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[ { "context": "The Indonesian woman freed after being accused of killing the half-brother of North Korea's leader says she was \"shocked\" when she learned of her release. Siti Aisyah had been accused of smearing VX nerve agent on Kim Jong-nam's face in Kuala Lumpur airport. In an interview with the BBC, she said at one point she had thought: \"Is this the end of my life?\" She repeated that she was not involved in Mr Kim's murder in 2017. Ms Aisyah refused to go into details when asked about how she was recruited, and about the men who recruited her. She and her co-accused, Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong - who also denies murder - say they thought they were part of a TV prank. \"I never [thought] that I was being entangled to such an extent,\" Ms Aisyah told BBC Indonesian a day after her release. \"[I was] shocked at first, I couldn't believe it,\" she said of her release. \"But I'm happy.\" Ms Aisyah, who had been working in Malaysia since 2015, said she had seen Ms Huong in prison sometimes, but that they had never discussed the killing. \"Sometimes once a week, we [could] get out [of] our cell and walk inside the prison compound. I met her. I asked her: 'How are you doing?' Just to say hi.\" Her release does not amount to an acquittal. She could have faced the death penalty if convicted. Ms Aisyah said she wanted to get some rest and has no plans to return to Malaysia. She added that she hoped Ms Huong could also be freed as soon as possible. Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said the decision to free Ms Aisyah had been in line with \"the rule of law\". \"There's a law that allows charges to be withdrawn. That was what happened. I don't know in detail the reasons,\" he told journalists. He said he was unaware of any negotiations between Indonesia and Malaysia on the issue, according to AFP news agency. After several months of delay, the defence phase of the trial was set to begin on Monday 11 March, with testimony from Ms Huong. However, the prosecutor in the case requested the murder charge for Siti Aisyah be dropped, without giving a reason. In a letter to the Indonesian law minister, Malaysia's attorney general explained that the decision took into account considerations Jakarta had raised about the case, as well as the good relations between the two countries. Ms Huong's case has now been adjourned at the request of her lawyers. The brazen killing at an international airport left observers stunned and gripped international headlines. Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong-un, 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 the nerve agent 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. The two women have said they were innocent victims of an elaborate North Korean plot. According to their lawyers, in the days before Mr Kim's death the women had been paid to take part in pranks where they wiped liquid on people at airports, hotels and shopping malls. They thought they were taking part in another prank at the airport. Their lawyers had expressed confidence that the court would see they had no motive to kill Mr Kim. The older half-brother of Kim Jong-un was once seen as a future leader of the isolated country. But when his father Kim Jong-il died, he was bypassed in favour of the younger Kim. He was largely estranged from the family, and spent most of his time overseas in Macau, mainland China and Singapore. He had spoken out in the past against his family's dynastic control of North Korea, and in a 2012 book was quoted as saying he believed his half-brother lacked leadership qualities.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2351, "answer_start": 1811, "text": "After several months of delay, the defence phase of the trial was set to begin on Monday 11 March, with testimony from Ms Huong. However, the prosecutor in the case requested the murder charge for Siti Aisyah be dropped, without giving a reason. In a letter to the Indonesian law minister, Malaysia's attorney general explained that the decision took into account considerations Jakarta had raised about the case, as well as the good relations between the two countries. Ms Huong's case has now been adjourned at the request of her lawyers." } ], "id": "9100_0", "question": "Where does that leave the trial?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3192, "answer_start": 2352, "text": "The brazen killing at an international airport left observers stunned and gripped international headlines. Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of Kim Jong-un, 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 the nerve agent 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": "9100_1", "question": "How did the murder happen?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3628, "answer_start": 3193, "text": "The two women have said they were innocent victims of an elaborate North Korean plot. According to their lawyers, in the days before Mr Kim's death the women had been paid to take part in pranks where they wiped liquid on people at airports, hotels and shopping malls. They thought they were taking part in another prank at the airport. Their lawyers had expressed confidence that the court would see they had no motive to kill Mr Kim." } ], "id": "9100_2", "question": "What is the women's defence?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4108, "answer_start": 3629, "text": "The older half-brother of Kim Jong-un was once seen as a future leader of the isolated country. But when his father Kim Jong-il died, he was bypassed in favour of the younger Kim. He was largely estranged from the family, and spent most of his time overseas in Macau, mainland China and Singapore. He had spoken out in the past against his family's dynastic control of North Korea, and in a 2012 book was quoted as saying he believed his half-brother lacked leadership qualities." } ], "id": "9100_3", "question": "Who was Kim Jong-nam?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An airline has apologised after it forced a passenger to take a pregnancy test in order to fly from Hong Kong to a US territory in the Pacific. Midori Nishida, 25, was flying on a Hong Kong Express Airways plane in November to the island of Saipan, part of the Northern Mariana Islands. They have become popular for foreign women to give birth as it gives US citizenship eligibility. The airline was trying to \"ensure US immigration laws were not undermined\". It initially said the test was part of a \"fit-to-fly\" assessment. However, it has now apologised \"unreservedly\" for the incident. In 2018, more tourists than residents gave birth in the Northern Mariana Islands, according to the territory's data. This is thought to be heavily due to foreign women - including many from China - travelling to the territory to give birth. Ms Nishida, who now lives in Tokyo but grew up on Saipan, had filled in a questionnaire before the flight indicating she was not pregnant. Despite this, airline staff demanded she undergo an assessment which included a pregnancy test. She was then escorted to a toilet and given a strip to urinate on. When the test came back negative, she was allowed to board the plane to see her family, who have lived on the island for more than two decades. Ms Nishida called the ordeal \"very humiliating and frustrating\" and said the airline did not respond to her initial complaints. \"We would like to apologise unreservedly to anyone who has been affected by this,\" Hong Kong Express Airways said in a statement to NBC News. \"We took actions on flights to Saipan from February 2019 to help ensure US immigration laws were not being undermined,\" stated the airline, which says it was acting on concerns raised by officials in the Northern Mariana Islands. \"We have immediately suspended the practice while we review it.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1404, "answer_start": 831, "text": "Ms Nishida, who now lives in Tokyo but grew up on Saipan, had filled in a questionnaire before the flight indicating she was not pregnant. Despite this, airline staff demanded she undergo an assessment which included a pregnancy test. She was then escorted to a toilet and given a strip to urinate on. When the test came back negative, she was allowed to board the plane to see her family, who have lived on the island for more than two decades. Ms Nishida called the ordeal \"very humiliating and frustrating\" and said the airline did not respond to her initial complaints." } ], "id": "9101_0", "question": "What happened in November?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1841, "answer_start": 1405, "text": "\"We would like to apologise unreservedly to anyone who has been affected by this,\" Hong Kong Express Airways said in a statement to NBC News. \"We took actions on flights to Saipan from February 2019 to help ensure US immigration laws were not being undermined,\" stated the airline, which says it was acting on concerns raised by officials in the Northern Mariana Islands. \"We have immediately suspended the practice while we review it.\"" } ], "id": "9101_1", "question": "What is the airline saying now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US has announced it is expanding its curbs on immigration to include six more countries, including Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation. Citizens from Nigeria, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar will now be blocked from obtaining certain types of visas. People from those countries will still be able to visit the US as tourists. In 2018 the US issued twice as many immigration visas to Nigeria than to the other five nations combined. An official said the new measures were the result of failures by the six countries to meet US security and information-sharing standards. \"These countries, for the most part, want to be helpful but for a variety of different reasons simply failed to meet those minimum requirements that we laid out,\" acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf told reporters on Friday. He said officials would work with the countries on bolstering their security requirements to help them get off the list. US President Donald Trump first introduced a travel ban in 2017. It currently closes US borders to citizens from seven countries, most of them with Muslim majorities. In 2018 the US issued more than 8,000 immigration visas to citizens of Nigeria. That same year, just over 2,000 were issued to Sudanese nationals, 290 to Tanzanians, and just 31 to Eritreans. The US had previously announced a ban on certain types of visas for Eritreans in 2017. The US said it would suspend the issuance of visas that can lead to permanent residency for nationals of Nigeria, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, and Myanmar. Sudanese and Tanzanian nationals will no longer be allowed to apply for \"diversity visas\", which are available by lottery for applicants from countries with low rates of immigration to the US. Mr Wolf said non-immigrant visas given to people for temporary stays - including visitors, those doing business or people seeking medical treatment - would not be impacted by the new rules. Of the new nationalities facing visa restrictions, Nigerians account for the most immigration to the US. According to US government statistics, the State Department issued 8,018 immigrant visas to Nigerians in the fiscal year 2018. Kyrgyzstan and Sudan have large Muslim majorities, while around 50% of people in Nigeria and Eritrea are Muslim. Tanzania also has a sizable Muslim community. Mr Trump signed a controversial travel ban just seven days after taking office in January 2017, arguing it was vital to protect Americans. The ban initially excluded people from seven majority-Muslim countries but the list was modified following a series of court challenges. It now restricts citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela and North Korea. While the government has suspended most immigrant and non-immigrant visas to applicants from those countries, exceptions are available for students and those with \"significant contacts\" in the US.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2881, "answer_start": 2317, "text": "Mr Trump signed a controversial travel ban just seven days after taking office in January 2017, arguing it was vital to protect Americans. The ban initially excluded people from seven majority-Muslim countries but the list was modified following a series of court challenges. It now restricts citizens of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, Yemen, Venezuela and North Korea. While the government has suspended most immigrant and non-immigrant visas to applicants from those countries, exceptions are available for students and those with \"significant contacts\" in the US." } ], "id": "9102_0", "question": "What is the travel ban?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has visited California to survey the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in the state's history. The Camp Fire, in northern California, has killed at least 76 people. More than 1,200 people have been reported missing, although officials say that figure could fluctuate. In the destroyed town of Paradise, Mr Trump described the scene as \"sad\" and reiterated his disputed claim that poor forest management was to blame. \"We do have to do management maintenance and we'll be working also with environmental groups. I think everyone's seen the light,\" he said. \"I don't think we'll have this again to this extent,\" he added. Experts have pointed to the weather, climate change and population shifts as bigger causes of the wildfires. Besides the Camp Fire, firefighters are also tackling several other blazes, including the Woolsey Fire near Los Angeles which has claimed at least three lives. Adding to the misery, scores of people have become sick after outbreaks of the norovirus at shelters, and the air quality in northern California has been rated the world's worst. Heavy rain is forecast next week that could douse the flames but also bring mudslides and floods on hillsides stripped of vegetation. The US president was greeted by Governor Jerry Brown and his successor Gavin Newsom, both of whom are Democrats and have sparred with Mr Trump over the wildfires. \"Now is a time to pull together for the people of California,\" Governor Brown tweeted. In Paradise, Mr Trump praised the efforts of local law enforcement, politicians and the teams searching for survivors on the ground. \"This is very sad to see. As far as the lives are concerned, nobody knows quite yet,\" he said. \"Right now we want to take care of the people who have been so badly hurt.\" Some locals held up pro-Trump signs, although one called him a \"moron\". Later in the day, Mr Trump, Governor Brown and Governor-elect Newsom visited an area in southern California affected by the Woolsey fire. Speaking to journalists, Mr Trump - who repeatedly referred to the devastated town of Paradise as \"Pleasure\" - and Mr Newsom pledged to work together to prevent future wildfire tragedies. However, the president said it had not changed his point of view on climate change. Authorities have suggested the scale of the fire was in part fuelled by a severe lack of rain in the state. \"I have a strong opinion,\" Mr Trump told reporters. \"I want great climate and we're going to have that and we're going to have forests that are very safe.\" The death toll rose to 76 on Saturday after more bodies were found, most of them in Paradise. So far, officials have tentatively identified 63 of the dead, Butte County Sheriff Kory Honea told reporters. Troops are assisting forensics teams and cadaver dogs as they continue to search for human remains, eight days after the Camp Fire first broke out. Sheriff Honea put the number of people unaccounted for at 1,276. However, he also said 714 people have been found alive and removed from the list. On Friday, the sheriff described the list as \"dynamic\". \"The information I am providing you is raw data and we find there is the likely possibility that the list contains duplicate names,\" he said. Some of those on the list may be fine but unaware they have been reported missing, or unable to call, authorities say. The Camp Fire is now about 55% contained but fire officials say they may not have it fully under control until the end of the month. Historically, California's \"wildfire season\" started in summer and ran into early autumn - but experts have warned that the risk is now year-round. Low humidity, warm winds, and dry ground after a rain-free month have produced a prime fire-spreading environment. Have you been affected by the wildfires? If it is safe to do so please get in touch. Email [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7555 173285 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Or Upload your pictures/video here - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2533, "answer_start": 1234, "text": "The US president was greeted by Governor Jerry Brown and his successor Gavin Newsom, both of whom are Democrats and have sparred with Mr Trump over the wildfires. \"Now is a time to pull together for the people of California,\" Governor Brown tweeted. In Paradise, Mr Trump praised the efforts of local law enforcement, politicians and the teams searching for survivors on the ground. \"This is very sad to see. As far as the lives are concerned, nobody knows quite yet,\" he said. \"Right now we want to take care of the people who have been so badly hurt.\" Some locals held up pro-Trump signs, although one called him a \"moron\". Later in the day, Mr Trump, Governor Brown and Governor-elect Newsom visited an area in southern California affected by the Woolsey fire. Speaking to journalists, Mr Trump - who repeatedly referred to the devastated town of Paradise as \"Pleasure\" - and Mr Newsom pledged to work together to prevent future wildfire tragedies. However, the president said it had not changed his point of view on climate change. Authorities have suggested the scale of the fire was in part fuelled by a severe lack of rain in the state. \"I have a strong opinion,\" Mr Trump told reporters. \"I want great climate and we're going to have that and we're going to have forests that are very safe.\"" } ], "id": "9103_0", "question": "What kind of welcome did President Trump get?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "In Shanghai, an Uber driver logs into an online forum. He is not looking for a passenger. He is looking for someone to pretend to be a passenger. He finds a willing taker. He pretends to collect the customer and drop her at the airport. In fact, they never meet. Then he goes online and sends her the agreed fee: about $1.60 (PS1.20). Or perhaps the driver goes a step further, making up the other person as well as the journey. He goes to the online marketplace Taobao, and buys a hacked smartphone. That lets him create multiple fake identities. He uses one to arrange a ride with himself. Why? Because someone's willing to pay him to give people lifts in his car. Investors in Uber and their rivals have run up billions of dollars of losses - in China, and elsewhere - paying people to share car journeys. Naturally, they're trying to stamp out the imaginary journeys, but they're convinced subsidising genuine rides is a smart idea. This all seems bizarre, perverse, even. But everyone involved is rationally pursuing economic incentives. To see what's going on, we have to understand a phenomenon that's spawned many buzzwords: \"crowd-based capitalism\", \"collaborative consumption\", \"the sharing economy\", \"the trust economy\". 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy highlights the inventions, ideas and innovations which have helped create the economic world in which we live. It is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast. Suppose I'm about to drive myself from downtown Shanghai to the airport. I occupy only one seat in my car. Now suppose you live a block away, and you also need to catch a flight. Why don't I give you a lift? You could pay me a modest sum, less than you'd pay for some other mode of transport. You're better off. I'm better off. There are two big reasons why this might not happen. The first, and most obvious, is if neither of us knows the other exists. Until recently, the only way you could advertise your desire for a lift would be to stand at a junction, holding up a sign saying \"airport\". It's not very practical - especially since the plane won't wait. This function of matching people who have coincidental wants is among the most powerful ways the internet is reshaping the economy. Traditional markets work perfectly well for some goods and services, but they're less useful when the goods and services are urgent or obscure. Consider the plight of Mark Fraser. It was 1995. Mark Fraser gave lots of presentations, and he really wanted a laser pointer - they were new, and cool, but also forbiddingly expensive. Fraser, however, was an electronics geek. He was confident that if he could get his hands on a broken laser pointer, he could fix it. But where on earth would he find a broken laser pointer? The answer, now, is obvious - try Taobao, or eBay, or some other online marketplace. Back then, eBay had only just started. Its very first sale: Mark Fraser bought a broken laser pointer. Mark Fraser was taking a bit of a risk. He didn't know the seller. He simply had to trust that they wouldn't simply pocket his $14.83 (PS11.20) then disappear. For other transactions, the stakes are higher. That's the second reason I might not give you a lift to Shanghai airport. I've no idea who you are. Perhaps you're planning to attack me and steal my car? You might doubt my motives, too - perhaps I'm a serial killer. After all, hitch-hiking was a popular pursuit a few decades ago, but fell out of fashion after some well-publicised murders. Trust is an essential component of markets - so essential that we often don't even notice it, like a fish doesn't notice water. In developed economies, enablers of trust are everywhere: brands, money-back guarantees, and of course repeat transactions with a seller who can be easily located. But the new sharing economy lacks those enablers. Why should we get into a stranger's car - or buy a stranger's laser pointer? In 1997, eBay introduced a feature that helped solve the problem: Seller Feedback. According to Jim Griffith, eBay's first customer service representative, \"no-one had ever seen anything like [it]\". The idea of both parties rating each other after a transaction has become ubiquitous. You buy something online - you rate the seller, the seller rates you. You use a lift-sharing service, like Uber - you rate the driver, the driver rates you. You stay in an AirBnB - you rate the host, the host rates you. A few positive reviews set our mind at ease about a stranger. Jim Griffith says he's \"not so sure [eBay] would have grown without [seller feedback]\". Online matching platforms would still exist, of course - eBay already did - but perhaps they'd be more like hitch-hiking today: a niche pursuit for the unusually adventurous, not a mainstream activity that's transforming whole sectors of the economy. Platforms like Uber and AirBnB, eBay and TaskRabbit create real value. But there are losers. For all the touchy-feeliness of the buzzwords - \"collaborative\", \"sharing\", \"trust\" - these models aren't just heart-warming stories of neighbours coming together to borrow each other's power drills. They can easily lead to cut-throat capitalism. How the smartphone became so smart Just Google it: The student project that changed the world Money via mobile: The M-Pesa revolution The surprising ways video games have shaped the economy Established hotels and taxi companies are aghast at competition from AirBnB and Uber. Is that just an incumbent trying to suppress competition? Or are they right when they complain that the new platforms are ignoring important regulations? Many countries have rules to protect workers, like guaranteed hours or working conditions or a minimum wage. And many people on platforms like Uber aren't just monetising spare capacity. They're trying to make a living, without the protections of a formal job - perhaps because a company liked Uber competed them out of a job. Some regulations protect customers, too - for example, from discrimination. Hotels can't legally refuse you a room if you're, say, a same-sex couple. But hosts on AirBnb can choose to turn down guests after seeing not just your feedback but your photos. AirBnb builds trust by emphasising the personal connection, and that means showing people prominent pictures of who they're dealing with. That also invites people to act on their personal prejudices, consciously or otherwise. People from ethnic minorities have been shown to suffer as a result. Tim Harford has discussed 50 things which he argues have made the modern economy. Help choose the 51st thing by voting for one of these listener suggestions: - The credit card - Glass - Global Positioning System (GPS) - Irrigation - The pencil - The spreadsheet You can vote on the 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy programme website. Voting closes at 1200 GMT Friday 6 October 2017, and the winning 51st Thing will be announced in a special podcast on 28 October 2017. How online matching platforms should be regulated is a dilemma causing lawmakers around the world to scratch their heads. It matters because it's potentially huge business, especially in emerging markets where there isn't yet a culture of owning things like cars. And it's a business with network effects: the more people use a platform, the more attractive it becomes. That's why Uber and its rivals - Didi Chuxing in China, Grab in southeast Asia, Ola in India - have invested massively in subsidising rides and giving credits to new customers: they wanted to get big first. And, naturally, some drivers have been tempted to defraud them. Remember how they did it? By using an online forum to find a willing fake customer, or an online marketplace to buy a hacked smartphone. Matching people with the particular things they want really is useful. Tim Harford writes the Financial Times's Undercover Economist column. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6562, "answer_start": 5687, "text": "Many countries have rules to protect workers, like guaranteed hours or working conditions or a minimum wage. And many people on platforms like Uber aren't just monetising spare capacity. They're trying to make a living, without the protections of a formal job - perhaps because a company liked Uber competed them out of a job. Some regulations protect customers, too - for example, from discrimination. Hotels can't legally refuse you a room if you're, say, a same-sex couple. But hosts on AirBnb can choose to turn down guests after seeing not just your feedback but your photos. AirBnb builds trust by emphasising the personal connection, and that means showing people prominent pictures of who they're dealing with. That also invites people to act on their personal prejudices, consciously or otherwise. People from ethnic minorities have been shown to suffer as a result." } ], "id": "9104_0", "question": "Risk of discrimination?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7037, "answer_start": 6563, "text": "Tim Harford has discussed 50 things which he argues have made the modern economy. Help choose the 51st thing by voting for one of these listener suggestions: - The credit card - Glass - Global Positioning System (GPS) - Irrigation - The pencil - The spreadsheet You can vote on the 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy programme website. Voting closes at 1200 GMT Friday 6 October 2017, and the winning 51st Thing will be announced in a special podcast on 28 October 2017." } ], "id": "9104_1", "question": "What should be the 51st Thing?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "England is facing changing health demands due to an ageing population and the NHS must quickly adapt, says Public Health England. It has compiled what it calls \"the most comprehensive picture\" of the nation's current health and future fitness. It shows England's population is growing in size and people are living longer but not all in good health. While smoking rates may be decreasing, diabetes, obesity, dementia and mental health issues are on the rise. The Health Profile for England report shows average life expectancy has reached 79.6 years for men and 83.2 for women. In 2017, there were 1.35 million people aged 85 and over in England - nearly three times more than in 1971. By 2031, it could exceed two million, says Public Health England. But the number of years that people live in poor health is also going up. Latest data suggests people can expect to live about 63 years in good health. That means men face about 16 years of ill health - a fifth of their life - and women more than 19 years or nearly a quarter of their life in poor health. Age-related diseases, such as dementia, have been increasing. Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is already the leading cause of death in women and it looks set to overtake heart disease to soon become the biggest killer of men too. Hearing loss, sight loss and muscle and joint problems have also gone up. But heart attacks and strokes have gone down, as blood pressure and cholesterol levels have improved. Obesity and smoking are the two leading risk factors for ill health. While smoking rates have been going down, rates of obesity have been going up. In 2016, one in four adults was obese - and Public Health England expects levels of adult obesity may continue to rise. The number of people with diabetes is also rising and is expected to increase by a million to reach almost five million in 2035. Poor mental health is also taking a significant toll. In young people, mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, along with substance use, now account for a third of all ill health. Inequalities in the health of the population also persist. People in the richest areas of England enjoy more than 19 years more good health than those in the poorest. Prof John Newton, director of health improvement at Public Health England, said: \"The challenge now is for the NHS to respond to this changing landscape and to focus on preventing as well as treating the conditions which are causing the greatest disease burden across our nation. \"In many ways it needs to respond more quickly than any time in its history because the speed of the change in these data, in the epidemiology, is really quite remarkable.\" Prof Helen Stokes-Lampard, who chairs the Royal College of GPs, said: \"As this report shows, there are a number of reasons why some people are more likely to develop these conditions than others, including genetic predisposition and socio-economic factors - but there remains a clear connection between the quality of our patients' lifestyle and their overall health. \"It's so encouraging to see that smoking prevalence has dropped to just 15% over the last seven years, for example, but the chances of people developing illnesses like diabetes is still worryingly high and frequently is the result of poor diet and lack of exercise as well as genetic factors.\" She called for more investment to help the NHS deliver the care patients needed and deserved.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1472, "answer_start": 459, "text": "The Health Profile for England report shows average life expectancy has reached 79.6 years for men and 83.2 for women. In 2017, there were 1.35 million people aged 85 and over in England - nearly three times more than in 1971. By 2031, it could exceed two million, says Public Health England. But the number of years that people live in poor health is also going up. Latest data suggests people can expect to live about 63 years in good health. That means men face about 16 years of ill health - a fifth of their life - and women more than 19 years or nearly a quarter of their life in poor health. Age-related diseases, such as dementia, have been increasing. Dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, is already the leading cause of death in women and it looks set to overtake heart disease to soon become the biggest killer of men too. Hearing loss, sight loss and muscle and joint problems have also gone up. But heart attacks and strokes have gone down, as blood pressure and cholesterol levels have improved." } ], "id": "9105_0", "question": "How fit is England?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Michael Avenatti, who represented porn star Stormy Daniels in a lawsuit against President Trump, has been found guilty of attempted extortion. The lawyer was accused of seeking to extort up to $25m (PS18.9m) from Nike. He had threatened to release information that might be harmful to the popular sports brand. Avenatti emerged as a vocal critic of Mr Trump two years ago when he began representing Ms Daniels, and even suggested he might run for president. He was found guilty by a jury after a three-week trial and could face up to 42 years in prison when sentenced in June. Federal prosecutors in New York said Avenatti, 48, met a lawyer for Nike in March 2019. During their meeting, he threatened to release damaging information about Nike unless it paid him between $15m and $25m. At the time he approached Nike, Avenatti had been representing his then-client Gary Franklin, who ran a youth basketball league in Los Angeles. Court papers said Avenatti threatened to hold a press conference alleging Nike had made illicit payments to young basketball players in Los Angeles. Revealing this would wipe billions from Nike's stock value, he had suggested. Nike immediately reported the matter to federal prosecutors. Avenatti was arrested shortly after announcing he would hold a news conference about a scandal surrounding the company. \"This was an old-fashioned shakedown,\" prosecutor Geoffrey Berman said at the time. The jury heard that Avenatti had been at least $11m in debt. Last month, Avenatti's lawyers said he was suffering while being held in solitary confinement and under 24-hour lockdown in the same Manhattan prison cell that housed Mexican drug lord Joaquin \"El Chapo\" Guzman. Avenatti formerly represented Stormy Daniels, who tried to sue the president to get out of a non-disclosure agreement she had signed before the 2016 presidential election. The non-disclosure agreement related to an affair she said he had with Mr Trump in 2006, but the case was eventually dismissed. In May last year, Avenatti was charged with defrauding her of book proceeds, and faces trial in New York in April. He denies all the charges. He also faces another trial in Los Angeles in May on accusations he defrauded clients and others of millions of dollars.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1694, "answer_start": 577, "text": "Federal prosecutors in New York said Avenatti, 48, met a lawyer for Nike in March 2019. During their meeting, he threatened to release damaging information about Nike unless it paid him between $15m and $25m. At the time he approached Nike, Avenatti had been representing his then-client Gary Franklin, who ran a youth basketball league in Los Angeles. Court papers said Avenatti threatened to hold a press conference alleging Nike had made illicit payments to young basketball players in Los Angeles. Revealing this would wipe billions from Nike's stock value, he had suggested. Nike immediately reported the matter to federal prosecutors. Avenatti was arrested shortly after announcing he would hold a news conference about a scandal surrounding the company. \"This was an old-fashioned shakedown,\" prosecutor Geoffrey Berman said at the time. The jury heard that Avenatti had been at least $11m in debt. Last month, Avenatti's lawyers said he was suffering while being held in solitary confinement and under 24-hour lockdown in the same Manhattan prison cell that housed Mexican drug lord Joaquin \"El Chapo\" Guzman." } ], "id": "9106_0", "question": "What was Avenatti accused of?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2257, "answer_start": 1695, "text": "Avenatti formerly represented Stormy Daniels, who tried to sue the president to get out of a non-disclosure agreement she had signed before the 2016 presidential election. The non-disclosure agreement related to an affair she said he had with Mr Trump in 2006, but the case was eventually dismissed. In May last year, Avenatti was charged with defrauding her of book proceeds, and faces trial in New York in April. He denies all the charges. He also faces another trial in Los Angeles in May on accusations he defrauded clients and others of millions of dollars." } ], "id": "9106_1", "question": "What about Stormy Daniels?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US Air Force (USAF) has ordered a review of its guidance on overnight accommodation for flight crews. It has emerged that some personnel have been staying at one of President Donald Trump's Scottish golf resorts. There has been an increase in the number of US military flights stopping at Prestwick Airport, Scotland, near the resort, since he took office. A US congressional committee is investigating Mr Trump for a potential conflict of interest over the matter. Air Force chiefs have \"directed Air Mobility Command [AMC, which oversees all Air Force transport around the world] to review all guidance pertaining to selection of airports and lodging accommodations during international travel\", according to a statement to the BBC from Brig Gen Edward Thomas. The US Air Force said its crews had obeyed all the rules, but said \"lodging at higher-end accommodations, even if within government rates, might be allowable but not advisable\". Brig Gen Thomas also explained the increased use of Prestwick airport in the last four years because of a number of key factors, including longer operating hours and standardisation of routing locations. \"Between 2015 and 2019, AMC Total Force aircraft stopped at Prestwick a total of 936 times (*659 overnight stays), including 95 (*40) in 2015, 145 (*75) in 2016, 180 (*116) in 2017, 257 (*208) in 2018 and 259 (*220) through August 2019,\" his statement added. Over the weekend, it emerged that the crew of a US C-17 military transport aircraft stayed at Trump Turnberry when it stopped at Prestwick en route to Kuwait earlier in the year. Mr Trump has tweeted he did not know anything about the matter: The Air Force has not said how many of its staff have stayed at the president's resort. Democrats and critics argue such stays might enrich the president at taxpayers' expense as crews who land at the airport then go on to stay at the nearby Trump Turnberry resort. The House Oversight and Reform Committee says expenditure at Prestwick airport has \"increased substantially\" since Mr Trump came into office. The debt-ridden airport 34 miles (55km) from Glasgow has been fighting off closure. It is said to be integral to the Trump business, which is also loss-making. The committee's accusations are detailed in a letter to the Pentagon - which is dated to June, but was only revealed on the Politico website on Friday. Citing Defence Logistics Agency (DLA) records, it said the US military had made 629 fuel purchase orders at the airport, totalling $11m (PS9m), since October 2017. It also alleges that certain military personnel have been offered \"cut-price rooms\" and free rounds of golf at the Trump Turnberry resort. In a statement sent on Monday to the BBC, Glasgow Prestwick airport said: \"Like all airports, we provide a full handling service for customers and routinely arrange overnight accommodation for visiting aircrew when requested. We use over a dozen local hotels, including Trump Turnberry, which accounts for a small percentage of the total hotel bookings we make. \"It's important to note that we do not pay for aircrew accommodation and take no commission from Trump Turnberry for any bookings made on behalf of our customers. All aircrew landing at Glasgow Prestwick settle their bills directly with the hotels involved and, contrary to some claims we have seen, we do not offer free rounds of golf at Trump Turnberry for any aircrew.\" Prestwick airport, south of Glasgow, is approximately 20 miles (30km) north of Trump Turnberry. The Scottish government bought it for PS1 in 2013, when it was facing closure. In June, it was put up for sale. No buyer has been announced. Amid rising debts, the airport has reportedly slashed its charges to try to retain business.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3738, "answer_start": 3409, "text": "Prestwick airport, south of Glasgow, is approximately 20 miles (30km) north of Trump Turnberry. The Scottish government bought it for PS1 in 2013, when it was facing closure. In June, it was put up for sale. No buyer has been announced. Amid rising debts, the airport has reportedly slashed its charges to try to retain business." } ], "id": "9107_0", "question": "Who owns the airport?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "More than nine million high school graduates are sitting China's national exams, the Gaokao. Their result will determine which university they can attend, and therefore much of the rest of their future, so they are under huge pressure. For the first time this year, any candidate caught cheating could face jail. The notoriously hard exam tests high school leavers on their Chinese, mathematics and English and another science or humanities subject of their choice. The tests have been the focal point of the education system since the 1950s, with a break during the Cultural Revolution. Failing the Gaokao almost guarantees a lifetime of low-ranking employment, and family disappointment. The Gaokao predates modern times, having its roots in imperial China. Gaokao revision is all-consuming, often at the expense of the necessities of life. Professional Gaokao nannies are highly educated students or recent graduates that move in with students to study with them in the run up to the exam, says a report on the Sixth Tone website. For example Zhao Yang, a Shanghai university freshman, is paid a daily wage of 300 yuan ($45; PS32) to chat with his client and stay up with him during all-nighters, said a report by Tencent Finance. However, these nannies are not a solution to every student need, Saima Domestic Services, a Gaokao nanny agency, told Sixth Tone \"Because they are highly educated and mainly offer companionship, they are weak in terms of cooking and cleaning,\" said a customer service agent. To save on time spent travelling to the test centre - which can then be better spent revising- some parents opt to pay for a hotel for their child. Many hotels offer special Gaokao packages for students, with hotels in Beijing charging up to 2,000 yuan per night. Despite high prices, many rooms have been fully booked. \"Recently we have had so many bookings, we cannot guarantee rooms to walk-ins,\" said a member of staff at Beijing's Hanting Express Hotel, according to a local report. Sheraton hotel in Shanghai offered students a Luxury Top-Scorer Package that consisted of a late room-return policy and a free upgrade to a luxurious suite, the hotel told the Sixth Tone. In some cities in China, taxis were provided with yellow signs giving them right of way when delivering examinees to exam sites. A taxi company in Fujian province even provided free taxi services for students taking the Gaokao exams, says the China Daily. The Dazhong Taxi service in Shanghai, meanwhile, saw 1,000 Gaokao taxis booked out online within just six hours. Maotanchang hosts perhaps China's most famous Gaokao bootcamp. Almost 20,000 students, four times the town's population, flock to the town in eastern Anhui province every year to attend the prep course at Maotanchang High School. According to a China Youth Daily article, the programme can cost up to $8,000. Mobile phones and laptops are forbidden in this school, and the dormitories designed without electrical outlets. The local government has also shut down all forms of entertainment in town, leaving the students no choice but to do what they came for - study. We've all wanted to tear up our textbooks and throw them out the window at some point, but in China, it's actually customary to do so for Gaokao students. However this year, the move was banned by government officials in Xiamen, who said students should release stress in a more \"healthy way\". Smashing watermelons is another popular practice by students. In China's Chongqing, around 2,000 students embarked on a \"Watermelon War\", with each student buying 1kg worth of the fruit. But if watermelons aren't your thing, perhaps stepping on balloons will appeal. The exam rooms are strictly monitored to prevent cheating. But from hidden earphones and watches, to T-shirts with receivers, students have tried almost all means and ways to get past this. In previous years authorities installed metal detectors at entrances to make sure students did not sneak in smartphones, though the detectors have been known to be set off by almost anything, leading to schools in Jilin banning bras with metal fastenings. Last year, officials in Henan province even deployed a drone carrying a radio scanner to catch cheats. This year, however, the stakes have been raised. Those that try to cheat their way to the top could face up to seven years in prison, and will also be banned from taking any other national education examinations for three years. The tough punishments will \"safeguard the fairness of the tests\", say educational authorities, as reported by the Global Times. A national campaign has also been launched, cracking down on the sale of wireless devices for cheating, unauthorised Gaokao content posted online and cheating equipment, the Ministry of Education announced. Some desperate parents are prepared to pay several million yuan to hire people to take the Gaokao on behalf of their children, said a report by the Nandu Daily published in the Global Times. The surrogates used their real photos on forged identity cards with the personal information of the real exam-takers. Surrogates can earn up to 25,000 yuan if the test score results allow the student to enter a first-tier university. When all else fails, there's nothing like some good old-fashioned encouragement to spur students on. Stephen Hawking took to social media site Weibo to wish this year's candidates good luck, calling them the \"next generation of big thinkers and thought leaders\", and saying they would shape the future for generations to come. The post quickly went viral on Weibo, with many users saying they were cheered on by the physicist's encouragement. South Korean-Chinese boy band EXO also wished the students luck, saying in a video that they would be able to achieve success if they believed in themselves.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 759, "answer_start": 313, "text": "The notoriously hard exam tests high school leavers on their Chinese, mathematics and English and another science or humanities subject of their choice. The tests have been the focal point of the education system since the 1950s, with a break during the Cultural Revolution. Failing the Gaokao almost guarantees a lifetime of low-ranking employment, and family disappointment. The Gaokao predates modern times, having its roots in imperial China." } ], "id": "9108_0", "question": "What is the Gaokao?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Anti-government protests have rocked Hong Kong for months and the situation shows no sign of dying down. Here's all the background you need to know in 100 or 500 words - you can read each individually or in turn. Hong Kong's protests started in June against plans to allow extradition to mainland China. Critics feared this could undermine judicial independence and endanger dissidents. Until 1997, Hong Kong was ruled by Britain as a colony but then returned to China. Under the \"one country, two systems\" arrangement, it has some autonomy, and its people more rights. The bill was withdrawn in September but demonstrations continue and now demand full democracy and an inquiry into police actions. Clashes between police and activists have become increasingly violent, with police firing live bullets and protesters attacking officers and throwing petrol bombs. The extradition bill which triggered the first protest was introduced in April. It would have allowed for criminal suspects to be extradited to mainland China under certain circumstances. Opponents said this risked exposing Hongkongers to unfair trials and violent treatment. They also argued the bill would give China greater influence over Hong Kong and could be used to target activists and journalists. Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets. After weeks of protests, leader Carrie Lam eventually said the bill would be suspended indefinitely. Protesters feared the bill could be revived, so demonstrations continued, calling for it to be withdrawn completely. By then clashes between police and protesters had become more frequent and violent. In September, the bill was finally withdrawn, but protesters said this was \"too little, too late\". On 1 October, while China was celebrating 70 years of Communist Party rule, Hong Kong experienced one of its most \"violent and chaotic days\". An 18-year-old was shot in the chest with a live bullet as protesters fought officers with poles, petrol bombs and other projectiles. The government then banned protesters wearing face masks, and in early November a pro-Beijing lawmaker was stabbed in the street by a man pretending to be a supporter. One week later, a policeman shot one protester at close range when activists were trying to set up a road block. Later that day another man was set on fire by anti-government protesters. In November, a standoff between police and students barricaded on the campus of Hong Kong's Polytechnic University became another defining moment. Later that month, the territory held local council elections that were seen as a barometer of public opinion. The vote saw a landslide victory for the pro-democracy movement, with 17 of the 18 councils now controlled by pro-democracy councillors. Some protesters have adopted the motto: \"Five demands, not one less!\" These are: - For the protests not to be characterised as a \"riot\" - Amnesty for arrested protesters - An independent inquiry into alleged police brutality - Implementation of complete universal suffrage The fifth demand, the withdrawal of the bill, has already been met. Protests supporting the Hong Kong movement have spread across the globe, with rallies taking place in the UK, France, US, Canada and Australia. In many cases, people supporting the demonstrators were confronted by pro-Beijing rallies. Chinese president Xi Jinping has warned against separatism, saying any attempt to divide China would end in \"bodies smashed and bones ground to powder\". Hong Kong is a former British colony handed back to China in 1997. It has its own judiciary and a separate legal system from mainland China. Those rights include 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. Read this: And watch this:", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2749, "answer_start": 1425, "text": "Protesters feared the bill could be revived, so demonstrations continued, calling for it to be withdrawn completely. By then clashes between police and protesters had become more frequent and violent. In September, the bill was finally withdrawn, but protesters said this was \"too little, too late\". On 1 October, while China was celebrating 70 years of Communist Party rule, Hong Kong experienced one of its most \"violent and chaotic days\". An 18-year-old was shot in the chest with a live bullet as protesters fought officers with poles, petrol bombs and other projectiles. The government then banned protesters wearing face masks, and in early November a pro-Beijing lawmaker was stabbed in the street by a man pretending to be a supporter. One week later, a policeman shot one protester at close range when activists were trying to set up a road block. Later that day another man was set on fire by anti-government protesters. In November, a standoff between police and students barricaded on the campus of Hong Kong's Polytechnic University became another defining moment. Later that month, the territory held local council elections that were seen as a barometer of public opinion. The vote saw a landslide victory for the pro-democracy movement, with 17 of the 18 councils now controlled by pro-democracy councillors." } ], "id": "9109_0", "question": "How did the protests escalate?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Huge crowds scrambled up Australia's Uluru for the final time on Friday, ahead of a ban on climbing the sacred rock. The giant monolith - once better known to visitors as Ayers Rock - will be permanently off limits from Saturday. Uluru is sacred to its indigenous custodians, the Anangu people, who have long implored tourists not to climb. Only 16% of visitors went up in 2017 - when the ban was announced - but the climb has been packed in recent weeks. The final climbers faced a delayed start due to dangerously strong winds - one of many reasons Uluru has been closed to people wishing to reach the top over the years. The walk can be hazardous, with dozens dying since the 1950s. The high temperatures in the area, which can reach 47C (116F) in the summer, mean visitors have died of dehydration and other heat-related events. But the steep and slippery climb to the summit - which stands 348m (1,142ft) high - can also prove dangerous. Just last year, a Japanese tourist died while attempting to ascend one of the steepest parts of the rock. Yet after park officials deemed the climb safe to open, hundreds of people made the trek up on Friday. Photos of people in lines snaking up Uluru in past months have even drawn comparisons to recent scenes on Mount Everest. One social media user posted a timelapse showing the massive queue at Uluru on Thursday. The entrance gate was due to be closed at 16:00 local time (06:30 GMT) on Friday. Once people come down, officials said a metal chain used as a climbing aid would be immediately dismantled. In 2017, the board of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park voted unanimously to end the climb because of the spiritual significance of the site, as well as for safety and environmental reasons. One Anangu man told the BBC that Uluru was a \"very sacred place, [it's] like our church\". \"People right around the world... they just come and climb it. They've got no respect,\" said Rameth Thomas. There are several signs at the base of Uluru that urge tourists not to climb because of the site's sacred value. \"It's difficult to see what that significance is,\" one man who climbed this week told the BBC. \"It's a rock. It's supposed to be climbed.\" Phil Mercer, BBC News at Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park There was joy when signs that had asked visitors not to walk up Uluru were removed by park rangers at the base of the big red rock. A long fight by traditional owners to stop visitors scaling its summit was finally over. An Aboriginal elder said it was time to let this most sacred of places \"rest and heal\". There were jeers from a small group of Indigenous women. \"Get off the rock,\" they shouted as two men from Germany - a father and son - made their way down. When the final group of climbers descended for the last time with the heat of the unrelenting afternoon sun on their faces, they spoke of their exhilaration at climbing one of Australia's most recognisable places. A visitor from Sydney said that on top it was like being on another planet, while a mum from Darwin told me she hoped that one day the ban would be overturned. Nearby campgrounds and hotels were fully booked this week. This had led to tourists camping illegally and dumping waste, locals said. The climb's closure is not expected to significantly affect visitor rates to the national park, officials and tourism operators say. The Anangu believe that in the beginning, the world was unformed and featureless. Ancestral beings emerged from this void and travelled across the land, creating all living species and forms. Uluru is the physical evidence of the feats performed by ancestral beings during this creation time. One such story is that of Lungkata, a greedy and dishonest blue-tongue lizard, who came to Uluru from the north and stole meat from Emu. When Emu followed him back to his cave, Lungkata ignored him. \"He went back to sleep, pretending he was asleep,\" one of Uluru's indigenous custodians, Pamela Taylor, told the BBC last year. \"Emu got very angry and made a fire and it went right up into the cave and the smoke blocked him and he fell down.\" Ms Taylor pointed to a huge blue patch high on Uluru, saying it was where Lungkata's burnt body rolled down and left a mark. \"He did bad things by going around stealing. That's why we tell the children not to go around stealing things, because they will get punishment like Lungkata.\" She added some stories were too sacred to tell. Read more: 'This rock means everything to us'", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2193, "answer_start": 1552, "text": "In 2017, the board of the Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park voted unanimously to end the climb because of the spiritual significance of the site, as well as for safety and environmental reasons. One Anangu man told the BBC that Uluru was a \"very sacred place, [it's] like our church\". \"People right around the world... they just come and climb it. They've got no respect,\" said Rameth Thomas. There are several signs at the base of Uluru that urge tourists not to climb because of the site's sacred value. \"It's difficult to see what that significance is,\" one man who climbed this week told the BBC. \"It's a rock. It's supposed to be climbed.\"" } ], "id": "9110_0", "question": "Why is the climb being closed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4471, "answer_start": 3357, "text": "The Anangu believe that in the beginning, the world was unformed and featureless. Ancestral beings emerged from this void and travelled across the land, creating all living species and forms. Uluru is the physical evidence of the feats performed by ancestral beings during this creation time. One such story is that of Lungkata, a greedy and dishonest blue-tongue lizard, who came to Uluru from the north and stole meat from Emu. When Emu followed him back to his cave, Lungkata ignored him. \"He went back to sleep, pretending he was asleep,\" one of Uluru's indigenous custodians, Pamela Taylor, told the BBC last year. \"Emu got very angry and made a fire and it went right up into the cave and the smoke blocked him and he fell down.\" Ms Taylor pointed to a huge blue patch high on Uluru, saying it was where Lungkata's burnt body rolled down and left a mark. \"He did bad things by going around stealing. That's why we tell the children not to go around stealing things, because they will get punishment like Lungkata.\" She added some stories were too sacred to tell. Read more: 'This rock means everything to us'" } ], "id": "9110_1", "question": "What are Uluru's sacred stories?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "While wrapping up his summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un in Singapore, US President Donald Trump answered a question on denuclearisation by citing a deceased relative. Mr Trump said denuclearisation would take a \"long time\", adding that he used to discuss the \"complex subject\" with his uncle, who was a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor. It is not the first time the president has cited his late uncle to back up his arguments. The uncle in question, Prof John Trump, passed away in 1985 - but who was he? Mr Trump fielded reporters' questions on Tuesday afternoon in Singapore after his meeting with Mr Kim. When asked how long it would take to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, the president referred to Prof John Trump. \"Well, I don't know, when you say a long time,\" the president said. \"I think we will do it as fast as it can be done scientifically, as fast as it can be done mechanically. \"It's a 15-year process. Assuming you wanted to do it quickly, I don't believe that. \"I had an uncle who was a great professor for, I believe, 40 years at MIT. And I used to discuss nuclear with him all the time. \"He was a great expert. He was a great, brilliant genius. Dr John Trump at MIT. \"I think he was there 40 years, I was told. In fact, the head of MIT sent me a book on my uncle. But we used to talk about nuclear. \"You're talking about a very complex subject. It's not just like, 'Oh, gee. Let's get rid of the nukes.'\" Physicist John Trump was the younger brother of Mr Trump's father, Fred. John passed away in 1985 at the age of 78, according to an obituary in the New York Times. He was a professor of engineering at the elite Massachusetts Institute of Technology for 44 years. According to MIT, Prof Trump focused on high voltage phenomena, electron acceleration and the interaction of radiation with living and non-living matter. He also designed X-ray generators for cancer therapy. During World War Two, Prof Trump researched radars for the Allies. When legendary physicist Nikola Tesla died in 1943, Prof Trump was asked by the FBI to examine Tesla's papers and equipment. Prof Trump co-founded a company making generators for use in nuclear research, according to MIT archives. His knowledge in the subject has been vaunted by his nephew many times over the years. During a campaign speech in July 2016, Mr Trump said his uncle \"was a great professor and scientist and engineer\". \"Nuclear is powerful, my uncle explained that to me many, many years ago,\" he said. For the president, Prof Trump also serves as proof of his family's \"good genes\". \"Dr John Trump at MIT, good genes, very good genes, OK, very smart,\" Mr Trump said in that same campaign speech. \"If I ran as a liberal Democrat, they would say I'm one of the smartest people anywhere in the world.