stored in her phone. Her concerns included a threat made by Mellors shortly before Christmas 2017. \"Mellors told Janet 'I'm going to kill Chris and then I'm going to kill you, because if I can't have you nobody can',\" said Mr Scott. He said Mellors approached his wife and \"pestered\" her on her way to work at Lidl on 25 January - four days before she died - then returned to the store later that morning. \"Janet did text me and say that she reported it to the probation service,\" said Mr Scott. \"As far as I was concerned that was a relief and I would have thought they had done the right thing and contacted the police and had Mellors taken off the street.\"" } ], "id": "718_2", "question": "Why was Mellors not sent back to prison?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5851, "answer_start": 5071, "text": "Both families blame the original judge for not giving Mellors a longer sentence, the Parole Board for releasing him, and the probation service for not sending him back to prison. An inquiry known as a serious further offence review is being carried out which will examine the probation service. A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: \"This is a tragic case and our sincere condolences are with the victim's family and friends. \"Serious further offences such as this are very rare, but each one is taken extremely seriously and investigated fully. \"A full review into this case is under way, and we will carefully consider the findings to make sure all possible lessons are learnt.\" An inquest to examine the circumstances of Mrs Scott's death has also been opened and adjourned." } ], "id": "718_3", "question": "Will anyone be held to account?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam has been forced to suspend her annual address after being heckled in parliament. Opposition lawmakers disrupted the Legislative Council session by shouting and projecting slogans behind her. After a first interruption, the session resumed only to be interrupted again. It was then suspended - and Ms Lam delivered the address by video instead. It means the extradition bill - the trigger for months of protests - could not be withdrawn formally. The bill was suspended in July, but Wednesday's meeting was the first time the Legislative Council (Legco) had resumed since it was stormed by protesters in July, and was the first opportunity to withdraw the bill altogether. But as Chief Executive Lam was about to begin her speech, opposition lawmakers began shouting and climbing on tables. They also projected the words \"Five demands - not one less\" on the wall behind her. Since the protests began, they have widened from rallies against the bill to five key demands - including universal suffrage. Opposition lawmaker Tanya Chan said Ms Lam was to blame for the Hong Kong's troubles. \"Both her hands are soaked with blood,\" she said. \"We hope Carrie Lam withdraws and quits. She has no governance ability. She is not suitable to be chief executive.\" It was the first time a Hong Kong chief executive had been unable to deliver a policy address in the chamber. Pro-establishment lawmakers condemned the interruption of the session - saying the address was important for Hong Kong's economic future. After the assembly was suspended, a pre-recorded speech was made available on the Legco website instead. In the address, Ms Lam stressed her commitment to \"one country, two systems\" - the parallel political system introduced in Hong Kong after British rule ended - and said calls for Hong Kong independence would not be tolerated. She announced several housing and infrastructure policies, saying housing was the most urgent issue the city faces. In a news conference after the address, Ms Lam rejected claims that her speech ignored the demands of the protest movement. But she said it was not the time to consider voting reform, while insisting Hong Kong did have freedom of speech and freedom of the press without Chinese interference. The developments came just hours after Hong Kong protesters won a show of support from US lawmakers, who passed a bill aimed at upholding human rights in the city. Carrie Lam hoped this moment might signal the beginning of the end for Hong Kong's political crisis. The cover page of her policy address was bright blue, she said, to represent the clear skies ahead. But the first full session of Hong Kong's parliament since it was stormed by protesters in July was cut short. Other leaders in other places might have faced them down. But Hong Kong's limited form of democracy doesn't produce that kind of pugilistic politician, able to appeal over the heads of opponents to the public at large. Which is of course the central point at the heart of the deep divisions splitting this society apart. The tightly-managed political system seen as a source of stability and strength by supporters - like the ruling Communist Party in Beijing - is seen as a threat and a fundamental weakness for those taking to the streets to argue against it. Hong Kong is part of China but, as a former British colony, has some autonomy and people have more rights. The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence. The government in September promised the bill would be withdrawn once parliament resumed but demonstrations continued. Demands have since widened into five key demands: - Don't characterise the protests as \"riots\" - Amnesty for arrested activists - An independent inquiry into alleged police brutality - Implementation of complete universal suffrage - Withdrawal of the extradition bill In a conversation with the EU representative in Hong Kong earlier this week, Ms Lam reportedly ruled out even debating universal suffrage in the current climate. Protests have taken place every weekend over the past month and in every district, causing widespread disruption. Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs. Ms Lam's address was scheduled just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping said any attempt to divide China would end in \"bodies smashed and bones ground to powder\" - comments seen as an implicit warning to Hong Kong. - The first protest took place in June - In July, protesters stormed Legco, spraying graffiti and defacing symbols - In August, one protester was injured in the eye, leading to activists wearing eye patches to show solidarity - Hundreds of flights from Hong Kong were cancelled that month after airport protests - In September, Ms Lam announced she would withdraw the extradition bill but most protesters said it was \"too little, too late\" - On 1 October, China celebrated 70 years of Communist Party rule and Hong Kong saw another day of violent clashes - An 18-year-old was shot in the chest with a live bullet and protesters fought officers with poles, petrol bombs and other projectiles - On 4 October the government banned face masks, invoking powers dating back to colonial rule - Last Sunday, peaceful rallies again descended into clashes with railway stations and shops deemed to be pro-Beijing targeted", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4620, "answer_start": 3305, "text": "Hong Kong is part of China but, as a former British colony, has some autonomy and people have more rights. The protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to the mainland - which many feared would undermine the city's freedoms and judicial independence. The government in September promised the bill would be withdrawn once parliament resumed but demonstrations continued. Demands have since widened into five key demands: - Don't characterise the protests as \"riots\" - Amnesty for arrested activists - An independent inquiry into alleged police brutality - Implementation of complete universal suffrage - Withdrawal of the extradition bill In a conversation with the EU representative in Hong Kong earlier this week, Ms Lam reportedly ruled out even debating universal suffrage in the current climate. Protests have taken place every weekend over the past month and in every district, causing widespread disruption. Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs. Ms Lam's address was scheduled just days after Chinese President Xi Jinping said any attempt to divide China would end in \"bodies smashed and bones ground to powder\" - comments seen as an implicit warning to Hong Kong." } ], "id": "719_0", "question": "What are the Hong Kong protests about?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Californian officials have begun the process of identifying the victims of a boat fire that is suspected to have claimed 34 lives. Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said that DNA samples would be required from the families of presumed victims to identify them. Authorities have moved from search-and-rescue operations to a recovery effort. Only five people survived, all crew. The scuba-diving boat caught fire on Monday as passengers slept below decks. Twenty bodies - 11 females and nine males - have been recovered but more remain in the submerged wreckage, officials said on Tuesday. Divers will attempt to stabilise the 75ft-long (23m) vessel, the Conception, to recover the remaining victims. The vessel is upside down in more than 60ft of water, officials said. When asked why DNA material would be necessary, Sheriff Brown told reporters it was an \"inordinately hot fire and the bodies do exhibit signs of extreme thermal damage\". According to preliminary reports, Sheriff Brown said, a 17-year-old and several people in their 60s were probably aboard the recreational diving vessel when it caught fire. No cause of the fire has yet been determined. Search-and-rescue operations were suspended on Tuesday morning after a reconnaissance aircraft flew over the wreck and found \"no additional signs of distress or debris\", Captain Monica Rochester of the US Coast Guard said. The debris field spanned nearly 1.5 miles (2.4km), said Sheriff Brown. More than 160 miles of ocean were also searched, he added. The boat had an \"open berthing\" plan, Cpt Rochester told reporters, meaning there were no locked doors onboard and curtains were used to section off different compartments, such as the sleeping quarters. She added that smoke detectors and fire-fighting systems were required to be on the boat, which had passed its most recent annual screening. When asked if the crew were required to post a night watch, Capt Rochester said that matter was still under investigation. Five members of the boat's crew escaped the blaze and were able to steer another vessel to a nearby boat, the Grape Escape, where they called emergency services for help. The captain appears to have jumped into the water with others fleeing the burning boat, Sheriff Brown said. The Conception was split into three decks, he said, with the passengers being given the bottom level as their chambers. The middle deck housed the boat's galley and salon, and the top deck was the crew's quarters and the boat's bridge, he added. He said it was \"perfectly normal for the crew to be up on that assigned deck\" and closest to an exit when the fire broke out. None of those onboard have been formally identified, but family members have begun releasing the name of missing loved ones: - The brother of one marine biologist - 41-year-old Kristy Finstad - told US media she had been leading a dive trip and was presumed dead - The Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz several of its students and parents had been on the boat. The trip was not part of the school curriculum - St Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton, California, said one of its nurses, Evan Quitasol, had been on the ship, along with her father, Michael Quitasol, a former employee at the hospital. - Another former St Joseph's staff member, Fernisa Sison, was also on board, the hospital said - Susana Rosas, Evan's mother, wrote on Facebook that two of her other daughters had been aboard the Conception. Nicole Storm Solano Quitasol and Angela Rose Solano Quitasol were on a trip with her ex-husband, Michael, and his wife Fernisa Sison, she wrote On the eve of the disaster, three birthdays - including one for a 17 year old girl - had reportedly been celebrated by passengers on the doomed boat. Actor Rob Lowe was among those paying tribute to victims, writing on Twitter that it was \"an unspeakable horror on a boat I've been on many times\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1984, "answer_start": 1164, "text": "Search-and-rescue operations were suspended on Tuesday morning after a reconnaissance aircraft flew over the wreck and found \"no additional signs of distress or debris\", Captain Monica Rochester of the US Coast Guard said. The debris field spanned nearly 1.5 miles (2.4km), said Sheriff Brown. More than 160 miles of ocean were also searched, he added. The boat had an \"open berthing\" plan, Cpt Rochester told reporters, meaning there were no locked doors onboard and curtains were used to section off different compartments, such as the sleeping quarters. She added that smoke detectors and fire-fighting systems were required to be on the boat, which had passed its most recent annual screening. When asked if the crew were required to post a night watch, Capt Rochester said that matter was still under investigation." } ], "id": "720_0", "question": "What have authorities said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2635, "answer_start": 1985, "text": "Five members of the boat's crew escaped the blaze and were able to steer another vessel to a nearby boat, the Grape Escape, where they called emergency services for help. The captain appears to have jumped into the water with others fleeing the burning boat, Sheriff Brown said. The Conception was split into three decks, he said, with the passengers being given the bottom level as their chambers. The middle deck housed the boat's galley and salon, and the top deck was the crew's quarters and the boat's bridge, he added. He said it was \"perfectly normal for the crew to be up on that assigned deck\" and closest to an exit when the fire broke out." } ], "id": "720_1", "question": "How did the crew survive?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3890, "answer_start": 2636, "text": "None of those onboard have been formally identified, but family members have begun releasing the name of missing loved ones: - The brother of one marine biologist - 41-year-old Kristy Finstad - told US media she had been leading a dive trip and was presumed dead - The Pacific Collegiate School in Santa Cruz several of its students and parents had been on the boat. The trip was not part of the school curriculum - St Joseph's Medical Center in Stockton, California, said one of its nurses, Evan Quitasol, had been on the ship, along with her father, Michael Quitasol, a former employee at the hospital. - Another former St Joseph's staff member, Fernisa Sison, was also on board, the hospital said - Susana Rosas, Evan's mother, wrote on Facebook that two of her other daughters had been aboard the Conception. Nicole Storm Solano Quitasol and Angela Rose Solano Quitasol were on a trip with her ex-husband, Michael, and his wife Fernisa Sison, she wrote On the eve of the disaster, three birthdays - including one for a 17 year old girl - had reportedly been celebrated by passengers on the doomed boat. Actor Rob Lowe was among those paying tribute to victims, writing on Twitter that it was \"an unspeakable horror on a boat I've been on many times\"." } ], "id": "720_2", "question": "Who was on the Conception?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Exam results are out next week and there is a decidedly back-to-school feel about the papers the government is publishing this week on Brexit. Theresa May is back from her holidays and the cabinet is keen to show that it has been hard at work in her absence, not fighting with each other at all. I will leave it to my political colleagues to assess the substance and significance of Liam Fox and Phillip Hammond shaking hands in front of the whole class, and confine my efforts to marking their Brexit homework. The first paper they have submitted is on the customs union. This is a special club for EU members that allows them to move goods in and out of each others' countries without having to show special ID or empty their pockets (or trucks) at the door. Containers roll on and roll off at both ends with zero hassle. Many businesses and port authorities are worried that leaving the club will mean people are stopped at the border and that these delays will cause long backlogs, interrupt supply chains, increase costs and deter trade. As the head of the port of Dover has put it: \"If we don't get this right, we could face Operation Stack every day in perpetuity.\" The answers to these customs questions are therefore important. Yes and no. The government document is very clear that the UK will leave the customs union at the end of March 2019. The UK will then seek to agree an \"interim period\". So what will that look like? There is a big clue in today's paper. The government is promising that businesses will only have to adjust once to our eventual customs relationship with the EU. That must mean that the day after we leave the EU, and enter the interim period, there will be no change. So we are out of the customs union, but everything will pretty much stay the same until the interim period is over. The only difference is that because we are technically out of the customs union, we will be able to negotiate our own trade deals with non-EU countries, while enjoying the benefits of frictionless trade we have now. This approach will look to many like the \"having our cake and eating it\" that Boris Johnson was so keen on - and EU officials weren't. The cabinet now seems united that this interim period is finite. The time limit appears to be the next election in 2022. So what happens then? There are two answers. First answer: a brand new \"streamlined\" customs border with the EU. Some combination of technology, negotiation, unilateral rule changes would make for a whizzy low-friction border. Many will say that even if this new system works, it will find it hard to beat what we have now. Others will say that a tiny bit of extra work at the border is a price worth paying for freedom to cut new trade deals. Second answer: a new partnership based on a \"shared approach\" that would remove the need for a customs border altogether. That option has most experts scratching their heads. Whatever it is, it does not exist between the EU and anyone else right now (with the possible exception in a limited way of Turkey), and so is hard to analyse. Overall, what we learn from this document is that the government wants to leave the customs union, while leaving border arrangements identical for up to five years from now. After March 2019, it hopes to negotiate new trade deals, and there is nothing in reality to stop Liam Fox warming relations with prospective partners right now. What is still hard to see is how substantive those negotiations with third parties can really be when we, and they, still have no idea what our future relationship will be with the EU. The government is clearly trying to show the UK and the EU that it is getting its act together with these papers and I'm told this show of unity and effort will be welcomed by business. But it's worth remembering Liam Fox has always been clear that, in his mind at least, an interim agreement means a period of time to adjust from A to B - where B is known and understood by both parties. It is NOT an extra three years to figure out where B might be. The time available to define B - namely, the wider issues such as the financial settlement, trade, tariffs, immigration and rights of EU citizens in the UK and vice versa - continues to tick down.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3069, "answer_start": 2170, "text": "The cabinet now seems united that this interim period is finite. The time limit appears to be the next election in 2022. So what happens then? There are two answers. First answer: a brand new \"streamlined\" customs border with the EU. Some combination of technology, negotiation, unilateral rule changes would make for a whizzy low-friction border. Many will say that even if this new system works, it will find it hard to beat what we have now. Others will say that a tiny bit of extra work at the border is a price worth paying for freedom to cut new trade deals. Second answer: a new partnership based on a \"shared approach\" that would remove the need for a customs border altogether. That option has most experts scratching their heads. Whatever it is, it does not exist between the EU and anyone else right now (with the possible exception in a limited way of Turkey), and so is hard to analyse." } ], "id": "721_0", "question": "How long will this interim period last?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "South Africa needs to \"radically transform\" its economy, the country's new finance minister has said. The treasury has been seen for too long as belonging to \"big business, powerful interests and international investors,\" Malusi Gigaba said. \"This is a people's government,\" he told his first news conference since President Jacob Zuma fired his respected predecessor, Pravin Gordhan. Thursday night's sacking shook markets and divided the ruling party. Mr Gordhan's sudden dismissal, part of a reshuffle affecting nine ministers, led to a 5% plunge in the value of the currency, the rand. The ruling African National Congress' deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, called it \"totally, totally unacceptable\" and ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe also opposed it. In 2014, the ANC adopted \"radical economic transformation\" policies to boost the economic position of the black majority in the post-apartheid nation. But many in the ruling party believe the process has been \"too slow and in many instances superficial\", said Mr Gigaba, who was previously home affairs minister. \"The ownership of wealth and assets remains concentrated in the hands of a small part of the population,\" he said. But he added that he did not \"seek to implement a reckless lurch in a particular direction\". \"We will stay the course in terms of the fiscal policy stance approved by government,\" the new minister said. Pravin Gordhan was seen by many as a safe pair of hands when it came to managing the economy. He was seen as a bulwark against corruption in an administration that is facing growing criticism. He resisted calls from the president to increase government expenditure. Malusi Gigaba, however, is widely seen as an ally of Mr Zuma and does not have a background in finance. Opposition parties say it is because he was obstructing President Zuma and his allies - whom they accused of corruption - from gaining access to state funds. Mr Zuma, who rejects the allegations, said the move was about a \"radical socio-economic transformation\". Local media point to an alleged intelligence report accusing Mr Gordhan of working with foreigners to undermine Mr Zuma's administration. Last October, Mr Gordhan was charged with fraud but the charges were later dropped. He has described the allegations as politically motivated.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1393, "answer_start": 763, "text": "In 2014, the ANC adopted \"radical economic transformation\" policies to boost the economic position of the black majority in the post-apartheid nation. But many in the ruling party believe the process has been \"too slow and in many instances superficial\", said Mr Gigaba, who was previously home affairs minister. \"The ownership of wealth and assets remains concentrated in the hands of a small part of the population,\" he said. But he added that he did not \"seek to implement a reckless lurch in a particular direction\". \"We will stay the course in terms of the fiscal policy stance approved by government,\" the new minister said." } ], "id": "722_0", "question": "What does 'radical transformation' mean?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1763, "answer_start": 1394, "text": "Pravin Gordhan was seen by many as a safe pair of hands when it came to managing the economy. He was seen as a bulwark against corruption in an administration that is facing growing criticism. He resisted calls from the president to increase government expenditure. Malusi Gigaba, however, is widely seen as an ally of Mr Zuma and does not have a background in finance." } ], "id": "722_1", "question": "Why has this caused such a fuss?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2307, "answer_start": 1764, "text": "Opposition parties say it is because he was obstructing President Zuma and his allies - whom they accused of corruption - from gaining access to state funds. Mr Zuma, who rejects the allegations, said the move was about a \"radical socio-economic transformation\". Local media point to an alleged intelligence report accusing Mr Gordhan of working with foreigners to undermine Mr Zuma's administration. Last October, Mr Gordhan was charged with fraud but the charges were later dropped. He has described the allegations as politically motivated." } ], "id": "722_2", "question": "Why was Mr Gordhan sacked?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Theresa May is set to become the UK's next prime minister after Andrea Leadsom pulled out of the contest to become Conservative Party leader. The timing of the handover of power from David Cameron looks set to be after PM's questions on Wednesday. Mrs May, 59, who backed staying in the EU, has been home secretary since 2010. Mrs Leadsom, who campaigned to leave the EU, said the UK needed \"strong and stable government\" and that Mrs May was \"ideally placed\" to implement Brexit. The 1922 committee of Tory MPs - which is overseeing the leadership contest - is holding talks with the Conservative Party board over formally declaring Mrs May the winner, after Mrs Leadsom dropped out. A statement is expected from its chairman, Graham Brady, at about 17:00 BST. Mrs May is also expected to make a public statement, at about 18:00 BST, according to BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith. In a speech earlier on Monday setting out her leadership campaign platform, Mrs May - who rejected the argument that the next leader and prime minister had to have been someone on the winning side of the EU referendum - said: \"Brexit means Brexit and we're going to make a success of it.\" In her brief statement in Westminster, Mrs Leadsom - who was a leading light of the Brexit campaign - said a nine-week leadership campaign at such a \"critical time\" for the UK would be \"highly undesirable\". A source close to the energy minister told BBC political editor Laura Kuenssberg \"the abuse has been too great\" for Mrs Leadsom during the contest. Mrs Leadsom had apologised to Mrs May on Monday after suggesting in a weekend newspaper interview that being a mother made her a better candidate for the job. Mrs Leadsom, who was flanked by some of her supporters as she read the statement, said: \"Strong leadership is needed urgently to begin the work of withdrawing from the European Union. A nine-week leadership campaign at such a critical moment is highly undesirable.\" She said Mrs May, the home secretary, had the support of more than 60% of Conservative MPs and was \"ideally placed to implement Brexit on the best possible terms for the British people and she has promised she will do so\". Mrs Leadsom said she was \"incredibly grateful\" to the 84 colleagues who supported her leadership bid. But she added: \"Nevertheless, this is less than 25% of the parliamentary party and after careful consideration I do no believe this is sufficient support to lead a strong and stable government should I win the leadership election.\" She said: \"There is no greater privilege than to lead the Conservative Party in government and I would have been deeply honoured to do it. \"I have however concluded that the interests of our country are best served by the immediate appointment of a strong and well-supported prime minister. \"I am therefore withdrawing from the leadership election, and I wish Mrs May the very greatest success.\" - The 1922 committee is holding discussions with the Conservative Party board to discuss confirming Mrs May as the winner - David Cameron says he will do Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday and then head to Buckingham Palace and officially tender his resignation to the Queen and recommend she sends for Theresa May as his replacement - Mrs May will then go to Buckingham Palace to see the Queen and receive her invitation to form a government - Theresa May should then be in place as UK prime minister by Wednesday evening The leadership contest is being overseen by the 1922 committee of backbench Conservative MPs. Its chairman, Graham Brady, said Mrs May would be formally confirmed as the new party leader as soon as the Conservative Party board had been consulted - saying there would be \"no need to re-run the election\". He declined to give an exact timetable for the next steps - other than to say it would not be \"nine weeks\" until Mr Cameron's successor was in place. The contest was originally scheduled to finish on 9 September. The time between Gordon Brown winning the Labour leadership uncontested and succeeding Tony Blair as prime minister was 38 days. Reacting to Mrs Leadsom's decision, Chris Grayling, Mrs May's campaign chief, said it showed what a \"principled and decent politician she is\". Speaking outside the Houses of Parliament, he said Mrs May was \"enormously honoured\" to be entrusted with the task of leadership, and would make a statement later. In a message to the party, he added: \"Now is the time for us to unite... and get on with the job of securing a strong, prosperous future for our country.\" Meanwhile, former London mayor Boris Johnson - who was backing Mrs Leadsom's leadership bid, said he had \"no doubt\" Mrs May would be an \"excellent\" leader and prime minister. He said he was \"encouraged\" by Mrs May's statement that \"Brexit means Brexit\", and added: \"It is vital that we respect the will of the people and get on with exploiting new opportunities for this country.\" There had originally been five contenders to succeed Mr Cameron, with MPs voting in two rounds to get that number down to two - and the plan then was that the party's 150,000-strong membership would have had the final say. Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens are calling for a snap general election, rather than waiting for the contest scheduled for 2020 under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. Labour's election co-ordinator, Jon Trickett, said: \"It is crucial, given the instability caused by the Brexit vote, that the country has a democratically elected prime minister. I am now putting the whole of the party on a general election footing.\" Mr Farron, Lib Dem leader, said: \"With Theresa May's coronation we need an early general election. The Tories now have no mandate. Britain deserves better than this.\" Meanwhile, a Labour leadership contest has begun after Angela Eagle launched a bid to challenge Jeremy Corbyn for the job, saying she she could provide the leadership in \"dark times for Labour\" that Mr Corbyn could not.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5963, "answer_start": 4933, "text": "There had originally been five contenders to succeed Mr Cameron, with MPs voting in two rounds to get that number down to two - and the plan then was that the party's 150,000-strong membership would have had the final say. Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens are calling for a snap general election, rather than waiting for the contest scheduled for 2020 under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act. Labour's election co-ordinator, Jon Trickett, said: \"It is crucial, given the instability caused by the Brexit vote, that the country has a democratically elected prime minister. I am now putting the whole of the party on a general election footing.\" Mr Farron, Lib Dem leader, said: \"With Theresa May's coronation we need an early general election. The Tories now have no mandate. Britain deserves better than this.\" Meanwhile, a Labour leadership contest has begun after Angela Eagle launched a bid to challenge Jeremy Corbyn for the job, saying she she could provide the leadership in \"dark times for Labour\" that Mr Corbyn could not." } ], "id": "723_0", "question": "Snap election?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A diet of cassava, Irish potatoes and indigenous vegetables helped Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni shed 30kg (4 stone), he told the BBC. \"I am always fit but the doctors pointed out the mistakes and then I decided to shed off,\" Mr Museveni said. The 75-year-old leader said he had not been watching his weight, which had gone up to 106kg. He denied comments on social media that he \"looked tired\", saying that he had deliberately shed some fat. In his personal blog last month, he said he \"had allowed fat to accumulate in his body frame because the doctors had not explained to us clearly the mistake of not fighting fat\". He added that his current weight of 76kg was suitable for his 5ft 7in (170cm) height. Mr Museveni did not say how long it took him to shed the 30kg. \"I eat some cassava, because I don't eat your European food and your Asian foods. I eat our food; which is cassava, some bananas, millets and our vegetables,\" Mr Museveni told BBC Newsday presenter Alan Kasujja. \"So I normally eat a little bit of that in the morning. Then no lunch, I just drink water and coffee without sugar because it's very bad - sugar is not good,\" he said. \"Then at around seven [in the evening] I eat two Irish potatoes because they have got low starch, and a lot of vegetables to deceive the stomach that I am putting there something when in fact it's just the roughage,\" he added. Philippa Roxby, BBC News health reporter It is hard to assess President Museveni's diet without knowing the quantities involved. However, cutting down on sugar is certainly advised if weight loss is the aim. And going without lunch presumably means that, overall, he is eating less and if there are more locally-grown vegetables in his diet, that is also a change for the better. Potatoes and cassava are packed full of carbohydrates and fibre - an essential part of any diet, although they are not normally associated with losing weight. In 2015, he said that then US President Barack Obama told him during a meeting in Ethiopia that he looked young. \"I forgot to tell him that it's because I eat Ugandan grown foods,\" Mr Museveni said. He has advised Ugandans several times to shun Western foods for local ones, which are, according to him, healthier and also stave off diseases. Mr Museveni has been in power since 1986 and plans to run for a sixth term in 2021. Pop star-turned politician Bobi Wine, 37, plans to run against him. Two weeks ago Mr Museveni walked 195km (121 miles) through central Uganda to retrace the journey his forces used in 1986 when they seized power.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1921, "answer_start": 1383, "text": "Philippa Roxby, BBC News health reporter It is hard to assess President Museveni's diet without knowing the quantities involved. However, cutting down on sugar is certainly advised if weight loss is the aim. And going without lunch presumably means that, overall, he is eating less and if there are more locally-grown vegetables in his diet, that is also a change for the better. Potatoes and cassava are packed full of carbohydrates and fibre - an essential part of any diet, although they are not normally associated with losing weight." } ], "id": "724_0", "question": "How healthy is Museveni's diet?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt has said the Iranian tanker detained by Royal Marines near Gibraltar could be released, if the UK is guaranteed the oil is not bound for Syria. The tanker, seized on 4 July, was suspected of breaking EU sanctions. Iran claimed the seizure was \"piracy\". Iranian ships later tried to impede a British tanker, the UK claimed. After \"constructive\" talks with Tehran, Mr Hunt said he was encouraged Iran has no desire to escalate the situation. He said he reassured Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that \"our concern has always been destination, not origin of the oil\" and that the UK would facilitate release \"if we received sufficient guarantees that it would not be going to Syria\". He added that Mr Zarif wants to resolve the issue and was \"not seeking to escalate\". However, the Iranian foreign minister insisted his country would continue its oil exports under any conditions. In a statement issued after the phone conversation with Mr Hunt, Mr Zarif said the destination of the oil tanker was a legal one in the eastern Mediterranean, adding that Britain should quickly release the vessel. A team of about 30 British Royal Marines were flown from the UK to Gibraltar to help detain the super tanker and its cargo, at the request of the Gibraltar government, the BBC was told. Authorities said there was reason to believe the Iranian tanker Grace 1 was carrying crude oil to the Baniyas Refinery in Syria. The refinery is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria. Iran denied the tanker was bound for Syria and threatened to seize a British oil tanker in retaliation. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi called the actions a \"form of piracy\" and called for the ship to be immediately released and allowed to continue its journey. Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran, Robert Macaire, to complain about what it called the \"illegal seizure\". Mr Mousavi added that \"the move indicated that the UK follows the hostile policies of the US, which is unacceptable for the Iranian nation and government\". Iran has since reiterated calls for the tanker to be released. Last week, an Iranian official, speaking to state news agency IRNA, warned the UK not to get involved in \"this dangerous game\". On 9 July, the UK raised the threat to British shipping in Iranian waters in the Gulf to \"critical\" - the highest level. A day later, Iranian boats attempted to impede a British oil tanker in the region, before being warned off by a Royal Navy ship, according to the MoD. Boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz. HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the ship, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. Iran denied any attempted seizure, with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif quoted as saying the UK made the claims \"for creating tension\". By James Robbins, BBC diplomatic correspondent Jeremy Hunt very deliberately stressed to Iran's foreign minister that it was the apparent destination of the oil - Syria - that concerns him, not its country of origin - Iran. The Iranians do not accept that EU sanctions against Syria apply to them, but by making this distinction between origin and destination so explicitly, Britain's foreign secretary is trying to re-establish the differences between Britain's policy approach to Iran and that of the United States. Washington is pursuing its own punitive measures against Tehran, including an attempt to close down its entire oil exporting capability. That's an approach Britain and the EU do not support. Iran often accuses the EU in general, and Britain in particular, of doing far too little to protect it from American efforts to destroy the Iranian economy. This British offer to Iran is driven by a variety of motives, not least a strong desire to move away from crisis back to a mere breakdown in relations , but demonstrating a distinct distance from the American approach is one of those motives.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1516, "answer_start": 1135, "text": "A team of about 30 British Royal Marines were flown from the UK to Gibraltar to help detain the super tanker and its cargo, at the request of the Gibraltar government, the BBC was told. Authorities said there was reason to believe the Iranian tanker Grace 1 was carrying crude oil to the Baniyas Refinery in Syria. The refinery is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria." } ], "id": "725_0", "question": "Why was the tanker seized?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2262, "answer_start": 1517, "text": "Iran denied the tanker was bound for Syria and threatened to seize a British oil tanker in retaliation. Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Abbas Mousavi called the actions a \"form of piracy\" and called for the ship to be immediately released and allowed to continue its journey. Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran, Robert Macaire, to complain about what it called the \"illegal seizure\". Mr Mousavi added that \"the move indicated that the UK follows the hostile policies of the US, which is unacceptable for the Iranian nation and government\". Iran has since reiterated calls for the tanker to be released. Last week, an Iranian official, speaking to state news agency IRNA, warned the UK not to get involved in \"this dangerous game\"." } ], "id": "725_1", "question": "How did Iran react?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3046, "answer_start": 2263, "text": "On 9 July, the UK raised the threat to British shipping in Iranian waters in the Gulf to \"critical\" - the highest level. A day later, Iranian boats attempted to impede a British oil tanker in the region, before being warned off by a Royal Navy ship, according to the MoD. Boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz. HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the ship, a Ministry of Defence spokesman said. Iran denied any attempted seizure, with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif quoted as saying the UK made the claims \"for creating tension\"." } ], "id": "725_2", "question": "What happened next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A woman was shot dead and dozens injured in the Venezuelan capital Caracas on Wednesday, in clashes between opposition supporters and pro-government forces. The military fired tear gas and water cannon amid rival demonstrations. Opposition leader Juan Guaido called for those responsible for the death of a 27-year-old woman to be found. He also urged public employees to go on strike on Thursday, to try to force President Nicolas Maduro to stand down. In January, Mr Guaido declared himself Venezuela's interim leader, and he has been recognised by more than 50 countries including the US, UK and most Latin America nations. As the head of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, he invoked the constitution to assume an interim presidency, arguing that Mr Maduro's re-election last year was illegitimate. But Mr Maduro - who is backed by Russia, China and the leaders of Venezuela's military - has refused to cede power. The president dismissed suggestions he had been ready to flee the country and accused the US of directing an attempted coup. Those involved would be punished, he said. On Wednesday, both pro- and anti-government supporters held demonstrations in Caracas that were initially peaceful. There were reports of gunfire in the city, and a local NGO, the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, said Jurubith Rausseo, 27, had been shot dead during a rally in the opposition stronghold of Altamira. At least 46 people were injured in clashes between opposition supporters and the security forces. On Tuesday, Mr Guaido posted a video showing him with a number of men in military uniform. He said he had the support of \"brave soldiers\" in Caracas. He urged Venezuelans to join them in the streets, and appeared alongside another opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, who had been under house arrest after being found guilty of inciting violence during protests in 2014. Spain's government later said that Mr Lopez and his family had sought safety in their embassy, but said the opposition figure has not claimed political asylum. Supporters on both sides gathered around the city throughout Tuesday, and there were clashes between Mr Guaido's supporters and armed military vehicles. In a series of tweets (in Spanish), Mr Guaido said the final phase of \"Operation Liberty\" had begun and it was the turn of public workers to join in. He urged protesters to stay on the streets until Mr Maduro's government would be finally forced to resign. Mr Guaido has been courting the public sector for weeks - but winning their support will be difficult, the BBC's Americas editor Candace Piette says. For years, state employees have been told that if they did not turn up at government rallies, they would lose their jobs. So if the opposition leader does win them over, it will be a huge victory against President Maduro, our editor says. Tensions are rising between the US and Russia over the crisis. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US may take military action to resolve the crisis, and accused Russia and Cuba of destabilising the country through their support for Mr Maduro. The US also reiterated its support for Mr Guaido. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Mr Pompeo that America's influence over Venezuela was destructive and a violation of international law. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appealed for both sides in Venezuela to avoid violence, while the EU has called for \"utmost restraint to avoid the loss of lives and an escalation in tensions\". Governments who still back Mr Maduro - including Bolivia and Cuba - condemned Mr Guaido's efforts as an attempted coup. The Mexican government expressed \"concern about a possible increase in violence\" while Colombian President Ivan Duque urged the Venezuelan military to stand \"on the right side of history\" against Mr Maduro. An emergency meeting of the Lima Group of Latin American countries has been scheduled for Friday.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2202, "answer_start": 1097, "text": "On Wednesday, both pro- and anti-government supporters held demonstrations in Caracas that were initially peaceful. There were reports of gunfire in the city, and a local NGO, the Venezuelan Observatory of Social Conflict, said Jurubith Rausseo, 27, had been shot dead during a rally in the opposition stronghold of Altamira. At least 46 people were injured in clashes between opposition supporters and the security forces. On Tuesday, Mr Guaido posted a video showing him with a number of men in military uniform. He said he had the support of \"brave soldiers\" in Caracas. He urged Venezuelans to join them in the streets, and appeared alongside another opposition leader, Leopoldo Lopez, who had been under house arrest after being found guilty of inciting violence during protests in 2014. Spain's government later said that Mr Lopez and his family had sought safety in their embassy, but said the opposition figure has not claimed political asylum. Supporters on both sides gathered around the city throughout Tuesday, and there were clashes between Mr Guaido's supporters and armed military vehicles." } ], "id": "726_0", "question": "How did the violence unfold?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2848, "answer_start": 2203, "text": "In a series of tweets (in Spanish), Mr Guaido said the final phase of \"Operation Liberty\" had begun and it was the turn of public workers to join in. He urged protesters to stay on the streets until Mr Maduro's government would be finally forced to resign. Mr Guaido has been courting the public sector for weeks - but winning their support will be difficult, the BBC's Americas editor Candace Piette says. For years, state employees have been told that if they did not turn up at government rallies, they would lose their jobs. So if the opposition leader does win them over, it will be a huge victory against President Maduro, our editor says." } ], "id": "726_1", "question": "How significant is Guaido's call for strikes?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3925, "answer_start": 2849, "text": "Tensions are rising between the US and Russia over the crisis. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the US may take military action to resolve the crisis, and accused Russia and Cuba of destabilising the country through their support for Mr Maduro. The US also reiterated its support for Mr Guaido. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told Mr Pompeo that America's influence over Venezuela was destructive and a violation of international law. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has appealed for both sides in Venezuela to avoid violence, while the EU has called for \"utmost restraint to avoid the loss of lives and an escalation in tensions\". Governments who still back Mr Maduro - including Bolivia and Cuba - condemned Mr Guaido's efforts as an attempted coup. The Mexican government expressed \"concern about a possible increase in violence\" while Colombian President Ivan Duque urged the Venezuelan military to stand \"on the right side of history\" against Mr Maduro. An emergency meeting of the Lima Group of Latin American countries has been scheduled for Friday." } ], "id": "726_2", "question": "What international reaction has there been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Japan has voted in a snap election called by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. He called the vote in September, saying he was seeking a fresh mandate to overcome \"a national crisis\" amid rising threats from North Korea. His decision came at a time when his approval rating had just rebounded from a record low over the summer, and with the political opposition largely in disarray. Mr Abe appears on course to win the vote which would put him on track to becoming the longest-serving political leader in Japan's post-war history. Incumbent Shinzo Abe from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has campaigned on a tough stance on security and North Korea, and a focus on social policies at home. After a short-lived first stint as prime minister in 2006, he returned to power after a landslide election win in 2012. However, his sweeping promises to lift the economy out of years of stagnation have proved difficult to fulfil. He is also backing a full return to nuclear power, a policy that has been unpopular in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Traditionally, the main challenger to the LDP would have been the Democratic Party but the party went through a tumultuous leadership struggle in July and in late September entirely fell apart. Its former members are now running as independent candidates or for other small parties, the most notable one being the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) formed only earlier this month. Mr Abe faced though a new challenge from a former LDP cabinet member and current Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who in September launched a new national party. Yet the initial strong public support has since faltered, in part because Ms Koike decided not to run herself and because there was little time to prepare its election campaign. Her Party of Hope's are not too different from that of conservative incumbent Abe has to offer but differ by promising to freeze a planned sales tax hike and to exit nuclear power by 2030. The president's former ally is still considered a potential future challenger to the LDP and might well run in the next general election after this one. Analysts see the snap vote as Mr Abe's attempt to ride his resurgent support to victory by exploiting the weakness of the opposition. For months earlier in the year, Mr Abe's popular support had been badly hit by a string of scandals and unpopular policies. - He was accused of using his influence to help a friend secure approval to open a private university - a claim he denies - He was accused of links to an ultra-nationalistic school that was sold government land at a fraction of its value - another claim he denies - He pushed for a shift in Japan's post-war pacifist defence policy, calling for formal recognition of the military in the constitution - He introduced a widely criticised anti-terror law In July, his ratings had dropped to less than 30% but then recovered and surged back to above 50% in September. The slump in ratings had also put pressure on Mr Abe from within his own party and a strong result on Sunday would likely silence the rivals within his camp. The next Abe government appears to be able to retain its two-thirds majority needed for any changes to the constitution. Following Japan's defeat in World War Two, the country's constitution bars the military from using force to resolve international conflicts except in cases of self-defence.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2116, "answer_start": 523, "text": "Incumbent Shinzo Abe from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has campaigned on a tough stance on security and North Korea, and a focus on social policies at home. After a short-lived first stint as prime minister in 2006, he returned to power after a landslide election win in 2012. However, his sweeping promises to lift the economy out of years of stagnation have proved difficult to fulfil. He is also backing a full return to nuclear power, a policy that has been unpopular in the wake of the 2011 Fukushima disaster. Traditionally, the main challenger to the LDP would have been the Democratic Party but the party went through a tumultuous leadership struggle in July and in late September entirely fell apart. Its former members are now running as independent candidates or for other small parties, the most notable one being the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDPJ) formed only earlier this month. Mr Abe faced though a new challenge from a former LDP cabinet member and current Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, who in September launched a new national party. Yet the initial strong public support has since faltered, in part because Ms Koike decided not to run herself and because there was little time to prepare its election campaign. Her Party of Hope's are not too different from that of conservative incumbent Abe has to offer but differ by promising to freeze a planned sales tax hike and to exit nuclear power by 2030. The president's former ally is still considered a potential future challenger to the LDP and might well run in the next general election after this one." } ], "id": "727_0", "question": "What are the choices?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3096, "answer_start": 2117, "text": "Analysts see the snap vote as Mr Abe's attempt to ride his resurgent support to victory by exploiting the weakness of the opposition. For months earlier in the year, Mr Abe's popular support had been badly hit by a string of scandals and unpopular policies. - He was accused of using his influence to help a friend secure approval to open a private university - a claim he denies - He was accused of links to an ultra-nationalistic school that was sold government land at a fraction of its value - another claim he denies - He pushed for a shift in Japan's post-war pacifist defence policy, calling for formal recognition of the military in the constitution - He introduced a widely criticised anti-terror law In July, his ratings had dropped to less than 30% but then recovered and surged back to above 50% in September. The slump in ratings had also put pressure on Mr Abe from within his own party and a strong result on Sunday would likely silence the rivals within his camp." } ], "id": "727_1", "question": "Why snap elections?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The future of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's coalition has been thrown into doubt after her deputy chancellor lost the leadership race of his party. Olaf Scholz, who is also finance minister, lost his bid to become leader of the centre-left SPD. The party is now expected to vote on whether to stay in the coalition with Ms Merkel's conservative CDU/CSU. Mr Scholz's joint challengers, Norbert Walter-Borjans and Saskia Esken, have been highly critical of the coalition. Elsewhere on Saturday, the far-right AfD, which is the biggest opposition party in the German parliament, elected Tino Chrupalla, a lawmaker from eastern Germany, to lead the party along with Joerg Meuthen. Mr Scholz and his running mate Klara Geywitz, who back staying in the coalition until 2021, received just 45.3% of the vote, while their challengers won 53%. Mr Walter-Borjans and Ms Esken, relative unknowns from the party's leftist contingent, have said they want to renegotiate the coalition deal with Ms Merkel's conservatives to focus more on social justice and investment. Mr Scholz said the SPD must now \"stand behind the new leadership\". Paul Ziemiak, general secretary of the CDU (whose Bavarian sister party is the CSU), said \"the decision today has changed nothing\" about the alliance. Poor election results and mixed views of Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, who replaced Ms Merkel as CDU leader in 2018, have led to discontent within the party. Some have said a snap election or a minority government could be on the cards. Mrs Merkel has said she will not run again in 2021 after 14 years at the helm of the country. Last week, Ms Kramp-Karrenbauer called for unity while threatening to stand down as CDU leader if the party failed to back her, which prompted a lengthy ovation at the annual congress. Mr Chrupalla is a former painter and decorator from Saxony. He replaces one of the party's founders, 78-year-old Alexander Gauland, who gained international attention for a series of controversial remarks, including one comparing the Nazi era to a speck of bird droppings on German history. \"If we want more success we need to change,\" Mr Chrupalla said. \"We want to move toward the centre. This will work because the CDU keeps moving to the left.\" Joerg Meuthen was re-elected joint leader of the far-right party.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2305, "answer_start": 1791, "text": "Mr Chrupalla is a former painter and decorator from Saxony. He replaces one of the party's founders, 78-year-old Alexander Gauland, who gained international attention for a series of controversial remarks, including one comparing the Nazi era to a speck of bird droppings on German history. \"If we want more success we need to change,\" Mr Chrupalla said. \"We want to move toward the centre. This will work because the CDU keeps moving to the left.\" Joerg Meuthen was re-elected joint leader of the far-right party." } ], "id": "728_0", "question": "Who is the AfD's new leader?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has said Washington continues to have \"significant issues\" with the Iran nuclear deal, after his first talks with his Iranian counterpart. But Mr Tillerson said the talks were \"very matter of fact\", and acknowledged Iran was complying with the deal. Wednesday's talks at the UN, involving all seven parties that negotiated the deal, focused on its implementation. They came a day after President Donald Trump denounced the deal. At a speech to the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Trump described it as an \"embarrassment\". He later told reporters that he had decided what to do about the agreement but would not reveal what he had decided. He has until 15 October to decide whether to certify that Iran is complying with the deal. If he fails to do so, Congress could re-introduce sanctions dropped when the accord was implemented. The New York Times quoted unnamed administration officials as saying Mr Trump will revisit the deal rather than scrapping it altogether. Mr Tillerson said Mr Trump found the so-called sunset clause, which sees restrictions on Iran's nuclear enrichment programme lifted after 2025, unacceptable. Iran reached the landmark nuclear deal with the P5+1 group of world powers - the US, UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany, in 2015. This was the first meeting between Mr Tillerson and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. \"It was a good opportunity to meet, shake hands. The tone was very matter of fact. There was no yelling, we didn't throw shoes at one another,\" the US secretary of state said, adding that the two sides saw the agreement very differently. \"The agreement has this very concerning shortcoming that the president has mentioned as well and that is the sunset clause... and that's something that the president simply finds unacceptable,\" he said. Warning of a repeat of North Korea's development of nuclear weapons, Mr Tillerson said Mr Trump had made it clear he did not want to leave Iran's resumption of its programme for another administration to deal with. Until the matter was resolved the US would fulfil its commitments, he said. BBC UN correspondent Barbara Plett-Usher says the US's Western allies shared Washington's concerns but have warned against reopening the deal in order to address them. \"We already have one potential nuclear crisis. We definitely [do] not need to go into a second one,\" EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said, referring to the North Korea nuclear standoff. Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the UN General Assembly that his country would not be the first to violate the agreement but would \"respond decisively and resolutely to its violation by any party\". He said it would be a \"great pity\" if it were destroyed by Mr Trump, who he referred to as a \"rogue newcomer to international politics\". The previous day at the same podium, Mr Trump had described Iran as a \"corrupt dictatorship\" and an \"economically depleted rogue state\" that exported violence. Crippling economic sanctions on Iran were lifted after the International Atomic Energy Agency certified Iran had restricted sensitive nuclear activities. Iran says it has the right to nuclear energy and insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only. Barack Obama's US administration said at the time the deal would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Speaking on Wednesday, the US envoy to the UN, Nikki Haley, said President Trump's remarks were \"not a clear signal that he plans to withdraw\". \"What it is, is a clear signal that he's not happy with the deal,\" she told CBS News in an interview. Before the deal there were two uranium enrichment facilities in Iran - Natanz and Fordo - where uranium hexafluoride gas was fed into centrifuges to separate out the most fissile isotope, U-235. Low-enriched uranium, which has a 3%-4% concentration of U-235, can be used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants, but it can also be enriched to the 90% needed to produce nuclear weapons. In July 2015, Iran had almost 20,000 centrifuges. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), it will be limited to installing no more than 5,060 of the oldest and least efficient centrifuges at Natanz for 10 years. The centrifuges at Fordo now only produce radioisotopes for use in medicine, agriculture, industry and science. Iran's uranium stockpile will also be reduced by 98% to 300kg (660lbs) for 15 years. It must also keep its level of enrichment at 3.67%.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3012, "answer_start": 1303, "text": "This was the first meeting between Mr Tillerson and Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. \"It was a good opportunity to meet, shake hands. The tone was very matter of fact. There was no yelling, we didn't throw shoes at one another,\" the US secretary of state said, adding that the two sides saw the agreement very differently. \"The agreement has this very concerning shortcoming that the president has mentioned as well and that is the sunset clause... and that's something that the president simply finds unacceptable,\" he said. Warning of a repeat of North Korea's development of nuclear weapons, Mr Tillerson said Mr Trump had made it clear he did not want to leave Iran's resumption of its programme for another administration to deal with. Until the matter was resolved the US would fulfil its commitments, he said. BBC UN correspondent Barbara Plett-Usher says the US's Western allies shared Washington's concerns but have warned against reopening the deal in order to address them. \"We already have one potential nuclear crisis. We definitely [do] not need to go into a second one,\" EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said, referring to the North Korea nuclear standoff. Earlier on Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani told the UN General Assembly that his country would not be the first to violate the agreement but would \"respond decisively and resolutely to its violation by any party\". He said it would be a \"great pity\" if it were destroyed by Mr Trump, who he referred to as a \"rogue newcomer to international politics\". The previous day at the same podium, Mr Trump had described Iran as a \"corrupt dictatorship\" and an \"economically depleted rogue state\" that exported violence." } ], "id": "729_0", "question": "What are the different sides saying?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4495, "answer_start": 3634, "text": "Before the deal there were two uranium enrichment facilities in Iran - Natanz and Fordo - where uranium hexafluoride gas was fed into centrifuges to separate out the most fissile isotope, U-235. Low-enriched uranium, which has a 3%-4% concentration of U-235, can be used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants, but it can also be enriched to the 90% needed to produce nuclear weapons. In July 2015, Iran had almost 20,000 centrifuges. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), it will be limited to installing no more than 5,060 of the oldest and least efficient centrifuges at Natanz for 10 years. The centrifuges at Fordo now only produce radioisotopes for use in medicine, agriculture, industry and science. Iran's uranium stockpile will also be reduced by 98% to 300kg (660lbs) for 15 years. It must also keep its level of enrichment at 3.67%." } ], "id": "729_1", "question": "How is Iran curbing its nuclear programme?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Irish Data Protection Commission (DPC) has started an inquiry into the way that Google provides advertising services across the European Union. The watchdog is investigating whether the use of personal data to target online advertising is compliant with European privacy rules. The search giant's Ad Exchange system is used by companies to target people with adverts across the internet. The Irish DPC could fine Google up to 4% of its global annual turnover. \"The purpose of the inquiry is to establish whether processing of personal data carried out at each stage of an advertising transaction is in compliance with the relevant provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR),\" Irish DPC spokesman Graham Doyle told the BBC. The search giant has responded: \"We will engage fully with the DPC's investigation and welcome the opportunity for further clarification of Europe's data protection rules for real-time bidding. Authorised buyers using our systems are subject to stringent policies and standards.\" It would not be the first time that Google has been fined by a European data regulator. The company was fined 50 million euros ($55m; PS44m) by the French data regulator CNIL in January, a decision that the company is appealing. CNIL said it had levied the record fine for \"lack of transparency, inadequate information and lack of valid consent regarding ads personalisation\". Google allows companies to target people with adverts on websites across the internet including news websites and blogs. When a person visits such a site, the advert they see will often be personalised based on data Google has about them. GDPR is a piece of EU legislation that aims to create identical data privacy laws across all EU countries. The regulation, which came into effect during 2018, compels companies to obtain active user consent to collect data among other rules. Firms must also report any data breaches to authorities within 72 hours. Under the GDPR, one national data protection authority leads inquiries before presenting a draft decision to other European data regulators. In the UK that is the Information Commissioner's Office. The decision for how the data of European citizens is managed is taken in by Google in Ireland, and not in another EU state. As well as Google, the Irish regulator also has responsibility for a range of other companies including Facebook, Apple, Microsoft and Airbnb. The Ireland Data Protection Commission can issue fines of up to 4% of a company's global turnover. They regulator could also enforce \"corrective measures\" where it instructs Google to make changes to how it works. Previous investigations by the Irish DPC have reached a draft decision in about seven to eight months, though this Google investigation could take longer.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1639, "answer_start": 1401, "text": "Google allows companies to target people with adverts on websites across the internet including news websites and blogs. When a person visits such a site, the advert they see will often be personalised based on data Google has about them." } ], "id": "730_0", "question": "What is Google Ad Exchange?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2420, "answer_start": 1955, "text": "Under the GDPR, one national data protection authority leads inquiries before presenting a draft decision to other European data regulators. In the UK that is the Information Commissioner's Office. The decision for how the data of European citizens is managed is taken in by Google in Ireland, and not in another EU state. As well as Google, the Irish regulator also has responsibility for a range of other companies including Facebook, Apple, Microsoft and Airbnb." } ], "id": "730_1", "question": "Why is the Irish authority taking the lead in this investigation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2634, "answer_start": 2421, "text": "The Ireland Data Protection Commission can issue fines of up to 4% of a company's global turnover. They regulator could also enforce \"corrective measures\" where it instructs Google to make changes to how it works." } ], "id": "730_2", "question": "What could happen to Google?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Nasa is reported to be investigating a claim that an astronaut accessed the bank account of her estranged spouse from the International Space Station, in what may be the first allegation of a crime committed in space. Anne McClain acknowledges accessing the account from the ISS but denies any wrongdoing, the New York Times reports. Her estranged spouse, Summer Worden, reportedly filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Ms McClain has since returned to Earth. The astronaut told the New York Times through a lawyer that she was merely making sure that the family's finances were in order and there was enough money to pay bills and care for Ms Worden's son - who they had been raising together prior to the split. \"She strenuously denies that she did anything improper,\" said her lawyer, Rusty Hardin, adding that Ms McClain was \"totally co-operating\". Ms McClain and Ms Worden, who is an Air Force intelligence officer, married in 2014 and Ms Worden filed for divorce in 2018. Investigators from Nasa's Office of Inspector General have contacted both over the allegation, the New York Times reported. Ms McClain graduated from the prestigious West Point military academy and flew more than 800 combat hours over Iraq as an Army pilot. She went on to qualify as a test pilot and was chosen to fly for Nasa in 2013. She spent six months aboard the ISS and had been due to feature in the first all-female spacewalk, but her role was cancelled at the last minute over what Nasa said was a problem with availability of correct suit sizes. There are five national or international space agencies involved in the ISS - from the US, Canada, Japan, Russia and several European countries - and a legal framework sets out that national law applies to any people and possessions in space. So if a Canadian national were to commit a crime in space, they would be subject to Canadian law, and a Russian citizen to Russian law. Space law also sets out provisions for extradition back on Earth, should a nation decide it wishes to prosecute a citizen of another nation for misconduct in space. As space tourism becomes a reality, so might the need to prosecute space crime, but for now the legal framework remains untested. Nasa officials told the New York Times that they were not aware of any crimes committed on the space station.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2333, "answer_start": 1550, "text": "There are five national or international space agencies involved in the ISS - from the US, Canada, Japan, Russia and several European countries - and a legal framework sets out that national law applies to any people and possessions in space. So if a Canadian national were to commit a crime in space, they would be subject to Canadian law, and a Russian citizen to Russian law. Space law also sets out provisions for extradition back on Earth, should a nation decide it wishes to prosecute a citizen of another nation for misconduct in space. As space tourism becomes a reality, so might the need to prosecute space crime, but for now the legal framework remains untested. Nasa officials told the New York Times that they were not aware of any crimes committed on the space station." } ], "id": "731_0", "question": "How does the law work in space?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Donald Trump has threatened to close the whole US-Mexico border, including halting trade with Mexico, if the arrival of migrants from central America there leads to disorder. He also said he had given troops at the border the go-ahead to use lethal force if needed. On Monday the US briefly closed a busy crossing to install new barriers. Thousands of migrants are at the border after travelling more than 4,000km (2,500 miles) from Central America. They say they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Mr Trump has deployed about 5,800 troops to the border and has previously described the migrants as an \"invasion\". \"If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control,\" he told reporters. \"The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars,\" he added. Mr Trump's reference to lethal force came after Defence Secretary James Mattis said military police at the border would be unarmed. \"They don't have guns in their hands, there is no armed element going in,\" he told reporters on Wednesday. On Thursday Mr Trump also warned that the US government could shut down next month if no more money was provided for a wall between the US and Mexico. \"Could there be a shutdown? There certainly could and it will be about border security, of which the wall is a part,\" he said. He has renewed his attacks after earlier saying a federal judge who blocked his executive order to deny illegal migrants the right to seek asylum was an \"Obama judge\". \"Judges must not legislate security and safety at the border. They know nothing about it and are making our country unsafe,\" he said in a tweet. It comes after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts took the unusual step of rebuking Mr Trump's criticism, telling the Associated Press that \"We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges\". Almost 3,000 Central American migrants have arrived in the Mexican border city of Tijuana after crossing Mexico and parts of Central America. More than 2,750 have sought refuge in a shelter set up by the mayor's office. Hundreds of Tijuana residents have protested against the migrants' presence and urged them to leave. The town's mayor has said he expects the number of migrants in the city to reach 10,000 in the coming weeks. US officials have warned that anyone found entering the country illegally will face arrest, prosecution and deportation. The migrants say they are leaving their respective countries in the hope of building a better future for themselves and their families. Some say they have been threatened or mistreated by criminal gangs operating in their home towns. Many are travelling with their children whom they say they do not want to fall prey to the gangs. Others hope to get jobs abroad which will pay enough for them to send money to their relatives who stayed behind. Many say their dream is to reach the US. Some of them have relatives there already whom they hope to join; others have chosen it as their destination because they think they will earn higher salaries there than in Latin America. While Central Americans have long fled their homelands for the US and have sometimes joined forces along the way, the organised nature of this caravan is relatively new. Migrants are often kidnapped by people traffickers and drug gangs which force them to work for them. A large group such as this one is harder to target and therefore offers more protection.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1590, "answer_start": 690, "text": "\"If we find that it gets to a level where we are going to lose control or where people are going to start getting hurt, we will close entry into the country for a period of time until we can get it under control,\" he told reporters. \"The whole border. I mean the whole border. Mexico will not be able to sell their cars into the United States where they make so many cars,\" he added. Mr Trump's reference to lethal force came after Defence Secretary James Mattis said military police at the border would be unarmed. \"They don't have guns in their hands, there is no armed element going in,\" he told reporters on Wednesday. On Thursday Mr Trump also warned that the US government could shut down next month if no more money was provided for a wall between the US and Mexico. \"Could there be a shutdown? There certainly could and it will be about border security, of which the wall is a part,\" he said." } ], "id": "732_0", "question": "What did Trump say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2127, "answer_start": 1591, "text": "He has renewed his attacks after earlier saying a federal judge who blocked his executive order to deny illegal migrants the right to seek asylum was an \"Obama judge\". \"Judges must not legislate security and safety at the border. They know nothing about it and are making our country unsafe,\" he said in a tweet. It comes after Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts took the unusual step of rebuking Mr Trump's criticism, telling the Associated Press that \"We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges\"." } ], "id": "732_1", "question": "What has Trump said about the judiciary?