\" A 2016 New Yorker article pointed out at least five instances where Mr Trump referenced his family's gene pool via Uncle John. Mr Trump has also talked up his genes on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1445, "answer_start": 524, "text": "Mr Trump fielded reporters' questions on Tuesday afternoon in Singapore after his meeting with Mr Kim. When asked how long it would take to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, the president referred to Prof John Trump. \"Well, I don't know, when you say a long time,\" the president said. \"I think we will do it as fast as it can be done scientifically, as fast as it can be done mechanically. \"It's a 15-year process. Assuming you wanted to do it quickly, I don't believe that. \"I had an uncle who was a great professor for, I believe, 40 years at MIT. And I used to discuss nuclear with him all the time. \"He was a great expert. He was a great, brilliant genius. Dr John Trump at MIT. \"I think he was there 40 years, I was told. In fact, the head of MIT sent me a book on my uncle. But we used to talk about nuclear. \"You're talking about a very complex subject. It's not just like, 'Oh, gee. Let's get rid of the nukes.'\"" } ], "id": "9111_0", "question": "What did Trump say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2974, "answer_start": 1446, "text": "Physicist John Trump was the younger brother of Mr Trump's father, Fred. John passed away in 1985 at the age of 78, according to an obituary in the New York Times. He was a professor of engineering at the elite Massachusetts Institute of Technology for 44 years. According to MIT, Prof Trump focused on high voltage phenomena, electron acceleration and the interaction of radiation with living and non-living matter. He also designed X-ray generators for cancer therapy. During World War Two, Prof Trump researched radars for the Allies. When legendary physicist Nikola Tesla died in 1943, Prof Trump was asked by the FBI to examine Tesla's papers and equipment. Prof Trump co-founded a company making generators for use in nuclear research, according to MIT archives. His knowledge in the subject has been vaunted by his nephew many times over the years. During a campaign speech in July 2016, Mr Trump said his uncle \"was a great professor and scientist and engineer\". \"Nuclear is powerful, my uncle explained that to me many, many years ago,\" he said. For the president, Prof Trump also serves as proof of his family's \"good genes\". \"Dr John Trump at MIT, good genes, very good genes, OK, very smart,\" Mr Trump said in that same campaign speech. \"If I ran as a liberal Democrat, they would say I'm one of the smartest people anywhere in the world.\" A 2016 New Yorker article pointed out at least five instances where Mr Trump referenced his family's gene pool via Uncle John. Mr Trump has also talked up his genes on Twitter." } ], "id": "9111_1", "question": "Who was Uncle John?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Canadian pop singer Justin Bieber has revealed he has been diagnosed with Lyme disease. \"It's been a rough couple years,\" the 25-year-old wrote on Instagram, adding that he was also suffering from a chronic viral infection. The star said he was aware of social media speculation that he had a drug problem, after he was pictured looking unwell with blotches on his skin. Lyme disease is caused by bacteria carried by some species of ticks. Symptoms of the infection often include a rash, muscle pain, and tiredness. On his Instagram page, the artist wrote that people had suggested he looked like he was \"on meth\", but \"they failed to realise I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my skin, brain function, energy, and overall health\". He said he was getting \"the right treatment\" to help address the disease, and that more would be revealed in an upcoming YouTube documentary series about his life. \"You can learn all that I've been battling and OVERCOMING!!\" he wrote, telling his 124 million Instagram followers: \"I will be back and better than ever\". The superstar's wife, model Hailey Bieber, defended her husband against criticism from those \"trying to downplay the severity of Lyme disease\". \"Please do your research,\" she urged them on Twitter on Wednesday. - Lyme disease - a bacterial infection - is carried by some species of ticks, and about 13% in the UK are believed to be infected - It cannot be passed on from person to person - Symptoms - including the bulls-eye rash, fatigue and fever - usually develop around three weeks after a bite - The majority of those who take the full three-week course of antibiotics make a full recovery - The New Forest and the Scottish Highlands are known Lyme disease hotspots - but people should take care wherever there is long grass - The NHS test, which is highly accurate, looks at antibodies the body produces, which can take some weeks to reach detectable levels Source: Public Health England/NHS", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1342, "answer_start": 516, "text": "On his Instagram page, the artist wrote that people had suggested he looked like he was \"on meth\", but \"they failed to realise I've been recently diagnosed with Lyme disease, not only that but had a serious case of chronic mono which affected my skin, brain function, energy, and overall health\". He said he was getting \"the right treatment\" to help address the disease, and that more would be revealed in an upcoming YouTube documentary series about his life. \"You can learn all that I've been battling and OVERCOMING!!\" he wrote, telling his 124 million Instagram followers: \"I will be back and better than ever\". The superstar's wife, model Hailey Bieber, defended her husband against criticism from those \"trying to downplay the severity of Lyme disease\". \"Please do your research,\" she urged them on Twitter on Wednesday." } ], "id": "9112_0", "question": "What did Bieber say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A judge in Venezuela has announced that imprisoned lawmaker Juan Requesens will face trial for allegedly trying to kill President Nicolas Maduro in 2018. Mr Requesens was arrested three days after a drone carrying explosives blew up at a military parade attended by Mr Maduro on 4 August. The opposition politician, who denies the charges, could face 30 years in prison if found guilty. President Maduro was not hurt in the attack. A former student leader who organised anti-government protests in 2014, Juan Requesens was elected to Venezuela's legislative, the National Assembly, in 2015. The 30-year-old is a member of the opposition Primero Justicia (Justice First) party and a vocal opponent of President Maduro. He often led protest marches demanding the release of imprisoned students. Mr Requesens faces two charges of attempted murder. He has also been accused of terrorism, treason, public incitement, illegal possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit a crime. His lawyer, Joel Garcia, said he had pleaded not guilty to all of them. During the parade last August in the capital Caracas, a small drone carrying explosives detonated in the air not far from the stage where the president and the top officers of the military where standing. Mr Maduro's bodyguards rushed to protect the president with foldable shields and ushered him away. The president and those on stage were unhurt. Panic broke out among the soldiers on parade with many running for cover. Seven members of the National Guard were injured in the melee. A second drone crashed into a nearby apartment block, injuring a child. President Maduro was quick to blame Mr Requesens and another Primero Justicia politician, Julio Borges, for the drone attack. He said other suspects in the case had implicated the two lawmakers. President Maduro called Mr Requesens \"one of the craziest\" plotters against his life. Mr Borges, who was already living in exile at the time, dismissed the accusation as a \"farce\". Six days days after the drone attack, Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez called a news conference where he played a video which he said amounted to a confession by Mr Requesens. In the recording, Mr Requesens says that Mr Borges asked him for help getting a retired soldier called Juan Monasterios into the country. President Maduro had earlier accused Mr Monasterios, who was detained in the aftermath of the drone incident, of being the \"operational chief\" of the attack against him. The video was the second one of Mr Requesens to be released. An earlier one showed him clad only in soiled underwear and looking confused. That recording of Mr Requesens caused his family grave concern. They said the lawmaker appeared drugged and that they feared he had been tortured. Juan Requesens and his sister Rafaela were seized from their apartment in Caracas by members of the secret police on 7 August. CCTV footage posted by Primero Justicia showed the moment the siblings were escorted out of the elevator. Rafaela Requesens was later released but her brother has been in detention ever since. His family has denounced the conditions he has been kept under and called for his release. His father, Juan Guillermo Requesens, met UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet during her visit to Venezuela last month. Ms Bachelet has called on the Venezuelan government to release all political prisoners but on Monday a judge ordered that Juan Requesens remain in detention while awaiting trial. A date for his trial has not yet been set. Rights groups say Venezuela is holding more than 700 people for political reasons and that some of them are being tortured. On Saturday, navy captain Rafael Acosta died in custody. His lawyer said his death was a result of torture and opposition leaders have called for mass protests to be held on Friday to denounce Capt Acosta's treatment.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 792, "answer_start": 432, "text": "A former student leader who organised anti-government protests in 2014, Juan Requesens was elected to Venezuela's legislative, the National Assembly, in 2015. The 30-year-old is a member of the opposition Primero Justicia (Justice First) party and a vocal opponent of President Maduro. He often led protest marches demanding the release of imprisoned students." } ], "id": "9113_0", "question": "Who is Juan Requesens?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1050, "answer_start": 793, "text": "Mr Requesens faces two charges of attempted murder. He has also been accused of terrorism, treason, public incitement, illegal possession of a firearm, and conspiracy to commit a crime. His lawyer, Joel Garcia, said he had pleaded not guilty to all of them." } ], "id": "9113_1", "question": "What has he been charged with?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1609, "answer_start": 1051, "text": "During the parade last August in the capital Caracas, a small drone carrying explosives detonated in the air not far from the stage where the president and the top officers of the military where standing. Mr Maduro's bodyguards rushed to protect the president with foldable shields and ushered him away. The president and those on stage were unhurt. Panic broke out among the soldiers on parade with many running for cover. Seven members of the National Guard were injured in the melee. A second drone crashed into a nearby apartment block, injuring a child." } ], "id": "9113_2", "question": "What do the charges relate to?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1985, "answer_start": 1610, "text": "President Maduro was quick to blame Mr Requesens and another Primero Justicia politician, Julio Borges, for the drone attack. He said other suspects in the case had implicated the two lawmakers. President Maduro called Mr Requesens \"one of the craziest\" plotters against his life. Mr Borges, who was already living in exile at the time, dismissed the accusation as a \"farce\"." } ], "id": "9113_3", "question": "What was the reaction?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2760, "answer_start": 1986, "text": "Six days days after the drone attack, Information Minister Jorge Rodriguez called a news conference where he played a video which he said amounted to a confession by Mr Requesens. In the recording, Mr Requesens says that Mr Borges asked him for help getting a retired soldier called Juan Monasterios into the country. President Maduro had earlier accused Mr Monasterios, who was detained in the aftermath of the drone incident, of being the \"operational chief\" of the attack against him. The video was the second one of Mr Requesens to be released. An earlier one showed him clad only in soiled underwear and looking confused. That recording of Mr Requesens caused his family grave concern. They said the lawmaker appeared drugged and that they feared he had been tortured." } ], "id": "9113_4", "question": "Did Mr Requesens confess?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3859, "answer_start": 2761, "text": "Juan Requesens and his sister Rafaela were seized from their apartment in Caracas by members of the secret police on 7 August. CCTV footage posted by Primero Justicia showed the moment the siblings were escorted out of the elevator. Rafaela Requesens was later released but her brother has been in detention ever since. His family has denounced the conditions he has been kept under and called for his release. His father, Juan Guillermo Requesens, met UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet during her visit to Venezuela last month. Ms Bachelet has called on the Venezuelan government to release all political prisoners but on Monday a judge ordered that Juan Requesens remain in detention while awaiting trial. A date for his trial has not yet been set. Rights groups say Venezuela is holding more than 700 people for political reasons and that some of them are being tortured. On Saturday, navy captain Rafael Acosta died in custody. His lawyer said his death was a result of torture and opposition leaders have called for mass protests to be held on Friday to denounce Capt Acosta's treatment." } ], "id": "9113_5", "question": "Where has Mr Requesens been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Young survivors of Wednesday's school shooting in Florida have announced a national march on Washington to demand political action on gun control. Student organisers told US media that they were determined to make Wednesday's shooting a turning point in the national gun debate. The attack, which left 17 students and staff members dead, was the deadliest US school shooting since 2012. Yesterday protestors chanted \"shame on you\" to US lawmakers and the president. Mr Trump said last year he would \"never\" infringe on the right to keep arms - a long-running and contested debate within the US. In his first public comments on the gun control issue since the attack, Mr Trump blamed the Democrats for not passing legislation when they controlled Congress during the early years of Barack Obama's administration. He also rebuked the FBI for missing signals before Wednesday's school shooting, after the organisation admitted it had failed to act on a tip-off about the suspected shooter Nikolas Cruz. Speaking on US television networks on Sunday morning, student survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas announced their March for Our Lives campaign. They are planning to march on Washington on 24 March to demand that children and their families \"become a priority\" to US lawmakers. They want other protests to happen simultaneously in other cities on the same day. \"We are losing our lives while the adults are playing around,\" Cameron Kasky, a survivor from the school said. It is one of many student-led protests amassing support on social media in the wake of Wednesday's attack. On Saturday students and their parents - as well as politicians - took part in an emotionally-charged rally in Fort Lauderdale, close to Parkland. Arguably the most memorable moment came when high school student Emma Gonzalez took to the podium and attacked the US president and other politicians for accepting political donations from the National Rifle Association (NRA), a powerful gun rights lobby group. \"If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... how nothing is going to be done about it, I'm going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,\" said Ms Gonzalez. \"It doesn't matter because I already know. Thirty million dollars,\" the 18-year-old said, referring to donations during Mr Trump's presidential campaign. \"To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA - shame on you!\" said Ms Gonzalez, who took cover on the floor of her secondary school's auditorium during the attack. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the NRA spent $11.4m (PS8.1m) supporting Mr Trump in the 2016 campaign, and $19.7m opposing Hillary Clinton. The president's views on gun control have shifted over time. In recent years, he has pledged to fiercely defend the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects people's right to keep and bear arms. Last year, he told an NRA convention he would \"never, ever infringe\" on that right. In a tweet late on Saturday, the Republican president accused the Democrats of not acting on gun legislation \"when they had both the House & Senate during the Obama Administration. \"Because they didn't want to, and now they just talk!\" he wrote, referring to criticism from Democrats following Wednesday's shooting. Mr Trump - who on Friday met survivors of the attack - has also blamed the shooter's mental health and the FBI's failings. The US news network CNN has invited Florida lawmakers and the president to attend a town hall event with survivors of the attack on Wednesday. Saturday's rally coincided with a gun show in Florida. Hundreds of people attended the event at the Dade County fairgrounds, despite calls to cancel it. Mr Cruz, 19, is a former student at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was reportedly investigated by local police and the Department of Children and Family Services in 2016 after posting evidence of self-harm on the Snapchat app, according to the latest US media reports. Child services said he had planned to buy a gun, but authorities determined he was already receiving adequate support, the reports say. The reports come after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) admitted it did not properly follow up on a tip-off about Mr Cruz last month. The 5 January tip was not the only information the FBI received. In September, a Mississippi man reported to the law enforcement agency a disturbing comment left on a YouTube video under Mr Cruz's name. Florida Governor Rick Scott called for FBI director Christopher Wray to resign over the failures to act. In a late tweet on Saturday, the President rebuked the organisation for their handling of tip-offs. \"Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2735, "answer_start": 1000, "text": "Speaking on US television networks on Sunday morning, student survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas announced their March for Our Lives campaign. They are planning to march on Washington on 24 March to demand that children and their families \"become a priority\" to US lawmakers. They want other protests to happen simultaneously in other cities on the same day. \"We are losing our lives while the adults are playing around,\" Cameron Kasky, a survivor from the school said. It is one of many student-led protests amassing support on social media in the wake of Wednesday's attack. On Saturday students and their parents - as well as politicians - took part in an emotionally-charged rally in Fort Lauderdale, close to Parkland. Arguably the most memorable moment came when high school student Emma Gonzalez took to the podium and attacked the US president and other politicians for accepting political donations from the National Rifle Association (NRA), a powerful gun rights lobby group. \"If the president wants to come up to me and tell me to my face that it was a terrible tragedy and... how nothing is going to be done about it, I'm going to happily ask him how much money he received from the National Rifle Association,\" said Ms Gonzalez. \"It doesn't matter because I already know. Thirty million dollars,\" the 18-year-old said, referring to donations during Mr Trump's presidential campaign. \"To every politician who is taking donations from the NRA - shame on you!\" said Ms Gonzalez, who took cover on the floor of her secondary school's auditorium during the attack. According to the Center for Responsive Politics, the NRA spent $11.4m (PS8.1m) supporting Mr Trump in the 2016 campaign, and $19.7m opposing Hillary Clinton." } ], "id": "9114_0", "question": "What are the students' plans?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3764, "answer_start": 2736, "text": "The president's views on gun control have shifted over time. In recent years, he has pledged to fiercely defend the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which protects people's right to keep and bear arms. Last year, he told an NRA convention he would \"never, ever infringe\" on that right. In a tweet late on Saturday, the Republican president accused the Democrats of not acting on gun legislation \"when they had both the House & Senate during the Obama Administration. \"Because they didn't want to, and now they just talk!\" he wrote, referring to criticism from Democrats following Wednesday's shooting. Mr Trump - who on Friday met survivors of the attack - has also blamed the shooter's mental health and the FBI's failings. The US news network CNN has invited Florida lawmakers and the president to attend a town hall event with survivors of the attack on Wednesday. Saturday's rally coincided with a gun show in Florida. Hundreds of people attended the event at the Dade County fairgrounds, despite calls to cancel it." } ], "id": "9114_1", "question": "What is Mr Trump's stance on gun control?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4944, "answer_start": 3765, "text": "Mr Cruz, 19, is a former student at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. He was reportedly investigated by local police and the Department of Children and Family Services in 2016 after posting evidence of self-harm on the Snapchat app, according to the latest US media reports. Child services said he had planned to buy a gun, but authorities determined he was already receiving adequate support, the reports say. The reports come after the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) admitted it did not properly follow up on a tip-off about Mr Cruz last month. The 5 January tip was not the only information the FBI received. In September, a Mississippi man reported to the law enforcement agency a disturbing comment left on a YouTube video under Mr Cruz's name. Florida Governor Rick Scott called for FBI director Christopher Wray to resign over the failures to act. In a late tweet on Saturday, the President rebuked the organisation for their handling of tip-offs. \"Very sad that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter. This is not acceptable. They are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign.\"" } ], "id": "9114_2", "question": "What do we know about the suspect?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The long-held theory of how humans first populated the Americas may have been well and truly broken. Archaeologists have unearthed thousands of stone tools that predate the technology widely assumed to have been carried by the first settlers. The discoveries in Texas are seen as compelling evidence that the so-called Clovis culture does not represent America's original immigrants. Details of the 15,500-year-old finds are reported in Science magazine. A number of digs across the Americas in recent decades had already hinted that the \"Clovis first\" model was in serious trouble. But the huge collection of well-dated tools excavated from a creek bed 60km (40 miles) northwest of Austin mean the theory is now dead, argue the Science authors. \"This is almost like a baseball bat to the side of the head of the archaeological community to wake up and say, 'hey, there are pre-Clovis people here, that we have to stop quibbling and we need to develop a new model for peopling of the Americas',\" Michael Waters, a Texas A&M University anthropologist, told reporters. For 80 years, it has been argued that the Clovis culture was the first to sweep into the New World. These people were defined by their highly efficient stone-tool technology. Their arrow heads and spear points were formidable hunting weapons and were used to bring down the massive beasts of the Ice Age, such as mammoth, mastodon and bison. The hunter gatherers associated with this technology were thought to have crossed from Siberia into Alaska via a land bridge that became exposed when sea levels dropped. Evidence indicates this occurred as far back as about 13,500 years. But an increasing number of archaeologists have argued there was likely to have been an earlier occupation based on the stone tools that began turning up at dig sites with claimed dates of more than 15,000 years. Dr Waters and colleagues say this position is now undeniable in the light of the new artefacts to emerge from the Debra L Friedkin excavation. These objects comprise 15,528 items in total - a variety of chert blades, bladelets, chisels, and abundant flakes produced when making or repairing stone tools. The collection was found directly below sediment containing classic Clovis implements. The dating - which relied on a technique known as optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) that can tell how long minerals have been buried - is robust, says the team. And, they add, the observed sequence is also reliable; the sediments have not been mixed up after the tools were dropped. \"The sediments were very rigid in the fact that they were clay, which worked to our advantage,\" explained Lee Nordt from Baylor University. \"If you go to many other sites, they are loamy or sandy in texture, and they are mixed very rapidly by burrowing from animals or maybe from plant roots, etc.\" The newly discovered tools are small, and the researchers propose that they were designed for a mobile toolkit - something that could be easily packed up and moved to a new location. Although clearly different from Clovis tools, they share some similarities and the researchers suggest Clovis technology may even have been derived from the capabilities displayed in the earlier objects. \"The Debra L Friedkin site demonstrates that people were in the Americas at least 2,500 years before Clovis,\" said Dr Waters. \"The discovery provides ample time for Clovis to develop. People could experiment with stone and invent the weapons and tools that would potentially become recognizable as Clovis. In other words, [these tools represent] the type of assemblage from which Clovis could emerge.\" But anthropologist Tom Dillehay, who was not involved with the latest study, commented: \"The 'Clovis first' paradigm died years ago. There are many other accepted pre-Clovis candidates throughout the Americas now.\" Professor Dillehay, from Vanderbilt University in Tennessee, told BBC News: \"If you look at the prose of this paper, it bothers me a little bit because it's as if they are reconstituting the Clovis-Pre-Clovis debate and saying, 'Here's the site that kills it'.\" He commended the researchers on their well-presented data and \"tight discussion\". But he said that the OSL technique was less reliable than radiocarbon dating, which has been applied to other early American sites. And assigning the artefacts to Clovis and pre-Clovis technologies was not straightforward because the site lacked the projectile points required to reliably distinguish between the two. Clovis projectile points are unmistakeable. In addition, said the Vanderbilt anthropology professor, the tools come from a floodplain deposit that is just 6-7cm thick. This, he said, was \"potentially problematic\" because of the possibility that artefacts were transported around by water. Professor Gary Haynes, from the University of Nevada in Reno, US, praised the \"good work\" by the research team. But he said it was plausible that natural processes could have caused some stone tools to migrate downwards in the clay - giving the impression of a pre-Clovis layer. [email protected] [email protected]", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2842, "answer_start": 1410, "text": "The hunter gatherers associated with this technology were thought to have crossed from Siberia into Alaska via a land bridge that became exposed when sea levels dropped. Evidence indicates this occurred as far back as about 13,500 years. But an increasing number of archaeologists have argued there was likely to have been an earlier occupation based on the stone tools that began turning up at dig sites with claimed dates of more than 15,000 years. Dr Waters and colleagues say this position is now undeniable in the light of the new artefacts to emerge from the Debra L Friedkin excavation. These objects comprise 15,528 items in total - a variety of chert blades, bladelets, chisels, and abundant flakes produced when making or repairing stone tools. The collection was found directly below sediment containing classic Clovis implements. The dating - which relied on a technique known as optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) that can tell how long minerals have been buried - is robust, says the team. And, they add, the observed sequence is also reliable; the sediments have not been mixed up after the tools were dropped. \"The sediments were very rigid in the fact that they were clay, which worked to our advantage,\" explained Lee Nordt from Baylor University. \"If you go to many other sites, they are loamy or sandy in texture, and they are mixed very rapidly by burrowing from animals or maybe from plant roots, etc.\"" } ], "id": "9115_0", "question": "Clovis first?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Dubbed \"hard to watch\" by US President Donald Trump, the TV ratings for this year's NFL season kickoff have reportedly dropped by 8%. This comes after Nike's decision to make Colin Kaepernick, the first NFL player to kneel during the national anthem, the face of its new campaign. Some people have linked the controversy surrounding NFL protests to its falling viewership, including Donald Trump. But others argue lower ratings indicate a wider shift away from TV. The US president has been vocal about his criticism of Kaepernick and other players kneeling in the past. On Sunday he tweeted: \"Wow, NFL first game ratings are way down over an already really bad last year comparison. \"If the players stood proudly for our flag and anthem, and it is all shown on broadcast, maybe ratings could come back?\" This was just hours before Colin tweeted his appreciation to NFL players Kenny Stills and Albert Wilson for kneeling during the US national anthem on Sunday. \"They have not backed down, even when attacked and intimidated. Their courage will move the world forward!\" he wrote. While Trump's tweets suggest people are losing interest in the NFL due to players protesting, former NFL player Osi Umenyiora says interest in the NFL is just as high as ever. \"That's going nowhere,\" he told Newsbeat. \"The quality of the game, the quality of the product is too good, it has nothing to do with the taking the knee protest. \"People just aren't watching TV anymore.\" He added that access to the internet, phones and mobile devices means \"people are switching off from television in general, not just the NFL\". \"Viewing figures are down across all sports, viewing figures are down across pretty much every single thing on television right now so to blame that on the taking the knee protests is fake news actually.\" Attendance figures don't appear to be as poor as some critics have suggested either. The average attendance during the NFL season was 69,264 per game in 2017 and 68,914 per game in 2016, according to Business Insider UK. But Thursday's kickoff game, which was played by the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles, amassed a total of 69,696, placing it well within the average attendance figures for an NFL game. Former NFL player Jason Bell attributes this to the fact \"people always come back to the game\". \"They can't wait until the NFL season is upon us and once the clock goes off people are excited to watch it again,\" he told Newsbeat. The NFL's figures aren't the only numbers under scrutiny. Following the announcement from Nike that Colin Kaepernick would feature in its new campaign, critics took to burning Nike products in protest. Many people shared their disapproval online using the hashtag #BoycottNike, along with #JustBurnIt. Despite the backlash, Nike sales have reportedly increased by 31% in the period after the advert's release. In the same way the Nike controversy doesn't seem to have hurt its sales, Jason and Osi say it won't overshadow the game. \"From the early stages people might be talking about what Nike's done, which I think is a tremendous thing,\" Osi said. \"But I think as the season goes on the game always triumphs. \"In the NFL you see the things that happen, the teams, it's a soap opera playing out there on the football field. \"I think at the end of the day that's going to overcome everything.\" Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3524, "answer_start": 1081, "text": "While Trump's tweets suggest people are losing interest in the NFL due to players protesting, former NFL player Osi Umenyiora says interest in the NFL is just as high as ever. \"That's going nowhere,\" he told Newsbeat. \"The quality of the game, the quality of the product is too good, it has nothing to do with the taking the knee protest. \"People just aren't watching TV anymore.\" He added that access to the internet, phones and mobile devices means \"people are switching off from television in general, not just the NFL\". \"Viewing figures are down across all sports, viewing figures are down across pretty much every single thing on television right now so to blame that on the taking the knee protests is fake news actually.\" Attendance figures don't appear to be as poor as some critics have suggested either. The average attendance during the NFL season was 69,264 per game in 2017 and 68,914 per game in 2016, according to Business Insider UK. But Thursday's kickoff game, which was played by the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles, amassed a total of 69,696, placing it well within the average attendance figures for an NFL game. Former NFL player Jason Bell attributes this to the fact \"people always come back to the game\". \"They can't wait until the NFL season is upon us and once the clock goes off people are excited to watch it again,\" he told Newsbeat. The NFL's figures aren't the only numbers under scrutiny. Following the announcement from Nike that Colin Kaepernick would feature in its new campaign, critics took to burning Nike products in protest. Many people shared their disapproval online using the hashtag #BoycottNike, along with #JustBurnIt. Despite the backlash, Nike sales have reportedly increased by 31% in the period after the advert's release. In the same way the Nike controversy doesn't seem to have hurt its sales, Jason and Osi say it won't overshadow the game. \"From the early stages people might be talking about what Nike's done, which I think is a tremendous thing,\" Osi said. \"But I think as the season goes on the game always triumphs. \"In the NFL you see the things that happen, the teams, it's a soap opera playing out there on the football field. \"I think at the end of the day that's going to overcome everything.\" Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 every weekday on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra - if you miss us you can listen back here." } ], "id": "9116_0", "question": "Are people turning away from the NFL?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump believes Europe's Nato members should spend more on the alliance, rather than relying on the US to shoulder the burden. Ahead of this week's summit in the UK, Nato's Secretary General, Jans Stoltenberg, has said the contribution made by European countries has been increasing significantly in recent years. So what does the US contribute towards maintaining Nato compared with the other 28 members? Nearly 70% of the total spending on defence by Nato governments is accounted for by the US. But the US is a global superpower, with military commitments well beyond Europe. In terms of its gross domestic product (GDP) (the total value of goods produced and services) the US spent roughly 3.4% on defence in 2019, according to Nato estimates, while the average in European Nato countries and Canada was 1.55%. Nato's running costs are met by a common funding arrangement based on each country's national income. This is to cover: - civilian staff and administrative costs of Nato headquarters - joint operations, strategic commands, radar and early warning systems, training and liaison - defence communications systems, airfields, harbours and fuel supplies The civilian and military budget for 2019 is about EUR1.67bn (PS1.43; $1.84bn), according to Nato figures. The US is currently paying for just over 22% of this, while Germany's contribution is 14.76%, and France and the UK just under 10.5% each. But this is now set to change after a new formula was agreed to reduce the US contribution, according to Mr Stoltenberg. \"Now the US and Germany will pay the same, roughly 16% of Nato's budget,\" he has said. At last year's Nato summit, President Trump urged the other member states to commit to spending 4% of their GDP on defence, close to the current US figure of 3.4% In fact, the current target is to reach 2% by 2024. When Mr Stoltenberg visited Washington earlier this year, Mr Trump said again this 2% figure should go higher \"at some point.\" Mr Trump has also said things are starting to improve. \"Since I came to office, it's a rocket ship up,\" he said. In fact, 2019 is the fifth year to have seen an increase in spending by Nato members other than the US. The biggest increases have been in Eastern and Central European countries and in Turkey. Nato estimates for 2019 show there are now eight countries - in addition to the US - spending 2% or more of their GDP on defence. - Greece - UK - Estonia - Romania - Poland - Latvia - Lithuania - Bulgaria Other European members spent an estimated 1% to 1.99% in 2019, with France spending 1.84% and Germany 1.38%. Nato members also pledged that by 2024 at least 20% of their defence expenditure should go on acquiring and developing equipment. As of 2019, 15 Nato countries in addition to the US were on course to meet this target, with major increases since 2014 in Eastern European countries as well as Turkey. However, two major Nato members - Germany and Canada - still spend less than the 20% threshold on equipment. An analysis for the UK Parliament describes equipment expenditure as a more meaningful measure of defence capability because without adequate equipment, military effectiveness is reduced. The US still has tens of thousands of active-duty personnel in Europe, including Turkey. Germany currently hosts by far the largest number of US forces in Europe, followed by Italy, the UK and Spain. It is worth adding some US personnel based in Europe support non-Nato operations and US military numbers fluctuate as forces are rotated in and out of Europe. Also, the biggest single overseas deployment of US personnel is not in a Nato member state. It's in Japan and there are also large numbers in South Korea. US forces also have a significant presence in the Middle East and the Gulf, although exact figures are not always disclosed and some deployments are only temporary. In Afghanistan, the US currently has about 13,000 troops involved in counter-terrorism operations and with the Nato-led mission there, which supports Afghan security forces. One key component of the US commitment to Europe is a missile defence system run by Nato members. It is designed to help guard against potential long-range ballistic missile attacks from outside the continent, particularly the Middle East. It includes US equipment and personnel at land-based missile sites in Romania and at one under construction in Poland, with a US-operated radar system hosted by Turkey. Interceptor missiles are also carried on board US warships in the Mediterranean. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1636, "answer_start": 425, "text": "Nearly 70% of the total spending on defence by Nato governments is accounted for by the US. But the US is a global superpower, with military commitments well beyond Europe. In terms of its gross domestic product (GDP) (the total value of goods produced and services) the US spent roughly 3.4% on defence in 2019, according to Nato estimates, while the average in European Nato countries and Canada was 1.55%. Nato's running costs are met by a common funding arrangement based on each country's national income. This is to cover: - civilian staff and administrative costs of Nato headquarters - joint operations, strategic commands, radar and early warning systems, training and liaison - defence communications systems, airfields, harbours and fuel supplies The civilian and military budget for 2019 is about EUR1.67bn (PS1.43; $1.84bn), according to Nato figures. The US is currently paying for just over 22% of this, while Germany's contribution is 14.76%, and France and the UK just under 10.5% each. But this is now set to change after a new formula was agreed to reduce the US contribution, according to Mr Stoltenberg. \"Now the US and Germany will pay the same, roughly 16% of Nato's budget,\" he has said." } ], "id": "9117_0", "question": "What do Nato members spend?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3194, "answer_start": 1637, "text": "At last year's Nato summit, President Trump urged the other member states to commit to spending 4% of their GDP on defence, close to the current US figure of 3.4% In fact, the current target is to reach 2% by 2024. When Mr Stoltenberg visited Washington earlier this year, Mr Trump said again this 2% figure should go higher \"at some point.\" Mr Trump has also said things are starting to improve. \"Since I came to office, it's a rocket ship up,\" he said. In fact, 2019 is the fifth year to have seen an increase in spending by Nato members other than the US. The biggest increases have been in Eastern and Central European countries and in Turkey. Nato estimates for 2019 show there are now eight countries - in addition to the US - spending 2% or more of their GDP on defence. - Greece - UK - Estonia - Romania - Poland - Latvia - Lithuania - Bulgaria Other European members spent an estimated 1% to 1.99% in 2019, with France spending 1.84% and Germany 1.38%. Nato members also pledged that by 2024 at least 20% of their defence expenditure should go on acquiring and developing equipment. As of 2019, 15 Nato countries in addition to the US were on course to meet this target, with major increases since 2014 in Eastern European countries as well as Turkey. However, two major Nato members - Germany and Canada - still spend less than the 20% threshold on equipment. An analysis for the UK Parliament describes equipment expenditure as a more meaningful measure of defence capability because without adequate equipment, military effectiveness is reduced." } ], "id": "9117_1", "question": "What do other countries spend on defence?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4537, "answer_start": 3195, "text": "The US still has tens of thousands of active-duty personnel in Europe, including Turkey. Germany currently hosts by far the largest number of US forces in Europe, followed by Italy, the UK and Spain. It is worth adding some US personnel based in Europe support non-Nato operations and US military numbers fluctuate as forces are rotated in and out of Europe. Also, the biggest single overseas deployment of US personnel is not in a Nato member state. It's in Japan and there are also large numbers in South Korea. US forces also have a significant presence in the Middle East and the Gulf, although exact figures are not always disclosed and some deployments are only temporary. In Afghanistan, the US currently has about 13,000 troops involved in counter-terrorism operations and with the Nato-led mission there, which supports Afghan security forces. One key component of the US commitment to Europe is a missile defence system run by Nato members. It is designed to help guard against potential long-range ballistic missile attacks from outside the continent, particularly the Middle East. It includes US equipment and personnel at land-based missile sites in Romania and at one under construction in Poland, with a US-operated radar system hosted by Turkey. Interceptor missiles are also carried on board US warships in the Mediterranean." } ], "id": "9117_2", "question": "What else does the US do for Nato?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "CIA director Mike Pompeo travelled to Pyongyang for a secret meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, US President Donald Trump has confirmed. A \"good relationship\" was formed at the meeting last week, Mr Trump tweeted on Wednesday. News of the visit first emerged on Tuesday. US officials were quoted as saying the aim was to prepare a summit between Mr Trump and Mr Kim. Mr Trump had earlier alluded to high-level direct talks with Pyongyang. But the unexpected and clandestine meeting marks the highest level US contact with North Korea since 2000. \"We have had direct talks at... extremely high levels,\" Mr Trump said from Florida, where he is hosting Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The president added that he gave his \"blessing\" for talks between the South and North to discuss a peace treaty to formally end the 1950-1953 Korean War. South Korea has also signalled that it may pursue a formal resolution of the conflict. South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and Mr Kim are due to meet next week. The two sides have agreed to broadcast parts of the summit live, the South's state news agency Yonhap reported. The news that Mr Pompeo had travelled to North Korea for a clandestine meeting with Mr Kim was first reported by The Washington Post. The trip took place shortly after Mr Pompeo was nominated by Mr Trump to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, two anonymous sources \"with direct knowledge of the trip\" told the newspaper. Later Reuters news agency said the report had been confirmed to them by senior officials. Early on Wednesday, Mr Trump confirmed the reports with a tweet. Very little is known about the talks other than that they were to prepare for the forthcoming Trump-Kim summit. Mr Pompeo is predicted to be confirmed as the top US diplomat by the Republican-controlled Senate in coming weeks. This is despite mounting speculation that he will, unusually, fail to receive the backing of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Relations Committee following a grilling of more than five hours by the committee last week. The US does not have diplomatic relations with North Korea, although diplomats have visited in the past and there are some so-called \"back channels\" used to communicate with Pyongyang. Mr Pompeo's trip was the highest level meeting with a North Korean leader since 2000 when then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met Kim Jong-il, the father of the current leader, in Pyongyang. In 2014, the then-head of National Intelligence James Clapper visited North Korea in a secret mission to negotiate the release of two US citizens. Mr Clapper did not meet the North Korean leader during his trip. Mr Trump stunned the international community last month by accepting Pyongyang's suggestion for direct talks. It would be unprecedented for a sitting US president to meet a North Korean leader. He said the summit would take place either in early June or \"a little before that\" and that several sites were under consideration but that none of them were in the US. Analysts have speculated that a location for talks could be the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea, Beijing, another Asian country, Europe or even a vessel in international waters. North Korea has been isolated for decades because of its well-documented human rights abuses and its pursuit of nuclear weapons, in defiance of international laws and UN sanctions. It has carried out six nuclear tests, and has missiles that it says could reach the US. But South Korea's hosting of the Winter Olympics in February gave an unexpected window for diplomacy, and in the weeks since there have been a flurry of visits to the North from China, South Korea and now the US. Mr Trump's estimate that a meeting could take place in June or earlier appears to be one the administration is taking seriously. But news of Mr Pompeo's visit is also likely to overshadow delicate talks with Japan, a key US ally and neighbour of North Korea. There have been fears in Tokyo that Mr Trump's plans for bilateral talks could sideline Japan, and Mr Abe is currently in Florida for talks with the US leader. Relations between the two men appeared cordial on this, the second time that Mr Trump has welcomed Mr Abe to his Mar-a-Lago resort. Mr Trump insisted on Tuesday that the two countries were \"very unified on the subject of North Korea\", and Mr Abe praised the US president's handling of the North Korea issue. However, observers say Mr Abe's goal for his US trip will be to persuade the US president as much as he can not to sway from the West's hard line on Pyongyang. The Japanese prime minister has repeatedly sought to portray a close personal relationship with Mr Trump and was the first foreign leader to meet him in New York after his election victory in 2016.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2051, "answer_start": 1123, "text": "The news that Mr Pompeo had travelled to North Korea for a clandestine meeting with Mr Kim was first reported by The Washington Post. The trip took place shortly after Mr Pompeo was nominated by Mr Trump to replace Rex Tillerson as secretary of state, two anonymous sources \"with direct knowledge of the trip\" told the newspaper. Later Reuters news agency said the report had been confirmed to them by senior officials. Early on Wednesday, Mr Trump confirmed the reports with a tweet. Very little is known about the talks other than that they were to prepare for the forthcoming Trump-Kim summit. Mr Pompeo is predicted to be confirmed as the top US diplomat by the Republican-controlled Senate in coming weeks. This is despite mounting speculation that he will, unusually, fail to receive the backing of the bipartisan Senate Foreign Relations Committee following a grilling of more than five hours by the committee last week." } ], "id": "9118_0", "question": "What do we know about the 'secret meeting'?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3686, "answer_start": 2647, "text": "Mr Trump stunned the international community last month by accepting Pyongyang's suggestion for direct talks. It would be unprecedented for a sitting US president to meet a North Korean leader. He said the summit would take place either in early June or \"a little before that\" and that several sites were under consideration but that none of them were in the US. Analysts have speculated that a location for talks could be the demilitarised zone between North and South Korea, Beijing, another Asian country, Europe or even a vessel in international waters. North Korea has been isolated for decades because of its well-documented human rights abuses and its pursuit of nuclear weapons, in defiance of international laws and UN sanctions. It has carried out six nuclear tests, and has missiles that it says could reach the US. But South Korea's hosting of the Winter Olympics in February gave an unexpected window for diplomacy, and in the weeks since there have been a flurry of visits to the North from China, South Korea and now the US." } ], "id": "9118_1", "question": "When and where might a summit take place?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4771, "answer_start": 3687, "text": "Mr Trump's estimate that a meeting could take place in June or earlier appears to be one the administration is taking seriously. But news of Mr Pompeo's visit is also likely to overshadow delicate talks with Japan, a key US ally and neighbour of North Korea. There have been fears in Tokyo that Mr Trump's plans for bilateral talks could sideline Japan, and Mr Abe is currently in Florida for talks with the US leader. Relations between the two men appeared cordial on this, the second time that Mr Trump has welcomed Mr Abe to his Mar-a-Lago resort. Mr Trump insisted on Tuesday that the two countries were \"very unified on the subject of North Korea\", and Mr Abe praised the US president's handling of the North Korea issue. However, observers say Mr Abe's goal for his US trip will be to persuade the US president as much as he can not to sway from the West's hard line on Pyongyang. The Japanese prime minister has repeatedly sought to portray a close personal relationship with Mr Trump and was the first foreign leader to meet him in New York after his election victory in 2016." } ], "id": "9118_2", "question": "What does the timing of this news tell us?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Five pictures said to have been painted by Nazi leader Adolf Hitler have failed to sell at auction in Germany. Weidler auction house hoped to raise EUR45,000 (PS40,000; $51,000) from the most expensive work. The auction was held in Nuremberg, the German city once notorious for Hitler's mass rallies where leading Nazis were later tried for war crimes. Accusations of forgery marred the auction and city mayor Ulrich Maly described it as being in \"bad taste\". The sale also included items said to have been owned by the dictator, including a vase and a wicker chair with a swastika on its arm. Under Hitler's rule (1933-45), Nazi Germany began World War Two, pursuing a genocidal policy that resulted in the deaths of some six million Jews, and tens of millions of other civilians and combatants. Public displays of Nazi symbols are against the law in Germany - except in some contexts, such as for educational or historical reasons. The auction house got around the law by pixelating the symbols within their catalogue. Dozens of artworks, including some set for sale, were seized from the auction house last week by German police. Prosecutors said a total of 63 items bearing the signatures \"AH\" or \"A Hitler\" were confiscated over forgery concerns. An investigation was opened into unidentified individuals \"on suspicion of falsifying documents and attempted fraud\", Nuremberg-Fuerth chief prosecutor Antje Gabriels-Gorsolke told AFP. She confirmed the auction house had co-operated and handed the works over voluntarily. Sales of paintings purporting to be from the dictator regularly generate controversy and accusations of forgery. Last month German police seized a collection due to go on sale in Berlin over concerns over their authenticity. Hitler, who was twice rejected by the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, is known to have sold his artwork in his youth. Dozens of works attributed to him, which were regarded by art experts as being of poor quality, have been sold over the years. In 2015, Weidler auction house sold more than a dozen paintings attributed to Hitler for almost EUR400,000. Bidders then reportedly came from Germany, China, France, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. In 2014 the auction house sold a Hitler watercolour of Munich's city hall for EUR130,000. The sale of Nazi memorabilia remains a divisive topic around the world. Some buyers say it is for historical reasons, but campaign groups warn items are also purchased by far-right group members who idealise the regime. Last year, some UK-based groups lobbied online retailers to better regulate Nazi memorabilia sales.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2604, "answer_start": 1021, "text": "Dozens of artworks, including some set for sale, were seized from the auction house last week by German police. Prosecutors said a total of 63 items bearing the signatures \"AH\" or \"A Hitler\" were confiscated over forgery concerns. An investigation was opened into unidentified individuals \"on suspicion of falsifying documents and attempted fraud\", Nuremberg-Fuerth chief prosecutor Antje Gabriels-Gorsolke told AFP. She confirmed the auction house had co-operated and handed the works over voluntarily. Sales of paintings purporting to be from the dictator regularly generate controversy and accusations of forgery. Last month German police seized a collection due to go on sale in Berlin over concerns over their authenticity. Hitler, who was twice rejected by the Vienna Academy of Fine Arts, is known to have sold his artwork in his youth. Dozens of works attributed to him, which were regarded by art experts as being of poor quality, have been sold over the years. In 2015, Weidler auction house sold more than a dozen paintings attributed to Hitler for almost EUR400,000. Bidders then reportedly came from Germany, China, France, Brazil and the United Arab Emirates. In 2014 the auction house sold a Hitler watercolour of Munich's city hall for EUR130,000. The sale of Nazi memorabilia remains a divisive topic around the world. Some buyers say it is for historical reasons, but campaign groups warn items are also purchased by far-right group members who idealise the regime. Last year, some UK-based groups lobbied online retailers to better regulate Nazi memorabilia sales." } ], "id": "9119_0", "question": "What problems did the auction face?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "\"Please don't go!\" This week's edition of the influential news magazine Der Spiegel is a beseeching entreaty in red, white and blue. Covered in a union jack and printed in English and German, the publication is dedicated to the referendum debate. Der Spiegel is unambiguously opposed to a Brexit: \"The only internationally known politician in favour of a Brexit,' its editors write, 'is Donald Trump - and, if nothing else does, that alone should make the British worry.\" The majority of Germans apparently agree; earlier this month a poll revealed 79% don't want Britain to leave the EU. For months many here have been bemused, perplexed and downright concerned by the notion that Britain might want to leave. The Germans hoping Britain stays in the EU Germany conflicted on how to handle Brexit German power is the real key to Europe EU referendum: All you need to know EU referendum issues guide In the words of one of Angela Merkel's senior conservatives: \"David Cameron is like the sorcerer's apprentice. He doesn't know what he's started.\" But, with just over a week to referendum day, the German press are happy to lay bare their version of how it could finish. A Brexit, Spiegel predicts, would be \"a threefold catastrophe: bad for Germany, bad for Britain and cataclysmic for Europe.\" The newspaper Die Zeit envisages a doomsday Brexit scenario. Panic at the London stock exchange, a scramble among Europe's leaders to maintain a united front, a party for Marine le Pen and independence for Scotland. Great Britain, the newspaper predicts, will be flying blind. Europe is jittery. For the first time, yields on 10-year German government bonds have fallen below zero. And the real possibility that Britain may vote leave has generated a palpable sense of alarm in Berlin. Which explains Angela Merkel's recent intervention in the referendum debate. She and her advisors have been wary of doing so; they are keenly aware that British voters and commentators could (and some did) interpret any public comment as interference. And they don't wish to unwittingly boost the Leave campaign. Mrs Merkel's language was careful and muted. Her short statement carefully timed and co-ordinated with Downing Street. But it contained a stark warning; if Britain opts out, it will lose its bargaining power with the EU. Her finance minister was less diplomatic. \"Out is out,\" said Wolfgang Schauble. A Britain outside the EU could forget access to the single market, he said, ruling out the kind of trading relationship held by Norway or Switzerland. \"That won't work,\" he said. \"It would require the country to abide by the rules of a club from which it currently wants to withdraw.\" Far less well publicised was what a senior German CDU MP told Der Spiegel. Juergen Hardt, the party's foreign policy spokesman, offered an intriguing glimpse into how Berlin may be preparing for Brexit. If the UK votes to leave, Mr Hardt said, then the EU should gauge possible action to prevent a British exit from becoming a reality. Brussels shouldn't close the door right away. One way or another, Germany wants to keep Britain close. There are the obvious reasons; within Europe, Britain is a powerful economic and political ally for Germany. Without Britain, some here worry that Germany will be perceived as too big, too dominant within the union. The two countries are important to each other commercially; the UK is Germany's fifth most important trading partner. Take the car industry: last year Germany sold 810,000 cars to the UK - around a fifth of the total number it exports worldwide. And German companies manufactured 216,000 cars in the UK, according to the head of the German car makers' association. Matthias Wissman has repeatedly warned of the negative impact a Brexit would have on the entire industry. And there is a wider concern in Berlin. As one senior MP put it: \"Brexit would be a catastrophic and disastrous message to the rest of the world that Europe doesn't work and can't stick together.\" As one commentator put it, part of the reason Angela Merkel supported David Cameron's efforts to renegotiate a relationship with the EU is that she does not want to go down in history as the German chancellor under whom Europe fell apart. Angela Merkel makes no secret of her commitment to the European project. The degree to which a Brexit might encourage other countries to follow suit is difficult to quantify. But it is clear that populism and anti-EU sentiment are changing Europe's political landscape - fuelled in part by the refugee crisis. Last month, a YouGov poll revealed that, in the event of a referendum here, nearly one in three Germans would vote to leave the EU. That is surprising in a country where, it is often said, people identify as European first, German second. There is a general election in Germany next year. Angela Merkel has yet to announce whether she will stand but it's widely believed that she will. Her Christian Democrats are likely to lose votes to the party Alternativ Fuer Deutschland. It has positioned itself as anti-Islamic and wants more power for national governments within Europe. There is a lot of stake for the Merkel administration. But there is another force driving those who want Britain to stay. As one commuter sitting in the sunshine outside Berlin's main railway station put it: \"Great Britain is doing what they think is best for them. I like the British, I like London. I'm sure the Brits will do the right thing.