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2678, "answer_start": 2128, "text": "Almost 3,000 Central American migrants have arrived in the Mexican border city of Tijuana after crossing Mexico and parts of Central America. More than 2,750 have sought refuge in a shelter set up by the mayor's office. Hundreds of Tijuana residents have protested against the migrants' presence and urged them to leave. The town's mayor has said he expects the number of migrants in the city to reach 10,000 in the coming weeks. US officials have warned that anyone found entering the country illegally will face arrest, prosecution and deportation." } ], "id": "732_2", "question": "Where are the migrants now?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3713, "answer_start": 2679, "text": "The migrants say they are leaving their respective countries in the hope of building a better future for themselves and their families. Some say they have been threatened or mistreated by criminal gangs operating in their home towns. Many are travelling with their children whom they say they do not want to fall prey to the gangs. Others hope to get jobs abroad which will pay enough for them to send money to their relatives who stayed behind. Many say their dream is to reach the US. Some of them have relatives there already whom they hope to join; others have chosen it as their destination because they think they will earn higher salaries there than in Latin America. While Central Americans have long fled their homelands for the US and have sometimes joined forces along the way, the organised nature of this caravan is relatively new. Migrants are often kidnapped by people traffickers and drug gangs which force them to work for them. A large group such as this one is harder to target and therefore offers more protection." } ], "id": "732_3", "question": "What do the migrants want?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Brazil's top electoral court has ruled that jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva cannot run as a candidate in the presidential election because of his corruption conviction. Judges voted against his running in October's ballot by a majority of six votes to one in the seven-member court. Lula, 72, was leading in polls ahead of the vote despite serving a 12-year jail term for accepting a bribe. His legal team has said they will appeal against the court's decision. Brazil's Workers' Party (PT) later responded to the court's decision in a statement, saying it would \"fight by all means\" for Lula's candidacy. \"We will present all appeals before the courts for the recognition of the rights of Lula provided by law and international treaties ratified by Brazil,\" the statement said, adding: \"We will defend Lula in the streets, with the people.\" Lula's conviction for money laundering and corruption was upheld in January. In Brazil, no one convicted of a crime upheld on appeal can run for office. However, exceptions have been made to the law before. In declaring Lula ineligible to stand on Friday, one judge said: \"What is at stake here today is the equality of all citizens before the law and the Constitution.\" Lula was convicted of receiving a renovated beachfront apartment worth some 3.7m reais ($1.1m; PS790,000) as a bribe by engineering firm OAS. He denied wrongdoing and said his conviction was part of a plot to prevent him returning to power. The former president is the most high-profile person convicted in the sweeping Operation Car Wash anti-corruption investigation. Despite his jail sentence, PT voted to nominate Lula as its candidate last month. Lula reportedly chose Fernando Haddad, former mayor of Sao Paulo, to run for the PT should he be prevented from doing so. Serving as president from 2003 to 2011, Lula presided over a surge in economic growth and major social programmes that left him with an 87% approval rating on leaving office. But the former leader surrendered to police in April after his corruption conviction. An appeal in January not only saw the court uphold his original conviction, but also increase the length of the sentence by two-and-a-half years. Before Friday's court judgement on whether he could run, Brazil's prosecutor general filed to bar his candidacy due to the law prohibiting those who have lost appeals against their conviction from standing. Despite this, recent polls reportedly showed that around one-third of Brazilians would back Lula if he were allowed to run, which would make him the front-runner in October's vote.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1804, "answer_start": 1231, "text": "Lula was convicted of receiving a renovated beachfront apartment worth some 3.7m reais ($1.1m; PS790,000) as a bribe by engineering firm OAS. He denied wrongdoing and said his conviction was part of a plot to prevent him returning to power. The former president is the most high-profile person convicted in the sweeping Operation Car Wash anti-corruption investigation. Despite his jail sentence, PT voted to nominate Lula as its candidate last month. Lula reportedly chose Fernando Haddad, former mayor of Sao Paulo, to run for the PT should he be prevented from doing so." } ], "id": "733_0", "question": "What about Lula's convictions?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2599, "answer_start": 1805, "text": "Serving as president from 2003 to 2011, Lula presided over a surge in economic growth and major social programmes that left him with an 87% approval rating on leaving office. But the former leader surrendered to police in April after his corruption conviction. An appeal in January not only saw the court uphold his original conviction, but also increase the length of the sentence by two-and-a-half years. Before Friday's court judgement on whether he could run, Brazil's prosecutor general filed to bar his candidacy due to the law prohibiting those who have lost appeals against their conviction from standing. Despite this, recent polls reportedly showed that around one-third of Brazilians would back Lula if he were allowed to run, which would make him the front-runner in October's vote." } ], "id": "733_1", "question": "Who is Lula?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Pro-independence Catalan leaders are pressing ahead despite an emphatic warning from King Felipe VI. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont told the BBC he would declare independence \"at the end of this week or the beginning of next\". The European Union said it was \"time to talk\" to find a solution to the crisis in Catalonia. Commission Vice-President Frans Timmermans said the Spanish constitution must be followed. Mr Timmermans, addressing the European Parliament, described the images of violence from Catalonia as \"saddening\", but emphasised the importance of upholding the rule of law. In his intervention, late on Tuesday, King Felipe branded Sunday's referendum in the north-eastern Spanish region illegal and undemocratic. But correspondents say his failure to acknowledge the violent repression of the vote has fired up rather than deterred independence supporters. Meanwhile, Spain's high court has summoned the head of Catalonia's regional police force to testify as a suspect in a investigation of alleged sedition - inciting rebellion against the state. Josep Lluis Trapero and three other people are expected to appear in court on Friday in a move likely to inflame sentiment further amid Spain's deepest political crisis in decades, say correspondents. Following the BBC interview in which he said there would be a declaration of independence in the coming days, Carles Puigdemont said he would make a statement at 21:00 (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Groups in the Catalan parliament have agreed that parliament should meet in full assembly on Monday. Mr Puigdemont could also use that occasion to make a unilateral declaration of independence. When asked what he would do if the Spanish government were to intervene and take control of Catalonia's government, Mr Puigdemont said it would be \"an error which changes everything\". Under Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, the government in Madrid is permitted to impose direct rule on autonomous regions. Mr Puigdemont says not, and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has kept silent since the scenes of police violence which accompanied Sunday's vote. The Spanish government has vowed to resist any declaration of independence, with Mr Rajoy previously saying the vote made a \"mockery\" of democracy. Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau has called on both sides to talk. \"Neither a unilateral declaration of independence nor article 155. More than ever we need dialogue and bridges,\" she tweeted. The European parliament was due to debate the crisis on Wednesday afternoon, but any resolution passed will be non-binding. In his televised address, King Felipe said the Catalan leaders who organised the referendum showed their \"disrespect to the powers of the state\". \"They have broken the democratic principles of the rule of law,\" he said. But many Catalans were more concerned about what the king did not say, reports the BBC's Patrick Jackson who watched the address in a bar in Barcelona city centre. \"There were no words about the scenes of police beating voters on Sunday, no urgent appeal for dialogue between the Spanish and Catalan governments, no acknowledgment of the real hunger here for independence or at least a proper, legal referendum, not even a word or two of Catalan,\" he says. It was a missed opportunity to push the two sides towards dialogue, said one customer in the bar. News that the head of the local police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, his deputy and two civic organisers are to be questioned as part of the high court's sedition investigation will likely further aggravate the situation. On 20 September members of the national security forces were trapped by an angry crowd of pro-independence supporters during a raid on the regional economy ministry, aimed at disrupting Sunday's poll. The Mossos has been accused of failing to respond properly to their urgent requests for back-up. Nearly 900 people were hurt as police violently tried to enforce a Spanish court order suspending the vote, which the government had declared illegal. Some police officers were seen firing rubber bullets, storming into polling stations and pulling women by their hair. Thirty-three police officers were also injured, local medical officials said. Shocked by what they had seen, hundreds of thousands of Catalans joined street protests on Tuesday. A general strike was also called in protest at \"the grave violation of rights and freedoms\" seen during the ballot. More than 2.2 million people voted on Sunday, according to the Catalan government. Officials put the vote in support of independence at nearly 90%, but official results have not yet been released. There are several reports of gaping irregularities, partly attributed to a system which permitted voters to cast their ballots anywhere in a bid to get around the police measures to stop the vote. Spanish media carried reports of some Catalan areas counting far more votes than residents. Catalan officials said the turnout was 42%, potentially weakening the position of Mr Puigdemont. Are you in the region? Have you taken part in any protests? Email [email protected] with your stories. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7525 900971 - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1970, "answer_start": 1268, "text": "Following the BBC interview in which he said there would be a declaration of independence in the coming days, Carles Puigdemont said he would make a statement at 21:00 (19:00 GMT) on Wednesday. Groups in the Catalan parliament have agreed that parliament should meet in full assembly on Monday. Mr Puigdemont could also use that occasion to make a unilateral declaration of independence. When asked what he would do if the Spanish government were to intervene and take control of Catalonia's government, Mr Puigdemont said it would be \"an error which changes everything\". Under Article 155 of the Spanish constitution, the government in Madrid is permitted to impose direct rule on autonomous regions." } ], "id": "734_0", "question": "What are the pro-independence Catalans doing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2578, "answer_start": 1971, "text": "Mr Puigdemont says not, and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has kept silent since the scenes of police violence which accompanied Sunday's vote. The Spanish government has vowed to resist any declaration of independence, with Mr Rajoy previously saying the vote made a \"mockery\" of democracy. Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau has called on both sides to talk. \"Neither a unilateral declaration of independence nor article 155. More than ever we need dialogue and bridges,\" she tweeted. The European parliament was due to debate the crisis on Wednesday afternoon, but any resolution passed will be non-binding." } ], "id": "734_1", "question": "Is there any dialogue going on at all?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3353, "answer_start": 2579, "text": "In his televised address, King Felipe said the Catalan leaders who organised the referendum showed their \"disrespect to the powers of the state\". \"They have broken the democratic principles of the rule of law,\" he said. But many Catalans were more concerned about what the king did not say, reports the BBC's Patrick Jackson who watched the address in a bar in Barcelona city centre. \"There were no words about the scenes of police beating voters on Sunday, no urgent appeal for dialogue between the Spanish and Catalan governments, no acknowledgment of the real hunger here for independence or at least a proper, legal referendum, not even a word or two of Catalan,\" he says. It was a missed opportunity to push the two sides towards dialogue, said one customer in the bar." } ], "id": "734_2", "question": "Why is the king's intervention significant?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3873, "answer_start": 3354, "text": "News that the head of the local police force, the Mossos d'Esquadra, his deputy and two civic organisers are to be questioned as part of the high court's sedition investigation will likely further aggravate the situation. On 20 September members of the national security forces were trapped by an angry crowd of pro-independence supporters during a raid on the regional economy ministry, aimed at disrupting Sunday's poll. The Mossos has been accused of failing to respond properly to their urgent requests for back-up." } ], "id": "734_3", "question": "What about this sedition investigation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4436, "answer_start": 3874, "text": "Nearly 900 people were hurt as police violently tried to enforce a Spanish court order suspending the vote, which the government had declared illegal. Some police officers were seen firing rubber bullets, storming into polling stations and pulling women by their hair. Thirty-three police officers were also injured, local medical officials said. Shocked by what they had seen, hundreds of thousands of Catalans joined street protests on Tuesday. A general strike was also called in protest at \"the grave violation of rights and freedoms\" seen during the ballot." } ], "id": "734_4", "question": "What happened during Sunday's vote?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5019, "answer_start": 4437, "text": "More than 2.2 million people voted on Sunday, according to the Catalan government. Officials put the vote in support of independence at nearly 90%, but official results have not yet been released. There are several reports of gaping irregularities, partly attributed to a system which permitted voters to cast their ballots anywhere in a bid to get around the police measures to stop the vote. Spanish media carried reports of some Catalan areas counting far more votes than residents. Catalan officials said the turnout was 42%, potentially weakening the position of Mr Puigdemont." } ], "id": "734_5", "question": "How convincing were the ballot results?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The healthiest way to cook mushrooms is to microwave or grill them to preserve their goodness, researchers say. These cooking methods significantly increase levels of antioxidants which protect cells against diseases, but boiling or frying reduces them. A study, from Spain, looked at the properties of four different types of mushrooms before and after cooking. Adding a little oil when grilling can even improve the nutritional value of the mushrooms. Plenty, it turns out. They contain protein, including essential amino acids, fibre and lots of vitamins - such as B, C , D and E. They are also low in calories and fat. In this study, published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, researchers analysed how cooking methods altered white button, shiitake, oyster and king oyster mushrooms. Frying resulted in protein and carbohydrates being lost from the mushrooms, as well as antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants are vitamins and chemicals that play a key role in protecting the body against free radicals, which are linked to heart disease, cancer and other diseases. What happens is that they disappear into the oil in the frying pan, reducing the goodness of the mushrooms. So losing them isn't great news. But, on the other hand, fried mushrooms do taste great with onions and garlic. Boiling mushrooms also led to high levels of proteins and antioxidants being lost from the fungi. The researchers put this down to the good stuff leaking out of the mushrooms into the water in the pan. As a result, their nutritional value was reduced. However, boiling did improve the glucans content of the mushrooms. They are found in fungi and may reduce the risk of heart disease. The best way to retain vitamins and nutrients when cooking vegetables is to use short cooking times. It's also best to use as little liquid as possible. This means using a microwave is a good method of cooking because fewer of the good things are lost - unlike boiling where they end up in the cooking water. In this study, the researcher Irene Roncero-Ramos, from the Mushroom Technological Research Center of La Rioja, said: \"When mushrooms were cooked by microwave or grill, the content of polyphenol and antioxidant activity increased significantly and there are no significant issues in nutritional value of the cooked mushrooms.\" Even though cooking in oil can cause nutrients to be lost, mushrooms grilled in a small amount of oil increased their antioxidant properties. And when olive oil was used, fatty acids increased without any rise in calorie content, the researchers said. Research from the past 10 years or so shows that eating antioxidant-rich foods can benefit our general health. They are vitamins, minerals and other chemicals that help protect our cells - and are found in lots of different types of food, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, pulses and fish. But they aren't the answer to everything. A healthy, balanced diet containing a wide variety of foods in the right proportions is recommended. According to NHS Choices, fruit and vegetables are a vital source of vitamins and minerals and should make up just over a third of the food we eat each day. That's because fruit and vegetables can help lower the risk of health issues such as high blood pressure, obesity and some cancers.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 815, "answer_start": 454, "text": "Plenty, it turns out. They contain protein, including essential amino acids, fibre and lots of vitamins - such as B, C , D and E. They are also low in calories and fat. In this study, published in the International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, researchers analysed how cooking methods altered white button, shiitake, oyster and king oyster mushrooms." } ], "id": "735_0", "question": "What's in a mushroom?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1314, "answer_start": 816, "text": "Frying resulted in protein and carbohydrates being lost from the mushrooms, as well as antioxidant compounds. Antioxidants are vitamins and chemicals that play a key role in protecting the body against free radicals, which are linked to heart disease, cancer and other diseases. What happens is that they disappear into the oil in the frying pan, reducing the goodness of the mushrooms. So losing them isn't great news. But, on the other hand, fried mushrooms do taste great with onions and garlic." } ], "id": "735_1", "question": "What's the problem with frying mushrooms?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1699, "answer_start": 1315, "text": "Boiling mushrooms also led to high levels of proteins and antioxidants being lost from the fungi. The researchers put this down to the good stuff leaking out of the mushrooms into the water in the pan. As a result, their nutritional value was reduced. However, boiling did improve the glucans content of the mushrooms. They are found in fungi and may reduce the risk of heart disease." } ], "id": "735_2", "question": "And boiling?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2335, "answer_start": 1700, "text": "The best way to retain vitamins and nutrients when cooking vegetables is to use short cooking times. It's also best to use as little liquid as possible. This means using a microwave is a good method of cooking because fewer of the good things are lost - unlike boiling where they end up in the cooking water. In this study, the researcher Irene Roncero-Ramos, from the Mushroom Technological Research Center of La Rioja, said: \"When mushrooms were cooked by microwave or grill, the content of polyphenol and antioxidant activity increased significantly and there are no significant issues in nutritional value of the cooked mushrooms.\"" } ], "id": "735_3", "question": "What's so good about microwaving?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2587, "answer_start": 2336, "text": "Even though cooking in oil can cause nutrients to be lost, mushrooms grilled in a small amount of oil increased their antioxidant properties. And when olive oil was used, fatty acids increased without any rise in calorie content, the researchers said." } ], "id": "735_4", "question": "Why is grilling with oil a good move?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3308, "answer_start": 2588, "text": "Research from the past 10 years or so shows that eating antioxidant-rich foods can benefit our general health. They are vitamins, minerals and other chemicals that help protect our cells - and are found in lots of different types of food, such as fruit, vegetables, nuts, pulses and fish. But they aren't the answer to everything. A healthy, balanced diet containing a wide variety of foods in the right proportions is recommended. According to NHS Choices, fruit and vegetables are a vital source of vitamins and minerals and should make up just over a third of the food we eat each day. That's because fruit and vegetables can help lower the risk of health issues such as high blood pressure, obesity and some cancers." } ], "id": "735_5", "question": "So should we all be eating more antioxidants?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Chinese officials have given figures for health workers infected with the new coronavirus, amid concerns about shortages of protective equipment. Six health workers have died and 1,716 have been infected since the outbreak, they said. The death a week ago of Doctor Li Wenliang, who tried to warn authorities early on about the virus, provoked a burst of public anger and grief. More than 1,300 people are now known to have died from the virus. The latest figures show 122 new deaths in China, bringing the toll to 1,381. The total number of infections has jumped to 63,922 cases, according to the National Health Commission. The World Health Organization said there was no major shift in the virus's pattern of mortality or severity, despite a spike in cases in Hubei, the epicentre of the disease, on Tuesday. Most of this was down to Hubei using a broader definition to diagnose people, said Mike Ryan, head of WHO's health emergencies programme. There was also no significant rise in cases outside China, the WHO said. However, a cruise ship docked in Japan, the Diamond Princess, saw 44 new cases, bringing the total there to 218. Zeng Yixin, vice minister of China's National Health Commission, said 1,102 medical workers had been infected in Wuhan, where the outbreak began, and another 400 in other parts of Hubei province. He said the number of infections among staff was increasing. \"The duties of medical workers at the front are indeed extremely heavy; their working and resting circumstances are limited, the psychological pressures are great, and the risk of infection is high,\" Mr Zeng said, quoted by Reuters. Local authorities have struggled to provide protective equipment such as respiratory masks, goggles and protective suits in hospitals in the area. One doctor told AFP news agency that he and 16 colleagues were showing possible symptoms of the virus. Another medical worker said she and more than 100 other staff at her hospital had been quarantined. A further 30 had been confirmed to have been infected there out of a staff of 500 she told CNN. On 7 February the plight of medical workers was highlighted by the death of Li Wenliang, a doctor at Wuhan Central Hospital who had tried to issue the first warning about the virus on 30 December. He had sent out a warning to fellow medics but police told him to stop \"making false comments\". A wave of anger and grief flooded Chinese social media site Weibo when news of Dr Li's death broke. - Global airline revenue expected to fall by $4bn (PS3.1bn) to $5bn this year - China's car sales likely to fall more than 10% in first half of year, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers tells Reuters - Singapore's economy could fall into recession as a result of the outbreak, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong says - Malaysian finance minister says a stimulus package will be announced for aviation, retail and tourism industries The vessel is in quarantine in Yokohama, in southern Japan. Not all the 3,700 people on board have been tested yet. People with the virus are taken to hospitals on land to be treated, while those on board are largely confined to their cabins. However on Thursday Japan said it would allow those aged 80 or over who have tested negative for the coronavirus to disembark. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said they could be allowed off the ship as early as Friday but would have to stay in accommodation provided by the government, the Japan Times reported. Meanwhile another cruise ship - the MS Westerdam, carrying more than 2,000 people - docked in Cambodia after being turned away by ports in Japan, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines and Thailand despite having no sick patients on board. - Outside China there have now been two deaths and 456 cases in 24 countries - Singapore health ministry reports nine new cases, bringing the total number there to 67 - In the UK, officials are attempting to trace the contacts of the latest person to be diagnosed with coronavirus. The woman, who flew into London Heathrow from China a few days ago, is the ninth case to be confirmed - Australia has extended its ban on people coming from mainland China for another week, to 22 February - China said it would stagger the return of children to school - several provinces have closed schools until the end of February - In Vietnam, which borders China, thousands of people in villages near the capital, Hanoi, have been put under quarantine after several cases were discovered. Vietnam has now confirmed at least 16 cases - The Red Cross has called for sanctions relief for North Korea, which would allow the aid agency to transfer funds to buy equipment. Testing kits and protective clothing are urgently needed to prepare for a possible outbreak, it says - British rap star Stormzy has postponed the Asian leg of his tour - he had been due to play in locations including Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia in March - A Russian woman - who was put into a coronavirus quarantine but escaped - is resisting attempts by officials to bring her back to hospital by force. Alla Ilyina, 32, has been refusing to open the door of her St Petersburg apartment to police SHOULD WE WORRY? Our health correspondent explains YOUR QUESTIONS: Can you get it more than once? WHAT YOU CAN DO: Do masks really help? UNDERSTANDING THE SPREAD: A visual guide to the outbreak Are you in Hubei? Or do you have information to share? Get in touch by emailing [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2464, "answer_start": 1136, "text": "Zeng Yixin, vice minister of China's National Health Commission, said 1,102 medical workers had been infected in Wuhan, where the outbreak began, and another 400 in other parts of Hubei province. He said the number of infections among staff was increasing. \"The duties of medical workers at the front are indeed extremely heavy; their working and resting circumstances are limited, the psychological pressures are great, and the risk of infection is high,\" Mr Zeng said, quoted by Reuters. Local authorities have struggled to provide protective equipment such as respiratory masks, goggles and protective suits in hospitals in the area. One doctor told AFP news agency that he and 16 colleagues were showing possible symptoms of the virus. Another medical worker said she and more than 100 other staff at her hospital had been quarantined. A further 30 had been confirmed to have been infected there out of a staff of 500 she told CNN. On 7 February the plight of medical workers was highlighted by the death of Li Wenliang, a doctor at Wuhan Central Hospital who had tried to issue the first warning about the virus on 30 December. He had sent out a warning to fellow medics but police told him to stop \"making false comments\". A wave of anger and grief flooded Chinese social media site Weibo when news of Dr Li's death broke." } ], "id": "736_0", "question": "What is the situation with medical workers?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3691, "answer_start": 2907, "text": "The vessel is in quarantine in Yokohama, in southern Japan. Not all the 3,700 people on board have been tested yet. People with the virus are taken to hospitals on land to be treated, while those on board are largely confined to their cabins. However on Thursday Japan said it would allow those aged 80 or over who have tested negative for the coronavirus to disembark. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said they could be allowed off the ship as early as Friday but would have to stay in accommodation provided by the government, the Japan Times reported. Meanwhile another cruise ship - the MS Westerdam, carrying more than 2,000 people - docked in Cambodia after being turned away by ports in Japan, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines and Thailand despite having no sick patients on board." } ], "id": "736_1", "question": "What is happening on the Diamond Princess?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The death of nine New York police officers this year has left family members, law enforcement and politicians pointing fingers and placing blame. But suicide is a more profound problem, deeply entrenched in police culture. What's behind the epidemic? Speeding down route 1 on a frigid, grey February morning, Dave Betz's heart was racing. As a hardnosed police officer of 32 years, he was used to car chases, but on this morning, he was a father searching for his son. Dave received a call earlier that morning at 09:21 that his 24-year-old son David, also a police officer, did not show up for his shift at work. Something didn't sound right. After he hung up the phone, he opened the door to his son's room where he found a gun holster resting atop the bureau - its weapon missing. \"I'm calling my buddies, letting them know, 'listen this is not good. I don't have a good feeling about this at all.' You know, I had that pit in my stomach.\" Charging across the empty car park of the Boston Sports Club, Dave noticed his son's Volkswagen, windows fogged, tucked in the distant corner behind the overbearing concrete gym building. As he walked around to the front of the car, his police training kicked in. \"That mindset of a cop - fight or flight - that kinda thing kicked in to react, like you're trained,\" he says. \"Death is not something that anybody likes to see. You just don't want to see it, you know. You do, but it's somebody else's family member. \"He was in his car, he was seated and he had his phone in his lap. And I knew, you know. I just didn't want to know,\" he says as his voice drops. He pauses. Country music blared from the car radio as Dave, dressed in pyjama pants and a t-shirt, stood over his son and realised he was dead. David Betz died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound without leaving any explanation of what led him to that moment, his father says. He's among hundreds of officers across the US who have taken their own lives and left behind a trail of questions. \"I always thought I was a good judge of character, being able to see things and see if somebody needs help or I should know when someone needs help,\" he says. \"I couldn't see it in my son, you know, so that bothers me.\" A 2018 nationwide study found more law enforcement officers died by suicide than in the line of duty. Researchers say that police officers are at a higher risk of suicide than in any other profession due to a combination of the intense stress, pressure to conceal emotional distress and easy access to deadly weapons. In fact, 13 out of every 100,000 people die by suicide in the general population. But that number climbs to 17 out of 100,000 for police officers, according to the Ruderman Family Foundation. Last year 167 police officers took their own lives while 130 have done so this year, with four months left on the calendar, according to Blue Help, a Massachusetts-based police suicide prevention group that tracks the national rate. These numbers only reflect confirmed suicides. Some suicide prevention advocates say current estimates could be higher as some families choose not to report the cause of death or instead describe it as accidental. New York City bears the brunt of most of the recent national attention. New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner James O'Neill declared a mental health crisis as the city grappled with the suicide deaths of nine police officers. \"We need to change the culture,\" he told reporters in June. \"We need to make sure that our police officers have access to mental healthcare. So they can keep themselves well and do the job that they want to do.\" But the crisis continued to cascade across the city. Robert Echeverria, 56, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in August, just a day after 35-year-old Officer Johnny Rios took his own life. His sister, Eileen Echeverria, told the BBC she contacted internal affairs about concerns for her brother's mental health numerous times, most recently in June before his death. The department said it would investigate, but the 25-year police veteran's guns were returned to him within two days. She blames the top brass for his suicide. \"The NYPD is broken on so many levels. It's not the same, officers used to be respected,\" she told the BBC before meeting the deputy commissioner of employee relations outside police headquarters in New York. \"Now they're spit on in the streets and then they come back to the chief and they're spit on by him. I couldn't go home and be normal after that. I couldn't do it. I'm not strong enough. God bless the ones who are.\" The NYPD says Echeverria's death is under investigation. \"We need change,\" she says. Cities and states across the country are rattled by a similar problem. California, Florida, New York and Texas each reported at least 10 police suicides last year, according to Blue Help. Earlier this year, the Chicago Police Department, the nation's second largest force with 13,000 officers, was forced to confront its own spate of police suicides. Tragedy sparked the launch of a mental health campaign, which included doubling the number of therapists available to officers as well as a video campaign showing senior officers - including Superintendent Eddie Johnson - admitting their own struggles with mental health. President Donald Trump has authorised up to $7.5m (PS6.1m) in grant funding a year for police suicide prevention, mental health screenings and training as departments across the country work to curb the numbers. But the problem is hardly an American one. A similar trend is cropping up in other countries where officers are armed with a gun. Last year France saw a 36% higher rate of suicide among police than the general population, and this year 64 officers have already taken their own lives. For comparison, about 21 to 23 officers took their own lives in the UK between 2015-17, according to the UK's Office for National Statistics. Unlike France, most British police do not carry guns. Nearly two-thirds of all gun deaths in the US are suicides, according to data compiled by Everytown, a gun safety group. Though people are less likely to attempt suicide with a gun (6% of all attempts), the nature of the deadly weapons makes death more likely, with about half of all suicide deaths involving a firearm. At least six of the nine deaths in the NYPD involved a gun, with many using their own service weapon. John Violanti, a 23-year police veteran and professor at University at Buffalo who focuses on police stress and mental health, points to the nature of the job as part of the equation that leads to suicide. \"They see abused kids, they see dead bodies, they see horrible traffic accidents. And what that means is that the traumatic events and stressful events kind of build on one another.\" \"If you have to put a bulletproof vest on before you go to work, that's an indication you're already under the possibility of being shot or killed and your family is under the same probability. So all of these things weigh heavily on the psyche and over time, they hurt the officers.\" He also points to an increasing turmoil driving a wedge between law enforcement and the communities they protect. \"We have political conflict. We have societal conflict. We have groups at each other's throat all the time. And the cops get stuck in the middle of all of this stuff,\" he says. \"So sometimes they're pulled in different directions and they really don't know what their role is.\" Mark DiBona, a 33-year police veteran and spokesman for Blue Help, has firsthand experience of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on the job. He volunteered for three weeks in New York four days after the 9/11 attacks and recalls his nightmares began shortly after. That trauma compounded with other encounters, including responding to a car fire with a passenger trapped inside, led to his depression. \"I wanted to die. I just did not want to go further because I felt like a failure,\" he says. Sitting in the front seat of his cruiser, Mark wrote an angry letter to the police department and an apology letter to his mother and wife, before placing his gun in mouth. In a fortuitous moment, another officer pulled up to his car to intervene before he pulled the trigger. But he - along with many officers - believes one of the greatest barriers in seeking help is the stigma that comes with needing it. \"We carry a gun, we carry a Taser, we carry a baton, Mace, we wear a bulletproof vest. All that to protect ourselves physically,\" he says. \"We need that. But we have very little training when it comes to protecting us mentally.\" Part of that stigma is perpetuating the machismo culture in police work, a notion that Janice McCarthy is working to change by training officers in suicide prevention and through her organisation Care of Police Suicide Survivors (Copss), which works with families affected by police suicides. Janice's husband Paul killed himself in July 2006 after a 21-year career as a Massachusetts state police captain. He suffered PTSD that stemmed from three car accidents in the line of duty, she says. \"Hypervigilance\" is part of the job when it comes to police work, Janice says. \"It's that feeling you're jumping out of your skin, you're pacing back and forth. \"Cops run on the adrenaline...it becomes almost like a high,\" she recalls of her husband. \"But the problem is you can't come home and shut it off and [Paul] could not shut it off. He didn't sleep. He couldn't really have a conversation,\" she recalls. \"They are caretakers. They are used to taking care of everyone else. \"He would change flat tyres, he saved premature newborn babies. He couldn't save himself because no one gave him the luxury to say, 'what's wrong? Are you OK?'\" She helped lawmakers in Massachusetts craft a bill that would mandate mental health training for officers on the job. The bill, four years in the making, has yet to be taken up. But former officers and suicide prevention advocates say adding therapists and training is only part of the battle. The idea that an officer's identity is tied to their gun is a stigma advocates can't seem to crack. \"The one thing about law enforcement is the longer you're on the job, the more it consumes your identity,\" Mark says while describing the importance of an officer's badge and gun. Chris Prochut was third in command in Bolingbrook, a south-west suburb outside of Chicago, when his police department received international attention about a high profile murder investigation within its ranks. He was tasked with dealing with the drumbeat of reporters, clamouring for details about former Sgt Drew Peterson, who was accused of murdering his third and fourth wives, the latter of whom is still missing. \"I thought I can handle this because that's what cops do. I can fix this,\" the now mental health advocate and suicide prevention trainer recalls. \"I figured I could change the public perception of our police department.\" Under immense pressure and with little sleep, the case ate away at Chris' psyche, taking a toll as the year wore on. \"I'd come home to my family and I didn't want to be around them,\" he recalls. At the urging of his wife, Chris sought help, and eventually went on medication to help ease the anguish. But the pain didn't stop. He eventually decided to take his own life. \"In my mind there was no other option because I had tried therapy. I tried medication. They don't work for me, but I can get a hold of this.\" He chose a wooded area where he wanted to take his life in a nearby town, a deliberate move so his colleagues wouldn't have to investigate the death of one of their own. \"The plan was set. I remember having an extra bounce in my step that week.\" It was ultimately his wife who thwarted his plans, calling his colleagues to intervene in the middle of the night and escort him to hospital to seek psychiatric treatment. After Chris was released from hospital, Illinois state law mandated that he lost his firearm privileges, and stuck in a legal loophole, he eventually lost his job. Chris and his family left Illinois after losing their house, relocating to Hartford, Wisconsin, where he now works at Kohl's corporate headquarters as well as with the state police on suicide prevention. The laws have since changed in Illinois, allowing gun owners a 60-day grace period to keep their Firearms Owners Identification Card while a renewal application is processed. Part of that aim is to encourage officers to seek mental health treatment without fear of losing their badge - a step Chris is hopeful could be emulated elsewhere. But Chris also wants his story to show there is life after the force. \"It took me a couple of years to realise there is life after law enforcement but you gotta be here. You have to be here in order for it to get better,\" he says. \"I did get my gun taken and I did lose my job, but I'm here and I'm OK.\" Back at the cemetery on Boston's North Shore in Lynn, Dave's youngest son, Cameron, idles near David's grave, his voice cracking as he struggles to talk about his brother, his hero. Cameron is adorned in symbols honouring his brother - suicide prevention bracelets and a tattooed semicolon on his left wrist - a symbol used to raise awareness about mental health struggles and suicide prevention - to show that life continues. \"Life for them goes on. Life for us goes on in a different kind of way,\" Dave says of other police officers. Much of Dave's life is also a memorial to his son. His office is canvassed with images of his eldest son and the rest of his family, alongside relics and mementos featuring hidden symbols to keep David's memory alive. An image of clouds over his son's grave, formed in the shape of the number eight - David's lucky number - sits framed next to his son's police boots and uniform. His arms are tattooed with his son's favourite number and a message on his forearm, scrawled in David's handwriting, from a Father's Day card given to him in June, before he passed away. Death by suicide can erode validation for loved ones and family members, leaving unanswered questions of what could have gone differently to avoid tragedy. \"Being a suicide survivor - it's a group we belong to and we never wanted to be,\" Janice says. \"If someone dies by suicide, there are a whole lot of things that people read into that everyone wants to have their own idea of what went wrong. It's human nature to try to figure something out and put it in that nice little box and put a bow on it and put it away.\" But for this group of survivors, speaking to officers is a way of filling that void left by those they lost to suicide. For officers concealing their struggles, Janice has one message: \"If you're not a cop tomorrow, who are you? \"Well, are you a husband? Are you a father? You need to be multidimensional and you need to take care of yourself emotionally,\" she declares. \"I would want them to know that they are more than a police officer and that their life means more than this job.\" Where to get help From Canada or US: If you're in an emergency, please call 911 You can contact the US National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or the Crisis Test Line by texting HOME to 741741 Young people in need of help can call Kids Help Phone on 1-800-668-6868 If you are in the UK, you can call the Samaritans on 116123 For support and more information on emotional distress, click here.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7462, "answer_start": 6397, "text": "John Violanti, a 23-year police veteran and professor at University at Buffalo who focuses on police stress and mental health, points to the nature of the job as part of the equation that leads to suicide. \"They see abused kids, they see dead bodies, they see horrible traffic accidents. And what that means is that the traumatic events and stressful events kind of build on one another.\" \"If you have to put a bulletproof vest on before you go to work, that's an indication you're already under the possibility of being shot or killed and your family is under the same probability. So all of these things weigh heavily on the psyche and over time, they hurt the officers.\" He also points to an increasing turmoil driving a wedge between law enforcement and the communities they protect. \"We have political conflict. We have societal conflict. We have groups at each other's throat all the time. And the cops get stuck in the middle of all of this stuff,\" he says. \"So sometimes they're pulled in different directions and they really don't know what their role is.\"" } ], "id": "737_0", "question": "Why is suicide so high among police?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Andy Capp was a product of the 1950s - an era when newspapers dominated and domestic violence was still a mainstream source of humour. Why, almost 60 years after he first appeared in the Daily Mirror, is a layabout lout from north-east England still popular? Homer Simpson called him a \"wife-beating drunk\" while his creator Reg Smythe said he was a \"horrible little man\". Yet the stereotypical, flat cap-wearing northerner from Hartlepool has clocked up more than 20,000 cartoon strips in newspapers around the world since 1957 - and is still going strong. Although his ability to shirk work remains unaltered, Andy has had to change to suit society, says Nick Hiley, of the British Cartoon Archive. It has more than 2,800 Andy Capp sketches from his first 10 years in the Daily Mirror - a shocking 140 of which contain examples of domestic violence. \"Some of the early cartoons are really unpalatable nowadays because of the vicious way he treats Flo,\" Mr Hiley said. \"He knocks her out and knocks her about. The first strip in the first Andy Capp album is him saying how one of his pleasures is beating up [his wife] Flo. \"His violence was quite acceptable to the newspapers and the readers probably because domestic violence itself was considered acceptable at the time.\" Smythe later said he regretted his character's violence towards Flo, saying: \"He was too savage, a proper bully.\" It should be pointed out that the violence was not just in one direction - in some, the long-suffering Flo was the aggressor too. But only labelling the character a wife-beater is wrong, says Fergus McKenna, head of syndication at Trinity Mirror, publisher of the Daily Mirror. \"Andy was very much of his time, even so I knew Reg regretted some of Andy's actions,\" he said. \"He was not celebrating what Andy was doing, it was probably more of a criticism. \"There is always a danger of looking at history through a modern prism and saying 'well he shouldn't be doing that'. He isn't doing it today.\" One of the favourite theories about the origin of Andy Capp is he and his wife were based on Smythe's parents, his mother also being called Flo. Smythe also reportedly told a colleague that Capp was inspired by a man he saw at a Hartlepool football match who pocketed his flat cap when it started raining. \"You don't think I'm going to sit in the house all night wearing a wet cap?\" he told a young Smythe. Smythe himself may also have been somewhat of an inspiration. After his death in 1998, Daily Mirror cartoon editor Ken Layson recalled visiting the cartoonist and his wife Vera. \"After she had poured Reg his tea, he looked at his cup and shouted to her that something was not right. \"Vera walked back and, without another word, turned the cup so the handle was pointing in the right direction.\" Smythe claimed the idea for Andy Capp was born on the A1 as he was driving to London to meet the Mirror, who had asked him to come up with a comical character for the paper's Manchester edition. \"He may be a horrible little man but he has been good to me,\" Smythe once said. The Women's Aid charity, which was set up in the 1970s to support women who were victims of physical or sexual abuse, said attitudes towards domestic violence had changed. \"The problem is women are still unequal in many ways, you do not have cartoons in national newspapers making jokes about domestic abuse anymore but domestic abuse is still trivialised in other ways. \"For example T-shirts with jokes about rape or the criminal justice system failing to give tough sentences to perpetrators.\" While few would lament the loss of violence in the Andy Capp strips, there was genuine outrage when Andy quit smoking in 1983. Fans complained he was becoming too politically correct, but the reason he quit was more personal. \"The truth is that Reg himself gave up smoking and he said there was no way Andy was going to carry on enjoying cigarettes when Reg couldn't,\" Mr McKenna said. \"There was certainly no pressure on him [from The Mirror] to make Andy stop smoking.\" Despite splitting opinion, Capp is still incredibly popular and one of the most syndicated cartoon characters ever produced. He can be found in more than 300 newspapers in North America and has appeared in publications across Europe, including in Russia during the Cold War, South America, Asia and Australia. In 1982 Tom Courtenay played Andy Capp in a stage musical version while the character has also been adapted for TV and radio and sold everything from talcum powder to tea towels. On Wednesday a collection of Andy Capp memorabilia, including rare original drawings by Reg Smythe, is going under the hammer at Tennants Auctioneers in Leyburn, North Yorkshire. \"The importance of the character is his universality,\" Mr Hiley said. \"He has a feeling of being a rebel, a man ploughing his own furrow.\" Mr McKenna said Andy Capp resonates with readers around the world. \"I would hesitate to call Andy Capp an everyman - because I know he is not everyone's cup of tea - but he likes drinking beer, having nights out and watching sport, things blokes like whether they are living in Hartlepool or Honolulu,\" he said. Andy Capp epitomised both the humour of the northern working class and the golden age of the newspaper cartoon strip, according to Sunderland-based graphic novelist Bryan Talbot. \"I first came across Andy Capp when I was two or three,\" said Mr Talbot, author of Alice in Sunderland. \"He was a very funny character, that's why he has lasted so long. \"He had a very dry humour, the same sort of humour you saw in the Likely Lads, a very northern character who has been syndicated in newspapers around the world.\" In the heyday of cartoon strips characters like Andy Capp could be the reason people bought a particular newspaper, Mr Talbot said. Andy Capp still has a strong future at The Mirror, according to Mr McKenna. \"He will be 60 next year so we are planning a celebration for that. \"Andy Capp is still a much-loved character and I see no reason why he won't have a long and happy future.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3065, "answer_start": 1989, "text": "One of the favourite theories about the origin of Andy Capp is he and his wife were based on Smythe's parents, his mother also being called Flo. Smythe also reportedly told a colleague that Capp was inspired by a man he saw at a Hartlepool football match who pocketed his flat cap when it started raining. \"You don't think I'm going to sit in the house all night wearing a wet cap?\" he told a young Smythe. Smythe himself may also have been somewhat of an inspiration. After his death in 1998, Daily Mirror cartoon editor Ken Layson recalled visiting the cartoonist and his wife Vera. \"After she had poured Reg his tea, he looked at his cup and shouted to her that something was not right. \"Vera walked back and, without another word, turned the cup so the handle was pointing in the right direction.\" Smythe claimed the idea for Andy Capp was born on the A1 as he was driving to London to meet the Mirror, who had asked him to come up with a comical character for the paper's Manchester edition. \"He may be a horrible little man but he has been good to me,\" Smythe once said." } ], "id": "738_0", "question": "Where did Reg Smythe find Andy Capp?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Parliamentary elections in the Afghan province of Kandahar have been delayed by a week after the assassination of a powerful local police chief. Gen Abdul Raziq was shot dead by a rogue bodyguard on Thursday. The Taliban claimed the attack, which came after a high-level security meeting. US commander Gen Scott Miller narrowly escaped unhurt. The local intelligence head was also killed and the governor was critically injured. Three Americans were hurt. A spokesman for President Ashraf Ghani said that voting in the province would be delayed by a week in line with the wishes of the people. Elections are due to be held across most of the rest of Afghanistan on Saturday. Security forces are already stretched, with more than 50,000 personnel being deployed for polling day. The Taliban, who referred to Gen Raziq as a \"brutal police chief\", have urged voters to boycott the poll. Correspondents say Gen Raziq was renowned as a powerful opponent of the Taliban in the south of Afghanistan - where the militant group is at its strongest. His assassination is seen as a hugely significant victory for the Taliban and a major blow to the Afghan and US counter-insurgency campaign. It is the first time since the 2001 US-led military intervention that the top commander of US/Nato forces has been involved in such an incident. Afghan and international security officials said Gen Raziq was shot in the back as he left the meeting and walked towards an area where the helicopter taking the US group back to Kabul was coming in to land. \"Provincial officials including the governor, the police chief and other officials were accompanying the foreign guests when the gunshots happened,\" said Jan Khakrezwal, head of the Kandahar provincial council. Local officials suggested that Gen Miller appeared to have been saved by his body armour. The US military only said that he was uninjured and denied he had been one of the intended targets. At least two hand grenade explosions were also reported. Initial reports said the attacker was killed in an ensuing shoot-out. Afghan officials had warned that attacks ahead of the parliamentary election were likely. The Taliban has warned voters not to take part in what they say is a ballot imposed by foreigners. Some expressed fears that Gen Raziq's death could keep voters away from polling stations. \"Gen Raziq's death will have a huge impact on security and the election in the south because a lot of voters may not feel safe to go to vote,\" a senior security official told Reuters. The vote is the third parliamentary election to be held since the Taliban were removed from power in 2001. At least 10 candidates have been killed in attacks around the country in the run-up to the vote. There have also been attacks on voter registration centres, including one in April which killed nearly 60 people. The vote is being seen as a test of political reforms undertaken by the Afghan government as well as its ability to organise a free and fair vote. It comes ahead of the all-important presidential elections due in April 2019. American combat operations against the Taliban officially ended in 2014, but more than 8,000 US special forces remained in the country, backing and providing training and assistance to Afghan troops. Last year, US President Donald Trump signalled that he would keep US boots on the ground indefinitely amid concerns that the Taliban was gaining ground. The US forces are part of the Nato-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, which has more than 16,000 personnel.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2061, "answer_start": 1326, "text": "Afghan and international security officials said Gen Raziq was shot in the back as he left the meeting and walked towards an area where the helicopter taking the US group back to Kabul was coming in to land. \"Provincial officials including the governor, the police chief and other officials were accompanying the foreign guests when the gunshots happened,\" said Jan Khakrezwal, head of the Kandahar provincial council. Local officials suggested that Gen Miller appeared to have been saved by his body armour. The US military only said that he was uninjured and denied he had been one of the intended targets. At least two hand grenade explosions were also reported. Initial reports said the attacker was killed in an ensuing shoot-out." } ], "id": "739_0", "question": "What happened in Thursday's attack?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3067, "answer_start": 2062, "text": "Afghan officials had warned that attacks ahead of the parliamentary election were likely. The Taliban has warned voters not to take part in what they say is a ballot imposed by foreigners. Some expressed fears that Gen Raziq's death could keep voters away from polling stations. \"Gen Raziq's death will have a huge impact on security and the election in the south because a lot of voters may not feel safe to go to vote,\" a senior security official told Reuters. The vote is the third parliamentary election to be held since the Taliban were removed from power in 2001. At least 10 candidates have been killed in attacks around the country in the run-up to the vote. There have also been attacks on voter registration centres, including one in April which killed nearly 60 people. The vote is being seen as a test of political reforms undertaken by the Afghan government as well as its ability to organise a free and fair vote. It comes ahead of the all-important presidential elections due in April 2019." } ], "id": "739_1", "question": "Where does this leave the election?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3538, "answer_start": 3068, "text": "American combat operations against the Taliban officially ended in 2014, but more than 8,000 US special forces remained in the country, backing and providing training and assistance to Afghan troops. Last year, US President Donald Trump signalled that he would keep US boots on the ground indefinitely amid concerns that the Taliban was gaining ground. The US forces are part of the Nato-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, which has more than 16,000 personnel." } ], "id": "739_2", "question": "What about US forces in Afghanistan?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "On 4 March, a former Russian spy and his daughter were found seriously ill on a bench in Salisbury. They had been poisoned by a nerve agent, in an attack \"almost certainly\" approved by the Russian state. An extraordinary series of accusations and denials from the highest levels of governments came in the months that followed, culminating in diplomatic expulsions and international sanctions. The attack on Sergei Skripal, 66, and his 33-year-old daughter, Yulia, in Salisbury, left them hospitalised for weeks. Police linked the attack to another poisoning in June in which Dawn Sturgess and her partner Charlie Rowley were exposed to Novichok in nearby Amesbury, after handling a contaminated perfume dispenser. Ms Sturgess died in hospital in July. - Yulia Skripal flew into London's Heathrow Airport from Russia at about 14:40 GMT on Saturday, 3 March - On Sunday, 4 March, at about 09:15 GMT, Mr Skripal's car was seen in Salisbury around London Road, Churchill Way North and Wilton Road - At 13:30 GMT his car was seen driving down Devizes Road, towards the town centre - Mr Skripal and his daughter arrived at the Sainsbury's upper level car park at the Maltings shopping precinct at 13:40 GMT - Police said the pair went to The Mill pub before going to Zizzi restaurant at 14:20 GMT, where they stayed until 15:35 GMT - At 16:15 GMT, emergency services received the first report of an incident - Police found the pair on a bench outside Zizzi in an \"extremely serious condition\" - Det Sgt Nick Bailey, who fell ill after attending the incident, was treated in hospital but discharged on 22 March - 48 people were assessed in hospital in relation to the incident - Ms Skripal was released from hospital on 9 April and her father was discharged on 18 May. Both were taken to a secure location Police believe the Skripals were \"targeted specifically\" and are treating the case as attempted murder. Detectives believe the pair first came into contact with the nerve agent Novichok at the front door of their home. Traces of Novichok were also found at the Mill and Zizzi, where the Skripals spent the afternoon. Up to 500 people who visited the pub or the restaurant at the same time were told to wash their clothes and possessions. Officers later focused searches in and around Mr Skripal's home and a nearby children's play area at Montgomery Gardens was cordoned off by police. Police appealed for anyone who saw the pair in Mr Skripal's red BMW - licence plate number HD09 WAO - on the morning of the attack. A vehicle that is believed to have been used by Mr Skripal's friend to pick up Yulia from the airport on 3 March was removed from Durrington, Wiltshire, by the Army on 19 March. Witness Jamie Paine said he saw a woman on a bench frothing at the mouth and her eyes \"were wide open but completely white\". A doctor, who was shopping with her husband in the city centre on Sunday, said Ms Skripal was \"slumped in her seat, completely unconscious\" and had lost control of her bodily functions. The investigation has so far involved 250 specialist counter-terrorism officers and about 180 military personnel, who were deployed to Salisbury to help remove vehicles and objects that may have been contaminated. Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, stressed the risk of harm to the public was \"low\" but there was some concern that prolonged exposure could cause health problems. Personnel from the Defence Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Centre at Porton Down in Wiltshire identified the nerve agent. Its head said the precise source of the nerve agent had not been verified, but it was likely to have been deployed by a \"state actor\". Experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) tested samples of the chemical. Russia accused Britain of blocking access to the OPCW inquiry, but its proposal for a new, joint investigation was voted down at the international chemical weapons watchdog at The Hague on 4 April. Russia lost the vote by 15 votes to six, while 17 member states abstained. Two Russian nationals, who go by the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, are suspects in the attempted murder. They are understood to have arrived at Gatwick Airport on Russian passports from Moscow on 2 March, and stayed at the City Stay Hotel in Bow Road, east London. The following day they visited Salisbury for reconnaissance before contaminating Mr Skripal's front door with Novichok on 4 March, police say. Officers believe a modified perfume bottle was used to spray the door. The pair flew from Heathrow to Moscow later that same night. The men, whose movements were captured on various CCTV cameras, are thought to be aged about 40 and operating under aliases. The officers are thought to be from Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU, and the attack was \"almost certainly\" approved at a senior level of the Russian state, Theresa May has said. In an interview with Russia's state-run international broadcaster, RT, the men said they were tourists, in the UK to visit the \"wonderful town\" of Salisbury and see its famous cathedral. Details have since emerged showing the man calling himself Alexander Petrov has made around 10 trips to Europe in the last two years. Documents first obtained by the investigative group Bellingcat, shared with the BBC, show that as well as visiting Paris, Geneva and Amsterdam, he appears to have visited the UK three times. He seems to have visited once in September 2016, again between 28 February and 5 March 2017 and finally in March this year- during the period Sergei Skripal was poisoned. On the final visit, the pair both travelled on genuine Russian passports. Recently published pages from Mr Petrov's passport dossiers contain unusual stamps and a blank page where there is normally biographical data - all evidence which may point to the men being undercover intelligence officers, BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera said. An investigation by Bellingcat has claimed the real identity of the man calling himself Ruslan Boshirov is actually Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga - a highly decorated military officer. Bellingcat later said the suspect calling himself Alexander Petrov is Alexander Mishkin, a doctor who has worked for Russian intelligence since 2010. Since the attack, the Kremlin's media machine has responded with a combination of denials and sarcasm. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the two suspects are civilians, not criminals and he hoped the men would tell their story soon. A day later an interview with the men was broadcast by Russia's state-run international broadcaster. The Russian foreign ministry had previously called Mrs May's allegations \"insane\", and said the names and photographs of the two suspects \"do not mean anything to Moscow\". At a UN Security Council meeting in September to discuss the attack, Russia dismissed evidence presented by the UK as \"lies\". In a lengthy rebuttal of the allegations, Russia accused the UK of \"disgusting anti-Russian hysteria\". Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, accused the British authorities of \"Russiaphobia\" and misleading the international community and its own citizens. Previously, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said the UK was one of the most likely sources of the nerve agent, along with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden or possibly the United States. Another theory - offered by Russia's EU ambassador, Vladimir Chizhov - suggested a UK research laboratory in Wiltshire could be the source. No. Prosecutors will not apply to Russia for the men to be extradited because Russia does not have extradition agreements with the UK. However, a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained, should they travel to the EU. Sue Hemming, of the UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said there was enough evidence to provide a \"realistic prospect of conviction\" and it was \"clearly in the public interest\" to charge them with the Salisbury attack. Police say officers continue to work with the CPS on the Amesbury incident. Colonel Skripal is a retired Russian military intelligence officer who was convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. He was jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006. In July 2010, he was one of four prisoners released by Moscow in exchange for 10 Russian spies arrested by the FBI. He was later flown to the UK. In recent years Mr Skripal is thought to have given lectures at military academies offering insights into Russia's foreign military intelligence agency, the GRU. A friend from college, Vladimir Svyatski, described Mr Skripal as \"very active, with a positive attitude and creative\". Former colleague Oleg Ivanov told the BBC he was \"the life and soul of the party\". His condition improved from critical to stable on 6 April, and Salisbury District Hospital said he was responding well to treatment and \"improving rapidly\". He was discharged on 18 May and moved to a secure location. His daughter, Yulia, regularly travelled to the UK from her Moscow home to visit her father, relatives told the BBC. \"She told me she liked everything [in the UK],\" childhood friend Irina Petrova said. \"They had an amazing place, and amazing house.\" She had an \"excellent\" relationship with her father, Ms Petrova said, and had been the \"perfect kid\", achieving excellent grades at school. Ms Skripal, who friends say worked for multinationals including Nike and PepsiCo, was \"always smiling, just like her mother\", Ms Petrova added. The 33-year-old was discharged from Salisbury District Hospital on 9 April and taken to a secure location. It is not known what long-term effects she might suffer. Mr Skripal's wife, Liudmila, died in 2012 after suffering from cancer. His elder brother and son have died in the past two years. Some of the deaths, the family believe, happened in suspicious circumstances. His son, Alexander Skripal, died aged 43 last July in St Petersburg from liver failure. He is buried in Salisbury, close to his mother. Mr Skripal's family deny that he worked for MI6 and believe that the espionage case was fabricated by Russia. On 5 April, an unverified recording purported to be between Yulia Skripal and her cousin, Viktoria Skripal, who lives in Russia, was broadcast on Russian TV. In the recording, Viktoria said she hoped to travel to the UK to visit her relatives, if she can get a visa, but the voice said to be Yulia's tells her that no-one will give her one. The Foreign Office said its Moscow embassy was expected to give Viktoria a visa and that she would be given full consular help in the UK. Doubts have been cast on the authenticity of the recording. In the weeks after the poisoning, Theresa May pointed the finger at Russia and expelled 23 Russian diplomats and their families from the UK. She also said: - Ministers and the Royal Family would not attend the Fifa World Cup in Russia - Russian state assets would be frozen if there was evidence they would be used as a weapon against UK nationals and residents - Checks on private flights, customs and freight would be increased - All planned high-level contacts between the UK and Russia would be suspended - The state invitation to Russian's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was retracted In solidarity, 29 countries, including the US, Canada, Germany and France, expelled 145 Russian officials - and Nato ordered 10 Russians out of its mission in Belgium. Moscow initially responded in kind, expelling 23 British diplomats, 60 US diplomats and several from other countries. It also closed the British Council in Russia and the British Consulate in St Petersburg. Russia then increased that number to 50, as its ambassador in the UK said Moscow had no nerve agent stockpile. Since the UK named the two suspects, US, France, Germany and Canada have agreed that the Russian government \"almost certainly\" approved the poisoning of the Skripals. Together they have urged Russia to provide full disclosure of its Novichok programme. Referring to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from their countries, the leaders said they had already \"taken action together to disrupt the activities of the GRU\". GRU officers are often stationed in embassies around the world. Police are linking the attack on the Skripals to a separate Novichok poisoning on 30 June in Amesbury, that led to the death of 44-year-old mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess. She and her partner Charlie Rowley were exposed to the nerve agent after handling a contaminated perfume dispenser, labelled Nina Ricci Premier Jour. Mr Rowley told police he found the box containing a small bottle and an applicator - all found to be counterfeit - in a charity bin. He tried to put the two parts together and got some of the contents on himself. Ms Sturgess applied some of the contents to her wrists and became unwell. Scotland Yard said the bottle, with a modified nozzle, had contained a \"significant amount\" of Novichok. The name Novichok means \"newcomer\" in Russian, and applies to a group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. Novichok agents are liquids, although others are thought to exist in solid form and could be dispersed as an ultra-fine powder. Some of the agents are also said to be \"binary weapons\", meaning the nerve agent is typically stored as two less toxic chemical ingredients that are easier to handle. When these are mixed, they react to produce the active toxic agent which can cause convulsions, shortness of breath, profuse sweating and nausea. The possibility of an unknown substance being involved has drawn comparisons with the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. The former Russian intelligence officer died in London after drinking tea laced with a radioactive substance. A public inquiry concluded that his killing had probably been carried out with the approval of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. An investigation by Buzzfeed News claimed that there have been at least 14 deaths in the UK that US officials suspected were connected to Russia. Do you have any information to share on this story? Do you have any questions you'd like us to investigate? Email [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +447555 173285 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Send an SMS or MMS to 61124", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4065, "answer_start": 1800, "text": "Police believe the Skripals were \"targeted specifically\" and are treating the case as attempted murder. Detectives believe the pair first came into contact with the nerve agent Novichok at the front door of their home. Traces of Novichok were also found at the Mill and Zizzi, where the Skripals spent the afternoon. Up to 500 people who visited the pub or the restaurant at the same time were told to wash their clothes and possessions. Officers later focused searches in and around Mr Skripal's home and a nearby children's play area at Montgomery Gardens was cordoned off by police. Police appealed for anyone who saw the pair in Mr Skripal's red BMW - licence plate number HD09 WAO - on the morning of the attack. A vehicle that is believed to have been used by Mr Skripal's friend to pick up Yulia from the airport on 3 March was removed from Durrington, Wiltshire, by the Army on 19 March. Witness Jamie Paine said he saw a woman on a bench frothing at the mouth and her eyes \"were wide open but completely white\". A doctor, who was shopping with her husband in the city centre on Sunday, said Ms Skripal was \"slumped in her seat, completely unconscious\" and had lost control of her bodily functions. The investigation has so far involved 250 specialist counter-terrorism officers and about 180 military personnel, who were deployed to Salisbury to help remove vehicles and objects that may have been contaminated. Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, stressed the risk of harm to the public was \"low\" but there was some concern that prolonged exposure could cause health problems. Personnel from the Defence Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear Centre at Porton Down in Wiltshire identified the nerve agent. Its head said the precise source of the nerve agent had not been verified, but it was likely to have been deployed by a \"state actor\". Experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) tested samples of the chemical. Russia accused Britain of blocking access to the OPCW inquiry, but its proposal for a new, joint investigation was voted down at the international chemical weapons watchdog at The Hague on 4 April. Russia lost the vote by 15 votes to six, while 17 member states abstained." } ], "id": "740_0", "question": "What has the investigation revealed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4487, "answer_start": 4066, "text": "Two Russian nationals, who go by the names Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, are suspects in the attempted murder. They are understood to have arrived at Gatwick Airport on Russian passports from Moscow on 2 March, and stayed at the City Stay Hotel in Bow Road, east London. The following day they visited Salisbury for reconnaissance before contaminating Mr Skripal's front door with Novichok on 4 March, police say." } ], "id": "740_1", "question": "Who are the suspects?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7534, "answer_start": 6297, "text": "Since the attack, the Kremlin's media machine has responded with a combination of denials and sarcasm. Russian President Vladimir Putin said the two suspects are civilians, not criminals and he hoped the men would tell their story soon. A day later an interview with the men was broadcast by Russia's state-run international broadcaster. The Russian foreign ministry had previously called Mrs May's allegations \"insane\", and said the names and photographs of the two suspects \"do not mean anything to Moscow\". At a UN Security Council meeting in September to discuss the attack, Russia dismissed evidence presented by the UK as \"lies\". In a lengthy rebuttal of the allegations, Russia accused the UK of \"disgusting anti-Russian hysteria\". Russian ambassador to the UN, Vasily Nebenzya, accused the British authorities of \"Russiaphobia\" and misleading the international community and its own citizens. Previously, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman said the UK was one of the most likely sources of the nerve agent, along with the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Sweden or possibly the United States. Another theory - offered by Russia's EU ambassador, Vladimir Chizhov - suggested a UK research laboratory in Wiltshire could be the source." } ], "id": "740_2", "question": "What does Russia say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8050, "answer_start": 7535, "text": "No. Prosecutors will not apply to Russia for the men to be extradited because Russia does not have extradition agreements with the UK. However, a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained, should they travel to the EU. Sue Hemming, of the UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), said there was enough evidence to provide a \"realistic prospect of conviction\" and it was \"clearly in the public interest\" to charge them with the Salisbury attack. Police say officers continue to work with the CPS on the Amesbury incident." } ], "id": "740_3", "question": "Have the suspects been arrested?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 9740, "answer_start": 8051, "text": "Colonel Skripal is a retired Russian military intelligence officer who was convicted of passing the identities of Russian intelligence agents working undercover in Europe to the UK's Secret Intelligence Service, MI6. He was jailed for 13 years by Russia in 2006. In July 2010, he was one of four prisoners released by Moscow in exchange for 10 Russian spies arrested by the FBI. He was later flown to the UK. In recent years Mr Skripal is thought to have given lectures at military academies offering insights into Russia's foreign military intelligence agency, the GRU. A friend from college, Vladimir Svyatski, described Mr Skripal as \"very active, with a positive attitude and creative\". Former colleague Oleg Ivanov told the BBC he was \"the life and soul of the party\". His condition improved from critical to stable on 6 April, and Salisbury District Hospital said he was responding well to treatment and \"improving rapidly\". He was discharged on 18 May and moved to a secure location. His daughter, Yulia, regularly travelled to the UK from her Moscow home to visit her father, relatives told the BBC. \"She told me she liked everything [in the UK],\" childhood friend Irina Petrova said. \"They had an amazing place, and amazing house.\" She had an \"excellent\" relationship with her father, Ms Petrova said, and had been the \"perfect kid\", achieving excellent grades at school. Ms Skripal, who friends say worked for multinationals including Nike and PepsiCo, was \"always smiling, just like her mother\", Ms Petrova added. The 33-year-old was discharged from Salisbury District Hospital on 9 April and taken to a secure location. It is not known what long-term effects she might suffer." } ], "id": "740_4", "question": "Who are the victims?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 10733, "answer_start": 9741, "text": "Mr Skripal's wife, Liudmila, died in 2012 after suffering from cancer. His elder brother and son have died in the past two years. Some of the deaths, the family believe, happened in suspicious circumstances. His son, Alexander Skripal, died aged 43 last July in St Petersburg from liver failure. He is buried in Salisbury, close to his mother. Mr Skripal's family deny that he worked for MI6 and believe that the espionage case was fabricated by Russia. On 5 April, an unverified recording purported to be between Yulia Skripal and her cousin, Viktoria Skripal, who lives in Russia, was broadcast on Russian TV. In the recording, Viktoria said she hoped to travel to the UK to visit her relatives, if she can get a visa, but the voice said to be Yulia's tells her that no-one will give her one. The Foreign Office said its Moscow embassy was expected to give Viktoria a visa and that she would be given full consular help in the UK. Doubts have been cast on the authenticity of the recording." } ], "id": "740_5", "question": "What more do we know about the family?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 12292, "answer_start": 10734, "text": "In the weeks after the poisoning, Theresa May pointed the finger at Russia and expelled 23 Russian diplomats and their families from the UK. She also said: - Ministers and the Royal Family would not attend the Fifa World Cup in Russia - Russian state assets would be frozen if there was evidence they would be used as a weapon against UK nationals and residents - Checks on private flights, customs and freight would be increased - All planned high-level contacts between the UK and Russia would be suspended - The state invitation to Russian's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov was retracted In solidarity, 29 countries, including the US, Canada, Germany and France, expelled 145 Russian officials - and Nato ordered 10 Russians out of its mission in Belgium. Moscow initially responded in kind, expelling 23 British diplomats, 60 US diplomats and several from other countries. It also closed the British Council in Russia and the British Consulate in St Petersburg. Russia then increased that number to 50, as its ambassador in the UK said Moscow had no nerve agent stockpile. Since the UK named the two suspects, US, France, Germany and Canada have agreed that the Russian government \"almost certainly\" approved the poisoning of the Skripals. Together they have urged Russia to provide full disclosure of its Novichok programme. Referring to the expulsion of Russian diplomats from their countries, the leaders said they had already \"taken action together to disrupt the activities of the GRU\". GRU officers are often stationed in embassies around the world." } ], "id": "740_6", "question": "What has the fallout been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 13005, "answer_start": 12293, "text": "Police are linking the attack on the Skripals to a separate Novichok poisoning on 30 June in Amesbury, that led to the death of 44-year-old mother-of-three Dawn Sturgess. She and her partner Charlie Rowley were exposed to the nerve agent after handling a contaminated perfume dispenser, labelled Nina Ricci Premier Jour. Mr Rowley told police he found the box containing a small bottle and an applicator - all found to be counterfeit - in a charity bin. He tried to put the two parts together and got some of the contents on himself. Ms Sturgess applied some of the contents to her wrists and became unwell. Scotland Yard said the bottle, with a modified nozzle, had contained a \"significant amount\" of Novichok." } ], "id": "740_7", "question": "What happened in Amesbury?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 13586, "answer_start": 13006, "text": "The name Novichok means \"newcomer\" in Russian, and applies to a group of nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. Novichok agents are liquids, although others are thought to exist in solid form and could be dispersed as an ultra-fine powder. Some of the agents are also said to be \"binary weapons\", meaning the nerve agent is typically stored as two less toxic chemical ingredients that are easier to handle. When these are mixed, they react to produce the active toxic agent which can cause convulsions, shortness of breath, profuse sweating and nausea." } ], "id": "740_8", "question": "What are Novichok agents?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 14102, "answer_start": 13587, "text": "The possibility of an unknown substance being involved has drawn comparisons with the 2006 poisoning of Alexander Litvinenko. The former Russian intelligence officer died in London after drinking tea laced with a radioactive substance. A public inquiry concluded that his killing had probably been carried out with the approval of the Russian President, Vladimir Putin. An investigation by Buzzfeed News claimed that there have been at least 14 deaths in the UK that US officials suspected were connected to Russia." } ], "id": "740_9", "question": "Has this happened in the UK before?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Venezuela's opposition is calling it \"Zero Hour\". Analysts refer to a breaking point. It is clear to everyone that Venezuela is in crisis, but there's no easy way out. Divisions in Venezuela run deep. The opposition has been vocal since Hugo Chavez came to power 18 years ago, but problems have become more acute under President Nicolas Maduro, a leader who does not have the following of his predecessor, and under whose watch the economy has been pushed to the brink. When the Supreme Court at the end of March announced that it would be taking over the powers of the opposition-controlled National Assembly (a ruling that was subsequently reversed), tensions rose. Protests have only intensified in recent months as the opposition has called for President Maduro to go. The government now wants to create a constituent assembly. Essentially its purpose will be to rewrite the country's constitution. It is a move that the government says will enable the country to be at peace. But the opposition says it is anti-democratic and feels it is just a way for President Maduro to consolidate his power. \"A constituent assembly is something that could be positive,\" says Professor Miguel Tinker Salas of Pomona College, California. He argues that if it can take steps to address violence and reform the economy that is heavily dependent on oil, something positive could come out of this. \"But in this context, I just don't see how that might happen.\" Professor Julia Buxton, a Venezuela expert, says there are two ways of interpreting the government's plans: - as a way to re-energise \"Chavismo\", the socialist ideology of former President Chavez - or as a way to build parallel institutions to the ones already in place and that are controlled by the opposition. \"Either way, the constituent assembly will likely be retrospectively considered the single biggest miscalculation of Maduro's presidency,\" says Prof Buxton. \"It has divided the ruling PSUV (United Socialist Party), alienated moderate Chavistas, further encouraged radical voices calling for the government to be overthrown and is unlikely to galvanise mass participation, in turn further discrediting and delegitimising Maduro.\" The opposition says the country's democratic institutions are being challenged. In the past few months, it has created a strategy to try and disrupt President Maduro's leadership, to try and force the government to change. But despite general strikes, the protests and the recent unofficial referendum, which rejected the constituent assembly, the government remains in power. One of the problems the opposition faces is that it is not one unified party. The Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) is an alliance made up of several opposition groups, many with different aims. That does not help their cause. As one Venezuelan told me at the unofficial referendum earlier this month, the opposition could write a textbook on what not to do to get rid of a government. It has been 18 years of trying to bring about change and to little avail. \"I think they (the opposition) have this same problem that the government has,\" says Prof Salas. \"It's a brinksmanship approach, all or nothing, there is no process of negotiation, there is no view of conciliation, there is no view of transition.\" Under US President Barack Obama, targeted sanctions on individuals were introduced. Donald Trump's administration has added sanctions for 13 more Venezuelans and he has said he will consider further measures. But anything broader than targeted sanctions would be a serious blow for the country's crisis-stricken economy. Oil revenues account for 95% of Venezuela's foreign earnings. Venezuela may have the largest oil reserves in the world but they are heavy crude reserves and the country needs light crude from the US to be able to process it. \"Close off several hundred thousand barrels of oil a day, which is what the US is buying, and you are actually hurting the Venezuelan people, you're not hurting Maduro,\" says Prof Salas. It could also have other unintended consequences, says Prof Buxton. \"It will exacerbate existing anti-American sentiment,\" she says. \"Sanctions have negligible record of success, and neighbouring Cuba should be a caution as to the utility of sanctions.\" Despite the threats of sanctions and the warnings from international leaders, the government is confident that the vote will go ahead. The opposition is doing all it can to make sure it will not. \"At this moment it's really too toxic to really talk about the details of how to engineer some type of orderly transition,\" says Michael McCarthy, a research fellow for the Centre for Latin American and Latino Studies at the American University in Washington DC. \"That's the reality and there's a really strong reflexive reaction to talk of dialogue or negotiation.\" But while the political anger plays out, the economic problems get worse. For people dealing with the reality of food and medicine shortages and spiralling inflation, a solution needs to come quickly. \"The real problem is that the government has been trying to hunker down, but the fundamental reality is the shrinking economic pie and how many problems the shrinking of that economic pie will create for Maduro's ability to manage his political coalition,\" says Mr McCarthy. \"That's what resilience is about at this point.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2189, "answer_start": 773, "text": "The government now wants to create a constituent assembly. Essentially its purpose will be to rewrite the country's constitution. It is a move that the government says will enable the country to be at peace. But the opposition says it is anti-democratic and feels it is just a way for President Maduro to consolidate his power. \"A constituent assembly is something that could be positive,\" says Professor Miguel Tinker Salas of Pomona College, California. He argues that if it can take steps to address violence and reform the economy that is heavily dependent on oil, something positive could come out of this. \"But in this context, I just don't see how that might happen.\" Professor Julia Buxton, a Venezuela expert, says there are two ways of interpreting the government's plans: - as a way to re-energise \"Chavismo\", the socialist ideology of former President Chavez - or as a way to build parallel institutions to the ones already in place and that are controlled by the opposition. \"Either way, the constituent assembly will likely be retrospectively considered the single biggest miscalculation of Maduro's presidency,\" says Prof Buxton. \"It has divided the ruling PSUV (United Socialist Party), alienated moderate Chavistas, further encouraged radical voices calling for the government to be overthrown and is unlikely to galvanise mass participation, in turn further discrediting and delegitimising Maduro.\"" } ], "id": "741_0", "question": "Re-energising 'Chavismo'?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Guatemala is to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, becoming the first country after the US to vow to do so. It was one of only nine to vote against a UN resolution which in effect repudiated the US' recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Israel's PM thanked Guatemala's president, but Palestinians branded the decision \"shameful and illegal\". Donald Trump's controversial declaration on Jerusalem has been widely spurned around the world. The status of the city is one of the most sensitive issues in the Israeli-Arab conflict. Israel considers the whole of Jerusalem as its capital, while the Palestinians seek East Jerusalem as the capital of a hoped-for Palestinian state. President Jimmy Morales made the announcement on Facebook, noting the \"excellent relations\" between Guatemala and Israel. He did not say when the move would happen. Guatemala, along with 12 other countries, had their embassies in Jerusalem until 1980, when they moved them to Tel Aviv after Israel annexed East Jerusalem, in a move not recognised internationally. All other countries still have their embassies in Tel Aviv. Guatemala and Israel have a long history of political, economic and military ties. The Central American country is also a major recipient of US aid - something which Donald Trump threatened to cut to states that voted in favour of the UN resolution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked President Morales, saying more countries would follow suit. \"It is only the beginning and it is important,\" he wrote on Facebook. On Twitter, the US embassy in Guatemala said (in Spanish) it \"applauded the historic decision\" by Mr Morales. However, the Palestinian foreign ministry said the decision was \"a shameful and illegal act\" that violated the UN resolution. Last week, UN members decisively backed a resolution that said any decisions regarding the status of the Jerusalem were \"null and void\" and must be cancelled. The non-binding vote was approved by 128 states, with 35 abstaining. Another 21 countries did not turn up for the vote. Aside from the US and Israel, Guatemala was joined by Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo in voting against the resolution. The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel regards Jerusalem as its \"eternal and undivided\" capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war - as the capital of a future state. Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Jerusalem is also home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1778, "answer_start": 689, "text": "President Jimmy Morales made the announcement on Facebook, noting the \"excellent relations\" between Guatemala and Israel. He did not say when the move would happen. Guatemala, along with 12 other countries, had their embassies in Jerusalem until 1980, when they moved them to Tel Aviv after Israel annexed East Jerusalem, in a move not recognised internationally. All other countries still have their embassies in Tel Aviv. Guatemala and Israel have a long history of political, economic and military ties. The Central American country is also a major recipient of US aid - something which Donald Trump threatened to cut to states that voted in favour of the UN resolution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked President Morales, saying more countries would follow suit. \"It is only the beginning and it is important,\" he wrote on Facebook. On Twitter, the US embassy in Guatemala said (in Spanish) it \"applauded the historic decision\" by Mr Morales. However, the Palestinian foreign ministry said the decision was \"a shameful and illegal act\" that violated the UN resolution." } ], "id": "742_0", "question": "Why is Guatemala doing this?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2211, "answer_start": 1779, "text": "Last week, UN members decisively backed a resolution that said any decisions regarding the status of the Jerusalem were \"null and void\" and must be cancelled. The non-binding vote was approved by 128 states, with 35 abstaining. Another 21 countries did not turn up for the vote. Aside from the US and Israel, Guatemala was joined by Honduras, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Togo in voting against the resolution." } ], "id": "742_1", "question": "Where does the rest of the world stand?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3013, "answer_start": 2212, "text": "The status of Jerusalem goes to the heart of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel regards Jerusalem as its \"eternal and undivided\" capital, while the Palestinians claim East Jerusalem - occupied by Israel in the 1967 Middle East war - as the capital of a future state. Israeli sovereignty over Jerusalem has never been recognised internationally, and according to the 1993 Israel-Palestinian peace accords, the final status of Jerusalem is meant to be discussed in the latter stages of peace talks. Since 1967, Israel has built a dozen settlements, home to about 200,000 Jews, in East Jerusalem. These are considered illegal under international law, though Israel disputes this. Jerusalem is also home to key religious sites sacred to Judaism, Islam and Christianity, especially in East Jerusalem." } ], "id": "742_2", "question": "Why does it matter?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The World Health Organization has said it is highly likely that infections and outbreaks of Zika will continue to rise in Asia. Hundreds of cases have cropped up in the region, and Thailand has confirmed two cases of babies born with Zika-linked microcephaly. At least 19 countries and areas in the region have reported locally transmitted cases since 2007, according to the WHO. The majority - 13 - reported their cases this year. Thailand has recorded some 350 cases and Singapore nearly 400, including pregnant women. The Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia are among the countries reporting a handful of cases. The US Communicable Disease Center has advised pregnant women to consider postponing non-essential travel to most of the region, and to avoid Singapore. The Aedes mosquito, which transmits the virus, can be found across a wide swathe of South and South East Asia and northern Australia. Read more: Why Asia should worry about Zika too Zika first originated in Africa, but is believed to have been circulating in Asia since the first half of the 20th Century. Various strains have been circulating for several decades in the region. Singapore has said its outbreak was caused by a local strain, not the one which caused the huge outbreak in South America. An October 2016 WHO report said it was not clear which strain caused the two Zika-linked microcephaly cases there. The two mothers had not travelled outside Thailand. A confirmed link between the local strain of Zika and microcephaly would have a \"significant impact on the global risk assessment\" said the WHO, as it would show that deformation could happen with more than one strain. One reason why Zika is only now being linked to microcephaly in the region could be because tests for the link have only recently been developed. \"Because the link was not previously scientifically known, and the disease [Zika] is often very mild, and testing not available, people just did not make the connection,\" says Prof Jesse Goodman, an infectious diseases expert from Georgetown University. There is a lack of data on this, but most experts believe there is a high level of immunity among adults, given the prevalence and long history of the disease in the region. This could mean that \"the outbreaks are likely to be a lot less explosive\" than in South America, says Prof Paul Tambyah, secretary-general of the Asia Pacific Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infection. But with some countries like Singapore and Malaysia seeing success with tackling Aedes mosquito numbers, which carries the virus, younger generations may have lesser immunity as they have less exposure to the disease. Read more: Zika travel advice and how to stay safe Countries have been ramping up efforts to destroy mosquito breeding grounds and raise public awareness, as well as screening travellers for Zika. Thailand also said it would test all pregnant women in the provinces where Zika had been detected, and a regional taskforce has been set up to combat the spread of the virus. Experts and the WHO have largely commended regional authorities for their quick responses so far, but there has been some criticism, particularly in Thailand, that governments are not doing enough. Prof Tambyah said authorities need to come up with more innovative ways to fight the disease. He said the region still sees relentless epidemics of dengue - a tropical disease similar to Zika and carried by the same mosquito - despite devoting \"huge amounts of resources\" to mosquito control. Deaths are rare and only one-in-five people infected is thought to develop symptoms. These include: - mild fever - conjunctivitis (red, sore eyes) - headache - joint pain - a rash A rare nervous system disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, that can cause temporary paralysis has been linked to the infection. As there is no vaccine or treatment, the only option is to reduce the risk of being bitten. Health officials advise people to: - use insect repellents - cover up with long-sleeved clothes - keep windows and doors closed - ensure mosquitoes have nowhere to breed by removing standing water Patients are advised to rest and drink plenty of fluids. - A birth defect where a baby is born with an abnormally small head, as their brain has not developed properly. - The severity varies, but it can be deadly if the brain is so underdeveloped that it cannot regulate the functions vital to life. - Children that do survive face intellectual disability and development delays. - It can be caused by infections such as rubella, substance abuse during pregnancy or genetic abnormalities. Case study: 'It's not the end of the world'", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2064, "answer_start": 959, "text": "Zika first originated in Africa, but is believed to have been circulating in Asia since the first half of the 20th Century. Various strains have been circulating for several decades in the region. Singapore has said its outbreak was caused by a local strain, not the one which caused the huge outbreak in South America. An October 2016 WHO report said it was not clear which strain caused the two Zika-linked microcephaly cases there. The two mothers had not travelled outside Thailand. A confirmed link between the local strain of Zika and microcephaly would have a \"significant impact on the global risk assessment\" said the WHO, as it would show that deformation could happen with more than one strain. One reason why Zika is only now being linked to microcephaly in the region could be because tests for the link have only recently been developed. \"Because the link was not previously scientifically known, and the disease [Zika] is often very mild, and testing not available, people just did not make the connection,\" says Prof Jesse Goodman, an infectious diseases expert from Georgetown University." } ], "id": "743_0", "question": "Is this the same as the Brazil strain?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3527, "answer_start": 2716, "text": "Countries have been ramping up efforts to destroy mosquito breeding grounds and raise public awareness, as well as screening travellers for Zika. Thailand also said it would test all pregnant women in the provinces where Zika had been detected, and a regional taskforce has been set up to combat the spread of the virus. Experts and the WHO have largely commended regional authorities for their quick responses so far, but there has been some criticism, particularly in Thailand, that governments are not doing enough. Prof Tambyah said authorities need to come up with more innovative ways to fight the disease. He said the region still sees relentless epidemics of dengue - a tropical disease similar to Zika and carried by the same mosquito - despite devoting \"huge amounts of resources\" to mosquito control." } ], "id": "743_1", "question": "How is the region handling it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3833, "answer_start": 3528, "text": "Deaths are rare and only one-in-five people infected is thought to develop symptoms. These include: - mild fever - conjunctivitis (red, sore eyes) - headache - joint pain - a rash A rare nervous system disorder, Guillain-Barre syndrome, that can cause temporary paralysis has been linked to the infection." } ], "id": "743_2", "question": "What are the symptoms of Zika?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4179, "answer_start": 3834, "text": "As there is no vaccine or treatment, the only option is to reduce the risk of being bitten. Health officials advise people to: - use insect repellents - cover up with long-sleeved clothes - keep windows and doors closed - ensure mosquitoes have nowhere to breed by removing standing water Patients are advised to rest and drink plenty of fluids." } ], "id": "743_3", "question": "What can people do to avoid it?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "On a lazy Friday afternoon, a small group of primary school students open their laptops and, laughing and chatting, plunge straight into the world of computer programming. The children, starting as young as six years old, come each week to this out-of-school private learning centre in Hong Kong. They are getting lessons in computer coding not always available within Hong Kong's state schools, with parents paying extra for skills that they hope will keep up with a fast-moving digital industry. Over the next hour-and-a-half, they are taught how to create characters for a simple mobile game, using \"drag and drop\" software. \"It's a form of coding,\" says Michelle Sun, the 28-year-old founder of this coding school, called First Code Academy. \"This way, the kids don't have to type as much. It's much more intuitive for them to learn the concepts and build a foundation.\" Later they will begin to learn JavaScript, a programming language that underpins many internet applications. More stories from the BBC's Knowledge economy series looking at education from a global perspective and how to get in touch She sometimes struggles to catch the attention of her young students, some of whom are glued to their screens. The atmosphere in class is noisy, boisterous and interactive. But she has an easy rapport with the children. Born and raised in Hong Kong, Ms Sun attended an elite girls' school, succeeding in the city's notoriously regimented, competitive education system. She was then exposed to western influences, studying at the University of Chicago and then working in California, before returning home to start a coding school. \"When I was growing up, it was about taking in new knowledge and making sure we understand it in tests. But in the information age we are in now, the role of education is different,\" she says. Her own experience in Silicon Valley convinced her that there were booming opportunities available to those with programming skills, especially for mobile software. According to estimates from Juniper Research, the global market for mobile applications will more than double from $47.7bn (PS30.8bn) in 2014 to $99bn (PS64bn) in 2019. Asia, bolstered by strong growth in China, is expected to account for more than half of that market. Hong Kong is already one of the world's most wired cities. According to government figures, 85% of homes have access to broadband, and people own, on average, at least two mobile phones. But the education system - while world class according to global tests - has not been keeping pace with the speed of change in the digital age. Computer literacy is commonly taught, but computer programming receives far less attention in classrooms, according to teachers. A syllabus from the Education Bureau that sets out requirements for junior secondary school students in computer literacy was last updated in 1999. It exposes students to educational programming which is now considered by many to be outdated. The students at First Code come from families that can afford fees of between $775 to $1,300 per 12-week term, depending on the age of the child. That is out of the reach of many people here, as the median monthly household income last year was about $3,000. To bridge the digital divide, the Hong Kong government aims to make computer programming a required subject for students as young as 11 years old. \"What we want to do is to incorporate coding as a mandatory part of early secondary education so as to equip students for the future digital world,\" said Joey Lam, Hong Kong's deputy government chief information officer. She declined to give a specific starting date, but said it would happen within a few years. Other countries in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia and Singapore, are also working out when and how to start compulsory education in computer programming. Last September, a new national curriculum was introduced in England, requiring students age five onwards to be taught the basics of programming. Estonia had started the trend a few years earlier by introducing programming in primary schools. In Hong Kong, private schools and study centres like First Code are filling in the gap. As for the children who meet on Fridays, they may only be working on basic mobile games now, but they may in he long run be getting one step ahead of the game.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4347, "answer_start": 3690, "text": "Other countries in the Asia Pacific region, including Australia and Singapore, are also working out when and how to start compulsory education in computer programming. Last September, a new national curriculum was introduced in England, requiring students age five onwards to be taught the basics of programming. Estonia had started the trend a few years earlier by introducing programming in primary schools. In Hong Kong, private schools and study centres like First Code are filling in the gap. As for the children who meet on Fridays, they may only be working on basic mobile games now, but they may in he long run be getting one step ahead of the game." } ], "id": "744_0", "question": "Global trend?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A sugar tax and cutting buy-one-get-one-free deals are part of Public Health England's \"key actions\" to tackle people's addiction to sugar. Their long-awaited report says the nation is \"eating too much sugar\" leading to health problems and obesity. The report also called for less marketing aimed at children in-store, on TV and online. A spokesman for David Cameron said the prime minister did not want to see the introduction of a sugar tax. People get between 12 and 15% of their energy from sugar, but official recommendations say it should be less than 5%. The report says achieving those levels could save the NHS PS500m a year, but admitted no single measure would be effective. It suggests: - A sugar tax between 10% and 20% - Significantly reducing advertising high sugar food and drink to children - Targeting supermarkets and take-away special offers - Sugar reduction in everyday food and drink - Ensure the sale of healthier foods in hospitals and other public bodies The report attacked price promotions that distort people's shopping baskets - 40% of money spent on food and drink was on products on offer. Public Health England called for a \"rebalancing\" of promotions with a shift away from cakes and biscuits towards healthier foods. And it concluded 6% of total sugar consumption could be prevented if promotions on higher sugar products were banned. On the sugar tax, it said a 10% tax in Mexico resulted led to a 6% reduction in sales of sugary drinks and says a similar policy in England would cut consumption \"at least in the short term\". Speaking to MPs on Tuesday, Dr Alison Tedstone from Public Health England said: \"PHE does see there is a role for a fiscal approach in reducing sugary drink consumption. \"The higher the tax increase the greater the effect,\" she said. There were also calls from the TV chef Jamie Oliver for ministers to introduce a tax on fizzy drinks saying it was the \"single most important\" change that could be made. However, the report said the impact of extra taxes would be less than measures aimed at marketing and promotions. It said the use of \"characters\" such as the Coco Pops monkey and adverts masquerading as online games were hugely influential. And it added that end of aisle displays \"significantly increase\" the sale of sugary products. The prime minister's spokesman has confirmed that David Cameron has not read the report and that \"he doesn't see a need for a tax on sugar\". The government's plans for tackling childhood obesity will be released in January. They had been due to be revealed in the Autumn and the sugar report was commissioned to inform the plans. However, there was criticism from MPs that the sugar report was not being released as planned. - There has been growing concern about the damaging impact of sugar on health - from the state of people's teeth to type-2 diabetes and obesity - Sugar has been dubbed \"empty calories\" because it has no nutritional benefit - Government advisers recommend no more than 5% of daily calories should come from sugar - That is about 1oz (25g; six or seven teaspoons) for an adult of normal weight every day. For children, it is slightly less - The limits apply to all sugars added to food, as well as sugar naturally present in syrups and honey - To put this in context, a typical can of fizzy drink contains about nine teaspoons of sugar Why is sugar so addictive? Michael Mosley on how much sugar is in food Can we trust industry? The doctor's union, the British Medical Association, called on the government to adopt the recommendations in the report. But the Food and Drink Federation's director general, Ian Wright, said: \"We do not agree that the international evidence supports the introduction of a sugar tax and for this reason would oppose such a move.\" However, he said the industry was \"determined\" to help tackle childhood obesity and had already \"removed millions of calories from the food chain\" by changing ingredients and pack sizes. Dr Julian Hamilton-Shield, from the University of Bristol, said: \"No one can really doubt the harm sugar-containing drinks do to children - they rot their teeth and likely make them obese and at risk of later type 2 diabetes. \"If a tax is needed to reduce sugar consumption, I am right behind it, no-one complains about tobacco taxation, sugar should be treated the same way.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2725, "answer_start": 1966, "text": "However, the report said the impact of extra taxes would be less than measures aimed at marketing and promotions. It said the use of \"characters\" such as the Coco Pops monkey and adverts masquerading as online games were hugely influential. And it added that end of aisle displays \"significantly increase\" the sale of sugary products. The prime minister's spokesman has confirmed that David Cameron has not read the report and that \"he doesn't see a need for a tax on sugar\". The government's plans for tackling childhood obesity will be released in January. They had been due to be revealed in the Autumn and the sugar report was commissioned to inform the plans. However, there was criticism from MPs that the sugar report was not being released as planned." } ], "id": "745_0", "question": "To tax or not to tax?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Tory Brexiteers are increasingly confident they have enough support to trigger a no-confidence vote in Theresa May as party leader. If 48 Conservative MPs submit letters to say they no longer support her, a leadership challenge will be launched. There is no confirmation but sources, including a cabinet minister, have said they believe 48 letters have been sent. The BBC has also been told the senior backbencher who receives the letters has asked to see the PM on Wednesday. However Sir Graham Brady, who chairs the backbench 1922 committee, would make no comment. Downing Street sources are playing down an imminent move and say they have had no contact from him. The backbench challenge to Mrs May as Conservative leader has been led by those unhappy at the Brexit deal she negotiated, which they argue would keep the UK closely tied to the EU in the long term. Some Tories who voted Remain in the referendum are unhappy too. Separately, many opposition MPs have urged Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to call for a Commons vote of no confidence in the government, although he has so far resisted. If such a vote succeeded, it would start the clock on a 14-day deadline to find a successor government which could command confidence. Otherwise, the Queen would have to dissolve Parliament. Mrs May spent Tuesday meeting EU leaders and officials in The Hague, Berlin and Brussels in efforts to salvage her deal, which is widely opposed by MPs of all parties who voted both Leave and Remain in the EU referendum. Her decision to delay voting on the terms of the UK's withdrawal from the EU, which had been due to take place on Tuesday, has caused anger across the Commons. So far, 27 Tory MPs have publicly stated they have sent letters saying they have lost confidence in their leader - but speculation has increased that the numbers have risen. Former environment secretary Owen Paterson was among the latest to call for Mrs May to go, saying she had failed to prepare for a no-deal Brexit, tried to bounce her ministers into supporting her and approached negotiations like a \"feeble and unworthy\" supplicant. \"These mistakes have eroded trust in the government, to the point where I and many others can no longer take the prime minister at her word,\" he wrote in his letter, . \"She has repeatedly said 'no deal is better than a bad deal', but it is clear her objective was to secure a deal at any cost.\" But former cabinet minister Damian Green, who supports Mrs May, told BBC's Newsnight: \"If people have written letters to this degree... this is an act of monumental self-indulgence. \"People outside the Westminster bubble will be looking at this thinking 'we have got a prime minister doing really difficult negotiations at the sharp end of one of the most important decisions this country has taken in 50 years'. \"To undermine a prime minister at this stage seems to me to be wholly wrong.\" Asked on Tuesday whether she had been told the threshold of 48 letters had been reached, Mrs May replied: \"No, I have been here in Europe dealing with the issue I have promised Parliament I would be dealing with.\" She is due to travel to Dublin later after hosting a weekly meeting of her cabinet and facing Prime Minister's Questions. The PM is then scheduled to attend a summit of European leaders on Thursday at which she is likely to press for changes to elements of her Brexit deal to try to get the support of Parliament. Speaking on Tuesday, she said there was a \"shared determination\" among EU leaders to solve the Irish border problem preventing MPs from backing her deal. European leaders have said they will not renegotiate the text of the withdrawal deal agreed last month, as demanded by many Tory MPs, but are prepared to clarify aspects of it. It is not clear when a contest - if there is one - might take place, but Sir Graham has said in the past it would not be delayed unduly if the threshold were met. The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said Monday was a possibility. If a confidence vote is triggered, all 315 Tory MPs will be entitled to take part in a secret ballot in which they will be asked if they still have confidence in the prime minister. If Mrs May wins the support of a majority of MPs - that is, 158 MPs - she would be entitled to carry on and, if she did, she could not be challenged for another year. If a majority of MPs do not support her, she would have to resign as Tory leader and would also be expected to stand down as prime minister. A leadership contest would then be held to succeed her which could take several weeks. Some commentators have suggested that, given the weakness of her political position, it would be difficult for Mrs May to stay on if more than 100 MPs voted against her. The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg I know, I know, I know. We have been here before, and on more than one occasion. But senior Eurosceptics are more sure than ever that they have enough support to trigger a vote of no confidence in the prime minister. That doesn't mean it is bound to happen. The last time they said so, and said so pretty publicly, their confidence was a mirage and the numbers did not emerge. It became evident to ardent Brexiteers that their communications between each other were not all genuine, and painfully so. Those who had told colleagues that they had submitted the letters, patently had not done so. What feels different now is that those who take this all extremely seriously, who had their hopes dashed the last time, are suggesting privately - not necessarily with glee - that they might have done it this time, and crucially if the list isn't long enough now, they have more MPs ready to join the calls. Read Laura's blog", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2893, "answer_start": 1669, "text": "So far, 27 Tory MPs have publicly stated they have sent letters saying they have lost confidence in their leader - but speculation has increased that the numbers have risen. Former environment secretary Owen Paterson was among the latest to call for Mrs May to go, saying she had failed to prepare for a no-deal Brexit, tried to bounce her ministers into supporting her and approached negotiations like a \"feeble and unworthy\" supplicant. \"These mistakes have eroded trust in the government, to the point where I and many others can no longer take the prime minister at her word,\" he wrote in his letter, . \"She has repeatedly said 'no deal is better than a bad deal', but it is clear her objective was to secure a deal at any cost.\" But former cabinet minister Damian Green, who supports Mrs May, told BBC's Newsnight: \"If people have written letters to this degree... this is an act of monumental self-indulgence. \"People outside the Westminster bubble will be looking at this thinking 'we have got a prime minister doing really difficult negotiations at the sharp end of one of the most important decisions this country has taken in 50 years'. \"To undermine a prime minister at this stage seems to me to be wholly wrong.\"" } ], "id": "746_0", "question": "What have Conservative backbenchers said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3752, "answer_start": 2894, "text": "Asked on Tuesday whether she had been told the threshold of 48 letters had been reached, Mrs May replied: \"No, I have been here in Europe dealing with the issue I have promised Parliament I would be dealing with.\" She is due to travel to Dublin later after hosting a weekly meeting of her cabinet and facing Prime Minister's Questions. The PM is then scheduled to attend a summit of European leaders on Thursday at which she is likely to press for changes to elements of her Brexit deal to try to get the support of Parliament. Speaking on Tuesday, she said there was a \"shared determination\" among EU leaders to solve the Irish border problem preventing MPs from backing her deal. European leaders have said they will not renegotiate the text of the withdrawal deal agreed last month, as demanded by many Tory MPs, but are prepared to clarify aspects of it." } ], "id": "746_1", "question": "What has Mrs May said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4720, "answer_start": 3753, "text": "It is not clear when a contest - if there is one - might take place, but Sir Graham has said in the past it would not be delayed unduly if the threshold were met. The BBC's Laura Kuenssberg said Monday was a possibility. If a confidence vote is triggered, all 315 Tory MPs will be entitled to take part in a secret ballot in which they will be asked if they still have confidence in the prime minister. If Mrs May wins the support of a majority of MPs - that is, 158 MPs - she would be entitled to carry on and, if she did, she could not be challenged for another year. If a majority of MPs do not support her, she would have to resign as Tory leader and would also be expected to stand down as prime minister. A leadership contest would then be held to succeed her which could take several weeks. Some commentators have suggested that, given the weakness of her political position, it would be difficult for Mrs May to stay on if more than 100 MPs voted against her." } ], "id": "746_2", "question": "What are the rules for challenging the Tory leader?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hong Kong legislators have rejected a reform package that would have allowed direct elections for the territory's leader in 2017. The reforms were endorsed by the Chinese government, but many in Hong Kong are opposed to it. There were huge street protests and blockades last year, when Beijing ruled out open nominations for the election of Hong Kong's chief executive in 2017. The BBC takes a look at the controversy. Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed back to China in 1997 following a 1984 agreement between China and Britain. China agreed to govern Hong Kong under the principle of \"one country, two systems\", where the city would enjoy \"a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs\" for 50 years. As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected. Its leader, the chief executive, is currently elected by a 1,200-member election committee. A majority of the representatives are viewed as pro-Beijing. Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, says that \"the ultimate aim\" is to elect the chief executive \"by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures\". The Chinese government promised direct elections for chief executive by 2017. But in August 2014 China's top legislative committee ruled that voters would only be able to choose from a list of two or three candidates selected by a nominating committee. This committee would be formed \"in accordance with\" Hong Kong's largely pro-Beijing election committee. Any candidate would have to secure the support of more than 50% of the nominating committee before being able to run in the election. Democracy activists argue that this gives China the ability to screen out any candidates it disapproves of. Hong Kong's government put together an electoral reform package based on Beijing's ruling. But pro-democracy legislators vetoed the bill, which requires the support of two-thirds of the 70-seat legislature to pass. They have dubbed the proposed new system a \"sham democracy\". Prominent pro-democracy groups include Occupy Central, led by academic Benny Tai, and student groups such as the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism. Occupy Central organised an unofficial referendum on political reform in June 2014. About one in five Hong Kong residents turned out for it - and 88% of participants said the legislative council should veto any political reform package that did not satisfy international standards and allow a genuine choice for voters. Shortly after the vote, tens of thousands of protesters took part in what observers say was Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy rally in a decade on 1 July, which marked the day Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997. Since then, the student groups have become a key player as well. In late September they led a week of class boycotts, which later grew into full-scale city-wide protests - dubbed the Umbrella Movement - when Occupy Central decided to join in. Tens of thousands camped in the streets for weeks, holding their ground despite clashes with police. But in late November and December the protests petered out - the camps were gradually dismantled by police. Despite talks between the students and high-level officials, the protests ended with no concessions from government. No. Pro-Beijing groups, such as Silent Majority for Hong Kong and Caring Hong Kong Power have emerged, criticising pro-democracy activists for \"endangering\" the city. They argue that continued civil disobedience and opposition to Beijing would only damage the city's reputation and economy, as well as its relationship with China. These groups have organised several protests against Occupy Central and the pro-democracy movement. Such large-scale pro-government protests are rare in Hong Kong, and some questioned their legitimacy, especially when reports emerged that some marchers were paid to attend. Business leaders, who favour stability, have also opposed pro-democracy protests. Pro-China legislators have argued that Beijing's proposals are an improvement on the current system. Several groups have rallied against the pro-democracy protests. In November, police arrested a number of people involved in scuffles with pro-democracy protesters camped in the streets, and said that among those arrested were people with links to triad gangs. Some of the public who previously backed the sentiment of the Occupy Central protests also turned against it, because of the disruption caused by the ongoing sit-ins in central areas and streets. A number of businesses sought court injunctions to have the roads cleared. China has consistently denounced pro-democracy protests, and called last year's street occupations \"illegal\". On 16 June, the deputy commissioner for Beijing's foreign affairs office in Hong Kong denounced the \"despicable means\" and \"extremely violent activities\" of opposition activists. \"We hope that the moderate pan-democrats will see through the true face of radical forces,\" Song Ruan was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency, ahead of the vote on the reform package. In a June 2014 white paper, China said some had a \"confused and lopsided\" understanding of the \"one country, two systems\" model. China has constantly stressed that unity is the way forward for the country, as it grapples with demands for greater autonomy in Xinjiang and Tibet. Chief Executive CY Leung hailed Beijing's decision on election candidacy as a \"major step forward in the development of Hong Kong's society\". His government said June's unofficial referendum had no legal standing. It also welcomed the Chinese government's white paper, saying that Hong Kong has benefited from the \"one country, two systems\" model.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1245, "answer_start": 419, "text": "Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed back to China in 1997 following a 1984 agreement between China and Britain. China agreed to govern Hong Kong under the principle of \"one country, two systems\", where the city would enjoy \"a high degree of autonomy, except in foreign and defence affairs\" for 50 years. As a result, Hong Kong has its own legal system, and rights including freedom of assembly and free speech are protected. Its leader, the chief executive, is currently elected by a 1,200-member election committee. A majority of the representatives are viewed as pro-Beijing. Hong Kong's mini-constitution, the Basic Law, says that \"the ultimate aim\" is to elect the chief executive \"by universal suffrage upon nomination by a broadly representative nominating committee in accordance with democratic procedures\"." } ], "id": "747_0", "question": "What is Hong Kong's relationship with China?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2059, "answer_start": 1246, "text": "The Chinese government promised direct elections for chief executive by 2017. But in August 2014 China's top legislative committee ruled that voters would only be able to choose from a list of two or three candidates selected by a nominating committee. This committee would be formed \"in accordance with\" Hong Kong's largely pro-Beijing election committee. Any candidate would have to secure the support of more than 50% of the nominating committee before being able to run in the election. Democracy activists argue that this gives China the ability to screen out any candidates it disapproves of. Hong Kong's government put together an electoral reform package based on Beijing's ruling. But pro-democracy legislators vetoed the bill, which requires the support of two-thirds of the 70-seat legislature to pass." } ], "id": "747_1", "question": "What are the reforms about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3388, "answer_start": 2060, "text": "They have dubbed the proposed new system a \"sham democracy\". Prominent pro-democracy groups include Occupy Central, led by academic Benny Tai, and student groups such as the Hong Kong Federation of Students and Scholarism. Occupy Central organised an unofficial referendum on political reform in June 2014. About one in five Hong Kong residents turned out for it - and 88% of participants said the legislative council should veto any political reform package that did not satisfy international standards and allow a genuine choice for voters. Shortly after the vote, tens of thousands of protesters took part in what observers say was Hong Kong's largest pro-democracy rally in a decade on 1 July, which marked the day Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997. Since then, the student groups have become a key player as well. In late September they led a week of class boycotts, which later grew into full-scale city-wide protests - dubbed the Umbrella Movement - when Occupy Central decided to join in. Tens of thousands camped in the streets for weeks, holding their ground despite clashes with police. But in late November and December the protests petered out - the camps were gradually dismantled by police. Despite talks between the students and high-level officials, the protests ended with no concessions from government." } ], "id": "747_2", "question": "What do democracy activists say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4707, "answer_start": 3389, "text": "No. Pro-Beijing groups, such as Silent Majority for Hong Kong and Caring Hong Kong Power have emerged, criticising pro-democracy activists for \"endangering\" the city. They argue that continued civil disobedience and opposition to Beijing would only damage the city's reputation and economy, as well as its relationship with China. These groups have organised several protests against Occupy Central and the pro-democracy movement. Such large-scale pro-government protests are rare in Hong Kong, and some questioned their legitimacy, especially when reports emerged that some marchers were paid to attend. Business leaders, who favour stability, have also opposed pro-democracy protests. Pro-China legislators have argued that Beijing's proposals are an improvement on the current system. Several groups have rallied against the pro-democracy protests. In November, police arrested a number of people involved in scuffles with pro-democracy protesters camped in the streets, and said that among those arrested were people with links to triad gangs. Some of the public who previously backed the sentiment of the Occupy Central protests also turned against it, because of the disruption caused by the ongoing sit-ins in central areas and streets. A number of businesses sought court injunctions to have the roads cleared." } ], "id": "747_3", "question": "Does everyone want full democracy?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5462, "answer_start": 4708, "text": "China has consistently denounced pro-democracy protests, and called last year's street occupations \"illegal\". On 16 June, the deputy commissioner for Beijing's foreign affairs office in Hong Kong denounced the \"despicable means\" and \"extremely violent activities\" of opposition activists. \"We hope that the moderate pan-democrats will see through the true face of radical forces,\" Song Ruan was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency, ahead of the vote on the reform package. In a June 2014 white paper, China said some had a \"confused and lopsided\" understanding of the \"one country, two systems\" model. China has constantly stressed that unity is the way forward for the country, as it grapples with demands for greater autonomy in Xinjiang and Tibet." } ], "id": "747_4", "question": "What does China say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5810, "answer_start": 5463, "text": "Chief Executive CY Leung hailed Beijing's decision on election candidacy as a \"major step forward in the development of Hong Kong's society\". His government said June's unofficial referendum had no legal standing. It also welcomed the Chinese government's white paper, saying that Hong Kong has benefited from the \"one country, two systems\" model." } ], "id": "747_5", "question": "What is the Hong Kong government's stand?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A pause by Russia in carrying out air strikes on rebel-held eastern Aleppo has brought a brief respite for civilians and fighters under siege in the Syrian city. At least 250,000 people have been trapped there almost continuously since pro-government forces encircled the area in July. Conditions are said to be appalling, with destruction on a massive scale. Readers told us they wanted to know why people were still living there, so we put the question to residents through Facebook and WhatsApp. Formerly Syria's economic hub, Aleppo had an estimated pre-war population of about two million. About one million people are now living in the west, in comparative safety. Those trapped in the east are living in appalling conditions. The UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien recently described the area as \"the apex of horror\". Food and fuel are running out and basic infrastructure and health care have been obliterated. The rebels have retaliated by shelling the west - resulting in the deaths of civilians there - but this is on a smaller scale. The main reason why people have not left is that they have become trapped, they told us. \"Some people left before the siege. Now no-one can leave,\" says Mohammed, a 31-year-old phonetics teacher at the university in Aleppo. People have to be careful not to use up their phone batteries because there are only a few hours of electricity each day. However, they are still able to get messages to the outside world. Dr Ossama, 32, is one of only 30 doctors left treating the 250,000 population of east Aleppo. He describes the dire situation: \"The city is under siege completely. \"No food, no electricity, no pure water, no roads out of Aleppo. The general situation is very dangerous. Every second you can be targeted by shelling or by snipers.\" Fatemah, 26, who is a teacher, says she never expected the siege to happen. \"All my family got out three years ago and went to Egypt and Turkey. I stayed here because I wanted to complete my studies in law at the University of Aleppo. \"We couldn't imagine we'd be under siege. We didn't think that the regime would do that. Before the siege, there was food and medicine and we had got used to the bombing. The bombing is more dangerous now.\" The Syrian government and its Russian allies have periodically opened \"humanitarian corridors\" for civilians to leave through. There is a lot of scepticism from residents of east Aleppo over how safe these routes actually are. \"The regime lied about making humanitarian corridors,\" says Abdulkafi, who teaches English at the university. \"If you were with your family, and a robber came and killed your son and daughter and then, after 10 days, he says, 'Come and be a guest in my house', would you trust him? \"[President] Assad and the Russians kill civilians and now they say, 'Come on in'. How can we do that? We prefer to eat the leaves from the trees than go back.\" Abdulkafi has lived in Aleppo for three years. Before the uprising, he was a lecturer in a different town. He attended the demonstrations against President Assad. \"I was accused and ran away to Aleppo. Assad's regime considers us all terrorists. We are going to die defending ourselves. I am not a fighter but I will fight to the death.\" Some in east Aleppo point out that fleeing their homes and becoming refugees would be a massive undertaking, even if they weren't trapped. \"A very important reason people are staying here is that they are very poor,\" says Fatemah. \"They have no money to rent a house somewhere else or to buy food, or even have the money to leave Syria for Turkey or another country.\" Everyone we spoke to also told us that they would continue to refuse to leave Aleppo because it was their home. \"Aleppo is my life and my country. How could I leave it?\" asks Fatemah. \"The people here are civilians. They are not fighters - they just want freedom from the regime.\" Mohammed adds: \"This is our land and it belongs to us. Assad wants us to be kicked out of our house and is trying to displace us. People want to keep their homes. It is as clear as glass. \"My wife is seven months pregnant and it is very dangerous, especially now we are under siege. \"She is really scared and she worries that every day is the last of our lives. Her only wish is to live to see our newborn baby.\" Ismail is a volunteer for the White Helmets, who rescue people from sites which have been bombed. He tells us he will never leave. \"I am staying because it is my land and my city. It's my home. \"We have nothing to eat. We will run out of bread and fuel in a month. Our best hope is that the siege is broken. But we are not asking for bread or food we want freedom and social justice.\" \"Many people would prefer to die in Aleppo than to leave it,\" says Dr Ossama. \"If we go out of Aleppo we will lose our home and our home is our life... and the regime and the Russians would win.\" We interviewed Abdulkafi while he was teaching English to children. He asked Hamad, a boy in his class if he would leave. \"No, of course I will not leave,\" Hamad replied. \"I have lived here and I will stay. This is my land.\" Like the other people we spoke to, Abdulkafi, who has an eight-month-old daughter, will stay in Aleppo, whatever happens. \"Danger is everywhere - but freedom is not everywhere. \"People stayed here because we first asked for freedom. We can't leave. \"The blood of the children who died would not forgive us. The people suffering now would not forgive us. To be free is more precious than anything on earth.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1048, "answer_start": 499, "text": "Formerly Syria's economic hub, Aleppo had an estimated pre-war population of about two million. About one million people are now living in the west, in comparative safety. Those trapped in the east are living in appalling conditions. The UN humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien recently described the area as \"the apex of horror\". Food and fuel are running out and basic infrastructure and health care have been obliterated. The rebels have retaliated by shelling the west - resulting in the deaths of civilians there - but this is on a smaller scale." } ], "id": "748_0", "question": "Who lives in Aleppo?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3610, "answer_start": 1049, "text": "The main reason why people have not left is that they have become trapped, they told us. \"Some people left before the siege. Now no-one can leave,\" says Mohammed, a 31-year-old phonetics teacher at the university in Aleppo. People have to be careful not to use up their phone batteries because there are only a few hours of electricity each day. However, they are still able to get messages to the outside world. Dr Ossama, 32, is one of only 30 doctors left treating the 250,000 population of east Aleppo. He describes the dire situation: \"The city is under siege completely. \"No food, no electricity, no pure water, no roads out of Aleppo. The general situation is very dangerous. Every second you can be targeted by shelling or by snipers.\" Fatemah, 26, who is a teacher, says she never expected the siege to happen. \"All my family got out three years ago and went to Egypt and Turkey. I stayed here because I wanted to complete my studies in law at the University of Aleppo. \"We couldn't imagine we'd be under siege. We didn't think that the regime would do that. Before the siege, there was food and medicine and we had got used to the bombing. The bombing is more dangerous now.\" The Syrian government and its Russian allies have periodically opened \"humanitarian corridors\" for civilians to leave through. There is a lot of scepticism from residents of east Aleppo over how safe these routes actually are. \"The regime lied about making humanitarian corridors,\" says Abdulkafi, who teaches English at the university. \"If you were with your family, and a robber came and killed your son and daughter and then, after 10 days, he says, 'Come and be a guest in my house', would you trust him? \"[President] Assad and the Russians kill civilians and now they say, 'Come on in'. How can we do that? We prefer to eat the leaves from the trees than go back.\" Abdulkafi has lived in Aleppo for three years. Before the uprising, he was a lecturer in a different town. He attended the demonstrations against President Assad. \"I was accused and ran away to Aleppo. Assad's regime considers us all terrorists. We are going to die defending ourselves. I am not a fighter but I will fight to the death.\" Some in east Aleppo point out that fleeing their homes and becoming refugees would be a massive undertaking, even if they weren't trapped. \"A very important reason people are staying here is that they are very poor,\" says Fatemah. \"They have no money to rent a house somewhere else or to buy food, or even have the money to leave Syria for Turkey or another country.\"" } ], "id": "748_1", "question": "Why haven't people fled east Aleppo?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A grieving Canadian family has accidentally buried the wrong body. It was an error that only came to light when the missing relative thought to have died returned home months after the funeral. Police believe the body belonged to pianist Scott Cushnie, 80, who has been missing since August. Friends and family of the Toronto musician say if he were alive, he would have \"had a laugh\" and they hold no hard feelings towards the other family. The coroner's office says the body is being exhumed so a full identification can be carried out. Mr Cushnie's long-time friend Andrea Reid told the BBC that she got a call from police last week explaining that they believed they had found him - and that they thought he had been accidentally buried by the wrong family. Police told Ms Reid a man died in hospital last August, after an ambulance driver spotted him falling on the sidewalk. Meanwhile, another family was also searching for their loved one. Police called them to identify the body in the morgue, and the body was released to their care. Police have not identified the family for privacy reasons. \"When he died he was released to his family and they made funeral arrangements,\" police spokeswoman Jenifferjit Sidhu confirmed. Months later, the man the family thought they had buried returned alive, leading police to contact Ms Reid, who had been leading the search for Mr Cushnie. \"In a lot of ways this was actually a big relief, because I wasn't under the impression that he was alive any more and my fears about what could have happened to him were running rampant,\" she said. \"To know that an ambulance was right there when he had his accident, and he was given immediate care, and he's been cared for this whole time, was actually a really nice comfort.\" Mr Cushnie was well known in Toronto's music community. Born legally blind, he played piano professionally in blues and rock bands since the 1950s, and shared the stage with greats such as Aerosmith and Duane Allman. Ms Reid formed a close friendship with Mr Cushnie over music. He became her piano mentor and taught her the blues. She also became his de-facto manager, helping him book gigs and get to appointments. He was living in an independent senior's flat in Toronto when he went missing, and was in good health. Mr Cushnie leaves behind two sisters and several nieces and nephews. \"It is such a strange situation,\" said his niece Liz Hale. \"We'd like to talk to that other family.\" Ms Hale said there is no ill will about the mistake, but that speaking to them would help give them closure. \"My mom and his other sister especially are really saddened by it all, and we are just hoping that we can move on, and celebrate his life with his friends and fellow musicians.\" The coroner's office is still working on identifying the body that was buried, but Ms Reid says there is little doubt in her mind that it is him. She saw some of the effects that were collected, and recognised his house keys. Ultimately, she believes Mr Cushnie would find the mistaken burial funny. \"He was a man with an incredible sense of humour... if he had read about this story he would have had a laugh,\" she said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2354, "answer_start": 1766, "text": "Mr Cushnie was well known in Toronto's music community. Born legally blind, he played piano professionally in blues and rock bands since the 1950s, and shared the stage with greats such as Aerosmith and Duane Allman. Ms Reid formed a close friendship with Mr Cushnie over music. He became her piano mentor and taught her the blues. She also became his de-facto manager, helping him book gigs and get to appointments. He was living in an independent senior's flat in Toronto when he went missing, and was in good health. Mr Cushnie leaves behind two sisters and several nieces and nephews." } ], "id": "749_0", "question": "Who was Mr Cushnie?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Malaysia is holding a general election on Wednesday. While incumbent Prime Minister Najib Razak looks likely to secure another term, he is facing a strong challenge from his long-time ally, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who has made a surprise return to politics at the age of 92. Here's what you need to know. Malaysian politics has been dominated since independence in 1957 by the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and its major party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Najib Razak won a second term as prime minister in 2013 but with a weakened majority in the face of the strongest opposition ever. Opponents alleged electoral fraud at the time and critics have also repeatedly accused his administration of gerrymandering. He faces international allegations of rampant corruption in relation to the management of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Mr Najib's main rival is former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who is running again for office at the age of 92. Dr Mahathir had stepped down in 2003 after two decades in power. While his tenure is credited with transforming Malaysia into an Asian economic tiger, Dr Mahathir also took a tough stand against those who opposed him or threatened his power. Formerly Mr Najib's mentor and ally, he had grown vocally opposed to his leadership in recent years. And in a further twist, Dr Mahathir has said if he is elected, he will aim to hand over power to someone else within two years. That person could be his own former rival, jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar, Dr Mahathir's deputy and heir apparent in the 1990s, was sacked in 1998 over political differences, and later jailed on sodomy and corruption charges, which he has always denied. Dr Mahathir has said he will seek a pardon for Anwar, enabling him to run for election and potentially, for the top job. 1MDB was initially set up as a sovereign wealth fund by Mr Najib. It was meant to boost the national economy through strategic investments. Yet in 2015 it started missing payments, which unleashed a torrent of allegations of embezzlement and money-laundering. Some $700m (PS517m) from the fund allegedly went to Mr Najib's personal bank accounts. 