\" There is, among Germans, a genuine affection for Britain. As those Spiegel editors write: \"Germany has always looked across the Channel with envy... (Brits) have an inner independence that we Germans lack.\" That affection was perhaps most in evidence here last summer during the Queen's visit to Berlin (the British Royal Family is hugely popular here) when German television went into royal overdrive and crowds turned out to greet the British monarch. During that visit, both the Queen and the German president appealed for European unity and made reference to World War Two through which they both lived. \"The European Union needs Britain,\" said Joachim Gauck. \"A united Europe, a strong European Union represents stability, peace and freedom for us all.\" It is a narrative which underpins discussions here because, fundamentally, for many Germans, that's still what the EU is all about. At times there is frustration at the level of the debate in Britain. Boris Johnson's likening of the EU's aims to those of Hitler irritated many Germans. And Iain Duncan Smith's claims that \"the Germans\" had, in effect, bullied David Cameron over his renegotiations infuriated the government. There is an acceptance here that Britain's perspective on the EU has always been markedly different. And there is a consensus that, without that perspective, Europe would be a poorer place. \"Obviously, it is up to the citizens of the UK themselves how they wish to vote in the upcoming referendum. I've said repeatedly before that I personally would hope and wish for the UK to stay part and parcel of the EU.\" \"We work well together with the UK particularly when we talk about new rules for the EU. We have to develop those together with the UK and whenever we negotiate that, you can much better have an influence on the debate when you sit at the bargaining table and you can give input to those negotiations and the result will then invariably be better rather than being outside of the room.\" \"It would not only be in our interest but it could also be in the interest of Britain when it can bring its whole political weight to the negotiating table as part and parcel of the EU.\" (Speaking at joint news conference with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Berlin, 2 June).", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4001, "answer_start": 3118, "text": "There are the obvious reasons; within Europe, Britain is a powerful economic and political ally for Germany. Without Britain, some here worry that Germany will be perceived as too big, too dominant within the union. The two countries are important to each other commercially; the UK is Germany's fifth most important trading partner. Take the car industry: last year Germany sold 810,000 cars to the UK - around a fifth of the total number it exports worldwide. And German companies manufactured 216,000 cars in the UK, according to the head of the German car makers' association. Matthias Wissman has repeatedly warned of the negative impact a Brexit would have on the entire industry. And there is a wider concern in Berlin. As one senior MP put it: \"Brexit would be a catastrophic and disastrous message to the rest of the world that Europe doesn't work and can't stick together.\"" } ], "id": "9120_0", "question": "Why?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Growing numbers of bluefin tuna are being seen in the waters around the UK because of the warming impact of a long term ocean current say researchers. These large, speedy fish are a globally endangered species and almost disappeared from the UK around 40 years ago. Scientists say that their recent rise is connected to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO). Now in a warm phase, the current makes UK waters more hospitable for the fish. Bluefin tuna are one of the largest and fastest fish on the planet - they can weigh up to 900kg and can travel at speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour (43mph). In the 1930s, the species was a common sight in the seas off Scarborough and was highly prized by big-game fishers. However, from the 1940s, the species began to decline and by the early 1990s had all but disappeared. But over the past five years or so, sightings of the warm blooded fish have increased off the UK once again with many of these encounters captured on social media. This situation has been mirrored in the Nordic seas, in the waters between Greenland and Norway which witnessed a spectacular collapse in tuna numbers in the 1960s, when the fish declined dramatically in just two years. Researchers now believe that the warming and cooling impact of the long term current, the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation is key to the ebb and flow of the species. The scientists' new paper has been published in the journal Science Advances. The team looked at the changing abundance and distribution of bluefin tuna in the Atlantic over the past 200 years. They've concluded that the major factor influencing the movement of bluefin is the AMO. \"The ecological effects of the AMO have long been overlooked and our results represent a breakthrough in understanding the history of bluefin tuna in the North Atlantic,\" said lead author Dr Robin Faillettaz from the University of Lille. He believes that while current numbers of sightings of the UK may indicate that the species is doing well, this may not be the case everywhere. \"When water temperature increases during a positive AMO, bluefin tuna move further north. However, the most positive (warming) phases of the AMO also have a detrimental effect upon recruitment in the Mediterranean, which is currently the most important spawning ground, and that will affect adult abundance a few years later.\" \"If the AMO stays in a highly positive phase for several years, we may encounter more bluefin tuna in our waters but the overall population could actually be decreasing.\" It's a measure of a naturally occurring climate cycle in the North Atlantic that see sea surface temperatures rise and fall over long time periods. Approximately every 60 to 120 years the AMO switches between positive and negative phases. During positive (warm) phases, Ireland and the UK experience warmer weather but it also brings more hurricanes and drives drought in the US midwest. A cooler AMO can lead to drought in many parts of Africa. Right now the fishing of bluefin tuna in British waters is prohibited. But the recent rise in bluefin numbers has encouraged campaigners to petition the government to allow amateur fishers to catch the endangered species. The Angling Trust want to establish a \"catch and release\" licensed fishery which they believe would have enormous economic benefits for areas such as Cornwall. But the scientists involved with the latest study are cautious about this approach. \"Bluefin tuna have been extensively overfished during the 20th century and the stock was close to its lowest in 1990, a fact that further indicates the recent changes in distribution are most likely environmentally driven rather than due to fisheries management and stock recovery,\" said co-author Dr Richard Kirby from the Secchi Disk Foundation. \"Before we further exploit bluefin tuna either commercially or recreationally for sport fishing, we should consider whether it would be better to protect them by making the UK's seas a safe space for one of the ocean's most endangered top fish.\" According to experts, the impact of global warming on top of the AMO is likely to alter the familiar patterns seen in bluefin tuna over several hundred years. The authors believe that increasing global temperatures may see the species persist for longer in cooler waters around the UK and in the Nordic seas. It might also cause the fish to disappear from the Mediterranean sea, the world's most important bluefin fishery. Follow Matt on Twitter @mattmcgrathbbc", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2983, "answer_start": 2537, "text": "It's a measure of a naturally occurring climate cycle in the North Atlantic that see sea surface temperatures rise and fall over long time periods. Approximately every 60 to 120 years the AMO switches between positive and negative phases. During positive (warm) phases, Ireland and the UK experience warmer weather but it also brings more hurricanes and drives drought in the US midwest. A cooler AMO can lead to drought in many parts of Africa." } ], "id": "9121_0", "question": "What is the AMO?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4043, "answer_start": 2984, "text": "Right now the fishing of bluefin tuna in British waters is prohibited. But the recent rise in bluefin numbers has encouraged campaigners to petition the government to allow amateur fishers to catch the endangered species. The Angling Trust want to establish a \"catch and release\" licensed fishery which they believe would have enormous economic benefits for areas such as Cornwall. But the scientists involved with the latest study are cautious about this approach. \"Bluefin tuna have been extensively overfished during the 20th century and the stock was close to its lowest in 1990, a fact that further indicates the recent changes in distribution are most likely environmentally driven rather than due to fisheries management and stock recovery,\" said co-author Dr Richard Kirby from the Secchi Disk Foundation. \"Before we further exploit bluefin tuna either commercially or recreationally for sport fishing, we should consider whether it would be better to protect them by making the UK's seas a safe space for one of the ocean's most endangered top fish.\"" } ], "id": "9121_1", "question": "Will tuna fishing be allowed in the UK again?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Superbugs resistant to emergency antibiotics are spreading in hospitals, a Europe-wide study shows. Drugs called carbapenems are used when an infection cannot be treated with anything else. The spread of resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae was \"extremely concerning\", researchers from the Sanger Institute said. And they warned other bugs could become resistant too - because of the unique way bacteria have sex. It can live completely naturally in the intestines without causing problems for healthy people. However, when the body is unwell, it can infect the lungs to cause pneumonia, and the blood, cuts in the skin and the lining of the brain to cause meningitis. Some strains are developing resistance to antibiotics. \"The alarming thing is these bacteria are resistant to one of the key last-line antibiotics,\" Dr Sophia David, from the Sanger Institute, told BBC News. \"The infections are associated with a high mortality rate. \"It's already worrying that we're seeing 2,000 deaths in 2015 - but the concern is that if action isn't taken, then this will continue to rise.\" Deaths from carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae have gone up from 341 in Europe in 2007 to 2,094 by 2015. This is the largest study of carbapenem resistance in K. pneumoniae, with 244 hospitals involved from Ireland to Israel. Researchers analysed the bacterium's DNA - its genetic code - from samples from infected patients. \"Our findings imply hospitals are the key facilitator of transmission [and suggest that] the bacteria are spreading from person-to-person primarily within hospitals,\" said Dr David. \"The fact that we see the same high-risk clones in many different hospitals around Europe also shows there's something special about those strains.\" The results were published in Nature Microbiology. Drug-resistant K. pneumoniae could continue to spread or pass its resistance on to other species of bacteria. Two bacteria can meet up and have bacterial sex - called conjugation - and a short string of genetic information, called a plasmid, is shared between them. And the study found the instructions that give K. pneumoniae carbapenem resistance written on to plasmids. \"These have the ability to spread very rapidly through bacterial populations,\" said Dr David. The best way to deal with drug-resistant infections is to avoid getting them in the first place. \"We are optimistic that with good hospital hygiene, which includes early identification and isolation of patients carrying these bacteria, we can not only delay the spread of these pathogens, but also successfully control them, said Prof Hajo Grundmann, from the University of Freiburg. \"This research emphasises the importance of infection control and ongoing genomic surveillance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to ensure we detect new resistant strains early and act to combat the spread of antibiotic resistance.\" Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 663, "answer_start": 409, "text": "It can live completely naturally in the intestines without causing problems for healthy people. However, when the body is unwell, it can infect the lungs to cause pneumonia, and the blood, cuts in the skin and the lining of the brain to cause meningitis." } ], "id": "9122_0", "question": "What is Klebsiella pneumoniae?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1180, "answer_start": 664, "text": "Some strains are developing resistance to antibiotics. \"The alarming thing is these bacteria are resistant to one of the key last-line antibiotics,\" Dr Sophia David, from the Sanger Institute, told BBC News. \"The infections are associated with a high mortality rate. \"It's already worrying that we're seeing 2,000 deaths in 2015 - but the concern is that if action isn't taken, then this will continue to rise.\" Deaths from carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae have gone up from 341 in Europe in 2007 to 2,094 by 2015." } ], "id": "9122_1", "question": "Is it becoming a problem?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1782, "answer_start": 1181, "text": "This is the largest study of carbapenem resistance in K. pneumoniae, with 244 hospitals involved from Ireland to Israel. Researchers analysed the bacterium's DNA - its genetic code - from samples from infected patients. \"Our findings imply hospitals are the key facilitator of transmission [and suggest that] the bacteria are spreading from person-to-person primarily within hospitals,\" said Dr David. \"The fact that we see the same high-risk clones in many different hospitals around Europe also shows there's something special about those strains.\" The results were published in Nature Microbiology." } ], "id": "9122_2", "question": "What does the study show?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2249, "answer_start": 1783, "text": "Drug-resistant K. pneumoniae could continue to spread or pass its resistance on to other species of bacteria. Two bacteria can meet up and have bacterial sex - called conjugation - and a short string of genetic information, called a plasmid, is shared between them. And the study found the instructions that give K. pneumoniae carbapenem resistance written on to plasmids. \"These have the ability to spread very rapidly through bacterial populations,\" said Dr David." } ], "id": "9122_3", "question": "How big a problem is this?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2890, "answer_start": 2250, "text": "The best way to deal with drug-resistant infections is to avoid getting them in the first place. \"We are optimistic that with good hospital hygiene, which includes early identification and isolation of patients carrying these bacteria, we can not only delay the spread of these pathogens, but also successfully control them, said Prof Hajo Grundmann, from the University of Freiburg. \"This research emphasises the importance of infection control and ongoing genomic surveillance of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to ensure we detect new resistant strains early and act to combat the spread of antibiotic resistance.\" Follow James on Twitter." } ], "id": "9122_4", "question": "What can be done?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Tens of thousands of people have fled their homes in northern Syria, as Turkish forces step up their cross-border offensive on Kurdish-held areas. Turkish troops have encircled the border towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad and aid agencies fear the exodus could reach hundreds of thousands. International clamour has increased for Turkey to halt the attack. Turkey has defended its bid to create a \"safe zone\" free of Kurdish militias which could also house Syrian refugees. Turkey regards the Kurdish militias of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) - which have controlled the cross-border areas - as \"terrorists\" who support an anti-Turkish insurgency. The SDF have been key allies of the United States in the battle against the Islamic State (IS) group. However, it was after President Donald Trump's decision to pull US troops out of the area that Turkey launched its assault, sparking SDF accusations they had been \"stabbed in the back\". Many in the US, including some of Mr Trump's Republican allies, say the withdrawal effectively gave Turkey a green light. One major concern for the international community is the fate of thousands of suspected IS prisoners, including many foreign nationals, being guarded by Kurdish-led forces in the region. The International Rescue Committee aid organisation said that 64,000 people had already reportedly fled their homes. The UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, gave a similar figure. The IRC's Misty Buswell said: \"If the offensive continues it's possible a total of 300,000 people could be displaced to already overstretched camps and towns still recovering from the fight against IS.\" Another group of 14 humanitarian organisations, including the Mercy Corps, warned the figure could be 450,000. Ms Buswell said IRC teams remained on the ground, although other reports suggest some aid groups have pulled back across the Turkish border. Sevinaz, a resident of Ras al-Ain, told the BBC on Thursday morning: \"I am outside the town with my sick mother. My brother is inside. I have been informed that my cousin might have been martyred. There is no safe place for anybody. \"I'm concerned about it being the last time that I see my city.\" Rizan Mohammad, who fled the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli after Turkish air strikes, told AFP news agency: \"We're heading to the countryside because we're scared of renewed bombing and intensified clashes.\" The BBC's Martin Patience in Turkish border town of Akcakale At the border you can see columns of smoke rising from the Syrian towns being shelled by the Turkish military. They look largely deserted but Kurdish fighters positioned there are firing back. Several shells landed close to where many media organisations have set up, including the BBC on the outskirts of Akcakale. Inside the town, several mortar shells killed three people, including a nine-month-old Syrian baby. But in Turkey there is widespread support for the operation. A tribal chief at the border hailed it as \"a great day for Turkey\". He said it would mean Syrian refugees could go back home and that he supported everything President Recep Tayyip Erdogan does. Now that the offensive has started, Turkey's unlikely to back down. It's an often confused picture, with differing versions. Turkey's Anadolu news agency said late on Thursday that 228 Kurdish militants had been \"neutralised\" since the start of the operation. The SDF had dismissed a figure of 109 given earlier in the day by President Erdogan as an exaggeration but they have not provided exact casualty figures. The Syrian Observatory said at least 29 SDF fighters had died, along with at least 17 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels from the Free Syrian Army. It also said the offensive had captured more than 10 villages in the Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad area, where the SDF appear to be under severe pressure. An SDF Twitter account said an attack by Turkish forces east of the Jalab river had been repelled, with three military vehicles destroyed and 22 enemy combatants killed. The Kurdish Red Crescent said there had been 11 confirmed civilian deaths so far and 28 serious injuries, mostly in Ras al-Ain and the border town of Qamishli. At least five people, including a Syrian baby, were reportedly killed in Kurdish shelling of Turkish border towns. Turkey wants to create a \"safe zone\" running for 480km along the Syrian side of the border but says it will not advance deeper than a planned 32km (20-mile) limit. The UN Security Council discussed the situation on Thursday at the request of its current five EU members - the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland. The five called on Turkey to halt its military offensive, saying \"renewed armed hostilities in the north-east will further undermine the stability of the whole region, exacerbate civilian suffering and provoke further displacements\". UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his \"deep concern\" at the rising violence. US ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said: \"Failure to play by the rules, to protect vulnerable populations, failure to guarantee that IS cannot exploit these actions to reconstitute, will have consequences.\" That followed a tweet from Mr Trump in which he said he was \"talking to both sides\", adding: \"I say hit Turkey very hard financially & with sanctions if they don't play by the rules! I am watching closely.\" He sent out another tweet later saying there were three choices, \"send in thousands of troops and win militarily, hit Turkey very hard financially and with sanctions, or mediate a deal between Turkey and the Kurds\". He later told reporters: \"I hope it's going to be the last one.\" Turkey for its part said it would take responsibility for the IS prisoners it found during its offensive. Mr Erdogan has strongly defended the incursion, threatening to send some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to Europe if the Turkish offensive is described as an occupation. Are you in the affected area? If it is safe to do so contact us 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] - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2426, "answer_start": 1250, "text": "The International Rescue Committee aid organisation said that 64,000 people had already reportedly fled their homes. The UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, gave a similar figure. The IRC's Misty Buswell said: \"If the offensive continues it's possible a total of 300,000 people could be displaced to already overstretched camps and towns still recovering from the fight against IS.\" Another group of 14 humanitarian organisations, including the Mercy Corps, warned the figure could be 450,000. Ms Buswell said IRC teams remained on the ground, although other reports suggest some aid groups have pulled back across the Turkish border. Sevinaz, a resident of Ras al-Ain, told the BBC on Thursday morning: \"I am outside the town with my sick mother. My brother is inside. I have been informed that my cousin might have been martyred. There is no safe place for anybody. \"I'm concerned about it being the last time that I see my city.\" Rizan Mohammad, who fled the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli after Turkish air strikes, told AFP news agency: \"We're heading to the countryside because we're scared of renewed bombing and intensified clashes.\"" } ], "id": "9123_0", "question": "How is the offensive affecting people?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4474, "answer_start": 3228, "text": "It's an often confused picture, with differing versions. Turkey's Anadolu news agency said late on Thursday that 228 Kurdish militants had been \"neutralised\" since the start of the operation. The SDF had dismissed a figure of 109 given earlier in the day by President Erdogan as an exaggeration but they have not provided exact casualty figures. The Syrian Observatory said at least 29 SDF fighters had died, along with at least 17 Turkish-backed Syrian rebels from the Free Syrian Army. It also said the offensive had captured more than 10 villages in the Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad area, where the SDF appear to be under severe pressure. An SDF Twitter account said an attack by Turkish forces east of the Jalab river had been repelled, with three military vehicles destroyed and 22 enemy combatants killed. The Kurdish Red Crescent said there had been 11 confirmed civilian deaths so far and 28 serious injuries, mostly in Ras al-Ain and the border town of Qamishli. At least five people, including a Syrian baby, were reportedly killed in Kurdish shelling of Turkish border towns. Turkey wants to create a \"safe zone\" running for 480km along the Syrian side of the border but says it will not advance deeper than a planned 32km (20-mile) limit." } ], "id": "9123_1", "question": "What's the latest on the fighting?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5937, "answer_start": 4475, "text": "The UN Security Council discussed the situation on Thursday at the request of its current five EU members - the UK, France, Germany, Belgium and Poland. The five called on Turkey to halt its military offensive, saying \"renewed armed hostilities in the north-east will further undermine the stability of the whole region, exacerbate civilian suffering and provoke further displacements\". UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his \"deep concern\" at the rising violence. US ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said: \"Failure to play by the rules, to protect vulnerable populations, failure to guarantee that IS cannot exploit these actions to reconstitute, will have consequences.\" That followed a tweet from Mr Trump in which he said he was \"talking to both sides\", adding: \"I say hit Turkey very hard financially & with sanctions if they don't play by the rules! I am watching closely.\" He sent out another tweet later saying there were three choices, \"send in thousands of troops and win militarily, hit Turkey very hard financially and with sanctions, or mediate a deal between Turkey and the Kurds\". He later told reporters: \"I hope it's going to be the last one.\" Turkey for its part said it would take responsibility for the IS prisoners it found during its offensive. Mr Erdogan has strongly defended the incursion, threatening to send some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts to Europe if the Turkish offensive is described as an occupation." } ], "id": "9123_2", "question": "What has the reaction been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Syrian rebel group Jaish al-Islam has agreed to evacuate jihadist fighters being held in its prisons in besieged Eastern Ghouta, a statement says. The group says the decision was made in consultation with a delegation that entered with a UN aid convoy. The Syrian government has stepped up efforts to retake the rebel-held enclave in recent weeks, leading to more than 900 reported civilian deaths. Pro-government forces have now reportedly taken half the area. Some 400,000 people are trapped and efforts to reach a deal to halt the bloodshed have gone on for weeks. Jaish al-Islam said it had come to an agreement with a variety of parties, including the UN, to evacuate the fighters from Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) - an alliance of factions led by the Nusra Front, which sprang from al-Qaeda. The extreme jihadist militants are excluded from the yet-to-be-implemented UN ceasefire and their presence provided a justification for the government bombardment of the area. They are expected to travel to Idlib, which has been the destination for fighters under previous agreements - most notably when the Syrian government retook Eastern Aleppo. However correspondents say the Russian-backed offensive is likely to continue despite the fighters' removal. The rebels in Eastern Ghouta are not one cohesive group. They encompass multiple factions, including jihadists, and in-fighting between them has led to past losses of ground to the Syrian government. The two largest groups are Jaish al-Islam and its rival Faylaq al-Rahman. The latter has in the past fought alongside HTS. Eastern Ghouta is so close to Damascus that it is possible for rebels to fire mortars into the heart of the capital, which has led to scores of civilian deaths. The Syrian government is desperate to regain the territory, and has said its attempts to recapture the Eastern Ghouta are directly due to the HTS presence there. HTS was excluded from a ceasefire agreed at the UN that has yet to come into effect. The enclave has been beyond government control since 2012, but in recent weeks its efforts to retake the territory have markedly intensified. Forces loyal to the Syrian government have now reportedly taken back half of the area. An estimated 950 civilians have been killed in the Eastern Ghouta region since the Russian-backed government assault was launched on 18 February, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group, which has a network of sources on the ground. Many of the victims are children. On Friday a UN convoy was able to successfully deliver aid to the area, after previous deliveries were halted by shelling. Hundreds of thousands of residents are still thought to live in the Eastern Ghouta, seven years into the civil war. Further north in Syria, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said the Turkish army and its Free Syrian Army allies could enter the town of Afrin \"at any moment\" and are surrounding its centre. Their forces have been pressing an assault against the Kurdish-held enclave since January 20. They have already taken control of the nearby town of Jinderes, a few kilometres from Afrin, Turkish reports say. Kurdish fighters insist the Turkish military has not yet besieged Afrin. Rights group Amnesty International says that scores of civilians have been killed in the area by indiscriminate shellfire since the assault began. The Turkish government has entered the area because it says the Kurdish militia holding the territory - the People's Protection Units (YPG) - are an extension of the banned Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which has fought for Kurdish autonomy in south-eastern Turkey for three decades. The YPG denies any direct organisational links to the PKK - an assertion backed by the US, which has provided the militia and allied Arab fighters with weapons and air support to help them battle the jihadist group Islamic State (IS).", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1984, "answer_start": 1254, "text": "The rebels in Eastern Ghouta are not one cohesive group. They encompass multiple factions, including jihadists, and in-fighting between them has led to past losses of ground to the Syrian government. The two largest groups are Jaish al-Islam and its rival Faylaq al-Rahman. The latter has in the past fought alongside HTS. Eastern Ghouta is so close to Damascus that it is possible for rebels to fire mortars into the heart of the capital, which has led to scores of civilian deaths. The Syrian government is desperate to regain the territory, and has said its attempts to recapture the Eastern Ghouta are directly due to the HTS presence there. HTS was excluded from a ceasefire agreed at the UN that has yet to come into effect." } ], "id": "9124_0", "question": "Who are the rebel groups?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2765, "answer_start": 1985, "text": "The enclave has been beyond government control since 2012, but in recent weeks its efforts to retake the territory have markedly intensified. Forces loyal to the Syrian government have now reportedly taken back half of the area. An estimated 950 civilians have been killed in the Eastern Ghouta region since the Russian-backed government assault was launched on 18 February, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) monitoring group, which has a network of sources on the ground. Many of the victims are children. On Friday a UN convoy was able to successfully deliver aid to the area, after previous deliveries were halted by shelling. Hundreds of thousands of residents are still thought to live in the Eastern Ghouta, seven years into the civil war." } ], "id": "9124_1", "question": "What is the situation in Eastern Ghouta?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Fugitive Catalan separatist leader Carles Puigdemont has said he is ending his bid to be reappointed president of Spain's north-eastern region. He said he was stepping aside in favour of detained activist Jordi Sanchez. Mr Puigdemont is in self-imposed exile in Belgium and has been told by Spain he faces arrest if he returns to Barcelona to be sworn in. This followed Catalonia's independence referendum last October, which the Spanish courts declared illegal. \"I will not put myself forward as candidate to be appointed regional president,\" Mr Puigdemont said (in Catalan) in a video posted on social media. The 55-year-old said he was doing this in an attempt to unblock a political impasse following Catalonia's independence bid. Mr Puigdemont also posted a link to another video address (in English), in which he said: \"We will achieve independence for the people we represent - that is our mandate and we will fulfil it.\" He said his lawyers had appealed to the UN human rights committee, accusing the Spanish authorities of violating Catalonia's right to self-determination. The Spanish government welcomed Mr Puigdemont's move to abandon his presidency bid, AFP news agency reports, with a source saying Catalonia needed \"to have a regional president as soon as possible\". He is a former leader of the Catalan National Assembly, a grassroots movement advocating independence. Mr Sanchez, 53, and several other Catalan pro-independence politicians have been imprisoned in connection with the independence referendum, which was met with a heavy police crackdown and attracted global attention. On the Twitter account run in his name while he is in prison, Mr Sanchez wrote on Thursday: \"It is a great honour and enormous responsibility to be able to represent the people of Catalonia.\" Mr Sanchez's nomination would face strong opposition from Madrid, the BBC's Europe reporter Gavin Lee says. This is Spain's biggest political crisis since democracy was restored in the country in 1975. Following the referendum, the central government in Madrid sacked the Catalan regional government, imposed direct rule and called new elections but pro-independence parties returned with a slim majority. In a setback for the pro-independence cause, a survey published by the respected Catalan Centre for Opinion Studies last week suggested support for independence had dropped sharply, with a majority of Catalans now against the idea. According to the poll, 53.9% reject independence while 40.8% support it - down from 48.7% in October.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1282, "answer_start": 463, "text": "\"I will not put myself forward as candidate to be appointed regional president,\" Mr Puigdemont said (in Catalan) in a video posted on social media. The 55-year-old said he was doing this in an attempt to unblock a political impasse following Catalonia's independence bid. Mr Puigdemont also posted a link to another video address (in English), in which he said: \"We will achieve independence for the people we represent - that is our mandate and we will fulfil it.\" He said his lawyers had appealed to the UN human rights committee, accusing the Spanish authorities of violating Catalonia's right to self-determination. The Spanish government welcomed Mr Puigdemont's move to abandon his presidency bid, AFP news agency reports, with a source saying Catalonia needed \"to have a regional president as soon as possible\"." } ], "id": "9125_0", "question": "What did Mr Puigdemont say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2533, "answer_start": 1283, "text": "He is a former leader of the Catalan National Assembly, a grassroots movement advocating independence. Mr Sanchez, 53, and several other Catalan pro-independence politicians have been imprisoned in connection with the independence referendum, which was met with a heavy police crackdown and attracted global attention. On the Twitter account run in his name while he is in prison, Mr Sanchez wrote on Thursday: \"It is a great honour and enormous responsibility to be able to represent the people of Catalonia.\" Mr Sanchez's nomination would face strong opposition from Madrid, the BBC's Europe reporter Gavin Lee says. This is Spain's biggest political crisis since democracy was restored in the country in 1975. Following the referendum, the central government in Madrid sacked the Catalan regional government, imposed direct rule and called new elections but pro-independence parties returned with a slim majority. In a setback for the pro-independence cause, a survey published by the respected Catalan Centre for Opinion Studies last week suggested support for independence had dropped sharply, with a majority of Catalans now against the idea. According to the poll, 53.9% reject independence while 40.8% support it - down from 48.7% in October." } ], "id": "9125_1", "question": "Who is Jordi Sanchez?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "More than 300 news outlets have launched a campaign to counter US President Donald Trump's attacks and promote a free press. The Boston Globe made the call last week for a nationwide denouncement of the president's \"dirty war\" against the media, using the hashtag #EnemyOfNone. Mr Trump has derided media reports as \"fake news\" and attacked journalists as \"enemies of the people\". And he tweeted on Thursday: \"The fake news media is the opposition party.\" \"It is very bad for our great country... But we are winning!\" UN experts have warned that Mr Trump's comments about the media raise the risk of violence against journalists. The Boston Globe had pledged to write an editorial \"on the dangers of the administration's assault on the press\" on 16 August, and asked others to do the same. The initial positive response from 100 news organisations has grown closer to 350 with major US national newspapers and smaller local outlets answering the call, along with international publications like the UK newspaper The Guardian. - Starting with the Boston Globe itself, the editorial there, headlined Journalists Are Not The Enemy, argued that a free press had been a core American principle for more than 200 years - The New York Times chose the headline A Free Press Needs You, calling Mr Trump's attacks \"dangerous to the lifeblood of democracy\". It published excerpts from dozens more publications beneath - The New York Post - a pro-Trump tabloid - answered the Globe's call by saying \"Who are we to disagree?\" adding: \"It may be frustrating to argue that just because we print inconvenient truths doesn't mean that we're fake news, but being a journalist isn't a popularity contest. All we can do is to keep reporting.\" But it also said: \"Will this make a difference? Not one whit\" - The Topeka Capital-Journal was another paper to join the campaign. It said of Mr Trump's attack on the media: \"It's sinister. It's destructive. And it must end now.\" The paper was one of the few to endorse Mr Trump in 2016. The fact that Mr Trump won without such media endorsements may cast doubt on whether the Globe's campaign would actually dent his support. Later on Thursday, President Trump tweeted that the Globe \"is in collusion with other papers on free press\". There have been some dissenting voices to the Globe's campaign: - At the conservative website Townhall.com, Tom Tradup panned the Globe's \"pathetic bid to pretend it is still relevant\", writing: \"I would not presume to tell anyone else what to think or what to do. But as for me - and I suspect many others - I won't be putting any coins in any newspaper box August 16th.\" - The Wall Street Journal declined to take part. An earlier piece by James Freeman argued Mr Trump was entitled to free speech, and the Globe's drive ran counter to the very independence it was seeking. By BBC's White House reporter Tara McKelvey Trust in the media has dipped to an all-time low, and Mr Trump has tapped into this well of discontent, prompting journalistic outcry. In fact \"the media\" - in popular parlance - means an amorphous blob of TV networks. Even people in flyover country, a region where voters supported Mr Trump, see individual reporters in a more nuanced way, as I've discovered. Recently I was interviewing someone in a Kansas liquor store (it's a long story) and a big, burly construction worker burst in the door and shouted: \"The media!\" I looked up uneasily, and he smiled and said I was doing important work. When Mr Trump attacks \"the media\", crowds roar. In general terms, people condemn \"the media\". Privately, though, Mr Trump is chummy with us - and often asks how we're doing. And ordinary people across the US are also gracious towards journalists, showing a real appreciation for their work . A poll released on Tuesday by Quinnipiac University suggested that 51% of Republican voters now believed the media to be \"the enemy of the people rather than an important part of democracy\" and 52% of the Republican supporters polled were not concerned that Mr Trump's criticism would lead to violence against journalists. Among all voters, 65% believe the news media to be an important part of democracy, the poll suggests. An Ipsos poll, also this month, gave similar figures. In addition it found that 23% of Republicans, and about one in eight Americans overall, believed Mr Trump should close down mainstream news outlets like CNN, the Washington Post and the New York Times. Mr Trump has certainly ramped up the pressure on mainstream media with numerous tweets. The Trump Twitter Archive says he has tweeted 281 times so far using the term \"fake news\". When he brings up the matter at his rallies, some journalists have felt uneasy about their safety and have even avoided using designated reporter zones. At a presidential rally in Florida in July, CNN filmed Mr Trump's supporters yelling insults and swearing at reporters covering the event. CNN presenter Jim Acosta tweeted a clip, which contained strong language. A man was also arrested in January for making threats to CNN employees via telephone calls that referred to \"fake news\". The publisher of the New York Times, AG Sulzberger, told Mr Trump in a personal meeting in July that the president's language was \"contributing to a rise in threats against journalists and will lead to violence\". But most of the Globe's campaign is about maintaining a free press and its own editorial does not even touch on violence. Some outlets do, however, refer to the recent killing of five people at the offices of the Capital Gazette in Maryland. This, and an incident in which two journalists were killed live on air in Virginia in 2015, well before Mr Trump was elected, are used to highlight the dangers of the profession, although both were allegedly carried out by people with personal grievances.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4447, "answer_start": 3767, "text": "A poll released on Tuesday by Quinnipiac University suggested that 51% of Republican voters now believed the media to be \"the enemy of the people rather than an important part of democracy\" and 52% of the Republican supporters polled were not concerned that Mr Trump's criticism would lead to violence against journalists. Among all voters, 65% believe the news media to be an important part of democracy, the poll suggests. An Ipsos poll, also this month, gave similar figures. In addition it found that 23% of Republicans, and about one in eight Americans overall, believed Mr Trump should close down mainstream news outlets like CNN, the Washington Post and the New York Times." } ], "id": "9126_0", "question": "What does the American public think?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5824, "answer_start": 4448, "text": "Mr Trump has certainly ramped up the pressure on mainstream media with numerous tweets. The Trump Twitter Archive says he has tweeted 281 times so far using the term \"fake news\". When he brings up the matter at his rallies, some journalists have felt uneasy about their safety and have even avoided using designated reporter zones. At a presidential rally in Florida in July, CNN filmed Mr Trump's supporters yelling insults and swearing at reporters covering the event. CNN presenter Jim Acosta tweeted a clip, which contained strong language. A man was also arrested in January for making threats to CNN employees via telephone calls that referred to \"fake news\". The publisher of the New York Times, AG Sulzberger, told Mr Trump in a personal meeting in July that the president's language was \"contributing to a rise in threats against journalists and will lead to violence\". But most of the Globe's campaign is about maintaining a free press and its own editorial does not even touch on violence. Some outlets do, however, refer to the recent killing of five people at the offices of the Capital Gazette in Maryland. This, and an incident in which two journalists were killed live on air in Virginia in 2015, well before Mr Trump was elected, are used to highlight the dangers of the profession, although both were allegedly carried out by people with personal grievances." } ], "id": "9126_1", "question": "Have journalists been under physical attack?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Reaching its centenary amidst a general chorus of vilification around the region, the legacy of the secret Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916 has never looked more under assault. As Iraq lurches deeper into turmoil and disintegration, Kurdish leaders in the already autonomous north are threatening to break away and declare outright independence. And the militants of the self-styled Islamic State (IS), bulldozing the border between Iraq and Syria in June 2014, declared their intention to eradicate all the region's frontiers and lay Sykes-Picot to rest forever. Whatever the fate of IS, the future as unitary states of both Syria and Iraq - central to the Sykes-Picot project - is up in the air. In fact, virtually none of the Middle East's present-day frontiers were actually delineated in the document concluded on 16 May 1916 by British and French diplomats Mark Sykes and Francois Georges-Picot. The Iraq-Syria border post histrionically erased by IS was probably several hundred kilometres from the famous \"line in the sand\" drawn by Sykes and Picot, which ran almost directly from the Persian border in the north-east, down between Mosul and Kirkuk and across the desert towards the Mediterranean, veering northwards to loop around the top end of Palestine. The region's current borders emerged from a long and complex process of treaties, conferences, deals and conflicts that followed the break-up of the Ottoman Empire and the end of World War One. But the spirit of Sykes-Picot, dominated by the interests and ruthless ambitions of the two main competing colonial powers, prevailed during that process and through the coming decades, to the Suez crisis of 1956 and even beyond. Because it inaugurated that era, and epitomised the concept of clandestine colonial carve-ups, Sykes-Picot has become the label for the whole era in which outside powers imposed their will, drew borders and installed client local leaderships, playing divide-and-rule with the \"natives\", and beggar-my-neighbour with their colonial rivals. The resulting order inherited by the Middle East of the day sees a variety of states whose borders were generally drawn with little regard for ethnic, tribal, religious or linguistic considerations. Often a patchwork of minorities, there is a natural tendency for such countries to fall apart unless held together by the iron grip of a strongman or a powerful central government. The irony is that the two most potent forces explicitly assailing the Sykes-Picot legacy are at each other's throats: the militants of IS, and the Kurds in the north of both Iraq and Syria. In both countries, the Kurds have proven the Western coalition's most effective allies in combating IS, although the two sides share a determination to redraw the map. \"It's not just me that's saying it, the fact is that Sykes-Picot has failed, it's over,\" said the president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, in a BBC interview. \"There has to be a new formula for the region. I'm very optimistic that within this new formula, the Kurds will achieve their historic demand and right [to independence]\". \"We have passed through bitter experiences since the formation of the Iraqi state after World War One. We tried to preserve the unity of Iraq, but we are not responsible for its fragmentation - it's the others who broke it up. \"We don't want to be part of the chaos and problems which surround Iraq from all sides.\" President Barzani said the drive for independence was very serious, and that preparations were going ahead \"full steam\". He said the first step should be \"serious negotiations\" with the central government in Baghdad to reach an understanding and a solution, towards what Kurdish leaders are optimistically calling an \"amicable separation\". If that did not produce results, he said, the Kurds should go ahead unilaterally with a referendum on independence. \"It's a necessary step, because all the previous attempts and experiments failed. If current conditions aren't helpful for independence, there are no circumstances which favour not demanding this right.\" Iraq's Kurds are landlocked and surrounded by neighbours - Syria, Turkey, Iran and Iraq itself - which have traditionally quashed Kurdish aspirations. Under threat from IS, they are more dependent than ever on Western powers which are also strongly counselling them to stick with Iraq. But whether or not the Iraqi Kurds achieve full formal independence in the near future, they have already established an entity with borders, a flag, international airports, a parliament and government, and its own security forces - everything except a passport and their own currency. To that extent, they have already redrawn the map. And next door in northern Syria, their fellow Kurds are essentially doing the same, controlling and running large swathes of land along the Turkish border under the title of \"self-administration\". As for IS, its territorial gains have already peaked. But the chaos in both Iraq and Syria that allowed it to take root have yet to run their course - the alienation of Iraq's Sunni Arab minority (and the Kurds), and Syria's fragmentation in a vicious sectarian civil war. The unspoken struggle is over whether formulas can be found for different communities to live together within the borders bequeathed by 20th Century history, or whether new frontiers will have to be drawn to accommodate those peoples - however that concept is defined. \"Sykes-Picot is finished, that's for sure, but everything is now up in the air, and it will be a long time before it becomes clear what the result will be,\" said the veteran Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt. The Sykes-Picot agreement conflicted directly with pledges of freedom given by the British to the Arabs in exchange for their support against the collapsing Ottomans. It also collided with the vision of the US President Woodrow Wilson, who preached self-determination for the peoples subjugated by the Ottoman Empire. His foreign policy adviser Edward House was later informed of the agreement by UK Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour, who 18 months on was to put his name to a declaration which was to have an even more fateful impact on the region. House wrote: \"It is all bad and I told Balfour so. They are making it a breeding place for future war.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3435, "answer_start": 1687, "text": "Because it inaugurated that era, and epitomised the concept of clandestine colonial carve-ups, Sykes-Picot has become the label for the whole era in which outside powers imposed their will, drew borders and installed client local leaderships, playing divide-and-rule with the \"natives\", and beggar-my-neighbour with their colonial rivals. The resulting order inherited by the Middle East of the day sees a variety of states whose borders were generally drawn with little regard for ethnic, tribal, religious or linguistic considerations. Often a patchwork of minorities, there is a natural tendency for such countries to fall apart unless held together by the iron grip of a strongman or a powerful central government. The irony is that the two most potent forces explicitly assailing the Sykes-Picot legacy are at each other's throats: the militants of IS, and the Kurds in the north of both Iraq and Syria. In both countries, the Kurds have proven the Western coalition's most effective allies in combating IS, although the two sides share a determination to redraw the map. \"It's not just me that's saying it, the fact is that Sykes-Picot has failed, it's over,\" said the president of Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan Region, Massoud Barzani, in a BBC interview. \"There has to be a new formula for the region. I'm very optimistic that within this new formula, the Kurds will achieve their historic demand and right [to independence]\". \"We have passed through bitter experiences since the formation of the Iraqi state after World War One. We tried to preserve the unity of Iraq, but we are not responsible for its fragmentation - it's the others who broke it up. \"We don't want to be part of the chaos and problems which surround Iraq from all sides.\"" } ], "id": "9127_0", "question": "Kurdish hour?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Police have arrested 280 people in London at the start of two weeks of protests by environmental campaigners. Extinction Rebellion activists are protesting in cities around the world, including Berlin, Amsterdam and Sydney. Organisers have blockaded key sites in central London, in addition to demonstrating outside government departments. Some have glued and chained themselves to roads and vehicles, while others were planning to camp overnight. Extinction Rebellion claims protests in the capital will be five times bigger than similar events in April. The protests are calling for urgent action on global climate and wildlife emergencies. Activists barricaded themselves to vehicles in Westminster early on Monday as the demonstrations got under way. Meanwhile, hundreds of campaigners filled Trafalgar Square and blocked Lambeth and Westminster bridges. A hearse containing a coffin with the plaque Our Future was parked in Trafalgar Square, with the driver attaching himself to the steering wheel with a bicycle lock. Extinction Rebellion said a police officer later gave the hearse a parking ticket. Earlier, church leaders helped to create a \"faith bridge\" on Lambeth Bridge, with services and prayer vigils planned. Rev Jon Swales, 41, Mission Priest at the Church of England's Lighthouse Church in Leeds and Associate Faculty at St Hild Theological Centre, said: \"The science is clear. \"Unless we radically change the way we live in the world we will face the full force of climate catastrophe.\" Protesters dubbed the Red Rebels wore red robes and white face paint as they gathered outside the Cabinet Office in Whitehall. The singer Declan McKenna performed an impromptu free gig on the Mall in the evening, as people gathered in the rain to listen. The roads behind Downing Street were blocked throughout the day by protesters, some of whom had erected tents in the street and were sitting down and singing songs together. Among the group were two girls, Esme, 11, and Rafi, nine, who had taken the day off school to attend the protests. Their mother Laurie, 41, told PA: \"They've already done a spelling test this morning, sat down in the street, so we're not wasting time. \"We've talked about the protests at home and the school knows where they are.\" \"We're here because we want the world to still be alive when we die,\" said Rafi. Protesters who had glued and chained themselves outside Westminster Abbey were removed by police. A staggered police cordon was later set up along Millbank, near Parliament, before officers attempted to move demonstrators from Lambeth Bridge. Extinction Rebellion organisers told protesters to sit down and \"be arrested\" as police continued to try to remove them - and a police cordon later closed off the bridge. Police were seen cutting two protesters from a car that had blocked Victoria Embankment, while campaigners also locked themselves to a mock Trident missile outside the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall. Activists were also pictured on a barge on the Thames. Two women were pictured getting married on Westminster Bridge, Extinction Rebellion said. Police wearing abseiling gear and equipped with acetone syringes were seen removing protesters who had glued themselves to scaffolding in Trafalgar Square. A string of celebrities including fashion model Daisy Lowe, actress Juliet Stevenson and comedian Ruby Wax joined campaigners in Trafalgar Square. Stevenson said the protests were \"a very wonderful action\", revealing her son was attending them as a worker for Extinction Rebellion. She told the Press Association: \"We can't any longer allow governments to do this, so we have to make it clear that there is no more time.\" On Saturday, Lowe, 30, hosted a dinner to \"celebrate and be educated\" by Extinction Rebellion activists, and encouraged followers to join the protests. She wrote on Instagram: \"It is a terrifying reality we live in, but we have the power to change the course of history and save our planet.\" Sir Mark Rylance, the Oscar-winning actor, joined a blockade on the Mall before addressing protesters at St James' Park. He said: \"People have been saying to me, it doesn't make a difference having a celebrity joining the protests. \"I am confident these protests are going to lead to a solid change. Extinction Rebellion isn't going to go away.\" In June, Sir Mark resigned as an associate artist at the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) over its partnership with BP, which the theatre company has since vowed to end. He told the crowds Greta Thunberg, the teenage climate change activist, had inspired his decision to quit the RSC when he did. Meanwhile, activists from Animal Rebellion, a movement allied to Extinction Rebellion, marched from Russell Square to Smithfield Meat Market. Organisers say they planned to remain overnight at the market to share their \"vision of a future plant-based food system\". On arriving at the market, protesters said they held a minute's silence for \"animals whose lives are lost\" at Smithfield, and then went on to set up stalls selling plant-based products inside one of the world's most famous meat-trading spaces. In an update posted shortly after 17:00 BST, organisers said 11 sites remained occupied across Westminster, as groups of protesters prepared to camp out for the night. Emily, an activist from Wales, said on Twitter she planned to stay overnight. Extinction Rebellion said many activists were preparing to go on hunger strike to illustrate \"that our just-in-time food system is too fragile to repeatedly withstand the shocks of extreme weather\". There had been 280 arrests in connection with the protests as of 21.30 BST, according to the Metropolitan Police. Extinction Rebellion said this included Sarah Lasenby, 81, a Quaker and retired social worker from Oxford. Ms Lasenby, who the group says was part of efforts to block Embankment, said: \"It is imperative that the government should take serious actions and put pressure on other states and global powers to radically reduce the use of fossil fuels.\" Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a \"climate and ecological emergency\" and take immediate action to address climate change. It describes itself as an international \"non-violent civil disobedience activist movement\". Extinction Rebellion was launched in 2018 and organisers say it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries. In April, the group held a large demonstration in London that brought major routes in the city to a standstill. Read more here. Extinction Rebellion organisers say they are expecting up to 30,000 people to take part in the fortnight-long demonstrations in the capital, which form part of an \"international rebellion\". Similar protests in the UK earlier this year brought major disruption to London and resulted in more than 1,100 arrests. Up to 60 other cities around the world may also be disrupted in simultaneous events, according to a spokesperson for the group. Activists will call on government departments to detail their plans to tackle the climate emergency. Police in Australia and New Zealand have already arrested dozens of Extinction Rebellion activists on Monday. Some 30 campaigners in Sydney were charged with committing offences after hundreds of protesters blocked a busy road. More than 100 people were arrested in Amsterdam after they erected a tent camp on the main road outside the Rijksmuseum, the Dutch national museum The latest arrests in London come after the Met police arrested 11 people during the weekend. A spokesperson for the force said eight people were arrested on Saturday after previously reporting 10. They have all been released under investigation. One woman and two men were arrested on Sunday on suspicion of conspiracy to cause public nuisance. The men remain in custody while the woman has been released under investigation.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6536, "answer_start": 6036, "text": "Extinction Rebellion (XR for short) wants governments to declare a \"climate and ecological emergency\" and take immediate action to address climate change. It describes itself as an international \"non-violent civil disobedience activist movement\". Extinction Rebellion was launched in 2018 and organisers say it now has groups willing to take action in dozens of countries. In April, the group held a large demonstration in London that brought major routes in the city to a standstill. Read more here." } ], "id": "9128_0", "question": "What is Extinction Rebellion?