1MDB and Mr Najib deny any misconduct. An investigation by the attorney-general has cleared him of any wrongdoing but failed to convince his critics. Several countries are investigating transactions relating to 1MDB, and several institutions and individuals have been sanctioned over related transactions. But while the opposition campaign has focused a lot on the 1MDB scandal, the issue has consistently failed to rile Malaysians. Voters are primarily concerned about day-to-day issues. The cost of living - housing, food, transport and so on - has risen under Mr Najib's tenure and inflation reached an eight-year high in 2017. Activists say no. Election reform group Bersih 2.0 - which has organised large-scale protests in the past calling for political transparency - has accused the Election Commission of electoral fraud. It cites 10 \"serious crimes\", including alleged failure to remove dead people from the electoral roll, irregularities in postal voting, a failure to take action against corruption allegations and allowing the bare minimum time between parliament being dissolved and voting taking place. The biggest concern, however, has been the allegations of rampant gerrymandering. Activists and the opposition say the recently redrawn election boundaries have ensured constituencies are packed full of Muslim Malays, a demographic which tends to back the government. The government has insisted the election will be free and fair. Mr Najib told parliament the Election Commission acts \"for the good of all, for the sake of people and country\". Opposition politicians and activists also fear that a controversial fake news law is being used to silence critics. At the beginning of May, authorities began investigating Dr Mahathir under the law over his claim that his plane had been tampered with. Voters will elect 222 members of parliament as well as state assembly members in 12 of the 13 states. Mr Najib is the outright favourite. He and the BN traditionally enjoy the support of Malay Muslims, about 60% of the population. He has said a win for any other party would be \"a nightmare\" for ethnic Malays. The opposition has traditionally relied on ethnic Chinese, Indian and other minority groups. Malaysia has a first-past-the-post system - the party that wins the most seats takes office. So even if Mr Najib wins, his party could lose seats, reducing his political clout and potentially putting his position as leader in question. The only thing that gives the opposition a chance is the fact that the Malay vote is likely to be split between the governing, opposition and Islamist coalitions as never before. A defeat for Mr Najib - though seen as unlikely - would lay political powers for the very first time into the hands of the opposition, setting the country into unchartered waters. BBC Monitoring contributed to this report", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 898, "answer_start": 321, "text": "Malaysian politics has been dominated since independence in 1957 by the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition and its major party, the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO). Najib Razak won a second term as prime minister in 2013 but with a weakened majority in the face of the strongest opposition ever. Opponents alleged electoral fraud at the time and critics have also repeatedly accused his administration of gerrymandering. He faces international allegations of rampant corruption in relation to the management of state investment fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB)." } ], "id": "750_0", "question": "Who runs Malaysia at the moment?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1873, "answer_start": 899, "text": "Mr Najib's main rival is former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad who is running again for office at the age of 92. Dr Mahathir had stepped down in 2003 after two decades in power. While his tenure is credited with transforming Malaysia into an Asian economic tiger, Dr Mahathir also took a tough stand against those who opposed him or threatened his power. Formerly Mr Najib's mentor and ally, he had grown vocally opposed to his leadership in recent years. And in a further twist, Dr Mahathir has said if he is elected, he will aim to hand over power to someone else within two years. That person could be his own former rival, jailed opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. Anwar, Dr Mahathir's deputy and heir apparent in the 1990s, was sacked in 1998 over political differences, and later jailed on sodomy and corruption charges, which he has always denied. Dr Mahathir has said he will seek a pardon for Anwar, enabling him to run for election and potentially, for the top job." } ], "id": "750_1", "question": "Who is running against him?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2851, "answer_start": 1874, "text": "1MDB was initially set up as a sovereign wealth fund by Mr Najib. It was meant to boost the national economy through strategic investments. Yet in 2015 it started missing payments, which unleashed a torrent of allegations of embezzlement and money-laundering. Some $700m (PS517m) from the fund allegedly went to Mr Najib's personal bank accounts. 1MDB and Mr Najib deny any misconduct. An investigation by the attorney-general has cleared him of any wrongdoing but failed to convince his critics. Several countries are investigating transactions relating to 1MDB, and several institutions and individuals have been sanctioned over related transactions. But while the opposition campaign has focused a lot on the 1MDB scandal, the issue has consistently failed to rile Malaysians. Voters are primarily concerned about day-to-day issues. The cost of living - housing, food, transport and so on - has risen under Mr Najib's tenure and inflation reached an eight-year high in 2017." } ], "id": "750_2", "question": "Will corruption scandals sway voters?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A suspected member of the Islamic State (IS) group has killed 10 people, at least eight of them German tourists, in a suicide bomb attack in the Turkish city of Istanbul, officials say. They say the Syrian national carried out the attack in the Sultanahmet district, near the famous Blue Mosque. Fifteen people were wounded, many of them also German. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Turkey was the \"top target for all terrorist groups in the region\". Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said: \"We have determined that the perpetrator of the attack is a foreigner who is a member of Daesh [IS].\" The shops and restaurants around the Blue Mosque are open tonight but deserted - no surprise when the German government has warned its tourists to stay away from crowded open areas. The Turkish government now firmly believes this was an attack by the so-called Islamic State - a reflection of Turkish foreign policy, with Turkey an increasingly active part of the US coalition against IS. One source said Turkey had taken the lead recently at a meeting of anti-IS armed groups on the Syrian border. IS has been losing territory in Iraq and in Syria. The Syrian town of Manbij may be next to fall - there are reports of IS commanders pulling out. As IS comes under pressure, it has warned of more attacks against its enemies - not only in Turkey, but in Europe and the US. German Chancellor Angela Merkel confirmed the deaths of at least eight German nationals. \"I mourn for our compatriots and express my sympathy for the relatives. They now have to live with the terrible pain of knowing that a loved one will not return,\" Ms Merkel said. She added: \"International terror chooses different locations for its attacks but the target is always the same: our free life in free societies... It is precisely this freedom and our determination together with our international partners to act against these terrorists, that will go on.\" Turkey's Deputy PM Numan Kurtulmus said the suicide bomber had been identified as a Syrian. The suspect, said to have been born in 1988, was identified from body parts. Some Turkish media said the suspect was born in Saudi Arabia. Mr Kurtulmus said the suspect was not on Turkey's militant watch-list and was believed to have recently crossed into Turkey from Syria. Turkey last year took a more active role against IS in Syria, carrying out air strikes and allowing US warplanes to use its Incirlik base for missions. Eyewitness Murat Manaz said: \"It was a suicide bomb. I went there and saw it and came back to the hotel. There was chaos. Everybody was running somewhere. \"Policemen did not see this coming. They were distressed but at the same time they were trying to evacuate the area because they said there was a possibility that a second bomb could go off.\" Bishop Pat Buckley, from Northern Ireland, had been taking photos in Sultanahmet Square shortly before the blast and had moved on into the Blue Mosque. He told the BBC: \"I have lived in Northern Ireland since the 70s, and I have heard explosions, and this was incredibly loud. I saw dust through the doorway of the mosque and I could smell the explosives.\" He added: \"I am slightly worried because there is talk here that they are expecting further trouble and we have been warned to avoid crowds.\" One Norwegian was confirmed among the injured. Germany currently provides the largest number of tourists visiting Turkey. In 2014, 23.6 million people visited, with the top three: - Germans - 5.1 million (21.5%) - Russians - 3.7 million (15.6%) - Britons - 1.5 million (6.3%) Turkey faces many security threats and establishing which group is behind this latest attack will be a matter of urgency. The Islamic State group has been blamed for three bombings in Turkey in the past year, including an attack in Ankara that killed more than 100 people. Violence has also soared between Turkish security forces and PKK militants, battling for more autonomy for the Kurds, after a ceasefire agreement broke down in July. A PKK offshoot, the TAK, fired a mortar at Istanbul airport last month. Far left groups are also active in Turkey, and a female suicide bomber attacked a police station in Istanbul's Sultanahmet district last year. President Erdogan has blamed a \"suicide bomber of Syrian origin\". The conflict in Syria has not only seen the rise of IS but also strengthened the PKK's offshoot in Syria, known as the YPG. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but correspondents point out that IS was similarly silent following previous attacks last year that were widely blamed on the jihadist group. Last year Turkey agreed to take a more active role in the US-led campaign against IS, carrying out air strikes in Syria. It also allowed US warplanes to strike IS targets from its base in Incirlik and moved to tighten security along its 900km (560 mile) border with Syria. Meanwhile Turkish forces have also been targeting Kurdish militants in northern Iraq. And violence has flared in Turkey's mainly Kurdish south-east, where the Turkish military says it has killed some 600 PKK militants over the past month, according to Anadolou Agency. Turkey violence: How dangerous is instability? Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds: What's going on?", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4226, "answer_start": 3573, "text": "Turkey faces many security threats and establishing which group is behind this latest attack will be a matter of urgency. The Islamic State group has been blamed for three bombings in Turkey in the past year, including an attack in Ankara that killed more than 100 people. Violence has also soared between Turkish security forces and PKK militants, battling for more autonomy for the Kurds, after a ceasefire agreement broke down in July. A PKK offshoot, the TAK, fired a mortar at Istanbul airport last month. Far left groups are also active in Turkey, and a female suicide bomber attacked a police station in Istanbul's Sultanahmet district last year." } ], "id": "751_0", "question": "What is the security situation in Turkey?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5248, "answer_start": 4607, "text": "Last year Turkey agreed to take a more active role in the US-led campaign against IS, carrying out air strikes in Syria. It also allowed US warplanes to strike IS targets from its base in Incirlik and moved to tighten security along its 900km (560 mile) border with Syria. Meanwhile Turkish forces have also been targeting Kurdish militants in northern Iraq. And violence has flared in Turkey's mainly Kurdish south-east, where the Turkish military says it has killed some 600 PKK militants over the past month, according to Anadolou Agency. Turkey violence: How dangerous is instability? Turkey v Islamic State v the Kurds: What's going on?" } ], "id": "751_1", "question": "How is the Turkish government responding?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia were poisoned with a military-grade nerve agent of a type developed by Russia, known as Novichok, Theresa May has told MPs. The former Russian spy and his daughter are critically ill after their attempted murder in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 4 March. A police officer also remains in hospital after attending the scene. The chemical was identified by experts at the defence and science laboratory at Porton Down, Mrs May said. So what are nerve agents and what do they do? They are highly toxic chemicals that prevent the nervous system from working properly, and can be fatal. Nerve agents take different forms - including powder and gas - but they tend to be a liquid, which can seep through the skin. The name Novichok means 'newcomer' in Russian and applies to a group of advanced nerve agents developed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s and 1980s. One of the chemicals - called A-230 - is reportedly five to eight times more toxic than VX nerve agent, which can kill a person within minutes. A number of variants of this chemical have been manufactured, and one of them was reportedly approved for use by the Russian military as a chemical weapon. Some of the agents are also reported to be 'binary weapons', meaning the nerve agent is typically stored as two less toxic chemicals. When they are mixed together, they react to produce the more toxic agent. Novichok agents are one of three classes of nerve agents - the other two are G-Agents and V-Agents. G-agents include sarin while V-agents include VX, an oily amber-coloured liquid. The half-brother of North Korean President Kim Jong-un was killed by a nerve agent in an attack in Malaysia last year. Kim Jong-nam died in less than 20 minutes after two women smeared his face with VX nerve agent ingredients at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017. The UN says the nerve agent sarin has been used by the Syrian government - in an attack on Ghouta, near Damascus, in 2013 and again in Khan Sheikhoun in the north-west of the country in April 2017, killing hundreds. In an attack on Tokyo's subway system in 1995, which killed 13 people, liquid sarin was placed in plastic bags that were pierced by umbrellas with sharpened tips. When Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned in London in 2006, a radioactive substance - not a nerve agent - called polonium 210 was used in a cup of tea. Nerve agents disrupt normal messaging from the nerves to the muscles. This causes muscles to become paralysed and can lead to the loss of many bodily functions. Agents will act within seconds or minutes if inhaled and slightly more slowly if exposure is the result of skin contamination. Symptoms include white eyes, as the pupils become constricted, convulsions, drooling and in the worse cases - coma, respiratory failure and death. If you have ever sprayed insect repellent at a fly, you might have seen it drop to the ground and lie on its back, legs twitching. This is the result of nerve agents taking hold. The nerve agent needs to be ingested, inhaled or to penetrate through the skin, so it usually requires the person delivering it to get very close to the people they are targeting. Only tiny amounts are required for it to take effect. It is so toxic that it would usually be transported in something tightly sealed and those who apply it will need protective clothing. Dr Andrea Sella, professor of inorganic chemistry at University College London, said because of the extreme toxicity of the nerve agents it would be \"very dangerous\" to the person who delivered the poisoning. Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said the risk of harm in the Salisbury case was \"low\". However, up to 500 people who went to the Mill pub and Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury city centre on Sunday afternoon and Monday have been told to wash their clothes and wipe possessions. Dame Sally said there was some concern that prolonged exposure over weeks and months could cause health problems but it was \"not a subject for panic\" and the advice was a \"belt and braces\" measure. \"The risk to the general public remains low and I am confident none of these customers or staff will have suffered harm,\" she said. Alastair Hay, professor emeritus of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, said if no one has had physical symptoms suggestive of nerve agent contact a week on, it was unlikely that they were at risk. But washing provided the extra guarantee of safety, he added. There are antidotes to help reverse the effect of nerve agents, which the emergency services hold. But the sooner the treatment is delivered the better the chance of recovery. Knowing the exact substance enables more targeted treatment. Alastair Hay, emeritus professor of environmental toxicology, said the people affected may well have been treated with atropine, which is one of the chemicals used to treat individuals with this type of poisoning. \"The problem occurs if the treatment is not provided quickly,\" Prof Hay said. \"There is paralysis of the nerves and the muscles, and that inhibits breathing and leads to some damage in the brain. At this stage we don't know if that is a problem. \"Many people appear to recover without too many long-term problems but we won't know until we know the severity of their symptoms.\" Nerve agents are not materials that can be made at home. Their level of toxicity is such that they are only allowed to be manufactured in specialised facilities, such as a university or industrial laboratory. Discovered by accident in the 1930s by scientists trying to find a cost-effective pesticide, they proved to be highly toxic chemicals that eventually ended up in the hands of the German military. Russia, the US and the UK also started to experiment on chemical agents after World War Two and it was British scientists who developed the VX nerve agent at the Porton Down research facility in the early 1950s. The authorities would have been looking for the container used to deliver the material, as the chemical contents would be a \"goldmine\", Dr Sella said. \"With this information it might well be possible to trace the origin of the substance, just as has been done for the Khan Sheikhoun attack in Syria.\" Chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said each country made chemical weapons \"slightly differently\" which might help scientists determine where this attack had come from. \"There is a footprint, there are markers,\" he said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 739, "answer_start": 509, "text": "They are highly toxic chemicals that prevent the nervous system from working properly, and can be fatal. Nerve agents take different forms - including powder and gas - but they tend to be a liquid, which can seep through the skin." } ], "id": "752_0", "question": "What are nerve agents?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1576, "answer_start": 1396, "text": "Novichok agents are one of three classes of nerve agents - the other two are G-Agents and V-Agents. G-agents include sarin while V-agents include VX, an oily amber-coloured liquid." } ], "id": "752_1", "question": "What are the different types?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2382, "answer_start": 1577, "text": "The half-brother of North Korean President Kim Jong-un was killed by a nerve agent in an attack in Malaysia last year. Kim Jong-nam died in less than 20 minutes after two women smeared his face with VX nerve agent ingredients at Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017. The UN says the nerve agent sarin has been used by the Syrian government - in an attack on Ghouta, near Damascus, in 2013 and again in Khan Sheikhoun in the north-west of the country in April 2017, killing hundreds. In an attack on Tokyo's subway system in 1995, which killed 13 people, liquid sarin was placed in plastic bags that were pierced by umbrellas with sharpened tips. When Russian dissident Alexander Litvinenko was poisoned in London in 2006, a radioactive substance - not a nerve agent - called polonium 210 was used in a cup of tea." } ], "id": "752_2", "question": "When have nerve agents been used in the past?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2996, "answer_start": 2383, "text": "Nerve agents disrupt normal messaging from the nerves to the muscles. This causes muscles to become paralysed and can lead to the loss of many bodily functions. Agents will act within seconds or minutes if inhaled and slightly more slowly if exposure is the result of skin contamination. Symptoms include white eyes, as the pupils become constricted, convulsions, drooling and in the worse cases - coma, respiratory failure and death. If you have ever sprayed insect repellent at a fly, you might have seen it drop to the ground and lie on its back, legs twitching. This is the result of nerve agents taking hold." } ], "id": "752_3", "question": "What do they do to the body?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3573, "answer_start": 2997, "text": "The nerve agent needs to be ingested, inhaled or to penetrate through the skin, so it usually requires the person delivering it to get very close to the people they are targeting. Only tiny amounts are required for it to take effect. It is so toxic that it would usually be transported in something tightly sealed and those who apply it will need protective clothing. Dr Andrea Sella, professor of inorganic chemistry at University College London, said because of the extreme toxicity of the nerve agents it would be \"very dangerous\" to the person who delivered the poisoning." } ], "id": "752_4", "question": "How are they delivered?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4485, "answer_start": 3574, "text": "Prof Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer for England, said the risk of harm in the Salisbury case was \"low\". However, up to 500 people who went to the Mill pub and Zizzi restaurant in Salisbury city centre on Sunday afternoon and Monday have been told to wash their clothes and wipe possessions. Dame Sally said there was some concern that prolonged exposure over weeks and months could cause health problems but it was \"not a subject for panic\" and the advice was a \"belt and braces\" measure. \"The risk to the general public remains low and I am confident none of these customers or staff will have suffered harm,\" she said. Alastair Hay, professor emeritus of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, said if no one has had physical symptoms suggestive of nerve agent contact a week on, it was unlikely that they were at risk. But washing provided the extra guarantee of safety, he added." } ], "id": "752_5", "question": "Is there a risk to the public?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5314, "answer_start": 4486, "text": "There are antidotes to help reverse the effect of nerve agents, which the emergency services hold. But the sooner the treatment is delivered the better the chance of recovery. Knowing the exact substance enables more targeted treatment. Alastair Hay, emeritus professor of environmental toxicology, said the people affected may well have been treated with atropine, which is one of the chemicals used to treat individuals with this type of poisoning. \"The problem occurs if the treatment is not provided quickly,\" Prof Hay said. \"There is paralysis of the nerves and the muscles, and that inhibits breathing and leads to some damage in the brain. At this stage we don't know if that is a problem. \"Many people appear to recover without too many long-term problems but we won't know until we know the severity of their symptoms.\"" } ], "id": "752_6", "question": "What is the treatment?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5931, "answer_start": 5315, "text": "Nerve agents are not materials that can be made at home. Their level of toxicity is such that they are only allowed to be manufactured in specialised facilities, such as a university or industrial laboratory. Discovered by accident in the 1930s by scientists trying to find a cost-effective pesticide, they proved to be highly toxic chemicals that eventually ended up in the hands of the German military. Russia, the US and the UK also started to experiment on chemical agents after World War Two and it was British scientists who developed the VX nerve agent at the Porton Down research facility in the early 1950s." } ], "id": "752_7", "question": "Where are they made?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6467, "answer_start": 5932, "text": "The authorities would have been looking for the container used to deliver the material, as the chemical contents would be a \"goldmine\", Dr Sella said. \"With this information it might well be possible to trace the origin of the substance, just as has been done for the Khan Sheikhoun attack in Syria.\" Chemical weapons expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon said each country made chemical weapons \"slightly differently\" which might help scientists determine where this attack had come from. \"There is a footprint, there are markers,\" he said." } ], "id": "752_8", "question": "How do you find where it came from?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "There is a risk MPs could \"steal Brexit from the British people\" if Theresa May's proposed deal is rejected, a senior cabinet minister has warned. Liam Fox said there was \"natural Remain majority\" in Parliament and any attempt to overturn the 2016 referendum vote would be a \"democratic affront\". It came after MPs voted to exert more influence should the PM's deal fall. Ministers will again battle to win over MPs to Theresa May's withdrawal deal after three government defeats. Security will be the focus of the second of five days of debate in the Commons, where Tuesday's marathon session extended into the early hours. Ahead of Prime Minister's Questions at noon, the government published its Brexit legal advice - a move which came after MPs voted to find the government in contempt of Parliament for ignoring a Commons vote demanding publication. The PM's deal has been endorsed by EU leaders but must also be backed by the UK Parliament if it is to come into force. MPs will decide whether to reject or accept it next Tuesday, 11 December. The UK is due to leave the European Union on 29 March, 2019. Ministers say that if MPs reject their deal they increase the chances of the UK leaving without a deal, or not leaving the EU at all. Ministers will plough on with attempts to win over MPs on Wednesday, with eight hours of debate on the security and immigration aspects of the withdrawal agreement. Meanwhile, Mrs May is expected to continue trying to convince small groups of her MPs to back the plan in private meetings. Mrs May will face Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn at prime minister's questions, at noon, before the Brexit debate gets under way. Senior Brexiteers in the cabinet have warned that the UK may not leave the EU if Mrs May's deal is voted down. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox suggested the PM's deal was the only way of guaranteeing the UK leaves the EU, as scheduled, on 29 March 2019. \"When you are in prison and someone offers you a key, you take it,\" he told a committee of MPs. While a no-deal exit would be \"disorderly\", he suggested the UK being kept in the EU against the will of the British people would be even more damaging. \"I think that there is a real danger that the House of Commons which has a natural remain majority may attempt to steal Brexit from British people which would be a democratic affront.\" Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the deal on the table was in the best interests of the country. \"Everyone has to think at this momentous moment - do we want to ensure that Brexit gets over the line? Do we want to deliver on the verdict of the 17.4 million people who voted to leave the European Union because if we don't back the prime minister, we risk there being no Brexit and that I think would be a fatal blow to faith in democracy.\" But a former Conservative chief whip has said he expects the PM to lose the vote. Mark Harper, who backed Remain in the referendum told the Daily Telegraph he would vote against the withdrawal agreement, and predicted the deal would be rejected by 80 of his party colleagues. He urged the prime minister to renegotiate the deal, insisting the current plan would leave the UK worse off. First, the government lost a bid to have the legal advice issue dealt with separately by the Privileges Committee of MPs. In a second defeat, ministers were found in contempt of parliament and forced to concede they would have to publish that advice in full, having previously argued this would break convention and was not in the national interest. Most significantly, the third defeat was over changes to the parliamentary process in the event that the Commons votes down Mrs May's deal. Instead of being confined to merely \"taking note\" of what the government tells them, MPs would also be able to exert more influence by voting on what they want the government to do next. This could potentially see Parliament wrest control of the Brexit process from ministers if, as expected, MPs push for a \"Plan B\" alternative to Mrs May's deal and seek to prevent any chance of Britain leaving the EU without a deal in place. Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who brought the motion, told Channel 4 News it would \"allow the UK time to consider its options\", including re-starting negotiations with the EU or giving the public the final say. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: \"The Commons is now very likely to defeat the government again next week on the Brexit deal, at which point the country must be given a 'People's Vote', and asked to choose between the deal or remaining in the EU.\" By BBC Political Editor Laura Kuenssberg Former Remain rebels now have a possible route to get what they want if the PM's plan is rejected, as there is a possible - I emphasise the possible - way to get a vote with a majority for a Norway-style agreement or, less likely, a push for another referendum. That won't go unnoticed by Brexiteers too, who may feel (some of them at least) that Mrs May's deal might be their best bet in that case, rather than risk that softer, squidgier Brexit. It's possible therefore that Tuesday's shenanigans have made it less likely that the prime minister will face a terrible defeat next week because a few wobbly rebels on both sides might come in line. Read more from Laura When she finally kicked off the debate about the deal itself, Mrs May insisted the UK would enjoy a \"better future\" outside the EU. She said the \"honourable compromise\" on offer was \"not the one-way street\" many had portrayed it to be and that the EU had made it clear that the agreement would not be improved on. \"I never said this deal was perfect, it was never going to be. That is the nature of a negotiation,\" she said. \"We should not let the search for a perfect Brexit prevent a good Brexit.\" Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was a bad deal for the UK and that his party would seek a vote of no confidence in the government if it was thrown out by MPs. \"I hope and expect this House will reject that deal,\" he said. \"At that point, the government has lost the confidence of the House. Either they have to get a better deal from the EU or give way to those who will.\" Nigel Dodds, leader of the DUP in Westminster, said the agreement \"falls short\" of delivering Brexit \"as one United Kingdom\" and would mean entering \"a twilight world where the EU is given unprecedented powers over the UK\". Ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dismissed the deal as a \"paint and plaster pseudo-Brexit\" and said its supporters would be \"turning their backs\" on the 17.4 million Leave voters. The leader of the SNP at Westminster, Ian Blackford, said the \"cold, hard truth\" was that the deal represented \"a moment of self-harm in our history\". \"It is not too late to turn back,\" he said. \"Fundamentally, there is no option that is going to be better for our economy, jobs, and for our communities than staying in the European Union.\" However, in closing the debate shortly after 01:00 GMT on Wednesday, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay argued the deal would bring \"real changes which will improve the livelihoods of people up and down the country\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3187, "answer_start": 1660, "text": "Senior Brexiteers in the cabinet have warned that the UK may not leave the EU if Mrs May's deal is voted down. International Trade Secretary Liam Fox suggested the PM's deal was the only way of guaranteeing the UK leaves the EU, as scheduled, on 29 March 2019. \"When you are in prison and someone offers you a key, you take it,\" he told a committee of MPs. While a no-deal exit would be \"disorderly\", he suggested the UK being kept in the EU against the will of the British people would be even more damaging. \"I think that there is a real danger that the House of Commons which has a natural remain majority may attempt to steal Brexit from British people which would be a democratic affront.\" Environment Secretary Michael Gove said the deal on the table was in the best interests of the country. \"Everyone has to think at this momentous moment - do we want to ensure that Brexit gets over the line? Do we want to deliver on the verdict of the 17.4 million people who voted to leave the European Union because if we don't back the prime minister, we risk there being no Brexit and that I think would be a fatal blow to faith in democracy.\" But a former Conservative chief whip has said he expects the PM to lose the vote. Mark Harper, who backed Remain in the referendum told the Daily Telegraph he would vote against the withdrawal agreement, and predicted the deal would be rejected by 80 of his party colleagues. He urged the prime minister to renegotiate the deal, insisting the current plan would leave the UK worse off." } ], "id": "753_0", "question": "Warnings falling on deaf ears?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4588, "answer_start": 3188, "text": "First, the government lost a bid to have the legal advice issue dealt with separately by the Privileges Committee of MPs. In a second defeat, ministers were found in contempt of parliament and forced to concede they would have to publish that advice in full, having previously argued this would break convention and was not in the national interest. Most significantly, the third defeat was over changes to the parliamentary process in the event that the Commons votes down Mrs May's deal. Instead of being confined to merely \"taking note\" of what the government tells them, MPs would also be able to exert more influence by voting on what they want the government to do next. This could potentially see Parliament wrest control of the Brexit process from ministers if, as expected, MPs push for a \"Plan B\" alternative to Mrs May's deal and seek to prevent any chance of Britain leaving the EU without a deal in place. Former Attorney General Dominic Grieve, who brought the motion, told Channel 4 News it would \"allow the UK time to consider its options\", including re-starting negotiations with the EU or giving the public the final say. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable said: \"The Commons is now very likely to defeat the government again next week on the Brexit deal, at which point the country must be given a 'People's Vote', and asked to choose between the deal or remaining in the EU.\"" } ], "id": "753_1", "question": "Why did the defeats matter?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5798, "answer_start": 5299, "text": "When she finally kicked off the debate about the deal itself, Mrs May insisted the UK would enjoy a \"better future\" outside the EU. She said the \"honourable compromise\" on offer was \"not the one-way street\" many had portrayed it to be and that the EU had made it clear that the agreement would not be improved on. \"I never said this deal was perfect, it was never going to be. That is the nature of a negotiation,\" she said. \"We should not let the search for a perfect Brexit prevent a good Brexit.\"" } ], "id": "753_2", "question": "How did the PM try to win over MPs?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7137, "answer_start": 5799, "text": "Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was a bad deal for the UK and that his party would seek a vote of no confidence in the government if it was thrown out by MPs. \"I hope and expect this House will reject that deal,\" he said. \"At that point, the government has lost the confidence of the House. Either they have to get a better deal from the EU or give way to those who will.\" Nigel Dodds, leader of the DUP in Westminster, said the agreement \"falls short\" of delivering Brexit \"as one United Kingdom\" and would mean entering \"a twilight world where the EU is given unprecedented powers over the UK\". Ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dismissed the deal as a \"paint and plaster pseudo-Brexit\" and said its supporters would be \"turning their backs\" on the 17.4 million Leave voters. The leader of the SNP at Westminster, Ian Blackford, said the \"cold, hard truth\" was that the deal represented \"a moment of self-harm in our history\". \"It is not too late to turn back,\" he said. \"Fundamentally, there is no option that is going to be better for our economy, jobs, and for our communities than staying in the European Union.\" However, in closing the debate shortly after 01:00 GMT on Wednesday, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay argued the deal would bring \"real changes which will improve the livelihoods of people up and down the country\"." } ], "id": "753_3", "question": "And what was the reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A neighbour had just walked past when an explosion tore through a small, white house in the Spanish coastal town of Alcanar last August. Debris was flung hundreds of metres by the force of the blast and the bodies of two men landed in nearby gardens. A third man who had been on a roof terrace talking on his phone survived. The next day a van attack was launched on pedestrians in Barcelona's central tourist avenue, Las Ramblas. Hours later there was another attack, in Cambrils, a coastal town. Sixteen people died and more than 130 were injured. Catalonia had come under attack from a jihadist gang of 11 people. Investigators believe they had planned to target Barcelona's Sagrada Familia and the Camp Nou stadium, home to Barcelona football club. The Eiffel Tower in Paris was another target. The Alcanar blast late on 16 August had changed all that and the key figure, Abdelbaki Es Satty, lay dead in the rubble. But this is also a story of missed clues and intelligence failings, because Es Satty had been known to the authorities for years. And the BBC has learned that his gang of extremists was plugged into a network that, according to a surviving cell member, could have included another imam with a second cell of eight or nine young men in France. A year on, investigators in France have requested information from 10 countries and are still trying to break up that network and identify a possible French cell. Catalonia's head of counter-terrorism believes the plot could have been masterminded by someone outside Spain. As neighbours emerged from the destroyed buildings in Alcanar, no-one considered an extremist link. The bodies of Es Satty, 44, and 22-year-old Youssef Aallaa were identified. \"The strongest hypothesis was that it was a drugs lab,\" said firefighter Jordi Bort, who was among the first on the scene. It was not until emergency services had dug through the rubble the next day that the full picture emerged. There was a second blast, almost as large as the first. Nine firefighters were injured. They had stumbled on a bomb factory containing more than 200kg (440lb) of explosives. Much of it was extremely unstable, designed to cause multiple deaths. There were canisters, nails, large quantities of acetone, hydrogen peroxide, bicarbonate and detonator switches - all the ingredients to create TATP (triacetone triperoxide) explosive. They also found grenades and suicide vests. Investigators only discovered later, from material recovered from digital cameras, computers and mobile phones, that the men had planned to use these explosives at some of Europe's biggest landmarks. It was on the afternoon of 17 August that 22-year-old Younes Abouyaaqoub jumped into a rented white van and zig-zagged down Las Ramblas at high speed, careering into pedestrians along the packed avenue. Witnesses said the driver had tried to hit as many people as possible. Many were knocked to the ground while others fled for cover in nearby shops and cafes. Abouyaaqoub killed 13 people and injured more than 130 before fleeing on foot. He then hijacked a white Ford Focus, killing the driver. A German woman injured on Las Ramblas later died, taking the death toll to 15. Eight hours later, in the early hours of 18 August, five men drove to Cambrils, 100km (62 miles) down the coast from Barcelona. They were the Barcelona attacker's brother, Houssaine Abouyaaqoub, along with Moussa Oukabir, Said Aallaa and brothers Mohamed and Omar Hychami. Their black Audi A3 car ploughed into pedestrians at the seaside resort and overturned before the gang got out wielding knives and an axe. A Spanish woman was killed and several others wounded. The attackers were wearing fake suicide vests adorned with plastic bottles to create panic. The vests also ensured they would be shot by police and, in their eyes, die as martyrs. Barcelona attacker Younes Abouyaaqoub was still on the run. His journey finally came to an end on 21 August in a field west of Barcelona. Police were tipped off by the public and Abouyaaqoub, wearing a fake explosives belt, was shot dead. The young men behind the attacks had claimed 16 lives. Who was behind these murders? Ninety minutes' drive inland from Barcelona, on the edge of the Pyrenees, lies the picturesque town of Ripoll. Surrounded by pine trees and mountain rivers, this is where most of the Catalan terror cell grew up. They were all first- or second-generation immigrants from Morocco and most were childhood friends who went to the same school. They included four sets of brothers. By all accounts they were normal kids who played in the local football teams, went to after-school clubs and took part in hiking trips. Cambrils attacker Houssaine Abouyaaqoub was known as Houssa and was part of the local football team. Social worker Nuria Perpinya helped some of them at a school homework club. \"They would go there after school to use the computers because they didn't have a computer or any internet connection at home,\" she said. \"They were like all the kids,\" wrote Raquel Rull, the mother of one of Houssa's friends, in an emotional letter published after the attacks. \"Like the one you see playing in the square, or the one who carries a big school bag filled with books, or the one who says 'Hi' and lets you go first in the supermarket queue, or the one who gets nervous when a girl smiles at him.\" Apart from the older Es Satty, only Driss Oukabir, the eldest of the boys, was known to the authorities. He had a criminal record for robbery, sexual assault and domestic violence, but even then his conduct had attracted little attention. On leaving school, most of them had gone to work in local factories, cafes and restaurants. Then Abdelbaki Es Satty arrived and started working at one of the town's two mosques, saying he was an imam. Born in Morocco's Rif mountain region, he had come to Spain in the early 2000s and had been in and out of prison until he was brought to Ripoll by a Moroccan woodcutter during the spring of 2015. For Ibrahim Aallaa, whose sons Said and Youssef were killed at Alcanar and Cambrils, Es Satty was a \"bad influence\" and he did not like him. He had twice visited the house uninvited when he thought Ibrahim was not at home. Said had been working in a local cafe and Es Satty said he should stop as it served alcohol and pork. Youssef had been told to stop working during Ramadan. \"Es Satty's belief was too strict,\" Ibrahim said. \"It was an interpretation of Islam that I didn't like. I told my boys too. I didn't want them to go to the mosque and I didn't talk to Es Satty.\" By January 2016, Es Satty had left Ripoll in search of new opportunities. He went to Belgium to preach at a mosque in Diegem, outside Brussels. He had told leading members of the community he was an informant for the Spanish intelligence services. \"They didn't trust him, they asked him for some papers to convince them that he actually was an imam,\" said Hans Bonte, mayor of Vilvoorde. \"But he didn't have a record, so he couldn't give them.\" The head of the mosque went to the police and Es Satty's details were put on a national database by a local police officer. The case was due to be discussed by local and national security services, but the officer heard nothing back. The Belgian officer also approached a Catalan counterpart he knew but nothing came of that either. Despite local authorities twice flagging up their concerns, Es Satty returned to Ripoll in April 2016, soon after the Brussels bombings. \"There was a lack of information exchange between Catalan police and the federal Spanish police and that gave a lot of tension between Catalan and Spanish authorities,\" Mayor Bonte said. Es Satty was to return to Brussels several times. Back in Ripoll, Es Satty began work at the town's second mosque. A year before the events in Barcelona, friends of the Ripoll cell members began to notice a change in their behaviour. They stopped wearing branded clothing and visited the mosque more frequently. \"They closed themselves up a little,\" said one. They also made regular trips to the bomb factory in Alcanar. One of the most frequent visitors was Younes Abouyaaqoub, the Barcelona attacker. The house was registered in his name and in Youssef Aalla's. In documents seen by the BBC, the cell searched online for chemistry manuals, various IS leading figures, bomb-making manuals and possible targets to attack. In order to fund the purchase of explosives and their travelling, they stole money from their places of work, and sold gold and jewellery in small towns on the coast. By now, older members of the Ripoll gang were travelling abroad and material found on computers and phones has revealed how the cell was linked to people known to authorities across Europe. There were various trips to Morocco to visit friends and family, especially ahead of the attacks, and one visit to Austria. Es Satty repeatedly travelled to Belgium too, and was last seen there two months before the Catalonia attacks. But there were two other trips that investigators found particularly interesting. In December 2016 Youssef Aallaa and Mohamed Hychami flew to Basel in Switzerland and stayed at the Olympia Hotel in Zurich. Their aim was likely to discuss logistics or financing with figures connected to a controversial An'Nur mosque. The mosque in Winterthur, which has since shut, denies such claims. One week later, those two men joined Younes Abouyaaqoub - who would eventually become the Ramblas attacker - in Brussels. And days before the Ramblas attack, the man who carried it out, Younes Abouyaaqoub, went to Paris with Omar Hychami. They took the Audi which Hychami was in when it rammed pedestrians in Cambrils. On 11 and 12 August the men's phones were tracked to central Paris as well as the city's Malakoff and Saint-Denis areas. They called contacts who were using pay-as-you-go Sim cards. Investigators believe the Paris trip was part of a mission to find targets for a second cell of jihadists. That target was to be the Eiffel Tower. The question is whether Es Satty and the Ripoll cell were part of something much larger and linked to wider extremist networks and plots in Europe. \"We think there is some brain outside Spain,\" says Manel Castellvi, head of counter-terrorism in Catalonia, \"maybe in Europe, or maybe in a conflict zone, who convinced them to carry out this attack.\" While the TATP explosives they amassed in Alcanar were relatively easy to get hold of, Mr Castellvi believes the quantity they had, as well as their ability to make the explosives, suggests \"someone with important knowledge could have given information to the cell\". The BBC has also learned that Es Satty had booked a flight from Barcelona to Brussels for October 2017 - suggesting Es Satty was not planning to kill himself like the others. Es Satty had been known to intelligence agencies for years, but decisive action was never taken. When the alarm was raised in Brussels in 2016, there was a failure to communicate between Belgium and Spain, and within Spain itself. But the failings go back much further than that. Es Satty was on their radar for links to jihadists as early as 2005. He was living in Vilanova i la Geltru, a coastal town near Barcelona, and spent time with an Algerian man called Belgacem Belil. The pair were connected to a network known as the Vilanova cell. Belil became a suicide bomber in Iraq, killing 28 people in November 2003. Members of the cell were investigated for sending people to Syria and Iraq and were connected to people involved in the 2004 Madrid bombings. However, initial convictions handed down to them were quashed. Then, in 2005, Spanish authorities sought approval to tap Es Satty's phone. They believed he could be acting as an intermediary with individuals connected to militant group Ansar al Islam. Not finding enough evidence, the phone tap was lifted but, at some point, his name was added to a European database of people who support terrorism. In 2010 he was jailed in Castellon, south of Barcelona, for transporting cannabis between Morocco and Spain. While in prison, he was approached by Spain's National Intelligence Centre (CNI), most probably as a possible informant, but he was deemed unreliable. However, he was considered interesting enough for his phone to be tapped when he left prison, the BBC has learned. The CNI wanted to know if he was still in touch with extremists, but again the wire-tap was halted because a judge decided it had failed to yield relevant results. The warning signs were there and opportunities were missed. Abdelbaki Es Satty took several years to move from the fringes of extremist Islam to become the ringleader of a murderous cell in rural northern Spain. Lessons have to be learned about exchanging information, says Manuel Navarrete, Europol's head of counter-terrorism. \"Barcelona showed that we need to think in a different way about local actors, a local cell that became quite sophisticated.\" Credits: Investigative Producer Antia Castedo and Faisal Irshaid, Executive Producer: Jacky Martens; Design by Zoe Bartholomew and Prina Shah.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 10816, "answer_start": 9879, "text": "Investigators believe the Paris trip was part of a mission to find targets for a second cell of jihadists. That target was to be the Eiffel Tower. The question is whether Es Satty and the Ripoll cell were part of something much larger and linked to wider extremist networks and plots in Europe. \"We think there is some brain outside Spain,\" says Manel Castellvi, head of counter-terrorism in Catalonia, \"maybe in Europe, or maybe in a conflict zone, who convinced them to carry out this attack.\" While the TATP explosives they amassed in Alcanar were relatively easy to get hold of, Mr Castellvi believes the quantity they had, as well as their ability to make the explosives, suggests \"someone with important knowledge could have given information to the cell\". The BBC has also learned that Es Satty had booked a flight from Barcelona to Brussels for October 2017 - suggesting Es Satty was not planning to kill himself like the others." } ], "id": "754_0", "question": "Who was in charge?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 13114, "answer_start": 10817, "text": "Es Satty had been known to intelligence agencies for years, but decisive action was never taken. When the alarm was raised in Brussels in 2016, there was a failure to communicate between Belgium and Spain, and within Spain itself. But the failings go back much further than that. Es Satty was on their radar for links to jihadists as early as 2005. He was living in Vilanova i la Geltru, a coastal town near Barcelona, and spent time with an Algerian man called Belgacem Belil. The pair were connected to a network known as the Vilanova cell. Belil became a suicide bomber in Iraq, killing 28 people in November 2003. Members of the cell were investigated for sending people to Syria and Iraq and were connected to people involved in the 2004 Madrid bombings. However, initial convictions handed down to them were quashed. Then, in 2005, Spanish authorities sought approval to tap Es Satty's phone. They believed he could be acting as an intermediary with individuals connected to militant group Ansar al Islam. Not finding enough evidence, the phone tap was lifted but, at some point, his name was added to a European database of people who support terrorism. In 2010 he was jailed in Castellon, south of Barcelona, for transporting cannabis between Morocco and Spain. While in prison, he was approached by Spain's National Intelligence Centre (CNI), most probably as a possible informant, but he was deemed unreliable. However, he was considered interesting enough for his phone to be tapped when he left prison, the BBC has learned. The CNI wanted to know if he was still in touch with extremists, but again the wire-tap was halted because a judge decided it had failed to yield relevant results. The warning signs were there and opportunities were missed. Abdelbaki Es Satty took several years to move from the fringes of extremist Islam to become the ringleader of a murderous cell in rural northern Spain. Lessons have to be learned about exchanging information, says Manuel Navarrete, Europol's head of counter-terrorism. \"Barcelona showed that we need to think in a different way about local actors, a local cell that became quite sophisticated.\" Credits: Investigative Producer Antia Castedo and Faisal Irshaid, Executive Producer: Jacky Martens; Design by Zoe Bartholomew and Prina Shah." } ], "id": "754_1", "question": "Why did they miss Es Satty?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The pure electric car market is growing, but cost, battery life and charging points can put people off. Here, one wannabe electric car owner searches for answers to key questions. After buying my car 15 years ago and accidentally scraping paint from its nose on a multi-storey car park pillar, reversing it into the corner of my house and then driving over a small wall in my garden, it became affectionately know as \"Scratch\". On our muddy adventures over the years to my many ultra-marathons and mountain bike trips \"he\" has become a trusty companion allowing me great freedom to access even the remotest places in Scotland. Sadly though, his backdoor now rattles and disconcerting creaking noises have led me for many years to approach every trip as if it is his last. The thing is, I don't want my next car to be a petrol one. So I've been flirting with the idea of buying an electric vehicle, or as the cool people say, an EV. I desperately want to do more for the environment, to fix our planet, but is an EV a reality for me with the places I want to go to, or is it just too soon to take this carbon-free step into the unknown? To find out more I visited Barry Carruthers, head of innovation, sustainability and quality at Scottish Power to have a test drive in one of their fleet of Nissan Leaf cars. From his office in Glasgow he drove us 20 miles to Scottish Power's Whitelee Wind Farm, which produces much of the green electricity for the car. Then I took the wheel. It was an automatic, much to my horror as I've only driven manual cars, but surprisingly within no time I was nipping about with ease - a relief as I've now learned all EVs are automatic. It had surprisingly good acceleration too, for overtaking on the motorway, not the Driving Miss Daisy ride I had thought it would be. - Did you know? At present, the UK has a network of more than 24,000 public charging connectors in nearly 9,000 locations, according to figures from the Department for Transport. \"Don't you feel smug?\", Barry asked, and then it hit me I was finally driving guilt-free for the first time in my life. I wasn't polluting the world with carbon fumes and it felt great. \"Yes\", I said and at that moment I didn't want to wait another fume-filled minute, it was time to get rid of \"Scratch\" and buy an electric car. However, to purchase one new would be between PS31,500 and PS39,500, which is a hefty financial undertaking even with the UK government's PS3,500 grant and the Scottish government's interest free loan of up to PS35,000 over six years. \"You can buy a second-hand one though for about PS7,000,\" said Barry who has owned a used Renault Zoe for the past two years. But is there any hope the new car cost will come down soon? Analysis by environmental lobby group, European Federation for Transport and Environment (T&E), suggests the number of electric car models available to consumers in Europe could triple by 2021. If that does happen then there will be a bigger market, more competition and possibly a better deal for customers. But my problem is \"Scratch\" hasn't got much life left. My test-drive Nissan Leaf had 155 miles on the clock when we set off, but it was a brand new model with just a few road miles. But how good is the battery in a used electric, do they act like a mobile phone battery when it gets old? Barry's answer was: \"When I thought that perhaps the battery range [in his EV] was reducing, a software upgrade from the manufacturer helped increase the range.\" That was exciting to hear as this has been one of my biggest worries. Recent research suggested only one in four people would consider buying a fully electric car in the next five years. And range, that's the distance the electric car travels between charges, was one of the most limiting factors. Another worry of mine was finding charging points. Were there enough around the country? I discovered that there are more than 1,000 charging points now across Scotland including rapid charging points, charging cars within 25-40 minutes. The Scottish government says the average distance between any given location to the nearest public charging point is just 2.78 miles. Barry showed me the electric car's in-built sat nav to find us a charging point only a few miles away and how easy it was to use. He had a special card, costing a one-off PS20, which he used it to activate the charge point. The lead was then plugged from car to charger and the free fill-up began. Yes, free fuel - I was getting more interested by the second. I thought it wouldn't be good for the car's battery to charge before it was fully discharged but Barry disagreed. He also said there were now many cinemas and supermarkets with charging points so I could top up while I was shopping or watching a film. In an urban environment, the charging picture looks positive. Another positive is there is no car tax. Also I checked out that I could get an electric car MOT done at my local garage. But it does look like any big problems with the battery - the most important part of an electric car - would have to be tackled by the dealership. Most electric cars have warranties on the battery of about seven or eight years. They are made up of several modules which can be replaced if the battery, for example, stops charging past 70% capacity. However, the battery is too expensive to be replaced entirely. Access to charging points while out and about is one thing, but charging up at home is what I need. Installing a charging point at my house, where I am fortunate to have a driveway, would cost in the region of PS1,500. That's a big outlay, but I could get grants that bring the price down to a few hundred pounds. After early research and my test drive, I was turning into an \"electric car evangelist\", I thought. I had to be more hard headed so I decided to write down exactly what I needed a car for, including how practical it was to get to remote races and to Glenshee in the winter for skiing. At this point I remembered Barry telling me an EV loses about 25% battery life in freezing cold weather, which would not be good. Then I got thinking about what happens if I break down. So I called the AA and a spokesman told me they did attend EVs and all their engineers were trained to work on electric and hybrid cars. I was happy again. The motoring breakdown organisation also said it was developing and trialling an alternative fuels vehicle capable of providing a top-up charge for an electric vehicle or a hydrogen top-up for a fuel cell vehicle. They could also tow EVs to the nearest charging point. I was still in a bit of a quandary so I decided to call The Scotsman's motoring correspondent, Matt Allan, for advice. He said: \"For some an EV is perfectly feasible and they can charge their car overnight at their home. For others between the range and infrastructure they might find it to be a stumbling block. \"I wouldn't discount an EV for my next car as it would serve my commuting needs, but it's when we want to drive for example to my mother-in laws that it suddenly becomes very limiting.\" Matt added: \"You can charge them in an ordinary three-point pin socket but it would take a very long time so again that maybe isn't feasible.\" Is there a portable charger I could carry in the boot of my car? Matt said: \"There isn't, I'm afraid, as it would be too heavy.\" I decided to ask a friend why she had sold an electric car only three years after she had bought it in 2014. She said she gave it up because it just wasn't feasible. One, she didn't enjoy sitting in dark remote car parks waiting for her car to charge. Two, the 150-mile range would change on a daily basis, depending on how she drove, so she couldn't be sure of relying on the mileage promised. And three, when she moved to a flat it wasn't practical to roll leads out of a window across the pavement to her car. Like all wannabe electric car owners, for me cost and battery life are key. I've concluded that an EV hitting a capacity in the region of 300 miles will be the one I go for. Car manufacturers say they are getting there in terms of range, thanks to the larger 64 kilowatt battery. And a promise of more miles for your charge has created growing waiting lists for next-generation EVs. Take, for example, Hyundai - they told me that since August last year, they had sold 1,500 of their Kona electric and because of the growing demand had a waiting list of 4,000 plus. A spokeswoman at the company said that although the car itself was made by them in South Korea the battery was sourced from elsewhere. She thought that if they started making the batteries themselves then they could more easily fulfil demand for their EVs. While I won't be an electric car pioneer, I want to be an early adopter. But when? Well, for now I'll put my name on the list for one of those bigger battery cars and continue believing I can join the road to an emissions-free future, sooner rather than later. And while I wait, I'm hoping \"Scratch\" will keep on going.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7348, "answer_start": 6578, "text": "I was still in a bit of a quandary so I decided to call The Scotsman's motoring correspondent, Matt Allan, for advice. He said: \"For some an EV is perfectly feasible and they can charge their car overnight at their home. For others between the range and infrastructure they might find it to be a stumbling block. \"I wouldn't discount an EV for my next car as it would serve my commuting needs, but it's when we want to drive for example to my mother-in laws that it suddenly becomes very limiting.\" Matt added: \"You can charge them in an ordinary three-point pin socket but it would take a very long time so again that maybe isn't feasible.\" Is there a portable charger I could carry in the boot of my car? Matt said: \"There isn't, I'm afraid, as it would be too heavy.\"" } ], "id": "755_0", "question": "Would a motoring expert buy an electric car?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 9003, "answer_start": 7349, "text": "I decided to ask a friend why she had sold an electric car only three years after she had bought it in 2014. She said she gave it up because it just wasn't feasible. One, she didn't enjoy sitting in dark remote car parks waiting for her car to charge. Two, the 150-mile range would change on a daily basis, depending on how she drove, so she couldn't be sure of relying on the mileage promised. And three, when she moved to a flat it wasn't practical to roll leads out of a window across the pavement to her car. Like all wannabe electric car owners, for me cost and battery life are key. I've concluded that an EV hitting a capacity in the region of 300 miles will be the one I go for. Car manufacturers say they are getting there in terms of range, thanks to the larger 64 kilowatt battery. And a promise of more miles for your charge has created growing waiting lists for next-generation EVs. Take, for example, Hyundai - they told me that since August last year, they had sold 1,500 of their Kona electric and because of the growing demand had a waiting list of 4,000 plus. A spokeswoman at the company said that although the car itself was made by them in South Korea the battery was sourced from elsewhere. She thought that if they started making the batteries themselves then they could more easily fulfil demand for their EVs. While I won't be an electric car pioneer, I want to be an early adopter. But when? Well, for now I'll put my name on the list for one of those bigger battery cars and continue believing I can join the road to an emissions-free future, sooner rather than later. And while I wait, I'm hoping \"Scratch\" will keep on going." } ], "id": "755_1", "question": "Do I go for it or not?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Conventional wisdom says we should be getting at least seven hours' sleep a night, while teenagers should be aiming for more like nine hours sleep. But most of us aren't getting close to that. A survey by the Sleep Council suggests only 22% of British adults get the recommended seven-to-eight hours, with 40% saying they get six hours or less. I am one of those who struggle to get enough sleep. It's not that I am out partying every night, nor do I have any problems getting to sleep, but I regularly wake up in the middle of the night and struggle to get back to sleep. To find out why, I've made a documentary, The Truth about Sleep, during which I teamed up with world-renowned experts to pick apart research on sleep, and conduct some pioneering tests on willing volunteers. What I discovered is that while there are some individuals who can get by perfectly well on less than seven hours, most of us can't. As well as looking at the impact on our body and brain of too little sleep, one of the things we were keen to explore was which techniques to improve sleep really make a difference and which seem to be based on myth. Eating turkey, for example, is said to help you sleep better because it contains a substance called tryptophan, which will help you sleep. Yet turkey isn't particularly rich in trypophan, and what there is in the meat isn't likely to reach the brain. The approaches we looked into ranged from the surprising to the well known. They included: - Getting up at the same time every morning - Going on a morning walk or run most days - Eating two kiwi fruit an hour before bed - Practising mindfulness - Having a warm bath or shower one to two hours before going to bed - Removing electronic devices from the bedroom and turning off all screens at least an hour before bed, including TV, computers, mobile phone and all social media - Skipping alcohol - Eating foods richer in fibre Curious which of these approaches people would be willing to try and how they would get on, we have now created the BBC Sleep Challenge. Our sleep challenge is not a substitute for rigorous scientific research, but hopefully you will find it useful. To take part, simply click on the link below and then follow the instructions. BBC Sleep Challenge: Take part We will reveal the results on the 11 May. Lie down in a quiet, darkened room in the early afternoon, clutching a spoon over the edge of your bed. Put a metal tray on the floor, under the spoon, check the time, then close your eyes. When you fall asleep, the spoon will fall from your senseless fingers and hit the tray with a loud clang, waking you up. When that happens, immediately check your watch to see how much time has passed. According Prof Nathaniel Kleitman, at the University of Chicago: - If you fall asleep within five minutes of closing your eyes, you are severely sleep deprived - If it's within ten minutes, this is \"troublesome\" - If you stay awake for at least 15 minutes, you are fine A simpler approach would be to set an alarm for 15 minutes, close your eyes, then see if you fall asleep before the alarm goes off.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3104, "answer_start": 2311, "text": "Lie down in a quiet, darkened room in the early afternoon, clutching a spoon over the edge of your bed. Put a metal tray on the floor, under the spoon, check the time, then close your eyes. When you fall asleep, the spoon will fall from your senseless fingers and hit the tray with a loud clang, waking you up. When that happens, immediately check your watch to see how much time has passed. According Prof Nathaniel Kleitman, at the University of Chicago: - If you fall asleep within five minutes of closing your eyes, you are severely sleep deprived - If it's within ten minutes, this is \"troublesome\" - If you stay awake for at least 15 minutes, you are fine A simpler approach would be to set an alarm for 15 minutes, close your eyes, then see if you fall asleep before the alarm goes off." } ], "id": "756_0", "question": "Are you getting enough sleep?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Air pollution is causing around 467,000 premature deaths in Europe every year, the European Environment Agency (EEA) has warned. People in urban areas are especially at risk, with around 85% exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) at levels deemed harmful by the World Health Organization (WHO). These particles are too small to see or smell, but have a devastating impact. PM2.5 can cause or aggravate heart disease, asthma and lung cancer. It's pretty bad. Within the European Union (EU), more than 430,000 people died prematurely due to PM2.5 in 2013, the most recent year with figures available. According to the EEA's Air quality in Europe - 2016 report, the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - released by vehicles and central heating boilers - has an impact equivalent to 71,000 premature deaths a year. Ground-level ozone (O3) is also killing people - an estimated 17,000 annually in the EU. Unlike the protective ozone layer in the stratosphere, ground-level ozone is harmful, formed when emissions like NO2 react with other pollutants and \"cook\" in heat or sunlight. The European countries with the worst levels of PM2.5 are Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic. Nations like Poland where coal is a major source of electricity production tend to rank at the bottom of air quality measures, according to the EEA. In 2013, Bulgaria provided four of the five worst European cities for high particulate matter. Costs to ill-health from coal power plants in the country are estimated to be up to EUR4.6bn ($4.8bn; PS3.9bn) per year. In the UK, air pollution overall costs the economy more than PS20bn per year - just under 16% of the NHS's annual PS116bn budget. Technically, European air quality actually improved between 2000 and 2014. Levels of PM10 - another tiny pollutant particle - fell in 75% of the EEA's monitored locations. PM2.5 concentrations also dropped on average between 2006 and 2014. But EEA executive director Hans Bruyninckx says \"unacceptable damage to human health and the environment\" is still rife. Outdoor air pollution contributes to about 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK, according to the Royal Colleges of Physicians and of Paediatrics and Child Health. Statues dressed with gas masks for pollution protest City trees 'can boost air quality' Pollution particles 'get into brain' - Particulate matter, or PM2.5, is a type of pollution involving fine particles less than 2.5 microns (0.0025mm) in diameter - A second type, PM10, is of coarser particles with a diameter of up to 10 microns - Some occur naturally - eg from dust storms and forest fires, others from human industrial processes - They often consist of fragments that are small enough to reach the lungs or, in the smallest cases, to cross into the bloodstream as well - A build-up of PM2.5 in the lungs has been associated with causing respiratory illnesses and lung damage PM particles may contain smoke, dust, soot, metals, nitrates, sulphates, water and rubber from tyres. They can get deep into your lungs, causing irritation and inflammation, and some may make it into your bloodstream. Heart disease and lung conditions are most commonly linked to inhaling air pollution, but your liver, spleen, central nervous system, brain, and even reproductive system can also be damaged. PM2.5 and PM10 can increase susceptibility to viral and bacterial pathogens, triggering pneumonia in vulnerable people. Children are most susceptible to illness from air pollution. A major study conducted over six years found that children living in highly polluted parts of cities have up to 10% less lung capacity than normal, and the damage can be permanent. Probably not. According to WHO data released two months ago, nine out of 10 people on the planet now breathe polluted air. Europe is less affected by indoor air pollution, which the WHO cites as a major killer in large parts of Africa and south Asia. Around three billion people still cook and heat their homes using solid fuels like wood or animal dung on open fires, and 4.3 million a year die prematurely from illness attributable to the resulting \"household air pollution\" - mostly from strokes, heart disease or lung deficiencies. Country-by-country data showed that Turkmenistan has the highest death rate connected to outdoor air pollution. Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Egypt rounded out the top five. \"Rich countries are getting much better in improving the quality of the air,\" Dr Carlos Dora from the WHO told the Associated Press. \"Poorer countries are getting worse. That is the overall trend.\" Europe is lagging behind North America, however, mostly because it depends more on diesel fuel and farming practices that create ammonia and methane. China, the country with the sixth-highest death rate linked to air pollution, is relatively wealthy, but is plagued by smog in its cities and polluted air from industrial sources. India has generated the most troubling smog headlines in recent months. Smoke from fireworks set off during Diwali, the Hindu Festival of Lights, sent Delhi's PM2.5 levels soaring to more than 90 times the level considered safe by the WHO. Toxic air is a leading cause of premature death in India, where 620,000 people perish every year from pollution-related diseases.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2322, "answer_start": 445, "text": "It's pretty bad. Within the European Union (EU), more than 430,000 people died prematurely due to PM2.5 in 2013, the most recent year with figures available. According to the EEA's Air quality in Europe - 2016 report, the toxic gas nitrogen dioxide (NO2) - released by vehicles and central heating boilers - has an impact equivalent to 71,000 premature deaths a year. Ground-level ozone (O3) is also killing people - an estimated 17,000 annually in the EU. Unlike the protective ozone layer in the stratosphere, ground-level ozone is harmful, formed when emissions like NO2 react with other pollutants and \"cook\" in heat or sunlight. The European countries with the worst levels of PM2.5 are Bulgaria, Poland and the Czech Republic. Nations like Poland where coal is a major source of electricity production tend to rank at the bottom of air quality measures, according to the EEA. In 2013, Bulgaria provided four of the five worst European cities for high particulate matter. Costs to ill-health from coal power plants in the country are estimated to be up to EUR4.6bn ($4.8bn; PS3.9bn) per year. In the UK, air pollution overall costs the economy more than PS20bn per year - just under 16% of the NHS's annual PS116bn budget. Technically, European air quality actually improved between 2000 and 2014. Levels of PM10 - another tiny pollutant particle - fell in 75% of the EEA's monitored locations. PM2.5 concentrations also dropped on average between 2006 and 2014. But EEA executive director Hans Bruyninckx says \"unacceptable damage to human health and the environment\" is still rife. Outdoor air pollution contributes to about 40,000 early deaths a year in the UK, according to the Royal Colleges of Physicians and of Paediatrics and Child Health. Statues dressed with gas masks for pollution protest City trees 'can boost air quality' Pollution particles 'get into brain'" } ], "id": "757_0", "question": "How big is the problem?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3649, "answer_start": 2879, "text": "PM particles may contain smoke, dust, soot, metals, nitrates, sulphates, water and rubber from tyres. They can get deep into your lungs, causing irritation and inflammation, and some may make it into your bloodstream. Heart disease and lung conditions are most commonly linked to inhaling air pollution, but your liver, spleen, central nervous system, brain, and even reproductive system can also be damaged. PM2.5 and PM10 can increase susceptibility to viral and bacterial pathogens, triggering pneumonia in vulnerable people. Children are most susceptible to illness from air pollution. A major study conducted over six years found that children living in highly polluted parts of cities have up to 10% less lung capacity than normal, and the damage can be permanent." } ], "id": "757_1", "question": "What's the damage?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has just cancelled what would have been a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The shock move could undo months of diplomatic effort and throws the future of the Korean peninsula back into doubt. The 12 June meeting was supposed to discuss ways of reducing the nuclear threat on the Korean peninsula. It would have been historic - the first time a sitting US president had met their North Korean counterpart. Past days, though, had seen increasing hostility and a certain lack of diplomatic courtesy from both sides, casting doubt over whether the summit would go ahead. On Thursday, Mr Trump sent a letter to Mr Kim saying that he wouldn't be going. He blamed North Korea's \"tremendous anger and open hostility\". While both Washington and Pyongyang have said there is still a chance for talks at a later stage, they have also brought back aggressive military threats against the other. Last year saw seen tensions between North Korea and the US reach worrying levels, with threats of mutual nuclear destruction and petty name calling. North Korea carried out its largest ever nuclear weapon test and repeatedly fired off missiles. 1 January 2018 brought an unexpected turn, when Kim Jong-un reached out to South Korea. After lots of careful negotiations, North Korea took part in the Winter Olympics in the South, and Mr Kim said he was willing to sit down with the US to talk denuclearisation. What followed was a historic meeting between North and South Korea where they agreed to end hostilities and work together towards denuclearisation. The world eagerly awaited the next event: direct talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. That was finally confirmed two weeks ago. In the run-up North Korea released three US detainees and blew up its nuclear testing site as gestures of good intent. After the initial enthusiasm though, the actual preparations for the summit proved to be - predictably - difficult. While the stated goal was denuclearisation, it soon became clear that Pyongyang and Washington were not exactly on the same page over what that meant. For the US it appeared to mean complete and irreversible dismantling of the North's nuclear programme and weapons, allowing international inspectors to check every step of that process, before any talk of sanctions being lifted. For North Korea, it meant a much more reciprocal progress. If Pyongyang was to give up its nuclear asset, it wanted to see similar gestures from Washington. The US has a large military presence in South Korea and in Japan - both of which North Korea would expect to be scaled down, along with assurances that its survival as a state would never be in question. Pyongyang has for years wanted to be accepted as an equal nuclear power. Once it appeared to have mastered nuclear technology and antiballistic missiles, it wanted that fact to be reflected in the negotiations. But top US diplomats have repeatedly brought up the one example for denuclearisation that North Korea least wants to hear about: Libya. There, former leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi gave up his nuclear programme only for him to be brutally lynched and killed by Western-backed rebels a few years later. The Libya model was first mentioned by US National Security Advisor John Bolton, and then - despite strong North Korean outrage at Bolton - again by Vice-President Mike Pence. In reaction to Mr Pence's comments, Pyongyang slammed the VP a \"dummy\" and his remarks \"stupid\", threatening that a nuclear showdown was the alternative to talks. And in reaction to that, the US axed the summit. While the US says there's still a backdoor open for talks and North Korea has expressed similar sentiment, both sides have also brought back the big rhetorical guns. Mr Trump warned the North of the \"massive and powerful\" nuclear capabilities of the US, adding: \"I pray to God they will never have to be used.\" Pyongyang has already said a \"nuclear-to-nuclear showdown\" was the alternative to the summit and so the situation seems to be back where it was in 2017 when the Trump-Kim relationship was marked by an escalating string of insults and threats of mutual destruction. With one failed summit down, military conflict might still be unlikely - but it seems a lot less unlikely than when the talks were still on.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1840, "answer_start": 930, "text": "Last year saw seen tensions between North Korea and the US reach worrying levels, with threats of mutual nuclear destruction and petty name calling. North Korea carried out its largest ever nuclear weapon test and repeatedly fired off missiles. 1 January 2018 brought an unexpected turn, when Kim Jong-un reached out to South Korea. After lots of careful negotiations, North Korea took part in the Winter Olympics in the South, and Mr Kim said he was willing to sit down with the US to talk denuclearisation. What followed was a historic meeting between North and South Korea where they agreed to end hostilities and work together towards denuclearisation. The world eagerly awaited the next event: direct talks between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. That was finally confirmed two weeks ago. In the run-up North Korea released three US detainees and blew up its nuclear testing site as gestures of good intent." } ], "id": "758_0", "question": "How did we get here?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2697, "answer_start": 1841, "text": "After the initial enthusiasm though, the actual preparations for the summit proved to be - predictably - difficult. While the stated goal was denuclearisation, it soon became clear that Pyongyang and Washington were not exactly on the same page over what that meant. For the US it appeared to mean complete and irreversible dismantling of the North's nuclear programme and weapons, allowing international inspectors to check every step of that process, before any talk of sanctions being lifted. For North Korea, it meant a much more reciprocal progress. If Pyongyang was to give up its nuclear asset, it wanted to see similar gestures from Washington. The US has a large military presence in South Korea and in Japan - both of which North Korea would expect to be scaled down, along with assurances that its survival as a state would never be in question." } ], "id": "758_1", "question": "Where did it all go wrong?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3598, "answer_start": 2698, "text": "Pyongyang has for years wanted to be accepted as an equal nuclear power. Once it appeared to have mastered nuclear technology and antiballistic missiles, it wanted that fact to be reflected in the negotiations. But top US diplomats have repeatedly brought up the one example for denuclearisation that North Korea least wants to hear about: Libya. There, former leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi gave up his nuclear programme only for him to be brutally lynched and killed by Western-backed rebels a few years later. The Libya model was first mentioned by US National Security Advisor John Bolton, and then - despite strong North Korean outrage at Bolton - again by Vice-President Mike Pence. In reaction to Mr Pence's comments, Pyongyang slammed the VP a \"dummy\" and his remarks \"stupid\", threatening that a nuclear showdown was the alternative to talks. And in reaction to that, the US axed the summit." } ], "id": "758_2", "question": "What has Libya to do with it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4315, "answer_start": 3599, "text": "While the US says there's still a backdoor open for talks and North Korea has expressed similar sentiment, both sides have also brought back the big rhetorical guns. Mr Trump warned the North of the \"massive and powerful\" nuclear capabilities of the US, adding: \"I pray to God they will never have to be used.\" Pyongyang has already said a \"nuclear-to-nuclear showdown\" was the alternative to the summit and so the situation seems to be back where it was in 2017 when the Trump-Kim relationship was marked by an escalating string of insults and threats of mutual destruction. With one failed summit down, military conflict might still be unlikely - but it seems a lot less unlikely than when the talks were still on." } ], "id": "758_3", "question": "So what now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A bitter stand-off between Malaysia and North Korea appears at an end after the two countries revoked a travel ban which had effectively kept their respective citizens hostages for more than three weeks. But has North Korea come out on top? The diplomatic row was sparked by the killing of Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. According to Malaysia, Kim died as the result of exposure to a VX chemical weapons agent in a plot widely believed to have been orchestrated by as many seven North Koreans and assisted - whether wittingly or not - by two Asian women currently in custody. While Malaysia has not officially accused North Korea of responsibility for the killing, their investigation has involved an autopsy of Kim's body and an attempt to question the suspected North Korean plotters. They also presented a report documenting the use of chemical weapons to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons. Pyongyang rejected any suggestion that it was behind the killing while publicly asserting that the dead individual was not the half-brother of the North Korean leader, but rather an entirely different individual. Confronted by North Korea's unwillingness to allow its staff to be questioned, Malaysia refused to hand over Kim's body and the North retaliated by refusing to allow Malaysians to leave the North. As a result of Thursday's agreement, several North Korean suspects, reportedly together with Kim's body, were allowed to travel on Friday to North Korea and, in return, nine Malaysians were also permitted to travel home. While a welcome outcome for the Malaysian detainees, the government of Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak appears to have capitulated to the North's coercive tactics - not the first time Pyongyang has used detention as a means of exerting diplomatic leverage. However, the background to the agreement is murky and it is possible that the Malaysian government, which apparently succeeded in questioning the North Korean suspects before they returned home, may have had its own leverage to employ against the North. Diplomatic relations date from 1973 and the two countries have commercial ties. They totalled $4m (PS3.1m) in 2016 - modest but still significant for a country such as North Korea which has relatively limited foreign trade. North Korea imports rubber, palm oil and refined oil from Malaysia, and there are hundreds of North Koreans working in the mining and restaurant sectors in Malaysia. Keen to promote tourism, North Korea had also introduced a visa-free travel arrangement with Malaysia - which was suspended as a result of the latest row. More importantly, Malaysia has long been a key site for illegal arms component acquisition and weapons trading by North Koreans operating through a number of front companies. A UN report has highlighted some of these activities and while the Malaysian authorities have yet to provide a formal response, their recent decision to delist two of the firms allegedly involved is an indication that the benefits for the North Koreans of the Malaysian relationship in terms of facilitating their covert commercial activity and evading international sanctions may be at risk. Whether Malaysia would have used the potential loss of this cover as a negotiating gambit is unclear. For now, Prime Minister Najib's recent public remarks expressing his hope that a \"case like this\" doesn't happen again, suggests that diplomatic ties, while frayed, will continue but with Pyongyang effectively on probation. To the wider world, the powerful evidence that North Korea continues to flout international norms, whether through state-sanctioned executions or forced detentions, is a sobering reminder of the challenge of engaging constructively with Pyongyang. Such bad behaviour, when set alongside the North's nuclear and missile tests, as well as its increased ability to threaten its neighbours, suggests that conscious, premeditated provocation, rather than impulsiveness, may be part of the intentional strategy of Kim Jong-un. Instead of labelling him as \"not a rational actor\", which is what US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley did, or a \"crazy fat kid\", in the words of Senator John McCain, the world might be better advised to recognise Kim Jong-un's success in single-mindedly pursuing his own interests. By not playing by the rules, Pyongyang has been, to date, strikingly successful in getting what it wants. The challenge for the international community is finding an effectively coordinated means of responding to these provocations, without appearing to give in to diplomatic blackmail.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4628, "answer_start": 3315, "text": "For now, Prime Minister Najib's recent public remarks expressing his hope that a \"case like this\" doesn't happen again, suggests that diplomatic ties, while frayed, will continue but with Pyongyang effectively on probation. To the wider world, the powerful evidence that North Korea continues to flout international norms, whether through state-sanctioned executions or forced detentions, is a sobering reminder of the challenge of engaging constructively with Pyongyang. Such bad behaviour, when set alongside the North's nuclear and missile tests, as well as its increased ability to threaten its neighbours, suggests that conscious, premeditated provocation, rather than impulsiveness, may be part of the intentional strategy of Kim Jong-un. Instead of labelling him as \"not a rational actor\", which is what US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley did, or a \"crazy fat kid\", in the words of Senator John McCain, the world might be better advised to recognise Kim Jong-un's success in single-mindedly pursuing his own interests. By not playing by the rules, Pyongyang has been, to date, strikingly successful in getting what it wants. The challenge for the international community is finding an effectively coordinated means of responding to these provocations, without appearing to give in to diplomatic blackmail." } ], "id": "759_0", "question": "Where do they go from here?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Pope Francis delivered his first-ever address by Facebook Live on Friday - to coincide, aptly, with the end of a week-long event on children and technology. But as he extolled the importance of protecting children, senior church figures in his own church are mired in abuse scandals. This was the final day of an almost week-long congress on \"child dignity in the digital age\". Hosted by the Centre for Child Protection at the Gregorian University in Rome, it brought together academics, digital companies, and church leaders in was an attempt to focus on the predicament of children online. It's estimated that there are 3.2 billion users of the internet, of which a quarter (800 million) are children or adolescents. That's 800 million young people who may be the victims of cyber-bullying, sexting, \"sex-tortion\", and harassment. And so the Pope - in conjunction with a special live feed provided by Facebook - took to the stage and offered a fairly raw and uncensored homily on the subject. From the outset, Pope Francis acknowledged the many benefits that have emerged from digital technology. \"However\", he said, \"we face a dark side of this new-found world, a world which is enabling a host of social ills that are harming the most vulnerable members of society.\" \"This is the existential question facing humanity today\", he said, and warned: \"We have to keep our eyes open and not hide from the unpleasant truth that we would rather not see.\" He then went on to describe a litany of abuses that originate online - the solicitation of minors for sex, people trafficking, even the commissioning and live viewing of acts of rape and violence against minors. He also warned of the dangers of underestimating the impact and harm done to children who may be viewing such horrendous images. \"The progress of neurobiology, psychology and psychiatry have brought to light the profound impact of violent and sexual images on the impressionable minds of children.\" Earlier on Friday in Melbourne, Cardinal George Pell - treasurer and one of the most senior figures in the Vatican - appeared in court accused of multiple charges of historical child sexual abuse. In March next year, Cardinal Pell will face a committal hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial. He has strongly denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer has said the cleric will plead not guilty to all charges. In addition, a senior diplomat in the Vatican's embassy in Washington DC, Monsignor Carlo Capella, was accused two weeks ago of possessing child pornography. Canadian police issued a warrant for his arrest, alleging that he had distributed child pornography during a Christmas visit to Ontario last year. At the very highest levels of the Vatican, Pope Francis has to deal with allegations of child sexual exploitation. And so, almost inevitably, the charge of hypocrisy has been levelled against him. I think this is an attempt by Pope Francis to confront an issue that has cast the darkest of clouds over the entire church's ministry. And since he has never been personally accused of such wrongdoing, it probably enables him to speak with confidence about the issue. Just two weeks ago, speaking to the Pontifical Ministry for the Protection of Minors (a ministry he set up in 2014), he said that the church had \"lagged behind\" other institutions and had also engaged in the \"wrongful practice\" of redeploying priests following allegations of abuse, instead of stopping them from continuing in ministry. He went on to say that \"the Church irrevocably and at all levels intends to apply the principle of 'zero tolerance' against the abuse of minors by members of the church.\" The challenge for Pope Francis is whether the credibility of his efforts will continue to be undermined by allegations against such senior figures within the Vatican.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1961, "answer_start": 995, "text": "From the outset, Pope Francis acknowledged the many benefits that have emerged from digital technology. \"However\", he said, \"we face a dark side of this new-found world, a world which is enabling a host of social ills that are harming the most vulnerable members of society.\" \"This is the existential question facing humanity today\", he said, and warned: \"We have to keep our eyes open and not hide from the unpleasant truth that we would rather not see.\" He then went on to describe a litany of abuses that originate online - the solicitation of minors for sex, people trafficking, even the commissioning and live viewing of acts of rape and violence against minors. He also warned of the dangers of underestimating the impact and harm done to children who may be viewing such horrendous images. \"The progress of neurobiology, psychology and psychiatry have brought to light the profound impact of violent and sexual images on the impressionable minds of children.\"" } ], "id": "760_0", "question": "What did he say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3850, "answer_start": 1962, "text": "Earlier on Friday in Melbourne, Cardinal George Pell - treasurer and one of the most senior figures in the Vatican - appeared in court accused of multiple charges of historical child sexual abuse. In March next year, Cardinal Pell will face a committal hearing to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for him to stand trial. He has strongly denied any wrongdoing. His lawyer has said the cleric will plead not guilty to all charges. In addition, a senior diplomat in the Vatican's embassy in Washington DC, Monsignor Carlo Capella, was accused two weeks ago of possessing child pornography. Canadian police issued a warrant for his arrest, alleging that he had distributed child pornography during a Christmas visit to Ontario last year. At the very highest levels of the Vatican, Pope Francis has to deal with allegations of child sexual exploitation. And so, almost inevitably, the charge of hypocrisy has been levelled against him. I think this is an attempt by Pope Francis to confront an issue that has cast the darkest of clouds over the entire church's ministry. And since he has never been personally accused of such wrongdoing, it probably enables him to speak with confidence about the issue. Just two weeks ago, speaking to the Pontifical Ministry for the Protection of Minors (a ministry he set up in 2014), he said that the church had \"lagged behind\" other institutions and had also engaged in the \"wrongful practice\" of redeploying priests following allegations of abuse, instead of stopping them from continuing in ministry. He went on to say that \"the Church irrevocably and at all levels intends to apply the principle of 'zero tolerance' against the abuse of minors by members of the church.\" The challenge for Pope Francis is whether the credibility of his efforts will continue to be undermined by allegations against such senior figures within the Vatican." } ], "id": "760_1", "question": "Hypocrisy?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Asylum seekers who are refusing to leave an Australian detention centre in Papua New Guinea say they are digging into the ground to find water, two days after the camp officially closed. About 600 men at the centre on Manus Island do not want to leave, saying they fear being attacked outside. Meanwhile, New Zealand has reiterated its offer to accept up to 150 refugees from Australia's detention centres. Canberra has repeatedly rejected New Zealand's offer. Australia holds asylum seekers who arrive by boat on PNG's Manus Island, and on the Pacific island of Nauru. Australia withdrew from the Manus Island centre on Tuesday, following a PNG court ruling that the centre was unconstitutional. The men held at PNG - most of whom have refugee status - have now lost access to running water, electricity and working toilets, and their food supplies are dwindling. The UN refugee agency has said some alternative accommodation is not ready. The agency and rights groups have warned that the men have legitimate fears for their safety, and that attacks on asylum seekers have occurred in the past in PNG. Refugees told the BBC that they had dug into the ground and set up catchments to collect rainwater, but much of it was being stored in rubbish bins. They said that PNG immigration officials arrived outside the centre on Wednesday, and they feared being forcibly removed. Under its controversial policy, Australia refuses to take in anyone trying to reach its territories unofficially by boat. The government says its policy prevents human trafficking and deaths at sea. Amid the escalating stand-off, the New Zealand government said a standing offer to accept 150 refugees from Manus Island or Nauru \"remains on the table\". The proposal has been repeatedly rejected by Canberra since it was first made in 2013. \"I think anyone would look at a situation like that and see the human face of what is an issue that New Zealand is in the lucky position of not having to struggle with, and Australia has,\" New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said on Thursday. Ms Ardern said she would raise Manus Island with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when the two meet in person on Sunday. Last year, Mr Turnbull said people smugglers would use any such deal with New Zealand as a \"marketing opportunity\". His government has said it makes \"no sense\" for the detainees to remain in the centre when there was alternative accommodation, although it would not guarantee their safety in the local community. Nat Jit Lam, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) regional representative, said on Wednesday that some of that accommodation was not yet fit to live in. \"I will not be bringing any refugee there to stay - not in that state,\" he said. Human Rights Watch has warned the men face \"unchecked violence\" from local people who have attacked them in the past with machetes, knives and rocks. \"They are terrified of moving. Further bloodshed is likely if they move to less secure facilities in the main town,\" Human Rights Watch Australia director Elaine Pearson said on Wednesday. \"We have been attacked several times already outside,\" Behrouz Boochani, a journalist and Iranian refugee who has been held on Manus Island since August 2014, told the BBC. Mr Boochani wrote on Twitter that many of the men in the centre were physically and mentally unwell. Nick McKim, an Australian senator currently on Manus Island, said he was witnessing \"a human rights emergency\". He said the facilities are not ready for habitation. The Australian government has repeatedly said the men's safety is the responsibility of the PNG government. However, PNG has said it is Australia's responsibility to support them. The UNHCR has also repeated that claim. The refugees have been given the option of permanent resettlement in PNG, applying to live in Cambodia, or requesting a transfer to Nauru. Advocates say few have taken up these options. Some men already in the temporary accommodation were \"comfortably accessing services and support there\", Australia's Department for Immigration and Border Protection has said. A resettlement deal struck with the Obama administration in 2016 saw the US agree to take up to 1,250 refugees from the PNG and Nauru centres. Last month, about 50 of them became the first to be accepted by the US under the deal. The agreement, which is being administered by the UNHCR, is prioritising women, children and families and other refugees found to be the most vulnerable. Manus Island has held only men. However, the US has not given an estimate of how long the application process will take, and it is not obliged to accept all of them. Lawyers filed a last-minute lawsuit in PNG on Tuesday saying the camp's closure breached the detainees' human rights, which are enshrined in the PNG constitution. \"The men are vulnerable to attacks and physical harm so we are seeking to ensure their constitutional rights are not breached and there is a resumption of the basic necessities of life,\" Greg Barns, a lawyer assisting with the legal action, told the BBC. \"The men have been dumped on the street, literally. What is going on is unlawful.\" The application also seeks to prevent the men's forcible removal to alternative centres on the island, and calls for them to be transferred to Australia or a safe third country. A ruling on the injunction is yet to be made. Australia first opened Manus Island centre in 2001. It was closed in 2008 and re-opened in 2012. Six asylum seekers have died since 2013, including Iranian man Reza Barati who was murdered during a riot. Earlier this year, the government offered compensation totalling A$70m (PS41m; $53m) to asylum seekers and refugees detained on Manus Island who alleged they had suffered harm while there. The lawsuit alleged that detainees had been housed in inhumane conditions below Australian standards, given inadequate medical treatment and exposed to systemic abuse and violence. The government called the financial settlement \"prudent\", but denied wrongdoing.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3748, "answer_start": 2751, "text": "Human Rights Watch has warned the men face \"unchecked violence\" from local people who have attacked them in the past with machetes, knives and rocks. \"They are terrified of moving. Further bloodshed is likely if they move to less secure facilities in the main town,\" Human Rights Watch Australia director Elaine Pearson said on Wednesday. \"We have been attacked several times already outside,\" Behrouz Boochani, a journalist and Iranian refugee who has been held on Manus Island since August 2014, told the BBC. Mr Boochani wrote on Twitter that many of the men in the centre were physically and mentally unwell. Nick McKim, an Australian senator currently on Manus Island, said he was witnessing \"a human rights emergency\". He said the facilities are not ready for habitation. The Australian government has repeatedly said the men's safety is the responsibility of the PNG government. However, PNG has said it is Australia's responsibility to support them. The UNHCR has also repeated that claim." } ], "id": "761_0", "question": "Are the men at risk?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4660, "answer_start": 3749, "text": "The refugees have been given the option of permanent resettlement in PNG, applying to live in Cambodia, or requesting a transfer to Nauru. Advocates say few have taken up these options. Some men already in the temporary accommodation were \"comfortably accessing services and support there\", Australia's Department for Immigration and Border Protection has said. A resettlement deal struck with the Obama administration in 2016 saw the US agree to take up to 1,250 refugees from the PNG and Nauru centres. Last month, about 50 of them became the first to be accepted by the US under the deal. The agreement, which is being administered by the UNHCR, is prioritising women, children and families and other refugees found to be the most vulnerable. Manus Island has held only men. However, the US has not given an estimate of how long the application process will take, and it is not obliged to accept all of them." } ], "id": "761_1", "question": "Where would they go?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5385, "answer_start": 4661, "text": "Lawyers filed a last-minute lawsuit in PNG on Tuesday saying the camp's closure breached the detainees' human rights, which are enshrined in the PNG constitution. \"The men are vulnerable to attacks and physical harm so we are seeking to ensure their constitutional rights are not breached and there is a resumption of the basic necessities of life,\" Greg Barns, a lawyer assisting with the legal action, told the BBC. \"The men have been dumped on the street, literally. What is going on is unlawful.\" The application also seeks to prevent the men's forcible removal to alternative centres on the island, and calls for them to be transferred to Australia or a safe third country. A ruling on the injunction is yet to be made." } ], "id": "761_2", "question": "Will the courts step in?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6040, "answer_start": 5386, "text": "Australia first opened Manus Island centre in 2001. It was closed in 2008 and re-opened in 2012. Six asylum seekers have died since 2013, including Iranian man Reza Barati who was murdered during a riot. Earlier this year, the government offered compensation totalling A$70m (PS41m; $53m) to asylum seekers and refugees detained on Manus Island who alleged they had suffered harm while there. The lawsuit alleged that detainees had been housed in inhumane conditions below Australian standards, given inadequate medical treatment and exposed to systemic abuse and violence. The government called the financial settlement \"prudent\", but denied wrongdoing." } ], "id": "761_3", "question": "What were conditions like at Manus Island?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Turkey has agreed to a ceasefire in northern Syria to let Kurdish-led forces withdraw. The deal came after US Vice-President Mike Pence and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan met for talks in Ankara. All fighting will be paused for five days, and the US will help facilitate the withdrawal of Kurdish-led troops from what Turkey terms a \"safe zone\" on the border, Mr Pence said. It is unclear if the fighters of the Kurdish YPG will fully comply, however. Commander Mazloum Kobani said Kurdish-led forces would observe the agreement in the area between the border towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad, where fighting has been fierce. \"We have not discussed the fate of other areas,\" he said. UK-based war monitor the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) said clashes were continuing in Ras al-Ain despite the ceasefire announcement. It said 72 civilians had been killed inside Syria and more than 300,000 displaced over the past eight days. Turkey launched the cross-border offensive last week, after US President Donald Trump announced he was pulling US forces out of the Syria-Turkey border region. Its goal was to push back a Kurdish militia group - the People's Protection Units (YPG) - that Turkey views as a terrorist organisation. Turkey had hoped to resettle up to two million Syrian refugees in the border area, but critics warned that could trigger ethnic cleansing of the local Kurdish population. President Trump was accused by some of abandoning a US ally, as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - a group dominated by the YPG - fought alongside the US against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. But on Wednesday he said the Kurds were \"not angels\", and declared: \"It's not our border. We shouldn't be losing lives over it.\" Mr Trump tweeted about the Turkish ceasefire before his vice-president unveiled it, writing: \"Millions of lives will be saved!\" He added later: \"This deal could NEVER have been made 3 days ago. There needed to be some \"tough\" love in order to get it done. Great for everybody. Proud of all!\" Mr Pence credited Donald Trump's \"strong leadership\" during the announcement, saying: \"He wanted a ceasefire. He wanted to stop the violence.\" \"I am proud of the United States for sticking by me in following a necessary, but somewhat unconventional, path,\" Mr Trump added on Twitter. Just a day before the Pence-Erdogan meeting, it emerged that Mr Trump had sent his Turkish counterpart a letter about the offensive, urging him: \"Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool!\" After the ceasefire announcement on Thursday, he called Mr Erdogan \"a hell of a leader\" who \"did the right thing\". Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told journalists the offensive would only be permanently halted when the SDF had left the border zone. \"We are suspending the operation, not halting it,\" he said. \"We will halt the operation only after [Kurdish forces] completely withdraw from the region.\" Mr Cavusoglu said Turkey had also secured its goal of having heavy arms removed from the Kurdish-led fighters, and their positions destroyed. Mr Pence said the US would lift economic sanctions imposed on Turkey when the military offensive ended, and would not impose more in the meantime. The reversal on sanctions was been strongly criticised by the two most senior Democrats in the US Congress. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer described Turkey's suspension of hostilities as a \"sham ceasefire\", saying President Erdogan had given up nothing. They said the lifting of sanctions seriously undermined the credibility of US foreign policy. Speaking to Al Arabiya, senior Kurdish politician Aldar Xelil said he welcomed an end to the fighting, but that the SDF would defend itself if exposed to violence. James Jeffrey, the US special representative on Syria, acknowledged that Kurdish-led forces weren't happy about leaving their positions. \"We're basically doing our best efforts to get the YPG to withdraw using as a carrot and a stick the sanctions levers that we have,\" he told reporters. \"There's no doubt that the YPG wishes that they could stay in these areas.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1748, "answer_start": 949, "text": "Turkey launched the cross-border offensive last week, after US President Donald Trump announced he was pulling US forces out of the Syria-Turkey border region. Its goal was to push back a Kurdish militia group - the People's Protection Units (YPG) - that Turkey views as a terrorist organisation. Turkey had hoped to resettle up to two million Syrian refugees in the border area, but critics warned that could trigger ethnic cleansing of the local Kurdish population. President Trump was accused by some of abandoning a US ally, as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - a group dominated by the YPG - fought alongside the US against the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. But on Wednesday he said the Kurds were \"not angels\", and declared: \"It's not our border. We shouldn't be losing lives over it.\"" } ], "id": "762_0", "question": "What prompted the offensive?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2625, "answer_start": 1749, "text": "Mr Trump tweeted about the Turkish ceasefire before his vice-president unveiled it, writing: \"Millions of lives will be saved!\" He added later: \"This deal could NEVER have been made 3 days ago. There needed to be some \"tough\" love in order to get it done. Great for everybody. Proud of all!\" Mr Pence credited Donald Trump's \"strong leadership\" during the announcement, saying: \"He wanted a ceasefire. He wanted to stop the violence.\" \"I am proud of the United States for sticking by me in following a necessary, but somewhat unconventional, path,\" Mr Trump added on Twitter. Just a day before the Pence-Erdogan meeting, it emerged that Mr Trump had sent his Turkish counterpart a letter about the offensive, urging him: \"Don't be a tough guy. Don't be a fool!\" After the ceasefire announcement on Thursday, he called Mr Erdogan \"a hell of a leader\" who \"did the right thing\"." } ], "id": "762_1", "question": "How has Trump reacted to the ceasefire?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4092, "answer_start": 2626, "text": "Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu told journalists the offensive would only be permanently halted when the SDF had left the border zone. \"We are suspending the operation, not halting it,\" he said. \"We will halt the operation only after [Kurdish forces] completely withdraw from the region.\" Mr Cavusoglu said Turkey had also secured its goal of having heavy arms removed from the Kurdish-led fighters, and their positions destroyed. Mr Pence said the US would lift economic sanctions imposed on Turkey when the military offensive ended, and would not impose more in the meantime. The reversal on sanctions was been strongly criticised by the two most senior Democrats in the US Congress. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer described Turkey's suspension of hostilities as a \"sham ceasefire\", saying President Erdogan had given up nothing. They said the lifting of sanctions seriously undermined the credibility of US foreign policy. Speaking to Al Arabiya, senior Kurdish politician Aldar Xelil said he welcomed an end to the fighting, but that the SDF would defend itself if exposed to violence. James Jeffrey, the US special representative on Syria, acknowledged that Kurdish-led forces weren't happy about leaving their positions. \"We're basically doing our best efforts to get the YPG to withdraw using as a carrot and a stick the sanctions levers that we have,\" he told reporters. \"There's no doubt that the YPG wishes that they could stay in these areas.\"" } ], "id": "762_2", "question": "What does Turkey say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A public inquiry in South Africa has started investigating alleged corruption by ex-President Jacob Zuma. The inquiry is looking into \"state capture\", where the wealthy Gupta family is accused of trying to influence political decisions, including the naming of ministers. Accusations of graft dogged Mr Zuma's presidency before he was forced to step down in February. The former president and the Gupta family deny any wrongdoing. Opening the inquiry, commission head Deputy Chief Justice Ray Zondo appealed for South Africans to share what they know. \"We urge all South Africans who love this country to come forward and assist this commission in order that we may resolve this problem,\" he said. Mr Zuma was ordered to set up the commission by the high court last December following a report by the public protector, South Africa's anti-graft body. The report, called State of Capture, found evidence of possible corruption at the top level of his government. It looked into whether the Gupta family influenced President Zuma's choice of cabinet ministers. One of the allegations is that in 2015 then-Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas was offered 600m rand ($41m; PS32m) by businessman Ajay Gupta if he accepted the post of finance minister. The public protector also investigated claims that the Guptas had bribed state officials to win contracts at the state-owned electricity company, Eskom. The Guptas said last year that there were no cases to answer and that they were in the process of clearing their name \"in the face of unfounded media allegations\". Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Johannesburg For many, the old adage that justice delayed is justice denied applies here. It is hoped that the commission will shed light on allegations of massive corruption that have gone on for far too long. But for others, this is the beginning of a two-year process that will waste taxpayers' money and may not result in any prosecutions. The 76-year-old former head of state still commands considerable support within his party, the ANC. His supporters believe that he has been unfairly targeted. They often say he has already been found guilty in trial by media. This inquiry though will have little or no effect in next year's elections as the party has moved to neuter its possible impact. The inquiry will look into whether the former president played any role in the alleged offering of cabinet positions to politicians. One politician, former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor, told the public protector that Mr Zuma was at the Guptas' Johannesburg home in 2010 when the Guptas offered her the post of public enterprises minister. The family wanted her to cancel South African Airways route to India, she alleged. The inquiry will also investigate whether Mr Zuma, and any other public officials, and their families, benefitted from the awarding of public contracts. Mr Zuma's son, Duduzane, woked for the Guptas and has also been implicated in the allegations. He denies that his relationship with the business family was improper. The inquiry, known as the Zondo Commission, does not have power to prosecute but the evidence it collects can be used in any future prosecution. It can compel people to give evidence and Mr Jonas and Ms Mentor are expected to be among the first witnesses to appear. The commission could take up to two years to release its findings.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1564, "answer_start": 698, "text": "Mr Zuma was ordered to set up the commission by the high court last December following a report by the public protector, South Africa's anti-graft body. The report, called State of Capture, found evidence of possible corruption at the top level of his government. It looked into whether the Gupta family influenced President Zuma's choice of cabinet ministers. One of the allegations is that in 2015 then-Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas was offered 600m rand ($41m; PS32m) by businessman Ajay Gupta if he accepted the post of finance minister. The public protector also investigated claims that the Guptas had bribed state officials to win contracts at the state-owned electricity company, Eskom. The Guptas said last year that there were no cases to answer and that they were in the process of clearing their name \"in the face of unfounded media allegations\"." } ], "id": "763_0", "question": "What is state capture?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3020, "answer_start": 2288, "text": "The inquiry will look into whether the former president played any role in the alleged offering of cabinet positions to politicians. One politician, former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor, told the public protector that Mr Zuma was at the Guptas' Johannesburg home in 2010 when the Guptas offered her the post of public enterprises minister. The family wanted her to cancel South African Airways route to India, she alleged. The inquiry will also investigate whether Mr Zuma, and any other public officials, and their families, benefitted from the awarding of public contracts. Mr Zuma's son, Duduzane, woked for the Guptas and has also been implicated in the allegations. He denies that his relationship with the business family was improper." } ], "id": "763_1", "question": "What are the allegations against Zuma?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3353, "answer_start": 3021, "text": "The inquiry, known as the Zondo Commission, does not have power to prosecute but the evidence it collects can be used in any future prosecution. It can compel people to give evidence and Mr Jonas and Ms Mentor are expected to be among the first witnesses to appear. The commission could take up to two years to release its findings." } ], "id": "763_2", "question": "What powers does the commission have?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A growing number of companies have cut ties with the National Rifle Association amid calls for a boycott of businesses linked to the US gun lobby after the Florida school shooting. United and Delta airlines joined car rental giants Hertz and Enterprise in ending discounts for NRA members. The murder of 17 people has prompted renewed calls for tighter gun controls. Florida Republican Governor Rick Scott has backed calls to raise the minimum age for buying a gun from 18 to 21. Mr Scott has been widely seen as an ally of the NRA who has previously opposed stricter laws in the state. However, he has come under mounting pressure to respond to the demands of students who survived the shootings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Activists have tried to put pressure on the NRA since the shooting by targeting firms that offer discounts and other benefits to its members. They have flooded its corporate partners with comments on social media under the hashtag #BoycottNRA. Firms under pressure include delivery company FedEx and tech giants such as Amazon, which distributes NRA television programmes. On Thursday, the family-owned First National Bank of Omaha said it would not renew NRA-branded credit cards, citing \"customer feedback\". Enterprise Holdings, which owns the rental car brands Alamo, Enterprise and National, also said discounts offered to NRA members would end on 26 March. The firm, which announced the move in response to comments on Twitter, declined to say why it had taken such a step but told a customer that the firm doesn't \"sponsor, endorse or take a political stance on any organizations.\" Other companies distanced themselves from the NRA on Friday and Saturday. Those included MetLife Insurance, the Avis Budget Group, home security firm Simplisafe, two moving brands - Allied Van Lines and northAmerican Van Lines - and Symantec Corp which had offered discounts for its LifeLock identity theft product. Insurance firm Chubb also said it had stopped underwriting an NRA-branded insurance policy three months ago. Delta Air Lines and United followed suit on Saturday, saying that they would ask the NRA to remove their information from its website. Both airlines had been offering special flight discounts to NRA members travelling to the association's annual meeting in May. In Florida, the president of the Florida Education Association, which represents teachers' unions, also called on the state to look at pension holdings in gun companies in a statement to the Miami Herald newspaper. The NRA, which claims five million members, shot back at those corporations on Saturday, saying the moves punished the organisation's members in a \"shameful display of political and civic cowardice\". \"In time, these brands will be replaced by others who recognize that patriotism and determined commitment to Constitutional freedoms are characteristics of a marketplace they very much want to serve,\" the NRA said. \"Let it be absolutely clear. The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend the individual freedoms that have always made America the greatest nation in the world.\" The NRA has previously said people upset about the shooting should focus on lapses by law enforcement and mental health professionals. NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre last week said \"opportunists\" were using the 14 February tragedy to expand gun control and abolish US gun rights. \"They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom,\" he said. Prior campaigns aimed at the NRA have had limited results. President Donald Trump has defended the NRA, while others criticised the boycott on Twitter. On Friday, the governor of Florida urged state lawmakers to restrict access to firearms for young people and the mentally ill. Rick Scott said his aim was for Florida to \"require all individuals purchasing firearms to be 21 or older,\" adding that the he wanted to make it \"virtually impossible\" for anyone with mental health issues to acquire a gun. Mr Trump earlier said he supported the proposal to raise the age at which a person can buy a gun from 18, and said he believed the NRA would back such a proposal. \"I don't think I'll be going up against them,\" Mr Trump said of the gun lobby. \"They're good people.\" In other developments: - It has emerged that an unidentified woman called the FBI on 5 January to say she was worried that Nikolas Cruz, the suspected gunman, would get into a school, \"shooting the place up\". The woman said the information had already been passed to police and she had not heard back - Police have released previous recordings of 911 calls reportedly made by Nikolas Cruz,, in which he says that someone he was living with at the time was \"going to gut me\" - CNN reports that in addition to the armed officer, three Broward County deputies were waiting outside the school doing nothing to confront the shooter when Coral Springs police arrived The campaign comes as US businesses increasingly find themselves entangled in political debates, as activists target them on issues such as LGBTQ rights, as well as ties to the president. Companies such as retailer Nordstrom and sportswear brand Under Armour are among the firms that have been subject to calls for boycotts from the left and right. Executives serving on presidential councils, including the former chief executive of Uber, have resigned from the advisory groups after consumer pressure. The councils eventually disbanded last summer. North Carolina last year also rescinded a law that restricted bathrooms for transgender people after a boycott by businesses and sports leagues.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1110, "answer_start": 738, "text": "Activists have tried to put pressure on the NRA since the shooting by targeting firms that offer discounts and other benefits to its members. They have flooded its corporate partners with comments on social media under the hashtag #BoycottNRA. Firms under pressure include delivery company FedEx and tech giants such as Amazon, which distributes NRA television programmes." } ], "id": "764_0", "question": "How did the boycott come about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2527, "answer_start": 1111, "text": "On Thursday, the family-owned First National Bank of Omaha said it would not renew NRA-branded credit cards, citing \"customer feedback\". Enterprise Holdings, which owns the rental car brands Alamo, Enterprise and National, also said discounts offered to NRA members would end on 26 March. The firm, which announced the move in response to comments on Twitter, declined to say why it had taken such a step but told a customer that the firm doesn't \"sponsor, endorse or take a political stance on any organizations.\" Other companies distanced themselves from the NRA on Friday and Saturday. Those included MetLife Insurance, the Avis Budget Group, home security firm Simplisafe, two moving brands - Allied Van Lines and northAmerican Van Lines - and Symantec Corp which had offered discounts for its LifeLock identity theft product. Insurance firm Chubb also said it had stopped underwriting an NRA-branded insurance policy three months ago. Delta Air Lines and United followed suit on Saturday, saying that they would ask the NRA to remove their information from its website. Both airlines had been offering special flight discounts to NRA members travelling to the association's annual meeting in May. In Florida, the president of the Florida Education Association, which represents teachers' unions, also called on the state to look at pension holdings in gun companies in a statement to the Miami Herald newspaper." } ], "id": "764_1", "question": "Which companies have cut NRA ties?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3702, "answer_start": 2528, "text": "The NRA, which claims five million members, shot back at those corporations on Saturday, saying the moves punished the organisation's members in a \"shameful display of political and civic cowardice\". \"In time, these brands will be replaced by others who recognize that patriotism and determined commitment to Constitutional freedoms are characteristics of a marketplace they very much want to serve,\" the NRA said. \"Let it be absolutely clear. The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend the individual freedoms that have always made America the greatest nation in the world.\" The NRA has previously said people upset about the shooting should focus on lapses by law enforcement and mental health professionals. NRA chief executive Wayne LaPierre last week said \"opportunists\" were using the 14 February tragedy to expand gun control and abolish US gun rights. \"They hate the NRA. They hate the second amendment. They hate individual freedom,\" he said. Prior campaigns aimed at the NRA have had limited results. President Donald Trump has defended the NRA, while others criticised the boycott on Twitter." } ], "id": "764_2", "question": "What has the NRA said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5674, "answer_start": 4979, "text": "The campaign comes as US businesses increasingly find themselves entangled in political debates, as activists target them on issues such as LGBTQ rights, as well as ties to the president. Companies such as retailer Nordstrom and sportswear brand Under Armour are among the firms that have been subject to calls for boycotts from the left and right. Executives serving on presidential councils, including the former chief executive of Uber, have resigned from the advisory groups after consumer pressure. The councils eventually disbanded last summer. North Carolina last year also rescinded a law that restricted bathrooms for transgender people after a boycott by businesses and sports leagues." } ], "id": "764_3", "question": "What other issues are attracting boycotts?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Native American burial sites have been blown up by construction crews building the US-Mexico border wall, says a lawmaker and tribal leaders. Authorities confirmed that \"controlled blasting\" has begun at Arizona's Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, a Unesco recognised natural reserve. Raul Grijalva, a Democratic congressman, told the Intercept the destruction is \"sacrilegious\". The government failed to consult the Tohono O'odham Nation, he said. Environmental groups also warn of the damage being done to the local underground aquifer, as well as to migrating wildlife in the remote desert region about 115 miles (185km) west of Tucson. Officials say the aim of the project is to construct a 30ft-tall (9m) steel barrier that runs for 43 miles on the national park land. The United Nations designated Organ Pipe as an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976, calling it \"a pristine example of an intact Sonoran Desert ecosystem\". Mr Grijalva, the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, represents a district that encompasses the area, which shares 400 miles of border with Mexico. He toured the burial sites at the Organ Pipe, known as Monument Hill, last month, and was told that O'odham people buried warriors from the rival Apache tribe there. \"What we saw on Monument Hill was opposing tribes who were respectfully laid to rest - that is the one being blasted with dynamite,\" Mr Grijalva said. In interviews with US media, he called the Trump administration's conduct \"sacrilegious\" and said the environmental monitor that the government assigned to the project would do nothing to mitigate the cultural damage. One area contained artefacts dating back 10,000 years. Tribal chairman Ned Norris Jr told the Arizona Republic that even though the land is now controlled by the US government, \"we have inhabited this area since time immemorial.\" \"They're our ancestors. They're our remnants of who we are as a people, throughout this whole area. And it's our obligation, it's our duty to do what is necessary to protect that.\" An internal report from the National Park Service obtained by the Washington Post says the border wall Mr Trump promised during his 2015 campaign would destroy up to 22 archeological sites within Organ Pipe alone. Crews are reported to have also destroyed ancient saguaro cacti, which Mr Grijalva said the O'odham people see \"as the embodiment of their ancestors\". \"So to see them turned into mulch - it's deeply upsetting.\" The Trump administration has been able to build sections of the US-Mexico border wall on public land due to the 2005 REAL ID Act, which gives the federal government the right to waive laws that conflict with US national security policy. In their bid to build the wall, the White House has waived dozens of laws - including ones that protected Native American graves, endangered species, and the environment. Mr Grijalva said he will work towards repealing the 2005 act and will convene a congressional hearing in the coming weeks in an effort to do so.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2472, "answer_start": 777, "text": "The United Nations designated Organ Pipe as an International Biosphere Reserve in 1976, calling it \"a pristine example of an intact Sonoran Desert ecosystem\". Mr Grijalva, the chairman of the House Committee on Natural Resources, represents a district that encompasses the area, which shares 400 miles of border with Mexico. He toured the burial sites at the Organ Pipe, known as Monument Hill, last month, and was told that O'odham people buried warriors from the rival Apache tribe there. \"What we saw on Monument Hill was opposing tribes who were respectfully laid to rest - that is the one being blasted with dynamite,\" Mr Grijalva said. In interviews with US media, he called the Trump administration's conduct \"sacrilegious\" and said the environmental monitor that the government assigned to the project would do nothing to mitigate the cultural damage. One area contained artefacts dating back 10,000 years. Tribal chairman Ned Norris Jr told the Arizona Republic that even though the land is now controlled by the US government, \"we have inhabited this area since time immemorial.\" \"They're our ancestors. They're our remnants of who we are as a people, throughout this whole area. And it's our obligation, it's our duty to do what is necessary to protect that.\" An internal report from the National Park Service obtained by the Washington Post says the border wall Mr Trump promised during his 2015 campaign would destroy up to 22 archeological sites within Organ Pipe alone. Crews are reported to have also destroyed ancient saguaro cacti, which Mr Grijalva said the O'odham people see \"as the embodiment of their ancestors\". \"So to see them turned into mulch - it's deeply upsetting.\"" } ], "id": "765_0", "question": "What is Organ Pipe?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3025, "answer_start": 2473, "text": "The Trump administration has been able to build sections of the US-Mexico border wall on public land due to the 2005 REAL ID Act, which gives the federal government the right to waive laws that conflict with US national security policy. In their bid to build the wall, the White House has waived dozens of laws - including ones that protected Native American graves, endangered species, and the environment. Mr Grijalva said he will work towards repealing the 2005 act and will convene a congressional hearing in the coming weeks in an effort to do so." } ], "id": "765_1", "question": "Is this legal?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Police forces in England and Wales are to train an extra 1,500 firearms officers to help protect the public from terrorism. Many will be deployed in rapid-reaction teams, which will be on patrol and ready to react round the clock. There will also be more counter-terrorism teams outside London and 40 new armed response vehicles. The move will reverse a drop in the number of firearms officers from nearly 7,000 in 2009/10 to 5,875 in 2013/14. Downing Street said the increased network of armed police units would complement military contingency plans already in place to deploy up to 10,000 troops in the event of a terror attack. Most of the new officers will be funded by the government and will be trained within the next two years. Last year, Prime Minister David Cameron set aside PS143m over five years to boost the UK's armed response capability. Announcing the latest initiative during a visit to the US, Mr Cameron said: \"Our police and intelligence agencies work round the clock to keep us safe and it is absolutely vital that we support them with the right resources and kit. \"After the terrorist attacks in France last year, we decided to look at whether there was more we could do to protect people from the type of terrorist threat we now face. \"That's why we are increasing the number of specially trained armed officers up and down the country to make sure the police have greater capability to respond swiftly and effectively should they need to do so.\" National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Armed Policing, Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said: \"Over recent years we have significantly enhanced the training, tactics and weaponry of armed officers to ensure that they are capable of dealing with all types of terrorist attacks. \"We have also delivered enhanced capability across all emergency services to deliver an effective joint response. This additional uplift will ensure we are in an even stronger position to respond quickly and effectively to protect the public.\" Some officers have cautioned that colleagues may fear facing criminal charges if they open fire. Mark Williams, chief executive of the Police Firearms Officers Association, said the culture within the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) should change so officers were not automatically treated as \"suspects\" in the event of shooting incidents. IPCC deputy chair Sarah Green said firearms officers worked in \"challenging circumstances\" but it was \"right that police shootings resulting in death or serious injury are independently investigated\". Last year, police chiefs warned the home secretary about the shortage of 24/7 armed police cover outside London, saying it left regional cities vulnerable to attack. The number of authorised firearms officers was more than 40% lower in both Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire in 2013/14 than it had been in 2008/09. Numbers in London were down by more than 20%. Central funding will pay for 1,000 extra firearms officers across England and Wales, including 600 already announced by the Metropolitan Police to be based in London and 400 in the rest of England and Wales. A further 500 officers will be funded by the forces themselves. An additional 40 armed response vehicles and teams are due to be \"up and running\" within the next 12 months, bringing the total number across the country to 150. London will see its fleet doubled. The vehicles are adapted so the armed officers can be deployed along with their specialist kit to incidents at speed.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3505, "answer_start": 1472, "text": "National Police Chiefs' Council lead for Armed Policing, Deputy Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said: \"Over recent years we have significantly enhanced the training, tactics and weaponry of armed officers to ensure that they are capable of dealing with all types of terrorist attacks. \"We have also delivered enhanced capability across all emergency services to deliver an effective joint response. This additional uplift will ensure we are in an even stronger position to respond quickly and effectively to protect the public.\" Some officers have cautioned that colleagues may fear facing criminal charges if they open fire. Mark Williams, chief executive of the Police Firearms Officers Association, said the culture within the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) should change so officers were not automatically treated as \"suspects\" in the event of shooting incidents. IPCC deputy chair Sarah Green said firearms officers worked in \"challenging circumstances\" but it was \"right that police shootings resulting in death or serious injury are independently investigated\". Last year, police chiefs warned the home secretary about the shortage of 24/7 armed police cover outside London, saying it left regional cities vulnerable to attack. The number of authorised firearms officers was more than 40% lower in both Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire in 2013/14 than it had been in 2008/09. Numbers in London were down by more than 20%. Central funding will pay for 1,000 extra firearms officers across England and Wales, including 600 already announced by the Metropolitan Police to be based in London and 400 in the rest of England and Wales. A further 500 officers will be funded by the forces themselves. An additional 40 armed response vehicles and teams are due to be \"up and running\" within the next 12 months, bringing the total number across the country to 150. London will see its fleet doubled. The vehicles are adapted so the armed officers can be deployed along with their specialist kit to incidents at speed." } ], "id": "766_0", "question": "Vulnerable?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has denied wrongdoing after he tried to shield one of the country's biggest firms from a corruption trial. Mr Trudeau said any lobbying by him or his inner circle for engineering giant SNC-Lavalin was done to protect jobs. In explosive testimony, ex-Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould said she faced \"sustained\" pressure to abandon prosecution of the Quebec-based firm. Opposition Conservatives are calling on the Liberal PM to resign. They are also demanding a public inquiry following Ms Wilson-Raybould's testimony on Wednesday before the Commons justice committee in Ottawa. Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Mr Trudeau said he disagreed with his former justice minister's \"characterisation\" of events and maintained his staff followed the rules. The prime minster said he had full confidence in an inquiry by a parliamentary justice committee into the affair and in an investigation by the federal ethics commissioner, and would \"participate fully\" in that process. Opposition parties have been ramping up pressure on the prime minister and the Conservatives have said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police must immediately open an investigation. Mr Trudeau said that to his knowledge no member of his staff has been contacted by the RCMP. The prime minster has insisted for weeks that all communications between himself, federal officials and Ms Wilson-Raybould were above board. He says that any advocacy for SNC-Lavalin was done in the interest of protecting Canadian jobs that no lines were crossed. Ms Wilson-Raybould told the justice committee on Wednesday she had faced attempts at interference and \"veiled threats\" from top government officials seeking a legal favour for the Montreal construction firm. The former justice minister and attorney general said she and her staff endured four months - between last September and December - of a \"sustained\" and \"inappropriate effort\" to push for a possible deferred prosecution agreement for the construction company. That agreement would have allowed the firm to avoid a criminal trial and instead agree to alternative terms or conditions, like penalties or enhanced compliance measures. Ms Wilson-Raybould said that while some discussions about the ramifications of the decision were normal, the pressure went well beyond what was appropriate given her role as attorney general. In Canada, an attorney general is supposed to act independently with respect of his or her prosecutorial function and decisions are not supposed to be politically motivated. Ms Wilson-Raybould said that in various meetings, Mr Trudeau and senior staff repeatedly raised concerns about the possibility of job losses and potential political ramifications of a trial. She said she had made clear she was not prepared to help the company avoid a trial and that she believes it was why she was demoted in a Cabinet shuffle in January, which Mr Trudeau denies. Ms Wilson-Raybould also said during her testimony she did not believe any laws were broken. The company and two of its subsidiaries face fraud and corruption charges in relation to about C$48m ($36m; PS28m) in bribes it is alleged to have offered to Libyan officials between 2001-11. The firm has openly lobbied to be allowed to enter into a remediation agreement instead of going to trial, saying it has cleaned house and changed its ways. SNC-Lavalin and its supporters say it would be unfair to penalise the company as a whole and its thousands of employees for the wrongdoings of former executives. Preliminary hearings have begun and the company says it will \"vigorously defend itself\" against the allegations. A conviction on fraud and corruption charges could result in a decade-long ban on bidding on federal contracts, which would be a major financial hit for the firm. SNC-Lavalin is one of the world's largest engineering and construction companies and employs some 9,000 people in Canada. The firm has deep roots in the vote-rich province of Quebec, which is expected to be a battleground in this October's general election. This is not the first time SNC-Lavalin has found itself in trouble. In 2016, the agency that oversees Canadian federal elections said former executives had devised a scheme to illegally donate C$118,000 to the federal Liberals and Conservatives between 2004-11. The bulk of the funds went to the prime minister's Liberal Party. In 2013, the World Bank barred the firm and its affiliates for up to 10 years from bidding on contracts with the agency for \"misconduct\" in a bridge contract in Bangladesh, the longest debarment period ever handed down in a settlement. Political commentators suggest Ms Wilson-Raybould's remarks are deeply damaging for Mr Trudeau and the Liberals. Writing in the Toronto Star, columnist Chantal Hebert says the prime minister was \"already up to his neck in the SNC-Lavalin mess\". \"On Wednesday, former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould pushed his head down further. It will be harder for the Liberal government to dig itself out of the deep hole she dug before the next campaign.\" In the National Post, columnist Andrew Coyne said Ms Wilson-Raybould's testimony suggested \"an attitude that appears to pervade this government: that the law is not an institution to be revered, but just another obstacle to get around, by whatever means necessary.\" Columnist Patrick Lagace, writing in Montreal newspaper La Presse, said her remarks suggest that \"for the Prime Minister and people acting on his orders, the rule of law and the independence of the Attorney General were at least negotiable\". In Maclean's magazine, Paul Wells suggests her remarks reveal a \"sickeningly smug protection racket whose participants must have been astonished when she refused to play along\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1555, "answer_start": 621, "text": "Speaking to reporters on Thursday morning, Mr Trudeau said he disagreed with his former justice minister's \"characterisation\" of events and maintained his staff followed the rules. The prime minster said he had full confidence in an inquiry by a parliamentary justice committee into the affair and in an investigation by the federal ethics commissioner, and would \"participate fully\" in that process. Opposition parties have been ramping up pressure on the prime minister and the Conservatives have said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police must immediately open an investigation. Mr Trudeau said that to his knowledge no member of his staff has been contacted by the RCMP. The prime minster has insisted for weeks that all communications between himself, federal officials and Ms Wilson-Raybould were above board. He says that any advocacy for SNC-Lavalin was done in the interest of protecting Canadian jobs that no lines were crossed." } ], "id": "767_0", "question": "How did Trudeau defend himself?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3033, "answer_start": 1556, "text": "Ms Wilson-Raybould told the justice committee on Wednesday she had faced attempts at interference and \"veiled threats\" from top government officials seeking a legal favour for the Montreal construction firm. The former justice minister and attorney general said she and her staff endured four months - between last September and December - of a \"sustained\" and \"inappropriate effort\" to push for a possible deferred prosecution agreement for the construction company. That agreement would have allowed the firm to avoid a criminal trial and instead agree to alternative terms or conditions, like penalties or enhanced compliance measures. Ms Wilson-Raybould said that while some discussions about the ramifications of the decision were normal, the pressure went well beyond what was appropriate given her role as attorney general. In Canada, an attorney general is supposed to act independently with respect of his or her prosecutorial function and decisions are not supposed to be politically motivated. Ms Wilson-Raybould said that in various meetings, Mr Trudeau and senior staff repeatedly raised concerns about the possibility of job losses and potential political ramifications of a trial. She said she had made clear she was not prepared to help the company avoid a trial and that she believes it was why she was demoted in a Cabinet shuffle in January, which Mr Trudeau denies. Ms Wilson-Raybould also said during her testimony she did not believe any laws were broken." } ], "id": "767_1", "question": "What does the ex-justice minister allege?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3820, "answer_start": 3034, "text": "The company and two of its subsidiaries face fraud and corruption charges in relation to about C$48m ($36m; PS28m) in bribes it is alleged to have offered to Libyan officials between 2001-11. The firm has openly lobbied to be allowed to enter into a remediation agreement instead of going to trial, saying it has cleaned house and changed its ways. SNC-Lavalin and its supporters say it would be unfair to penalise the company as a whole and its thousands of employees for the wrongdoings of former executives. Preliminary hearings have begun and the company says it will \"vigorously defend itself\" against the allegations. A conviction on fraud and corruption charges could result in a decade-long ban on bidding on federal contracts, which would be a major financial hit for the firm." } ], "id": "767_2", "question": "What is SNC-Lavalin accused of?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4642, "answer_start": 3821, "text": "SNC-Lavalin is one of the world's largest engineering and construction companies and employs some 9,000 people in Canada. The firm has deep roots in the vote-rich province of Quebec, which is expected to be a battleground in this October's general election. This is not the first time SNC-Lavalin has found itself in trouble. In 2016, the agency that oversees Canadian federal elections said former executives had devised a scheme to illegally donate C$118,000 to the federal Liberals and Conservatives between 2004-11. The bulk of the funds went to the prime minister's Liberal Party. In 2013, the World Bank barred the firm and its affiliates for up to 10 years from bidding on contracts with the agency for \"misconduct\" in a bridge contract in Bangladesh, the longest debarment period ever handed down in a settlement." } ], "id": "767_3", "question": "What's the company background?