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Economic crises in Turkey and Argentina have led to talk of \"contagion\" - the danger of financial problems in one country spilling over into others. Turkey has struggled with a falling currency and worsening relations with the US. A spiralling crisis in Argentina prompted the government to announce austerity measures and to ask the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for an early release of a $50bn loan. The sharp falls in the value of Turkey's lira and Argentina's peso have led to fears that currencies from South Africa to Russia will follow suit. In Asia, India's rupee and Indonesia's rupiah have already been hit. So should Asian economies be concerned? Put simply, contagion is a self-fulfilling process, whereby economic problems in one country prompt investors to sell assets in economies with similar risks. In a globalised world, a crisis in one country can also quickly spread to others through trade links or lending by banks. That is why a downturn in Turkey or Argentina matters abroad - beyond making holidays there cheaper. Trade is the obvious way for trouble in one country to affect another. When an economy begins to falter, companies tend to cut production and then jobs. As a result, consumers have less money to spend on goods, including imports. This is bad news for global businesses that export a lot of goods to the country. If a crisis also causes a country's currency to weaken, the cost of imports rise, further hurting demand. However, Joseph Gagnon at the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, says Asia has \"very low trade links\" with Argentina and Turkey, \"so that is not much of a worry\". Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist for IHS Markit, also says trade with Turkey is an unlikely channel of contagion for Asia, since the region relies more heavily on big economies such as China, Europe and the US for their exports. \"The more significant concern for Apac [Asia Pacific] nations would be if the Turkish economic crisis results in contagion to emerging markets currencies and equities, which could potentially trigger significant capital outflows from emerging markets,\" he said. The phrase \"emerging markets\" refers to developing countries in Africa, Latin America or Asia, while major economies such as the US, the UK and Japan tend to have higher living standards and more developed financial systems. During an economic crisis, investors tend to sell riskier assets, such as emerging market currencies or stocks, and hold on to safer ones, such as the US dollar or government bonds issued by major economies. Julian Evans-Pritchard, a senior China economist at Capital Economics, says countries that rely on money from overseas and have foreign inflows of cash into their stock and bond markets are particularly at risk of contagion. \"The risk is that when sentiment turns more negative, foreign investors start to pull out those funds, which has an impact on the exchange rate,\" he said. \"For countries that borrowed a lot in foreign currency, usually in US dollars, this can make it difficult for them to repay their foreign currency denominated debt. That's what happened in 1997 during the Asian financial crisis, for example.\" In Asia, both India and Indonesia rely heavily on foreign capital inflows, which is why their currencies have suffered in particular. India, an oil importing country, has seen its import bill rise along with higher oil prices and this has caused its current account deficit to widen, said Mr Biswas of IHS Markit. A country that runs a current account deficit may rely on inflows of foreign money to finance spending and investments. Indonesia, meanwhile, has low foreign exchange reserves and a high level of foreign ownership in the local equity and bond markets, Mr Biswas added. This makes it particularly vulnerable to investors pulling their money out of the country. Another way contagion can spread is when banks in one country own assets in another country which is in trouble. The economic problems can cause the value of these assets to fall. When that happens, investors worry how a bank will cope with the falling value of the assets, and how this will affect its ability to lend money to consumers and other borrowers. Such concerns weighed on European bank shares recently, with investors worried about how much Turkish assets they own. The Financial Times reported that a wing of the European Central Bank was concerned about the exposure of some of the eurozone's biggest lenders to Turkey. The report said Spain's BBVA, Italy's UniCredit and France's BNP Paribas, all of which have significant operations in Turkey, were particularly exposed. Spain's banks are the most exposed to Turkey, according to IHS Markit, citing data from the Bank for International Settlements. They have about EUR81bn of exposure to Turkish assets, and French banks have exposure to about EUR35bn. But IHS Markit's Mr Biswas said Asian banks' exposure to Turkey was limited. \"In the big picture of the banking sectors of the Asian countries, this would not be a serious negative factor in their outlook,\" he said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2155, "answer_start": 1044, "text": "Trade is the obvious way for trouble in one country to affect another. When an economy begins to falter, companies tend to cut production and then jobs. As a result, consumers have less money to spend on goods, including imports. This is bad news for global businesses that export a lot of goods to the country. If a crisis also causes a country's currency to weaken, the cost of imports rise, further hurting demand. However, Joseph Gagnon at the Washington-based Peterson Institute for International Economics, says Asia has \"very low trade links\" with Argentina and Turkey, \"so that is not much of a worry\". Rajiv Biswas, Asia Pacific chief economist for IHS Markit, also says trade with Turkey is an unlikely channel of contagion for Asia, since the region relies more heavily on big economies such as China, Europe and the US for their exports. \"The more significant concern for Apac [Asia Pacific] nations would be if the Turkish economic crisis results in contagion to emerging markets currencies and equities, which could potentially trigger significant capital outflows from emerging markets,\" he said." } ], "id": "9129_0", "question": "How can problems spread?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3211, "answer_start": 2156, "text": "The phrase \"emerging markets\" refers to developing countries in Africa, Latin America or Asia, while major economies such as the US, the UK and Japan tend to have higher living standards and more developed financial systems. During an economic crisis, investors tend to sell riskier assets, such as emerging market currencies or stocks, and hold on to safer ones, such as the US dollar or government bonds issued by major economies. Julian Evans-Pritchard, a senior China economist at Capital Economics, says countries that rely on money from overseas and have foreign inflows of cash into their stock and bond markets are particularly at risk of contagion. \"The risk is that when sentiment turns more negative, foreign investors start to pull out those funds, which has an impact on the exchange rate,\" he said. \"For countries that borrowed a lot in foreign currency, usually in US dollars, this can make it difficult for them to repay their foreign currency denominated debt. That's what happened in 1997 during the Asian financial crisis, for example.\"" } ], "id": "9129_1", "question": "Why are other emerging markets suffering?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3885, "answer_start": 3212, "text": "In Asia, both India and Indonesia rely heavily on foreign capital inflows, which is why their currencies have suffered in particular. India, an oil importing country, has seen its import bill rise along with higher oil prices and this has caused its current account deficit to widen, said Mr Biswas of IHS Markit. A country that runs a current account deficit may rely on inflows of foreign money to finance spending and investments. Indonesia, meanwhile, has low foreign exchange reserves and a high level of foreign ownership in the local equity and bond markets, Mr Biswas added. This makes it particularly vulnerable to investors pulling their money out of the country." } ], "id": "9129_2", "question": "Why have India and Indonesia been hit?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5120, "answer_start": 3886, "text": "Another way contagion can spread is when banks in one country own assets in another country which is in trouble. The economic problems can cause the value of these assets to fall. When that happens, investors worry how a bank will cope with the falling value of the assets, and how this will affect its ability to lend money to consumers and other borrowers. Such concerns weighed on European bank shares recently, with investors worried about how much Turkish assets they own. The Financial Times reported that a wing of the European Central Bank was concerned about the exposure of some of the eurozone's biggest lenders to Turkey. The report said Spain's BBVA, Italy's UniCredit and France's BNP Paribas, all of which have significant operations in Turkey, were particularly exposed. Spain's banks are the most exposed to Turkey, according to IHS Markit, citing data from the Bank for International Settlements. They have about EUR81bn of exposure to Turkish assets, and French banks have exposure to about EUR35bn. But IHS Markit's Mr Biswas said Asian banks' exposure to Turkey was limited. \"In the big picture of the banking sectors of the Asian countries, this would not be a serious negative factor in their outlook,\" he said." } ], "id": "9129_3", "question": "How about bank exposure?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Spanish Supreme Court judge has accused Catalonia's former leader Carles Puigdemont of trying to provoke his own arrest by travelling abroad. Judge Pablo Llarena's comment came as he rejected a prosecutor's request to reissue a European arrest warrant. Mr Puigdemont is on a trip to Denmark from Belgium, where he fled in October. In Spain he is wanted for rebellion, sedition and misuse of public funds, after leading an independence referendum that was ruled illegal. The charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to 30 years. A European arrest warrant for him and four deputies was dropped in December by the court, which said it could complicate Spain's own legal probe and control over the case. A request for it to be reissued was submitted on Monday by prosecutors, following news that Mr Puigdemont had left Belgium for the first known time since fleeing. Judge Llarena turned the request down, saying it was important to wait until \"constitutional order\" had returned to the region. He accused Mr Puigdemont of travelling to Denmark \"to provoke his arrest abroad\" as part of a wider strategy to legitimise his efforts to resume his position as Catalan president. The judge wrote that the move would \"equip him with a justification that his absence is not a free decision as a fugitive, but the consequence of a situation that has been imposed on him\". The controversy came as Mr Puigdemont was nominated by the speaker of the Catalan parliament, Roger Torrent, to head the regional government on Monday. Mr Torrent said Mr Puigdemont's candidacy to lead was \"absolutely legitimate\" despite the charges against him. The Spanish government says he cannot govern from abroad. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy reiterated on Saturday it would be considered \"illegal\". But Mr Puigdemont's supporters say it would be possible with modern technology. His candidacy will be voted on by the end of the month. His party emerged as the largest of the three separatist groupings in Catalonia's regional election in December. Together the parties secured 70 out of the 135 seats.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2078, "answer_start": 1369, "text": "The controversy came as Mr Puigdemont was nominated by the speaker of the Catalan parliament, Roger Torrent, to head the regional government on Monday. Mr Torrent said Mr Puigdemont's candidacy to lead was \"absolutely legitimate\" despite the charges against him. The Spanish government says he cannot govern from abroad. Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy reiterated on Saturday it would be considered \"illegal\". But Mr Puigdemont's supporters say it would be possible with modern technology. His candidacy will be voted on by the end of the month. His party emerged as the largest of the three separatist groupings in Catalonia's regional election in December. Together the parties secured 70 out of the 135 seats." } ], "id": "9130_0", "question": "Ruling from abroad?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Henry Cavill's cryptic response to rumours he's hung up his Superman cape has prompted fan reactions ranging from \"I am so confused\" to \"don't leave us\". His Instagram video sees him stare into the camera, slowly lifting and then lowering a boxed Superman doll, while The Blue Danube - which features barking dogs - plays in the background. It follows The Hollywood Reporter saying the British actor is \"parting ways with Warner Bros\". Warner has not confirmed the story. \"While no decisions have been made regarding any upcoming Superman films, we've always had great respect for and a great relationship with Henry Cavill, and that remains unchanged,\" they said in a statement to CNN. Anna Smith, film critic and president of the Critics' Circle, told the BBC that if the speculation about Cavill leaving the role is true, she'd \"love to imagine it's because he is preparing take on the role of James Bond\". She added: \"The DC movies have been squandering his gift for suave comedy, which we saw in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. and which would take Bond back to the old school (minus the sexism, I hope).\" Hollywood Reporter suggested negotiations with Cavill broke down over scheduling problems for a cameo appearance in upcoming film Shazam!, about a teenage boy who transforms into a superhero. However, the actor's manager Dany Garcia suggested those reports may be premature, urging fans to \"be peaceful, the cape is still in his closet\". Many fans were keen that he should stay in the role. One called the speculation \"a ridiculous rumour\", with other comments such as \"hope to God you're staying on as Superman, if not be the next Bond. Ur amazing actor\". One said: \"I have decided to shift to Marvel... because Henry Cavill is the only reason for me to become DC fan...\" Some, however, had other ideas. The BBC has asked Warners and Cavill's representatives for comment. IGN Entertainment's senior editor Scott Collura wrote that \"it's insane, if not surprising, that Warner Bros doesn't have a Superman any more\". He said Warner Bros \"don't know what to do with the Man of Steel\". \"With Cavill apparently out, and [Batman actor] Ben Affleck rumoured to also be ready to hang up the cape and cowl, Warners and the folks behind the DC films are presented with an opportunity to soft-reboot the series,\" he added. DC may be looking for a major change of direction for Superman after the runaway success of Wonder Woman, which smashed box office records last year and will be followed by a much-awaited upcoming sequel. Cavill's Man of Steel \"did good blockbuster business\" in 2013 but \"studio expectations were higher\", according to Forbes. Things didn't improve with 2016's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, which got a mixed critical response and was seen as \"relentlessly bleak\" as well as a financial disappointment, according to Deadline Hollywood. Roll on to 2017's Justice League, powered by a DC Comics superhero team seeking some of the huge popularity of the Avengers ensemble films. But Justice League, with a cast including Cavill, Affleck and Gal Gadot, was an \"undeniable failure\" according to Forbes, because it \"didn't recoup its costs\". Anna Smith adds: \"In recent years, DC has found it hard to compete with the might of the Marvel movies - the Avengers gang are much sunnier and teen-friendly, while the Superman films have struggled to find the right balance between deliciously dark and downright sombre. \"Wonder Woman struck a much more upbeat and exciting tone (and in the hands of a female director, take note!).\" Forbes concluded: \"If you're Warner Bros, you cannot simply ignore the fact your Superman has repeatedly failed to live up to expectations critically, financially, or in sheer popularity.\" Deadline is reporting that this could be a chance to shift DC's focus to Supergirl, as well as continuing to ride the success of Gadot as Wonder Woman, with its upcoming sequel set in 1984 (look out for those flicked hairdos). Another forthcoming film out of the DC stable will be Aquaman, starring Game of Thrones' Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry, who learns he's the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. And of course Shazam! is due out next year as well. These films are brighter in tone than their bleaker Superman/Batman predecessors. Deadline is reporting that Black Panther's Michael B Jordan could be in line for the role, while bookmaker William Hill is touting Once Upon A Time's Colin O'Donoghue, followed by Sam Claflin, Armie Hammer, Channing Tatum, Cillian Murphy and Donald Glover. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1875, "answer_start": 1103, "text": "Hollywood Reporter suggested negotiations with Cavill broke down over scheduling problems for a cameo appearance in upcoming film Shazam!, about a teenage boy who transforms into a superhero. However, the actor's manager Dany Garcia suggested those reports may be premature, urging fans to \"be peaceful, the cape is still in his closet\". Many fans were keen that he should stay in the role. One called the speculation \"a ridiculous rumour\", with other comments such as \"hope to God you're staying on as Superman, if not be the next Bond. Ur amazing actor\". One said: \"I have decided to shift to Marvel... because Henry Cavill is the only reason for me to become DC fan...\" Some, however, had other ideas. The BBC has asked Warners and Cavill's representatives for comment." } ], "id": "9131_0", "question": "What, if anything, happened here?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3731, "answer_start": 1876, "text": "IGN Entertainment's senior editor Scott Collura wrote that \"it's insane, if not surprising, that Warner Bros doesn't have a Superman any more\". He said Warner Bros \"don't know what to do with the Man of Steel\". \"With Cavill apparently out, and [Batman actor] Ben Affleck rumoured to also be ready to hang up the cape and cowl, Warners and the folks behind the DC films are presented with an opportunity to soft-reboot the series,\" he added. DC may be looking for a major change of direction for Superman after the runaway success of Wonder Woman, which smashed box office records last year and will be followed by a much-awaited upcoming sequel. Cavill's Man of Steel \"did good blockbuster business\" in 2013 but \"studio expectations were higher\", according to Forbes. Things didn't improve with 2016's Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, which got a mixed critical response and was seen as \"relentlessly bleak\" as well as a financial disappointment, according to Deadline Hollywood. Roll on to 2017's Justice League, powered by a DC Comics superhero team seeking some of the huge popularity of the Avengers ensemble films. But Justice League, with a cast including Cavill, Affleck and Gal Gadot, was an \"undeniable failure\" according to Forbes, because it \"didn't recoup its costs\". Anna Smith adds: \"In recent years, DC has found it hard to compete with the might of the Marvel movies - the Avengers gang are much sunnier and teen-friendly, while the Superman films have struggled to find the right balance between deliciously dark and downright sombre. \"Wonder Woman struck a much more upbeat and exciting tone (and in the hands of a female director, take note!).\" Forbes concluded: \"If you're Warner Bros, you cannot simply ignore the fact your Superman has repeatedly failed to live up to expectations critically, financially, or in sheer popularity.\"" } ], "id": "9131_1", "question": "Why might Superman need a reboot?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4274, "answer_start": 3732, "text": "Deadline is reporting that this could be a chance to shift DC's focus to Supergirl, as well as continuing to ride the success of Gadot as Wonder Woman, with its upcoming sequel set in 1984 (look out for those flicked hairdos). Another forthcoming film out of the DC stable will be Aquaman, starring Game of Thrones' Jason Momoa as Arthur Curry, who learns he's the heir to the underwater kingdom of Atlantis. And of course Shazam! is due out next year as well. These films are brighter in tone than their bleaker Superman/Batman predecessors." } ], "id": "9131_2", "question": "What could happen next?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4531, "answer_start": 4275, "text": "Deadline is reporting that Black Panther's Michael B Jordan could be in line for the role, while bookmaker William Hill is touting Once Upon A Time's Colin O'Donoghue, followed by Sam Claflin, Armie Hammer, Channing Tatum, Cillian Murphy and Donald Glover." } ], "id": "9131_3", "question": "Who could replace Cavill as Superman, if he really has hung up his cape?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "What happens when the world's two biggest economies go to war? Ok, so it's not a real war - but the US and China are at the beginning of a trade war - and no-one knows just how bad it could get. So here's how a US-China trade war could hurt us. A list of Chinese products will be hit with a 25% tariff from Friday - effectively making them 25% more expensive for US consumers. - Technology goods like semiconductor chips assembled in China. They're found in consumer products used in everyday life such as televisions, personal computers, smartphones, and cars - A wide variety of products ranging from plastics, nuclear reactors and dairy-making equipment - According to the Petersen Institute of International Economics more than 90% of the products on the US tariffs list are made up of intermediate inputs or capital equipment. That means stuff that you need as raw material to make other products - so it could have a knock-on effect on many other goods too. What the US really wants to target though are things produced under China's Made in China 2025 policy. In retaliation to the US moves, China has hit these sectors: - American agriculture - hitting at American farmers and ranchers, a political vote bank that US President Trump relies on. Some 91% of the 545 products China is placing a tariff on are from the agriculture sector - The car sector - companies such as Tesla and Chrysler manufacture in the US and their products going into China would be affected - Medical products; coal; petroleum (but only marginally). And while Beijing is really good at the chest-thumping, fist-wagging rhetoric, the reality on the ground is much more serious. \"Our industry contacts in China have said things like 'seems pretty serious,' or 'this is getting scary', even 'I think there's a chance of things getting worse',\" says Vinesh Motwani of Silk Road Research. He's recently returned from a trip to the mainland, and as part of his research routinely talks to China-based firms to gauge business sentiment there. These worries, he says, can translate into \"increased caution and lower confidence\" for businesses as they try to navigate the uncertainty ahead. Which means: expansion plans could be put on ice. And if Chinese expansion is on hold that has a direct impact on the rest of us in Asia. Obviously the US and China's economies are most at risk, although they're not the only ones. According to DBS's chief economist Taimur Baig, an all-out trade war could shave 0.25% off the GDP of both economies this year. It gets much worse next year - with both countries seeing a reduction in growth of about 0.5% or more. Mr Baig adds that \"considering China grows at 6-7% and the US at 2-3%, we believe the damage would be greater to the US than on China\". But countries like South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan could all be affected too because of disruption to supply chains. China sources a lot of components that go into its finished goods from these other countries. As Nick Marro of the Economist Intelligence Unit points out, \"any dent in China's export flows will inevitably affect\" these other countries. The case could be made for manufacturing to shift to these other countries - and for them to take advantage of selling to the US - but that shift would take time, and it's hard to see who could match China's scale. Ultimately, the US consumer will end up paying more for these products. US firms operating in China could also face a \"China backlash\". Elon Musk's electric car firm Tesla, for instance, has already highlighted just how important the Chinese market is to it. But it imports all of its products to China and so would see a 25% tariff placed on its cars sold in China - on top of the 15% tax imported vehicles already face there. This would inevitably push up prices for Tesla in China, making its vehicles less competitive than they already are, relative to others. Sino-US tensions could also end up \"delaying or preventing\" Tesla's ability to release its full potential in China, according to Silk Road Research. It's the question I ask every business person I meet, and the answer is typically always the same: nobody knows. If history is any guide, then past trade wars have led to deep economic malaise. In particular the US Smoot-Hawley tariffs enacted in 1930 are thought to have inspired a trade war, and led to a massive decline in global trade. As one study points out, world trade fell by 66% from 1929 to 1934, while US exports and imports to and from Europe each also fell by about two-thirds. While no one is saying we're there yet, businesses are getting more concerned than they have been in the past, especially because of all the uncertainty. The tit-for-tat mentality between Beijing and Washington could just end up antagonising both sides to a point where they cannot climb down from their hostile positions for fear of losing face. \"You start with protectionism and isolationism,\" says Victor Mills, chief executive of Singapore's International Chamber of Commerce. \"And then you don't just beggar your neighbour, you beggar yourself.\" What many business people are hoping of course, is that this sound and fury is just the start of another series of negotiations. But the worry is that if it's not - it will escalate, and everybody will be the poorer. And that includes you and me.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3405, "answer_start": 2303, "text": "Obviously the US and China's economies are most at risk, although they're not the only ones. According to DBS's chief economist Taimur Baig, an all-out trade war could shave 0.25% off the GDP of both economies this year. It gets much worse next year - with both countries seeing a reduction in growth of about 0.5% or more. Mr Baig adds that \"considering China grows at 6-7% and the US at 2-3%, we believe the damage would be greater to the US than on China\". But countries like South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan could all be affected too because of disruption to supply chains. China sources a lot of components that go into its finished goods from these other countries. As Nick Marro of the Economist Intelligence Unit points out, \"any dent in China's export flows will inevitably affect\" these other countries. The case could be made for manufacturing to shift to these other countries - and for them to take advantage of selling to the US - but that shift would take time, and it's hard to see who could match China's scale. Ultimately, the US consumer will end up paying more for these products." } ], "id": "9132_0", "question": "Shift manufacturing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5337, "answer_start": 4048, "text": "It's the question I ask every business person I meet, and the answer is typically always the same: nobody knows. If history is any guide, then past trade wars have led to deep economic malaise. In particular the US Smoot-Hawley tariffs enacted in 1930 are thought to have inspired a trade war, and led to a massive decline in global trade. As one study points out, world trade fell by 66% from 1929 to 1934, while US exports and imports to and from Europe each also fell by about two-thirds. While no one is saying we're there yet, businesses are getting more concerned than they have been in the past, especially because of all the uncertainty. The tit-for-tat mentality between Beijing and Washington could just end up antagonising both sides to a point where they cannot climb down from their hostile positions for fear of losing face. \"You start with protectionism and isolationism,\" says Victor Mills, chief executive of Singapore's International Chamber of Commerce. \"And then you don't just beggar your neighbour, you beggar yourself.\" What many business people are hoping of course, is that this sound and fury is just the start of another series of negotiations. But the worry is that if it's not - it will escalate, and everybody will be the poorer. And that includes you and me." } ], "id": "9132_1", "question": "How bad can it get?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Bosnian Serb nationalist leader Milorad Dodik has won his community's seat on Bosnia-Herzegovina's three-person presidency, election officials say. Mr Dodik, who has close links with Russia, has urged Bosnian Serbs to secede, saying Bosnia has failed. The main Bosnian Muslim party, the SDA, said its candidate Sefik Dzaferovic would be the Muslim representative. Croat voters returned centrist Social Democrat Zelijko Komsic to their presidential seat. Turnout for Sunday's vote was 53%, election commission president Branko Petric told reporters. If officially confirmed, Mr Dodik will take turns as head of state with the two other winners. The three-member collective presidency - Croat, Bosnian Muslim (Bosniak) and Serb - was established as part of the US-brokered 1995 Dayton peace deal that ended the war in which 100,000 people died. The country is still split into two entities - the Serb Republic (Republika Srpska) and the Muslim-Croat Federation. Mr Dodik, who has led Republika Srpska since 2006, defeated the incumbent Bosnian Serb member of the three-member presidency, centre-right politician Mladen Ivanic. \"My first priority will be the position of the Serb people and of the Republika Srpska,\" he said, claiming victory in the northern town of Banja Luka. \"I believe that Bosnia-Herzegovina also may progress if everyone is respected.\" Even aside from his calls for secession from the Bosnian state, Mr Dodik is a divisive figure on the national scene. He was a key supporter of a controversial referendum to make \"Republika Srpska Day\" a holiday on 9 January - marking the founding of the state in 1992, which was one of the triggers for the bloody war that followed. He has consistently challenged national institutions in favour of those in Republika Srpska. The run-up to the election was marred by ethnic abuse and intimidation, observers say, more than 20 years after Bosnia was torn apart by civil war. Under Bosnia's complex political system, voters had to elect a total of five presidents and 14 prime ministers. Candidates stood for the central government - two chambers of parliament and the tripartite presidency - plus governments for the two separate entities. In Republika Srpska voters had to elect MPs, a president and two vice-presidents. In the Muslim-Croat Federation a bicameral parliament had to be elected that included a president and two vice-presidents. In addition, voters cast ballots for assemblies that run the federation's 10 cantons. In all, nearly 7,500 candidates stood for 518 offices across the country. The parliamentary results will be announced later on Monday. Election monitors complained that campaigning was marred by ethnic leaders using divisive rhetoric harking back to the war. Analysis by Guy De Launey, BBC News, Belgrade One in five people are unemployed and almost half the country's young people can't find a job. Those who are in work earn an average of around EUR400 (PS350; $460) a month. Many people have lost hope that the country can offer them a future. Almost 200,000 have left to work abroad in the past five years - 5% of the population. But Bosnia's politics remain firmly based on ethnic leaders using fear to divide, rule and profit and this election will be no different. The EU announced a grand plan for reforms three years ago, but there's been little progress. Whatever the results, it's not clear that a new government could actually be formed. The Constitutional Court invalidated parts of the electoral law two years ago, and parliament has failed to revise it.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1781, "answer_start": 960, "text": "Mr Dodik, who has led Republika Srpska since 2006, defeated the incumbent Bosnian Serb member of the three-member presidency, centre-right politician Mladen Ivanic. \"My first priority will be the position of the Serb people and of the Republika Srpska,\" he said, claiming victory in the northern town of Banja Luka. \"I believe that Bosnia-Herzegovina also may progress if everyone is respected.\" Even aside from his calls for secession from the Bosnian state, Mr Dodik is a divisive figure on the national scene. He was a key supporter of a controversial referendum to make \"Republika Srpska Day\" a holiday on 9 January - marking the founding of the state in 1992, which was one of the triggers for the bloody war that followed. He has consistently challenged national institutions in favour of those in Republika Srpska." } ], "id": "9133_0", "question": "Why is Dodik so divisive?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Australia has agreed to close a detention centre on a Pacific island that is used to house asylum seekers. Manus Island is part of Papua New Guinea (PNG). Its Supreme Court ruled in April that holding people in such a camp was unconstitutional. So, what could happen next to about 850 men currently being held on the Pacific island? The closing date has not been announced. When Manus Island does close, the detainees will be moved to civilian life in PNG, or back to the countries they originally came from. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports that the Australian government will help PNG with the costs of resettling the men. Previous resettlement attempts have broadly failed. Some people have called for the asylum seekers to be compensated for damage and false imprisonment during their detention. Following the court ruling in April, PNG's Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said asylum seekers\"deemed legitimate refugees\" would be invited to live in the country \"if they want to be part of our society and make a contribution to our community\". He added: \"It is clear that several of these refugees do not want to settle in Papua New Guinea.\" However, not everyone in the country is happy with the decision. There have been reports of attacks on asylum seekers and some people do not like the idea of hundreds of people from the detention centre being resettled alongside them. Australia spends millions of dollars in funding the detention centre, and many locals on Manus Island are employed at the facility. Canberra insists its asylum policy will not change. Australia says its tough policies have led to a sharp drop in the number of migrant boats, thus preventing many possible deaths at sea. \"Our position, confirmed again today with Papua New Guinea, is that no-one from Manus Island Regional Processing Centre will ever be settled in Australia,\" Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said in a statement. Another option for Canberra could be to shift the men temporarily to its offshore detention centres on Christmas Island [Australian territory] or the tiny Pacific country of Nauru. A week ago, thousands of leaked reports detailed incidents of abuse, self-harm, violence and sexual assault at the Naura centre. The Australian government said many of the reports were unconfirmed. There have also been suggestions that a third country may take in the refugees. Australia has negotiated with a number of countries - including New Zealand, the Philippines and Cambodia - on the issue. But Ian Rintoul, the spokesman for the Sydney-based Refugee Action Coalition group, says a positive outcome from such talks is unlikely. \"Australia has already trawled the Pacific,\" he told the BBC, adding that Canberra \"has run out of the countries\". \"Had they found such a nation... they would have stated it,\" Mr Rintoul said. - The number of asylum seekers travelling to Australia by boat rose sharply in 2012 and early 2013. Scores of people have died making the journey. - To stop the influx, the government adopted tough measures intended as a deterrent. - Everyone who arrives is detained. Under the policy, asylum seekers are processed offshore at centres on Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. - The government has also adopted a policy of tow-backs, or turning boats around. Read more: Why are asylum seekers so controversial in Australia?", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2832, "answer_start": 1922, "text": "Another option for Canberra could be to shift the men temporarily to its offshore detention centres on Christmas Island [Australian territory] or the tiny Pacific country of Nauru. A week ago, thousands of leaked reports detailed incidents of abuse, self-harm, violence and sexual assault at the Naura centre. The Australian government said many of the reports were unconfirmed. There have also been suggestions that a third country may take in the refugees. Australia has negotiated with a number of countries - including New Zealand, the Philippines and Cambodia - on the issue. But Ian Rintoul, the spokesman for the Sydney-based Refugee Action Coalition group, says a positive outcome from such talks is unlikely. \"Australia has already trawled the Pacific,\" he told the BBC, adding that Canberra \"has run out of the countries\". \"Had they found such a nation... they would have stated it,\" Mr Rintoul said." } ], "id": "9134_0", "question": "Where else might the detainees go?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has apologised to a British cave diver he called \"pedo guy\" in a row over the cave rescue in northern Thailand. He said he had \"spoken in anger\" after Vern Unsworth ridiculed a mini-submarine he had commissioned for the rescue effort as a \"PR stunt\". \"His actions against me do not justify my actions against him, and for that I apologise,\" Mr Musk said. Mr Unsworth has said he may sue for being called a \"paedophile\". Twelve boys and their football coach were rescued from deep within a cave earlier this month after being trapped for more than two weeks. Mr Unsworth's knowledge of the cave complex is said to have played a key role in the rescue effort. He travelled into the caves in the first days after the boys went missing and helped bring in top international cave rescue experts for the mission. Mr Musk, head of the SpaceX and Tesla companies, visited the command centre in Thailand during the rescue, announcing he had left the rescuers a mini-submarine. In a reply to another user on Twitter on Wednesday, referring to an article about his involvement in the rescue mission, he wrote that he was apologising to both Mr Unsworth and the companies he led. \"The fault is mine and mine alone,\" he declared. At the same time, he accused Mr Unsworth of telling \"untruths\" about his mini-submarine, which was not used in the rescue. Mr Unsworth had said the mini-sub would have had \"absolutely no chance of working\" - and suggested Mr Musk could \"stick his submarine where it hurts\". The entrepreneur fired back with a tweet where, without using Mr Unsworth's name, he referred to a \"British expat guy who lives in Thailand\". He said he would make a video showing the mini-sub making it deep inside the cave \"no problemo\", adding, \"Sorry pedo guy, you really did ask for it.\" The tweet, sent to his more than 22 million followers, was later deleted. No charges or complaints had ever been filed against Mr Unsworth, Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed police officer in Thailand's Chiang Rai area as saying. Separately, Mr Musk attacked the Thai official in charge of the command centre, Narongsak Osotthanakorn, for saying the mini-sub had been \"not practical\", though \"technologically sophisticated\". Mr Musk said Mr Osotthanakorn had been \"described inaccurately as 'rescue chief'\" and was \"not the subject matter expert\". The boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach became trapped by floodwater while exploring the Tham Luang cave system on 23 June. Cut off from the outside world, they were not found by divers until 2 July and a complex rescue operation ensued, during which one diver lost his life. The 13 were finally extracted in groups over three days, the last emerging on 10 July. Mr Musk visited the scene when it was still unclear whether divers on their own would be able to bring out the boys. He tweeted an email from Richard Stanton - one of two British caving experts called in to front the rescue - who had urged the business leader to build the capsule as quickly as possible. The entrepreneur has been likened in the past to a genius behaving like a playground bully. He told financial analysts at a Tesla earnings call this year that their \"boring bonehead questions\" were \"not cool\". A leaked work email shows he advised Tesla staff to keep big meetings \"very short\" and to walk out of a meeting or end a phone call if it was failing to serve a useful purpose. More bizarrely, last month he scrapped on Twitter over rights to an image of a farting unicorn, before dismissing the row as \"kinda lame\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1367, "answer_start": 996, "text": "In a reply to another user on Twitter on Wednesday, referring to an article about his involvement in the rescue mission, he wrote that he was apologising to both Mr Unsworth and the companies he led. \"The fault is mine and mine alone,\" he declared. At the same time, he accused Mr Unsworth of telling \"untruths\" about his mini-submarine, which was not used in the rescue." } ], "id": "9135_0", "question": "What did Musk say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2362, "answer_start": 1368, "text": "Mr Unsworth had said the mini-sub would have had \"absolutely no chance of working\" - and suggested Mr Musk could \"stick his submarine where it hurts\". The entrepreneur fired back with a tweet where, without using Mr Unsworth's name, he referred to a \"British expat guy who lives in Thailand\". He said he would make a video showing the mini-sub making it deep inside the cave \"no problemo\", adding, \"Sorry pedo guy, you really did ask for it.\" The tweet, sent to his more than 22 million followers, was later deleted. No charges or complaints had ever been filed against Mr Unsworth, Reuters news agency quoted an unnamed police officer in Thailand's Chiang Rai area as saying. Separately, Mr Musk attacked the Thai official in charge of the command centre, Narongsak Osotthanakorn, for saying the mini-sub had been \"not practical\", though \"technologically sophisticated\". Mr Musk said Mr Osotthanakorn had been \"described inaccurately as 'rescue chief'\" and was \"not the subject matter expert\"." } ], "id": "9135_1", "question": "How did the row erupt?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3043, "answer_start": 2363, "text": "The boys, aged 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old coach became trapped by floodwater while exploring the Tham Luang cave system on 23 June. Cut off from the outside world, they were not found by divers until 2 July and a complex rescue operation ensued, during which one diver lost his life. The 13 were finally extracted in groups over three days, the last emerging on 10 July. Mr Musk visited the scene when it was still unclear whether divers on their own would be able to bring out the boys. He tweeted an email from Richard Stanton - one of two British caving experts called in to front the rescue - who had urged the business leader to build the capsule as quickly as possible." } ], "id": "9135_2", "question": "How did the cave drama unfold?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3569, "answer_start": 3044, "text": "The entrepreneur has been likened in the past to a genius behaving like a playground bully. He told financial analysts at a Tesla earnings call this year that their \"boring bonehead questions\" were \"not cool\". A leaked work email shows he advised Tesla staff to keep big meetings \"very short\" and to walk out of a meeting or end a phone call if it was failing to serve a useful purpose. More bizarrely, last month he scrapped on Twitter over rights to an image of a farting unicorn, before dismissing the row as \"kinda lame\"." } ], "id": "9135_3", "question": "What other controversies have involved Musk?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The coming year is one fraught with challenge for diplomats. Indeed, when it comes to forging international agreements while a perfect storm of populism, identity politics and insecurity roils electorates worldwide, I cannot think of a worse time for diplomacy in 25 years of covering it. Beset by insecurity (economic and physical), voters in many democracies have moved towards parties rejecting traditional policies or models of co-operation. The Irish prime minister, addressing a conference of Europe's centre-right parties, warned against \"the dangers of populism\", referring to the rise of left-wing parties in Spain and Portugal. Meanwhile, similar phrases about the populist spectre have been used in relation to the march of the right in Poland and France. \"Populism\" in this context is simply democracy revealing growing electoral extremism or polarisation, and it extends far wider than Europe. Pat Buchanan, an \"outsider\" candidate in three US presidential elections, notes: \"Nationalism and tribalism and faith - these are the driving forces now, and they are tearing apart transnational institutions all over the world.\" In Europe, mass migration has brought matters to a head. Unilateral actions, such as the decision this summer by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to erect a border fence, have raised the pressure on other European countries and challenged the European Union. As the migration issue dominates European gatherings, forcing other items off the agenda, some see an existential threat. \"No-one can say whether the EU will still exist in this form in 10 years,\" says the president of the European Parliament - and socialist - Martin Schulz. \"The retreat of many governments into nation-based thinking is fatal.\" The possibility that the UK might vote to leave the EU in 2016 underlines the threat seen by many Eurocrats. Ultimately, though, are leaders who represent popular anxiety about immigration not simply behaving in a democratic fashion? And when Angela Merkel declared Germany's doors open to Syrian refugees, without a parliamentary vote within her own country or consultation with EU partners, that may have been the opposite of populism, but did it not undermine both European co-operation and democracy? Reflecting on these dilemmas, Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek wrote: \"We definitely live in interesting times.\" He suggests the world may be approaching \"a new era of apartheid\", in which wealthier countries try to seal themselves off from war-torn, poverty-stricken ones. As this analysis suggests, the darkening horizons for international co-operation extend well beyond Europe. Donald Trump's policies of walling off Mexico or banning Muslims from entering the country have given him the lead in polls for the Republican party presidential nomination. Are a Trump or a Marine Le Pen really electable? Regardless of the answer, if the centre is shrinking, sapped by political insurgencies on the left and right, it becomes harder to rally support for unpopular international policies - whether they relate to trade, immigration or military action. One has to look no further for the effect of this on any collective action than to see how some European countries have refused to accept supposedly mandatory refugee quotas, while others that ostensibly signed up to them dragged their heels. Try to force the issue, as the European Commission's plans for a new border force could do, by inserting frontier enforcement units on to Europe's periphery - even against the will of the country concerned - and you risk a different kind of crisis. With their national leaders beset by doubt and political polarisation, quite a few of Europe's political insurgents, from left and right, express their admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin. At least, their argument goes, he gets things done - for example in Syria. While many, including Barack Obama, compared Mr Putin's actions in Ukraine to the 1930s, the ideological cleavage of those times no longer exists, and the Russian leader has won the admiration of assertive Western nationalists such as Trump and Le Pen. Russia's recent troubles with Turkey show though that nations guided by ambitious strongmen are also making world politics less predictable as well as less harmonious. The Kremlin has unleashed economic sanctions on Turkey, after the shooting down of a Russian military aircraft, just as its actions in Syria led some to hope that Mr Putin might be about to patch up his relations with the EU. As for the Middle East, a more assertive Saudi monarchy has waded into Yemen, Syria's President Bashar Assad is saying he won't stand down despite the gathering international peace effort, Israel's leaders are in no mood to restart a peace process with the Palestinians, and Iranian hardliners are promising to stand fast in defence of the oppressed Shia across the region. In 2016 then, there will be big challenges to the international system - from the possibility of the UK leaving the EU, to the strains within the organisation caused by the ongoing migration crisis, sectarian violence in the Middle East, and increasingly ill-tempered trade disputes. As nationalistic or left-wing rejection of the international system grows, pity the diplomats struggling for consensus. Mark Urban is diplomatic and defence editor for BBC Newsnight", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3104, "answer_start": 1856, "text": "Ultimately, though, are leaders who represent popular anxiety about immigration not simply behaving in a democratic fashion? And when Angela Merkel declared Germany's doors open to Syrian refugees, without a parliamentary vote within her own country or consultation with EU partners, that may have been the opposite of populism, but did it not undermine both European co-operation and democracy? Reflecting on these dilemmas, Slovenian philosopher Slavoj Zizek wrote: \"We definitely live in interesting times.\" He suggests the world may be approaching \"a new era of apartheid\", in which wealthier countries try to seal themselves off from war-torn, poverty-stricken ones. As this analysis suggests, the darkening horizons for international co-operation extend well beyond Europe. Donald Trump's policies of walling off Mexico or banning Muslims from entering the country have given him the lead in polls for the Republican party presidential nomination. Are a Trump or a Marine Le Pen really electable? Regardless of the answer, if the centre is shrinking, sapped by political insurgencies on the left and right, it becomes harder to rally support for unpopular international policies - whether they relate to trade, immigration or military action." } ], "id": "9136_0", "question": "'New era of apartheid'?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "More than 80 people were killed in a suspected chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun in north-western Syria on 4 April. Hundreds suffered symptoms consistent with reaction to a nerve agent after what the opposition and Western powers said was a Syrian government air strike on the area. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad said the incident was fabricated, while his ally Russia said an air strike hit a rebel depot full of chemical munitions. Witnesses and activists say warplanes attacked Khan Sheikhoun, about 50km (30 miles) south of the city of Idlib, early on 4 April, when many people were asleep. Mariam Abu Khalil, a 14-year-old resident who was awake, told the New York Times that she had seen an aircraft drop a bomb on a one-storey building. The explosion sent a yellow mushroom cloud into the air that stung her eyes. \"It was like a winter fog,\" she said. She sheltered in her home, but recalled that when people started arriving to help the wounded, \"they inhaled the gas and died\". Hussein Kayal, a photographer for the pro-opposition Edlib Media Center (EMC), was reported as saying that he was awoken by the sound of an explosion at about 06:30 (03:30 GMT). When he reached the scene, there was no smell, he said. He found people lying on the floor, unable to move and with constricted pupils. Mohammed Rasoul, the head of a charity ambulance service in Idlib, told the BBC that he heard about the attack at about 06:45 and that when his medics arrived 20 minutes later they found people, many of them children, choking in the street. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations (UOSSM), which funds hospitals in rebel-held Syria, said three of its staff in Khan Sheikhoun were affected while treating patients in the streets and had to be rushed to intensive care. Victims experienced symptoms including redness of the eyes, foaming from the mouth, constricted pupils, blue facial skin and lips, severe shortness of breath and asphyxiation, it added. A Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) medical team supporting the Bab al-Hawa hospital, near the Turkish border, confirmed similar symptoms in eight patients brought there from Khan Sheikhoun. - Aftermath of attack in pictures (Warning: graphic images) Rescue workers and opposition activists posted photos and videos on social media that showed victims exhibiting the symptoms described by doctors, as well as many people who had died. The EMC posted photos showing what appeared to be at least seven dead children in the back of a pick-up truck. There were no visible traumatic injuries. Another photo published by the group showed the bodies of at least 14 men, women and children on a street outside a hospital in Khan Sheikhoun. The opposition-run health directorate in Idlib province - which is almost entirely controlled by rebel fighters and al-Qaeda-linked jihadists - says at least 89 people were killed, including 33 children and 18 women. Another 541 people were injured. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, put the death toll at 86 and said it was likely to rise, with many of the injured in a serious condition in hospital. It was also not immediately clear whether anyone was killed when Khan Sheikhoun's main hospital was struck by a rocket on the afternoon of 4 April. The source of the projectile was not clear, but the EMC said warplanes had targeted clinics and the headquarters of the Syria Civil Defence, whose rescue workers are known as the White Helmets. The Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons said on 19 April that bio-medical samples collected from three victims during their post-mortems had been analysed by two OPCW-designated laboratories. The results of the analysis indicated that the victims were exposed to Sarin or a Sarin-like substance. Samples taken from seven survivors showed similar results. \"While further details of the laboratory analyses will follow, the analytical results already obtained are incontrovertible,\" said OPCW head Ahmet Uzumcu. Mr Uzumcu gave no further details, but Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said on 11 April that traces of one of the decomposition products of Sarin, a chemical known as isopropyl methyphosphonic acid (IMPA), had been detected in the blood and urine of victims brought to Turkey. A declassified report by French intelligence agencies published on 26 April said analysis of environmental samples collected in Khan Sheikhoun had also revealed the presence of Sarin, diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP) and hexamine. The report concluded that the Syrian government had manufactured the Sarin because the process of synthesizing the nerve agent developed by the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) and employed by the Syrian armed forces and security services involved the use of hexamine as a stabilizer. DIMP was also known as a by-product generated by this process, it added. A Syrian military statement published by state media on 4 April denied the use of \"any chemical or toxic substance\" in Khan Sheikhoun, adding that the military \"has never used them, anytime, anywhere, and will not do so in the future\". President Bashar al-Assad subsequently said the incident was a \"fabrication\" used to justify a US cruise missile strike on Syria's Shayrat airbase on 7 April. \"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack,\" he told AFP news agency. Mr Assad insisted that it was \"not clear\" whether an attack had even happened. \"You have a lot of fake videos now,\" he said. \"We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhoun. Were they dead at all?\" Russia, which has carried out air strikes in support of President Assad since 2015, said the Syrian air force had struck Khan Sheikhoun \"between 11:30am and 12:30pm local time\" on 4 April, but that the target had been \"a large terrorist ammunition depot\" on its eastern outskirts. \"On the territory of the depot, there were workshops which produced chemical warfare munitions,\" it added, without providing any evidence. \"Terrorists had been transporting chemical munitions from this largest arsenal to the territory of Iraq.\" The ministry said the chemical munitions had also been used during the final stages of the battle for control of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo last autumn, asserting that the symptoms of the victims were \"the same\". US intelligence agencies believe the Syrian government struck Khan Sheikhoun in response to a rebel offensive in northern Hama province, and that senior military leaders were probably involved in planning the attack. US military radar systems monitored Syrian Air Force Sukhoi Su-22 fixed-wing aircraft take off from the government-controlled Shayrat airbase on 4 April and fly over Khan Sheikhoun on two occasions - at 06:37 (03:37 GMT) and 06:46. Officials told NBC News that the radar systems picked up flashes on the ground, indicating that ordnance had been dropped on the rebel-held town about the same time that the first casualties with breathing difficulties were reported. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commanding officer of the British Armed Forces Joint Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Regiment, said Russia's assertion that the strikes had hit rebel chemical weapons were \"pretty fanciful\". \"Axiomatically, if you blow up Sarin, you destroy it,\" he told the BBC. The explosion resulting from an air strike on a chemical weapons facility would most likely incinerate any agents. Sarin and other nerve agents are also usually stocked in a \"binary manner\", which means they are kept as two distinct chemical precursors that are combined just before use, either manually or automatically inside a weapon when launched. \"It's very clear it's a Sarin attack,\" Mr de Bretton-Gordon added. \"The view that it's an al-Qaeda or rebel stockpile of Sarin that's been blown up in an explosion, I think is completely unsustainable and completely untrue.\" He also noted that chlorine was the only chemical believed to have been used in attacks in Aleppo over the past year. A recent report by Human Rights Watch said government helicopters had dropped bombs containing chlorine on rebel-held areas of Aleppo on at least eight occasions between 17 November and 13 December, killing nine civilians. It was also not clear why there was five hours' difference between the time of the strike reported by multiple witnesses in Khan Sheikhoun and that stated by Russia. Moscow's short account gave no evidence for its suggestion that a group was sending chemical weaponry to Iraq. So-called Islamic State, which has used the the blister agent sulphur mustard in Syria and Iraq, is not present in Khan Sheikhoun. Hasan Haj Ali, commander of the Free Idlib Army rebel group, called Russia's claim a \"lie\" and said rebel fighters did not have the capability to produce nerve agents. The report by French intelligence agencies supported that assertion, saying no opposition armed groups in Syria were believed to have the capability to employ a neurotoxic agent, or the air capacities required. It also said the theory of a staged attack or manipulation by the opposition was not credible, citing \"the massive influx in a very limited time towards hospitals in Syria and Turkey, and the simultaneous, massive uploading of videos showing symptoms of the use of neurotoxic agents\". Sarin is highly toxic and considered 20 times as deadly as cyanide. As with all nerve agents, Sarin inhibits the action of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, which deactivates signals that cause human nerve cells to fire. This blockage pushes nerves into a continual \"on\" state. The heart and other muscles - including those involved in breathing - spasm. Sufficient exposure can lead to death via asphyxiation within minutes. Sarin is almost impossible to detect because it is a clear, colourless and tasteless liquid that has no odour in its purest form. It can also evaporate and spread through the air. The Syrian government was accused by Western powers of firing rockets filled with Sarin at several rebel-held suburbs of the capital Damascus in August 2013, killing hundreds of people. President Bashar al-Assad denied the charge, blaming rebel fighters, but he did subsequently agree to destroy Syria's declared chemical arsenal. Despite that, the OPCW and UN have continued to document the use of chemicals in attacks. A joint investigation concluded in October that government forces had used chlorine as a weapon at least three times between 2014 and 2015. It also found Islamic State militants had used sulphur mustard in one attack.