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5779, "answer_start": 4643, "text": "Political commentators suggest Ms Wilson-Raybould's remarks are deeply damaging for Mr Trudeau and the Liberals. Writing in the Toronto Star, columnist Chantal Hebert says the prime minister was \"already up to his neck in the SNC-Lavalin mess\". \"On Wednesday, former attorney general Jody Wilson-Raybould pushed his head down further. It will be harder for the Liberal government to dig itself out of the deep hole she dug before the next campaign.\" In the National Post, columnist Andrew Coyne said Ms Wilson-Raybould's testimony suggested \"an attitude that appears to pervade this government: that the law is not an institution to be revered, but just another obstacle to get around, by whatever means necessary.\" Columnist Patrick Lagace, writing in Montreal newspaper La Presse, said her remarks suggest that \"for the Prime Minister and people acting on his orders, the rule of law and the independence of the Attorney General were at least negotiable\". In Maclean's magazine, Paul Wells suggests her remarks reveal a \"sickeningly smug protection racket whose participants must have been astonished when she refused to play along\"." } ], "id": "767_4", "question": "How bad is this for Trudeau?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Thousands have taken part in unplanned protests in Hong Kong after the territory's government announced a face mask ban, which came into effect at midnight (16:00 GMT). Chief executive Carrie Lam invoked a colonial-era emergency law in a bid to quell months of anti-government unrest. The ban comes after an escalation of violence during protests on 1 October, when an officer shot a demonstrator. Reports on Friday said a 14-year-old had been shot in the leg. He is reportedly being treated at Tuen Mun hospital and is in a serious condition. A police statement published by the South China Morning Post confirmed an officer \"fired one shot as his life was under serious threat\" after being attacked by a large group of protesters, including with petrol bombs. The statement does not however say if anyone was hit. The demonstrations have now died down throughout most of the territory, although there are still pockets of unrest. Protests erupted immediately after the ban was announced. Many left work early to join the spontaneous demonstrations. Some furious protesters blocked roads, torched Chinese flags and vandalised stations and businesses, as police fired rounds of tear gas. On Friday, the territory's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) announced a full service suspension of all trains, which will continue throughout Saturday. A spokesman told the BBC this was due to vandalism and attacks on staff. Images showed fires lit at stations, and reports suggest a train was set ablaze. Many Hong Kongers were forced to walk home amid the unrest. Mask-wearing activists had also earlier called on others to wear masks in defiance of the government, which critics fear is becoming increasingly authoritarian. Ms Lam said she was forced to invoke the colonial-era law because violence at the now-weekly protests was \"destroying the city\", and she could not allow the situation \"to get worse and worse\". Danny Vincent, BBC News, Hong Kong Angry protesters chanted as they marched through the heart of this financial hub. They ripped down a banner marking 70 years of communist rule, setting it alight in front of a cheering crowd. Hundreds wore masks in defiance of the ban. Today will be the last time demonstrators can hide their faces legally. Anonymity has become a key part of this movement but many fear that the introduction of this emergency law could lead to further restrictions. This protest movement began in opposition to an extradition bill now withdrawn from the legislature. The use of the emergency law did not need to go through the legislative body. Carrie Lam insists that the territory is not in a state of emergency, but the law allows her to take further emergency measures. Observers say the regulation will be hard to enforce and hugely controversial: critics have warned the mask ban could be the first in a series of \"draconian\" measures. \"This is a watershed. This is a Rubicon,\" pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo told news agency AFP. \"And I'm worried this could be just a starter. More draconian bans in the name of law could be lurking around the corner.\" The announcement has also prompted reaction from further afield, with Marta Hurtado, the United Nations human rights spokeswoman, noting at a news conference in Geneva that \"any restriction must have a basis in law and be proportionate and as least intrusive as possible\". UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, meanwhile, has said \"political dialogue is the only way to resolve the situation\". But Beijing has backed Carrie Lam and her administration. In a BBC Newsnight interview, China's ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming called the face mask ban \"timely and necessary\", and said it was \"too early to tell\" whether it had caused more violence. \"I think the [Hong Kong government] decided to introduce the ban because the situation has escalated to a dangerous level,\" he said, while adding that China was committed to respecting the One Country, Two Systems policy - which grants Hong Kong greater freedoms than in mainland China - until 2047. The ambassador also reiterated that China would intervene if the local authorities lost control. \"If the situation in Hong Kong becomes uncontrollable, we certainly won't sit on our hands and watch,\" he said. The ban will apply for approved and unapproved public assemblies - rallies and marches - as well as in unlawful assemblies and riots. The ban covers all kinds of facial covering, including face paint. Protesters have increasingly worn masks for a number of reasons, including to conceal their identities - from employers, parents and, in some cases, police - and to protect themselves from tear gas. There are exemptions for people wearing masks for health reasons, or if required by their profession. Ms Lam said \"violence had been escalating to alarming levels\" leading to a situation of \"chaos and panic\" in the city. The legislation invoked by Ms Lam, called the Emergency Regulations Ordinance, dates to 1922 and has not been used in more than 50 years. It enables the chief executive to bypass the normal legislative process, where bills have to go through the city's parliament, the Legislative Council. The ERO was last used in 1967 to help stop riots in the territory's trading hub. Ms Lam stressed the new regulation did not mean that Hong Kong was in a state of emergency. But she said the city was \"in a state of serious public danger\". Hong Kong's protests started in June, sparked by proposals to extradite suspected criminals to mainland China. The extradition bill has since been cancelled but protests have widened into pro-democracy and anti-police demonstrations. Over the months, clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent. On Tuesday, police shot a protester in the chest with a live bullet for the first time. Authorities say the 18-year-old - who was attacking police and was arrested after being shot - is in a stable condition in hospital. Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997. It has a \"one country, two systems\" agreement that guarantees it some autonomy, and its people certain freedoms, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. But those freedoms - the Basic Law - expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong's status will then be.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1901, "answer_start": 932, "text": "Protests erupted immediately after the ban was announced. Many left work early to join the spontaneous demonstrations. Some furious protesters blocked roads, torched Chinese flags and vandalised stations and businesses, as police fired rounds of tear gas. On Friday, the territory's Mass Transit Railway (MTR) announced a full service suspension of all trains, which will continue throughout Saturday. A spokesman told the BBC this was due to vandalism and attacks on staff. Images showed fires lit at stations, and reports suggest a train was set ablaze. Many Hong Kongers were forced to walk home amid the unrest. Mask-wearing activists had also earlier called on others to wear masks in defiance of the government, which critics fear is becoming increasingly authoritarian. Ms Lam said she was forced to invoke the colonial-era law because violence at the now-weekly protests was \"destroying the city\", and she could not allow the situation \"to get worse and worse\"." } ], "id": "768_0", "question": "What happened on Friday?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4237, "answer_start": 2696, "text": "Observers say the regulation will be hard to enforce and hugely controversial: critics have warned the mask ban could be the first in a series of \"draconian\" measures. \"This is a watershed. This is a Rubicon,\" pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia Mo told news agency AFP. \"And I'm worried this could be just a starter. More draconian bans in the name of law could be lurking around the corner.\" The announcement has also prompted reaction from further afield, with Marta Hurtado, the United Nations human rights spokeswoman, noting at a news conference in Geneva that \"any restriction must have a basis in law and be proportionate and as least intrusive as possible\". UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, meanwhile, has said \"political dialogue is the only way to resolve the situation\". But Beijing has backed Carrie Lam and her administration. In a BBC Newsnight interview, China's ambassador to the UK Liu Xiaoming called the face mask ban \"timely and necessary\", and said it was \"too early to tell\" whether it had caused more violence. \"I think the [Hong Kong government] decided to introduce the ban because the situation has escalated to a dangerous level,\" he said, while adding that China was committed to respecting the One Country, Two Systems policy - which grants Hong Kong greater freedoms than in mainland China - until 2047. The ambassador also reiterated that China would intervene if the local authorities lost control. \"If the situation in Hong Kong becomes uncontrollable, we certainly won't sit on our hands and watch,\" he said." } ], "id": "768_1", "question": "What's been the reaction to the ban?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4858, "answer_start": 4238, "text": "The ban will apply for approved and unapproved public assemblies - rallies and marches - as well as in unlawful assemblies and riots. The ban covers all kinds of facial covering, including face paint. Protesters have increasingly worn masks for a number of reasons, including to conceal their identities - from employers, parents and, in some cases, police - and to protect themselves from tear gas. There are exemptions for people wearing masks for health reasons, or if required by their profession. Ms Lam said \"violence had been escalating to alarming levels\" leading to a situation of \"chaos and panic\" in the city." } ], "id": "768_2", "question": "Where does the ban apply?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5386, "answer_start": 4859, "text": "The legislation invoked by Ms Lam, called the Emergency Regulations Ordinance, dates to 1922 and has not been used in more than 50 years. It enables the chief executive to bypass the normal legislative process, where bills have to go through the city's parliament, the Legislative Council. The ERO was last used in 1967 to help stop riots in the territory's trading hub. Ms Lam stressed the new regulation did not mean that Hong Kong was in a state of emergency. But she said the city was \"in a state of serious public danger\"." } ], "id": "768_3", "question": "What is the Emergency Regulations Ordinance?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6272, "answer_start": 5387, "text": "Hong Kong's protests started in June, sparked by proposals to extradite suspected criminals to mainland China. The extradition bill has since been cancelled but protests have widened into pro-democracy and anti-police demonstrations. Over the months, clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent. On Tuesday, police shot a protester in the chest with a live bullet for the first time. Authorities say the 18-year-old - who was attacking police and was arrested after being shot - is in a stable condition in hospital. Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997. It has a \"one country, two systems\" agreement that guarantees it some autonomy, and its people certain freedoms, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. But those freedoms - the Basic Law - expire in 2047 and it is not clear what Hong Kong's status will then be." } ], "id": "768_4", "question": "What is the background?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The UK prime minister and the Chinese Premier have agreed on a new trade and investment review, seen as a stepping stone to a full free trade agreement after Brexit. Theresa May says she expects deals worth PS9bn to be signed during the course of her visit. Chinese media is awash with claims that China and the UK are still living out the \"golden era\" of economic ties first proclaimed by David Cameron's government in 2015. But how much is the relationship worth to each country - and how does it compare globally? In terms of total trade in goods and services, China is the UK's fifth largest trading partner (in terms of countries) - and the second largest non-EU partner after the United States. In 2016, UK-China trade was worth PS59.1bn. The UK ran a trade deficit of PS25.4bn with China in 2016. Imports from China were PS42.3bn, whereas UK exports to China were worth PS16.8bn. However, British exports to China have increased by 64% since 2010. China lifting its ban on British beef might have made the news today, but Dr Jan Knoerich, from King's College London's Lau Institute, says that \"the big story, long-term, is for the UK to increase its export of services to China\". The UK had a surplus of PS1.6bn on trade in services with China in 2016, the largest being travel services. In contrast, when you look at goods, China exports PS27.1bn more to the UK than the UK does to China. Chinese companies invested about PS20bn in Britain in 2017, according to the American Enterprise Institute and Heritage Foundation. One of the best known investments is the controversial Hinkley Point nuclear power station, but some of their other interesting ones over the years include: - The 'Cheesegrater' - the tallest building in London's financial district was sold to Hong Kong-based CC Land for around PS1.15bn in March 2017. - Skyscanner - the Scottish flight price aggregator was sold to the Chinese travel firm Ctrip International in 2016. - Hamleys, the toy shop, was bought by C Banner International Holdings in 2015 - and in December the world's largest Hamleys opened in Beijing. - The breakfast cereal Weetabix was bought by the Chinese company Bright Food in 2012 - but then sold again in 2017 to an American company, reportedly after failing to crack the Chinese breakfast market. The EU is China's largest trading partner in goods, with the United States and countries from the Asia-Pacific region making up the rest of the top 10. In 2016, the UK was China's 20th largest source of imports, and its 10th largest market for exports, according to the World Bank. However, within the EU, the UK is China's second largest trading partner. Germany is its largest. What do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2676, "answer_start": 2297, "text": "The EU is China's largest trading partner in goods, with the United States and countries from the Asia-Pacific region making up the rest of the top 10. In 2016, the UK was China's 20th largest source of imports, and its 10th largest market for exports, according to the World Bank. However, within the EU, the UK is China's second largest trading partner. Germany is its largest." } ], "id": "769_0", "question": "How does the UK compare globally?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Nine more people have been injured in stabbings in London as the spate of violent crime in the capital continues. Seven people were stabbed in five incidents on Thursday. Two more were injured earlier - a male in his late teens or early 20s, and a 16-year-old boy who were found with stab injuries at the Whitgift Shopping Centre in Croydon, south London. They were taken to hospital following the attack at about 17:15 BST. No arrests have been made. It comes as the Met's commissioner Cressida Dick said the force has \"not lost control\" of London's streets despite the \"ghastly\" spate of violent crime. On Thursday, a boy aged 13 was seriously hurt in an attack in Newham, east London, and another in his late teens suffered stab wounds in Ealing, west London. Two 15-year-old boys and a 16-year-old were hurt in Mile End and another 15-year-old was stabbed in Poplar. A man, in his 40s, was stabbed in Herne Hill, south-east London, but his injuries are not thought to be serious. A man has been held on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the assault in Mile End and the injured 16-year-old, who had minor injuries, was also arrested. In addition to the stabbings, a man in his 20s was shot in the face in Tyers Street, Vauxhall, at about 01:25. He is in hospital and his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening, police said. No arrests have been made. - 12:50 Billet Road, Walthamstow - man in his early 20s, stable condition, no arrests - 17:30 East India Dock Road, Poplar - boy, 15, stable condition, no arrests - 18:06 Grove Road, Mile End - two boys aged 15, both serious but stable in hospital. One boy, 16, who was not stabbed but was treated at the scene for minor injuries, has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit grievous bodily harm - 18:57 Gainsborough Avenue, Newham - boy, 13, serious but stable. Police said three youths have been arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm with intent. A section 60 order, granting police stop and search powers across the whole borough, was announced on Friday afternoon and will remain in place until 06:00 on Saturday - 19:05 Ealing Broadway - man, 18, taken to hospital, not thought to be life-threatening injuries, no arrests - 22:05 Railton Road, Herne Hill - man in his 40s, not thought to be life-threatening injuries, no arrests Analysis by Daniel Wainwright, BBC England Data Unit One of the most alarming aspects of the latest stabbings in London is the very short space of time between them. Six of the reported stabbings on Thursday happened within 95 minutes of each other. Over the past two years there have been between eight and 15 \"knife crimes with injury\" on average each day in London, according to the Metropolitan Police. There were between 243 and 476 knife crimes with injury recorded in each month between February 2016 and February 2018. Last April there were 420 such crimes, an average of 14 every day. Protesters and community leaders gathered at Hackney Central station, east London, to call for an end to the recent bloodshed. It comes after London Mayor Sadiq Khan denied police had \"lost control of crime in London\" in the wake of more than 50 murders in the capital this year. On Wednesday, 18-year-old Israel Ogunsola was stabbed to death in Link Street, Hackney. On Monday, 17-year-old Tanesha Melbourne was killed in a drive-by shooting. Less than an hour after Tanesha was killed, 16-year-old Amaan Shakoor, from Leyton, was shot in the face in Walthamstow. He died the following day, becoming the youngest murder victim to die in London this year. Speaking to BBC Newsbeat near to where the schoolgirl died, a young man called Brandon urged his peers to \"get out\" of gangs. Brandon, who used to \"chill out\" with many gang members in the area, said: \"One day I just thought, what am I really doing here? \"People are dying that are not even in gangs. I don't know what it is, if they getting killed (by) accident, or mistaken identity, and it's just making me think, you gonna be next. \"Could it be one of my family, one of my friends. Could it be me?\" At the Hackney protest, people huddled around the station entrance before locking fists in a wide circle in solidarity for those killed. Protest organisers Guiding A New Generation - commonly known as G.A.N.G. - asked people to share their stories and pleaded for an end to the killings over a megaphone. Activist Boogz, 40, said: \"We are trying to guide these children to let them know that their life is not going in the right direction. \"I want to say to them this is not the life. \"All the music that you listen to which glorifies this kind of thing, all the money that they see, all the cars that they see people driving, they are being sold a lie, they are being sold a false narrative - and we are here to change that narrative for them.\" Four hours before Mr Ogunsola was stabbed on Wednesday, Hackney police were called to a bookmakers on Upper Clapton Road. There were reports of an unconscious man following an altercation. Medical staff tried to help the victim, aged 53, but he was pronounced dead at the scene. A post-mortem examination was set to take place earlier. A man has been arrested and will be interviewed by murder detectives from City of London Police, who have stepped in due to the \"current demand\" on the Met's Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC). There was also a fatal stabbing of a suspected burglar on Wednesday in Hither Green, south-east London, and, on Thursday, a man in his mid-20s was stabbed in Walthamstow. His injuries are not considered to be life-threatening. Officers need help from other organisations to stop the UK from becoming a \"police state\", the vice chairman of the Police Federation told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Che Donald said the recent spike in violent crime had led to questions \"that the police can't answer on their own\". He said London must learn from the joined up approach taken by Glasgow more than a decade ago, where knife crime was treated as a public health problem. \"We have to look at the fundamental root causes of why people - young men in particular - are carrying knives on the street. Do they feel unsafe? Is it a cultural issue, is it a social issue, is it an ideological issue?\" he added. \"What we do not want to do is turn it into a police state, but unfortunately we are left with very little options and opportunities to address this growing crime.\" In a statement, the Met said it is \"absolutely clear that we cannot tackle knife crime alone, we cannot enforce our way out of this and will do all we can to mobilise communities behind us and to help protect London\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2924, "answer_start": 2331, "text": "Analysis by Daniel Wainwright, BBC England Data Unit One of the most alarming aspects of the latest stabbings in London is the very short space of time between them. Six of the reported stabbings on Thursday happened within 95 minutes of each other. Over the past two years there have been between eight and 15 \"knife crimes with injury\" on average each day in London, according to the Metropolitan Police. There were between 243 and 476 knife crimes with injury recorded in each month between February 2016 and February 2018. Last April there were 420 such crimes, an average of 14 every day." } ], "id": "770_0", "question": "Is it unusual to have so many stabbings in London?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Canadian man unlocked a safe that had sat unopened in a small museum for decades, cracking the code on his first try with a lucky guess. Stephen Mills was visiting the Vermilion Heritage Museum with his family when he had a go at opening the iron box \"for a laugh\". The museum in the province of Alberta had previously tried numerous times to unlock the old safe - to no avail. The safe had not been opened since the late 1970s. The museum, housed in an old brick school building, hosts a collection on the history of Vermilion, a town of just over 4,000 people. Mr Mills, from Fort McMurray, Alberta, was visiting Vermilion with his extended family during a long weekend in May. \"When we go camping every summer, we've come to learn that every small town, no matter where you go, has something to offer,\" he told the BBC. So the family brought the children to see the museum and was given a tour by volunteer Tom Kibblewhite. One of the exhibits was a safe that had originally been in the town's Brunswick Hotel, which had opened in 1906. The safe itself is believed to have been bought in 1907. It was donated to the museum in the early 1990s after the hotel changed ownership and was renovated. Mr Mills said when they were shown the safe, the whole family \"was intrigued\". The museum had previously enlisted the help of experts to crack the code, tried default combinations, and had contacted former hotel employees to see if they could help. Like the Mills family, other museum visitors played around with trying to open it, with no success. You may also like: \"I said to [Mr Kibblewhite]: 'that's a crazy time capsule. You don't even know what's in it,'\" said Mr Mills, who works as a welder. He noticed the dial numbers ran from zero to 60, and decided to try 20-40-60. \"Typical combination lock, three times clockwise - 20 - two times counterclockwise - 40 - once clockwise - 60, tried the handle and it went,\" he said. \"I could tell it wasn't opened for a long time because some dust fell out from the locking mechanism.\" Mr Kibblewhite told the BBC \"it was a thrill\" when he turned and saw the door swinging open. Sadly no treasure. It contained an old pay sheet and part of a restaurant order pad, dating from the late 1970s. The pad included receipts for a mushroom burger for C$1.50 ($1.12; PS0.59) and a package of cigarettes for C$1.00. \"They have no value really, but they are of great interest to us. It gives us a little bit of idea of what the places were like in 1977, '78,\" said Mr Kibblewhite. The odds of Mr Mills correctly guessing the combination are pretty long, says the University of Toronto's Jeffrey Rosenthal, author of Knock on Wood: Luck, Chance, and the Meaning of Everything. He calculated the chance of correctly guessing the combination on one try as 1 in 216,000. (His calculation assumed the safe numbers actually ran from one to 60). But he noted that some combination locks allow for wiggle-room and if this one had a three-digit leeway, Mr Rosenthal put the chances at 1 in 8,000, \"which is still a small chance\". The fact that the combination was in a specific pattern and did not appear to be a random combination of numbers could also factor into a calculation of the odds, he added.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2125, "answer_start": 1279, "text": "The museum had previously enlisted the help of experts to crack the code, tried default combinations, and had contacted former hotel employees to see if they could help. Like the Mills family, other museum visitors played around with trying to open it, with no success. You may also like: \"I said to [Mr Kibblewhite]: 'that's a crazy time capsule. You don't even know what's in it,'\" said Mr Mills, who works as a welder. He noticed the dial numbers ran from zero to 60, and decided to try 20-40-60. \"Typical combination lock, three times clockwise - 20 - two times counterclockwise - 40 - once clockwise - 60, tried the handle and it went,\" he said. \"I could tell it wasn't opened for a long time because some dust fell out from the locking mechanism.\" Mr Kibblewhite told the BBC \"it was a thrill\" when he turned and saw the door swinging open." } ], "id": "771_0", "question": "How did he do it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3230, "answer_start": 2518, "text": "The odds of Mr Mills correctly guessing the combination are pretty long, says the University of Toronto's Jeffrey Rosenthal, author of Knock on Wood: Luck, Chance, and the Meaning of Everything. He calculated the chance of correctly guessing the combination on one try as 1 in 216,000. (His calculation assumed the safe numbers actually ran from one to 60). But he noted that some combination locks allow for wiggle-room and if this one had a three-digit leeway, Mr Rosenthal put the chances at 1 in 8,000, \"which is still a small chance\". The fact that the combination was in a specific pattern and did not appear to be a random combination of numbers could also factor into a calculation of the odds, he added." } ], "id": "771_1", "question": "What are the chances?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An 800-year-old \"crusader\" from a crypt in a Dublin church has been decapitated by vandals. Archdeacon David Pierpoint said the crusader's head had been \"severed from his body and taken away\". The discovery was made as a tour guide was preparing to open the church for visitors on Monday afternoon. Archdeacon Pierpoint said he was upset and disappointed that the church had been targeted again by vandals. The crypt of St Michan's was vandalised in 1996. Archdeacon Pierpoint told RTE the incident was devastating for the parish and community. He said initially he was \"quite disgusted\" when he saw what had happened, but now he was \"just sad\". \"It's a sad day for the church and a sad day for humanity that someone would do such a thing.\" Crusaders fought in a series of religious wars known as the Crusades which were sanctioned by the Church in the medieval period. The most commonly known of the crusades were campaigns in the eastern Mediterranean aimed at recovering the Holy Land from Muslim rule. There were seven major crusades as well as many less significant ones. Tours of the site are being cancelled for the foreseeable future. Last year about 27,000 people visited the church. In a statement, the Church of Ireland said the crypt had been badly damaged and several of the mummies, including the 400-year-old remains of a nun, had been desecrated in the incident. The crusader's body was turned over and his head was removed. Archdeacon Pierpoint said a solid steel internal gate was also taken but the immediate concern was securing the vaults. There are also concerns the remains will disintegrate in the open air as the conditions in the crypt keep them preserved. Gardai (Irish police) are examining CCTV footage from the church. The crypt of St Michan's was previously vandalised in 1996, when a group of teenagers broke in and took a number of mummified bodies from their coffins. \"They dragged them onto the ground and seemed to be playing football with their heads,\" Archdeacon Pierpoint told the Irish Times. He added: \"Thankfully at that time the guards did their jobs extremely well and they caught the perpetrators.\" Following the 1996 break-in, the crypts were closed to the public for a week, while the bodies were recovered.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1076, "answer_start": 741, "text": "Crusaders fought in a series of religious wars known as the Crusades which were sanctioned by the Church in the medieval period. The most commonly known of the crusades were campaigns in the eastern Mediterranean aimed at recovering the Holy Land from Muslim rule. There were seven major crusades as well as many less significant ones." } ], "id": "772_0", "question": "Who were the crusaders?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Vietnamese woman accused of killing Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's leader, has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of causing hurt by potentially deadly means. A Malaysian court sentenced Doan Thi Huong to three years and four months in jail, starting from her arrest in February 2017. However, under Malaysian law she could be freed by May, her lawyer said. Ms Huong would have faced the death penalty if found guilty of the murder. Mr Kim, the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong-un, was assassinated at Kuala Lumpur Airport in 2017 in broad daylight, with the toxic nerve agent VX. The development effectively means no-one has been held accountable for Mr Kim's death. \"In the first week of May, she will go home,\" Ms Huong's lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told reporters at the Shah Alam court, outside Malaysia's capital. Her step-mother Nguyen Thi Vy told BBC Vietnamese the family was \"very happy\". \"We have felt so thankful for all the support from the government, lawyers and communities,\" she said. The judge's decision comes after Ms Huong's Indonesian co-defendant Siti Aisyah unexpectedly walked free last month, after intervention from Malaysia's Attorney General. Ms Huong's hopes of a similar outcome were initially dashed on 14 March, when authorities rejected her request for the murder charge to be dropped and said her trial would go ahead. She cried in the courtroom, and told reporters: \"Only God knows that we did not commit the murder. I want my family to pray for me.\" Both women have always insisted they were innocent. They say they were tricked into carrying out the killing - which involved smearing a lethal nerve agent on the victim's face - and believed they were part of a reality TV prank. The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says Monday's verdict offers Malaysia a face-saving way out of an embarrassing murder trial, but will also be viewed by many as justice for the last remaining defendant. However, it means neither defendant was able to testify and give details of how they were brought into the plot, or who recruited them. Kim Jong-nam had been waiting to board a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Macau on 13 February 2017, when two women approached him in the departure area. CCTV footage showed one of them placing her hands over his face, then both women leaving the scene. Mr Kim died on the way to hospital from what was later found to be exposure to VX, one of the most toxic of all known chemical agents. North Korea has fiercely denied any involvement in the killing, but four men - believed to be North Koreans who fled Malaysia on the day of the murder - have also been charged in the case. They remain at large despite an Interpol \"red notice\", equivalent to an international arrest warrant.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2095, "answer_start": 688, "text": "\"In the first week of May, she will go home,\" Ms Huong's lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told reporters at the Shah Alam court, outside Malaysia's capital. Her step-mother Nguyen Thi Vy told BBC Vietnamese the family was \"very happy\". \"We have felt so thankful for all the support from the government, lawyers and communities,\" she said. The judge's decision comes after Ms Huong's Indonesian co-defendant Siti Aisyah unexpectedly walked free last month, after intervention from Malaysia's Attorney General. Ms Huong's hopes of a similar outcome were initially dashed on 14 March, when authorities rejected her request for the murder charge to be dropped and said her trial would go ahead. She cried in the courtroom, and told reporters: \"Only God knows that we did not commit the murder. I want my family to pray for me.\" Both women have always insisted they were innocent. They say they were tricked into carrying out the killing - which involved smearing a lethal nerve agent on the victim's face - and believed they were part of a reality TV prank. The BBC's South East Asia correspondent Jonathan Head says Monday's verdict offers Malaysia a face-saving way out of an embarrassing murder trial, but will also be viewed by many as justice for the last remaining defendant. However, it means neither defendant was able to testify and give details of how they were brought into the plot, or who recruited them." } ], "id": "773_0", "question": "What happens now?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2770, "answer_start": 2096, "text": "Kim Jong-nam had been waiting to board a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Macau on 13 February 2017, when two women approached him in the departure area. CCTV footage showed one of them placing her hands over his face, then both women leaving the scene. Mr Kim died on the way to hospital from what was later found to be exposure to VX, one of the most toxic of all known chemical agents. North Korea has fiercely denied any involvement in the killing, but four men - believed to be North Koreans who fled Malaysia on the day of the murder - have also been charged in the case. They remain at large despite an Interpol \"red notice\", equivalent to an international arrest warrant." } ], "id": "773_1", "question": "How was the murder carried out?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "France is to consider a change to its laws around sexual consent, according to the minister for gender equality. Marlene Schiappa said the government was considering setting a fixed age below which sex was automatically a serious offence. It comes after two cases where men were acquitted of raping two 11 year old girls. In France the age of consent is 15, but prosecutors still have to prove sex was non-consensual to prove rape. In an interview with French television programme BFM Politique, Ms Schiappa said that as a member of the government she \"could not react to court decisions\". But Ms Schiappa added she was looking at measures where \"below a certain age...that there is no debate on the sexual consent of the child\". Despite its age of consent, France currently does not have any law which defines sex with someone below a fixed age as rape. Currently in France if there is no violence or coercion proved, people may only be charged with sexual abuse of a minor and not rape - this has a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a fine of EUR75,000 (PS66,000; $87,000). Sentences are the same for sexual assaults of minors and non-minors, but punishments for rape have much harsher sentences. Ms Schiappa said her government was debating a defined age for irrefutable non-consent, between 13 and 15, as part of a new anti-sexism and sexual violence bill to be introduced in 2018. A public prosecutor said on Saturday that a 30-year-old man had been acquitted of rape after having sex with an 11-year-old girl in Seine-et-Marne in 2009 when he was 22. The girl's family reportedly only found out about the incident after the girl became pregnant. Her child is now seven and is reportedly in foster care. Local reports said the man's defence was that the girl had lied about her age to him. Because there was no evidence of \"threat or violence\" a criminal court ruled that the man could not be charged with raping her. It closely resembles a case in September which also prompted calls to change the law. A 28-year-old man was acquitted when he was tried for having sex with an 11-year-old girl from Val-d'Oise, north of Paris. She reportedly followed the man home from a park, but prosecutors said there had been \"no violence, no constraint, no threat, and no surprise\" to constitute a rape charge - the court therefore ruled she had consented. Age limits vary around the world, and exist to protect people who are not yet legally or emotionally competent to consent to sexual intercourse. There is no official global limit for the age of consent but it tends be about 16, and the UN's Human Rights body encourages countries to protect children from sexual exploitation. In the US, the age of sexual consent varies by state but is between 16 and 18 years old. There are however \"close in age exemptions\" (so-called Romeo and Juliet laws) to allow for small age gaps in consenting sexual relationships, to protect people from being labelled as sex offenders where one party is slightly underage. However, because of some legal loopholes, people below these ages still get married. An estimated 200,000 minors were married in the United States from 2000 to 2015. Child marriage and laws that require people to marry their rapists can circumvent legal age consent limitations in national laws. In the UK the age of sexual consent is 16, but children under the age of 13 have additional legal protections that declare they can never consent to sexual activity. Other European countries like Germany and Portugal have a lower age of consent at 14.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2360, "answer_start": 1397, "text": "A public prosecutor said on Saturday that a 30-year-old man had been acquitted of rape after having sex with an 11-year-old girl in Seine-et-Marne in 2009 when he was 22. The girl's family reportedly only found out about the incident after the girl became pregnant. Her child is now seven and is reportedly in foster care. Local reports said the man's defence was that the girl had lied about her age to him. Because there was no evidence of \"threat or violence\" a criminal court ruled that the man could not be charged with raping her. It closely resembles a case in September which also prompted calls to change the law. A 28-year-old man was acquitted when he was tried for having sex with an 11-year-old girl from Val-d'Oise, north of Paris. She reportedly followed the man home from a park, but prosecutors said there had been \"no violence, no constraint, no threat, and no surprise\" to constitute a rape charge - the court therefore ruled she had consented." } ], "id": "774_0", "question": "What were the cases?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3558, "answer_start": 2361, "text": "Age limits vary around the world, and exist to protect people who are not yet legally or emotionally competent to consent to sexual intercourse. There is no official global limit for the age of consent but it tends be about 16, and the UN's Human Rights body encourages countries to protect children from sexual exploitation. In the US, the age of sexual consent varies by state but is between 16 and 18 years old. There are however \"close in age exemptions\" (so-called Romeo and Juliet laws) to allow for small age gaps in consenting sexual relationships, to protect people from being labelled as sex offenders where one party is slightly underage. However, because of some legal loopholes, people below these ages still get married. An estimated 200,000 minors were married in the United States from 2000 to 2015. Child marriage and laws that require people to marry their rapists can circumvent legal age consent limitations in national laws. In the UK the age of sexual consent is 16, but children under the age of 13 have additional legal protections that declare they can never consent to sexual activity. Other European countries like Germany and Portugal have a lower age of consent at 14." } ], "id": "774_1", "question": "How does French law compare with elsewhere?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The American Museum of Natural History (AMNH) has said it will not now host an event at which Brazil's leader Jair Bolsonaro was due to be honoured. The museum drew heavy criticism for agreeing to host a ceremony at which Mr Bolsonaro, who has advocated relaxing environmental policies, was scheduled to receive a person of the year award. Museum officials said the event would now be held at a different location. They said that the museum in New York was \"not the optimal location\". The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit non-governmental organisation that promotes trade, investment and cultural ties between the two countries, hired the museum's Hall of Ocean Life for its annual gala to be held on 14 May. At the annual event, the chamber gives out its person of the year awards. This year one of those prizes is going to Mr Bolsonaro, who was sworn in as Brazil's president on 1 January. On its website, the organisation said it had chosen the far-right leader in recognition of \"his strongly stated intention of fostering closer commercial and diplomatic ties between Brazil and the United States and his firm commitment to building a strong and durable partnership between the two nations\". Previous recipients of the award have included former US President Bill Clinton and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Climate activists and environmental organisations such as Greenpeace have denounced Mr Bolsonaro as \"a threat to Brazil's ecosystem\". Most of those opposed to having the museum host the event pointed to the president's plans to open up parts of the Amazon rainforest for development, which they argued was not in keeping with the museum's mission. In a radio interview on 8 April, President Bolsonaro said he wanted the US to join in a development plan for the Amazon region. He also said that demarcations of indigenous reserves hampered development of the region and that he would abolish them if he could find a way to legally do so. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said President Bolsonaro was a \"very dangerous human being\". Mr de Blasio told radio station WNYC. \"He's dangerous not just because of his overt racism and homophobia, but because he is unfortunately the person with the most ability to be able to impact what happens in the Amazon going forward.\" Scientists with ties to the museum threatened to resign if the event went ahead and many made their anger public on social media. When the controversy first broke last week, the museum tweeted that its hall had been booked \"before the honouree was secured\". A day later, and after almost 3,000 people had commented on the tweet, most of them expressing their concern over President Bolsonaro's environmental policies, the museum tweeted again, thanking people for their thoughts. On Monday, the museum announced its decision to cancel its hosting of the event. It is not yet clear where it will be held. President Bolsonaro has not yet reacted to the change of venue.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1341, "answer_start": 485, "text": "The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce, a non-profit non-governmental organisation that promotes trade, investment and cultural ties between the two countries, hired the museum's Hall of Ocean Life for its annual gala to be held on 14 May. At the annual event, the chamber gives out its person of the year awards. This year one of those prizes is going to Mr Bolsonaro, who was sworn in as Brazil's president on 1 January. On its website, the organisation said it had chosen the far-right leader in recognition of \"his strongly stated intention of fostering closer commercial and diplomatic ties between Brazil and the United States and his firm commitment to building a strong and durable partnership between the two nations\". Previous recipients of the award have included former US President Bill Clinton and former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg." } ], "id": "775_0", "question": "How did this row erupt?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2435, "answer_start": 1342, "text": "Climate activists and environmental organisations such as Greenpeace have denounced Mr Bolsonaro as \"a threat to Brazil's ecosystem\". Most of those opposed to having the museum host the event pointed to the president's plans to open up parts of the Amazon rainforest for development, which they argued was not in keeping with the museum's mission. In a radio interview on 8 April, President Bolsonaro said he wanted the US to join in a development plan for the Amazon region. He also said that demarcations of indigenous reserves hampered development of the region and that he would abolish them if he could find a way to legally do so. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said President Bolsonaro was a \"very dangerous human being\". Mr de Blasio told radio station WNYC. \"He's dangerous not just because of his overt racism and homophobia, but because he is unfortunately the person with the most ability to be able to impact what happens in the Amazon going forward.\" Scientists with ties to the museum threatened to resign if the event went ahead and many made their anger public on social media." } ], "id": "775_1", "question": "What were the objections?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2973, "answer_start": 2436, "text": "When the controversy first broke last week, the museum tweeted that its hall had been booked \"before the honouree was secured\". A day later, and after almost 3,000 people had commented on the tweet, most of them expressing their concern over President Bolsonaro's environmental policies, the museum tweeted again, thanking people for their thoughts. On Monday, the museum announced its decision to cancel its hosting of the event. It is not yet clear where it will be held. President Bolsonaro has not yet reacted to the change of venue." } ], "id": "775_2", "question": "What did the museum say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US labour market barrelled forward in January, as employers added more jobs than expected and wage growth was its strongest in more than eight years. US payrolls expanded by 200,000 last month, driven by hiring in construction, food services and health care, the US Labor Department said. The average hourly wage for private sector workers crept up 2.9% compared to January 2017. The unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%. Economists have puzzled over lacklustre wage growth, which has lagged in prior months despite the decline in the unemployment rate. Without higher wages, economists have warned that economic growth will be difficult to sustain, since consumer spending plays a large role in the US economy. The Labor Department report, released on Friday, showed average hourly earnings for private sector workers rose 9 cents in January, to $26.74. For the year, the increase was 75 cents. The wage uptick coincided with mandatory minimum pay increases in 18 states. Major employers such as Walmart have also said they planned to boost earnings or provide bonuses. Those factors may have helped lift last month's numbers, but they make it harder to say if the increases will continue, said Lindsey Piezga, chief economist for fixed income at Stifel, based in Chicago. \"While that is encouraging, what we really need to see is sustained wage growth, not one-off, month-to-month volatility,\" she said. Other data in the report was a reminder that monthly gains can be fleeting. For example, the unemployment rate among black workers jumped in January to 7.7%, rising after falling to a record low of 6.8% in December. President Donald Trump had trumpeted that decline as evidence of economic improvement. The US is now in its ninth year of expansion and has been adding jobs steadily since 2010. The increases in January occurred across most industries, a sign of solid growth. The pace of hiring is slowing, however. Over the last three months, payrolls increased by an average of 192,000 jobs, compared to over 200,000 in the same period the prior year. \"I don't think we should be too excited about this,\" said Ms Piezga. \"The momentum of the US economy is waning. We're still talking about positive growth, positive job creation, but at a slower pace.\" Economists have said some slowdown in job creation is to be expected as new workers become harder to find. Despite a relatively high number of job openings, participation in the labour force has remained stuck below 63%, several percentage points lower than it was before the financial crisis. US stock indexes slid after the report. Analysts said part of the decline was due to investor reaction to the wage increase, which is likely to keep the Federal Reserve on track to raise interest rates - and could make policymakers move more aggressively. The Fed is one of several central banks that are turning from policies that were designed to boost economic activity in the aftermath of the financial crisis.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2974, "answer_start": 1714, "text": "The US is now in its ninth year of expansion and has been adding jobs steadily since 2010. The increases in January occurred across most industries, a sign of solid growth. The pace of hiring is slowing, however. Over the last three months, payrolls increased by an average of 192,000 jobs, compared to over 200,000 in the same period the prior year. \"I don't think we should be too excited about this,\" said Ms Piezga. \"The momentum of the US economy is waning. We're still talking about positive growth, positive job creation, but at a slower pace.\" Economists have said some slowdown in job creation is to be expected as new workers become harder to find. Despite a relatively high number of job openings, participation in the labour force has remained stuck below 63%, several percentage points lower than it was before the financial crisis. US stock indexes slid after the report. Analysts said part of the decline was due to investor reaction to the wage increase, which is likely to keep the Federal Reserve on track to raise interest rates - and could make policymakers move more aggressively. The Fed is one of several central banks that are turning from policies that were designed to boost economic activity in the aftermath of the financial crisis." } ], "id": "776_0", "question": "Slowing momentum?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The publisher of the New York Times has urged President Donald Trump not to continue labelling reporters \"enemies of the people\", saying it could \"lead to violence\" against the media. AG Sulzberger made the details of their off-the-record meeting public after Mr Trump tweeted about it. In his initial tweet, the president said it had been a \"very good\" meeting. But he later accused media of putting people's lives at risk through their reporting. His first tweet read: \"Spent much time talking about the vast amounts of Fake News being put out by the media & how that Fake News has morphed into phrase, 'Enemy of the People.' Sad!\" He did not refer to his own repeated use of the phrase. The New York Times then released its statement, saying it had decided to \"respond to the president's characterisation of their conversation\". Mr Sulzberger said he had accepted the meeting with Mr Trump to raise concerns about the president's \"deeply troubling anti-press rhetoric\". He said he told Mr Trump that the phrase \"fake news\" was \"untrue and harmful\" but said he was \"far more concerned about his labelling journalists 'the enemy of the people'\". \"I warned that this inflammatory language is contributing to a rise in threats against journalists and will lead to violence,\" he said. Mr Sulzberger said he had told the president that this was particularly true in other countries, where he said Mr Trump's rhetoric was being used by some regimes to crack down on journalists. \"I warned that it was putting lives at risk, that it was undermining the democratic ideals of our nation, and that it was eroding one of our country's greatest exports: a commitment to free speech and a free press,\" he said. The New York Times publisher said he was not asking Mr Trump not to criticise his newspaper if he was unhappy with its coverage but asking him to \"reconsider his broader attacks on journalism\". After Mr Sulzberger's statement was made public, Mr Trump appeared to respond, tweeting that media reporting on the \"internal deliberations\" of government \"truly puts the lives of many, not just journalists, at risk\". He said the media was being \"driven insane by their Trump Derangement Syndrome\" and accused them of writing \"bad stories even on very positive achievements\". In the UK, watch Reporting Trump's First Year, following the inner workings of The New York Times on BBC iPlayer. By Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America reporter The first time Donald Trump called the media \"the enemy of the people\", it elicited outrage. Arizona Republican Senator Jeff Flake called it an example of an \"unprecedented\" White House assault on the free press. The second, third and fourth times Mr Trump used the phrase, it barely merited a shrug. Such is the unique talent of this president - to take an action or opinion that once seemed outrageous and turn it into a new kind of normal. Even when the words don't generate headlines anymore, however, journalists still take note. When a newsroom in Maryland was sprayed with bullets just a few weeks ago, the perils of the profession - even in an established, \"safe\" Western democracy - were put in stark relief. Mr Sulzberger tried to drive this point home in his previously secret meeting with Mr Trump nine days ago. The message, however, may not have been received. In his Sunday morning tweet, the president suggests it's the media's fault that he has labelled them \"enemies of the American people\". For Mr Trump, this kind of language - if it is a problem - is a problem the media have to fix, not him. In February 2017 he tweeted that the New York Times as well as other outlets NBC, ABC, CNN and CBS were \"the enemy of the American people\". He reportedly then used the phrase again during a conference the following week. In June this year he again used the phrase on Twitter during the controversy over the short-lived US policy of separating migrant children from their families at the US border. Earlier this month he responded to criticism of his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the same way.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4054, "answer_start": 3545, "text": "In February 2017 he tweeted that the New York Times as well as other outlets NBC, ABC, CNN and CBS were \"the enemy of the American people\". He reportedly then used the phrase again during a conference the following week. In June this year he again used the phrase on Twitter during the controversy over the short-lived US policy of separating migrant children from their families at the US border. Earlier this month he responded to criticism of his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin in the same way." } ], "id": "777_0", "question": "When has Trump called journalists 'enemies of the people'?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Donald Trump has said he has \"no doubt\" his administration will win legal challenges to his travel ban. But he told reporters on Air Force One he is considering a \"brand new order\" as his old one flounders in the courts. The action barred entry from refugees and citizens from seven mainly Muslim countries, until it was halted a week ago by a Seattle judge. Mr Trump could take it to the Supreme Court but there were US media reports on Friday that was not a priority. Flying to Florida on Friday afternoon, the president told reporters: \"We'll win that battle. The unfortunate part is it takes time. We'll win that battle. But we also have a lot of other options, including just filing a brand new order.\" It is unclear what a new order might look like. Mr Trump said it would change \"very little\". On Thursday, an appeals court said the administration failed to offer \"any evidence\" to justify the ban, which the president says is crucial to keep the US safe from terror attacks. In a press conference with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe, Mr Trump also promised to move \"rapidly\" to introduce \"additional security\" steps for the US next week. He spoke as Virginia state lawyers argued in court that his policy \"resulted from animus toward Muslims\". It is one of a dozen lawsuits now moving through the US court system against the Trump administration's policy. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring's spokesman said it would be \"the most in-depth examination of the merits of the arguments against the ban\". The challenge focuses on the travel restrictions imposed by the ban, rather than the four-month suspension of refugee admissions. Read more on this story: But lawyers for the US government in Virginia wrote that \"judicial second-guessing\" amounted to \"an impermissible intrusion\" on Mr Trump's constitutional authority. US District Court Judge Leonie Brinkema said federal government lawyers needed to come up with better evidence to explain why the seven countries posed a threat. \"You haven't given us any evidence whatsoever,\" she said. The judge hearing the case was appointed by President Bill Clinton in 1993. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals said it would not block a ruling by a Seattle court a week ago that halted Mr Trump's 27 January executive order. The San Francisco-based court's three judges unanimously agreed that the government had not proved that any terror threat justified reviving the ban. It means visa holders from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen can continue to enter the US, and refugees from around the world, who were also subject to a temporary ban, are no longer blocked either. But the ruling does not affect one part of Mr Trump's controversial executive order: a cap of 50,000 refugees to be admitted in the current fiscal year, down from the ceiling of 110,000 established under Barack Obama. On Friday morning, Mr Trump was still fuming about the ruling, calling it \"a disgraceful decision!\" But it is not clear if he intends to ask the US justice department to file an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, or keep battling in the lower courts. Mr Trump is currently trying to fill a vacancy on the nine-seat bench of the highest court in the land, which is seen as ideologically split 4-4. Republicans said Thursday's ruling was to be expected from a court perceived to be liberal-leaning. Some legal commentators criticised the decision's lack of comment on a 1952 law giving the president power to suspend entry of \"any class of aliens\" when he finds their entry \"would be detrimental\" to the country. However, the law was revised in 1965 to stipulate that immigrants could not be denied a visa because of their race, sex, nationality or place of birth.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1643, "answer_start": 1254, "text": "It is one of a dozen lawsuits now moving through the US court system against the Trump administration's policy. Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring's spokesman said it would be \"the most in-depth examination of the merits of the arguments against the ban\". The challenge focuses on the travel restrictions imposed by the ban, rather than the four-month suspension of refugee admissions." } ], "id": "778_0", "question": "What's this Virginia case?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2863, "answer_start": 2130, "text": "The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals said it would not block a ruling by a Seattle court a week ago that halted Mr Trump's 27 January executive order. The San Francisco-based court's three judges unanimously agreed that the government had not proved that any terror threat justified reviving the ban. It means visa holders from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen can continue to enter the US, and refugees from around the world, who were also subject to a temporary ban, are no longer blocked either. But the ruling does not affect one part of Mr Trump's controversial executive order: a cap of 50,000 refugees to be admitted in the current fiscal year, down from the ceiling of 110,000 established under Barack Obama." } ], "id": "778_1", "question": "What happened on Thursday?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3730, "answer_start": 2864, "text": "On Friday morning, Mr Trump was still fuming about the ruling, calling it \"a disgraceful decision!\" But it is not clear if he intends to ask the US justice department to file an emergency appeal to the Supreme Court, or keep battling in the lower courts. Mr Trump is currently trying to fill a vacancy on the nine-seat bench of the highest court in the land, which is seen as ideologically split 4-4. Republicans said Thursday's ruling was to be expected from a court perceived to be liberal-leaning. Some legal commentators criticised the decision's lack of comment on a 1952 law giving the president power to suspend entry of \"any class of aliens\" when he finds their entry \"would be detrimental\" to the country. However, the law was revised in 1965 to stipulate that immigrants could not be denied a visa because of their race, sex, nationality or place of birth." } ], "id": "778_2", "question": "What was the reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It was the year Australia went to war in the Gulf, when Monica Seles and Boris Becker won tennis grand slams in Melbourne, and The Simpsons was first shown on Aussie television, while a swooning Bryan Adams was a hit with love-struck teenagers (\"Look into your heart, baby\"). It was 1991, and the last time Australia tasted the bitter economic taste of recession, defined in these parts, at least, as two or more back-to-back quarters of negative growth in real gross domestic product, or the value of all services and goods. Since then, Australia has sidestepped the worst effects of the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and its more destructive big brother that hammered global markets a decade or so later. Australia's economy - the \"wonder down under\" - has somehow dodged the unstoppable forces that sent other wealthy countries tumbling into reverse. For this, a nation of 24 million people must thank not only sound judgement by those in charge but also good fortune, according to Shane Oliver, chief economist at financial services company AMP in Sydney. \"I certainly don't see Australia as being a miracle,\" he says. \"It has had a bit of good luck and good management, but it would be dangerous to assume that it is never going to have a recession again.\" The economy is growing by about 1.9% per year, according to the Reserve Bank. In 2012, that figure was 3.7%. Weaker growth means that pay packets are shrinking for many workers when adjusted for the rising cost of living, and near-record levels of underemployment are stifling wage increases. In August, retail sales posted their biggest retreat in about four-and-a-half years, falling by 0.6%, with cafes and restaurants reporting declining turnovers. Rocks, coal and demand from China insulated this country from the global financial meltdown in 2008, as a red-hot mining industry delivered unprecedented wealth. Surging commodity prices fuelled the bonanza in Western Australia and Queensland, which propped up under-performing states in the south-east, where most Australians live. Shane Oliver says the situation has now \"been turned on its head\" and Australia is once again in transition. The mining boom has faded, but areas that once struggled have bounced back in part because of record low interest rates that have unleashed a frenzy into the housing market. Meanwhile, eye-watering wads of public money have poured into infrastructure projects, which are redefining parts of New South Wales, the most populous state. There was another critical factor that helped Australia to largely avoid the ravages of the global financial crisis - unprecedented spending by the Labor government that boosted public expenditure by a whopping 13% in an attempt to stimulate growth. It was a classic Keynesian economic manoeuvre to use billions of dollars to sustain household spending, demand and employment. Australia loves to win. Here international cricket matches are akin to \"wars\" and Olympic gold medals - or a lack thereof - are greeted with congratulatory back-slapping - or hand-wringing. If there was a podium for economic success, this is a country that would be bending forward to accept the award. More than 25 years of uninterrupted growth is a remarkable achievement, although there is debate about the competition. Some commentators believe the recent economic prosperity enjoyed by the Netherlands lasted for (only) 22 years, putting it firmly into silver medal position behind the Aussies. Tim Harcourt, an economics fellow at the University of New South Wales, believes Australia deserves the plaudits. \"This time the 'lucky country' made its own luck. \"The Hawke-Keating [government] reforms of the 1980s and 1990s - the currency float, tariff changes, and embrace of Asia - set up us up for a quarter of a century of growth. \"Australia found itself in the right place at the right time and embraced the Asia century,\" he argues. But as the economy has soared, some Australians have been left behind. At almost 13%, youth unemployment is more than twice the national average. Labouring work had left 21-year-old Mohammad Al-Khafaji, the son of an Iranian refugee, with endless back pain and homelessness soon followed. \"I was just trying to apply for jobs online, and then people were just putting me down saying 'you are never going to get that job', so I just stopped trying,\" he says. Mohammad is now employed by a hire car company in Sydney, and has ambitions to one day be the boss. He works with Shiv Dhingra, an Indian migrant from Punjab. They are proof that much of Australia's economic might is down to immigration. \"I am the only one working in my family,\" Shiv explained. \"I am the main financial support they have. I am working seven days a week for the last year. I've got plans for my own business.\" Both young men were helped by Charity Bounce, a Sydney-based non-profit organisation that uses basketball to reach out to the disadvantaged and long-term unemployed, who, according to chief executive, Ian Heininger, also deserve a slice of Australia's prosperity. \"We find a lot of the young people are desperate to find work,\" he says, \"desperate to find an opportunity that is going to get them into a place where they are contributing back to the world.\" But will they be part of an ever-expanding economy? Mr Oliver thinks Australia's luck will eventually run out, but not for a while. \"The Aussie economy is probably going to continue muddling along, not fantastically strong as housing slows and consumer spending remains a bit weak,\" he predicts. \"We are probably going to go for at least another few years before we have that recession some people say is inevitable.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3469, "answer_start": 1718, "text": "Rocks, coal and demand from China insulated this country from the global financial meltdown in 2008, as a red-hot mining industry delivered unprecedented wealth. Surging commodity prices fuelled the bonanza in Western Australia and Queensland, which propped up under-performing states in the south-east, where most Australians live. Shane Oliver says the situation has now \"been turned on its head\" and Australia is once again in transition. The mining boom has faded, but areas that once struggled have bounced back in part because of record low interest rates that have unleashed a frenzy into the housing market. Meanwhile, eye-watering wads of public money have poured into infrastructure projects, which are redefining parts of New South Wales, the most populous state. There was another critical factor that helped Australia to largely avoid the ravages of the global financial crisis - unprecedented spending by the Labor government that boosted public expenditure by a whopping 13% in an attempt to stimulate growth. It was a classic Keynesian economic manoeuvre to use billions of dollars to sustain household spending, demand and employment. Australia loves to win. Here international cricket matches are akin to \"wars\" and Olympic gold medals - or a lack thereof - are greeted with congratulatory back-slapping - or hand-wringing. If there was a podium for economic success, this is a country that would be bending forward to accept the award. More than 25 years of uninterrupted growth is a remarkable achievement, although there is debate about the competition. Some commentators believe the recent economic prosperity enjoyed by the Netherlands lasted for (only) 22 years, putting it firmly into silver medal position behind the Aussies." } ], "id": "779_0", "question": "Period of transition?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Wood burning stoves, open fires and farms all face new restrictions as the government sets out what it calls a \"world leading\" plan to tackle air pollution. In their Clean Air Strategy, published today, the government promises to set a \"bold new goal\" to reduce particulates across much of the country by 2030. But green groups say the scheme is vague and severely lacking in detail. They believe the plan proposes nothing new to tackle roadside dirty air. The new strategy, which is focused on tackling air pollution in England, has been launched just days after the family of a nine-year-old girl who died from asthma were given permission to apply for a fresh inquest into her death. The government's chief lawyer heard new evidence her death could be linked to unlawful levels of air pollution. Catherine Bazell is a retired London librarian who suffers from asthma and a condition called bronchiectasis. It's a long-term illness where the airways of the lungs become abnormally widened, leading to a build-up of excess mucus that can make the lungs more vulnerable to infection. \"People can't always see dirty air but it's there,\" she told BBC News. \"I find it really frustrating, it means that I feel really tired, I can get tightness in my chest, I find it hard to breathe, it just stops you from doing all things you'd like to do. \"You see the alerts, that say it's a very polluted day today and you are obliged to stay in to keep away from the pollution, and that makes me quite angry because why should we have to stay in? \"We need to do something about the air pollution so that people can live normal lives.\" While overall levels of air pollution have been declining in recent decades, there has also been a growing scientific awareness of the scale of problems that it causes. NHS England says that almost 30% of preventable deaths in England are due to non-communicable diseases specifically attributed to air pollution. A pollutant called Particulate Matter (PM) is a particular concern with the World Health Organization (WHO) identifying it as the most damaging for people. Fine particulates, known as PM2.5, are around 200 times smaller than a grain of sand. They are a major health worry as they can penetrate deep into your lungs, pass into your bloodstream and get embedded in your bodily organs and your brain. The WHO's models indicate that around 92% of the world's population live in places where air quality levels exceed their guidelines. In the UK, more than 40 cities and towns were at, or have exceeded, the WHO limit. The government has previously said it will reduce by half the number of people living in areas breaching the WHO limits by 2025. But they now say they will go beyond this and set a \"world leading\" goal on exposure to PM2.5. Without giving many details, or a timeline, the government says that by 2030, fine particulate concentrations will be reduced below the WHO safe level \"across much of the country\". The government says it will publish evidence early in 2019 on what actions will be needed to meet this new target. Ministers argue that Brexit will allow the UK to go much further on this issue than the EU and become the first major economy to adopt air quality goals based on WHO recommendations. The most important activity that contributes to particulate pollution is the burning of fuels such as wood and coal in open fires and domestic stoves. Farming is also a major problem, as emissions of ammonia have increased in recent years. This gas reacts in the atmosphere with other chemicals to produce particulate matter that can be carried on the wind to major population centres. To deal with domestic burning, the government will ban the sale of the most polluting fuels and ensure that only the cleanest stoves are available for sale by 2022. They are also consulting on phasing out the sale of traditional house coal and on limiting the sale of wet wood, the type found on garage forecourts. The government's plan for these fuels is expected within months. For farmers, the government says it will introduce regulations to require them to use low emission farming techniques. There will be advice, training and support to help them invest in the technology to limit ammonia. The move on particulate matter has been welcomed by the WHO as an \"example for the rest of the world to follow\". Green campaigners also recognise the value of adopting the WHO guidelines but are worried about the lack of legally binding limits. \"The government has made a welcome commitment to set an ambitious new target for cleaning up the most dangerous fine particle air pollution, based on WHO standards,\" said Jenny Bates from Friends of the Earth. \"But while the WHO says standards should be reached by 2030, there is no date set in the government's strategy and the plan is severely lacking in detail on how such a target could be met.\" Scientists also say the government initiative is laudable but may not work for everyone across the UK. \"The full evidence on reductions needed to attain the tougher WHO guidelines for PM2.5 is to be published later,\" said Prof Alastair Lewis from them National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of York. \"One would anticipate that there are likely to be some urban areas of the UK where this could be close to impossible to achieve.\" Just a few years ago, garages across the UK reeked of oil and petrol. The smells usually came from the evaporation of fuel vapour, which released volatile organic compounds into the air. However, regulations to limit the emissions of these powerful air pollutants changed the odour of the UK's forecourts. These new government plans may have a similar impact on some current air pollution smells. If the proposed restrictions on solid fuels go ahead, the smoky whiff of winter over many cities and towns might also disappear. The government says it will also provide a \"personal air quality messaging system\" to inform vulnerable members of the public with clear information about the forecast and accessible health advice. As well as new information, the new plan envisages that everyone will be financially better off if the plan succeeds. Air pollution is now the fourth biggest public health threat behind cancer, obesity and heart disease. According to the government, the steps outlined in this plan will cut the costs of dirty air to the UK by PS1.7bn every year from 2020, rising to PS5.3bn every year from 2030. Across the UK, about 1.5 million households use wood for fuel but these fires and stoves will now face restrictions because of their leading role in the production of particulate matter. Most people don't realise that a wood burning stove emits more particles per hour than a diesel truck. That's because a freshly cut log of wood contains about a pint of water, and much of the heat energy is used to dry the water out, which causes the wood to smoke and smoulder, releasing air pollutants. The key impact of the new strategy on existing stove owners will be on fuels like wet wood, and traditional house coal, which will likely be phased out. The government also plans to give local authorities more powers over existing smoke control areas, where you can only burn smokeless fuel - if you want to burn wood it must be in an approved device. The new strategy doesn't spell out what these extra powers will be, but the idea is to make regulations easier to enforce. The document also suggests that the government is looking to help local authorities \"to increase the rate of upgrades for inefficient and polluting heating devices\". The government will also ensure that all new stoves sold from 2022 comply with EU eco-design regulations. In fact, stoves branded eco-design compliant are already on the market. \"They won't look any different,\" said Dennis Milligan from the UK's Stove Industry Alliance. \"But the technology will allow combustion higher up in the fire chamber so that re-ignites any particles of wood that are in the smoke so the emissions that come out the chimney are reduced by 80% compared to a stove manufactured ten years ago.\" It's not clear what difference these new regulations will make to sales of wood burning stoves - Recent data indicate that the market has boomed, largely driven by people looking to burn wood for its aesthetic appeal. UK levels of pollution from nitrogen oxides, produced in the main by diesel cars, have regularly exceeded European targets. So much so that the government has been successfully sued in the courts by campaign group Client Earth, to force them to come up with a plan. In July 2017, the government introduced their detailed scheme for roads, which essentially puts the responsibility in the hands of local authorities. The cities with the worst pollution are supposed to develop plans for clean air zones that will charge drivers to enter. However, campaigners believe the government has its head in the sand on pollution from transport. As well as clean air zones, they should be taking steps to cut the number of vehicles on the roads. \"They are hoping it will all go away but the reality is an awful lot more needs to be done,\" Jenny Bates from Friends of the Earth told BBC News. \"I think they are afraid of the motoring lobby and they shouldn't be.\" Other forms of transport are dealt with in the new plan including rail and shipping. The government says it wants to see the removal of all diesel-only trains by 2040. There are many ways to help. Swapping your car for walking, cycling or taking public transport is a major plus. For most of us, the health benefits far outweigh the risks of roadside pollution. You can also turn off your engine when you're stuck in a jam, or buy electric when you replace your vehicle. At home, you can burn less in your fireplace or your garden; service your gas boiler; and turn down your thermostat. Insulating your house means you'll burn less fuel. You can group on-line purchases to reduce the number of deliveries. And you can buy non-toxic cleaning fluids and sprays, because ordinary products cause emissions in the home. \"Air fresheners\" actually pollute the air. But one irony: much of the UK's pollution originates in mainland Europe, so we really need neighbouring countries to join the effort. As well as trying to deal with the major sources of particulate matter, the government's plan also deals with pollution that arises from ammonia, sulphur dioxide and non-methane volatile organic compounds. Ammonia from farms is a major focus as outlined above, for the role it plays in the development of PM. However, it also poses major threats to sensitive natural habitats. \"Ammonia in the air over our farmlands dissolves into our wetlands and waterways and wreaks havoc on delicate aquatic ecosystems,\" said Hannah Freeman from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. \"The proposed measures are a step forward, but what we really want is government policy that supports farmers to be true stewards, holistically managing our air, soil and water together.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3251, "answer_start": 1621, "text": "While overall levels of air pollution have been declining in recent decades, there has also been a growing scientific awareness of the scale of problems that it causes. NHS England says that almost 30% of preventable deaths in England are due to non-communicable diseases specifically attributed to air pollution. A pollutant called Particulate Matter (PM) is a particular concern with the World Health Organization (WHO) identifying it as the most damaging for people. Fine particulates, known as PM2.5, are around 200 times smaller than a grain of sand. They are a major health worry as they can penetrate deep into your lungs, pass into your bloodstream and get embedded in your bodily organs and your brain. The WHO's models indicate that around 92% of the world's population live in places where air quality levels exceed their guidelines. In the UK, more than 40 cities and towns were at, or have exceeded, the WHO limit. The government has previously said it will reduce by half the number of people living in areas breaching the WHO limits by 2025. But they now say they will go beyond this and set a \"world leading\" goal on exposure to PM2.5. Without giving many details, or a timeline, the government says that by 2030, fine particulate concentrations will be reduced below the WHO safe level \"across much of the country\". The government says it will publish evidence early in 2019 on what actions will be needed to meet this new target. Ministers argue that Brexit will allow the UK to go much further on this issue than the EU and become the first major economy to adopt air quality goals based on WHO recommendations." } ], "id": "780_0", "question": "What's the key aim of this new clean air strategy?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4235, "answer_start": 3252, "text": "The most important activity that contributes to particulate pollution is the burning of fuels such as wood and coal in open fires and domestic stoves. Farming is also a major problem, as emissions of ammonia have increased in recent years. This gas reacts in the atmosphere with other chemicals to produce particulate matter that can be carried on the wind to major population centres. To deal with domestic burning, the government will ban the sale of the most polluting fuels and ensure that only the cleanest stoves are available for sale by 2022. They are also consulting on phasing out the sale of traditional house coal and on limiting the sale of wet wood, the type found on garage forecourts. The government's plan for these fuels is expected within months. For farmers, the government says it will introduce regulations to require them to use low emission farming techniques. There will be advice, training and support to help them invest in the technology to limit ammonia." } ], "id": "780_1", "question": "How will the UK reach this 'bold new goal'?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5329, "answer_start": 4236, "text": "The move on particulate matter has been welcomed by the WHO as an \"example for the rest of the world to follow\". Green campaigners also recognise the value of adopting the WHO guidelines but are worried about the lack of legally binding limits. \"The government has made a welcome commitment to set an ambitious new target for cleaning up the most dangerous fine particle air pollution, based on WHO standards,\" said Jenny Bates from Friends of the Earth. \"But while the WHO says standards should be reached by 2030, there is no date set in the government's strategy and the plan is severely lacking in detail on how such a target could be met.\" Scientists also say the government initiative is laudable but may not work for everyone across the UK. \"The full evidence on reductions needed to attain the tougher WHO guidelines for PM2.5 is to be published later,\" said Prof Alastair Lewis from them National Centre for Atmospheric Science at the University of York. \"One would anticipate that there are likely to be some urban areas of the UK where this could be close to impossible to achieve.\"" } ], "id": "780_2", "question": "What has been the reaction to this part of the strategy?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6450, "answer_start": 5330, "text": "Just a few years ago, garages across the UK reeked of oil and petrol. The smells usually came from the evaporation of fuel vapour, which released volatile organic compounds into the air. However, regulations to limit the emissions of these powerful air pollutants changed the odour of the UK's forecourts. These new government plans may have a similar impact on some current air pollution smells. If the proposed restrictions on solid fuels go ahead, the smoky whiff of winter over many cities and towns might also disappear. The government says it will also provide a \"personal air quality messaging system\" to inform vulnerable members of the public with clear information about the forecast and accessible health advice. As well as new information, the new plan envisages that everyone will be financially better off if the plan succeeds. Air pollution is now the fourth biggest public health threat behind cancer, obesity and heart disease. According to the government, the steps outlined in this plan will cut the costs of dirty air to the UK by PS1.7bn every year from 2020, rising to PS5.3bn every year from 2030." } ], "id": "780_3", "question": "How will this new strategy impact me?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8318, "answer_start": 6451, "text": "Across the UK, about 1.5 million households use wood for fuel but these fires and stoves will now face restrictions because of their leading role in the production of particulate matter. Most people don't realise that a wood burning stove emits more particles per hour than a diesel truck. That's because a freshly cut log of wood contains about a pint of water, and much of the heat energy is used to dry the water out, which causes the wood to smoke and smoulder, releasing air pollutants. The key impact of the new strategy on existing stove owners will be on fuels like wet wood, and traditional house coal, which will likely be phased out. The government also plans to give local authorities more powers over existing smoke control areas, where you can only burn smokeless fuel - if you want to burn wood it must be in an approved device. The new strategy doesn't spell out what these extra powers will be, but the idea is to make regulations easier to enforce. The document also suggests that the government is looking to help local authorities \"to increase the rate of upgrades for inefficient and polluting heating devices\". The government will also ensure that all new stoves sold from 2022 comply with EU eco-design regulations. In fact, stoves branded eco-design compliant are already on the market. \"They won't look any different,\" said Dennis Milligan from the UK's Stove Industry Alliance. \"But the technology will allow combustion higher up in the fire chamber so that re-ignites any particles of wood that are in the smoke so the emissions that come out the chimney are reduced by 80% compared to a stove manufactured ten years ago.\" It's not clear what difference these new regulations will make to sales of wood burning stoves - Recent data indicate that the market has boomed, largely driven by people looking to burn wood for its aesthetic appeal." } ], "id": "780_4", "question": "What will it mean for wood burners and open fires?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 9438, "answer_start": 8319, "text": "UK levels of pollution from nitrogen oxides, produced in the main by diesel cars, have regularly exceeded European targets. So much so that the government has been successfully sued in the courts by campaign group Client Earth, to force them to come up with a plan. In July 2017, the government introduced their detailed scheme for roads, which essentially puts the responsibility in the hands of local authorities. The cities with the worst pollution are supposed to develop plans for clean air zones that will charge drivers to enter. However, campaigners believe the government has its head in the sand on pollution from transport. As well as clean air zones, they should be taking steps to cut the number of vehicles on the roads. \"They are hoping it will all go away but the reality is an awful lot more needs to be done,\" Jenny Bates from Friends of the Earth told BBC News. \"I think they are afraid of the motoring lobby and they shouldn't be.\" Other forms of transport are dealt with in the new plan including rail and shipping. The government says it wants to see the removal of all diesel-only trains by 2040." } ], "id": "780_5", "question": "What about air pollution near roads?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 11018, "answer_start": 10264, "text": "As well as trying to deal with the major sources of particulate matter, the government's plan also deals with pollution that arises from ammonia, sulphur dioxide and non-methane volatile organic compounds. Ammonia from farms is a major focus as outlined above, for the role it plays in the development of PM. However, it also poses major threats to sensitive natural habitats. \"Ammonia in the air over our farmlands dissolves into our wetlands and waterways and wreaks havoc on delicate aquatic ecosystems,\" said Hannah Freeman from the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust. \"The proposed measures are a step forward, but what we really want is government policy that supports farmers to be true stewards, holistically managing our air, soil and water together.\"" } ], "id": "780_6", "question": "What other air pollution issues will the new strategy deal with?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A small village on the southern coast of New Zealand is planning to implement a radical plan to protect its native wildlife: ban all domestic cats. Under the initiative, proposed by Environment Southland, cat owners in Omaui will have to neuter, microchip and register their moggies with local authorities. After their pet dies, cat lovers in the community will then not be allowed to get any more. It sounds extreme, but it may be something more communities should be considering: after all, cats are responsible for the death of billions of birds and mammals each year - and, according to some, it is all our fault. Dr Peter Marra, the head of the Smithsonian Migratory Bird Centre, has authored journals and books on the issue. Contrary to preconceptions about him, he insists he is not anti-cat or against cat ownership. \"Cats make wonderful pets - they're spectacular pets! But they shouldn't be allowed to roam outside - it's a really obvious solution,\" he told the BBC. \"We would never let dogs do that. It's about time we treat cats like dogs.\" In Omaui, officials say the measure is justified because cameras have shown roaming cats preying on birds, insects and reptiles in the area. \"So your cat can live out its natural life at Omaui happily doing what it's doing. But then when it dies, you wouldn't be able to replace it,\" bio-security operations manager Ali Meade explained. Under the plan, anyone not complying would receive a notice, before officials would remove the pets - but only as an \"absolute last resort\". The initiative is part of the regional council's proposed regional pest management plan, which was opened for consultation on Tuesday. John Collins, chairman of the Omaui Landcare Charitable Trust, championed the ban to protect \"high-value\" nature reserves there. 'We're not cat haters, but we want our environment to be wildlife-rich,\" he said, the Otago Daily Times reports. The debate about cat populations and local eco-systems is not unique to Omaui. Conservation scientists have long warned about the impact of feral and outdoor cats on the global eco system - and they've been ranked among the 100 worst non-native invasive species in the world. Dr Marra says 63 species extinctions around the world are now linked to the booming cat populations. The problem is exacerbated in areas with very sensitive eco-systems, like New Zealand. \"It sounds extreme,\" he says. \"But the situation has got out of control.\" He believes cat-lovers around the world need to embrace a \"different mind-set\" toward the animals. He believes they should be adopted where possible, then neutered and exercised at home using toys, or in a controlled environment - for example, on a leash. \"This predicament is not the fault of cats - it's humans' fault,\" he insists. Because of their popularity on social media and in memes, the global pet population shows no sign of abating. \"They are just cute - everything about them, which makes this whole thing more difficult.\" Accurate estimates are hard to ascertain, but in the US there are about 86 million pet cats - roughly one in every three households. Unquantifiable amounts live stray or feral, meaning huge casualties in the environment. It is estimated that as many as four billion birds and 22 billion mammals are killed by cats in the US every year. Even in the UK, populations are on the decline, and experts blame cats. The Mammal Society says that about 55 million birds are falling casualty each year. It's not the first time cats have been painted as a menace in New Zealand - a country boasting a feline in almost half its households. They're a hot issue in Australia too, where feral and outdoor cats are blamed for millions of native species' deaths every night. The nation has been funding grassroots culling initiatives since 2015, boasts the world's largest cat-proof fence and has even considered introducing a national curfew for domestic cats. Councils and state governments have been taking the cat problem into their own hands - forcing cats to stay indoors at night, implementing household quotas and mandatory identification and neutering. Nevertheless, initiatives against felines remain controversial. Last year animal rights groups laid particular scorn at one Queensland local council who were offering $10 bounties for feral cat scalps. In Omaui, residents told local media they were \"shocked\" and \"hoodwinked\" by the proposed ban and have vowed to resist it. Nico Jarvis, a local resident who says her three cats help combat rodents in her house, compared the proposal to a \"police state\". ''It's not even regulating people's ability to have a cat. It's saying you can't have a cat,'' she told the Otago Daily Times. Paw Justice, a New Zealand-based non-profit that focuses on animal abuse, posted about the plan on Facebook, questioning the evidence behind it. Cat-lovers on the group's Facebook page reacted angrily to the news and pointing out that poisons, cars and humans also damage native species. Local residents have until the end of October to register their submissions to Environment Southland's plan.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3472, "answer_start": 1908, "text": "The debate about cat populations and local eco-systems is not unique to Omaui. Conservation scientists have long warned about the impact of feral and outdoor cats on the global eco system - and they've been ranked among the 100 worst non-native invasive species in the world. Dr Marra says 63 species extinctions around the world are now linked to the booming cat populations. The problem is exacerbated in areas with very sensitive eco-systems, like New Zealand. \"It sounds extreme,\" he says. \"But the situation has got out of control.\" He believes cat-lovers around the world need to embrace a \"different mind-set\" toward the animals. He believes they should be adopted where possible, then neutered and exercised at home using toys, or in a controlled environment - for example, on a leash. \"This predicament is not the fault of cats - it's humans' fault,\" he insists. Because of their popularity on social media and in memes, the global pet population shows no sign of abating. \"They are just cute - everything about them, which makes this whole thing more difficult.\" Accurate estimates are hard to ascertain, but in the US there are about 86 million pet cats - roughly one in every three households. Unquantifiable amounts live stray or feral, meaning huge casualties in the environment. It is estimated that as many as four billion birds and 22 billion mammals are killed by cats in the US every year. Even in the UK, populations are on the decline, and experts blame cats. The Mammal Society says that about 55 million birds are falling casualty each year." } ], "id": "781_0", "question": "How big a problem are cats?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Buses are again poised to start evacuations from a rebel-held enclave in the Syrian city of Aleppo under a renewed but fragile deal. Fighters and civilians had been due to leave on Wednesday, but a ceasefire collapsed. Rebels say a new truce came into effect on Thursday morning. One convoy of ambulances tried to leave but was shot at, rebel sources said. Government forces took nearly all remaining rebel-held parts of Aleppo this week after a four-year battle. Latest updates from Aleppo TV footage showed some ambulances moving towards eastern Aleppo, followed shortly after by a column of buses. The Russian Tass organisation reported that the evacuation had begun, citing the Russian defence ministry. Earlier reports from an ambulance service official in eastern Aleppo said that one convoy of ambulances did leave but had been shot at, and three people were injured. An opposition source told the BBC the convoy had headed back to eastern Aleppo. Apparently referring to this, UN humanitarian adviser for Syria Jan Egeland suggested that the evacuation operation was \"already ongoing and there have already been security incidences\". Ismail al-Abdullah, a volunteer for the White Helmets civil defence group, told the BBC that buses had now entered the area in which he was working and that he hoped the evacuation would now take place. But the White Helmets tweeted that one senior volunteer had been shot and injured by a sniper while clearing an evacuation route for ambulances. In a separate tweet, the group said it was suspending its evacuation operation. Syrian state TV said \"4,000 rebels and their families would be evacuated from eastern districts on Thursday\", adding that \"all the procedures for their evacuation are ready\". A statement from the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, part of Russia's ministry of defence, said the Syrian authorities had guaranteed the safety of all members of the armed groups who decided to leave Aleppo. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Muslim movement backing the Syrian government, said there had been \"big complications\" but that \"intensive contacts between the responsible parties... led to re-consolidating a ceasefire to exit armed fighters from eastern districts in the next few hours\". The rebels confirmed a new truce had come into effect at 03:00 GMT and that a new deal had been agreed. Russia's defence ministry has said buses will take the injured, civilians and rebel fighters to the neighbouring province of Idlib, most of which is controlled by a powerful rebel alliance that includes the jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. The buses will reportedly leave Aleppo on the road through the government-controlled south-western district of Ramousseh heading towards the rebel-held town of Khan Touman, only about 8km (5 miles) away. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, director of Doctors Under Fire, said its plan was to take the wounded to its main hospital 25km away, over the Turkish border. The Red Cross and Syrian Arab Red Crescent confirmed they would be involved in the operation to evacuate the wounded but had not yet started. The BBC's Asaf Aboud, in Aleppo, says the government has indicated that the evacuated civilians will be able to choose whether they want to leave or stay in the city. It's believed up to 50,000 people remain. That is said to include about 4,000 fighters and about 10,000 family members of fighters. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura says approximately 30% of the fighters are from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front. Aleppo's besieged residents have faced weeks of bombardment and chronic food and fuel shortages. Medical facilities in the city have largely been reduced to rubble, as rebels have been squeezed into ever-smaller areas by a major government offensive, backed by Russian air power. On Wednesday morning, buses and ambulances had been brought to evacuate rebel fighters and their families - only to be turned away shortly afterwards. Syria's government and its ally Iran had insisted the evacuation from eastern Aleppo could happen only with the simultaneous evacuation of two villages - Foah and Kefraya - being besieged by rebels in north-western Syria. Hours after the first agreement - brokered mainly by Russia and Turkey - collapsed, air strikes resumed over rebel-held territory.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1569, "answer_start": 491, "text": "TV footage showed some ambulances moving towards eastern Aleppo, followed shortly after by a column of buses. The Russian Tass organisation reported that the evacuation had begun, citing the Russian defence ministry. Earlier reports from an ambulance service official in eastern Aleppo said that one convoy of ambulances did leave but had been shot at, and three people were injured. An opposition source told the BBC the convoy had headed back to eastern Aleppo. Apparently referring to this, UN humanitarian adviser for Syria Jan Egeland suggested that the evacuation operation was \"already ongoing and there have already been security incidences\". Ismail al-Abdullah, a volunteer for the White Helmets civil defence group, told the BBC that buses had now entered the area in which he was working and that he hoped the evacuation would now take place. But the White Helmets tweeted that one senior volunteer had been shot and injured by a sniper while clearing an evacuation route for ambulances. In a separate tweet, the group said it was suspending its evacuation operation." } ], "id": "782_0", "question": "Has the evacuation already started?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2377, "answer_start": 1570, "text": "Syrian state TV said \"4,000 rebels and their families would be evacuated from eastern districts on Thursday\", adding that \"all the procedures for their evacuation are ready\". A statement from the Russian Centre for the Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria, part of Russia's ministry of defence, said the Syrian authorities had guaranteed the safety of all members of the armed groups who decided to leave Aleppo. Hezbollah, the Lebanese Shia Muslim movement backing the Syrian government, said there had been \"big complications\" but that \"intensive contacts between the responsible parties... led to re-consolidating a ceasefire to exit armed fighters from eastern districts in the next few hours\". The rebels confirmed a new truce had come into effect at 03:00 GMT and that a new deal had been agreed." } ], "id": "782_1", "question": "What are the players on the ground saying?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3287, "answer_start": 2378, "text": "Russia's defence ministry has said buses will take the injured, civilians and rebel fighters to the neighbouring province of Idlib, most of which is controlled by a powerful rebel alliance that includes the jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham. The buses will reportedly leave Aleppo on the road through the government-controlled south-western district of Ramousseh heading towards the rebel-held town of Khan Touman, only about 8km (5 miles) away. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, director of Doctors Under Fire, said its plan was to take the wounded to its main hospital 25km away, over the Turkish border. The Red Cross and Syrian Arab Red Crescent confirmed they would be involved in the operation to evacuate the wounded but had not yet started. The BBC's Asaf Aboud, in Aleppo, says the government has indicated that the evacuated civilians will be able to choose whether they want to leave or stay in the city." } ], "id": "782_2", "question": "Where will civilians, the wounded and rebels be taken?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3832, "answer_start": 3288, "text": "It's believed up to 50,000 people remain. That is said to include about 4,000 fighters and about 10,000 family members of fighters. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura says approximately 30% of the fighters are from the jihadist group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front. Aleppo's besieged residents have faced weeks of bombardment and chronic food and fuel shortages. Medical facilities in the city have largely been reduced to rubble, as rebels have been squeezed into ever-smaller areas by a major government offensive, backed by Russian air power." } ], "id": "782_3", "question": "How many remain in eastern Aleppo?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4336, "answer_start": 3833, "text": "On Wednesday morning, buses and ambulances had been brought to evacuate rebel fighters and their families - only to be turned away shortly afterwards. Syria's government and its ally Iran had insisted the evacuation from eastern Aleppo could happen only with the simultaneous evacuation of two villages - Foah and Kefraya - being besieged by rebels in north-western Syria. Hours after the first agreement - brokered mainly by Russia and Turkey - collapsed, air strikes resumed over rebel-held territory." } ], "id": "782_4", "question": "Why did the earlier deal fail?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Key powers involved in Syria's civil war have criticised US plans to help an allied Kurdish-led militia set up a 30,000-strong \"border security force\". Turkey's president vowed to \"suffocate\" efforts to begin training members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and create what he called a \"terror army\". Ankara considers Kurds fighting for the SDF to be part of a terrorist group. Syria's government decried the \"blatant attack\" on its sovereignty, and Russia warned it could lead to partition. With the help of air strikes from a US-led coalition, the SDF has captured tens of thousands of square kilometres of territory from Islamic State (IS) militants. In October, the alliance took full control of the northern city of Raqqa, the de facto capital of the \"caliphate\" declared by the jihadist group in 2014. Since then, SDF fighters have been advancing south-eastwards along the Euphrates river valley. News of the coalition's plan to work with the SDF to train a new Syrian Border Security Force (BSF) was first reported on Saturday by The Defense Post, which quoted a spokesman as saying that 230 individuals were currently participating in the \"inaugural class\". The coalition said on Monday that its goal was to create a force with about 30,000 personnel \"over the next several years\". About half will be Kurdish and Arab SDF fighters and the other half new recruits. The BSF will be tasked with securing the long sections of Syria's northern border with Turkey and eastern border with Iraq that are under SDF control, as well as parts of the Euphrates river valley, which effectively serves as the dividing line between the SDF and Syrian pro-government forces. \"A strong border security force will prohibit Daesh's freedom of movement and deny the transportation of illicit materials,\" the coalition said, using a different term for IS. \"This will enable the Syrian people to establish effective local, representative governance and reclaim their land.\" Turkey has consistently opposed the coalition's support for the SDF because the force is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. Ankara considers the YPG an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. Washington disagrees and insists the YPG has been vital to the battle against IS. On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the US had acknowledged it was \"in the process of creating a terror army on our border\". \"It is for us to suffocate this terror army before it is born,\" he said. Mr Erdogan added that preparations were complete for a Turkish military operation against the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in north-western Syria, and that it might start \"at any moment\". Troops deployed at the border were already hitting YPG positions inside Afrin with heavy artillery, he noted. The Syrian government called the creation of the SDF border force \"a blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity and unity of Syria, and a flagrant violation of international law\". \"What the American administration has done comes in the context of its destructive policy in the region to fragment countries... and impedes any solutions to the crises,\" an official at the foreign ministry was cited as saying by the Sana news agency. The source warned that Damascus considered any Syrian fighting for militias sponsored by the US to be \"a traitor to their people and nation\". Russia, which backs the Syrian government, said the US move might lead to the \"break-up of a large territory along the border with Turkey and Iraq\". \"This is a very serious issue that raises concerns that a path towards the partition of Syria has been taken,\" Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2864, "answer_start": 1966, "text": "Turkey has consistently opposed the coalition's support for the SDF because the force is dominated by the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia. Ankara considers the YPG an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey for three decades. Washington disagrees and insists the YPG has been vital to the battle against IS. On Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the US had acknowledged it was \"in the process of creating a terror army on our border\". \"It is for us to suffocate this terror army before it is born,\" he said. Mr Erdogan added that preparations were complete for a Turkish military operation against the Kurdish enclave of Afrin in north-western Syria, and that it might start \"at any moment\". Troops deployed at the border were already hitting YPG positions inside Afrin with heavy artillery, he noted." } ], "id": "783_0", "question": "Why is Turkey concerned?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3752, "answer_start": 2865, "text": "The Syrian government called the creation of the SDF border force \"a blatant attack on the sovereignty and territorial integrity and unity of Syria, and a flagrant violation of international law\". \"What the American administration has done comes in the context of its destructive policy in the region to fragment countries... and impedes any solutions to the crises,\" an official at the foreign ministry was cited as saying by the Sana news agency. The source warned that Damascus considered any Syrian fighting for militias sponsored by the US to be \"a traitor to their people and nation\". Russia, which backs the Syrian government, said the US move might lead to the \"break-up of a large territory along the border with Turkey and Iraq\". \"This is a very serious issue that raises concerns that a path towards the partition of Syria has been taken,\" Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said." } ], "id": "783_1", "question": "What do other countries say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Ties between China and Japan have been strained by a territorial row over a group of islands, known as the Senkaku islands in Japan and the Diaoyu islands in China. At the heart of the dispute are eight uninhabited islands and rocks in the East China Sea. They have a total area of about 7 sq km and lie north-east of Taiwan, east of the Chinese mainland and south-west of Japan's southern-most prefecture, Okinawa. The islands are controlled by Japan. They matter because they are close to important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and lie near potential oil and gas reserves. They are also in a strategically significant position, amid rising competition between the US and China for military primacy in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan says it surveyed the islands for 10 years in the 19th Century and determined that they were uninhabited. On 14 January 1895 Japan erected a sovereignty marker and formally incorporated the islands into Japanese territory. After World War Two, Japan renounced claims to a number of territories and islands including Taiwan in the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco. These islands, however, came under US trusteeship and were returned to Japan in 1971 under the Okinawa reversion deal. Japan says China raised no objections to the San Francisco deal. And it says that it is only since the 1970s, when the issue of oil resources in the area emerged, that Chinese and Taiwanese authorities began pressing their claims. China says that the islands have been part of its territory since ancient times, serving as important fishing grounds administered by the province of Taiwan. Taiwan was ceded to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, after the Sino-Japanese war. When Taiwan was returned in the Treaty of San Francisco, China says the islands should have been returned too. Beijing says Taiwan's Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek did not raise the issue, even when the islands were named in the later Okinawa reversion deal, because he depended on the US for support. Separately, Taiwan also claims the islands. The dispute has rumbled relatively quietly for decades. But in April 2012, a fresh row ensued after outspoken right-wing Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara said he would use public money to buy the islands from their private Japanese owner. The Japanese government then reached a deal to buy three of the islands from the owner in a move to block Mr Ishihara's more provocative plan. But this angered China, triggering public and diplomatic protests. Since then, Chinese government ships have regularly sailed in and out of what Japan says are its territorial waters around the islands. In November 2013, China also announced the creation of a new air-defence identification zone, which would require any aircraft in the zone - which covers the islands - to comply with rules laid down by Beijing. Japan labelled the move a \"unilateral escalation\" and said it would ignore it, as did the US. The US and Japan forged a security alliance in the wake of World War II and formalised it in 1960. Under the deal, the US is given military bases in Japan in return for its promise to defend Japan in the event of an attack. This means if conflict were to erupt between China and Japan, Japan would expect US military back-up. US President Barack Obama has confirmed that the security pact applies to the islands - but has also warned that escalation of the current row would harm all sides. The Senkaku/Diaoyu issue highlights the more robust attitude China has been taking to its territorial claims in both the East China Sea and the South China Sea. It poses worrying questions about regional security as China's military modernises amid the US \"pivot\" to Asia. In both China and Japan, meanwhile, the dispute ignites nationalist passions on both sides, putting pressure on politicians to appear tough and ultimately making any possible resolution even harder to find.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 741, "answer_start": 165, "text": "At the heart of the dispute are eight uninhabited islands and rocks in the East China Sea. They have a total area of about 7 sq km and lie north-east of Taiwan, east of the Chinese mainland and south-west of Japan's southern-most prefecture, Okinawa. The islands are controlled by Japan. They matter because they are close to important shipping lanes, offer rich fishing grounds and lie near potential oil and gas reserves. They are also in a strategically significant position, amid rising competition between the US and China for military primacy in the Asia-Pacific region." } ], "id": "784_0", "question": "What is the row about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1456, "answer_start": 742, "text": "Japan says it surveyed the islands for 10 years in the 19th Century and determined that they were uninhabited. On 14 January 1895 Japan erected a sovereignty marker and formally incorporated the islands into Japanese territory. After World War Two, Japan renounced claims to a number of territories and islands including Taiwan in the 1951 Treaty of San Francisco. These islands, however, came under US trusteeship and were returned to Japan in 1971 under the Okinawa reversion deal. Japan says China raised no objections to the San Francisco deal. And it says that it is only since the 1970s, when the issue of oil resources in the area emerged, that Chinese and Taiwanese authorities began pressing their claims." } ], "id": "784_1", "question": "What is Japan's claim?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2056, "answer_start": 1457, "text": "China says that the islands have been part of its territory since ancient times, serving as important fishing grounds administered by the province of Taiwan. Taiwan was ceded to Japan in the Treaty of Shimonoseki in 1895, after the Sino-Japanese war. When Taiwan was returned in the Treaty of San Francisco, China says the islands should have been returned too. Beijing says Taiwan's Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek did not raise the issue, even when the islands were named in the later Okinawa reversion deal, because he depended on the US for support. Separately, Taiwan also claims the islands." } ], "id": "784_2", "question": "What is China's claim?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3437, "answer_start": 2947, "text": "The US and Japan forged a security alliance in the wake of World War II and formalised it in 1960. Under the deal, the US is given military bases in Japan in return for its promise to defend Japan in the event of an attack. This means if conflict were to erupt between China and Japan, Japan would expect US military back-up. US President Barack Obama has confirmed that the security pact applies to the islands - but has also warned that escalation of the current row would harm all sides." } ], "id": "784_3", "question": "What is the role of the US?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3917, "answer_start": 3438, "text": "The Senkaku/Diaoyu issue highlights the more robust attitude China has been taking to its territorial claims in both the East China Sea and the South China Sea. It poses worrying questions about regional security as China's military modernises amid the US \"pivot\" to Asia. In both China and Japan, meanwhile, the dispute ignites nationalist passions on both sides, putting pressure on politicians to appear tough and ultimately making any possible resolution even harder to find." } ], "id": "784_4", "question": "What next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "European powers have said they remain committed to the Iran nuclear deal but that they \"reject any ultimatums\" from Tehran to prevent its collapse. Iran announced on Wednesday that it had suspended two commitments under the 2015 accord in response to the economic sanctions the US reimposed last year. It also threatened to step up uranium enrichment if it was not shielded from the sanctions' effects within 60 days. The EU, UK, France and Germany noted \"with great concern\" Iran's move. Under the nuclear deal, which is known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Iran agreed to limit its nuclear activities in return for sanctions relief. But a year ago US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal, saying it was \"horribly one-sided\" and needed to be renegotiated, and began reinstating sanctions. In November, those targeting Iran's oil and financial sectors took effect. Iran's economy is now sliding towards a deep recession, the value of its currency has dropped to record lows, and its annual inflation rate has quadrupled. Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium, which can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons, and to sell surplus stocks. It also said it would redesign a heavy-water nuclear reactor at Arak, whose spent fuel would contain plutonium suitable for a bomb, and sell any surplus heavy water. President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Iran would stop immediately sales of enriched uranium and heavy water, allowing it to build up its stockpiles. The sales would resume if the remaining parties to the JCPOA - the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China - met their commitments to protect Iran's banking and oil sectors within 60 days, he added. If not, Iran will no longer observe a key commitment not to enrich uranium to concentrations higher than the 3.67% required for reactor fuel. Weapons-grade uranium is at least 90% enriched. The country will also halt the redesign of the Arak heavy-water reactor. \"The Iranian people and the world should know that today is not the end of the JCPOA,\" Mr Rouhani said. \"These are actions in line with the JCPOA.\" The EU's foreign policy chief and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK stressed that the JCPOA was \"a key achievement of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture, which is in the security interest of all\". \"We strongly urge Iran to continue to implement its commitments under the JCPOA in full as it has done until now and to refrain from any escalatory steps,\" a joint statement issued on Thursday said. \"We reject any ultimatums and we will assess Iran's compliance on the basis of Iran's performance regarding its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA and the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons).\" The European powers expressed regret about the renewed US sanctions and said they were \"determined to continue pursuing efforts to enable the continuation of legitimate trade with Iran\". Those efforts include a \"special purpose vehicle\" that would essentially allow goods to be bartered between Iranian and foreign companies without direct financial transactions. However, the mechanism - known as Instex - is not yet operational. During a visit to London on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was being \"intentionally ambiguous\". \"We'll have to wait to see what Iran's actions actually are. They've made a number of statements about actions they've threatened to do in order to get the world to jump. We'll see what they actually do.\" Later, President Trump announced additional sanctions targeting Iran's steel, aluminium, iron and copper sectors. The White House said they were Iran's largest non-petroleum-related sources of export revenue and made up 10% of its export economy. \"Tehran can expect further actions unless it fundamentally alters its conduct,\" Mr Trump warned. His administration has put forward 12 requirements for a new nuclear deal and the lifting of sanctions, including halting uranium enrichment altogether, as well as ending its development of ballistic missiles, involvement in conflicts elsewhere in the Middle East, and support of terrorist groups.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2136, "answer_start": 1046, "text": "Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to limit its enrichment of uranium, which can be used to make reactor fuel but also nuclear weapons, and to sell surplus stocks. It also said it would redesign a heavy-water nuclear reactor at Arak, whose spent fuel would contain plutonium suitable for a bomb, and sell any surplus heavy water. President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that Iran would stop immediately sales of enriched uranium and heavy water, allowing it to build up its stockpiles. The sales would resume if the remaining parties to the JCPOA - the UK, France, Germany, Russia and China - met their commitments to protect Iran's banking and oil sectors within 60 days, he added. If not, Iran will no longer observe a key commitment not to enrich uranium to concentrations higher than the 3.67% required for reactor fuel. Weapons-grade uranium is at least 90% enriched. The country will also halt the redesign of the Arak heavy-water reactor. \"The Iranian people and the world should know that today is not the end of the JCPOA,\" Mr Rouhani said. \"These are actions in line with the JCPOA.\"" } ], "id": "785_0", "question": "What has Iran done and why?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3219, "answer_start": 2137, "text": "The EU's foreign policy chief and the foreign ministers of France, Germany and the UK stressed that the JCPOA was \"a key achievement of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture, which is in the security interest of all\". \"We strongly urge Iran to continue to implement its commitments under the JCPOA in full as it has done until now and to refrain from any escalatory steps,\" a joint statement issued on Thursday said. \"We reject any ultimatums and we will assess Iran's compliance on the basis of Iran's performance regarding its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA and the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons).\" The European powers expressed regret about the renewed US sanctions and said they were \"determined to continue pursuing efforts to enable the continuation of legitimate trade with Iran\". Those efforts include a \"special purpose vehicle\" that would essentially allow goods to be bartered between Iranian and foreign companies without direct financial transactions. However, the mechanism - known as Instex - is not yet operational." } ], "id": "785_1", "question": "How have European powers responded?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4186, "answer_start": 3220, "text": "During a visit to London on Wednesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Iran was being \"intentionally ambiguous\". \"We'll have to wait to see what Iran's actions actually are. They've made a number of statements about actions they've threatened to do in order to get the world to jump. We'll see what they actually do.\" Later, President Trump announced additional sanctions targeting Iran's steel, aluminium, iron and copper sectors. The White House said they were Iran's largest non-petroleum-related sources of export revenue and made up 10% of its export economy. \"Tehran can expect further actions unless it fundamentally alters its conduct,\" Mr Trump warned. His administration has put forward 12 requirements for a new nuclear deal and the lifting of sanctions, including halting uranium enrichment altogether, as well as ending its development of ballistic missiles, involvement in conflicts elsewhere in the Middle East, and support of terrorist groups." } ], "id": "785_2", "question": "What has the US said?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It probably took no more than a few seconds for Tiziana Cantone to begin the sequence of events that led to her suicide. In April 2015, the 31-year-old from Mugnano, on the outskirts of Naples, sent a series of sex videos to five people via WhatsApp. The recipients included her boyfriend Sergio Di Palo, with whom she had an unstable relationship. The videos showed her performing sex acts with a number of unidentified men. \"She was beautiful but fragile,\" remembers Teresa Petrosino, a friend for 15 years. \"She was with the wrong people at the wrong time.\" The videos were soon shared and uploaded to several adult websites. The physical actions on the tapes did not stand out. But a single sentence from Tiziana Cantone did. \"You're making a video?\" she asked the man holding the camera. \"Bravo!\" The words suggested an uninhibited young woman, who enjoyed being filmed during sex. By accident, the phrase gave viewers licence to watch the video without reservations: if she was so happy to be filmed, she wouldn't mind them watching. But Italians did more than watch. Users soon turned her comment into a meme-worthy punchline. Her image appeared on t-shirts and parody websites. No-one seemed to worry what the subject herself might think as she seemed so pleased about it. But this was a profound misunderstanding. \"People confuse being an uninhibited person with wanting to go viral,\" says social commentator Selvaggia Lucarelli. \"You can film a video, share it with some people but there's a tacit agreement that you won't share it further.\" Tiziana Cantone, a fragile woman, was horrified. \"She and I never actually spoke about the details of the video,\" says her friend Teresa. \"I never saw them, and I never want to see them. You could tell she was suffering a lot. But she was strong.\" Read more here: How Italians reacted to Tiziana's death Ms Cantone decided to fight back. But there was no immediate way to get the videos taken down. She took the case to court, arguing the tapes were uploaded to public sites without her consent. By this time, she was no longer able to live a normal life. \"She didn't want to go out as people would recognise her. She realised that the virtual world and the real world were the same thing,\" Teresa explains. \"She understood at some point that the situation would never be resolved; that a potential husband, her potential children could find those videos; that they would never disappear.\" Tiziana Cantone retreated to her family home in a quiet street in Mugnano, a working-class suburb of Naples. It took her mother, Maria Teresa Giglio, weeks to find the strength to tell reporters about her daughter's life. \"My daughter was a good girl but she was also vulnerable,\" she told the BBC. \"She lacked a paternal figure, from birth. She never met her father. This affected her entire life.\" Mother and daughter lived together. In happier times, Tiziana listened to Italian singers, read novels and played the piano. But after the intimate videos were shared online, she withdrew. \"Her life was ruined, in front of everyone,\" says her mother. \"People made fun of her, parodies ended up on pornographic websites. She was called shameful names.\" In September, a court in Naples ordered the intimate videos to be removed from several websites and search engines. But the court also ordered her to pay EUR20,000 (PS17,200, $21,600) in legal costs. It was all too much. On 13 September 2016, Maria Teresa Giglio went to work at the local town hall. Her daughter stayed at home. Ms Giglio received a phone call at work. \"My sister-in-law called me, and in a calm voice told me to come home; when I got here I saw the police, the ambulance, and I quickly understood,\" she says, breaking down. \"My sister-in-law tried to pick her up and save her. My neighbours didn't allow me to get out of my car. I almost fainted. They didn't want to let me into this house. I wasn't even able to see her for a last time. \"The day she died, my life ended.\" One day later, Maria Teresa Giglio buried her daughter in a white coffin. The notice outside the funeral described her as a \"sweet, beautiful, fragile angel\". There is a sad paradox at the heart of Tiziana Cantone's death. By taking her own life, she drew even more attention to the videos she hoped everyone might forget. Her mother has forced herself to watch the tapes. \"You can only imagine what it is like. I wanted to see details that would allow me to understand the truth. That was not my Tiziana,\" she says, convinced that her daughter was under the effect of drugs. She believes that the distribution of the videos didn't happen by chance. \"It's as if this was a premeditated, criminal plan. They just wanted to show the face of this poor girl, with the intention of exposing her on the internet.\" Read more here: In particular, Ms Giglio wants her daughter's former boyfriend, Mr Di Palo, to explain exactly what role he had in the sharing of the videos. \"He didn't help me to save her life. But maybe he can help me get to the truth. I'm desperate.\" In November 2016, prosecutors questioned Mr Di Palo for 10 hours. They wanted to know whether anyone was guilty of inciting Tiziana's suicide. Mr Di Palo declined our request for an interview. \"We refrain from making comments, out of respect for poor Tiziana who suffered so much due to the enormous publicity that her case received,\" says Bruno Larosa, Mr Di Palo's lawyer. \"We trust the courts and it should be noted that my client is not accused of anything.\" In the aftermath of Tiziana Cantone's suicide, the tone of Italy's debate about pornography and privacy has changed. \"I think this case did make a difference, quite drastically, to the way that Italian journalists talk about these cases of revenge porn,\" says social commentator Selvaggia Lucarelli. \"They used to have a very carefree approach, and her death changed it. In subsequent cases, one of them involving a celebrity, they were a lot more cautious.\" But there is also a lesson for anyone who chooses to share intimate videos online. \"People think that their virtual life and their real life are parallel realities,\" warns Ms Lucarelli. \"They're not. They coincide. The web is our life. So anything that you don't do in real life you shouldn't do online.\" Tiziana's videos can no longer be found on the main search engines but they still exist. Her mother wants Italy and the rest of the EU to agree a much faster way to get private material removed from the internet and make the big internet firms act responsibly. \"I speak on behalf of other mothers who may be suffering like me,\" she says. Italy's privacy tsar, Antonello Soro, agrees things have to change but does not specify what the government might do. \"We need a quicker response mechanism from different online platforms, but it is also necessary to increase respect online,\" he said in a statement. \"We need strong investment in digital education to promote a culture and sensibility that are adequate to the new online world.\" For Tiziana's mother, life is now a fight to defend her daughter's name, and to prevent others from suffering the same fate. \"I hope that the name Tiziana Cantone, instead of standing for mockery, becomes a name that could save the lives of other women. I would like this to happen. To save other people.\" In Italy: Telefono Amico is a confidential helpline for anyone struggling to cope; in Italy, dial 199 284284 In the UK: Samaritans is available 24 hours a day providing a safe place to talk where calls are completely confidential Phone: 116 123; email: [email protected] Safeline provides free support and counselling for survivors of sexual abuse or rape Phone: 0808 8005008 UK Safer Internet Centre provides safety tips and advice for children and young people stay safe online.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5509, "answer_start": 4144, "text": "There is a sad paradox at the heart of Tiziana Cantone's death. By taking her own life, she drew even more attention to the videos she hoped everyone might forget. Her mother has forced herself to watch the tapes. \"You can only imagine what it is like. I wanted to see details that would allow me to understand the truth. That was not my Tiziana,\" she says, convinced that her daughter was under the effect of drugs. She believes that the distribution of the videos didn't happen by chance. \"It's as if this was a premeditated, criminal plan. They just wanted to show the face of this poor girl, with the intention of exposing her on the internet.\" Read more here: In particular, Ms Giglio wants her daughter's former boyfriend, Mr Di Palo, to explain exactly what role he had in the sharing of the videos. \"He didn't help me to save her life. But maybe he can help me get to the truth. I'm desperate.\" In November 2016, prosecutors questioned Mr Di Palo for 10 hours. They wanted to know whether anyone was guilty of inciting Tiziana's suicide. Mr Di Palo declined our request for an interview. \"We refrain from making comments, out of respect for poor Tiziana who suffered so much due to the enormous publicity that her case received,\" says Bruno Larosa, Mr Di Palo's lawyer. \"We trust the courts and it should be noted that my client is not accused of anything.\"" } ], "id": "786_0", "question": "Who posted the videos?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7794, "answer_start": 7314, "text": "In Italy: Telefono Amico is a confidential helpline for anyone struggling to cope; in Italy, dial 199 284284 In the UK: Samaritans is available 24 hours a day providing a safe place to talk where calls are completely confidential Phone: 116 123; email: [email protected] Safeline provides free support and counselling for survivors of sexual abuse or rape Phone: 0808 8005008 UK Safer Internet Centre provides safety tips and advice for children and young people stay safe online." } ], "id": "786_1", "question": "Are you affected by this?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Spanish court's controversial decision to clear five men of gang rape has been upheld by five appeal judges, and the group are now set to go to jail for a lesser offence of sexual abuse. There were protests across Spain when the men, who became known as La manada (the wolf pack), were acquitted of rape and then later freed on bail. The appeal judges agreed that the 18-year-old victim was not assaulted as no intimidation or violence was involved. The case now goes to the Supreme Court. \"We don't like it,\" the teenager's lawyer said, after the five judges in the northern Navarre region upheld the nine-year jail terms for abuse. Under current Spanish law, an offence of rape has to involve sexual assault, which includes violence or intimidation. Significantly, two of the five judges said that the attackers had used intimidation to carry out a \"continuous offence of sexual assault\" and called for 14-year jail terms. But they were outvoted by the other three judges. The case sparked such a wave of revulsion that a committee of experts was formed to reform Spain's penal code on sexual violence. Among those outraged by the verdict was Pedro Sanchez, who has since become prime minister and has promised to introduce a new law on sexual consent. During the San Fermin bull-running festival in July 2016, in the crowded streets of Pamplona, the 18 year old was led to a basement where five men in their late 20s surrounded her and had unprotected sex. Some of the men filmed the attack on their phones and sent it around their WhatsApp chat group entitled \"La manada\". A police report said the victim maintained a \"passive or neutral\" attitude throughout the scene, keeping her eyes closed at all times. By James Badcock, Madrid The appeal court accepts as proven that the \"wolf pack\" victim did not give consent to sex and that the five men took advantage of circumstances and their own position of superiority to carry out the crime of sexual abuse. But, crucially, the ruling states that abuse of a situation of manifest superiority does not itself constitute intimidation, nor was any act of violence committed. The ruling describes the victim's role as one of \"passive suffering\" but finds no firm evidence of acts or threats designed to intimidate her. In their words: \"The key is the actual nature of the intimidatory act carried out by the active party, rather than the reaction of the victim to it.\" Essentially, the judges are saying that the men cannot be blamed for her reaction to the situation, even though they were happy to take advantage of the teenager's weak position. Supporters of reform will say the ruling shows why a consent-based rape law is required. Pamplona Mayor Joseba Asiron was among several figures to say that an appeal would be lodged against the latest ruling. \"There appears to be a very clear gap between society and certain sections of the judiciary,\" he complained, insisting that all of Pamplona supported the woman. A lawyer acting for four of the convicted men said he too would appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that what took place was \"consensual sex between six adults\". The men visited a court in Seville on Wednesday as part of their bail conditions. But Deputy Prime Minister Carmen Calvo said the verdict enhanced the victim's credibility and she drew attention to the two appeal judges who considered that the attack constituted rape rather than abuse. \"It's foreseeable that the five convicted men will go to jail immediately,\" she said. Protest rallies against the appeal decision were being organised on Wednesday evening in Seville, Madrid and other cities.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1713, "answer_start": 1257, "text": "During the San Fermin bull-running festival in July 2016, in the crowded streets of Pamplona, the 18 year old was led to a basement where five men in their late 20s surrounded her and had unprotected sex. Some of the men filmed the attack on their phones and sent it around their WhatsApp chat group entitled \"La manada\". A police report said the victim maintained a \"passive or neutral\" attitude throughout the scene, keeping her eyes closed at all times." } ], "id": "787_0", "question": "What did the \"wolf pack\" do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2686, "answer_start": 1714, "text": "By James Badcock, Madrid The appeal court accepts as proven that the \"wolf pack\" victim did not give consent to sex and that the five men took advantage of circumstances and their own position of superiority to carry out the crime of sexual abuse. But, crucially, the ruling states that abuse of a situation of manifest superiority does not itself constitute intimidation, nor was any act of violence committed. The ruling describes the victim's role as one of \"passive suffering\" but finds no firm evidence of acts or threats designed to intimidate her. In their words: \"The key is the actual nature of the intimidatory act carried out by the active party, rather than the reaction of the victim to it.\" Essentially, the judges are saying that the men cannot be blamed for her reaction to the situation, even though they were happy to take advantage of the teenager's weak position. Supporters of reform will say the ruling shows why a consent-based rape law is required." } ], "id": "787_1", "question": "Why is intimidation so key?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The heir to the throne in Saudi Arabia has consolidated his hold on power with a major purge of the kingdom's political and business leadership. A new anti-corruption body, headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, detained 11 princes, four sitting ministers and dozens of ex-ministers. Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, a billionaire with investments in Twitter and Apple, is among those held. Separately King Salman replaced the national guard and the navy chiefs. The new anti-corruption committee has the power to issue arrest warrants and travel bans. Attorney General Sheikh Saud al-Mojeb said the status of the detainees would not influence \"the firm and fair application of justice\", AFP news agency reports. Saudi broadcaster Al-Arabiya said fresh investigations had been launched into the 2009 Jeddah floods and the outbreak of the Mers virus which emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012 - but analysts see the detentions as a clear move by the crown prince to strengthen his power base. Analysis by Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent The events of Saturday night in Saudi Arabia are nothing short of seismic for that country. In a bold, pre-planned move, the 32-year old Crown Prince has removed the final obstacles to his gaining total control over the world's richest oil producer and home to the holiest shrines in Islam. Presented to the world as an anti-corruption drive, the arrests of princes, ministers and the billionaire tycoon Prince Alwaleed bin Talal have shocked Saudis unused to sudden change. The crown prince is largely popular, especially amongst young Saudis, but many older, more conservative citizens think he is moving too far too fast. He has started an unwinnable war in Yemen while still fighting the extremists of so-called Islamic State. He has also backed a damaging boycott of Gulf neighbour Qatar. But his supporters hail his efforts to modernise Saudi Arabia and, after decades of rule by old men, they welcome a fresh vision from a man who could well be king for the next 50 years. The owner of London's Savoy hotel is one of the richest men in the world, with a net worth of $17bn (PS13bn) according to Forbes. Shares in Kingdom Holding, the investment firm owned by the prince, plunged 9.9% in early trade on the Saudi stock market after news of his detention emerged. The firm is one of Saudi Arabia's most important investors. Apart from Twitter and Apple, it has shares in Citigroup bank, the Four Seasons hotel chain and ride-sharing service Lyft. The Saudi prince made the news in the past for employing women, who make up two-thirds of his staff. But he was also known for his hundred-million-dollar desert resorts, where he employed dwarves for entertainment purposes. Two years ago he offered luxury cars to fighter pilots participating in a bombing campaign in Yemen, where the Saudi-led coalition continues to bomb Houthi rebels, killing 26 people in an attack on a hotel and market on Wednesday. Prince Alwaleed once bought control of a hotel and a yacht from Donald Trump, when he had yet to enter politics, but clashed with him publicly on Twitter in 2015 over his decision to stand for president, the New York Times notes. Mr Trump, who was born into a family of property developers, shot back with a tweet mocking the source of the prince's wealth. However, after Mr Trump's election last November, the prince sent \"congratulations and best wishes\". National guard minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah and navy commander Admiral Abdullah bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Sultan were both replaced, with no official explanation given. Prince Miteb, son of the late King Abdullah, was once seen as a contender for the throne and was the last member of Abdullah's branch of the family in the highest echelons of Saudi government. Those reported to have been detained include: - Former Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf, a board member of the Saudi Aramco oil company - Economy Minister Adel Fakieh - Former Riyadh governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah - Former head of the royal court Khalid al-Tuwaijiri - Bakr bin Laden, chairman of the Saudi Binladin construction group, and brother of Osama bin Laden Some of the detainees are being held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, sources in contact with the government told Reuters news agency. Few people outside Saudi Arabia had heard of Prince Mohammed bin Salman before his father became king in 2015. But since then, the 32-year-old has become the most influential figure in the world's leading oil exporter Last year, the crown prince unveiled a wide-ranging plan to bring social and economic change to the oil-dependent kingdom. He recently said the return of \"moderate Islam\" was key to his plans to modernise Saudi Arabia. Addressing an economic conference in Riyadh, he vowed to \"eradicate the remnants of extremism very soon\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3405, "answer_start": 2020, "text": "The owner of London's Savoy hotel is one of the richest men in the world, with a net worth of $17bn (PS13bn) according to Forbes. Shares in Kingdom Holding, the investment firm owned by the prince, plunged 9.9% in early trade on the Saudi stock market after news of his detention emerged. The firm is one of Saudi Arabia's most important investors. Apart from Twitter and Apple, it has shares in Citigroup bank, the Four Seasons hotel chain and ride-sharing service Lyft. The Saudi prince made the news in the past for employing women, who make up two-thirds of his staff. But he was also known for his hundred-million-dollar desert resorts, where he employed dwarves for entertainment purposes. Two years ago he offered luxury cars to fighter pilots participating in a bombing campaign in Yemen, where the Saudi-led coalition continues to bomb Houthi rebels, killing 26 people in an attack on a hotel and market on Wednesday. Prince Alwaleed once bought control of a hotel and a yacht from Donald Trump, when he had yet to enter politics, but clashed with him publicly on Twitter in 2015 over his decision to stand for president, the New York Times notes. Mr Trump, who was born into a family of property developers, shot back with a tweet mocking the source of the prince's wealth. However, after Mr Trump's election last November, the prince sent \"congratulations and best wishes\"." } ], "id": "788_0", "question": "Who is Prince Alwaleed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4311, "answer_start": 3406, "text": "National guard minister Prince Miteb bin Abdullah and navy commander Admiral Abdullah bin Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Sultan were both replaced, with no official explanation given. Prince Miteb, son of the late King Abdullah, was once seen as a contender for the throne and was the last member of Abdullah's branch of the family in the highest echelons of Saudi government. Those reported to have been detained include: - Former Finance Minister Ibrahim al-Assaf, a board member of the Saudi Aramco oil company - Economy Minister Adel Fakieh - Former Riyadh governor Prince Turki bin Abdullah - Former head of the royal court Khalid al-Tuwaijiri - Bakr bin Laden, chairman of the Saudi Binladin construction group, and brother of Osama bin Laden Some of the detainees are being held at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in the diplomatic quarter of Riyadh, sources in contact with the government told Reuters news agency." } ], "id": "788_1", "question": "Who else was detained or sacked?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4854, "answer_start": 4312, "text": "Few people outside Saudi Arabia had heard of Prince Mohammed bin Salman before his father became king in 2015. But since then, the 32-year-old has become the most influential figure in the world's leading oil exporter Last year, the crown prince unveiled a wide-ranging plan to bring social and economic change to the oil-dependent kingdom. He recently said the return of \"moderate Islam\" was key to his plans to modernise Saudi Arabia. Addressing an economic conference in Riyadh, he vowed to \"eradicate the remnants of extremism very soon\"." } ], "id": "788_2", "question": "What do we know about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The government's Withdrawal Agreement Bill (WAB), which will take the UK out of the EU on 31 January, has passed all its stages in Parliament and been given Royal Assent. The WAB turns Boris Johnson's withdrawal agreement, which is a draft international treaty, into UK law and gives the government permission to ratify it. No new clauses or amendments were passed by MPs, who also rejected changes made in the House of Lords. What does the WAB actually cover? Among other things: - It sets out exactly how the UK will make \"divorce bill\" payments to the EU for years to come - It repeals the European Communities Act, which took the UK into the EU, but then reinstates it immediately until the end of 2020 when the transition period ends - It contains language on how the new protocol on Ireland - setting up what amounts to a customs and regulatory border between Northern Ireland and Great Britain - will work in practice - It sets out areas in which the European Court of Justice still plays a role in the UK, and makes the withdrawal agreement in some respects \"supreme\" over other areas of UK law - One of those areas may be in the arbitration procedure for disputes about the withdrawal agreement. The bill introduces a duty for the government to report on this - It prohibits any extension to the transition period beyond the end of 2020, even if a free trade deal isn't ready in time - In the section on citizens' rights it sets up an independent monitoring authority (IMA) with which EU nationals in the UK can lodge any complaints about the way the government treats them - In several policy areas, particularly in Northern Ireland, the bill gives ministers a lot of power to change the law (through secondary legislation) without MPs getting to vote - It introduces a duty for the government to report on its use of the arbitration procedure for disputes about the withdrawal agreement A number of clauses in the previous version of the bill have been removed. They include: - The possibility of an extension to the transition period and the procedures around that. The bill now prohibits ministers asking for an extension. - Workers' rights protections - the government says these will now be part of a separate bill. - Checks and balances that MPs were offered as an inducement to pass the old bill in October. For example, the requirement for the government's negotiating position on the future relationship with the EU to be approved by Parliament has gone. And the government's position no longer needs to be in line with the political declaration - the non-legally binding document that accompanied the withdrawal agreement and sets out aspirations for the future relationship. - A clause on child refugees. The bill removes the requirement, introduced by Lord Dubs, to agree a deal that if an unaccompanied child claims international protection in the EU, they may come to the UK if they have relatives living in the country. The new bill only requires a government minister to make a statement setting out policy on the subject within two months. Between 2016 and 2018, 426 unaccompanied children came to the UK in this way. After the WAB becomes law, the withdrawal agreement also needs to be ratified by the European Parliament. Then the stage will be set for Brexit on 31 January, when the post-Brexit transition period will begin. For 11 months, the UK will still follow all the EU's rules and regulations, it will remain in the single market and the customs union, and the free movement of people will continue. The challenge for the government will be to get all its new rules and policies in place by the end of this year. This article was originally published on 21 October and has been updated to reflect changes to the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and its passage towards becoming law. What claims do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3144, "answer_start": 1898, "text": "A number of clauses in the previous version of the bill have been removed. They include: - The possibility of an extension to the transition period and the procedures around that. The bill now prohibits ministers asking for an extension. - Workers' rights protections - the government says these will now be part of a separate bill. - Checks and balances that MPs were offered as an inducement to pass the old bill in October. For example, the requirement for the government's negotiating position on the future relationship with the EU to be approved by Parliament has gone. And the government's position no longer needs to be in line with the political declaration - the non-legally binding document that accompanied the withdrawal agreement and sets out aspirations for the future relationship. - A clause on child refugees. The bill removes the requirement, introduced by Lord Dubs, to agree a deal that if an unaccompanied child claims international protection in the EU, they may come to the UK if they have relatives living in the country. The new bill only requires a government minister to make a statement setting out policy on the subject within two months. Between 2016 and 2018, 426 unaccompanied children came to the UK in this way." } ], "id": "789_0", "question": "What's been changed?