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2239, "answer_start": 460, "text": "Witnesses and activists say warplanes attacked Khan Sheikhoun, about 50km (30 miles) south of the city of Idlib, early on 4 April, when many people were asleep. Mariam Abu Khalil, a 14-year-old resident who was awake, told the New York Times that she had seen an aircraft drop a bomb on a one-storey building. The explosion sent a yellow mushroom cloud into the air that stung her eyes. \"It was like a winter fog,\" she said. She sheltered in her home, but recalled that when people started arriving to help the wounded, \"they inhaled the gas and died\". Hussein Kayal, a photographer for the pro-opposition Edlib Media Center (EMC), was reported as saying that he was awoken by the sound of an explosion at about 06:30 (03:30 GMT). When he reached the scene, there was no smell, he said. He found people lying on the floor, unable to move and with constricted pupils. Mohammed Rasoul, the head of a charity ambulance service in Idlib, told the BBC that he heard about the attack at about 06:45 and that when his medics arrived 20 minutes later they found people, many of them children, choking in the street. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations (UOSSM), which funds hospitals in rebel-held Syria, said three of its staff in Khan Sheikhoun were affected while treating patients in the streets and had to be rushed to intensive care. Victims experienced symptoms including redness of the eyes, foaming from the mouth, constricted pupils, blue facial skin and lips, severe shortness of breath and asphyxiation, it added. A Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) medical team supporting the Bab al-Hawa hospital, near the Turkish border, confirmed similar symptoms in eight patients brought there from Khan Sheikhoun. - Aftermath of attack in pictures (Warning: graphic images)" } ], "id": "9137_0", "question": "What happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3500, "answer_start": 2240, "text": "Rescue workers and opposition activists posted photos and videos on social media that showed victims exhibiting the symptoms described by doctors, as well as many people who had died. The EMC posted photos showing what appeared to be at least seven dead children in the back of a pick-up truck. There were no visible traumatic injuries. Another photo published by the group showed the bodies of at least 14 men, women and children on a street outside a hospital in Khan Sheikhoun. The opposition-run health directorate in Idlib province - which is almost entirely controlled by rebel fighters and al-Qaeda-linked jihadists - says at least 89 people were killed, including 33 children and 18 women. Another 541 people were injured. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based monitoring group, put the death toll at 86 and said it was likely to rise, with many of the injured in a serious condition in hospital. It was also not immediately clear whether anyone was killed when Khan Sheikhoun's main hospital was struck by a rocket on the afternoon of 4 April. The source of the projectile was not clear, but the EMC said warplanes had targeted clinics and the headquarters of the Syria Civil Defence, whose rescue workers are known as the White Helmets." } ], "id": "9137_1", "question": "How many victims?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4920, "answer_start": 3501, "text": "The Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons said on 19 April that bio-medical samples collected from three victims during their post-mortems had been analysed by two OPCW-designated laboratories. The results of the analysis indicated that the victims were exposed to Sarin or a Sarin-like substance. Samples taken from seven survivors showed similar results. \"While further details of the laboratory analyses will follow, the analytical results already obtained are incontrovertible,\" said OPCW head Ahmet Uzumcu. Mr Uzumcu gave no further details, but Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag said on 11 April that traces of one of the decomposition products of Sarin, a chemical known as isopropyl methyphosphonic acid (IMPA), had been detected in the blood and urine of victims brought to Turkey. A declassified report by French intelligence agencies published on 26 April said analysis of environmental samples collected in Khan Sheikhoun had also revealed the presence of Sarin, diisopropyl methylphosphonate (DIMP) and hexamine. The report concluded that the Syrian government had manufactured the Sarin because the process of synthesizing the nerve agent developed by the Syrian Scientific Studies and Research Centre (SSRC) and employed by the Syrian armed forces and security services involved the use of hexamine as a stabilizer. DIMP was also known as a by-product generated by this process, it added." } ], "id": "9137_2", "question": "What were they exposed to?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5737, "answer_start": 4921, "text": "A Syrian military statement published by state media on 4 April denied the use of \"any chemical or toxic substance\" in Khan Sheikhoun, adding that the military \"has never used them, anytime, anywhere, and will not do so in the future\". President Bashar al-Assad subsequently said the incident was a \"fabrication\" used to justify a US cruise missile strike on Syria's Shayrat airbase on 7 April. \"Our impression is that the West, mainly the United States, is hand-in-glove with the terrorists. They fabricated the whole story in order to have a pretext for the attack,\" he told AFP news agency. Mr Assad insisted that it was \"not clear\" whether an attack had even happened. \"You have a lot of fake videos now,\" he said. \"We don't know whether those dead children were killed in Khan Sheikhoun. Were they dead at all?\"" } ], "id": "9137_3", "question": "What does the Syrian government say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6484, "answer_start": 5738, "text": "Russia, which has carried out air strikes in support of President Assad since 2015, said the Syrian air force had struck Khan Sheikhoun \"between 11:30am and 12:30pm local time\" on 4 April, but that the target had been \"a large terrorist ammunition depot\" on its eastern outskirts. \"On the territory of the depot, there were workshops which produced chemical warfare munitions,\" it added, without providing any evidence. \"Terrorists had been transporting chemical munitions from this largest arsenal to the territory of Iraq.\" The ministry said the chemical munitions had also been used during the final stages of the battle for control of the northern Syrian city of Aleppo last autumn, asserting that the symptoms of the victims were \"the same\"." } ], "id": "9137_4", "question": "What is Russia's explanation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 9471, "answer_start": 6485, "text": "US intelligence agencies believe the Syrian government struck Khan Sheikhoun in response to a rebel offensive in northern Hama province, and that senior military leaders were probably involved in planning the attack. US military radar systems monitored Syrian Air Force Sukhoi Su-22 fixed-wing aircraft take off from the government-controlled Shayrat airbase on 4 April and fly over Khan Sheikhoun on two occasions - at 06:37 (03:37 GMT) and 06:46. Officials told NBC News that the radar systems picked up flashes on the ground, indicating that ordnance had been dropped on the rebel-held town about the same time that the first casualties with breathing difficulties were reported. Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a former commanding officer of the British Armed Forces Joint Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear (CBRN) Regiment, said Russia's assertion that the strikes had hit rebel chemical weapons were \"pretty fanciful\". \"Axiomatically, if you blow up Sarin, you destroy it,\" he told the BBC. The explosion resulting from an air strike on a chemical weapons facility would most likely incinerate any agents. Sarin and other nerve agents are also usually stocked in a \"binary manner\", which means they are kept as two distinct chemical precursors that are combined just before use, either manually or automatically inside a weapon when launched. \"It's very clear it's a Sarin attack,\" Mr de Bretton-Gordon added. \"The view that it's an al-Qaeda or rebel stockpile of Sarin that's been blown up in an explosion, I think is completely unsustainable and completely untrue.\" He also noted that chlorine was the only chemical believed to have been used in attacks in Aleppo over the past year. A recent report by Human Rights Watch said government helicopters had dropped bombs containing chlorine on rebel-held areas of Aleppo on at least eight occasions between 17 November and 13 December, killing nine civilians. It was also not clear why there was five hours' difference between the time of the strike reported by multiple witnesses in Khan Sheikhoun and that stated by Russia. Moscow's short account gave no evidence for its suggestion that a group was sending chemical weaponry to Iraq. So-called Islamic State, which has used the the blister agent sulphur mustard in Syria and Iraq, is not present in Khan Sheikhoun. Hasan Haj Ali, commander of the Free Idlib Army rebel group, called Russia's claim a \"lie\" and said rebel fighters did not have the capability to produce nerve agents. The report by French intelligence agencies supported that assertion, saying no opposition armed groups in Syria were believed to have the capability to employ a neurotoxic agent, or the air capacities required. It also said the theory of a staged attack or manipulation by the opposition was not credible, citing \"the massive influx in a very limited time towards hospitals in Syria and Turkey, and the simultaneous, massive uploading of videos showing symptoms of the use of neurotoxic agents\"." } ], "id": "9137_5", "question": "Are those accounts credible?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 10715, "answer_start": 10077, "text": "The Syrian government was accused by Western powers of firing rockets filled with Sarin at several rebel-held suburbs of the capital Damascus in August 2013, killing hundreds of people. President Bashar al-Assad denied the charge, blaming rebel fighters, but he did subsequently agree to destroy Syria's declared chemical arsenal. Despite that, the OPCW and UN have continued to document the use of chemicals in attacks. A joint investigation concluded in October that government forces had used chlorine as a weapon at least three times between 2014 and 2015. It also found Islamic State militants had used sulphur mustard in one attack." } ], "id": "9137_6", "question": "Has Sarin been used in Syria before?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "More than 200 people have been prosecuted since a new revenge porn law came into force in England and Wales last year, a Crown Prosecution Service report on crimes against women shows. The director of public prosecutions said the cases were part of a trend of crimes committed through social media. The use of the internet to control and threaten victims was rising, she said. Domestic abuse and sex offences make up 18.6% of CPS cases, with prosecutions and convictions at record levels. The CPS's annual Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) report, which also incorporates data on abuse and sex offences against men and boys, has been produced since 2007. So-called revenge porn often involves an ex-partner uploading sexual images of the victim to cause the victim humiliation or embarrassment. It became an offence to share private sexual photographs or films without the subject's consent in England and Wales in April 2015 , with a maximum sentence of two years imprisonment. The CPS report said 206 people were prosecuted for disclosing private sexual images in the first year of the offence. It did not specify the number of cases referred to prosecutors. However, Freedom of Information responses to the BBC from 31 of the 43 police forces in England and Wales showed there had been 1,160 reported incidents of revenge pornography from April 2015 to December 2015. The responses showed some victims were as young as 11 but 61% of reported offences resulted in no action being taken against the alleged perpetrator. Among the main reasons cited by police include a lack of evidence or the victim withdrawing support for any action. In the year 2015-16, ending in March: - Domestic abuse, rape and sexual offences accounted for 18.6% of the CPS's overall workload - an increase over the past six years from just under 9% - Police referred nearly 117,000 people for domestic abuse - a year-on-year fall of 4% - but prosecutions reached a high of 100,930, with conviction rates up slightly to 74.5% - The number of prosecutions for rape was the highest ever recorded (4,643) and almost 58% (2,689) of those prosecuted were convicted of rape or an alternative or lesser offence - Child sexual abuse convictions increased by almost 17% to 4,643 - The number of prosecutions for other sexual offences increased by nearly 23% to 11,995 - with 9,351 people being convicted - Nearly 70% (9,077) of stalking and harassment prosecutions were related to domestic abuse - an increase of about 10% - There were five prosecutions for controlling or coercive behaviour since a new law came into force in December 2015 - with the CPS saying defendants monitored phone messages and emails and used GPS tracking Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said changes in the way sexual offences are prosecuted had helped improve conviction rates. She said she had doubled resources in specialist units handling rape and serious sexual offence cases, and that prosecutors received detailed training. \"Today a rape, domestic abuse, sexual offence or child abuse case is more likely to be prosecuted and convicted than ever before,\" she added, but there was \"still more to be done to ensure all victims receive the service they deserve.\" Ms Saunders said technology had created a \"new landscape for controlling, sexually-motivated or other forms of inter-personal offending\". She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: \"We're working very hard with prosecutors and with social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook to make sure that we understand exactly how social media might be used but we also understand how we might extract the evidence from social media.\" By Danny Shaw, Home Affairs Correspondent Although this category of offences, Violence against Women and Girls, includes crimes against men and boys, the vast majority of victims are female. In years gone by, their allegations were often not taken seriously; violence in the home was treated as \"just a domestic\" with police reluctant to get involved; prosecutions weren't considered or were abandoned too readily unless the case was clear-cut. These figures, however, together with a series of new criminal offences, provide evidence of real change in the justice system, with the CPS more willing to prosecute than ever before. The question is - do they and the police have sufficient staff to cope with the workload? At a time of scarce resources there's a risk of burn-out. Rachel Krys from the End Violence Against Women coalition welcomed the report, but said: \"The majority of women and girls subject to these crimes do not report them to the police, and the specialist services which support them are fighting for survival.\" Polly Neate, chief executive of Women's Aid, said the rise in prosecutions and convictions was because \"survivors of domestic abuse are starting to have more confidence in the criminal justice system. \"However, we know that much more work is still needed, particularly in understanding of the nature and impact of coercive control.\" Rebecca Hitchin from the charity Rape Crisis said some sexual offence victims may still be reluctant to come forward through a fear of not being believed or because of a \"potential for backlash\" from family and peers. She said a lengthy and complicated prosecution process could also discourage victims from coming forward. Revenge porn became a specific offence in Scotland in April when the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm Act came into effect, and was made a crime in Northern Ireland in February through the amendment of an existing law.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3661, "answer_start": 1644, "text": "In the year 2015-16, ending in March: - Domestic abuse, rape and sexual offences accounted for 18.6% of the CPS's overall workload - an increase over the past six years from just under 9% - Police referred nearly 117,000 people for domestic abuse - a year-on-year fall of 4% - but prosecutions reached a high of 100,930, with conviction rates up slightly to 74.5% - The number of prosecutions for rape was the highest ever recorded (4,643) and almost 58% (2,689) of those prosecuted were convicted of rape or an alternative or lesser offence - Child sexual abuse convictions increased by almost 17% to 4,643 - The number of prosecutions for other sexual offences increased by nearly 23% to 11,995 - with 9,351 people being convicted - Nearly 70% (9,077) of stalking and harassment prosecutions were related to domestic abuse - an increase of about 10% - There were five prosecutions for controlling or coercive behaviour since a new law came into force in December 2015 - with the CPS saying defendants monitored phone messages and emails and used GPS tracking Director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said changes in the way sexual offences are prosecuted had helped improve conviction rates. She said she had doubled resources in specialist units handling rape and serious sexual offence cases, and that prosecutors received detailed training. \"Today a rape, domestic abuse, sexual offence or child abuse case is more likely to be prosecuted and convicted than ever before,\" she added, but there was \"still more to be done to ensure all victims receive the service they deserve.\" Ms Saunders said technology had created a \"new landscape for controlling, sexually-motivated or other forms of inter-personal offending\". She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: \"We're working very hard with prosecutors and with social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook to make sure that we understand exactly how social media might be used but we also understand how we might extract the evidence from social media.\"" } ], "id": "9138_0", "question": "What does the report show?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Two former Goldman Sachs bankers and Malaysian financier Jho Low have been hit with US criminal charges in connection with one of the world's biggest financial scandals. The Department of Justice alleges the men participated in a scheme that stole billions of dollars from Malaysia's development fund, 1MDB. One former Goldman banker pleaded guilty, the department said. The other banker has been arrested, while Mr Low remains at large. Mr Low, who prosecutors say had ties to government officials and acted as an informal adviser to the 1MDB fund, maintains his innocence, according to a statement issued by his legal team. He has previously denied charges filed in Malaysia, adding that it would be \"impossible\" for him to receive a fair trial there. \"Mr. Low simply asks that the public keep an open mind regarding this case until all of the evidence comes to light, which he believes will vindicate him,\" the statement said. Goldman, which worked to raise money for the 1MDB fund, said on Thursday that it \"continues to co-operate with all authorities investigating this matter\". These are the first US criminal charges to surface in the 1MDB scandal. Authorities say billions of dollars were embezzled from the state fund to buy art, property, a private jet - and even to help finance the Wolf of Wall Street film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The scandal has prompted investigations around the world and played a role in the election defeat earlier this year of Malaysia's former prime minister, Najib Razak, who is accused of pocketing $700m (PS517m) from the fund he set up. He has since been charged with corruption, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust in Malaysia. His wife, Rosmah Mansor, has been charged with money laundering. Both deny any wrongdoing. US authorities have previously filed civil suits aimed at recovering luxury goods, cash and other items allegedly purchased with money from the fund. In this case, prosecutors say former Goldman bankers Tim Leissner and Roger Ng worked with Mr Low to bribe government officials to win 1MDB business for Goldman Sachs. Goldman had previously rejected Mr Low as a client, after compliance officials raised concerns about the source of his money. But in this case, the bankers, along with others at Goldman, worked to conceal Mr Low's involvement, prosecutors say. Ultimately, the bankers worked on three bond offerings in 2012 and 2013 that raised about $6.5bn for the fund and earned Goldman $600m, the indictment says. The money was supposed to support development projects, but prosecutors say the three men \"conspired to launder\" more than $2.7bn through the US financial system. They allegedly used this money to pay bribes and \"for the personal benefit of themselves and their relatives\". Mr Low, who was charged earlier in Malaysia, has repeatedly declared his innocence. He has called the Malaysian charges political. Mr Leissner, who served as Goldman's South East Asia chairman and a participating managing director, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and violate US anti-bribery laws. Mr Leissner, who left Goldman in February 2016, has been ordered to forfeit $43.7m. Mr Ng was a managing director at Goldman until his departure in May 2014. He was arrested in Malaysia on Thursday. The BBC has not yet been able to contact a lawyer representing him.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1922, "answer_start": 1085, "text": "These are the first US criminal charges to surface in the 1MDB scandal. Authorities say billions of dollars were embezzled from the state fund to buy art, property, a private jet - and even to help finance the Wolf of Wall Street film starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The scandal has prompted investigations around the world and played a role in the election defeat earlier this year of Malaysia's former prime minister, Najib Razak, who is accused of pocketing $700m (PS517m) from the fund he set up. He has since been charged with corruption, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust in Malaysia. His wife, Rosmah Mansor, has been charged with money laundering. Both deny any wrongdoing. US authorities have previously filed civil suits aimed at recovering luxury goods, cash and other items allegedly purchased with money from the fund." } ], "id": "9139_0", "question": "How did we get here?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2765, "answer_start": 1923, "text": "In this case, prosecutors say former Goldman bankers Tim Leissner and Roger Ng worked with Mr Low to bribe government officials to win 1MDB business for Goldman Sachs. Goldman had previously rejected Mr Low as a client, after compliance officials raised concerns about the source of his money. But in this case, the bankers, along with others at Goldman, worked to conceal Mr Low's involvement, prosecutors say. Ultimately, the bankers worked on three bond offerings in 2012 and 2013 that raised about $6.5bn for the fund and earned Goldman $600m, the indictment says. The money was supposed to support development projects, but prosecutors say the three men \"conspired to launder\" more than $2.7bn through the US financial system. They allegedly used this money to pay bribes and \"for the personal benefit of themselves and their relatives\"." } ], "id": "9139_1", "question": "What are the new charges?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3348, "answer_start": 2766, "text": "Mr Low, who was charged earlier in Malaysia, has repeatedly declared his innocence. He has called the Malaysian charges political. Mr Leissner, who served as Goldman's South East Asia chairman and a participating managing director, has pleaded guilty to conspiring to launder money and violate US anti-bribery laws. Mr Leissner, who left Goldman in February 2016, has been ordered to forfeit $43.7m. Mr Ng was a managing director at Goldman until his departure in May 2014. He was arrested in Malaysia on Thursday. The BBC has not yet been able to contact a lawyer representing him." } ], "id": "9139_2", "question": "How have the men responded?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "In the run-up to the Indian election, which gets under way on 11 April, BBC Reality Check is examining claims and pledges made by the main political parties. One of the most dramatic actions taken by the ruling BJP was the withdrawal in 2016 of all high-value banknotes from circulation, almost overnight. This effectively removed 85% of all cash notes from the economy. The Indian government said this was intended to flush out undeclared wealth and counterfeit money. It also said it would help move India towards an economy less dependent on cash. However, Reality Check has found that there's little evidence the ban has helped root out illegally held assets. And compared with other emerging economies, the level of cash in circulation in India has remained high. In November 2016, the two highest notes in circulation - 500 and 1,000 Indian rupees (PS11) - were scrapped. The surprise move - referred to in India as \"demonetisation\" - caused widespread confusion and led to street protests. For a limited period only, the withdrawn notes could be exchanged for legal currency at banks - but there was a limit of 4,000 rupees per person. Critics said the policy severely disrupted the economy, badly affecting the poor and rural communities that relied on cash. The government said it was targeting illegal wealth held outside the formal economy, which fuelled corruption and other illegal activity and had not been declared for tax purposes. It was assumed that those with large amounts of such cash would now find it difficult to exchange for legal tender. But by August 2018, a report published by India's central bank said that more than 99% of the old banknotes in circulation prior to the ban had been accounted for. This caused some surprise - and led to further criticism of the move. It was suggested that there had not been much unaccounted for wealth held in cash in the first place - or if there had been, the owners had found ways to convert it to legal tender. Not really, according to India's central bank. The number of fake 500 and 1,000 rupee notes found after the ban was only marginally higher than the amount from the previous year. The new notes have features designed to make them harder to counterfeit, but fake versions of these have since been discovered, according to economists at the State Bank of India. Another aim of the policy had been to improve India's poor record on tax collection. The idea was that if more transactions were carried out digitally and in the open, it would be easier to enforce tax payments. An official government report last year said the note ban had indeed resulted in an improved tax take, largely by revealing more tax evaders. In the two years before the currency withdrawal, tax collection growth rates had been in single digits. Then in 2016-17, the amount of direct taxes collected increased by 14.5% over the previous year. The following year, collections rose by 18%. But the rate of growth in collecting direct taxes had seen a similar increase between 2008-09 and 2010-11, when the Congress party was in power. And it's likely that other policies - such as an income tax amnesty in 2016 and a new goods and services tax the following year - may have contributed as much to the growing tax take as demonetisation. Against a long-term trend of a gradual rise in cashless payments, there is a significant jump at the end of 2016, when the notes were withdrawn. But this reverted soon afterwards to the steady rising trend. The overall increase over time may have less to do with government policy and more to do with changing technology and easier cashless payments. As to whether the overall amount of cash in the economy has fallen, we can look at India's currency to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio over time. This is a measure of the amount of currency in circulation in proportion to the total value of goods and services produced. This took a sharp dive immediately following the withdrawal of the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes - but by the following year, currency in circulation had reverted to pre-2016 levels. And not only has cash usage not fallen, India also still has one of the highest levels when compared with other emerging economies. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1979, "answer_start": 1143, "text": "Critics said the policy severely disrupted the economy, badly affecting the poor and rural communities that relied on cash. The government said it was targeting illegal wealth held outside the formal economy, which fuelled corruption and other illegal activity and had not been declared for tax purposes. It was assumed that those with large amounts of such cash would now find it difficult to exchange for legal tender. But by August 2018, a report published by India's central bank said that more than 99% of the old banknotes in circulation prior to the ban had been accounted for. This caused some surprise - and led to further criticism of the move. It was suggested that there had not been much unaccounted for wealth held in cash in the first place - or if there had been, the owners had found ways to convert it to legal tender." } ], "id": "9140_0", "question": "What impact did it have?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3285, "answer_start": 2339, "text": "Another aim of the policy had been to improve India's poor record on tax collection. The idea was that if more transactions were carried out digitally and in the open, it would be easier to enforce tax payments. An official government report last year said the note ban had indeed resulted in an improved tax take, largely by revealing more tax evaders. In the two years before the currency withdrawal, tax collection growth rates had been in single digits. Then in 2016-17, the amount of direct taxes collected increased by 14.5% over the previous year. The following year, collections rose by 18%. But the rate of growth in collecting direct taxes had seen a similar increase between 2008-09 and 2010-11, when the Congress party was in power. And it's likely that other policies - such as an income tax amnesty in 2016 and a new goods and services tax the following year - may have contributed as much to the growing tax take as demonetisation." } ], "id": "9140_1", "question": "Is more tax being collected?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4220, "answer_start": 3286, "text": "Against a long-term trend of a gradual rise in cashless payments, there is a significant jump at the end of 2016, when the notes were withdrawn. But this reverted soon afterwards to the steady rising trend. The overall increase over time may have less to do with government policy and more to do with changing technology and easier cashless payments. As to whether the overall amount of cash in the economy has fallen, we can look at India's currency to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio over time. This is a measure of the amount of currency in circulation in proportion to the total value of goods and services produced. This took a sharp dive immediately following the withdrawal of the 500 and 1,000 rupee notes - but by the following year, currency in circulation had reverted to pre-2016 levels. And not only has cash usage not fallen, India also still has one of the highest levels when compared with other emerging economies." } ], "id": "9140_2", "question": "What about a cashless society?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador - Mexico's first leftist president in seven decades - has been sworn in at a ceremony in the country's parliament. The former Mexico City mayor pledged on Saturday to end corruption and impunity to transform the nation on behalf of the poor and marginalised. The 65-year-old, popularly known by his initials Amlo, won a landslide victory in July - his third presidential bid. The political veteran begins his six-year term with approval ratings of 56%. His predecessor Enrique Pena Nieto leaves office with only 24% - his administration was plagued with corruption scandals and murder rates reaching record-high levels. President Lopez Obrador inherits an immediate foreign policy issue - what to do about the thousands of Central American migrants camping on the US-Mexico border. Foreign dignitaries including US Vice-President Mike Pence, first daughter Ivanka Trump and Bolivian President Evo Morales attended the inauguration in the capital. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro did not attend the swearing-in ceremony, at which protesters unfurled a banner reading \"Maduro, you're not welcome\", but did go to a dinner hosted by Amlo. British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who Mr Lopez Obrador considers a close friend, was also present. Mr Lopez Obrador - whose leftist National Regeneration Movement party (Morena) will lead a coalition government - later took part in a traditional indigenous ceremony in Mexico City's Zocalo square. \"We will carry out a peaceful and orderly but also deep and radical transformation,\" the silver-haired leader said in his first speech to Congress. \"Because we will put an end to the corruption and impunity that are blocking Mexico's rebirth.\" Mr Lopez Obrador reiterated many of the populist pledges he made during his campaign, tackling crime, poverty and corruption. He intends to rule frugally - selling Mexico's presidential plane, not living in the presidential palace, and by cutting his own salary by 60%. Mexico has privatised almost every part of its economy over the past three decades and Amlo vowed to reverse what he called disastrous neo-liberal economic policies of his predecessors. He promised that he would \"never seek re-election\" and more surprisingly, announced his intention to promote a recall referendum during his administration, allowing voters to remove an elected official through a direct vote. \"I no longer belong to myself, I belong to you, I belong to the people of Mexico,\" the new president said. Will Grant, BBC Mexico and Central America correspondent To chants of \"Presidente\" and \"Yes we could!\" inside the chamber, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador received the presidential sash from the outgoing President Enrique Pena Nieto. There has undoubtedly been a sea change in Mexican politics but whether he will truly be able to effect a change in Mexico remains to be seen. It certainly won't be easy given the extent to which such problems are endemic in the country's politics and society. However, the new presidential approach was clear from the moment Amlo left his home to attend the ceremony. He travelled in the same aging Volkswagen he has driven for years while Mr Pena Nieto was in the usual armoured convoy. Crowds also flocked to watch the ceremony at the official residence of Los Pinos, which President Lopez Obrador has refused to live in and has instead turned into a public museum. His thousands of supporters have gathered in the main square in Mexico City to celebrate a moment many thought would never come: the one-time political outsider now crowned as the new hope for change in Mexico. President Lopez Obrador has signed an agreement with three Central American counterparts to create a plan to stem the flow of migrants seeking asylum in the US, the Associated Press reported. Mexico's foreign ministry said the plan included a fund to generate jobs in the region. In the Mexican border city of Tijuana, more than 6,000 migrants from Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador face months of waiting for their asylum claims to be processed. They say they are fleeing persecution, poverty and violence in their home countries and have travelled more than 4,000km (2,500 miles) for a chance at the American Dream.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2499, "answer_start": 1468, "text": "\"We will carry out a peaceful and orderly but also deep and radical transformation,\" the silver-haired leader said in his first speech to Congress. \"Because we will put an end to the corruption and impunity that are blocking Mexico's rebirth.\" Mr Lopez Obrador reiterated many of the populist pledges he made during his campaign, tackling crime, poverty and corruption. He intends to rule frugally - selling Mexico's presidential plane, not living in the presidential palace, and by cutting his own salary by 60%. Mexico has privatised almost every part of its economy over the past three decades and Amlo vowed to reverse what he called disastrous neo-liberal economic policies of his predecessors. He promised that he would \"never seek re-election\" and more surprisingly, announced his intention to promote a recall referendum during his administration, allowing voters to remove an elected official through a direct vote. \"I no longer belong to myself, I belong to you, I belong to the people of Mexico,\" the new president said." } ], "id": "9141_0", "question": "What did Amlo say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Kathryn Mayorga, the former teacher who has accused footballer Cristiano Ronaldo of raping her in 2009, was inspired to speak out by the #MeToo movement, her lawyer has said. \"The MeToo movement and the women who have stood up and disclosed sexual assaults has given Kathryn a lot of courage,\" Leslie Stovall said. Ronaldo has \"firmly\" denied assaulting Ms Mayorga at a Las Vegas hotel. He spoke out ahead of her lawyers giving a press conference on Wednesday. The Juventus forward, 33, said he was calm over \"any and all investigations\" as he had a \"clear\" conscience over the allegation. Ms Mayorga did not attend the press conference. Her lawyer Mr Stovall said she had left Las Vegas to escape the media scrutiny. \"She has decided not to make herself available to the media and stay out of the public because of her emotional state,\" he told reporters. \"It is not pleasant for her.\" In a lawsuit, Ms Mayorga says she met Ronaldo at the Rain Nightclub in the Palms Hotel and Casino, and that he raped her in his penthouse suite. Mr Stovall said his client had suffered from major depression and considered suicide since the alleged assault almost a decade ago. He said a psychiatrist had diagnosed Ms Mayorga with post-traumatic stress disorder. The lawyer said that Ronaldo has 20 days to respond to Ms Mayorga's lawsuit. Her legal team are considering releasing documents linked to the case, including the initial police report and medical records. The Portuguese international had previously said the allegation, first reported in German magazine Der Spiegel, was \"fake news\". On Wednesday, he issued a statement through his Twitter account: Der Spiegel said Ms Mayorga, 34, had filed a report with Las Vegas police shortly after the alleged incident. But the next year, she reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo involving a $375,000 (PS288,000) payment for agreeing never to go public with the allegations. Her lawyers are now seeking to declare the non-disclosure agreement void. Las Vegas police confirmed on Tuesday they had initially investigated a complaint in June 2009, but added they had no suspect in the case. \"At the time the report was taken, the victim did not provide detectives with the location of the incident or suspect description,\" a statement said. \"As of September 2018, the case has been reopened and our detectives are following up on information being provided,\" it added. Ronaldo's lawyers have previously said they will sue Der Spiegel magazine over its reporting.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2519, "answer_start": 1454, "text": "The Portuguese international had previously said the allegation, first reported in German magazine Der Spiegel, was \"fake news\". On Wednesday, he issued a statement through his Twitter account: Der Spiegel said Ms Mayorga, 34, had filed a report with Las Vegas police shortly after the alleged incident. But the next year, she reportedly reached an out-of-court settlement with Ronaldo involving a $375,000 (PS288,000) payment for agreeing never to go public with the allegations. Her lawyers are now seeking to declare the non-disclosure agreement void. Las Vegas police confirmed on Tuesday they had initially investigated a complaint in June 2009, but added they had no suspect in the case. \"At the time the report was taken, the victim did not provide detectives with the location of the incident or suspect description,\" a statement said. \"As of September 2018, the case has been reopened and our detectives are following up on information being provided,\" it added. Ronaldo's lawyers have previously said they will sue Der Spiegel magazine over its reporting." } ], "id": "9142_0", "question": "How has Ronaldo responded?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "This is it. After primaries, debates, countless polls, months of campaigning and endless speculation, the US mid-term elections are almost here. In some states, early voting has been going on for weeks and turnout has surpassed previous records for non-presidential years. At this point Democrats are cautiously optimistic of their chances to take back some legislative power. Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi has gone so far as to flat-out state that her party will win control of the House of Representatives. Such an outcome would have immediate and drastic implications for the president's ability to advance his political agenda and Democratic oversight of his administration. The \"mid-term wave\" - a sweeping electoral triumph that reshapes the national political map - is a recurring phenomenon in US politics. Is one about to crash on Republicans in Washington? For the purposes of this analysis, a mid-term wave is where one party picks up a combination of more than 20 seats in the US House of Representatives and the Senate. That's happened eight times in the last 70 years, notably in 1994 (a Republican wave against Bill Clinton) and 2010 (one against Barack Obama). Today, the Republican Party is near a modern-day high in seats in the House of Representatives, with a 241-to-194 seat majority, so it could be poised for a tumble. The Senate terrain may be friendlier for Republicans, with Democrats defending 10 seats in states Mr Trump won in 2016, but this year's political atmosphere is such that an electoral storm could be brewing. Democrats have the political wind at their back, but intervening events - like the fight over confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court - have the potential to shake things up. What is the current state of play? Here are the measurements - and the history lessons - that will give us clues. Money makes the (political) world go round. Levels of cash pouring in for candidates, parties and independent groups are an indication of electoral muscle for advertising, organisation and get-out-the-vote efforts. They're also a reflection of the enthusiasm of each side's donor base. There's one component of campaign fundraising that tracks particularly closely with every wave election in the last 25 years, a period during which the role of money in political campaigns skyrocketed. In the Republican wave of 1994, individual donations to House candidates - which are limited under campaign finance law - tilted toward Republicans. The party then took control of the chamber for the first time since 1955. In 2006, the fundraising advantage flipped to the Democrats, as did control of Congress. Four years later, Republicans were back in the money - and back in charge of the House. In 2014, they built their biggest majority there in 83 years and won control of the Senate, as well. \"In mid-term waves, long-time incumbents can get kind of caught flat-footed when they're faced with a well-funded, competitive race,\" says Geoffrey Skelley of the University of Virginia Center for Politics. 2018 outlook: What was once a remarkable fund-raising advantage for Democratic House of representative candidates has become an astounding one. The latest figures show them more than doubling the Republican amount of contributions from individual donors. As of 2 November, they have brought in $649m (PS500m), against \"only\" $312m for Republicans. Democratic enthusiasm is translating into open pocketbooks - and a rising financial tide is lifting all Democratic ships. It's not all gloom and doom for Republicans, however. They have plenty of deep-pocketed donors pouring their own money into independent expenditures, and the Republican Party itself is flooding money into key races across the US. When it comes to grass-roots enthusiasm and small-money donors, however, all the energy and excitement is clearly coming from the left. In the past month alone, Democrats have hit the accelerator and left the Republicans behind in a cloud of dust. Mid-term elections are said to be a referendum on the incumbent president. When presidents are unpopular, voters take out their frustration on their party in Congress. If the chief executive is riding high, the party is rewarded (or, at least, not excessively punished). A look at the Gallup presidential approval poll over the last 60 years tends to bear this out. Every time a president faced a net-negative rating in the month before the mid-terms - Ronald Reagan in 1982, Bill Clinton in 1994, George Bush in 2006 and Barack Obama in 2010 and 2014 - it meant lights-out for his party at the ballot box in November. The exceptions are also enlightening. Gerald Ford was plus-24 in October 1974, but his numbers - following his controversial pardoning of Richard Nixon the month before - were poised to take a nosedive, declining 15 points over the next three months. Democrats gained 48 seats in the House and five in the Senate - what would be known as the \"Watergate Class\" of Congress. Lyndon Johnson was around the break-even point in 1966, but unease about the Vietnam War and civil rights unrest, combined with his party's inflated congressional numbers after a big victory two years earlier, set Democrats up for a tumble. 2018 outlook: Donald Trump's approval ratings have been remarkably stable, given the tumult of his first year-and-a-half in office. He didn't have much of a \"honeymoon\" period following his election, so there haven't been many sharp changes. At the end of August, the president stood at 40% approval. On the eve of the mid-term elections his approval is... 40% That's not a good sign for Republicans. The president has defied political gravity in the past, but his unpopularity could be a weight that sinks his party on Tuesday. This involves asking people simply which party's House candidate they would support in the election. There are 435 individual House of Representatives races in every mid-term election, meaning at least 870 candidates from the two major parties plus a handful of prominent independents and third-party politicians. Each race is unique, every constituency has its own particular interests, and each congressional district has a demographic identity as unique as a fingerprint. It therefore seems implausible that the collective outcome of all those races could be boiled down to a simple poll asking whether a voter would prefer a nameless Democrat or a faceless Republican. The generic ballot question, however, has proven to be a remarkably accurate predictor of mid-term election prospects for the two major parties. \"The national generic ballot picks up the national political climate,\" says Alan Abramowitz, a political science professor at Emory University who has crafted an election prediction model based largely on the generic ballot polling numbers. \"I view it as a measure of the political mood of the electorate.\" In 1958, 1982 and 2006, the Democratic generic ballot advantage ballooned before the party's wave-election victories. When the Republican waves of 1994, 2010 and 2014 swept through, the Democratic advantage narrowed to low single digits (or even, at times during the election run-up, disappeared entirely). This year, Abramowitz says, the tipping point for Democratic control of the House sits around a seven-point generic ballot advantage. A lead bigger than that, and a wave could be on the horizon. 2018 outlook: The Democratic generic ballot lead has shifted over the course of the past year. In the late spring it narrowed to the point that it appeared Republicans were in excellent shape for November. By mid-September, however, the Democratic lead approached double-digits. That trend tailed off a bit, but the current eight-point margin is on the lower edge of where it has to be for a blue wave, even if it falls short of a tsunami. Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans are pushing positive economic numbers as a reason why they deserve another two years of unified control in Washington. Historically, however, a growing economy is no guarantee of success for the president's party. In 1994, when the governing Democrats ceded Congress, the economy was expanding at more than 4%, although unemployment was a bit higher than the current mark, at 5.8%. In other wave years, 2006 and 2014, the economy wasn't in bad shape either. A struggling economy, on the other hand, can be a death sentence for the incumbent party's mid-term prospects. In 1958, Republicans in Congress faced a bloodbath largely due to that year's recession, which included a modern-record -10% first-quarter GDP contraction. Negative growth in 1974 and 1982 also probably contributed to Republican losses those years. \"You'd rather have a strong economy than a bad economy, but it doesn't mean you're going to escape the wrath of voters,\" says Abramowitz. 2018 outlook: Third-quarter gross domestic product growth is down a bit, after the second quarter hit 4.2%. Combined with unemployment at a 49-year low and signs of wage growth, however, the economic numbers are undoubtedly good. Mr Trump has decided to make immigration control his closing argument to mid-term voters - to the dismay of some Republicans who would prefer he focus laser-like on the robust economy. If history is a guide, however, the president may be right to look for a different issue, as a growing economy is no guarantee of electoral success. Set aside all the poll numbers, economic figures and expert analyses. Who has their finger on the pulse of the political climate better than anyone? Probably the politicians themselves. They're the ones whose names are on the ballots, and they're the ones who could be out of a job if a wave hits. Facing the prospect of embarrassing electoral defeat, some politicians may opt to ease into early retirement or get a head-start on colleagues searching for post-public-service gainful employment. \"We know historically that open seats are more difficult to defend,\" says Skelley. \"And because they're more difficult to defend, that gives the party that doesn't control them a better shot.\" A look at modern retirement trends shows a mixed picture. The retirement figures in 2010 gave little hint of the carnage in store for Mr Obama's party. In 1994, however, a surge of Democratic retirements may have foreshadowed big Republican gains that autumn. 2018 outlook: If 1994's retirements were a harbinger of doom for Democrats, 2018's numbers could spell trouble for Republicans. Several key committee chairs and Speaker of the House Paul Ryan have already joined what's become a modern record for retirements from a majority party - a telling sign that they think Republicans may not be a majority much longer. Several incumbents - on the left and right - also were forcibly retired, as they lost primary races to grass-roots challengers. That could be another indication of an anti-incumbent mood in the electorate that, because there are more Republicans running for re-election than Democrats, could help fuel a Washington power shift. Micah Luxen contributed to this report.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1842, "answer_start": 864, "text": "For the purposes of this analysis, a mid-term wave is where one party picks up a combination of more than 20 seats in the US House of Representatives and the Senate. That's happened eight times in the last 70 years, notably in 1994 (a Republican wave against Bill Clinton) and 2010 (one against Barack Obama). Today, the Republican Party is near a modern-day high in seats in the House of Representatives, with a 241-to-194 seat majority, so it could be poised for a tumble. The Senate terrain may be friendlier for Republicans, with Democrats defending 10 seats in states Mr Trump won in 2016, but this year's political atmosphere is such that an electoral storm could be brewing. Democrats have the political wind at their back, but intervening events - like the fight over confirming Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court - have the potential to shake things up. What is the current state of play? Here are the measurements - and the history lessons - that will give us clues." } ], "id": "9143_0", "question": "What is a wave?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US labour secretary has defended his past role in striking a plea deal with rich financier Jeffrey Epstein amid calls for his resignation. Secretary Alex Acosta has come under scrutiny for negotiating a light sentence for Epstein in 2008, when he pleaded guilty to prostitution charges. Epstein was charged with new sex trafficking charges in relation to allegations from the 2000s on Monday. Top Democrats in Congress have called for Mr Acosta to resign or be fired. Epstein was charged on Monday with allegedly running a \"vast network\" of underage girls for sex, enticing them to visit his Manhattan and Florida mansions between 2002 and 2005. He pleaded not guilty to charges of sex trafficking and sex trafficking conspiracy, and will remain in jail until his bail hearing on 11 July. Jeffrey Epstein: What are his famous friends saying? Mr Acosta had been a federal prosecutor in Florida more than a decade ago when he offered Epstein a deal that allowed the financier to avoid a potential life sentence and instead serve about 13 months in prison. Thanks to a work-release programme, Epstein was able to serve most of that sentence from his office in Palm Beach. The deal ended the FBI investigation into whether there were more victims than the 36 cited in court documents or if more people took part in the alleged scheme. Last November, the Miami Herald published an investigation into Mr Acosta's involvement with the 2007 deal that brought the case back into the national spotlight. During his confirmation hearing in March 2017, Mr Acosta defended the deal, telling lawmakers that it required Epstein to register as a sex offender and go to prison. On Tuesday, Mr Acosta tweeted that he supported the new investigation and again defended his role handling the original case. \"Now that new evidence and additional testimony is available, the NY prosecution offers an important opportunity to more fully bring him to justice,\" he wrote, adding: \"The crimes committed by Epstein are horrific, and I am pleased that NY prosecutors are moving forward with a case based on new evidence.\" The Department of Labour has told Fox News that Mr Acosta has no plans of resigning due to this scandal. At the White House on Tuesday President Donald Trump told reporters of his labour secretary: \"I feel very badly, actually, for Secretary Acosta.\" Mr Trump said that the first time he met Mr Acosta was when he chose him for the cabinet position, and emphasised how much time had passed since the 2008 plea agreement. \"What happened 12 or 15 years ago, if you go back and look at everybody else's decisions, I would think you'd probably find that they would wish that they maybe did it a different way,\" he said. \"But we're going to be looking at that and looking at it very closely,\" Mr Trump continued. Mr Trump added that he knew Epstein as a \"fixture in Palm Beach\", where Mr Trump owns a golf resort. \"I had a falling out with him a while ago,\" he said, adding that they parted ways around 15 years ago. \"I was not a fan,\" he added. During a speech from the Senate floor on Tuesday, Democrat Chuck Schumer said Mr Acosta should be fired if he does not resign. \"It is now impossible for anyone to have confidence in Secretary Acosta's ability to lead the Department of Labor,\" Mr Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate said during a floor speech on Tuesday. \"We cannot have as one of the leading appointed officials in America someone who has done this, plain and simple.\" Senator Schumer's comments came a day after Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi tweeted after Epstein's preliminary hearing that Mr Acosta \"must step down\". The California congresswoman said Mr Acosta \"engaged in an unconscionable agreement\" with Epstein and prevented young victims from \"seeking justice\". Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia and Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz are among other Democrats who have called on Mr Acosta to resign. A number of 2020 Democratic presidential hopefuls, including Senators Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar, Kirsten Gillibrand and Cory Booker, have echoed the same. The New York native taught mathematics and physics at Manhattan's private Dalton School. He moved into finance in 1976, working as an options trader for investment banking company Bear Stearns. Within four years, he was made a limited partner. He then went on to found his own financial management firm J Epstein & Co, reportedly managing the assets of clients with more than $1bn (PS798m) in net worth. In 1996, he changed his company's name to The Financial Trust Co and based it in the US Virgin Islands for tax purposes. His lavish lifestyle, along with the secrecy surrounding his client list and other details of his business, earned Epstein a reputation as a mysterious moneyman. Reports of his current wealth vary, with his Virgin Islands-based firm generating no public records. According to Florida court records, Epstein also maintains properties in the US Virgin Islands, Paris and Mexico. The financier rubbed elbows with many of America's rich and powerful, including former president Bill Clinton, President Donald Trump and Prince Andrew. In a 2002 interview, Mr Trump called Epstein a \"terrific guy\" who he had known for 15 years. \"He's a lot of fun to be with,\" the president said at the time. \"It is even said that he likes beautiful women as much as I do, and many of them are on the younger side.\" On Monday, a spokesman for Mr Clinton said he \"knows nothing about the terrible crimes\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3038, "answer_start": 2203, "text": "At the White House on Tuesday President Donald Trump told reporters of his labour secretary: \"I feel very badly, actually, for Secretary Acosta.\" Mr Trump said that the first time he met Mr Acosta was when he chose him for the cabinet position, and emphasised how much time had passed since the 2008 plea agreement. \"What happened 12 or 15 years ago, if you go back and look at everybody else's decisions, I would think you'd probably find that they would wish that they maybe did it a different way,\" he said. \"But we're going to be looking at that and looking at it very closely,\" Mr Trump continued. Mr Trump added that he knew Epstein as a \"fixture in Palm Beach\", where Mr Trump owns a golf resort. \"I had a falling out with him a while ago,\" he said, adding that they parted ways around 15 years ago. \"I was not a fan,\" he added." } ], "id": "9144_0", "question": "What has President Trump said?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump's ability to wage war on Iran without congressional approval has been limited in a Senate bill passed by his fellow Republicans. The Iran war powers resolution was approved by a vote of 55-45 - hours after Mr Trump warned that it would make America less safe from Iran. The House passed a version of the bill in January, after Mr Trump ordered the killing of a top Iranian general. Mr Trump is expected to veto the bill once it reaches the White House. On Thursday eight Republicans bucked the president's party, which has a majority in the Senate, to vote in favour of forcing Mr Trump to consult with Congress before conducting military operations against Iran. A day before the vote, Mr Trump tweeted: \"It is very important for our Country's SECURITY that the United States Senate not vote for the Iran War Powers Resolution.\" \"We are doing very well with Iran and this is not the time to show weakness... If my hands were tied, Iran would have a field day. Sends a very bad signal. The Democrats are only doing this as an attempt to embarrass the Republican Party.\" The resolution requires Mr Trump to remove troops who are engaged in hostilities with Iran unless Congress declares war or passes a resolution allowing the specific use of force. It adds that no part of the resolution \"shall be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack\". The war powers resolution passed the Senate hours after the US Navy announced that it had seized weapons believed to be of Iranian \"design and manufacture\" from a Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea. In a statement, the US military said the USS Normandy seized \"150 'Dehlavieh' anti-tank guided missiles\" as well as \"three Iranian surface-to-air missiles, Iranian thermal imaging weapon scopes, and Iranian components for unmanned aerial and surface vessels\". Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who co-sponsored the legislation, cheered the resolution's passage. \"If we're to order our young men and women in uniform to risk their lives and health in war, it should be on the basis of careful deliberation,\" he said. Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker tweeted his disagreement, writing: \"At this pivotal moment, the President needs the ability to act quickly and not to be micromanaged by Congress.\" Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee, who co-sponsored said the bill that it is in line with Mr Trump's priorities. \"I support what the President is doing with our foreign policy,\" Mr Lee said. \"For me, this is about supporting President Trump in his foreign policy, in his effort to make sure that we don't get involved too easily, too quickly, in an unconstitutional way, in any war. This is entirely consistent with his policy.\" Last month's US assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, believed to be Iran's second most powerful man, sent tensions between the two countries soaring and raised fears of an all-out war. Iran retaliated by attacking a US base in Iraq, causing traumatic brain injuries to 109 US service personnel. Washington and Tehran have long been foes. Problems can be traced to at least 1979, when Iran's US-backed shah was overthrown and the country became an Islamic republic. That year, amidst the fallout from the revolution, dozens of Americans were taken hostage inside the US embassy in the capital Tehran. Relations have been frosty ever since. There were signs of a diplomatic thaw in 2015, when Iran agreed a landmark deal to limit its nuclear programme, allaying international concerns. It did so in return for the lifting of tough economic sanctions. But Mr Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, reinstating US sanctions against Iran.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1863, "answer_start": 1096, "text": "The resolution requires Mr Trump to remove troops who are engaged in hostilities with Iran unless Congress declares war or passes a resolution allowing the specific use of force. It adds that no part of the resolution \"shall be construed to prevent the United States from defending itself from imminent attack\". The war powers resolution passed the Senate hours after the US Navy announced that it had seized weapons believed to be of Iranian \"design and manufacture\" from a Iranian dhow in the Arabian Sea. In a statement, the US military said the USS Normandy seized \"150 'Dehlavieh' anti-tank guided missiles\" as well as \"three Iranian surface-to-air missiles, Iranian thermal imaging weapon scopes, and Iranian components for unmanned aerial and surface vessels\"." } ], "id": "9145_0", "question": "What does the resolution require?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2733, "answer_start": 1864, "text": "Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, who co-sponsored the legislation, cheered the resolution's passage. \"If we're to order our young men and women in uniform to risk their lives and health in war, it should be on the basis of careful deliberation,\" he said. Mississippi Republican Senator Roger Wicker tweeted his disagreement, writing: \"At this pivotal moment, the President needs the ability to act quickly and not to be micromanaged by Congress.\" Utah Republican Senator Mike Lee, who co-sponsored said the bill that it is in line with Mr Trump's priorities. \"I support what the President is doing with our foreign policy,\" Mr Lee said. \"For me, this is about supporting President Trump in his foreign policy, in his effort to make sure that we don't get involved too easily, too quickly, in an unconstitutional way, in any war. This is entirely consistent with his policy.\"" } ], "id": "9145_1", "question": "How did Senators react?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3667, "answer_start": 2734, "text": "Last month's US assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, believed to be Iran's second most powerful man, sent tensions between the two countries soaring and raised fears of an all-out war. Iran retaliated by attacking a US base in Iraq, causing traumatic brain injuries to 109 US service personnel. Washington and Tehran have long been foes. Problems can be traced to at least 1979, when Iran's US-backed shah was overthrown and the country became an Islamic republic. That year, amidst the fallout from the revolution, dozens of Americans were taken hostage inside the US embassy in the capital Tehran. Relations have been frosty ever since. There were signs of a diplomatic thaw in 2015, when Iran agreed a landmark deal to limit its nuclear programme, allaying international concerns. It did so in return for the lifting of tough economic sanctions. But Mr Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, reinstating US sanctions against Iran." } ], "id": "9145_2", "question": "What about current US-Iran relations?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A New Jersey man has become at least the ninth US tourist to die in the Dominican Republic in a string of deaths the FBI is investigating. Relatives of Joseph Allen, 55, say he was healthy and had been a frequent visitor to the Caribbean island nation. Several of the tourists who died over the past year drank from their hotel minibar before falling ill, say family. The FBI is helping local authorities with toxicology tests. No link has been established between the deaths. Joseph Allen's family say he arrived at the Terra Linda Resort in Sosua to celebrate a friend's birthday on 9 June. His sister told ABC that on 12 June he had remarked to friends he was overheating. He decided to shower and go to bed early. The next day, he didn't answer knocks on his door. When a maid entered, she found him cold and stiff on the floor, according to his sister, Jamie Reed. His 23-year-old son, who had flown there to be with him on Father's Day, landed to discover he was dead. Jason Allen told NBC: \"We want some closure to figure out what's going on and why this is happening.\" His family are currently trying to repatriate his body to US where they hope that a post-mortem examination will reveal his cause of death. California man Robert Bell Wallace, 67, died on 14 April after getting sick at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana. The same month John Corcoran died in his hotel room, according to his sister, Barbara Corcoran, who stars on TV show Shark Tank. She attributed his death to \"natural causes\". Miranda Schaup-Werner, a 41-year-old from Pennsylvania, died on 25 May after drinking from her hotel minibar, US media report. Her body was found hours after she checked into the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville. On 30 May, a hotel worker discovered the bodies of Cynthia Ann Day, 49, and Edward Nathaniel Holmes, 63, in their rooms. Local investigators say both had internal bleeding and fluid in their lungs. The 11 June death of Leyla Cox, 53, was confirmed by the US State Department. Her son has questioned the official ruling, which found she had suffered a fatal heart attack, pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. Last July, David Harrison died at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. His wife said he had been snorkelling the day before his death. And last June, 51-year-old Yvette Monique Sport died at a Bahia Principe hotel in Punta Cana, after having a drink from the minibar, her sister told US media. Officials said a heart attack was the cause. Local officials have called the deaths \"unrelated and isolated\", attributing them to natural causes. The US embassy in Santo Domingo said it had not yet found anything to indicate the cases are linked. The deaths represent a tiny percentage of the Americans who holiday on the island every year. Seven million tourists visit the Dominican Republic annually, with nearly half coming from the US. Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia said earlier this month: \"These are isolated incidents and the Dominican Republic is a safe destination.\" Dozens of other visitors also said they were sickened after staying at hotels and resorts around the country in the past year. A group of around 40 Oklahoma high school graduates say their trip in early June was spoiled when they ate at a Japanese restaurant managed by the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, where two Americans died after getting ill. \"We just don't know what is happening,\" said Liz McLaughlin, whose daughter fell sick. \"Is it the water? Is it the ice? Is it the food? Is it the food handling? Is it the pesticides?\" A group of 114 fans of Jimmy Buffett from Oklahoma say about half their group was sickened after a trip to the Hotel Riu Palace Macao in Punta Cana in April. \"The common thread with everybody that did get sick is that they swam in the swim-up bar pool and/or they had a drink from the swim-up bar,\" said Dana Flower, a travel agent for the group, the Central Oklahoma Parrothead Association. \"So it could be related to that pool.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1216, "answer_start": 477, "text": "Joseph Allen's family say he arrived at the Terra Linda Resort in Sosua to celebrate a friend's birthday on 9 June. His sister told ABC that on 12 June he had remarked to friends he was overheating. He decided to shower and go to bed early. The next day, he didn't answer knocks on his door. When a maid entered, she found him cold and stiff on the floor, according to his sister, Jamie Reed. His 23-year-old son, who had flown there to be with him on Father's Day, landed to discover he was dead. Jason Allen told NBC: \"We want some closure to figure out what's going on and why this is happening.\" His family are currently trying to repatriate his body to US where they hope that a post-mortem examination will reveal his cause of death." } ], "id": "9146_0", "question": "What happened in the latest case?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2472, "answer_start": 1217, "text": "California man Robert Bell Wallace, 67, died on 14 April after getting sick at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana. The same month John Corcoran died in his hotel room, according to his sister, Barbara Corcoran, who stars on TV show Shark Tank. She attributed his death to \"natural causes\". Miranda Schaup-Werner, a 41-year-old from Pennsylvania, died on 25 May after drinking from her hotel minibar, US media report. Her body was found hours after she checked into the Luxury Bahia Principe Bouganville. On 30 May, a hotel worker discovered the bodies of Cynthia Ann Day, 49, and Edward Nathaniel Holmes, 63, in their rooms. Local investigators say both had internal bleeding and fluid in their lungs. The 11 June death of Leyla Cox, 53, was confirmed by the US State Department. Her son has questioned the official ruling, which found she had suffered a fatal heart attack, pulmonary edema and respiratory failure. Last July, David Harrison died at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. His wife said he had been snorkelling the day before his death. And last June, 51-year-old Yvette Monique Sport died at a Bahia Principe hotel in Punta Cana, after having a drink from the minibar, her sister told US media. Officials said a heart attack was the cause." } ], "id": "9146_1", "question": "Who else has died?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3014, "answer_start": 2473, "text": "Local officials have called the deaths \"unrelated and isolated\", attributing them to natural causes. The US embassy in Santo Domingo said it had not yet found anything to indicate the cases are linked. The deaths represent a tiny percentage of the Americans who holiday on the island every year. Seven million tourists visit the Dominican Republic annually, with nearly half coming from the US. Tourism Minister Francisco Javier Garcia said earlier this month: \"These are isolated incidents and the Dominican Republic is a safe destination.\"" } ], "id": "9146_2", "question": "Perhaps it's just a coincidence?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3987, "answer_start": 3015, "text": "Dozens of other visitors also said they were sickened after staying at hotels and resorts around the country in the past year. A group of around 40 Oklahoma high school graduates say their trip in early June was spoiled when they ate at a Japanese restaurant managed by the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Punta Cana, where two Americans died after getting ill. \"We just don't know what is happening,\" said Liz McLaughlin, whose daughter fell sick. \"Is it the water? Is it the ice? Is it the food? Is it the food handling? Is it the pesticides?\" A group of 114 fans of Jimmy Buffett from Oklahoma say about half their group was sickened after a trip to the Hotel Riu Palace Macao in Punta Cana in April. \"The common thread with everybody that did get sick is that they swam in the swim-up bar pool and/or they had a drink from the swim-up bar,\" said Dana Flower, a travel agent for the group, the Central Oklahoma Parrothead Association. \"So it could be related to that pool.\"" } ], "id": "9146_3", "question": "Who else has got sick?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who has won the general election in Greece, has politics running through his veins. His father Konstantinos Mitsotakis was prime minister in the early 1990s and his sister, Dora Bakoyannis, was mayor of Athens when the city hosted the Olympics in 2004, before becoming Greek foreign minister. Together with the socialist Papandreou and the conservative Karamanlis families, the Mitsotakis family has dominated Greek politics for years. When the conservative New Democracy (ND) party was dumped out of power in January 2015 by the radical left Syriza, there was a sense of revolution. The old guard had been swept away, blamed for allowing the economy to live beyond its means for so long and for then punishing Greeks with stringent austerity. Kyriakos Mitsotakis was part of that last conservative government, serving as minister for administrative reform with the task of sacking thousands of civil servants to meet the stringent terms of international bailouts. This was a venture capitalist, ex-McKinsey consultant educated at Harvard and Stanford in the US, who appeared very much part of the old guard. Seen as a liberal, Mr Mitsotakis, 51, took over the ND leadership in January 2016, months after the party was defeated in a year of two elections and one referendum. He immediately went on the offensive against the populist, left-wing government of Alexis Tsipras. \"Mr Tsipras handed over everything and got nothing in return,\" he complained in response to the government's decision to accept a third bailout from the EU, IMF and ECB. Last year, when Greece stopped relying on emergency bailout loans, Mr Mitsotakis said economic improvement was too slow. He took advantage of popular anger at Mr Tsipras's name-change agreement with northern neighbour North Macedonia, accusing the prime minister of dividing the people of Greece. But he later admitted there was little he could do to change it. At the end of May, his party won the EU elections by a clear margin, polling over 33% of the vote, while Syriza fell below 24%. His campaign promises are to cut bailout taxes, unblock privatisation and resurrect a hard-hit middle class. Victory still leaves Mr Mitsotakis's hands tied to an extent, with continued international scrutiny after the end of the bailout last year. But the ND leader believes there is scope for tax cuts. \"Everyone seems to agree that we have to lower taxation, including our creditors,\" he told the Associated Press news agency. But he will have to persuade creditors and the EU to scrap a Greek primary surplus target of 3.5% of economic output until 2022. \"Give me 12 months to convince our creditors, the international capital markets that we actually mean business, that Greece can actually change,\" he said. While he respected existing agreements, he said he wanted to be rewarded for real reforms with smaller primary surpluses. This time he is adamant there will be no more civil service sackings, no more cuts to pensions and benefits. Derided by his rival as one of the \"crown princes\" of Greek politics, Mr Mitsotakis is in a rush to return Greece to the centre right.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3134, "answer_start": 2055, "text": "His campaign promises are to cut bailout taxes, unblock privatisation and resurrect a hard-hit middle class. Victory still leaves Mr Mitsotakis's hands tied to an extent, with continued international scrutiny after the end of the bailout last year. But the ND leader believes there is scope for tax cuts. \"Everyone seems to agree that we have to lower taxation, including our creditors,\" he told the Associated Press news agency. But he will have to persuade creditors and the EU to scrap a Greek primary surplus target of 3.5% of economic output until 2022. \"Give me 12 months to convince our creditors, the international capital markets that we actually mean business, that Greece can actually change,\" he said. While he respected existing agreements, he said he wanted to be rewarded for real reforms with smaller primary surpluses. This time he is adamant there will be no more civil service sackings, no more cuts to pensions and benefits. Derided by his rival as one of the \"crown princes\" of Greek politics, Mr Mitsotakis is in a rush to return Greece to the centre right." } ], "id": "9147_0", "question": "What will he do in office?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump's lead lawyer for the special counsel investigation into Russia interference in the 2016 election has resigned, US media report. John Dowd, 77, is reported to have concluded that Mr Trump was increasingly ignoring his advice. Other reports say Mr Trump had lost confidence in Mr Dowd's ability to handle special counsel Robert Mueller. In an email to news outlets, Mr Dowd wrote: \"I love the president and wish him well.\" The special counsel is investigating possible links between Mr Trump's associates and Russia, as well as whether the president has obstructed the inquiry. Last week, Mr Dowd called on the Department of Justice to immediately shut down Mr Mueller's investigation - initially saying that he was speaking for the president. But he later clarified that he was speaking for himself and not on Mr Trump's behalf. Mr Dowd took over the president's legal team last summer. Under his leadership, Mr Trump's team of lawyers advised the president to co-operate with the special counsel. Mr Trump has recently begun publicly criticising Mr Mueller by name, rather than just his inquiry. In response, several congressional Republicans warned Mr Trump not to consider firing Mr Mueller. Senator Lindsey Graham warned that \"that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency\". Mr Trump has also reportedly insisted he wants to be interviewed by the inquiry, a step Mr Dowd was said to oppose. Last week Mr Trump added combative former US attorney Joe diGenova, who has been a pundit on Fox News, to his legal team. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington DC Just 11 days after dismissing reports that he was shopping for new lawyers and tweeting that he was \"very happy\" with his personal legal team, Donald Trump has hired a new lawyer and parted ways with the head of his legal team. It could be an indication that the president's simmering dissatisfaction with the direction of his legal defence is coming to a head. Up until now, Mr Trump's top lawyers have been pledging full co-operation with Robert Mueller's investigation, assuring that a timely but thorough review of the evidence will end in complete exoneration. Now, however, the president could be opting for a more confrontational approach. His new hire, Joseph DiGenova, has suggested the president is the target of an FBI conspiracy. And last weekend, for the first time, Mr Trump took aim at Mr Mueller by name in a series of incendiary tweets. Mr Mueller is reportedly looking into Mr Trump's business dealings and foreign contacts with the Trump administration beyond just Russia - suggesting that his investigation is nowhere near drawing to a close. The president has been counselled to be patient. That patience could be wearing thin.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1553, "answer_start": 855, "text": "Mr Dowd took over the president's legal team last summer. Under his leadership, Mr Trump's team of lawyers advised the president to co-operate with the special counsel. Mr Trump has recently begun publicly criticising Mr Mueller by name, rather than just his inquiry. In response, several congressional Republicans warned Mr Trump not to consider firing Mr Mueller. Senator Lindsey Graham warned that \"that would be the beginning of the end of his presidency\". Mr Trump has also reportedly insisted he wants to be interviewed by the inquiry, a step Mr Dowd was said to oppose. Last week Mr Trump added combative former US attorney Joe diGenova, who has been a pundit on Fox News, to his legal team." } ], "id": "9148_0", "question": "To testify or not?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2755, "answer_start": 1554, "text": "Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington DC Just 11 days after dismissing reports that he was shopping for new lawyers and tweeting that he was \"very happy\" with his personal legal team, Donald Trump has hired a new lawyer and parted ways with the head of his legal team. It could be an indication that the president's simmering dissatisfaction with the direction of his legal defence is coming to a head. Up until now, Mr Trump's top lawyers have been pledging full co-operation with Robert Mueller's investigation, assuring that a timely but thorough review of the evidence will end in complete exoneration. Now, however, the president could be opting for a more confrontational approach. His new hire, Joseph DiGenova, has suggested the president is the target of an FBI conspiracy. And last weekend, for the first time, Mr Trump took aim at Mr Mueller by name in a series of incendiary tweets. Mr Mueller is reportedly looking into Mr Trump's business dealings and foreign contacts with the Trump administration beyond just Russia - suggesting that his investigation is nowhere near drawing to a close. The president has been counselled to be patient. That patience could be wearing thin." } ], "id": "9148_1", "question": "Trump's patience wearing thin?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The leaders of four major UK parties are facing an audience in a Question Time leaders' special. The leaders of the Conservative Party, the Labour Party, the SNP and the Liberal Democrats will take part. Hosted by Fiona Bruce in Sheffield, the programme will air on BBC One at 19:00 GMT, and you can watch it live online, too. Each leader will take turns answering questions from the audience for 30 minutes, with Labour's Jeremy Corbyn going first. He will be followed by the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon, then Jo Swinson, leader of the Liberal Democrats, with Conservative leader Boris Johnson going last. It is part of a series of debates on the BBC, ITV and Sky, as party leaders try to persuade the public of their vision for the UK. In the UK, it will be broadcast on BBC One and on iPlayer from 19:00 to 21:00 and streamed live on the BBC News website, where you can also follow the latest reaction and analysis on our live page. The programme will also be broadcast on the BBC News channel and on iPlayer, with a half-hour preview programme starting at 18:30 and an hour-long programme live from the \"spin room\" afterwards, with reaction from specialist correspondents the Reality Check team. It will also be broadcast live on BBC Radio 5 Live. You can listen live here or on the BBC Sounds app. - CONFUSED? Our simple election guide - POLICY GUIDE: Who should I vote for? - POLLS: How are the parties doing? - A TO Z: Our tool to explain election words - REGISTER: What you need to do to vote Brexit: Three and a half years after the EU referendum, two prime ministers down and with Parliament deadlocked, Brexit remains hugely divisive. The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have positioned it as their key issue, with their slogans of \"Get Brexit done\" and \"Stop Brexit\" respectively. Labour's position is more nuanced. The party is promising to \"get Brexit sorted\" in six months by renegotiating Boris Johnson's deal with the EU and then putting that to a public vote. The SNP are pro-EU and want to stop Brexit - they have called themselves \"Scotland's Remain party\". You can find out more about where the parties stand on Brexit here. The NHS: All of the parties agree the NHS needs more money but a row is likely over whether the NHS would be included in trade negotiations after Brexit - a criticism directed at Boris Johnson by Jeremy Corbyn a number of times previously. Mr Johnson has said the NHS \"will never be for sale\". The Liberal Democrats' manifesto has the NHS at the fore and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to protect the NHS from becoming a \"bargaining chip\" in any future trade deals. Climate change: We've heard a number of \"green\" pledges in this election so far - so this is another issue the leaders are likely to be quizzed on. Polling earlier this month revealed a potentially significant shift elevating the environment to being among voters' top priorities. The Conservative government has already committed to cutting emissions to zero by 2050, Labour wants to \"substantially\" reduce emissions by 2030, the Lib Dems want to spend PS100bn tackling the effects of climate change and the SNP wants net-zero emissions by 2045 at the latest. Scottish independence and coalitions: Nicola Sturgeon is bound to talk about this issue, as the SNP want a referendum on Scottish independence in 2020. The issue will potentially be framed in the context of hypothetical coalition deals between leaders in the event of a hung Parliament, where no party has an absolute majority - the SNP's condition for joining a coalition is support for a Scottish referendum. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have said they would block a second vote. And Boris Johnson says a Labour-SNP coalition would be \"chaotic\". If the Lib Dems were in a position to form a coalition, they have suggested they would request another referendum on Brexit - deputy leader Sir Ed Davey suggested this week his party would support the Tories if they agreed to this. Boris Johnson: There are a few things here. Jeremy Corbyn is likely to bring up the NHS and his claim it could be included in trade negotiations by the Tories post-Brexit. And we could be reminded of Mr Johnson's failure to keep to his pledge to take the UK out of the EU by 31 October. We might also hear about internal party issues on Islamophobia and Mr Johnson's commitment to an investigation. Plus there is the ongoing row over the publication of a parliamentary report on alleged Russian interference in UK democracy. Jeremy Corbyn: Expect the Labour leader to be criticised for his Brexit policy, as he has been before. Critics have questioned whether he would back Remain or Leave in a further Brexit vote. Also look out for questions about his party's own internal row, over anti-Semitism. Jo Swinson: The other leaders may jump on her party's move away from earlier bold language suggesting her bid for No 10 was realistic - on Wednesday she admitted her party had been \"squeezed\", when asked about a dip in recent polls. She'll also likely be quizzed on whether she would block a Tory or Labour government and on how the Lib Dems would unite a country that voted to leave the EU if they cancelled Brexit. Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish independence remains the biggest issue for the SNP leader, followed by Brexit - Scotland voted Remain. Ms Sturgeon has already said she will request a \"Section-30 order\", which grants permission for a new referendum from the UK government. But Mr Johnson has ruled this out if he becomes prime minister. The audience will be selected by the Question Time production team to reflect how people in the country have voted. People apply online or by phone and will be asked about their past voting patterns and future voting intentions, whether they're members of political parties, and how they voted in the EU referendum. The BBC aims to represent audiences across the UK during its election coverage, so while the audience will probably be broadly local to the venue, to ensure there are sufficient supporters of all the parties some will have travelled further. You can read more about the BBC's election debates here, and the BBC's election guidelines here. The production team will ask audience members to submit questions and then choose the best and most representative of these - they'll ensure there is a range of political opinions among the questioners. The first time the panel hears each question is when the audience member asks it. Throughout the programme, audience members are also given the opportunity to ask further spontaneous questions to the panel, or, of course, to make their own comments. You can also watch the programme streamed live on the BBC News website. BBC World News will air the debate live from 19:00-21:00 GMT, with on-screen reaction and analysis from the BBC's Reality Check and specialist correspondents. Here's a concise guide to where the parties stand on key issues like Brexit, education and the NHS.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3982, "answer_start": 1495, "text": "Brexit: Three and a half years after the EU referendum, two prime ministers down and with Parliament deadlocked, Brexit remains hugely divisive. The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have positioned it as their key issue, with their slogans of \"Get Brexit done\" and \"Stop Brexit\" respectively. Labour's position is more nuanced. The party is promising to \"get Brexit sorted\" in six months by renegotiating Boris Johnson's deal with the EU and then putting that to a public vote. The SNP are pro-EU and want to stop Brexit - they have called themselves \"Scotland's Remain party\". You can find out more about where the parties stand on Brexit here. The NHS: All of the parties agree the NHS needs more money but a row is likely over whether the NHS would be included in trade negotiations after Brexit - a criticism directed at Boris Johnson by Jeremy Corbyn a number of times previously. Mr Johnson has said the NHS \"will never be for sale\". The Liberal Democrats' manifesto has the NHS at the fore and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon has pledged to protect the NHS from becoming a \"bargaining chip\" in any future trade deals. Climate change: We've heard a number of \"green\" pledges in this election so far - so this is another issue the leaders are likely to be quizzed on. Polling earlier this month revealed a potentially significant shift elevating the environment to being among voters' top priorities. The Conservative government has already committed to cutting emissions to zero by 2050, Labour wants to \"substantially\" reduce emissions by 2030, the Lib Dems want to spend PS100bn tackling the effects of climate change and the SNP wants net-zero emissions by 2045 at the latest. Scottish independence and coalitions: Nicola Sturgeon is bound to talk about this issue, as the SNP want a referendum on Scottish independence in 2020. The issue will potentially be framed in the context of hypothetical coalition deals between leaders in the event of a hung Parliament, where no party has an absolute majority - the SNP's condition for joining a coalition is support for a Scottish referendum. Both the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have said they would block a second vote. And Boris Johnson says a Labour-SNP coalition would be \"chaotic\". If the Lib Dems were in a position to form a coalition, they have suggested they would request another referendum on Brexit - deputy leader Sir Ed Davey suggested this week his party would support the Tories if they agreed to this." } ], "id": "9149_0", "question": "What issues are most likely to come up?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5530, "answer_start": 3983, "text": "Boris Johnson: There are a few things here. Jeremy Corbyn is likely to bring up the NHS and his claim it could be included in trade negotiations by the Tories post-Brexit. And we could be reminded of Mr Johnson's failure to keep to his pledge to take the UK out of the EU by 31 October. We might also hear about internal party issues on Islamophobia and Mr Johnson's commitment to an investigation. Plus there is the ongoing row over the publication of a parliamentary report on alleged Russian interference in UK democracy. Jeremy Corbyn: Expect the Labour leader to be criticised for his Brexit policy, as he has been before. Critics have questioned whether he would back Remain or Leave in a further Brexit vote. Also look out for questions about his party's own internal row, over anti-Semitism. Jo Swinson: The other leaders may jump on her party's move away from earlier bold language suggesting her bid for No 10 was realistic - on Wednesday she admitted her party had been \"squeezed\", when asked about a dip in recent polls. She'll also likely be quizzed on whether she would block a Tory or Labour government and on how the Lib Dems would unite a country that voted to leave the EU if they cancelled Brexit. Nicola Sturgeon: Scottish independence remains the biggest issue for the SNP leader, followed by Brexit - Scotland voted Remain. Ms Sturgeon has already said she will request a \"Section-30 order\", which grants permission for a new referendum from the UK government. But Mr Johnson has ruled this out if he becomes prime minister." } ], "id": "9149_1", "question": "What could the leaders potentially trip up on?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6969, "answer_start": 6870, "text": "Here's a concise guide to where the parties stand on key issues like Brexit, education and the NHS." } ], "id": "9149_2", "question": "What are the parties promising you?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The White House broke the law by withholding aid to Ukraine that had been approved by the US Congress, a government watchdog has said. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) ruling comes as President Donald Trump faces an impeachment trial in the Senate related to the withheld aid. He is accused of freezing aid to pressure Ukraine to investigate a political rival. Ukraine has opened a probe on separate allegations linked to the impeachment. \"Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law,\" the decision by the GAO said. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) \"withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act (ICA)\", the ruling continued. The 1974 Impoundment Control Act says it is illegal for the White House to withhold aid appropriated by Congress. It also says the White House must first alert Congress before it delays or blocked funds, which the Trump administration did not do. No penalties come with a violation of the ICA. Multiple presidents have been found by the GAO to have violated US laws. The act does allow the agency to sue to have the blocked or delayed funds released, but that has only happened once in history. The aid to Ukraine was released in September 2019, more than two months after it was first blocked. The White House said it disagreed with the GAO's opinion, accusing the agency of trying to \"insert themselves into the media's controversy of the day\". Democrats welcomed the ruling, saying it undercuts Republicans claim that the president committed no crime. In a news conference on Thursday morning, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the White House \"broke the law\". The ruling comes as Ukrainian authorities began a criminal investigation into whether Mr Trump's supporters were spying on the former US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch. The former envoy's movements were being monitored, according to letters, phone records, notes and flash drives obtained from Lev Parnas, a Ukrainian-American businessman. Mr Parnas is an aide to Mr Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Some of the materials - which House Democrats are presenting as evidence in the impeachment inquiry - show Mr Parnas and Mr Giuliani discussing the removal of Ms Yovanovitch, who was fired last May for reasons that remain unclear. Several text messages from a Republican congressional candidate, Robert Hyde, to Mr Parnas appear to suggest the ambassador was being tracked in the capital Kyiv. Mr Parnas was given apparent updates from Mr Hyde on the ambassador's location and mobile phone. But Mr Parnas told MSNBC on Wednesday that he did not think Mr Hyde's surveillance talk was credible. \"He was either drunk,\" said Mr Parnas, \"or he was trying to make himself bigger than it was, so I didn't take it seriously\". Mr Parnas said Ms Yovanovitch was removed because she was in the way of a Trump-approved plan to prod Ukraine to announce an investigation into former Vice-President Joe Biden. Mr Biden is a potential Democratic rival to Mr Trump in the White House election this November. Ms Yovanovitch has called for an investigation into the messages, which her lawyer called \"disturbing\". Mr Parnas told NBC that he was in Ukraine to put pressure on officials to investigate Mr Biden and his son, Hunter, on behalf of Mr Trump and Mr Giuliani. He said that President Trump \"knew exactly what was going on\". \"I wouldn't do anything without the consent of Rudy Giuliani or the president. Why would [Ukrainian] President Zelensky's inner circle or [Interior] Minister [Arsen] Avakov or all these people or [former] President [Petro] Poroshenko meet with me? \"Who am I? They were told to meet with me. And that's the secret that they're trying to keep. I was on the ground doing their work,\" he added. Documents show that Mr Parnas was in regular contact with Mr Giuliani as well as Ukrainian officials. The files also indicate Mr Parnas was directly involved in trying to have President Zelensky announce an investigation into Mr Biden. One handwritten note from Mr Parnas states: \"Get Zalensky [sic] to Annonce [sic] that the Biden case will be investigated.\" There is also a screenshot of a previously undisclosed letter from Mr Giuliani to Mr Zelensky, in which he asks to arrange a meeting. Mr Parnas said President Trump \"decided to\" withhold military aid to increase pressure on Ukraine to investigate the Bidens' activities. Mr Parnas also said he told a Ukrainian official that US Vice-President Mike Pence would not attend President Zelensky's inauguration unless there was an investigation into the Bidens. Mr Trump has said he does not know Mr Parnas. Referring to photos of himself with Mr Parnas and another Giuliani associate, he said: \"It's possible I have a picture with them because I have a picture with everybody.\" Mr Trump's has touted unsubstantiated corruption allegations against Mr Biden and his son, Hunter, who held a lucrative board position with Ukrainian gas firm Burisma while his father was US vice-president overseeing American-Ukrainian relations. The matter will be examined in Mr Trump's impeachment trial, which is due to begin in earnest next week in the US Senate. He is accused of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress but denies any wrongdoing. Analysis by Jonah Fischer, BBC News, Kyiv After months of pressure from the Trump administration, Ukraine has at last launched an investigation. Unfortunately for President Trump it's not the one he's long demanded. This interior ministry inquiry will not look into the son of former Vice-President Joe Biden or Burisma, the Ukrainian gas company Hunter Biden once lucratively worked for. It's aimed rather closer to the White House. Incredibly, Ukraine is looking into whether Trump supporters were involved in illegally surveilling Marie Yovanovitch when she was US ambassador in Kyiv. At the time Ms Yovanovitch was the subject of a public campaign by President Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani and his associates to have her removed. In May 2019 they were successful, with Ms Yovanovitch later testifying to Congress she was recalled at short notice because of an unspecified threat to her security. There's been no suggestion that President Trump was aware of any plans to monitor Ms Yovanovitch. But in his July phone call with President Zelensky he said she was \"bad news\" and that she was \"going to go through some things.\" - A SIMPLE GUIDE: If you want a basic take, this one's for you - GO DEEPER: Here's a 100, 300 and 800-word summary of the story - A STATE DIVIDED: What New Hampshire makes of it - YOUR QUESTIONS: Will Trump really testify? - HISTORY: Can an impeached president remain popular? - CASE FOR & AGAINST: What legal scholars say about Trump conduct - WHAT'S IMPEACHMENT? A political process to remove a president", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1785, "answer_start": 449, "text": "\"Faithful execution of the law does not permit the President to substitute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has enacted into law,\" the decision by the GAO said. The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) \"withheld funds for a policy reason, which is not permitted under the Impoundment Control Act (ICA)\", the ruling continued. The 1974 Impoundment Control Act says it is illegal for the White House to withhold aid appropriated by Congress. It also says the White House must first alert Congress before it delays or blocked funds, which the Trump administration did not do. No penalties come with a violation of the ICA. Multiple presidents have been found by the GAO to have violated US laws. The act does allow the agency to sue to have the blocked or delayed funds released, but that has only happened once in history. The aid to Ukraine was released in September 2019, more than two months after it was first blocked. The White House said it disagreed with the GAO's opinion, accusing the agency of trying to \"insert themselves into the media's controversy of the day\". Democrats welcomed the ruling, saying it undercuts Republicans claim that the president committed no crime. In a news conference on Thursday morning, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the White House \"broke the law\"." } ], "id": "9150_0", "question": "Why was the aid freeze illegal?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3296, "answer_start": 1786, "text": "The ruling comes as Ukrainian authorities began a criminal investigation into whether Mr Trump's supporters were spying on the former US Ambassador to Ukraine, Marie Yovanovitch. The former envoy's movements were being monitored, according to letters, phone records, notes and flash drives obtained from Lev Parnas, a Ukrainian-American businessman. Mr Parnas is an aide to Mr Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Some of the materials - which House Democrats are presenting as evidence in the impeachment inquiry - show Mr Parnas and Mr Giuliani discussing the removal of Ms Yovanovitch, who was fired last May for reasons that remain unclear. Several text messages from a Republican congressional candidate, Robert Hyde, to Mr Parnas appear to suggest the ambassador was being tracked in the capital Kyiv. Mr Parnas was given apparent updates from Mr Hyde on the ambassador's location and mobile phone. But Mr Parnas told MSNBC on Wednesday that he did not think Mr Hyde's surveillance talk was credible. \"He was either drunk,\" said Mr Parnas, \"or he was trying to make himself bigger than it was, so I didn't take it seriously\". Mr Parnas said Ms Yovanovitch was removed because she was in the way of a Trump-approved plan to prod Ukraine to announce an investigation into former Vice-President Joe Biden. Mr Biden is a potential Democratic rival to Mr Trump in the White House election this November. Ms Yovanovitch has called for an investigation into the messages, which her lawyer called \"disturbing\"." } ], "id": "9150_1", "question": "What led to Ukraine's investigation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5394, "answer_start": 3297, "text": "Mr Parnas told NBC that he was in Ukraine to put pressure on officials to investigate Mr Biden and his son, Hunter, on behalf of Mr Trump and Mr Giuliani. He said that President Trump \"knew exactly what was going on\". \"I wouldn't do anything without the consent of Rudy Giuliani or the president. Why would [Ukrainian] President Zelensky's inner circle or [Interior] Minister [Arsen] Avakov or all these people or [former] President [Petro] Poroshenko meet with me? \"Who am I? They were told to meet with me. And that's the secret that they're trying to keep. I was on the ground doing their work,\" he added. Documents show that Mr Parnas was in regular contact with Mr Giuliani as well as Ukrainian officials. The files also indicate Mr Parnas was directly involved in trying to have President Zelensky announce an investigation into Mr Biden. One handwritten note from Mr Parnas states: \"Get Zalensky [sic] to Annonce [sic] that the Biden case will be investigated.\" There is also a screenshot of a previously undisclosed letter from Mr Giuliani to Mr Zelensky, in which he asks to arrange a meeting. Mr Parnas said President Trump \"decided to\" withhold military aid to increase pressure on Ukraine to investigate the Bidens' activities. Mr Parnas also said he told a Ukrainian official that US Vice-President Mike Pence would not attend President Zelensky's inauguration unless there was an investigation into the Bidens. Mr Trump has said he does not know Mr Parnas. Referring to photos of himself with Mr Parnas and another Giuliani associate, he said: \"It's possible I have a picture with them because I have a picture with everybody.\" Mr Trump's has touted unsubstantiated corruption allegations against Mr Biden and his son, Hunter, who held a lucrative board position with Ukrainian gas firm Burisma while his father was US vice-president overseeing American-Ukrainian relations. The matter will be examined in Mr Trump's impeachment trial, which is due to begin in earnest next week in the US Senate. He is accused of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress but denies any wrongdoing." } ], "id": "9150_2", "question": "What else did Lev Parnas say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "No large oil spill has been detected so far from a tanker that has been burning since Saturday evening off the coast of China, Chinese officials say. The Sanchi is still alight and bad weather - with waves of up to 4m (13ft) - is hampering the rescue work. The vessel collided with a cargo ship about 260km (160 miles) off the coast of Shanghai. Of the 30 Iranians and two Bangladeshis on the tanker, only one body has so far been found. Twenty-one Chinese nationals on the cargo ship were rescued. The Sanchi tanker has on board 136,000 tonnes of condensate, which is an ultra-light version of crude oil. China's transport ministry said heavy winds, rain and high waves continued to hamper efforts to contain the fire. However, it added that experts at the scene believed that, given the wave conditions, no more than 1% of the condensate was on the surface of the water. A formal accident investigation, involving several government departments, would start on Tuesday, officials said. The Panama-flagged Sanchi was bringing condensate from Iran to South Korea when the collision with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal, carrying grain from the US, happened in the East China Sea. The collision, in the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta, occurred on Saturday evening. The exact cause is not yet known. The tanker, run by Iran's leading oil shipping operator, has on board about one million barrels of condensate, which at current prices is worth roughly $60m (PS44m). The Sanchi will also be carrying a certain amount of heavy - and toxic - shipping fuel. Condensate is very different from the black crude that is often seen in oil spills. It exists in gas form within high-pressure oil reservoirs and liquefies once extracted. It is toxic, low in density and considerably more explosive than regular crude oil. Condensate, which does not need the heavy refining process of denser crude, creates products such as jet fuel, petrol, diesel and heating fuel. The harm from oil pollution depends on a number of factors, not just on how much is spilled. Location is paramount, followed by factors such as the type of oil, sea conditions, wave directions, climate and time of year. The Atlantic Empress incident listed below - the record spill from ships - saw little oil reach coastlines, whereas the Exxon Valdez, which spilled eight times less, is considered one of the world's worst environmental disasters. Arguably the worst spill was the deliberate release of up to 500 million gallons by the Iraqis in January 1991 during the Gulf War. The resultant slick covered some 10,300 sq km (4,000 sq miles). As far as ships are concerned: - The Atlantic Empress and Aegean Captain collided off Trinidad and Tobago in 1979. The Atlantic Empress exploded and 26 crew members died. The 90 million gallon oil spill is a record from ships - The ABT Summer exploded off Angola in 1991, spilling about 80 million gallons over 200 sq km - The Castillo de Bellver caught fire and broke apart off Cape Town, spilling 78 million gallons - The Amoco Cadiz spilled almost 69 million gallons after running aground off Brittany in France in 1978 - The Torrey Canyon hit a reef off Cornwall, England, in 1967, spilling 36 million gallons of crude and affecting almost 200 miles of coastline - The Exxon Valdez only spilled 11 million gallons in Prince William Sound, Alaska, in 1989 but was a major environmental disaster", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 987, "answer_start": 606, "text": "China's transport ministry said heavy winds, rain and high waves continued to hamper efforts to contain the fire. However, it added that experts at the scene believed that, given the wave conditions, no more than 1% of the condensate was on the surface of the water. A formal accident investigation, involving several government departments, would start on Tuesday, officials said." } ], "id": "9151_0", "question": "What are the latest developments?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1313, "answer_start": 988, "text": "The Panama-flagged Sanchi was bringing condensate from Iran to South Korea when the collision with the Hong Kong-registered freighter CF Crystal, carrying grain from the US, happened in the East China Sea. The collision, in the mouth of the Yangtze River Delta, occurred on Saturday evening. The exact cause is not yet known." } ], "id": "9151_1", "question": "Where, how and when did the accident happen?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1967, "answer_start": 1314, "text": "The tanker, run by Iran's leading oil shipping operator, has on board about one million barrels of condensate, which at current prices is worth roughly $60m (PS44m). The Sanchi will also be carrying a certain amount of heavy - and toxic - shipping fuel. Condensate is very different from the black crude that is often seen in oil spills. It exists in gas form within high-pressure oil reservoirs and liquefies once extracted. It is toxic, low in density and considerably more explosive than regular crude oil. Condensate, which does not need the heavy refining process of denser crude, creates products such as jet fuel, petrol, diesel and heating fuel." } ], "id": "9151_2", "question": "What is the Sanchi carrying?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The surprise election on 8 June has brought things into sharp focus for MPs looking for a way out of politics - and offers a possible way back for their former colleagues wanting to return. Some of the big names stepping down include George Osborne and Sir Eric Pickles, while Tony Blair and Wikileaks founder Julian Assange are among the more surprising names to suggest, perhaps not entirely seriously, that they are thinking of standing. George Osborne The former chancellor once feted as the likely successor to David Cameron as prime minister has announced he will not seek re-election as Conservative MP for Tatton, Cheshire. Mr Osborne was sacked as chancellor after Theresa May became the party's new leader in July. He has since become the editor of the London Evening Standard newspaper as well as taking a job for the fund manager BlackRock, among others, prompting calls for him to stand down. Announcing his decision not to seek re-election, the 45-year-old said he was stepping down \"for now\". Sir Eric Pickles Former Conservative Party chairman Sir Eric Pickles, 65, is standing down as MP for Brentwood and Ongar after 25 years. Sir Eric, who had been the communities and local government secretary between 2010 and 2015, said he was going to \"miss it dreadfully\" but there always came a point when things must end. Andrew Tyrie The long-standing chairman of the Treasury Select Committee, who has locked horns with Boris Johnson, HMRC and Bank of England governor Mark Carney, will quit his safe Conservative seat. Mr Tyrie, 60, said it had been an \"exhilarating\" 20 years as MP for Chichester in West Sussex but that he was \"hopefully young enough\" to contribute to public service in other ways. Douglas Carswell Douglas Carswell, UKIP's first elected MP who later became an independent after falling out with senior figures in the party, will not be seeking re-election in Clacton. Instead, the political maverick will lend his support to the Conservatives, the party he defected from in 2014, causing political shockwaves at the time. Farewell to an independent-minded MP Alan Johnson Regarded by some in Westminster as the best leader Labour never had, Alan Johnson is to stand down from the Hull West and Hessle seat he has held since 1997. Announcing his decision not to seek re-election, the former postman and union official who rose to become home secretary under Gordon Brown, said it was \"best for the party\". Gisela Stuart Labour's Birmingham Edgbaston MP, who was a key figure in the campaign to leave the EU, has decided not to seek re-election. Ms Stuart, who has represented the Midlands seat since 1997, told local supporters it was \"time to stand down and pass on the baton\". Andy Burnham Andy Burnham, a former Labour health secretary and now tipped as favourite to become Mayor of Greater Manchester, says he will not stand again in June. Mr Burnham, MP for Leigh for 16 years, had two shots at party leadership, coming fourth in 2010 and second to Jeremy Corbyn in 2015. - Tom Blenkinsop - Labour (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) elected in 2010 - Graham Allen - Labour (Nottingham North) elected in 1987 - Iain Wright - Labour (Hartlepool) elected in 2004 - Pat Glass - Labour (North West Durham) elected in 2010 - Simon Burns - Conservative (Chelmsford) elected in 1987 - John Pugh - Lib Dem (Southport) elected in 2001 - Andrew Smith - Labour (Oxford East) elected in 1987 - Angela Watkinson - Conservative (Hornchurch and Upminster) elected in 2001 - Jim Dowd - Labour (Lewisham West and Penge) elected in 1992 - Fiona Mactaggart - Labour (Slough) elected in 1997 - Rob Marris - Labour (Wolverhampton South West) elected in 2015 - Sir Gerald Howarth - Conservative (Aldershot) elected in 1997 - Dave Anderson - Labour (Blaydon) elected in 2005 - Michael Dugher - Labour (Barnsley East) elected in 2010 - Michelle Thomson - Independent (Edinburgh West). Ms Thomson was elected as SNP MP in 2015, but resigned the party whip amid a police probe into property deals. After being rejected for SNP selection, she said she would not stand again at this time - Sir Alan Haselhurst - Conservative (Saffron Walden) elected in 1977 - David Mackintosh - Conservative (Northampton South) elected in 2015 - Karen Lumley - Conservative (Redditch) elected in 2010 - Andrew Turner - Conservative (Isle of Wight) elected in 2001 Zac Goldsmith The former Conservative MP, Zac Goldsmith, has been re-selected as the party's candidate in Richmond Park. Goldsmith resigned from the party and stood as an independent in a by-election before Christmas in protest at the government's decision to give the go-ahead to the expansion of Heathrow Airport. But he lost to the Liberal Democrats' Sarah Olney, who is standing for re-election. Esther McVey The former employment minister, who was a TV presenter before entering Parliament, lost her Wirral West seat in 2015 to Labour's Margaret Greenwood (who is standing again). She has been selected to stand in George Osborne's former Tatton seat. Sir Vince Cable Sir Vince Cable, who served as former business secretary in the coalition government from 2010-2015, is one of a batch of Lib Dems who have confirmed they will stand again. A former Labour councillor, the 73-year-old was first elected as MP for Twickenham in 1997 but was defeated by Conservative Tania Mathias in 2015 after the Lib Dems lost dozens of seats. Ms Mathias is expected to stand again. Announcing his decision to stand again, Sir Vince said \"Bring it on!\". Sir Simon Hughes A former Lib Dem deputy leader and minister of state for justice and civil liberties in the coalition government, Sir Simon Hughes said he intends to be the party's candidate to fight the Bermondsey and Old Southwark seat in south London, which he lost to Labour's Neil Coyle in 2015. Mr Coyle is standing again. Sir Ed Davey Sir Ed Davey, 51, is another Lib Dem heavyweight to announce his return to the political fray. Confirming his intention to stand again for election in Kingston and Surbiton, the former energy secretary in the coalition government told the Independent: \"We will be the surprise in this election, we will do far better than people currently think.\" The seat was won by Conservative James Berry in 2015, with a majority of 2,834. Mr Berry is standing again. Jo Swinson A former deputy leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Jo Swinson was once Parliament's youngest MP, after she was elected to East Dunbartonshire in 2005, but was ousted in 2015 by the SNP's John Nicolson, who is standing for re-election. Sir Bob Russell The former Liberal Democrat MP for Colchester, Sir Bob Russell, is to stand again, despite retiring from politics after his defeat in 2015 to Conservative Will Quince. Sir Nick Harvey Previously an armed forces minister, former Liberal Democrat MP, Sir Nick Harvey, 55, has told the BBC he will be seeking re-election after losing his seat in North Devon in 2015 to Conservative Peter Heaton-Jones. Ed Balls Former shadow chancellor Ed Balls will not be standing in the Morley and Outwood constituency he held for five years and is not expected to stand anywhere else. Mr Balls, who lost his seat in the 2015 general election, has arguably since become best known for his dance moves on the last series of Strictly Come Dancing, in which he became a fan favourite. Arron Banks The former UKIP donor was all set to take on Douglas Carswell in Clacton - the two are not the best of friends - but since Mr Carswell pulled out the insurance tycoon has had a change of heart. After visiting UKIP volunteers in the Essex seaside town - a place he cheerfully admitted he knew nothing about - he has said he has \"no intention of standing in the way of hard-working activists who are the soul of the party\". He will instead endorse local UKIP councillor Jeff Bray for the role and \"give the local party financial assistance to fight the election\". Nigel Farage The former UKIP leader briefly flirted with an eighth attempt to get elected to the House of Commons, saying he could have had an \"easy\" win in the former UKIP seat of Clacton, but has thought better of it. He says he has more clout as a member of the European Parliament, where he will continue to \"fight for Brexit\". Karen Danczuk The ex-councillor and former wife of suspended Labour MP Simon Danczuk had applied to be Labour candidate for the Conservative-held Bury North seat. Ms Danczuk, dubbed the \"selfie queen\" by the tabloid press after posting pictures of herself on Twitter, had said she was \"a voice of the people\". However, the party has chosen James Frith to stand for the seat, currently held by David Nuttall. Simon Danczuk The MP was suspended as a member of the Labour Party in 2015 over allegations about his private life. He intended to stand for re-election as the party's candidate in Rochdale but Labour had other ideas. A Labour spokesman said: \"After considering the case of Simon Danczuk in detail and speaking to him in an interview, the Labour Party's NEC endorsement panel unanimously recommended that he should not be endorsed as a Labour candidate.\" Paul Nuttall The UKIP leader - who recently failed to take Stoke-on-Trent from Labour in a by-election - wavered for a few days but has now confirmed he will stand in Boston and Skegness. The constituency, held by the Conservatives in 2015 with UKIP second, recorded the highest Leave vote in the EU referendum, with 75.6% choosing to leave the EU. Mr Nuttall said he would make it his \"mission\" to \"ensure there is no backsliding on Brexit\". Jack Monroe The food blogger and campaigner Jack Monroe will stand for the National Health Action Party in Southend West, against Conservative Sir David Amess. Announcing the plan on Twitter, the activist said: \"Those who know me will know how much I fear meeting new people, which makes the next six weeks a huge personal challenge on every level... \"...but some things are bigger than me, so today I'm digging deep and heading to Southend High St to meet campaigners fighting for our A&E.\" Steve Rotherham Will Labour's candidate to be Liverpool's first \"metro mayor\" - and a staunch ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - continue to sit as an MP if he wins 4 May's poll? His ultra-safe Liverpool Walton seat would be a prize for any aspiring Labour politician and there is a row brewing locally about a candidate being \"parachuted in\" by the party's London HQ. Tony Blair He won three elections while leader of the Labour Party, before stepping down in 2007, but could Tony Blair - now 63 - be making a big political comeback in this snap election? The former MP for Sedgefield - and prominent Remainer - got tongues wagging during an exclusive interview with BBC Radio 4's The World This Weekend, after he admitted there was a temptation to get back into Westminster politics to fight against a hard Brexit. \"I feel for the first time since I first came into politics, I look at the British political scene at the moment and I actually almost feel motivated to go right back into it,\" he said. In an interview marking the 20th anniversary of his 1997 election victory, he later told The Observer that he wanted to \"reconnect with voters\" and \"get his hands dirty\" again but insisted he would not be a candidate in June. David Miliband There has been speculation about whether David Miliband might return to politics after stepping down as an MP in 2013. The former foreign secretary under Gordon Brown, who was surprisingly defeated by his brother Ed in the 2010 Labour leadership contest, declined to rule out a return to UK politics in an interview with the Times in February. Julian Assange The Wikileaks founder may have been holed up in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London since 2012, but has still suggested, perhaps light-heartedly, that he could stand in the election. Mr Assange tweeted: \"I can run for Parliament in any constituency in the UK. Ha ha. So which one?