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A 23-year-old lawyer has been given the task of leading Ukraine's anti-corruption drive, the second major appointment of a young woman in weeks. Anna Kalynchuk's promotion has provoked consternation among some Ukrainians who say she is unqualified and too young. She will direct Ukraine's department of \"lustration\", which aims to purge officials tainted by corruption. Corruption was a key complaint of protesters who forced President Viktor Yanukovych from power in February 2014. Ms Kalynchuk's appointment comes days after Anastasia Deyeva, 24, was named by Interior Minister Arsen Avakov as deputy minister, one of Ukraine's top police and security posts. Read more about Anastasia Deyeva here: Too much, too young? Storm over Ukraine security job That announcement was met with anger, which only intensified when nude photos of Ms Deyeva were shared on social media. As well as the private photos shared on social media, she has also been the subject of a more tasteful photo-shoot in Ukrainian lifestyle website Style Insider. Interior Minister Avakov defended the appointment as a breath of fresh air, but that has not satisfied those who wonder whether there were other factors behind her appointment. Kiev political analyst Vadim Karasyov told Associated Press that Ukrainian politics increasingly resembled \"a circus show in which clowns come to succeed frustrated professionals\". The majority of Ukraine's ministers are now in their thirties, ever since a reshuffle in February. The Prime Minister, Volodymyr Groysman, is only 38. In a country as ridden with corruption as Ukraine, the promotion of younger talent could be seen as an antidote to the wasted decades associated with older politicians. Despite the outcry in the social media about age and lack of experience, these two young women are well suited to their posts. Anna Kalynchuk was already deputising for the previous head of the anti-corruption department, Tatiana Kozachenko. As a freshly qualified lawyer, two years ago she was engaged in setting up the very institution she now temporarily heads. On her Facebook page, she said she was prepared for claims that she was too young and inexperienced for the post. Anastasia Deyeva was appointed on 11 November, having acted as an assistant to the former deputy minister, a Georgian who resigned from her position earlier this year. In a recent interview, her predecessor as deputy minister was full of praise for her abilities as a negotiator. At the heart of the storm is the frustration of ordinary Ukrainians at the pace of the drive to clean up Ukrainian politics. Perception of corruption is worse in Ukraine than in Russia, according to Transparency International. Little more than two weeks ago, the charismatic governor of the Odessa region, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, resigned, accusing Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of backing corrupt officials who, he said, were undermining his reform efforts in Odessa. His resignation followed that of the Odessa police chief, fellow Georgian Giorgi Lortkipanidze. Only days before, top officials were forced to reveal their huge wealth - hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and collections of luxury items - under new anti-corruption rules. None was accused of criminality, but it was a stark illustration of the trappings of power and the gulf between some officials and the mass of Ukrainians. The lustration department says hundreds of officials have been forced to resign over corruption, but Ukraine's corruption problem clearly still remains crippling.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3565, "answer_start": 2471, "text": "At the heart of the storm is the frustration of ordinary Ukrainians at the pace of the drive to clean up Ukrainian politics. Perception of corruption is worse in Ukraine than in Russia, according to Transparency International. Little more than two weeks ago, the charismatic governor of the Odessa region, former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili, resigned, accusing Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko of backing corrupt officials who, he said, were undermining his reform efforts in Odessa. His resignation followed that of the Odessa police chief, fellow Georgian Giorgi Lortkipanidze. Only days before, top officials were forced to reveal their huge wealth - hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and collections of luxury items - under new anti-corruption rules. None was accused of criminality, but it was a stark illustration of the trappings of power and the gulf between some officials and the mass of Ukrainians. The lustration department says hundreds of officials have been forced to resign over corruption, but Ukraine's corruption problem clearly still remains crippling." } ], "id": "790_0", "question": "What's the bigger picture?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Anti-government marches in Hong Kong have ended in rioting, with attacks on government offices, a metro station and businesses with ties to mainland China. Police used water cannon, tear gas and truncheons, reportedly removing masks from demonstrators they arrested, and a number of people were injured. Tens of thousands of protesters had turned out in the rain, spurred to act by a ban on wearing masks at rallies. The controversial ban was upheld by the High Court on Sunday. It was introduced by chief executive Carrie Lam who invoked powers dating back to colonial rule by the British. Sunday's protests were fuelled by both the mask ban and the use by police of live bullets against protesters, which left two people injured this week. A wave of rioting in Friday led city metro services to shut down but they had partially resumed on Sunday. Demonstrators fear that democratic rights are being eroded in the semi-autonomous territory under Chinese rule. The protesters' aim was to make clear their utter contempt for the emergency law banning face masks and almost all covered their faces, the BBC's Robin Brant reports from Hong Kong. Police watched as protesters moved peacefully, chanting \"Hong Kong resist\" as they walked through the heart of the city, but after a few hours officers moved to end the disruption. Tear gas canisters were fired on the crowd from police on walkway bridges above. Video shows small groups being targeted by charging officers on the ground. Many shops were again closing early on Sunday evening in anticipation of more trouble, our correspondent says. Among incidents on Sunday: - An entrance to the Mong Kok metro station was attacked with signs and windows smashed, and a lift set on fire - Rioters smashed their way into local government offices in the Cheung Sha Wan area - A masked protester briefly hijacked an excavator in an attempt to dig up the road in Wan Chai - A taxi driver was badly beaten in Sham Shui Po after reportedly driving his car into a crowd, injuring at least one person Many more people turned out for the new marches than on Saturday, when a small march was held in the aftermath of Friday's rioting. \"I'm not sure how many more chances we'll get to fight for freedom,\" said Hazel Chan, 18, who was wearing a surgical face mask when she spoke to the BBC near a road block on the city's Rodney Street. \"I don't think it'll have a big impact on the government's stance but I hope we gain international attention and show the world we won't get used to this evil law.\" Fellow demonstrator Riley Fung, 19, said: \"I don't have much confidence in protests because the government has ignored our demands even when millions came out.\" But she continued to protest, she added, in order to express herself. By Helier Cheung, BBC News, Admiralty, Hong Kong Despite the pouring rain, the mood was defiant. Thousands of protesters joined the unauthorised march, wearing masks despite the emergency law, blocking and marching down roads, and chanting slogans such as \"Hong Kong revolt\" and \"stand with Hong Kong\" in Cantonese and English. Despite the clear defiance of the law, there were hardly any police to be seen in the first few hours. Protesters set up a road block, dug up bricks, and tied banners condemning the government onto flyovers. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, several tear gas canisters were fired. Tensions flared further as a convoy of dozens of police vans suddenly emerged - protesters shouted \"the water cannon is coming\" and ran down the streets. Within an hour or so, the roads were open again - and the protesters had seemingly melted away. Ms Lam vowed on Saturday to prevent further violence, saying: \"We cannot allow rioters any more to destroy our treasured Hong Kong.\" She justified the law against masks as a response to the demonstrators' \"extreme violence\" which was, she said, endangering Hong Kong's public safety. A second legal challenge to the mask ban, which was brought by opposition legislators, was rejected by the High Court. The legislators had argued that the prohibition was unconstitutional because it denied the rights of free expression and free assembly. Over the months, clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent. On Tuesday, police shot a protester with a live bullet for the first time, wounding an 18-year-old, who was allegedly attacking a police officer. On Friday, a boy aged 14 was shot in the leg with a live round in Yuen Long, a town to the west of the city. A plain-clothes police officer with an unmarked police car was later set upon by rioters in the same area but officials did not link the two incidents, the South China Morning Post reports. Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997. It has a \"one country, two systems\" agreement that guarantees it some autonomy, and its people certain freedoms, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. But those freedoms - the Basic Law - are only enshrined until 2047 and it is not clear what will happen then.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2764, "answer_start": 961, "text": "The protesters' aim was to make clear their utter contempt for the emergency law banning face masks and almost all covered their faces, the BBC's Robin Brant reports from Hong Kong. Police watched as protesters moved peacefully, chanting \"Hong Kong resist\" as they walked through the heart of the city, but after a few hours officers moved to end the disruption. Tear gas canisters were fired on the crowd from police on walkway bridges above. Video shows small groups being targeted by charging officers on the ground. Many shops were again closing early on Sunday evening in anticipation of more trouble, our correspondent says. Among incidents on Sunday: - An entrance to the Mong Kok metro station was attacked with signs and windows smashed, and a lift set on fire - Rioters smashed their way into local government offices in the Cheung Sha Wan area - A masked protester briefly hijacked an excavator in an attempt to dig up the road in Wan Chai - A taxi driver was badly beaten in Sham Shui Po after reportedly driving his car into a crowd, injuring at least one person Many more people turned out for the new marches than on Saturday, when a small march was held in the aftermath of Friday's rioting. \"I'm not sure how many more chances we'll get to fight for freedom,\" said Hazel Chan, 18, who was wearing a surgical face mask when she spoke to the BBC near a road block on the city's Rodney Street. \"I don't think it'll have a big impact on the government's stance but I hope we gain international attention and show the world we won't get used to this evil law.\" Fellow demonstrator Riley Fung, 19, said: \"I don't have much confidence in protests because the government has ignored our demands even when millions came out.\" But she continued to protest, she added, in order to express herself." } ], "id": "791_0", "question": "What happened on Sunday?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4160, "answer_start": 3622, "text": "Ms Lam vowed on Saturday to prevent further violence, saying: \"We cannot allow rioters any more to destroy our treasured Hong Kong.\" She justified the law against masks as a response to the demonstrators' \"extreme violence\" which was, she said, endangering Hong Kong's public safety. A second legal challenge to the mask ban, which was brought by opposition legislators, was rejected by the High Court. The legislators had argued that the prohibition was unconstitutional because it denied the rights of free expression and free assembly." } ], "id": "791_1", "question": "How are the authorities responding?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4693, "answer_start": 4161, "text": "Over the months, clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent. On Tuesday, police shot a protester with a live bullet for the first time, wounding an 18-year-old, who was allegedly attacking a police officer. On Friday, a boy aged 14 was shot in the leg with a live round in Yuen Long, a town to the west of the city. A plain-clothes police officer with an unmarked police car was later set upon by rioters in the same area but officials did not link the two incidents, the South China Morning Post reports." } ], "id": "791_2", "question": "How dangerous is the situation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5036, "answer_start": 4694, "text": "Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997. It has a \"one country, two systems\" agreement that guarantees it some autonomy, and its people certain freedoms, including freedom of assembly and freedom of speech. But those freedoms - the Basic Law - are only enshrined until 2047 and it is not clear what will happen then." } ], "id": "791_3", "question": "What is Hong Kong's status?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has made his first public appearance since the army took over on Wednesday. He attended a graduation ceremony in the capital, Harare, handing out degrees. Mr Mugabe had been under house arrest for days. The army made its move after a power struggle over his successor. The military said on Friday it was \"engaging\" with Mr Mugabe and would advise the public on the outcome of talks \"as soon as possible\". Meanwhile Christopher Mutsvangwa - the leader of the influential war veterans' association, once loyal to Mr Mugabe - said he should step down at once. He called for a huge turnout in street protests on Saturday. \"We want to restore our pride and tomorrow is the day... we can finish the job which the army started,\" Mr Mutsvangwa said. \"There's no going back about Mugabe. He must leave.\" Liberal groups opposed to the president have also backed the rally. The leader of last year's #Thisflag protests, Evans Mwarire, urged people to turn up. Mr Mugabe's attendance at the graduation is an annual tradition but he was not expected this year. BBC Online Africa editor Joseph Winter says he was allowed to be there partly to keep up the pretence that the military have not staged a coup and partly because of a genuine, deeply felt respect for him going back more than 40 years. Mr Mugabe walked slowly up a red carpet and joined the crowd in singing the national anthem, then opened the graduation ceremony at Zimbabwe's Open University, where he is chancellor. One of the people he conferred a degree upon was Marry Chiwenga, the wife of the general who detained him on Wednesday, the state broadcaster reports. Neither the 93-year-old president's wife, Grace Mugabe, nor Education Minister Jonathan Moyo - an ally of hers whose house was reportedly raided by the military - were present. The army acted after Mr Mugabe sacked Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa last week. Mr Mnangagwa was seen as a potential successor and his sacking was supposed to have paved the way for Grace Mugabe - who is four decades younger than him - to take over the presidency instead. It was thought she had left the country but it emerged on Thursday that she was at home with Mr Mugabe. By Stanley Kwenda, BBC News, Kutama To get to President Robert Mugabe's rural home you drive along the Robert Mugabe highway. It's probably one of the best maintained roads in Zimbabwe, like driving on a carpet. Along the way you are greeted by a plaque erected in his honour. Kutama is a small and tightly connected village where everyone knows each other. You can't really tell if they've been rattled by the current political crisis. As we arrived there was an air of uncertainty. Mr Mugabe is respected here - to many he's a father and a friend. A 65-year-old neighbour of his told me: \"He's kind, he's a good man and he understands people's plight.\" The man goes to St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church with Mr Mugabe, a devout Christian, whenever he visits. \"He never demands special treatment. He visits people to check on their welfare,\" said the man at his compound. He said he supports the move by the army saying it's meant to correct a broken system. \"If his term goes out then there's nothing wrong,\" he said. Military vehicles were spotted on roads leading to the Zimbabwean capital Harare on Tuesday, sparking rumours that something was afoot. Later, soldiers seized the headquarters of Zimbabwe's national broadcaster ZBC and loud explosions and gunfire were heard. Major General Sibusiso Moyo then read out a statement on national television, assuring the nation that President Mugabe and his family were safe. The military was only targeting what he called \"criminals\" around the president, he said, denying that there had been a coup. On Thursday Mr Mugabe was pictured smiling as he took part in talks with an army general and South African government ministers at State House but sources suggested he might be resisting pressure to resign. Zimbabweans have been posting on Facebook and Twitter that there has been no dramatic effect on normal life. People say that shops have opened as normal but there are few people on the streets of the capital. Some Zimbabweans spoken to by the BBC have welcomed the news, with one man expressing his thanks to the army for \"taking out the tyrant\". - US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged a quick return to civilian rule, but also said the crisis was an opportunity for Zimbabwe to set itself on a new path that includes democratic elections and respect for human rights - Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said Beijing was hoping for stability and a peaceful \"appropriate\" resolution - UK Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said he hoped things would improve but also warned against a transition from \"one unelected tyrant\" to another - Botswana's President Ian Khama told Reuters news agency that regional leaders did not support Mr Mugabe staying in power, adding: \"We are presidents, we are not monarchs\" - Alpha Conde, the chairman of the African Union, a key regional bloc, said the takeover \"seems like a coup\" and demanded a return to constitutional order", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3973, "answer_start": 3236, "text": "Military vehicles were spotted on roads leading to the Zimbabwean capital Harare on Tuesday, sparking rumours that something was afoot. Later, soldiers seized the headquarters of Zimbabwe's national broadcaster ZBC and loud explosions and gunfire were heard. Major General Sibusiso Moyo then read out a statement on national television, assuring the nation that President Mugabe and his family were safe. The military was only targeting what he called \"criminals\" around the president, he said, denying that there had been a coup. On Thursday Mr Mugabe was pictured smiling as he took part in talks with an army general and South African government ministers at State House but sources suggested he might be resisting pressure to resign." } ], "id": "792_0", "question": "How did we get here?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4320, "answer_start": 3974, "text": "Zimbabweans have been posting on Facebook and Twitter that there has been no dramatic effect on normal life. People say that shops have opened as normal but there are few people on the streets of the capital. Some Zimbabweans spoken to by the BBC have welcomed the news, with one man expressing his thanks to the army for \"taking out the tyrant\"." } ], "id": "792_1", "question": "What's the reaction in the country?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A UK hacker reportedly fooled top White House officials into engaging in fake email exchanges. The self-proclaimed \"email prankster\" convinced a senior cyber security adviser he was the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, CNN says. He also goaded the then media chief, Anthony Scaramucci, in the guise of ex-chief of staff Reince Priebus. Concerns about cyber security are running high amid claims hackers interfered in the US election. The White House told CNN it was investigating the latest incident and took the issue very seriously. The prankster posted some of the email exchanges on Twitter, where he describes himself as a \"lazy anarchist\", and said he was doing it for fun. On Tuesday he promised not to target the White House again, but said \"you need to tighten up IT policy\". Here are three of the most memorable parts of the hoax: Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert was apparently tricked into believing Mr Kushner had invited him to a party and gave out his personal email address unsolicited. \"Tom, we are arranging a bit of a soiree towards the end of August,\" the fake Mr Kushner wrote in emails shared with CNN. \"It would be great if you could make it, I promise food of at least comparible [sic] quality to that which we ate in Iraq. Should be a great evening.\" Mr Bossert replied: \"Thanks, Jared. With a promise like that, I can't refuse. Also, if you ever need it, my personal email is [redacted].\" The cyber security adviser has not commented publicly on the reports. A day after Mr Priebus was removed as White House chief of staff, the hacker emailed then-White House media chief Mr Scaramucci pretending to be his adversary. The fake Mr Priebus accused Mr Scaramucci of being \"breathtakingly hypocritical\" and acting in a way not \"even remotely classy\". Mr Scaramucci, appointed communications director a week earlier, had accused Mr Priebus - a Republican Party stalwart - of leaking to the press. He also phoned a reporter to unleash a profanity-filled rant against Mr Priebus, whom he called a \"paranoid schizophrenic\". Tricked by the fake emails on Saturday, the real Mr Scaramucci said: \"You know what you did. We all do. Even today. But rest assured we were prepared. A Man would apologize.\" When the pretend Mr Priebus wrote back defending his work, Mr Scaramucci responded: \"Read Shakespeare. Particularly Othello.\" Mr Scaramucci was sacked as President Trump's media chief on Monday. Eric Trump, too, was briefly hoodwinked by the prankster emailing as his older brother, Donald Trump Jr, about a long-range hunting rifle. But Donald Jr soon realised it was a scam and replied: \"I have sent this to law enforcement who will handle from here.\" Experts told CNN the incidents showed how even the most powerful people in America remained vulnerable to phishing attacks, where hackers send fake emails to induce individuals to reveal personal information. Concern about politicians being targeted is particularly high after the attack on the Democratic National Committee during the US presidential election. US authorities attributed that incident to Russia and said that a significant component of the attack involved phishing. More recently, the electoral campaign of President Emmanuel Macron in France was targeted by a similar campaign. Analysis: 'All they do is spoof the email' Chris Baraniuk, BBC News technology reporter If you think your email address is proof of who you are, think again. It's long been a feature of the technology that someone can set up a mail server to send emails that look as though they have come from another person. Say \"[email protected]\". But in such cases, any reply to that message will go to the real \"[email protected]\". The email prankster was able to receive the replies, of course, because he or she published them. How? While we don't know the details, it's possible that an email address was set up at a domain name that was very similar to \"whitehouse.gov\". It's a well-known problem, says cyber security expert Prof Alan Woodward at the University of Surrey. He points out that scammers in the UK have been known to email house buyers with an apparent message from their solicitor. It asks them to transfer payment to the scammer's account. \"All they do is they spoof the email by changing one character,\" says Prof Woodward. The recipient's eye hastily skims over the altered or missing letter, and the message is simply taken as legitimate.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2423, "answer_start": 1496, "text": "A day after Mr Priebus was removed as White House chief of staff, the hacker emailed then-White House media chief Mr Scaramucci pretending to be his adversary. The fake Mr Priebus accused Mr Scaramucci of being \"breathtakingly hypocritical\" and acting in a way not \"even remotely classy\". Mr Scaramucci, appointed communications director a week earlier, had accused Mr Priebus - a Republican Party stalwart - of leaking to the press. He also phoned a reporter to unleash a profanity-filled rant against Mr Priebus, whom he called a \"paranoid schizophrenic\". Tricked by the fake emails on Saturday, the real Mr Scaramucci said: \"You know what you did. We all do. Even today. But rest assured we were prepared. A Man would apologize.\" When the pretend Mr Priebus wrote back defending his work, Mr Scaramucci responded: \"Read Shakespeare. Particularly Othello.\" Mr Scaramucci was sacked as President Trump's media chief on Monday." } ], "id": "793_0", "question": "2. Scaramucci row: A Shakespearean tale of jealousy and betrayal?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The UK and EU are \"running out of road\" in their bid to secure a Brexit deal, the Irish foreign minister has warned. Simon Coveney said some things were \"more important than economic relationships\" and preventing a hard border in Ireland was one of them. He added that the Irish government was \"not going to allow\" a return to the borders of the past after MPs voted to seek changes to the backstop. The backstop is a clause in the Brexit deal to maintain an open Irish border. British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed to the backstop during negotiations with the EU but has not been able to convince enough Westminster MPs to back the EU withdrawal deal. On Tuesday, the House of Commons voted for Mrs May to go back to the EU and re-open negotiations in order to secure a \"legally binding change\" to the backstop. But Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission, has said the EU will not abandon the backstop, adding: \"Ireland's border is Europe's border, and it's our union's priority.\" Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar spoke to Mrs May by phone on Wednesday and a statement released on his behalf said he \"set out once again the unchanged Irish and EU position on the withdrawal agreement and the backstop\". The statement added that the latest developments \"reinforced the need for a backstop which is legally robust and workable in practice\" and said the two leaders \"agreed to stay in touch over the coming period\". Earlier, at an Institute of International and European Affairs event in Dublin, Mr Coveney said: \"We are, quite simply, running out of road. \"As Donald Tusk was quick to spell out last night within minutes of the vote, and as had been indicated to the British government numerous times prior to the vote, the withdrawal agreement, including the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, is not open for re-negotiation.\" \"It is vitally important that politicians in Westminster understand the overwhelming wish across society in Northern Ireland not to return to the borders and division of times past. \"Anybody who allows that to happen, will be judged harshly in history and rightly so. This government in Dublin is not going to allow it.\" Mr Coveney also said he would meet the Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley on Wednesday evening. Mrs May has said she stands \"fully behind\" the Good Friday Agreement, after being accused of ripping it up over Brexit. The SNP accused the Tories of tearing up the deal ending decades of violence in NI, by voting for the UK to seek alternative arrangements to the border backstop. But Mrs May said everything she did would be in line with her government's commitments to the 1998 peace accord. She told Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday that the government is considering a number of options. The UK government agreed to a backstop in the draft withdrawal deal with the EU in November 2018 that would take effect at the end of the transition period in December 2020 if another solution has not been found by then. Those who reject the backstop fear it will not just be a temporary measure if no future trade deal is agreed, but could result in the UK staying in the EU customs union permanently. Mr Coveney, who is also tanaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) said Tuesday's vote in London in favour of alternative arrangements to the backstop was \"disappointing\". He insisted the Irish government would not allow any renegotiation of the backstop, and said that up until three days ago, Mrs May had been a \"defender of the backstop\". \"There is a wing in the Tory party, who in my view, want a different Brexit and she is having to accommodate those people by taking a tougher line and fundamentally undermining her own position,\" Mr Coveney told Irish broadcaster RTE. \"Surely the responsible thing for the Irish government to do is to hold the British government to its word.\" He also likened the current approach from the UK as \"either you give me what I want or I'm jumping out the window\". Various EU leaders have suggested there will be no revisions to the deal, with European Council President Donald Tusk saying: \"The backstop is part of the withdrawal agreement, and the withdrawal agreement is not open for renegotiation.\" BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming said Theresa May and Donald Tusk had a 45-minute call on Wednesday evening that has been described as \"open and frank\". She is not now expected to visit Brussels in the coming days. French President Emmanuel Macron also said the agreement was \"not renegotiable\". Mr Tusk added the EU would, however, be willing to look at the political declaration again - the part of the deal that makes a pledge on the future relationship between the UK and the EU - and that the EU would \"stand ready\" to consider any \"reasoned request\" for an extension to the leave date of 29 March. BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said there were \"no cracks\" in EU unity, with its leaders united with Ireland and they do not want to \"give up\" the backstop. At the moment, the UK is due to leave the European Union at 23:00 GMT on 29 March, with or without a deal. Mrs May has said she wants to work with the Irish government and EU to get a deal that works for the whole of the UK. Her revised deal will return to the Commons to be voted on next month. But, if it is again rejected, the government will table an amendable motion - meaning MPs can put forward more amendments as they did earlier - for debate the following day. And if no new deal is agreed by Parliament by 13 February, she will make a statement and, again, table an amendable motion for debate the next day.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2292, "answer_start": 1005, "text": "Taoiseach (Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar spoke to Mrs May by phone on Wednesday and a statement released on his behalf said he \"set out once again the unchanged Irish and EU position on the withdrawal agreement and the backstop\". The statement added that the latest developments \"reinforced the need for a backstop which is legally robust and workable in practice\" and said the two leaders \"agreed to stay in touch over the coming period\". Earlier, at an Institute of International and European Affairs event in Dublin, Mr Coveney said: \"We are, quite simply, running out of road. \"As Donald Tusk was quick to spell out last night within minutes of the vote, and as had been indicated to the British government numerous times prior to the vote, the withdrawal agreement, including the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, is not open for re-negotiation.\" \"It is vitally important that politicians in Westminster understand the overwhelming wish across society in Northern Ireland not to return to the borders and division of times past. \"Anybody who allows that to happen, will be judged harshly in history and rightly so. This government in Dublin is not going to allow it.\" Mr Coveney also said he would meet the Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley on Wednesday evening." } ], "id": "794_0", "question": "What has the Irish government response been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3363, "answer_start": 2293, "text": "Mrs May has said she stands \"fully behind\" the Good Friday Agreement, after being accused of ripping it up over Brexit. The SNP accused the Tories of tearing up the deal ending decades of violence in NI, by voting for the UK to seek alternative arrangements to the border backstop. But Mrs May said everything she did would be in line with her government's commitments to the 1998 peace accord. She told Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday that the government is considering a number of options. The UK government agreed to a backstop in the draft withdrawal deal with the EU in November 2018 that would take effect at the end of the transition period in December 2020 if another solution has not been found by then. Those who reject the backstop fear it will not just be a temporary measure if no future trade deal is agreed, but could result in the UK staying in the EU customs union permanently. Mr Coveney, who is also tanaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) said Tuesday's vote in London in favour of alternative arrangements to the backstop was \"disappointing\"." } ], "id": "794_1", "question": "What has the UK prime minister been saying?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4993, "answer_start": 3994, "text": "Various EU leaders have suggested there will be no revisions to the deal, with European Council President Donald Tusk saying: \"The backstop is part of the withdrawal agreement, and the withdrawal agreement is not open for renegotiation.\" BBC Brussels reporter Adam Fleming said Theresa May and Donald Tusk had a 45-minute call on Wednesday evening that has been described as \"open and frank\". She is not now expected to visit Brussels in the coming days. French President Emmanuel Macron also said the agreement was \"not renegotiable\". Mr Tusk added the EU would, however, be willing to look at the political declaration again - the part of the deal that makes a pledge on the future relationship between the UK and the EU - and that the EU would \"stand ready\" to consider any \"reasoned request\" for an extension to the leave date of 29 March. BBC Europe editor Katya Adler said there were \"no cracks\" in EU unity, with its leaders united with Ireland and they do not want to \"give up\" the backstop." } ], "id": "794_2", "question": "What have other EU leaders said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5611, "answer_start": 4994, "text": "At the moment, the UK is due to leave the European Union at 23:00 GMT on 29 March, with or without a deal. Mrs May has said she wants to work with the Irish government and EU to get a deal that works for the whole of the UK. Her revised deal will return to the Commons to be voted on next month. But, if it is again rejected, the government will table an amendable motion - meaning MPs can put forward more amendments as they did earlier - for debate the following day. And if no new deal is agreed by Parliament by 13 February, she will make a statement and, again, table an amendable motion for debate the next day." } ], "id": "794_3", "question": "What happens next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Law and Justice-governed Poland looks likely to be a mildly Eurosceptic, more inward-looking, socially conservative country. Based on its current policies and its previous term in office from 2005 to 2007, a Law and Justice government will occupy itself more with domestic issues than foreign ones. Although Poland's economy grew by almost a third during eight years of centre-right Civic Platform rule, the prosperity was spread unevenly. Some parts of Poland have already reached Western European standards, but other parts are much poorer. Youth unemployment is above the OECD average - an international benchmark figure - and many graduates see few prospects for themselves. Poles can still earn much more in the UK or Germany and, while freedom of movement remains, they will continue to seek better-paid jobs abroad. Law and Justice tapped into this discontent. It promised increased childcare benefits, tax breaks for the less well-off and small businesses, as well as free medicines for those over 75. It plans to undo Civic Platform's unpopular reform to increase the retirement age for both men and women, and draft a law that will help the more than half a million Poles who took out a mortgage in Swiss francs and now face spiralling repayments. Law and Justice plans to pay for all this with a new tax on banks, tax big mainly foreign-owned supermarkets and improve collection of sales tax (VAT). However, improving tax collection would surely not be enough to cover a programme predicted to cost more than EUR10bn (PS7bn; $11bn) a year. Some critics argue the plans will never be realised. While there are concerns about a move towards more populist policymaking, the impact on the economy in the short term will be fairly limited, some analysts reckon. Higher spending on social welfare \"could boost GDP growth over the next few years\", wrote William Jackson, senior emerging markets economist for Capital Economics. But that could be undermined by Law and Justice's lack of appetite for structural reforms, he warned. And that \"may lead to weaker investment and productivity growth, slowing down the process of income convergence with European peers\". In social policy a Law and Justice Poland will certainly be more conservative than many Western European countries. It opposes civil partnerships, afraid that homosexuals might somehow get the right to marry and adopt children. It may stop public funding for married heterosexual couples seeking IVF treatment to start a family. Schoolchildren will be encouraged to be more patriotic. Internationally, Warsaw will look to strengthen alliances with its neighbours in Central and Eastern Europe. Civic Platform's policy of influencing European Union policy through close ties with Germany will likely be shelved. Indeed it will be interesting to see if the mildly Eurosceptic Law and Justice will take a constructive approach to shaping policy in Brussels. Law and Justice's anti-immigrant stance looks likely to set it at odds with the European Commission over migrant quotas in future. Law and Justice has traditionally looked to Washington in defence policy, and while it has promised to increase its own military spending to 2.5% of GDP, it would like to see Nato locate significant bases in Poland - an issue where Warsaw and Berlin differ. Warsaw's already dire relations with Moscow are unlikely to improve. Poland's former President Lech Kaczynski, the identical twin of Law and Justice leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski, died in a plane crash in Smolensk, western Russia, in 2010. Poland is still trying to get the plane wreckage back. Although Mr Kaczynski has vowed not to seek revenge on his political opponents, there may be an attempt to conduct a final reckoning of the Smolensk tragedy. Mr Kaczynski has actively encouraged wild conspiracy theories that the plane was brought down by a plot, not by pilot error as both the Russian and two Polish investigations have so far found. Finally, there is the question of power and where will it truly reside? After losing every election since 2007, Mr Kaczynski was shrewd enough to put up the moderate and unknown MEP Andrzej Duda as his candidate for president in May this year. The tactic worked and he repeated it by nominating Beata Szydlo as candidate for prime minister. They are the fresh moderate faces of Law and Justice. But the party is dominated by Mr Kaczynski and it is more than likely that he will be taking the important decisions facing the country in the coming years.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4507, "answer_start": 3956, "text": "Finally, there is the question of power and where will it truly reside? After losing every election since 2007, Mr Kaczynski was shrewd enough to put up the moderate and unknown MEP Andrzej Duda as his candidate for president in May this year. The tactic worked and he repeated it by nominating Beata Szydlo as candidate for prime minister. They are the fresh moderate faces of Law and Justice. But the party is dominated by Mr Kaczynski and it is more than likely that he will be taking the important decisions facing the country in the coming years." } ], "id": "795_0", "question": "Who holds power?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The battle of Brexit has been raging at Westminster this week. But one of the subjects that's infuriating Brexiteers is going far over our heads. And if you've got a smart phone, or sat-nav in your car, you may already be dependent on it. We often call this GPS - global positioning system. But increasingly, we should call it Galileo. That's because GPS is controlled from the Pentagon in Washington. It's an American military-based satellite system. The European Union has been putting together Galileo as its own network of satellites. It's full of British expertise, but Brexit Britain looks like losing its privileged access to Galileo's secret inner workings. I've been finding more about it, from those who have co-ordinated the commissioning from Brussels and from Professor Malcolm MacDonald, an expert in satellite technology and space policy at the University of Strathclyde. The systems are all similar in concept, requiring a minimum of 24 satellites in quite a high orbit to get the maximum reach over the earth's surface. These send out very, very accurate time signals. Wherever you are, your phone or satnav picks up signals from at least three different satellites, which orbit the earth on different axes - something like those illustrations of an atom where electrons spin around a nucleus. Put the three together, compare the different lengths of time it has taken for the signals to reach your mobile phone, and it can compute where you are. A recently bought phone, or one with updated software, will be Galileo-compliant, so it will draw on GPS signals plus Galileo and possibly also from a Russian satellite network. They interact, and the more signals, the more accuracy you should get. GPS is accurate to within about 20 metres. Galileo is designed to improve that, to around one metre. The restricted system, for use by governments, should be able to reduce that to around 25cm. The satellites don't monitor which devices are using the signal, but there is part of system that can pick up search and rescue signals. So that's of use for maritime search, or remote mountains, or if a car crashes off the road. Every new car model launched in Europe is required to have a Galileo-linked beacon, which should be activated as soon as an air bag is inflated. Emergency services will instantly know where an accident has taken place. The estimated time of getting to a maritime Mayday call can be sharply reduced. The uses for autonomous vehicles have yet to be developed, but it's clear that satellite technology will be an important part of future road transport - both to guide cars and to manage traffic systems. It also has potential for road pricing. Malcolm MacDonald says the crucial difference is that we can trust Galileo better than GPS, even to land a plane where there's no ground radar. That element of its capability is being used by 350 airports in Europe, and also deployed in less developed areas of the world, where communications are poor. Already, GPS and Galileo have become a vital part of finance. In trading, it matters a lot that there is an electronic record of when transactions have taken place. The electronic date-stamp from the satellite navigation system is recognised by all parties to contracts as the reliable industry standard. Then there's agriculture. Another European Union network, called Copernicus, provides earth surveillance. It can tell a farmer about different growing conditions across a field. It can, for instance, highlight an area that needs a higher level of fertiliser or pesticide than others. Satellite navigation can then be used to direct farm equipment - in some cases, autonomously - to the point of need, saving on cost and environmental impact. The first satellites were put into orbit from 2013. There are now 22 in orbit, and 18 of them have become operational. That gives it around 80% global coverage. Another four satellites are being prepared for a rocket launch from French Guiana next month. Once they have been fully deployed, from 2020 the system should be complete, and there will be two spare satellites in case others run into technical difficulties. From around 2023, a replacement programme will start. Due to stresses of heat and cold, the satellites have an estimated 10-year lifespan. Almost all the payload - the brains of the satellite - are built in Britain, which is a world leader in small satellites. Glasgow's got a good chunk of that market but not for Galileo. The other big spend is on the components - the solar panels, the casing, the rocket systems, where the Germans, French and Dutch have done well. But if we go back to 2002 into 2004, when Galileo was first being discussed, the British - backed up by Germany and the Netherlands - were strenuously arguing against it. They argued it was a classic, daft, Euro-waste of money and, literally, of space. With encouragement from Washington, the British were asking why Europe couldn't simply rely on the American GPS system. They didn't realise then how quickly people and the economy would become dependent on satellite navigation, on how widespread its applications could be, or on how positive the satellite sector could become for the British economy. Nor did they foresee that Donald Trump would become US President and could switch off GPS on a whim. When the programme was first discussed, there was talk of it being privately financed. That didn't happen, as providing a free service doesn't produce an income stream. There were discussions with Russia and China about working on this network with the European Union. But in Moscow and Beijing, they decided to go and make their own, military-led systems. Given the change of tone from the Kremlin, and concerns about China's acquisition of technology, it's hard to imagine those partnerships working smoothly now. The European Commission certainly sounds that way. It has spent around 10 billion euros so far, on satellites, launches, and building ground stations (the British and French have some helpful far-flung outposts and former colonies that can be used for that). And they're so happy with it that they announced this month that they intend to spend a further 16 billion euros from 2021 to 2027. That's as much as they have spent from 2005 to 2020. The absence of the UK from paying into the budget isn't going to slow them up. That money sustains the Galileo systems, paying for some replacement satellites as they wear out. It also supports the Copernicus network of satellites, which provides earth surveillance - of farming, land planning and pollution monitoring, and it has uses in handling natural disasters. The commission reckons that 80% of new phones on the market are Galileo-enabled. Just two years ago, there was one manufacturer linking with it, a small one in Spain. That did not take regulation. It's in the manufacturers' interests to deploy the technology. It did, however, require legislation to force car manufacturers to adopt the locator beacon technology as standard. And once on board all cars, it's an important step towards a satellite-based system for smart traffic management and autonomous cars. The UK is being denied on two grounds. One is the restricted part of the system, of particular interest for military uses. Britain has a lot of them. Think missile targeting. That element of Galileo is only for EU members, and when Britain is not an EU member, it will have to negotiate a special deal to use the system. Norway and America are already in talks to do that, and the talks have been under way for more than two years. I was in Brussels earlier this month, asking around about this, and I was told this makes the British - Brexiteers and remainers alike - more incensed than almost anything else in the negotiations. (So far.) Britain helped pay for it. It's been important to building it: \"So be reasonable, chaps.\" In Brussels, they're saying: we're governed by rules, and look at the words - non-EU members, or \"third countries\" don't get automatic access to the high security functions. The other dispute is the ban on Britain being able to bid for work on the secure aspects of future EU satellites. So SSTL, the Surrey-based subsidiary of Airbus that makes most Galileo satellite payloads, is reported to be planning a move of its production to the continent. The UK government has tabled a proposal to share the system post-Brexit, but the other 27 members this week chose to continue while cutting the UK out of procurement. That brought a warning that the British could seek to frustrate the process and increase its costs. That was being urged on ministers in the House of Commons this week. It would be an expensive option. It could be cheaper to do this on a one-country basis, and some lessons have been learned from the Galileo process. But it's not expected to leave much change from PS10 billion. The British clearly have the know-how. At a price, it can hitch a ride on another country's rocket. Japan and India have their own regional systems, with satellites positioned above those countries, so that might be an option. But it looks like we might have spending pressures closer to home.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1910, "answer_start": 1715, "text": "GPS is accurate to within about 20 metres. Galileo is designed to improve that, to around one metre. The restricted system, for use by governments, should be able to reduce that to around 25cm." } ], "id": "796_0", "question": "How accurate is Galileo?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3735, "answer_start": 1911, "text": "The satellites don't monitor which devices are using the signal, but there is part of system that can pick up search and rescue signals. So that's of use for maritime search, or remote mountains, or if a car crashes off the road. Every new car model launched in Europe is required to have a Galileo-linked beacon, which should be activated as soon as an air bag is inflated. Emergency services will instantly know where an accident has taken place. The estimated time of getting to a maritime Mayday call can be sharply reduced. The uses for autonomous vehicles have yet to be developed, but it's clear that satellite technology will be an important part of future road transport - both to guide cars and to manage traffic systems. It also has potential for road pricing. Malcolm MacDonald says the crucial difference is that we can trust Galileo better than GPS, even to land a plane where there's no ground radar. That element of its capability is being used by 350 airports in Europe, and also deployed in less developed areas of the world, where communications are poor. Already, GPS and Galileo have become a vital part of finance. In trading, it matters a lot that there is an electronic record of when transactions have taken place. The electronic date-stamp from the satellite navigation system is recognised by all parties to contracts as the reliable industry standard. Then there's agriculture. Another European Union network, called Copernicus, provides earth surveillance. It can tell a farmer about different growing conditions across a field. It can, for instance, highlight an area that needs a higher level of fertiliser or pesticide than others. Satellite navigation can then be used to direct farm equipment - in some cases, autonomously - to the point of need, saving on cost and environmental impact." } ], "id": "796_1", "question": "Does that give it more uses than GPS?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4296, "answer_start": 3736, "text": "The first satellites were put into orbit from 2013. There are now 22 in orbit, and 18 of them have become operational. That gives it around 80% global coverage. Another four satellites are being prepared for a rocket launch from French Guiana next month. Once they have been fully deployed, from 2020 the system should be complete, and there will be two spare satellites in case others run into technical difficulties. From around 2023, a replacement programme will start. Due to stresses of heat and cold, the satellites have an estimated 10-year lifespan." } ], "id": "796_2", "question": "How close is Galileo to completion?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5847, "answer_start": 4297, "text": "Almost all the payload - the brains of the satellite - are built in Britain, which is a world leader in small satellites. Glasgow's got a good chunk of that market but not for Galileo. The other big spend is on the components - the solar panels, the casing, the rocket systems, where the Germans, French and Dutch have done well. But if we go back to 2002 into 2004, when Galileo was first being discussed, the British - backed up by Germany and the Netherlands - were strenuously arguing against it. They argued it was a classic, daft, Euro-waste of money and, literally, of space. With encouragement from Washington, the British were asking why Europe couldn't simply rely on the American GPS system. They didn't realise then how quickly people and the economy would become dependent on satellite navigation, on how widespread its applications could be, or on how positive the satellite sector could become for the British economy. Nor did they foresee that Donald Trump would become US President and could switch off GPS on a whim. When the programme was first discussed, there was talk of it being privately financed. That didn't happen, as providing a free service doesn't produce an income stream. There were discussions with Russia and China about working on this network with the European Union. But in Moscow and Beijing, they decided to go and make their own, military-led systems. Given the change of tone from the Kremlin, and concerns about China's acquisition of technology, it's hard to imagine those partnerships working smoothly now." } ], "id": "796_3", "question": "Haven't the British done some good business out of this project?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7169, "answer_start": 5848, "text": "The European Commission certainly sounds that way. It has spent around 10 billion euros so far, on satellites, launches, and building ground stations (the British and French have some helpful far-flung outposts and former colonies that can be used for that). And they're so happy with it that they announced this month that they intend to spend a further 16 billion euros from 2021 to 2027. That's as much as they have spent from 2005 to 2020. The absence of the UK from paying into the budget isn't going to slow them up. That money sustains the Galileo systems, paying for some replacement satellites as they wear out. It also supports the Copernicus network of satellites, which provides earth surveillance - of farming, land planning and pollution monitoring, and it has uses in handling natural disasters. The commission reckons that 80% of new phones on the market are Galileo-enabled. Just two years ago, there was one manufacturer linking with it, a small one in Spain. That did not take regulation. It's in the manufacturers' interests to deploy the technology. It did, however, require legislation to force car manufacturers to adopt the locator beacon technology as standard. And once on board all cars, it's an important step towards a satellite-based system for smart traffic management and autonomous cars." } ], "id": "796_4", "question": "So the European Union is happy with the system it has bought?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 9191, "answer_start": 8618, "text": "That was being urged on ministers in the House of Commons this week. It would be an expensive option. It could be cheaper to do this on a one-country basis, and some lessons have been learned from the Galileo process. But it's not expected to leave much change from PS10 billion. The British clearly have the know-how. At a price, it can hitch a ride on another country's rocket. Japan and India have their own regional systems, with satellites positioned above those countries, so that might be an option. But it looks like we might have spending pressures closer to home." } ], "id": "796_5", "question": "Could the UK have its own satellite network?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Chicago Police Board has fired four officers for allegedly covering up the 2014 fatal police shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald. Sgt Stephen Franko and officers Daphne Sebastian, Janet Mondragon and Ricardo Viramontes were dismissed on Thursday after a vote by the nine-member board. The board determined the officers had exaggerated the threat level of the 17-year-old to justify the shooting. Jason Van Dyke, who killed McDonald, was convicted of murder last year. The police board on Thursday voted unanimously to dismiss three of the officers, with one member dissenting in the decision to fire Ms Sebastian as she was not found to have lied. The officers may appeal the firings in court. The four were accused of making false statements about the shooting, which saw Van Dyke fire 16 shots at the teenager in a span of 15 seconds. Officers Mondragon, Viramontes and Sebastian were all present at the scene of the shooting, and Sgt Franko signed off on their reports, the Chicago Tribune reported. Ms Mondragon said she did not see the shooting, and Mr Viramontes had reported that the teen tried to get up while holding a knife, despite video evidence showing otherwise. Ms Sebastian was accused of giving investigators inconsistent and misleading statements about the incident. Sgt Franko later claimed to have overlooked the details of the report. The city's Fraternal Order of Police criticised the decision and has maintained the officers did nothing wrong. The Order's vice-president Patrick Murray told local media in a statement: \"It is obvious that this police board has out-served its usefulness.\" In January, three other officers involved and accused of lying to protect Van Dyke - David March, Joseph Walsh and Thomas Gaffney - were acquitted by a judge of conspiracy, obstruction of justice and misconduct charges. After a trial last October, Van Dyke was found guilty of second-degree murder as well as 16 counts - one for each shot he fired - of aggravated battery. The firings this week are probably the final repercussions to come from the 2014 shooting, local media say. The shooting sparked protests against police brutality nationwide and led to a federal investigation into the Chicago police department that found a \"pervasive cover-up culture\". The city's police superintendent was fired following the unrest and the top prosecutor lost a re-election bid. Police dashcam video from 2014 showed white Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times as the 17-year-old walked down the road holding a pocket knife. According to the Chicago Tribune, which called the verdict \"stunning\", the case was considered to be the first time in the city's history that police officers have faced criminal charges stemming from an on-duty shooting. Prosecutors alleged the three officers falsified reports and tried to conceal the events surrounding McDonald's death \"to shield their fellow officer from criminal investigation\". \"The defendants allegedly lied about what occurred and mischaracterised the video recordings so that independent criminal investigators would not learn the truth about the killing and the public would not see the video recordings,\" they said when charges were announced in June 2017.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3238, "answer_start": 2105, "text": "The shooting sparked protests against police brutality nationwide and led to a federal investigation into the Chicago police department that found a \"pervasive cover-up culture\". The city's police superintendent was fired following the unrest and the top prosecutor lost a re-election bid. Police dashcam video from 2014 showed white Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting McDonald 16 times as the 17-year-old walked down the road holding a pocket knife. According to the Chicago Tribune, which called the verdict \"stunning\", the case was considered to be the first time in the city's history that police officers have faced criminal charges stemming from an on-duty shooting. Prosecutors alleged the three officers falsified reports and tried to conceal the events surrounding McDonald's death \"to shield their fellow officer from criminal investigation\". \"The defendants allegedly lied about what occurred and mischaracterised the video recordings so that independent criminal investigators would not learn the truth about the killing and the public would not see the video recordings,\" they said when charges were announced in June 2017." } ], "id": "797_0", "question": "What's the background?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Republicans have started haggling on final details as they near completion of the most significant rewrite of the US tax code in decades. The main thrust of the plan has been clear for months - a major reduction in the corporate tax rate, currently 35%. But many parts of the overhaul remain in flux, as the House and Senate versions of the bill diverge on several key points. The Senate bill, for example, would allow drilling in an Arctic refuge and eliminate a requirement that individuals have health insurance or pay a penalty. Negotiations will be tricky, as lawmakers aim to keep the final cost of the bill within current estimates. The Joint Committee on Taxation projects the Senate cuts will lead to $1tn less revenue over a decade, even after accounting for economic growth. Both the House and the Senate would reduce the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%. Both bills also roughly double the amount of money individuals and couples can automatically deduct from their tax bills, to about $12,000 and $24,000 respectively. And both allow people to deduct up to $10,000 in state and local property taxes. Tax brackets The House bill creates four tax brackets, with a top rate of 39.6%. The Senate bill has seven tax brackets, like current law, but introduces lower rates, with a top rate of 38.5%. Under the Senate bill, the rate reductions would expire after 2025. Inheritance tax The House bill roughly doubles the amount of money exempt from inheritance tax, raising it to $11m for an individual, and eventually eliminates it entirely. The Senate bill also doubles the amount exempt from the tax, but that benefit expires in 2026. Health care Unlike the House, the Senate bill repeals a requirement that people carry health insurance or pay a penalty. The provision would raise $318bn, since it is expected to lead to 13 million fewer people with insurance coverage. Republicans in the House have tried to undo health care laws such as this one so it is likely to attract support. Other deductions The House bill is more aggressive about tackling a host of other individual tax benefits. For example, the House limits the mortgage interest deduction to loans of up to $500,000 on a primary residence. The Senate maintains current law, which caps the deduction at $1m. The House also repeals a deduction for medical expenses, while the Senate preserves the benefit - even expanding it for two years at the insistence of Senator Susan Collins. For graduate students, the tuition waiver is also at stake. The Senate bill does not discuss the issue, but the House would treat waived tuition as income for tax purposes. Corporate tax rate Under the Senate plan, however, the reduction in the corporate rate would be delayed for one year. This weekend, President Donald Trump also raised the possibility that the rate could end up a bit higher - a major shift from earlier statements when he said he was not open to a higher corporate tax. Alternative Minimum Tax for corporations The House bill repealed this minimum 20% tax, which applies to larger firms and is designed to ensure that companies can't use tax credits and other benefits to completely avoid taxes. At the last minute, the Senate reinserted the tax into its bill, a move that raised an estimated $40bn to pay for cuts elsewhere. Companies are pushing back. They say a code with a corporate tax rate of 20% and an alternative minimum tax rate of 20% will make important tax credits such as those designed to encourage research meaningless. Pass through businesses Both bills aim to lower taxes on businesses organised as pass through entities, such as real estate firms, where profits get taxed at the owner's individual rate. They achieve the lower rates differently. In both cases, the provisions are already among the most highly contested parts of the bills. Overseas profits The Senate and House bills both overhaul the way that overseas profits get taxed, but the methods vary.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1114, "answer_start": 786, "text": "Both the House and the Senate would reduce the corporate tax rate from 35% to 20%. Both bills also roughly double the amount of money individuals and couples can automatically deduct from their tax bills, to about $12,000 and $24,000 respectively. And both allow people to deduct up to $10,000 in state and local property taxes." } ], "id": "798_0", "question": "What's the same?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "North Korea often flaunts its military hardware but of late, it appears to be making progress in developing civilian technologies - or at least is claiming to be. As with most things in the country, it is difficult to verify these claims, but it is significant to note the importance being given to technology. In recent months, state media have publicly celebrated various achievements in advanced technologies, including an \"intelligent home system\". Beyond the purpose of propaganda, emphasis on the sector reflects North Korea's desire to harness technology to improve its economy - a key goal for Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un. One of the latest tech ventures is a new wi-fi service called Mirae, which enables mobile devices to access a state-sanctioned intranet network in the capital, Pyongyang. State-run Korean Central Television on 8 November showed an Arirang 171 smartphone being used to access Mirae during an \"Exhibition of IT Successes\". The US-based monitoring website 38North noted that this was the first time an outdoor wi-fi service had been mentioned in North Korean media, and that it runs alongside two cellular networks operating in the country that provide wireless data service. Another device shown at the exhibition was an \"intelligent home system\" which recognises human voice to automatically operate electronic instruments such as fans, air conditioners, televisions and lights. This system was developed by the Kim Il-sung University, which seems to be at the forefront of the country's high-tech endeavours. DPRK Today, a propaganda website, reported on 21 November that researchers from the university had developed a number of advanced artificial intelligence systems, including a Korean-language voice recognition programme. An article in ruling Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun on 2 November said that The Intelligent Technology Institute at the university is \"burning with ambition to hold supremacy in the artificial intelligence field...and to contribute to the establishment of the artificial intelligence technology industry in the country\". Martyn Williams, who runs the respected North Korea Tech blog, told BBC Monitoring that the services cited in the country's media \"are real and do appear to be in use by people in Pyongyang at least\". \"North Korea does have talented software and system engineers so a lot of the software highlighted in reports is real and written inside the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name].\" The driving force behind the technology investments seems to be restructuring of the economy and boosting \"national power\". During a ruling party meeting in April, Kim Jong-un said science and education should \"serve as groundwork for state building and an important index of national strength\" and put forth a policy that \"a revolutionary turn should be made in the work of science and education\", according to the official KCNA news agency. As part of efforts to nurture a scientific community, North Korea has offered incentives to scientists and engineers in the form of \"lavish\" apartments and other privileges. The broader focus on science and technology has begun to appear in North Korean state media and propaganda outlets extensively. In an unusual move, Rodong Sinmun carried an article on 29 October by Ri Ki-song, a professor at the Institute of Economy at the Academy of Social Sciences, in which he said that the North Korean economy should transition to a high-tech \"knowledge-based economy\". Specifically, he proposed developing information technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, and other cutting-edge science and technologies to world-class levels. A \"special article\" in the same paper on 8 December said the North Korean economy is \"developing in a more innovative direction than ever before in the past\" and will \"give priority to localisation and development of science and technology in developing its economy\". \"Well aware that the introduction of high value-added industries would speed up economic development, the North appears to have embarked on its own fourth industrial revolution,\" Lim Eul-chul, a professor at South Korea's Kyungnam University, was quoted as saying by South Korea's Yonhap news agency on 21 November. So is North Korea on its way to becoming an innovation powerhouse? It is not known for its technological advances - unlike its Southern neighbour - so some degree of scepticism is warranted. \"North Korea does not have much strength in advanced manufacturing, so the phones and computers that are often paraded as domestic are from China,\" Mr Williams notes. In May 2018, Trend Micro, a Japan-based anti-virus company, said that the North Koreans had illegally copied its intellectual property or source code for its SiliVaccine tool. Last year, the North Korean media used Apple's trademark \"iPad\" name to refer to a locally-developed tablet, which was dubbed as the \"Ryonghung iPad\". \"From direct copycat products to loose imitations, to the now blatant use of internationally famous trademarked names like the 'iPad,' the North Korean tech world is filled with examples of knockoffs of foreign made products,\" a report in NK News website noted in 2017. The limitations on North Korea's pursuits extend beyond a supposed lack of technological ingenuity. A report released by Seoul's Korea Development Bank in 2017 noted that North Korea's artificial intelligence industry is \"expected to hit a wall, due to its strained financial resources, economic situation and international sanctions...\" Even if those tight sanctions were to be lifted, says Mr Williams, \"some countries or companies still might want to avoid business with North Korea because it could hurt their image\". But he believes major investments could be possible from South Korean companies, \"with government encouragement\". In fact, a group of senior North Korean officials visited Pangyo Techno Valley, a technology hub in the South, on 15 November to learn about autonomous cars, 3D printing, artificial intelligence and gaming technology. Another potential hurdle could be North Korea's own \"paranoia\" over the spread of information, which could stifle any innovation. \"The North Korean government's best hope is a slow opening up that satisfies people's thirst for information and a better life while retaining control of the country. A tough balancing act indeed,\" says Mr Williams.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2505, "answer_start": 630, "text": "One of the latest tech ventures is a new wi-fi service called Mirae, which enables mobile devices to access a state-sanctioned intranet network in the capital, Pyongyang. State-run Korean Central Television on 8 November showed an Arirang 171 smartphone being used to access Mirae during an \"Exhibition of IT Successes\". The US-based monitoring website 38North noted that this was the first time an outdoor wi-fi service had been mentioned in North Korean media, and that it runs alongside two cellular networks operating in the country that provide wireless data service. Another device shown at the exhibition was an \"intelligent home system\" which recognises human voice to automatically operate electronic instruments such as fans, air conditioners, televisions and lights. This system was developed by the Kim Il-sung University, which seems to be at the forefront of the country's high-tech endeavours. DPRK Today, a propaganda website, reported on 21 November that researchers from the university had developed a number of advanced artificial intelligence systems, including a Korean-language voice recognition programme. An article in ruling Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun on 2 November said that The Intelligent Technology Institute at the university is \"burning with ambition to hold supremacy in the artificial intelligence field...and to contribute to the establishment of the artificial intelligence technology industry in the country\". Martyn Williams, who runs the respected North Korea Tech blog, told BBC Monitoring that the services cited in the country's media \"are real and do appear to be in use by people in Pyongyang at least\". \"North Korea does have talented software and system engineers so a lot of the software highlighted in reports is real and written inside the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name].\"" } ], "id": "799_0", "question": "Growing tech prowess?" } ] } ]