\" Sign-up to get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 10413, "answer_start": 10042, "text": "Steve Rotherham Will Labour's candidate to be Liverpool's first \"metro mayor\" - and a staunch ally of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn - continue to sit as an MP if he wins 4 May's poll? His ultra-safe Liverpool Walton seat would be a prize for any aspiring Labour politician and there is a row brewing locally about a candidate being \"parachuted in\" by the party's London HQ." } ], "id": "9152_0", "question": "Will they, won't they?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has said territory held by the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq could be \"100%\" liberated as early as next week. \"It should be announced, probably some time next week, that we will have 100% of the caliphate,\" he told a gathering of coalition partners. However, he also cautioned that he wanted to \"wait for the official word\". US military and intelligence officials say IS could stage a comeback without sustained counter-terrorism pressure. Mr Trump shocked coalition allies in December when he declared that the group had been defeated, amid reports he wanted to pull out US soldiers within 30 days. But he later slowed the withdrawal after several resignations from key defence officials and strong criticism from Republicans and allies abroad. The global coalition against IS, now numbering nearly 80 nations, was formed in 2014 after the group overran swathes of territory and went on to launch terror attacks outside the region. \"Their land is gone,\" he told Wednesday's conference in Washington. \"The Isis [IS] caliphate has been decimated.\" But the group still had \"tiny sections that can be so dangerous\", he said, and \"foreign fighters must not gain access\" to the US. He also referred to the IS propaganda machine, which recruited fighters from Europe and other regions. \"For a period of time they used the internet better than we did,\" he said. \"They used the internet brilliantly but now it's not so brilliant.\" The US leader thanked coalition partners, saying, \"We will be working together for many years to come.\" Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged the US would continue to fight IS, despite withdrawing troops from Syria. He called the troop pullout a \"tactical change... not a change in the mission\", and said the world was entering an \"era of decentralised jihad\". It has certainly lost control of most of the territory it overran, including its strongholds of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria. However, fighting continues in north-eastern Syria, where the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) say they captured dozens of foreign fighters in recent weeks. On Tuesday the head of the US military's Central Command, Gen Joseph Votel, told a Senate committee up to 1,500 IS militants remained in a 20 sq mile (52 sq km) pocket on Syria's border with Iraq. The group, he said, still had \"leaders, fighters, facilitators, resources and the profane ideology that fuels their efforts\". Meanwhile, a report by a US defence department watchdog cited Central Command as saying that without sustained pressure IS \"could likely resurge in Syria within six to 12 months\". Another challenge is what to do with the hundreds of foreign fighters captured by the SDF, as well as their families. Governments in their home countries are reluctant to take back radicalised militants who swore allegiance to Islamic State. By Barbara Plett Usher, BBC state department correspondent President Trump's comments were more than a month late, as he did not consult his allies about his decision in December to withdraw US troops from Syria. The shock from the surprise announcement has settled, but coalition members want to know how this is going to play out. It's not clear that the administration has sorted that out. Both Mr Trump and Mike Pompeo called on other nations to take on more commitments for the continued campaign against the IS group, but said they were still in the fight - America would continue to lead it, Mr Pompeo said. Mr Trump had previously suggested that some of the troops in Syria could be moved to American bases in neighbouring Iraq, from where they could launch commando operations across the border as necessary. But there are still no official details about how the US will continue the counter-terrorism pressure Mr Trump's generals and intelligence officials have said is necessary to stop IS militants from staging a comeback.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1818, "answer_start": 967, "text": "\"Their land is gone,\" he told Wednesday's conference in Washington. \"The Isis [IS] caliphate has been decimated.\" But the group still had \"tiny sections that can be so dangerous\", he said, and \"foreign fighters must not gain access\" to the US. He also referred to the IS propaganda machine, which recruited fighters from Europe and other regions. \"For a period of time they used the internet better than we did,\" he said. \"They used the internet brilliantly but now it's not so brilliant.\" The US leader thanked coalition partners, saying, \"We will be working together for many years to come.\" Secretary of State Mike Pompeo pledged the US would continue to fight IS, despite withdrawing troops from Syria. He called the troop pullout a \"tactical change... not a change in the mission\", and said the world was entering an \"era of decentralised jihad\"." } ], "id": "9153_0", "question": "How does Trump view the battle against IS now?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2860, "answer_start": 1819, "text": "It has certainly lost control of most of the territory it overran, including its strongholds of Mosul in Iraq and Raqqa in Syria. However, fighting continues in north-eastern Syria, where the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) say they captured dozens of foreign fighters in recent weeks. On Tuesday the head of the US military's Central Command, Gen Joseph Votel, told a Senate committee up to 1,500 IS militants remained in a 20 sq mile (52 sq km) pocket on Syria's border with Iraq. The group, he said, still had \"leaders, fighters, facilitators, resources and the profane ideology that fuels their efforts\". Meanwhile, a report by a US defence department watchdog cited Central Command as saying that without sustained pressure IS \"could likely resurge in Syria within six to 12 months\". Another challenge is what to do with the hundreds of foreign fighters captured by the SDF, as well as their families. Governments in their home countries are reluctant to take back radicalised militants who swore allegiance to Islamic State." } ], "id": "9153_1", "question": "Has IS really been defeated?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3896, "answer_start": 2861, "text": "By Barbara Plett Usher, BBC state department correspondent President Trump's comments were more than a month late, as he did not consult his allies about his decision in December to withdraw US troops from Syria. The shock from the surprise announcement has settled, but coalition members want to know how this is going to play out. It's not clear that the administration has sorted that out. Both Mr Trump and Mike Pompeo called on other nations to take on more commitments for the continued campaign against the IS group, but said they were still in the fight - America would continue to lead it, Mr Pompeo said. Mr Trump had previously suggested that some of the troops in Syria could be moved to American bases in neighbouring Iraq, from where they could launch commando operations across the border as necessary. But there are still no official details about how the US will continue the counter-terrorism pressure Mr Trump's generals and intelligence officials have said is necessary to stop IS militants from staging a comeback." } ], "id": "9153_2", "question": "How will an IS comeback be stopped?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Israel has for the first time confirmed that it destroyed a suspected nuclear reactor being built in Syria in 2007. The military said fighter jets bombed the al-Kibar facility in Deir al-Zour province, 450km (280 miles) north-east of Damascus, as it neared completion. Syria's government has repeatedly denied that it was building a reactor. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was determined to prevent its enemies from obtaining nuclear weapons. \"The Israeli government, the Israel Defense Forces and the Mossad [intelligence services] prevented Syria from developing nuclear capability. They are worthy of full praise for this,\" he wrote on Twitter. \"Israel's policy was and remains consistent - to prevent our enemies from arming themselves with nuclear weapons.\" In 1981, in a surprise attack, Israeli jets destroyed a nuclear reactor being constructed south-east of Baghdad by the Iraqi government of Saddam Hussein. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a \"vast intelligence effort\" began in late 2004, when Israeli agents obtained information that foreign experts - believed to be North Korean - were helping Syria with a nuclear project. After the Israeli intelligence community located the building site and predicted that the nuclear reactor would turn operational by the end of 2007, the IDF made plans for an air strike dubbed \"Operation Outside the Box\". At 22:30 on 5 September 2007, F-16 and F-15 jets took off from two bases in southern Israel and flew towards Deir al-Zour, via the Mediterranean Sea and the Syrian-Turkish border. The jets returned four hours later, after conducting a strike that totally disabled the reactor and caused irreversible damage, according to the IDF. The IDF said it was decided not to confirm the strike or publish any information afterwards \"in light of the highly sensitive security situation\". The Syrian military did not retaliate after the attack. President Bashar al-Assad said only that Israel had \"bombed buildings and construction related to the military\", which were \"not used\". The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) concluded in 2011 that the site was \"very likely\" to have been a nuclear reactor. Syria had signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) before the strike, which gave it the right to build a reactor to generate electricity. But it was also obliged to notify the IAEA of any plans to construct a nuclear facility. Israel, which is not a signatory to the NPT, is widely believed to have a nuclear arsenal - though it has neither confirmed nor denied this. The IDF also noted that Islamic State (IS) militants fighting in Syria's civil war seized control of Deir al-Zour in 2014. \"One could only imagine how much havoc they could have wreaked with a nuclear facility in their hands,\" it said. By Tom Bateman, BBC News, Jerusalem It was never in any real doubt that Israel was behind the strike on the al-Kibar facility in the Syrian desert a decade ago. What matters about today's confirmation is its timing and the vivid way in which the Israeli military has chosen to publicise it. The message being projected via the black-and-white pictures from the planes' cockpits is this: that Israel would be prepared to put Iranian nuclear facilities in the planes' crosshairs in the future. Israel accuses Iran of maintaining nuclear ambitions - amounting to an existential threat - and believes its forces are trying to establish themselves permanently over its northern border in Syria - a claim Iran rejects. The country may hope to add a sharper military edge to American diplomatic pressure on Europe to toughen its stance on the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers - an agreement detested by Israel. But it is a move that once again raises the stakes in the volatile atmosphere among regional powers engaged in Syria's seven-year long war. Israel has carried out at least 100 clandestine air strikes in Syria since 2011. Many of the raids are believed to have been aimed at preventing transfers of advanced weapons from Iran to Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, which fought a war with Israel in 2006. Iran and Hezbollah are key allies of President Assad, and their forces have helped turned the tide of the civil war decisively in his favour. Israeli aircraft are also said to have struck Syrian and Iranian military facilities inside Syria, but officials usually do not confirm such reports. One exception was in February, when Israel announced that it had attacked eight Syrian and four Iranian targets. The strikes came after Israel shot down an Iranian drone that had violated its airspace, and an Israeli F-16 crashed in Israel after being hit by Syrian anti-aircraft fire during a raid on the drone's launch site.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1862, "answer_start": 941, "text": "The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said a \"vast intelligence effort\" began in late 2004, when Israeli agents obtained information that foreign experts - believed to be North Korean - were helping Syria with a nuclear project. After the Israeli intelligence community located the building site and predicted that the nuclear reactor would turn operational by the end of 2007, the IDF made plans for an air strike dubbed \"Operation Outside the Box\". At 22:30 on 5 September 2007, F-16 and F-15 jets took off from two bases in southern Israel and flew towards Deir al-Zour, via the Mediterranean Sea and the Syrian-Turkish border. The jets returned four hours later, after conducting a strike that totally disabled the reactor and caused irreversible damage, according to the IDF. The IDF said it was decided not to confirm the strike or publish any information afterwards \"in light of the highly sensitive security situation\"." } ], "id": "9154_0", "question": "What has the Israeli military revealed?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3876, "answer_start": 2814, "text": "By Tom Bateman, BBC News, Jerusalem It was never in any real doubt that Israel was behind the strike on the al-Kibar facility in the Syrian desert a decade ago. What matters about today's confirmation is its timing and the vivid way in which the Israeli military has chosen to publicise it. The message being projected via the black-and-white pictures from the planes' cockpits is this: that Israel would be prepared to put Iranian nuclear facilities in the planes' crosshairs in the future. Israel accuses Iran of maintaining nuclear ambitions - amounting to an existential threat - and believes its forces are trying to establish themselves permanently over its northern border in Syria - a claim Iran rejects. The country may hope to add a sharper military edge to American diplomatic pressure on Europe to toughen its stance on the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers - an agreement detested by Israel. But it is a move that once again raises the stakes in the volatile atmosphere among regional powers engaged in Syria's seven-year long war." } ], "id": "9154_1", "question": "Why is Israel making this public now?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4753, "answer_start": 3877, "text": "Israel has carried out at least 100 clandestine air strikes in Syria since 2011. Many of the raids are believed to have been aimed at preventing transfers of advanced weapons from Iran to Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, which fought a war with Israel in 2006. Iran and Hezbollah are key allies of President Assad, and their forces have helped turned the tide of the civil war decisively in his favour. Israeli aircraft are also said to have struck Syrian and Iranian military facilities inside Syria, but officials usually do not confirm such reports. One exception was in February, when Israel announced that it had attacked eight Syrian and four Iranian targets. The strikes came after Israel shot down an Iranian drone that had violated its airspace, and an Israeli F-16 crashed in Israel after being hit by Syrian anti-aircraft fire during a raid on the drone's launch site." } ], "id": "9154_2", "question": "Has Israel conducted strikes in Syria more recently?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A group of parliamentarians has asked Scotland's top civil court to block Boris Johnson's bid to suspend parliament. The 75 politicians initially launched a legal action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh last month. They are now seeking an interim interdict that would prevent parliament being suspended until the case has a full hearing on 6 September. The court is expected to consider their motion on Thursday or Friday. An interim interdict is the Scottish equivalent of an injunction in the English and Welsh legal systems. The legal move came ahead of the Queen agreeing to the prime minister's request to suspend Parliament on 10 September - just a week after MPs return to the Commons following the summer recess. - Brexit and Parliament: What just happened?? Mr Johnson said a Queen's Speech would take place after the suspension, on 14 October, to outline his \"very exciting agenda\" of new legislation. But it means MPs are unlikely to have the time which would be required to pass laws to stop a no-deal Brexit happening on 31 October. The legal challenge to the move launched in the Scottish courts last month is being headed by SNP MP Joanna Cherry and Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson, aided by Jo Maugham of the Good Law Project. They want the court to rule that shutting down parliament - known as proroguing - ahead of Brexit would be \"both unlawful and unconstitutional\" and would have \"irreversible legal, constitutional and practical implications for the United Kingdom\". Ms Cherry, who is a QC, had earlier told the BBC that Mr Johnson's announcement was a \"constitutional outrage and profoundly undemocratic\". She said: \"I have been on a conference call this morning with my legal team to see if we can speed up the hearing that is fixed for 6 September and get this issue before the court speedily so the court can determine whether what Boris Johnson is up to is lawful or not.\" The case was brought in Scotland because the Court of Session continued to sit over the summer, while the equivalent court in England was on holiday. The legal team taking the action on behalf of the parliamentarians has had previous success, when it established that the UK had the power to revoke Article 50 - the mechanism which started the Brexit process. By Reevel Alderson, BBC Scotland home affairs correspondent Scottish courts are frequently asked to grant an interim interdict to prevent something happening which the person making the request believes will be both unlawful and would damage their interests. Hearings take place in a court, possibly in a judge's chambers, where the two sides present their arguments. When time is short, the hearing can be arranged very quickly. A court hearing took place on Saturday at midnight in which The Daily Record newspaper was arguing against an attempt to prevent it from publishing photographs and video footage of an incident in a Scottish prison. When the hearing begins, the party seeking interdict must show there is on the face of it - prima facie - a case that the threatened action will be unlawful. If the court agrees, the action must stop - and cannot be resumed until a full hearing of the arguments takes place in due course. The prime minister has insisted it is \"completely untrue\" to suggest the suspension of parliament was motivated by a desire to force through a no-deal Brexit, and says he is still hopeful of agreeing a deal with the EU. He said he did not want to wait until after Brexit \"before getting on with our plans to take this country forward\", and insisted there would still be \"ample time\" for MPs to debate the UK's departure ahead of 31 October. Mr Johnson added: \"We need new legislation. We've got to be bringing forward new and important bills and that's why we are going to have a Queen's Speech.\" BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond said it was established precedent to prorogue Parliament before a Queen's Speech, albeit generally more briefly, and rarely, if ever, at such a constitutionally charged time. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, told BBC Scotland that the suspension of parliament ahead of Brexit would be \"the day UK democracy died\" and urged MPs of all parties to \"come together next week to stop Boris Johnson in his tracks\". Ms Sturgeon said: \"Shutting down parliament in order to force through a no-deal Brexit - which will do untold and lasting damage to the country against the wishes of MPs - is not democracy, it is dictatorship.\" Tory backbencher Dominic Grieve described Mr Johnson's move as \"an outrageous act\" and predicted it could lead to a vote of no confidence that would bring down the government, while Commons Speaker John Bercow accused the prime minister of committing a \"constitutional outrage\". Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson said it was a \"dangerous and unacceptable course of action\", while Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said suspending parliament is not acceptable, and accused Mr Johnson of carrying out a \"smash and grab on our democracy to force through a no deal\". The Scottish Secretary, Alister Jack, cancelled a planned event in Edinburgh following Mr Johnson's announcement, while Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson was said to be unavailable for interview. But the party's constitution spokesman, Adam Tomkins, accused political opponents of being \"predictably hysterical\" about the prime minister's move. He added: \"MPs within Labour, the SNP and the Lib Dems need to remember they were presented with three opportunities to vote for a deal, and they spurned that opportunity each time. \"The aim is still to strike a deal with the EU and, if and when that happens, there will be plenty of time for MPs to either vote for that, or vote for a no-deal Brexit.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3201, "answer_start": 2268, "text": "By Reevel Alderson, BBC Scotland home affairs correspondent Scottish courts are frequently asked to grant an interim interdict to prevent something happening which the person making the request believes will be both unlawful and would damage their interests. Hearings take place in a court, possibly in a judge's chambers, where the two sides present their arguments. When time is short, the hearing can be arranged very quickly. A court hearing took place on Saturday at midnight in which The Daily Record newspaper was arguing against an attempt to prevent it from publishing photographs and video footage of an incident in a Scottish prison. When the hearing begins, the party seeking interdict must show there is on the face of it - prima facie - a case that the threatened action will be unlawful. If the court agrees, the action must stop - and cannot be resumed until a full hearing of the arguments takes place in due course." } ], "id": "9155_0", "question": "What is an interim interdict?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US rapper YNW Melly has been arrested and charged with murdering two other rappers, both said to have been his childhood friends, in Florida. Police say the rapper, real name Jamell Demons, conspired with another man to make the two male victims look like they had died in a drive-by shooting. Before his arrest, he said on social media that \"lies\" were being told about the shootings. The rapper, 19, has worked with such music artists as Kanye West. Miramar Police Department announced the murder charges against him on social media, saying Mr Demons had been arrested for murder alongside another man named Cortlen Henry - who uses the rap name YNW Bortlen. The victims, Christopher Thomas Jr and Anthony Williams, were both rappers from the same Florida-based crew. Both died of multiple gunshot wounds on 26 October. Police allege Mr Demons shot both men, and conspired alongside Mr Henry to stage a crime to make it appear that they were killed by other people. They say Mr Henry drove both shooting victims to a local hospital at 04:35 local time - where they were declared dead. Police allege Mr Henry's version of events was inconsistent with evidence, including forensics. Both of the victims feature in a documentary about Mr Demons on his YouTube channel, where they are described as his childhood friends. After their October deaths, a representative for the rapper said: \"He's sad, he's upset, obviously,\" \"Those were his best friends,\" lawyer Bradford Cohen told the Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper. Before turning himself in on Wednesday, he told his 1m followers on Instagram that a \"lot of rumors and lies\" were being said about the shootings, and he included the hashtag #freeus. The rapper appeared in court on Thursday, where he was ordered to be held in jail without bail. Mr Henry was reportedly arrested in Texas last month and extradited to Florida this week. The Florida-based rapper has been signed to Young Thug's label, YSL Records, since 2018. He first found popularity after posting his music on hosting website SoundCloud aged 15 - and has since amassed tens of millions of streams and views online. Last year he released a song, Mixed Personalities, alongside Grammy-award winning rapper Kanye West. One of his best-known tracks is a song called Murder on My Mind - which has almost 90m views on YouTube. The lyrics include a graphic narrative detailing an imagined fatal shooting. Mr Demons was arrested several times before - including last month for marijuana possession.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1884, "answer_start": 661, "text": "The victims, Christopher Thomas Jr and Anthony Williams, were both rappers from the same Florida-based crew. Both died of multiple gunshot wounds on 26 October. Police allege Mr Demons shot both men, and conspired alongside Mr Henry to stage a crime to make it appear that they were killed by other people. They say Mr Henry drove both shooting victims to a local hospital at 04:35 local time - where they were declared dead. Police allege Mr Henry's version of events was inconsistent with evidence, including forensics. Both of the victims feature in a documentary about Mr Demons on his YouTube channel, where they are described as his childhood friends. After their October deaths, a representative for the rapper said: \"He's sad, he's upset, obviously,\" \"Those were his best friends,\" lawyer Bradford Cohen told the Florida Sun Sentinel newspaper. Before turning himself in on Wednesday, he told his 1m followers on Instagram that a \"lot of rumors and lies\" were being said about the shootings, and he included the hashtag #freeus. The rapper appeared in court on Thursday, where he was ordered to be held in jail without bail. Mr Henry was reportedly arrested in Texas last month and extradited to Florida this week." } ], "id": "9156_0", "question": "What are the allegations?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2507, "answer_start": 1885, "text": "The Florida-based rapper has been signed to Young Thug's label, YSL Records, since 2018. He first found popularity after posting his music on hosting website SoundCloud aged 15 - and has since amassed tens of millions of streams and views online. Last year he released a song, Mixed Personalities, alongside Grammy-award winning rapper Kanye West. One of his best-known tracks is a song called Murder on My Mind - which has almost 90m views on YouTube. The lyrics include a graphic narrative detailing an imagined fatal shooting. Mr Demons was arrested several times before - including last month for marijuana possession." } ], "id": "9156_1", "question": "Who is YNW Melly?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Indonesian woman accused of killing Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korea's leader, has been freed after charges against her were dropped. Siti Aisyah had been accused of smearing VX nerve agent on Mr Kim's face in Kuala Lumpur airport in 2017. She and her co-accused, Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong, deny murder and say they thought they were part of a TV prank. The brazen killing at an international airport left observers stunned and gripped international headlines. After several months of delay, the defence phase of the trial was set to begin Monday, with testimony from Ms Huong. However, the prosecutor in the case requested the murder charge for Siti Aisyah be dropped, without giving a reason. In a letter to the Indonesian law minister though, Malaysia's attorney general explained the decision was taking into account considerations Jakarta raised about the case as well as the good relations between the two countries. The judge approved the request, saying \"Siti Aisyah is freed\", according to AFP news agency. However, this does not amount to an acquittal. Ms Aisyah could have faced the death penalty if convicted. \"I feel happy. I did not know this will happen. I did not expect it,\" AFP cites Ms Aisyah saying as she left the court. BBC correspondent Jonathan Head, who is at the court in Kuala Lumpur, says there appears to have been less evidence against her than against her Vietnamese co-defendant. Ms Huong had initially been expected to read a statement in court, which would have been the first time either of the two gave testimony. However, her case has now been adjourned at the request of her lawyers. Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, 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 the nerve agent 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. The two women have said they were innocent victims of an elaborate North Korean plot. According to their lawyers, in the days before Mr Kim's death the women had been paid to take part in pranks where they wiped liquid on people at airports, hotels and shopping malls. They thought they were taking part in another prank at the airport. Their lawyers had expressed confidence that the court would see they had no motive to kill Mr Kim. After the court's surprise decision on Monday, the Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia told reporters they would \"try to fly Siti back to Indonesia today or as soon as possible,\" according to AFP. Kim Jong-nam was the older half-brother of North Korea's authoritarian ruler, Kim Jong-un. He was once seen as a future leader of the isolated country, but when his father Kim Jong-il died, was bypassed in favour of the younger Kim. He was largely estranged from the family, and spent most of his time overseas in Macau, mainland China and Singapore. He had spoken out in the past against his family's dynastic control of North Korea, and in a 2012 book was quoted as saying he believed his half-brother lacked leadership qualities.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2393, "answer_start": 1639, "text": "Kim Jong-nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, 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 the nerve agent 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": "9157_0", "question": "How did the murder happen?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3024, "answer_start": 2394, "text": "The two women have said they were innocent victims of an elaborate North Korean plot. According to their lawyers, in the days before Mr Kim's death the women had been paid to take part in pranks where they wiped liquid on people at airports, hotels and shopping malls. They thought they were taking part in another prank at the airport. Their lawyers had expressed confidence that the court would see they had no motive to kill Mr Kim. After the court's surprise decision on Monday, the Indonesian ambassador to Malaysia told reporters they would \"try to fly Siti back to Indonesia today or as soon as possible,\" according to AFP." } ], "id": "9157_1", "question": "What is the women's defence?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3557, "answer_start": 3025, "text": "Kim Jong-nam was the older half-brother of North Korea's authoritarian ruler, Kim Jong-un. He was once seen as a future leader of the isolated country, but when his father Kim Jong-il died, was bypassed in favour of the younger Kim. He was largely estranged from the family, and spent most of his time overseas in Macau, mainland China and Singapore. He had spoken out in the past against his family's dynastic control of North Korea, and in a 2012 book was quoted as saying he believed his half-brother lacked leadership qualities." } ], "id": "9157_2", "question": "Who was Kim Jong-nam?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The long battle for Syria's second city of Aleppo has entered what could be a decisive phase. Divided between government-controlled west and rebel-held east for the past four years, fighting in the city has significantly escalated since rebel districts were encircled in July. Here are four, key reasons why winning Aleppo is so important. Aleppo is a key hub in the north of the country, just 30 miles (50km) from the Turkish border. As a result, control of the city delivers more than just prestige. The most important prizes are supply lines. Armies wither without food, fuel, and weapons. In February, the Syrian government made a breakthrough when Russian air strikes helped it cut the so-called Azaz corridor, a vital rebel conduit that ran south from the Turkish town of Kilis down to Aleppo itself. Syrian forces followed this up by taking high ground over a key road into the rebel-held east of the city, further choking off this lifeline. When the government seemed to have boxed in its opponents, a rebel counter-attack in a key government-held district of the city, Ramouseh, suggests that the rebels might not only fight their way out, but even impose a counter-siege on the government-held west. This would be a spectacular turnaround. A city that for so long seemed likely to fall to the government is now very much in contention. The strategic contest may be over supply lines, but the biggest stakes are humanitarian. An estimated 250,000-300,000 civilians have been trapped in rebel-held parts of Aleppo since early July. The Syrian government and Russia have proved willing to conduct indiscriminate aerial bombings in civilian areas, while rebels have also mounted attacks, largely by artillery, in populated areas. Hospitals have suffered especially badly, compounding the humanitarian crisis. If the rebels build on their gains at Ramouseh by seeking to blockade government-held areas, it could put another 1.2 million civilians in a precarious position. The skyrocketing price of food reflects this fear. The UN and others have responded coolly to four Russian-backed \"humanitarian corridors\" to allow civilians to leave, fearing that these might simply facilitate intensified attacks on those who remain. The rebels' gains now mean that they are even less likely to accept Russian proposals or respect them if implemented. And as Russian air strikes increase and western Aleppo comes under more pressure, civilians are likely to bear the brunt. This might eventually affect the Europe-bound refugee flow. The armed opposition in Aleppo includes nearly two dozen factions, grouped into different coalitions. The largest and most powerful of these coalitions is Jaish al-Fatah (Army of Conquest), which includes within it Jabhat Fatah al-Sham, which was until mid-2016 known as Jabhat al-Nusra. It was al-Qaida's powerful front in Syria, and changed its name in order to distance itself from its notorious parent organisation, strengthen its alliances with other rebels, and avoid being targeted by Russia and the United States, which had agreed to work against it. Jaish al-Fatah and its extremist spearhead are emerging from Aleppo's battles with power and prestige, having once more proven highly effective on the battlefield. This is a headache for Western countries, which have backed more moderate but less proficient fighters, but good news for other rebel supporters like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkey, who have embraced harder-line Islamists. Meanwhile, Aleppo as a whole is sandwiched between so-called Islamic State (IS) to the east and Syrian Kurdish groups to the north-west. IS and Kurds have clashed with each other, and both have fought anti-Assad rebels like Jaish al-Fatah. If rebels are defeated in Aleppo, IS and Kurds might take advantage by seizing new territory. This would alarm and provoke Turkey, which opposes President Bashar al-Assad, IS, and the Kurds. Rebel gains in and around Aleppo, on the other hand, are a boost for Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar against Russia and Iran. In other words, Aleppo is a factor in regional geopolitics. What is left of Syria? The battle for Aleppo comes at a highly significant moment in the conflict. Russian intervention saved President Assad's forces from collapse, and then propelled them to success. In the West, politicians switched from demanding Mr Assad's immediate departure to virtually conceding his victory. Had the rebels been crushed, Mr Assad's opponents - above all, a US administration in its final months - might have agreed to a settlement on generous terms. Now, beleaguered rebels have demonstrated that the war is far from over. Syrian forces are exhausted, and depend on massive military support from Russian air power, militias led by Iran, and soldiers from the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Continued success might persuade Moscow and Tehran that they, too, will have to be willing to make greater compromises if they want a way out of the conflict. Shashank Joshi is a Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) in London. He recently contributed to Rusi's Occasional Paper, Understanding Iran's Role in the Syrian Conflict. Follow him on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5186, "answer_start": 4115, "text": "The battle for Aleppo comes at a highly significant moment in the conflict. Russian intervention saved President Assad's forces from collapse, and then propelled them to success. In the West, politicians switched from demanding Mr Assad's immediate departure to virtually conceding his victory. Had the rebels been crushed, Mr Assad's opponents - above all, a US administration in its final months - might have agreed to a settlement on generous terms. Now, beleaguered rebels have demonstrated that the war is far from over. Syrian forces are exhausted, and depend on massive military support from Russian air power, militias led by Iran, and soldiers from the Lebanese group Hezbollah. Continued success might persuade Moscow and Tehran that they, too, will have to be willing to make greater compromises if they want a way out of the conflict. Shashank Joshi is a Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) in London. He recently contributed to Rusi's Occasional Paper, Understanding Iran's Role in the Syrian Conflict. Follow him on Twitter." } ], "id": "9158_0", "question": "4. Cementing the stalemate?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Pakistani human rights activist who spoke out against the army has fled the country after months in hiding. Gulalai Ismail is now in the US, having eluded a country-wide hunt and a travel ban imposed by Pakistan's authorities. They accuse Ms Ismail of \"anti-state activities\" and \"inciting violence\". The activist said she was forced to run as she feared for her life, telling AFP news agency: \"If I had ended up in prison and tortured for many years, my voice would have been silenced.\" Her father, Muhammad Ismail, told BBC Urdu that Ms Ismail had six cases filed against her in the Pakistani courts. And that she had decided her life was in serious danger. \"Gulalai decided to leave the country at this time because she realised that her life is under threat and she has to leave the country otherwise anything could happen to her,\" he said. Ms Ismail added in a statement: \"The last few months have been awful. I have been threatened, harassed, and I am lucky to be alive.\" She has not revealed how she left the country, given she was under a travel ban, but told The New York Times: \"I didn't fly out of an airport.\" The 32-year-old has requested political asylum and is living with her sister in New York. For many years, Ms Ismail has been an outspoken critic of human rights abuses, especially against women and girls. However, it appears she attracted officials' attention in the last year, particularly after she began to advocate for women alleging they had been victims of sexual abuse during an army crackdown near the border with Afghanistan. She herself was alerted to the allegations when a boy came to her to complain about his mother's treatment at the hands of security services. \"Dozens of women had come to tell us that the incident of sexual harassment was not unique,\" she told AFP in Washington this week. \"It is systematic. It had been happening for years.\" Ms Ismail was first arrested at Islamabad airport while returning from London in October 2018. At the time she was among 19 people charged with making anti-state, anti-military speeches at a rally held by the Pashtun Tahaffuz (Protection) Movement, or PTM, in Swabi in August 2018. In February of this year she was again arrested during a protest over the death of PTM activist Arman Luni, who died in custody. Police deny they beat him. A number of the group's members are in detention. Ms Ismail told AFP on this occasion she was kept for two days without food and water in a cold room, which had a urine-soaked sheet on the ground. But it was after the final arrest in May, when she was charged with incitement \"against the state and other nationalities\" during a protest over the rape and murder of a 10-year-old Pashtun girl, Farishta, in an Islamabad suburb, that she decided to go into hiding. Gulalai Ismail has been a vocal advocate for human rights since she was 16 years old. From the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in north-west Pakistan, she founded an NGO as a teenager called Aware Girls to educate young girls about their rights. Soon afterwards, she was told a story of a young boy who had been brainwashed into joining a militant organisation and decided to expand her work to combat radicalisation. \"We cannot have peace without gender equality, and without gender equality we cannot have peace. These two things are linked,\" she explained to the BBC's Outlook programme in 2014. In 2013, she created a team of 100 women to work on issues such as domestic violence and underage marriage. She has received several awards for her work - but she always knew it came with a risk. However, the more people she angered, the more she was determined to continue. \"It is... a sign that my work is having an impact,\" she told the BBC in 2014. \"Just two months back my family was attacked, and we were threatened if we did not stop what we were doing we will be attacked again. \"But it is part of the change process, part of the struggle, and it has made me more committed.\" Ms Ismail was told in May last year that her name was on the government's Exit Control List, which meant she was banned from leaving the country. She challenged the ban in the High Court in Islamabad and it was lifted in November, with the court later ruling that her passport should be returned. However, in May this year her name was put back on the Exit Control List, although she remained in possession of her passport. After she went into hiding, a massive police operation was launched to find her. But - thanks to a \"small network\" - she evaded capture, until she was eventually able to cross out of Pakistan. She has not revealed much information about how she escaped, saying only that she did not fly. She arrived in the US via Sri Lanka, where Pakistani citizens can travel visa-free, she told Radio Free Europe. The campaigner gave very few details of her time in hiding or her escape because she said she feared it could \"endanger people who helped me hide and exit the country\", according to The New York Times.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2785, "answer_start": 1214, "text": "For many years, Ms Ismail has been an outspoken critic of human rights abuses, especially against women and girls. However, it appears she attracted officials' attention in the last year, particularly after she began to advocate for women alleging they had been victims of sexual abuse during an army crackdown near the border with Afghanistan. She herself was alerted to the allegations when a boy came to her to complain about his mother's treatment at the hands of security services. \"Dozens of women had come to tell us that the incident of sexual harassment was not unique,\" she told AFP in Washington this week. \"It is systematic. It had been happening for years.\" Ms Ismail was first arrested at Islamabad airport while returning from London in October 2018. At the time she was among 19 people charged with making anti-state, anti-military speeches at a rally held by the Pashtun Tahaffuz (Protection) Movement, or PTM, in Swabi in August 2018. In February of this year she was again arrested during a protest over the death of PTM activist Arman Luni, who died in custody. Police deny they beat him. A number of the group's members are in detention. Ms Ismail told AFP on this occasion she was kept for two days without food and water in a cold room, which had a urine-soaked sheet on the ground. But it was after the final arrest in May, when she was charged with incitement \"against the state and other nationalities\" during a protest over the rape and murder of a 10-year-old Pashtun girl, Farishta, in an Islamabad suburb, that she decided to go into hiding." } ], "id": "9159_0", "question": "Why were police hunting Ms Ismail?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3967, "answer_start": 2786, "text": "Gulalai Ismail has been a vocal advocate for human rights since she was 16 years old. From the province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in north-west Pakistan, she founded an NGO as a teenager called Aware Girls to educate young girls about their rights. Soon afterwards, she was told a story of a young boy who had been brainwashed into joining a militant organisation and decided to expand her work to combat radicalisation. \"We cannot have peace without gender equality, and without gender equality we cannot have peace. These two things are linked,\" she explained to the BBC's Outlook programme in 2014. In 2013, she created a team of 100 women to work on issues such as domestic violence and underage marriage. She has received several awards for her work - but she always knew it came with a risk. However, the more people she angered, the more she was determined to continue. \"It is... a sign that my work is having an impact,\" she told the BBC in 2014. \"Just two months back my family was attacked, and we were threatened if we did not stop what we were doing we will be attacked again. \"But it is part of the change process, part of the struggle, and it has made me more committed.\"" } ], "id": "9159_1", "question": "Who exactly is Gulalai Ismail?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4993, "answer_start": 3968, "text": "Ms Ismail was told in May last year that her name was on the government's Exit Control List, which meant she was banned from leaving the country. She challenged the ban in the High Court in Islamabad and it was lifted in November, with the court later ruling that her passport should be returned. However, in May this year her name was put back on the Exit Control List, although she remained in possession of her passport. After she went into hiding, a massive police operation was launched to find her. But - thanks to a \"small network\" - she evaded capture, until she was eventually able to cross out of Pakistan. She has not revealed much information about how she escaped, saying only that she did not fly. She arrived in the US via Sri Lanka, where Pakistani citizens can travel visa-free, she told Radio Free Europe. The campaigner gave very few details of her time in hiding or her escape because she said she feared it could \"endanger people who helped me hide and exit the country\", according to The New York Times." } ], "id": "9159_2", "question": "How did she get out of Pakistan?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "France has opened an investigation into the disappearance of Meng Hongwei, the Chinese head of the international police agency Interpol. His family have not heard from him since he left Interpol HQ in the French city of Lyon for a trip back to China on 25 September, officials said. \"He did not disappear in France,\" a source close to the inquiry told AFP. The South China Morning Post quotes a source as saying Mr Meng, 64, was \"taken away\" for questioning in China. It is not clear why he was being investigated by \"discipline authorities\" or where he was being held, the Hong Kong-based newspaper adds. Officials in China have so far made no public comments on Mr Meng, a senior Communist Party official there. It was opened after Mr Meng's wife went to police to report her husband missing. She was initially quoted by police sources as saying she has not heard from him since his departure on 29 September. But the French interior ministry later said the correct date was 25 September. \"Exchanges with Chinese authorities continue,\" the ministry said. \"France is puzzled about the situation of Interpol's president and concerned about the threats made to his wife.\" It did not provide any further details. Analysis by BBC Asia Editor Celia Hatton Meng Hongwei's disappearance seems to fit in with a now familiar pattern among China's senior Communist Party officials. The official in question suddenly drops out of the public eye and an alarm is raised that the person is \"missing\", usually by members of the public. Eventually, the party issues a terse statement that the official is \"under investigation\", the official is then booted from the party for \"disciplinary infractions\" and - eventually - a prison sentence is announced. Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, well over a million party officials have been disciplined in some way. Mr Meng's case is notable for a few reasons. First, his wife notified the French authorities after he had only been missing for a few days. Family members of missing party officials rarely, if ever, reach out to foreign authorities, in fear their relatives will face ever greater punishment. Did the wife do this because she felt there was no other option? Also, at one time, China prized Mr Meng's lofty position at Interpol. If he has really gone missing within the Chinese state apparatus, whom did he anger, or what could he have done for Beijing to willingly, and publicly, forfeit the top job at Interpol? In a statement, the organisation said it was aware of reports of the \"alleged disappearance\" of Mr Meng. \"This is a matter for the relevant authorities in both France and China,\" it said. Interpol added that the secretary general - not the president - was in charge of the day-to-day running of the 192-member organisation. As president, Mr Meng leads the Executive Committee, which provides the overall guidance and direction to Interpol. Mr Meng's term is scheduled to run until 2020. Before taking over at Interpol, Meng Hongwei was deputy minister in charge of public security in China. After his election human rights groups expressed concern that the move could help China pursue political dissidents who have fled the country. - Elected as Interpol's president in November 2016 - Scheduled to serve until 2020 - Is a senior Communist Party official in China and has served as Chinese vice-minister of public security - Has 40 years of experience in criminal justice and policing Mr Meng said at the time that he was ready to do \"everything he could towards the cause of policing in the world\". Mr Meng has 40 years of experience in criminal justice and policing in China, notably in the fields of drugs, counter-terrorism and border control, according to Interpol. Interpol can issue a red notice - an international alert - for a wanted person. But it does not have the power to send officers into countries to arrest individuals or issue arrest warrants.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1210, "answer_start": 714, "text": "It was opened after Mr Meng's wife went to police to report her husband missing. She was initially quoted by police sources as saying she has not heard from him since his departure on 29 September. But the French interior ministry later said the correct date was 25 September. \"Exchanges with Chinese authorities continue,\" the ministry said. \"France is puzzled about the situation of Interpol's president and concerned about the threats made to his wife.\" It did not provide any further details." } ], "id": "9160_0", "question": "What is the French investigation looking at?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2460, "answer_start": 1211, "text": "Analysis by BBC Asia Editor Celia Hatton Meng Hongwei's disappearance seems to fit in with a now familiar pattern among China's senior Communist Party officials. The official in question suddenly drops out of the public eye and an alarm is raised that the person is \"missing\", usually by members of the public. Eventually, the party issues a terse statement that the official is \"under investigation\", the official is then booted from the party for \"disciplinary infractions\" and - eventually - a prison sentence is announced. Since Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, well over a million party officials have been disciplined in some way. Mr Meng's case is notable for a few reasons. First, his wife notified the French authorities after he had only been missing for a few days. Family members of missing party officials rarely, if ever, reach out to foreign authorities, in fear their relatives will face ever greater punishment. Did the wife do this because she felt there was no other option? Also, at one time, China prized Mr Meng's lofty position at Interpol. If he has really gone missing within the Chinese state apparatus, whom did he anger, or what could he have done for Beijing to willingly, and publicly, forfeit the top job at Interpol?" } ], "id": "9160_1", "question": "Has Meng Hongwei angered China?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3194, "answer_start": 2461, "text": "In a statement, the organisation said it was aware of reports of the \"alleged disappearance\" of Mr Meng. \"This is a matter for the relevant authorities in both France and China,\" it said. Interpol added that the secretary general - not the president - was in charge of the day-to-day running of the 192-member organisation. As president, Mr Meng leads the Executive Committee, which provides the overall guidance and direction to Interpol. Mr Meng's term is scheduled to run until 2020. Before taking over at Interpol, Meng Hongwei was deputy minister in charge of public security in China. After his election human rights groups expressed concern that the move could help China pursue political dissidents who have fled the country." } ], "id": "9160_2", "question": "How has Interpol reacted?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Politicians and policymakers have failed to grasp the gravity of the environmental crisis facing the Earth, a report claims. The think-tank IPPR says human impacts have reached a critical stage and threaten to destabilise society and the global economy. Scientists warn of a potentially deadly combination of factors. These include climate change, mass loss of species, topsoil erosion, forest felling and acidifying oceans. The report from the centre-left Institute for Public Policy Research says these factors are \"driving a complex, dynamic process of environmental destabilisation that has reached critical levels. \"This destabilisation is occurring at speeds unprecedented in human history and, in some cases, over billions of years.\" The IPPR warns that the window of opportunity to avoid catastrophic outcomes is rapidly closing. The authors urge three shifts in political understanding: on the scale and pace of environmental breakdown; the implications for societies; and the subsequent need for transformative change. At least climate change features in policy discussions, they say - but other vitally important impacts barely figure. - Topsoil is being lost 10 to 40 times faster than it is being replenished by natural processes - Since the mid-20th Century, 30% of the world's arable land has become unproductive due to erosion - 95% of the Earth's land areas could become degraded by 2050 These matters are close to home for British politicians, the authors argue, with the average population sizes of the most threatened species in the UK having decreased by two-thirds since 1970. The UK is described as one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Some 2.2 million tonnes of UK topsoil is eroded annually, and over 17% of arable land shows signs of erosion. Nearly 85% of fertile peat topsoil in East Anglia has been lost since 1850, with the remainder at risk of being lost over next 30-60 years. The IPPR says many scientists believe we have entered a new era of rapid environmental change. The report warns: \"We define this as the 'age of environmental breakdown' to better highlight the severity of the scale, pace and implications of environmental destabilisation resulting from aggregate human activity.\" Simon Lewis, Professor of Global Change Science at University College London, told BBC News: \"IPPR are right to say that environmental change is happening ever-faster and threatens to destabilise society. \"Future problems with food supplies could cause price spikes that drive civil unrest, while increases in levels of migration can strain societies. \"Both together could overload political institutions and global networks of trade. \"This century will be marked by rapid social and environmental change - that is certain. What is less clear is if societies can make wise political choices to avoid disaster in the future.\" Harriet Bulkeley, a geography professor at Durham University, told BBC News that the IPPR paper was a good interpretation of the current evidence, but she said it raised the question of how firm evidence of environmental threats had to be to prompt government action. \"We know lots of good things to do,\" she said, \"but often the argument is made that we need to have 'evidence-based policy'. \"This can, of course, be used as an excuse for delay. So, I guess the question is how much more evidence is needed for action?\" A UK government spokesperson said: \"We are committed to leaving our environment in a better state than we found it through our 25 Year Environment Plan and the forthcoming Environment Bill. \"Over 25 years we will replenish depleted soils, rid our seas and rivers of the rubbish trashing our planet, cut greenhouse gas emissions, cleanse our air of toxic pollutants, and develop cleaner, more sustainable energy sources. \"The Environment Bill will also create a new environmental body, the Office for Environmental Protection, to hold us to account on this commitment.\" Update 28 February 2019: This story has been amended following criticism of IPPR's Online report which led to it altering its comments on extreme weather. Follow Roger on Twitter @rharrabin", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1147, "answer_start": 742, "text": "The IPPR warns that the window of opportunity to avoid catastrophic outcomes is rapidly closing. The authors urge three shifts in political understanding: on the scale and pace of environmental breakdown; the implications for societies; and the subsequent need for transformative change. At least climate change features in policy discussions, they say - but other vitally important impacts barely figure." } ], "id": "9161_0", "question": "So what is needed?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "For a business that now sees itself as being all about wellness and not just shedding pounds, the company formerly known as Weight Watchers looks like it has been on a crash diet. In the second half of its financial year, it dropped 600,000 subscribers. And at the beginning of its peak season - when Christmas overindulgence morphs into New Year virtuousness - membership is well below forecasts. The problem, it seems, is all in the name. After 56 years of trading as Weight Watchers, the company changed its name last September to WW, which, it says, doesn't stand for anything - not Weight Watchers, not even its new tagline \"Wellness that Works\". The intention, under new chief executive Mindy Grossman, was to modernise the brand amid a cultural shift to body positivity that now emphasises health and wellness as opposed to counting calories. But Ms Grossman this week admitted to analysts - when the company missed full-year forecasts and warned on profits - that using the word \"weight\" in its marketing actually carried, well, more weight. \"I think it needed to be more weight-loss focused, especially in the January season,\" she said. She added that it needed to be made clearer that Weight Watchers is now WW. Yanhui Zhao, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, says that the rebranding of Weight Watchers to WW was \"a risky move\" in the first place. \"A rebranding project may lead to losses in brand awareness and brand familiarity. \"These risks were even bigger for WW, considering their almost 60-year brand history in the market. Firms should be especially cautious when abandoning a long-standing brand name.\" Not even the motivational tones of Oprah Winfrey - a board member, strategic adviser and owner of an 8% stake in WW - could lift subscriber numbers and avoid the PS50m dent to operating profit in the first quarter following the name change. Despite introducing a voice over by Ms Winfrey to its advertising explaining that Weight Watchers is now WW, the company made a \"soft start\" to the year which, its chief financial officer Nick Hotchkin says, is \"difficult to recover from\". Camilla Butcher, strategist at branding company Siegel+Gale, questions whether the company should have changed the brand at all. \"The name, if anything, for any brand is really sometimes the most important asset. That is what a brand is when it really comes down to it, it can be name, the meaning and the feelings that are associated with that name.\" She adds: \"I think that we live in such a fast-moving time... and there's nothing more shifting than the diet and weight loss category.\" WW boss Ms Grossman says the company is operating in a \"very competitive environment\", with trends such as the high-fat, low carb \"keto\" diet becoming popular. But Ms Butcher says: \"By nature, it is a whole industry of fads and things that come and go, and Weight Watchers' absolute strength was the fact that they had stood the test of time.\" Shareholders, it appears, also weren't too sold on the name change when it was announced back in September. In a study looking at the effects of rebranding on share price returns by University of Nebraska's Prof Zhao, in association with Prof Roger Calantone and Prof Clay Voorhees from Michigan State University, an examination of 215 announcements showed that on average, stocks rose 2.5%. But the research also found that 40% of the rebranding announcements were associated with negative shareholder reactions. For WW, Prof Zhao found that its share price fell 30% in the month after it said it was changing its name. While the name change may have puzzled some, the reasoning behind it makes sense. Ms Butcher says: \"I think there are very valid conversations to be had about the term 'weight' and whether that is a helpful thing to be talking about any more.\" Also, the image of the company needed refreshing, says Prof Zhao: \"Their previous brand image was outdated and was not appealing to millennials, males and many other demographics.\" In order to address this, WW recruited singer Robbie Williams and Instagram star DJ Khaled as \"brand ambassadors\". However, it was not the idea, but its execution that has hurt WW. \"I just think it happened very quickly... the timing was probably a mistake,\" Brian Nagel, senior equity analyst at Oppenheimer told CNBC. \"They did this around October, November of last year, two months before the peak season.\" WW's peak first quarter season brings in about 40% of its annual recruits. While its total subscribers for 2018 rose by 22% on the previous year - helped by strong first half as it introduced its new WW Freestyle programme - recruitment numbers have fallen in the first quarter. Revenue for the first three months of the year will now be down by 10% and operating profit will drop by $50m compared to the same period last year. For the full year, sales will now be $1.4bn, down from $1.5bn in 2018, and WW will no longer meet its $2bn annual revenue target by 2020. Prof Zhao says: \"Although rebranding was necessary for them, they probably shouldn't have acted so fast to change their brand name. \"They should have started with a revised brand strategy and updated brand offerings, and then started to made small changes to their brand identity, such as brand logo and tagline. \"Corporate name change should have been their very last step of rebranding.\" For its part, WW is sticking with its new name. Ms Grossman said: \"We believe [in] the most WW and Wellness that Works for the long-term relevance and performance as a brand is the right thing to do. She added: \"We are not giving up our leadership in healthy weight loss.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1660, "answer_start": 652, "text": "The intention, under new chief executive Mindy Grossman, was to modernise the brand amid a cultural shift to body positivity that now emphasises health and wellness as opposed to counting calories. But Ms Grossman this week admitted to analysts - when the company missed full-year forecasts and warned on profits - that using the word \"weight\" in its marketing actually carried, well, more weight. \"I think it needed to be more weight-loss focused, especially in the January season,\" she said. She added that it needed to be made clearer that Weight Watchers is now WW. Yanhui Zhao, assistant professor of marketing at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, says that the rebranding of Weight Watchers to WW was \"a risky move\" in the first place. \"A rebranding project may lead to losses in brand awareness and brand familiarity. \"These risks were even bigger for WW, considering their almost 60-year brand history in the market. Firms should be especially cautious when abandoning a long-standing brand name.\"" } ], "id": "9162_0", "question": "Why did Weight Watchers change its name?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2975, "answer_start": 1661, "text": "Not even the motivational tones of Oprah Winfrey - a board member, strategic adviser and owner of an 8% stake in WW - could lift subscriber numbers and avoid the PS50m dent to operating profit in the first quarter following the name change. Despite introducing a voice over by Ms Winfrey to its advertising explaining that Weight Watchers is now WW, the company made a \"soft start\" to the year which, its chief financial officer Nick Hotchkin says, is \"difficult to recover from\". Camilla Butcher, strategist at branding company Siegel+Gale, questions whether the company should have changed the brand at all. \"The name, if anything, for any brand is really sometimes the most important asset. That is what a brand is when it really comes down to it, it can be name, the meaning and the feelings that are associated with that name.\" She adds: \"I think that we live in such a fast-moving time... and there's nothing more shifting than the diet and weight loss category.\" WW boss Ms Grossman says the company is operating in a \"very competitive environment\", with trends such as the high-fat, low carb \"keto\" diet becoming popular. But Ms Butcher says: \"By nature, it is a whole industry of fads and things that come and go, and Weight Watchers' absolute strength was the fact that they had stood the test of time.\"" } ], "id": "9162_1", "question": "How was the new brand received?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3596, "answer_start": 2976, "text": "Shareholders, it appears, also weren't too sold on the name change when it was announced back in September. In a study looking at the effects of rebranding on share price returns by University of Nebraska's Prof Zhao, in association with Prof Roger Calantone and Prof Clay Voorhees from Michigan State University, an examination of 215 announcements showed that on average, stocks rose 2.5%. But the research also found that 40% of the rebranding announcements were associated with negative shareholder reactions. For WW, Prof Zhao found that its share price fell 30% in the month after it said it was changing its name." } ], "id": "9162_2", "question": "How did shareholders react?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5660, "answer_start": 4998, "text": "Prof Zhao says: \"Although rebranding was necessary for them, they probably shouldn't have acted so fast to change their brand name. \"They should have started with a revised brand strategy and updated brand offerings, and then started to made small changes to their brand identity, such as brand logo and tagline. \"Corporate name change should have been their very last step of rebranding.\" For its part, WW is sticking with its new name. Ms Grossman said: \"We believe [in] the most WW and Wellness that Works for the long-term relevance and performance as a brand is the right thing to do. She added: \"We are not giving up our leadership in healthy weight loss.\"" } ], "id": "9162_3", "question": "How should have Weight Watchers changed its brand?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The European Union is planning to make speed limiters compulsory on all new cars from 2022 and the UK is set to follow suit even after Brexit. But is the technology reliable enough yet? It is certainly disconcerting at first: you're happily driving along a country road at 60mph (97km/h) when a speed limit sign on the dashboard starts blinking irritably and your car begins to slow down, all by itself. This is what it feels like to use an intelligent speed assistance system (ISA). Or at least, it's what it feels like if you fail to spot a speed restriction sign and are about to go sailing through a small village at close to double the 30mph limit. The car will also make sure that as you pass through the village your speed stays down. It does this not by automatically applying the brakes - that's emergency assistive braking - but by limiting the engine power. If your speed does creep up for any reason an insistent electronic chime will alert you. Systems like this are already available on a number of new cars, although they will only work if you take the trouble to switch them on. But they will soon become a lot more common, because the European Union is planning to make them compulsory on all new cars from 2022. The European Transport Safety Council has long advocated their use, citing studies suggesting they are the most effective life-saving driver assistance systems. The Department for Transport has said the same rules will apply in the UK, even once we have left the EU. In fact, the EU has set out a much wider range of compulsory safety measures that will have to be fitted to all cars from that date, including emergency automatic braking, lane-keeping assistance and systems to prevent drivers from becoming drowsy or distracted. But none has so far proved nearly as divisive as ISA, or has generated as many headlines. That's because ISA limits speed and the very idea of compulsory speed limiters is something many drivers object to. Supporters of the plan claim there are misconceptions around what ISA is and what it actually does. \"Most people want to stick to the speed limit but they need help in understanding what the speed limit is for any particular road. These systems will help them do that,\" says Matthew Avery of Thatcham Research, an organisation that carries out testing on behalf of the insurance industry. In other words it's meant to be a driver aid rather than an excuse to put Big Brother behind the wheel. Nevertheless, according to the European Transport Safety Council, with mass adoption it could have major safety benefits, potentially cutting collisions by 30% and deaths on the road by 20%. To regulate speed the car needs to know what the limit is in a given area, Currently this can be done in two ways: Firstly, it is possible to use GPS satellite navigation technology to work out exactly where the car is and where it is heading, and compare that to a mapping database on which the different speed limits are recorded. The advantage of a system like this is that not only does it know what the limit is on the stretch of road you're actually using, it can warn you of upcoming limits as well. But it is only as good as the database it relies on. If the information provided is out of date or incomplete - a temporary speed limit may be in place during road works, for example - it cannot keep the driver properly informed. The alternative is to use a camera and software that can \"read\" the speed limit signs themselves. This allows the onboard computer to respond to variable limits and short-term speed restrictions. But it is essentially a reactive mechanism and cannot warn the driver of what lies further ahead. The most logical solution would be to have a combination of both systems. That might sound like a recipe for high costs but according to Roland Schaefer, a safety expert at Ford of Europe, many cars are already equipped with the hardware they need. \"If you already have GPS navigation, if you already have a camera on the car, then all you need is software. Quite complicated but still just software,\" he says. Prof Oliver Carsten of Leeds University's Institute for Transport Studies agrees. An expert on transport safety, he was involved in a major six-year study into ISA that was funded by the UK government. \"Initially we estimated the probable costs at about PS2,000 per vehicle,\" he says. \"But now the extra costs are negligible because if you already have things like lane departure warnings fitted you already have a camera on your car.\" But while the technology may be affordable right now it is far from perfect. One of the cars we drove, for example, became confused when it passed two signs giving different speed limits and failed to respond to either. \"If you have conflicting information, for example your GPS map tells you one thing and your camera tells you another, which do you go with? It's not always possible to be wholly accurate,\" says Ford's Roland Schaefer. One possible solution is \"vehicle-to-infrastructure communication\", he thinks, where speed limit signs, traffic lights and other street furniture would be able to transmit signals directly to the car via a 5G connection, for example. More Technology of Business But for such a system to work, it needs to be standardised so that all manufacturers use the same type of technology - and someone has to install and pay for it. That, Mr Schaefer says, is a problem for governments and policymakers. In the meantime compulsory intelligent speed assistance is on its way. But it comes with an important caveat: the driver will be able to override the system at all times. There are good reasons for this. \"One issue is acceptance,\" says Prof Carsten. \"We don't want to be turning off public support. The other issue is unreliability - what happens if the car accidentally picks up a limit that's much too low, on a fast road? It could be a serious safety issue.\" Roland Schaefer agrees. \"We bring in new technology if we think it can help our customers,\" he says. \"We don't want to overrule the driver. He must always have the last word\". - Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter and Facebook", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5199, "answer_start": 4528, "text": "But while the technology may be affordable right now it is far from perfect. One of the cars we drove, for example, became confused when it passed two signs giving different speed limits and failed to respond to either. \"If you have conflicting information, for example your GPS map tells you one thing and your camera tells you another, which do you go with? It's not always possible to be wholly accurate,\" says Ford's Roland Schaefer. One possible solution is \"vehicle-to-infrastructure communication\", he thinks, where speed limit signs, traffic lights and other street furniture would be able to transmit signals directly to the car via a 5G connection, for example." } ], "id": "9163_0", "question": "Imperfect solution?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The European Union has never had a chief prosecutor, and now the front-runner to become the first is a woman who has built a fearsome reputation at home. Until last year Laura Codruta Kovesi, 45, was head of Romania's powerful Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA). She is up against an attorney general from France, Jean-Francois Bohnert - and facing fierce opposition from her own government. As head of the new European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO), whoever wins will have extensive powers to investigate and prosecute the misuse of EU funds and VAT fraud between EU member states. A talented basketball player in her youth, Laura Kovesi became a general prosecutor at just 36. By 2013 she was head of the DNA - and built up quite a track record. During her five years in the job she put 68 high-level functionaries on trial, including 14 government ministers or ex-ministers and 53 deputies from both houses of the Romanian parliament. By the time she was forced out of the job by the governing Social Democrats, 37 of those politicians had already been convicted, and most of the other cases were still ongoing. Romania's governing Social Democrats consider her their mortal enemy, even though public officials from all parties were prosecuted. Eventually, after a long battle, the government forced the president to fire her last July. She stood accused of abusing her office and over-use of wire-tapping facilities from the secret services; her district prosecutors were accused of pressuring witnesses. A fraud probe was launched against her, which she dismissed as part of a smear campaign. \"Romanians' trust in the DNA is quite remarkable,\" she told me in February 2017, as hundreds of thousands of Romanians came on to the streets to protest against government efforts to soften anti-corruption legislation. \"More and more people were willing to give witness statements regarding corruption cases. And all that because Romanian citizens noticed that the law is equal for everybody. \"This is what we do. So we will continue doing our job, regardless if we are supported or not.\" Protesters carried banners supporting the DNA, and bearing Ms Kovesi's picture. Last week, supporters gathered at Bucharest to welcome her back from Brussels with flowers. \"Now, when she's running for the post of European Chief Prosecutor, people support her more than ever. She's our iron lady!\" Angi from the Corruption Kills group said. But her main rival for the post, Reims attorney general Jean-Francois Bohnert, has received the most votes from EU ambassadors, and the Romanian government lobbied hard to block Ms Kovesi's chances. On the other hand, Ms Kovesi has the backing of the European Parliament's Civil Liberties and Budgetary Affairs committees. Now it is up to the European Council, in consultation with the heads of political groups in the European Parliament, to decide. The successful candidate is due to start work in 2020. So far, 22 out of the EU's 28 states have agreed to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Hungary is among those that reject it as an infringement of their national sovereignty. Its main purpose is to combat complex fraud cases. How complex? Imagine a truck loaded with sunflower oil rumbling over a sturdy steel river bridge from one EU country to another. Both are members of Schengen, the customs-free European Union trade zone, and the old border control buildings have broken windows, empty except for cobwebs. There are no border police or customs officers in sight. The truck parks in a lay-by. A company accountant fills out VAT refund forms in country A, because the oil has been \"exported\". VAT ought to be paid in country B, by those who sell it. But later that day, the driver calmly drives his truck back without unloading it. The oil finds its way on to supermarket shelves back in country A, tax-free. It's part of everyday VAT fraud, which costs EU countries an estimated EUR50bn (PS43bn;$56bn) a year. A US diplomat based in Hungary found discrepancies between imports and exports totalling $3.37bn in 2015 alone. Investigating this is complex and requires mountains of translated documents and time-consuming work for police, customs and judiciary. National customs offices are also sometimes \"discouraged\" by those in power. The EU's anti-fraud office, Olaf, has a staff of only 100 and over half its requests for investigation are rejected by national prosecutors. The new prosecutor's office will not only target suspect VAT transactions, but also the equally complex issue of public procurement tenders for EU money - to identify contracts going to business figures close to political parties. And Ms Kovesi, who has already taken on the powerful in her home country, may be leading the charge.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4760, "answer_start": 2936, "text": "So far, 22 out of the EU's 28 states have agreed to join the European Public Prosecutor's Office. Hungary is among those that reject it as an infringement of their national sovereignty. Its main purpose is to combat complex fraud cases. How complex? Imagine a truck loaded with sunflower oil rumbling over a sturdy steel river bridge from one EU country to another. Both are members of Schengen, the customs-free European Union trade zone, and the old border control buildings have broken windows, empty except for cobwebs. There are no border police or customs officers in sight. The truck parks in a lay-by. A company accountant fills out VAT refund forms in country A, because the oil has been \"exported\". VAT ought to be paid in country B, by those who sell it. But later that day, the driver calmly drives his truck back without unloading it. The oil finds its way on to supermarket shelves back in country A, tax-free. It's part of everyday VAT fraud, which costs EU countries an estimated EUR50bn (PS43bn;$56bn) a year. A US diplomat based in Hungary found discrepancies between imports and exports totalling $3.37bn in 2015 alone. Investigating this is complex and requires mountains of translated documents and time-consuming work for police, customs and judiciary. National customs offices are also sometimes \"discouraged\" by those in power. The EU's anti-fraud office, Olaf, has a staff of only 100 and over half its requests for investigation are rejected by national prosecutors. The new prosecutor's office will not only target suspect VAT transactions, but also the equally complex issue of public procurement tenders for EU money - to identify contracts going to business figures close to political parties. And Ms Kovesi, who has already taken on the powerful in her home country, may be leading the charge." } ], "id": "9164_0", "question": "Why does Europe need a chief prosecutor?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Lucinda Evelyn admits it wasn't her appearance, charisma or talent on camera that caused the job offers to flow in - rather, it was her thousands of followers on Instagram. After a brief stint in modelling, the 28-year-old found big-name brands began to approach her offering her work on promotional campaigns. All she needed to do was post a quick selfie on social media endorsing products that she received for free to her legion of fans - anything from brow liner to organic tampons to multivitamin milkshakes for hair growth. Thus began her career as a social media 'influencer'. \"It's very low effort, very high reward in a lot of ways,\" said Lucinda. \"It did give me a huge sense of self worth and I think that's why a lot of women do it.\" The allure of regular paid work was tempting and her colourful posts have since amassed a 15,000-strong Instagram following. But when she agreed to back a coffee designed for rapid weight loss, the Glasgow star began to feel unsettled. \"They would have the word 'skinny' in the title,\" she said. \"Skinny this and skinny that, and it's sad because it's saying if you're not skinny you're not good enough. \"I don't think that should be a message that people should be allowed to send. \"It's almost sort of selling anorexia and eating disorders and mental health problems.\" Eventually Lucinda found she was unable to answer uncomfortable questions as friends quizzed her on the efficacy of the \"miracle\" drinks - which in reality, she found had not worked as promised on the label. She said: \"It just makes you think about things in a different way when somebody asks you those questions. \"I said it gives you a little bit of a flat stomach, it helps with bloating but it's not going to make you skinny and they were like 'well why are you promoting it?' \"It's one thing selling things online to strangers but when it's your friends contacting you, I couldn't lie to them. \"I looked into it a bit more and realised it wasn't really what it was saying it was. It was false advertising and it was just selling people insecurity and I didn't really agree with that so I decided to take a step back from those kinds of products.\" Lucinda has since dropped the coffee brand, although her previous Instagram posts for them remain online. She has urged fellow influencers to thoroughly research the products they promote, particularly given a high percentage of their followers will be in their teens. She said: \"I think it's really ignorant to think that we don't have a moral and social obligation to people who are looking at our posts. \"When I think of my followers I generally think of adults but a lot of them won't be adults, a lot of them will be schoolchildren. \"You have to take responsibility for that and I think it's selfish and immoral not to. You have to be aware of the influence you're having on your audience.\" Registered dietician Dr Katerina Vasilaki explains that detox teas and coffees primarily work through a laxative effect. She said: \"They increase the bowel movements and the time that it takes for a bowel movement shortens. \"Our bowel will not have enough time to get the nutrients or the fluids.\" She adds that the drinks have the potential to cause dehydration, problems with bowel function and indirectly, to \"disordered eating\". Dr Vasilaki continued: \"What I would say is dieting is not risk-free and quite a lot of people trying to lose weight with the help of these products are not really aware of that. \"We are seeing that dieting is linked to increased disordered eating, mental health issues and even further weight gain especially in teenagers. \"There are studies that have shown that teenagers who are dieters in the long run gain more weight than the teenagers who do not diet.\" Lucinda's story comes amid the rise of a campaign to stop celebrities and influencers promoting rapid weight loss products. Founded by Mandy Jones of the Empowered Woman Project, the campaign is seeking tighter regulations on paid social media promotions and to pressure stars to become more mindful of the products they choose to back. Ms Jones told BBC Scotland: \"I think it's hugely damaging - why do we need to look a certain way? \"There is a huge revolution at the moment with body positivity and accepting different body types and I've seen it in a lot of different ad campaigns which is great. \"However, these celebrities and influencers carry on serving an ideal then it's just damaging, youngsters think they need to look that way in order to be successful.\" The campaign has now been brought to Holyrood's attention by MSP Shona Robison. Ms Robison sent a parliamentary motion to colleagues highlighting how many weight loss companies require a before and after photo when promoting their products - often taken on the same day. The motion says the practice \"can construct an inaccurate portrayal of healthy weight loss as a result of using a product.\" A spokesperson for Instagram said: \"This is an important area, and one we are thinking a lot about. \"These type of posts involve paid promotional partnerships between brands and influencers, which our advertising policies don't apply to. \"We are looking at this closely to understand how we can improve.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3757, "answer_start": 2865, "text": "Registered dietician Dr Katerina Vasilaki explains that detox teas and coffees primarily work through a laxative effect. She said: \"They increase the bowel movements and the time that it takes for a bowel movement shortens. \"Our bowel will not have enough time to get the nutrients or the fluids.\" She adds that the drinks have the potential to cause dehydration, problems with bowel function and indirectly, to \"disordered eating\". Dr Vasilaki continued: \"What I would say is dieting is not risk-free and quite a lot of people trying to lose weight with the help of these products are not really aware of that. \"We are seeing that dieting is linked to increased disordered eating, mental health issues and even further weight gain especially in teenagers. \"There are studies that have shown that teenagers who are dieters in the long run gain more weight than the teenagers who do not diet.\"" } ], "id": "9165_0", "question": "Does weight loss coffee work?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The brutal gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Indian-administered Kashmir has put the restive state on edge. Sameer Yasir, an independent journalist based in Srinagar, reports on how the investigation has split the region along religious lines. On the morning of 17 January, Muhammad Yusuf Pujwala was sitting outside his home in Kathua when one of his neighbours came running towards him. He stopped in front of Mr Pujwala and broke the news: they had found his eight-year-old daughter, Asifa Bano. Her body lay in bushes in the forest, a few hundred metres away. \"I knew something horrible had happened to my girl,\" Mr Pujwala, a 52-year-old with deep sunken eyes, told the BBC in an interview recently. His wife, Naseema Bibi, sat beside him, faintly crying while repeatedly murmuring \"Asifa\". Mr Pujwala belongs to a community of Muslim nomadic shepherds called Gujjars who crisscross the Himalayas with their goats and buffaloes. The crime has shocked the community, exposing the fault lines between Hindu-majority Jammu and the Muslim-majority Kashmir valley in a sharply divided state. The Kashmir valley has a tumultuous relationship with India - there has been an armed revolt in the region against Indian rule since 1989. Police have arrested eight men, including a retired government official, four police officers and a juvenile in connection with Asifa's death. However, the arrests sparked protests in Jammu - lawyers tried to stop police entering the court to file a charge sheet and two ministers from the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) attended a rally in support of the accused. The BJP rules the state in a coalition with the regional People's Democratic Party (PDP). When she went missing on 10 January, her family was living in a village around 72km (45 miles) east of Jammu city. On that afternoon, her mother recalls, Asifa went to the forest to bring home the horses. The horses returned but Asifa did not. Ms Naseema informed her husband. He and some neighbours started looking for her. Armed with flash lights, lanterns and axes, they went deep into the forest and searched through the night. But they could not find her. Two days later, on 12 January, the family filed a police complaint. But, according to Mr Pujwala, the police were not helpful. One of the police officers, he alleges, said Asifa must have \"eloped\" with a boy. As news of the crime spread, Gujjar staged protests and blocked a highway, forcing police to assign two officers for the search. One of those who was assigned, Deepak Khajuria, was himself arrested in connection with the crime. Five days later, Asifa's body was found. \"She had been tortured. Her legs were broken,\" recalled Ms Naseema, who had rushed to the forest along with her husband to see the body. \"Her nails had turned black and there were blue and red marks on her arm and fingers.\" On 23 January, six days after Asifa's body was found, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, ordered a investigation by the crime branch, a special unit of the state police. According to the investigators, Asifa was confined in a local temple for several days and given sedatives that kept her unconscious. The charge sheet alleges that she was \"raped for days, tortured and then finally murdered\". She was strangled to death and then hit on the head twice with a stone. Sanji Ram, a 60-year-old retired government officer, allegedly planned the crime with the help of police officers Surender Verma, Anand Dutta, Tilak Raj and Mr Khajuria. Mr Ram's son, Vishal, his nephew, a juvenile, and his friend, Parvesh Kumar, are also accused over the rape and murder. Investigators allege that Mr Khajuria and the other police officers - some of whom lodged the complaint and accompanied the family in the search - washed Asifa's bloodied and mud-spattered clothes before sending them to a forensic lab. They believe that the accused men wished to terrorise the Gujjar community into leaving Jammu. The shepherds use public and forest land in Jammu for grazing, which has recently brought them into conflict with some Hindu residents in the region. \"It was about land,\" said Talib Hussain, a tribal rights activist and lawyer. Mr Hussain, who led a protest in support of Asifa's family, alleges he was arrested and threatened by local police. Ankur Sharma, one of the lawyers who protested on behalf of the accused, alleged that the Muslim nomads were trying to alter the demographics of Jammu, where Hindus are currently the majority. \"They are encroaching our forests and water resources,\" he told the BBC. He said the accused had been falsely implicated while the real culprits were still free. While the crime did not receive much attention in Jammu, newspapers in Srinagar, the capital city located in the Kashmir valley, carried the story on their front pages. In Jammu and Kashmir state assembly, Mian Altaf, an influential Gujjar leader and an opposition legislator, waved the newspapers with photographs of Asifa while demanding an inquiry. Rajiv Jasrotia, a BJP lawmaker, said the incident was a \"family matter\" and blamed Mr Altaf for politicising the crime. The Gujjars wanted to bury Asifa in a graveyard where they had purchased some land a few years ago and had already buried five people. But when they arrived there, Mr Pujwala said, they were surrounded by Hindu right-wing activists who threatened them with violence if they were to continue with the burial. \"We had to walk seven miles to bury her in another village,\" Mr Pujwala said. Two of his daughters were killed in an accident some years ago. On his wife's insistence, he adopted Asifa, the daughter of his brother-in-law. His wife described Asifa as a \"chirping bird\" who ran like a \"deer\". When they travelled, she looked after the herd. \"That made her the darling of the community,\" Ms Bibi said. \"She was the centre of our universe.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2880, "answer_start": 1718, "text": "When she went missing on 10 January, her family was living in a village around 72km (45 miles) east of Jammu city. On that afternoon, her mother recalls, Asifa went to the forest to bring home the horses. The horses returned but Asifa did not. Ms Naseema informed her husband. He and some neighbours started looking for her. Armed with flash lights, lanterns and axes, they went deep into the forest and searched through the night. But they could not find her. Two days later, on 12 January, the family filed a police complaint. But, according to Mr Pujwala, the police were not helpful. One of the police officers, he alleges, said Asifa must have \"eloped\" with a boy. As news of the crime spread, Gujjar staged protests and blocked a highway, forcing police to assign two officers for the search. One of those who was assigned, Deepak Khajuria, was himself arrested in connection with the crime. Five days later, Asifa's body was found. \"She had been tortured. Her legs were broken,\" recalled Ms Naseema, who had rushed to the forest along with her husband to see the body. \"Her nails had turned black and there were blue and red marks on her arm and fingers.\"" } ], "id": "9166_0", "question": "How did Asifa disappear?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5158, "answer_start": 2881, "text": "On 23 January, six days after Asifa's body was found, the Jammu and Kashmir chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, ordered a investigation by the crime branch, a special unit of the state police. According to the investigators, Asifa was confined in a local temple for several days and given sedatives that kept her unconscious. The charge sheet alleges that she was \"raped for days, tortured and then finally murdered\". She was strangled to death and then hit on the head twice with a stone. Sanji Ram, a 60-year-old retired government officer, allegedly planned the crime with the help of police officers Surender Verma, Anand Dutta, Tilak Raj and Mr Khajuria. Mr Ram's son, Vishal, his nephew, a juvenile, and his friend, Parvesh Kumar, are also accused over the rape and murder. Investigators allege that Mr Khajuria and the other police officers - some of whom lodged the complaint and accompanied the family in the search - washed Asifa's bloodied and mud-spattered clothes before sending them to a forensic lab. They believe that the accused men wished to terrorise the Gujjar community into leaving Jammu. The shepherds use public and forest land in Jammu for grazing, which has recently brought them into conflict with some Hindu residents in the region. \"It was about land,\" said Talib Hussain, a tribal rights activist and lawyer. Mr Hussain, who led a protest in support of Asifa's family, alleges he was arrested and threatened by local police. Ankur Sharma, one of the lawyers who protested on behalf of the accused, alleged that the Muslim nomads were trying to alter the demographics of Jammu, where Hindus are currently the majority. \"They are encroaching our forests and water resources,\" he told the BBC. He said the accused had been falsely implicated while the real culprits were still free. While the crime did not receive much attention in Jammu, newspapers in Srinagar, the capital city located in the Kashmir valley, carried the story on their front pages. In Jammu and Kashmir state assembly, Mian Altaf, an influential Gujjar leader and an opposition legislator, waved the newspapers with photographs of Asifa while demanding an inquiry. Rajiv Jasrotia, a BJP lawmaker, said the incident was a \"family matter\" and blamed Mr Altaf for politicising the crime." } ], "id": "9166_1", "question": "What do investigators believe happened?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An undocumented immigrant is facing deportation after he was arrested while delivering pizza to a military base in New York City, his wife says. Pablo Villavicencio was arrested on 1 June at Brooklyn's Fort Hamilton military base, and was handed over to federal immigration officials. He consented to a background check after he could not produce a government ID, base officials said in a statement. The father-of-two is married to a US citizen and was awaiting a work visa. His wife Sandra Chica, an American citizen, said he had been living in the US for nearly 10 years, and has an application pending for a Green Card. \"There aren't any words that can define the drama that my daughters and I are living,\" Ms Chica said at a news conference on Wednesday. \"From one moment to the next, life changed for us and all I ask for now is for them to not deport my husband, to give him an opportunity.\" Eric Adams, the president of the New York borough of Brooklyn, where Fort Hamilton is located, added: \"It is unimaginable that a person can go from a pizza to prison\". Fort Hamilton spokeswoman Cathy SantoPietro said in a statement that Mr Villavicencio had arrived at last Friday to \"make a delivery without valid Department of Defense identification\". \"Upon signing a waiver permitting a background check, Department of the Army Access Control standard for all visitors, an active Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) warrant was discovered on file\" and he was arrested. In a statement, ICE confirmed that Mr Villavicencio was in their custody. A spokesperson told US media that he had failed to comply with a 2010 deportation order and was considered a fugitive. On an online fundraiser set up for Mr Villavicencio's family, his wife wrote: \"We are alone in this country\". She says they \"have two daughters and we take care of them.\" \"You never know what you can feel until the day that you have to live this.\" City Councilmember Justin Brannan called for Mr Villavicencio's freedom at a news conference, local media reported. \"Is our city, state and nation any safer today because they took a pizza delivery guy off the streets?\" Steven Choi, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, also criticised the military's decision. \"Immigrant New Yorkers like Pablo Villavicencio provide for their families by working hard and making sacrifices, they shouldn't be ripped from their communities and their crying children for pursuing the ever dimmer American dream,\" he said. New York is one of 400 jurisdictions in the US known as \"sanctuary cities\", which have policies in place to protect undocumented immigrants. Officials and local law enforcement in New York, for example, are not allowed to question an individual's immigration status in the course of their duties. The policy was meant to ensure immigrants felt safe reporting crimes to police or serving as witnesses. The sanctuary city term, however, does not protect residents from ICE arrests.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2971, "answer_start": 2492, "text": "New York is one of 400 jurisdictions in the US known as \"sanctuary cities\", which have policies in place to protect undocumented immigrants. Officials and local law enforcement in New York, for example, are not allowed to question an individual's immigration status in the course of their duties. The policy was meant to ensure immigrants felt safe reporting crimes to police or serving as witnesses. The sanctuary city term, however, does not protect residents from ICE arrests." } ], "id": "9167_0", "question": "Is New York a sanctuary city?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A sonic boom was heard across Derbyshire as military aircraft were launched to intercept a passenger plane following a reported bomb threat. Police and the fire service received \"a large number\" of 999 calls from people who feared there had been an explosion or earthquake. Some people reported their homes being shaken by the sonic boom, which was heard shortly before 10:00 BST. The RAF confirmed Typhoon aircraft had been launched. \"The RAF can confirm Quick Reaction Alert Typhoon aircraft were launched this morning from RAF Coningsby to intercept a civilian aircraft,\" a statement said. \"The aircraft was safely escorted to Stansted Airport. The Typhoon aircraft were authorised to transit at supersonic speed for operational reasons; any inconvenience caused to local residents is regretted.\" Claire Murray, who lives in Breaston, was filming her dog Tala about to go in a paddling pool when she heard the sonic boom. \"It scared everyone because it's such a quiet area,\" she said. \"We thought there was a major explosion somewhere. \"It made the whole house shake. The dogs ran into the house scared and the birds were flying everywhere.\" When an aircraft approaches the speed of sound (768mph or 1,236km/h), the air in front of the nose of the plane builds up a pressure front because it has \"nowhere to escape\", said Dr Jim Wild of Lancaster University. A sonic boom happens when that air \"escapes\", creating a ripple effect which can be heard on the ground as a loud thunderclap. It can be heard over such a large area because it moves with the plane, rather like the wake on the bow of a ship spreading out behind the vessel. Bob Billington, who lives in Derby, said he heard two bangs in quick succession and guessed it was a sonic boom. \"The first bang was rather loud, like the thunder from a very close lightning strike, then rather less than a second later there was a second, not quite as loud, and then the echoes from the surrounding buildings making it sound like a fairly short roll of thunder,\" he said. \"I assume there aren't very many of the people reporting it have actually heard one before, so I can understand their reactions.\" Stuart Dean, who works at a car dealership near Pride Park, said it \"felt like the whole world shook\". \"It felt like the whole thing came from behind us so we all rushed out to see what it was,\" he said. \"We're in a really big unit and the whole thing shook.\" The RAF said it could not say how many Typhoons were launched \"for operational reasons\". They were escorting an Air India passenger plane that made a \"precautionary landing\" after the airline initially reported a bomb threat. A statement from Stansted Airport said the plane landed at about 10:15 BST and was in an isolated part of the airport. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1635, "answer_start": 1145, "text": "When an aircraft approaches the speed of sound (768mph or 1,236km/h), the air in front of the nose of the plane builds up a pressure front because it has \"nowhere to escape\", said Dr Jim Wild of Lancaster University. A sonic boom happens when that air \"escapes\", creating a ripple effect which can be heard on the ground as a loud thunderclap. It can be heard over such a large area because it moves with the plane, rather like the wake on the bow of a ship spreading out behind the vessel." } ], "id": "9168_0", "question": "What causes a sonic boom?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A proclamation of sexual attraction. A hand resting on the knee. A flirty text message. From the right person at the right time, they can make you feel great. But from the wrong person or at the wrong time, an innuendo-laden text becomes creepy and an unwanted touch can make you feel uncomfortable and ashamed. As the number of women making claims against Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein grows by the day, women around the world have spoken on social media about their experiences of sexual harassment under the #metoo Twitter hashtag. Weinstein wielded great power, able to make or break his alleged victims' careers, but harassment can be just as damaging away from work. In a global debate, the question of how we define sexual harassment is not altogether clear. And that line between flirtation and harassment is a very fine - and often blurred - one. If you want to meet someone, you have to flirt, says relationship expert James Preece. But it's about doing it in the right environment, not when people are least expecting it, he says. He advises his clients - men and women aged from 23 to 72 - to play it safe by flirting in a playful - not a sexual - way. \"Be friendly and build up a rapport and trust,\" he says. At the end of the first date, he suggests a friendly hug or peck on the cheek. When it's unwanted and persistent, says Sarah King, of Stuart Miller Solicitors. Dating expert James believes it's when a man goes too far - whether through what he says or what he does - when a woman clearly doesn't want it. Sea Ming Pak, who goes into London schools to teach young people about sex and relationships, reels off a long list of what she thinks constitutes sexual harassment: non-consensual touching; feeling entitled to someone else; talking in a certain way; chasing girls down the street in order to chat them up; wolf-whistling and using a position of power or trust to talk in a creepy way. The Oxford English Dictionary defines sexual harassment as \"unwanted sexual advances, obscene remarks, etc\". And the Equality Act 2010 says it's an \"unwanted conduct of a sexual nature\" which violates a person's dignity or \"creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive environment\". Not specifically. It is not a criminal offence in its own right, says Sarah King. However, the types of behaviour that amount to sexual harassment can be criminalised under different pieces of legislation. For example: - Unwanted phone calls and messages, visits to home or work, taking personal photographs, unwanted advances and persistent and distressing comments - Protection from Harassment Act 1997 - Sending indecent, offensive or threatening letter, emails, and messages on social media and text - Malicious Communications Act 1998 - Unwanted touching by someone who is getting sexual gratification, for example on public transport - Sexual Offences Act That said, anyone being sexually harassed in the workplace is protected by the Equality Act 2010. A case is considered a civil - not a criminal - matter and would be dealt with in an employment tribunal. More than half of women say they have been sexually harassed at work, according to research carried out last year by the TUC. Sea Ming Pak, who works for sexual health charity Brook, blames Western society's sex-sells culture which, she says, breeds entitlement and a blame culture. Young people have been conditioned through films, music videos, TV programmes, access to porn and the normalisation of sending sexual images on phones, she says. In school assemblies and classrooms, she tells them when it comes to sex you have to have freedom and the capacity to make the choice. But she admits she worries about how poorly informed our schoolchildren are - with many blaming the victim when a rape scenario is presented. In some cases, it is a learned behaviour, picked up from those closest to them. She describes spotting a girl from one of her classes at a bus stop with a boy draping his arm around her and being \"handsy\". \"She did not look like she wanted the attention so the next week I told her: 'You have the right to say no, it was not OK for him to touch you.' \"I explained consent, and she replied: 'But they always grab me.'\" Sea, who typically speaks to boys and girls aged between 14 and 17, thinks that until children are told they can say \"no\" at an earlier age, the problem will not go away. We should speak to them in primary schools, says Sea. That's when it starts, she says, recalling her own schooldays when boys thought it was funny to rip open girls' shirts, put their hands up their skirts, grab their bums and ping their bras. \"It was about shame and humiliation,\" she says. At that age, you talk about boundaries, she explains, and at secondary school they need to know about consent, how to read body language, negotiate situations and to think before sending sexual images of themselves. Grassroots pressure is mounting. A petition calling for the Crown Prosecution Service to make misogynistic incidents a hate crime has been signed by more than 65,000 people. In Nottinghamshire, police began recording misogynistic incidents as hate crimes; until then there was no category for such cases. The force defines those as: \"Incidents against women that are motivated by an attitude of a man towards a woman and includes behaviour targeted towards a woman by men simply because they are a woman.\" It allows police to investigate the incidents as crimes and support the victims, as well as get a better picture of the scale of the problem. Sarah King says there is a gap in the legislation. She points to the Crime and Disorder Act which includes an offence of harassment motivated by the complainant's religion or race, but not when it's sexual. A specific criminal offence for sexual harassment would define the behaviour and create clear boundaries once and for all, she says.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1311, "answer_start": 867, "text": "If you want to meet someone, you have to flirt, says relationship expert James Preece. But it's about doing it in the right environment, not when people are least expecting it, he says. He advises his clients - men and women aged from 23 to 72 - to play it safe by flirting in a playful - not a sexual - way. \"Be friendly and build up a rapport and trust,\" he says. At the end of the first date, he suggests a friendly hug or peck on the cheek." } ], "id": "9169_0", "question": "So how do you ensure you stay on the right side of it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2218, "answer_start": 1312, "text": "When it's unwanted and persistent, says Sarah King, of Stuart Miller Solicitors. Dating expert James believes it's when a man goes too far - whether through what he says or what he does - when a woman clearly doesn't want it. Sea Ming Pak, who goes into London schools to teach young people about sex and relationships, reels off a long list of what she thinks constitutes sexual harassment: non-consensual touching; feeling entitled to someone else; talking in a certain way; chasing girls down the street in order to chat them up; wolf-whistling and using a position of power or trust to talk in a creepy way. The Oxford English Dictionary defines sexual harassment as \"unwanted sexual advances, obscene remarks, etc\". And the Equality Act 2010 says it's an \"unwanted conduct of a sexual nature\" which violates a person's dignity or \"creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading or offensive environment\"." } ], "id": "9169_1", "question": "When does flirting become sexual harassment?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3210, "answer_start": 2219, "text": "Not specifically. It is not a criminal offence in its own right, says Sarah King. However, the types of behaviour that amount to sexual harassment can be criminalised under different pieces of legislation. For example: - Unwanted phone calls and messages, visits to home or work, taking personal photographs, unwanted advances and persistent and distressing comments - Protection from Harassment Act 1997 - Sending indecent, offensive or threatening letter, emails, and messages on social media and text - Malicious Communications Act 1998 - Unwanted touching by someone who is getting sexual gratification, for example on public transport - Sexual Offences Act That said, anyone being sexually harassed in the workplace is protected by the Equality Act 2010. A case is considered a civil - not a criminal - matter and would be dealt with in an employment tribunal. More than half of women say they have been sexually harassed at work, according to research carried out last year by the TUC." } ], "id": "9169_2", "question": "Is sexual harassment illegal?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4903, "answer_start": 3211, "text": "Sea Ming Pak, who works for sexual health charity Brook, blames Western society's sex-sells culture which, she says, breeds entitlement and a blame culture. Young people have been conditioned through films, music videos, TV programmes, access to porn and the normalisation of sending sexual images on phones, she says. In school assemblies and classrooms, she tells them when it comes to sex you have to have freedom and the capacity to make the choice. But she admits she worries about how poorly informed our schoolchildren are - with many blaming the victim when a rape scenario is presented. In some cases, it is a learned behaviour, picked up from those closest to them. She describes spotting a girl from one of her classes at a bus stop with a boy draping his arm around her and being \"handsy\". \"She did not look like she wanted the attention so the next week I told her: 'You have the right to say no, it was not OK for him to touch you.' \"I explained consent, and she replied: 'But they always grab me.'\" Sea, who typically speaks to boys and girls aged between 14 and 17, thinks that until children are told they can say \"no\" at an earlier age, the problem will not go away. We should speak to them in primary schools, says Sea. That's when it starts, she says, recalling her own schooldays when boys thought it was funny to rip open girls' shirts, put their hands up their skirts, grab their bums and ping their bras. \"It was about shame and humiliation,\" she says. At that age, you talk about boundaries, she explains, and at secondary school they need to know about consent, how to read body language, negotiate situations and to think before sending sexual images of themselves." } ], "id": "9169_3", "question": "Why is sexual harassment happening?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5891, "answer_start": 4904, "text": "Grassroots pressure is mounting. A petition calling for the Crown Prosecution Service to make misogynistic incidents a hate crime has been signed by more than 65,000 people. In Nottinghamshire, police began recording misogynistic incidents as hate crimes; until then there was no category for such cases. The force defines those as: \"Incidents against women that are motivated by an attitude of a man towards a woman and includes behaviour targeted towards a woman by men simply because they are a woman.\" It allows police to investigate the incidents as crimes and support the victims, as well as get a better picture of the scale of the problem. Sarah King says there is a gap in the legislation. She points to the Crime and Disorder Act which includes an offence of harassment motivated by the complainant's religion or race, but not when it's sexual. A specific criminal offence for sexual harassment would define the behaviour and create clear boundaries once and for all, she says." } ], "id": "9169_4", "question": "Is the law likely to change?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The UK should not be \"rolling out the red carpet\" for Donald Trump during his upcoming visit, London mayor Sadiq Khan has said. He said while the trip was \"right and proper\", he did not believe a full state visit should be given \"to somebody whose views we disagree with\". The US president is due to arrive for a three-day state visit on Monday. Theresa May has said it will allow the UK and US to strengthen their \"already close relationship\". Speaking ahead of Mr Trump's arrival, Mr Khan said he believed the prime minister should tell the president he was \"wrong on a whole host of issues\" such as his views on women and immigration. \"It's right and proper that we've got a good working relationship with out closest allies... it's wrong that the red carpet is rolled out,\" he said. His comments follow a long-running feud between the men. Mr Trump's state visit is expected to attract thousands of protesters, while counter-demonstrations supporting the president have also been organised. The Met Police said it had \"a very experienced command team\" leading the operation to deal with the visit. The police operation for the president's visit last year is estimated to have cost nearly PS18m. It's a formal trip to the UK by a head of state and is normally at the invitation of the Queen, who acts on advice from the government. Although they are grand occasions, they are not merely ceremonial affairs but are used by the government to further what it sees as Britain's national interests. Mr Trump is the third US president to be given a state visit.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1558, "answer_start": 1199, "text": "It's a formal trip to the UK by a head of state and is normally at the invitation of the Queen, who acts on advice from the government. Although they are grand occasions, they are not merely ceremonial affairs but are used by the government to further what it sees as Britain's national interests. Mr Trump is the third US president to be given a state visit." } ], "id": "9170_0", "question": "What is a state visit?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "England cricketer Ben Stokes is to go on trial after being accused of fighting outside a Bristol nightclub in September. The 26-year-old Durham all-rounder is charged with affray after a man allegedly suffered a broken eye socket. Mr Stokes, who missed the Ashes after being suspended from England duties, is accused jointly with two others. Ryan Hale, 26, and 28-year-old Ryan Aslam Ali, both from Bristol, will face trial on the same charge. Mr Stokes was granted unconditional bail after appearing at Bristol Magistrates' Court and is now set to travel to New Zealand to re-join the England squad as part of their Twenty20 tri-series. The three defendants were detained early on 25 September following a disturbance in the Clifton Triangle area of the city - several hours after England had played a one-day international against the West Indies. District Judge Simon Cooper, who also granted Mr Hale and Mr Ali unconditional bail, sent the case to trial at Bristol Crown Court. The first hearing, which Mr Stokes is not expected to attend, is due on 12 March. Mr Stokes' court appearance had clashed with England's defeat earlier to New Zealand, in which he had been due to make his international comeback. In a statement posted on Twitter last month the player, from the Castle Eden area of Durham, said he was \"keen to have an opportunity to clear my name\". As a result of the charge, Mr Stokes missed the Ashes series, which hosts Australia won 4-0, although he was allowed to play some domestic matches in New Zealand. The charge of affray is made under the Public Order Act 1986 and effectively relates to fighting in public. It is a triable either-way offence, which means it can be heard in either the magistrates' court or the crown court. It carries a maximum penalty when tried summarily - in the magistrates' court - of a fine or up to six months in prison, and when tried on indictment - in the crown court - of up to three years in prison. He has also been given permission by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to take part in the Indian Premier League, which starts in April. Last month, the ECB said that, \"given the potential length of time to trial\", it would not be \"fair, reasonable or proportionate for Ben Stokes to remain unavailable for a further indeterminate period\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1956, "answer_start": 1527, "text": "The charge of affray is made under the Public Order Act 1986 and effectively relates to fighting in public. It is a triable either-way offence, which means it can be heard in either the magistrates' court or the crown court. It carries a maximum penalty when tried summarily - in the magistrates' court - of a fine or up to six months in prison, and when tried on indictment - in the crown court - of up to three years in prison." } ], "id": "9171_0", "question": "What is affray?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The General Election 2019 guide to parties' policies has been put together by the BBC's Visual Journalism team, working with the BBC's political research unit in London and specialists in Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow. It will be updated as parties publish their general election manifestos. Its aim is to summarise where the parties stand on the issues that are most important to voters - helping them to make an informed decision at the ballot box. The issue areas are based on issues highlighted in Ipsos Mori's Issues Index, which measures the issues the public believe to be the most important facing the country. Some issues have been grouped together under short titles for simplicity eg NHS, hospitals, healthcare and social care are included under the headline area of \"NHS and Care\". Inequality, poverty, unemployment, pensions and benefits are covered in the \"Work and Benefits\" category. The most popular issues were selected based on their aggregate score from January to September 2019. The \"Democracy\" issue area was added on editorial grounds to fulfil the BBC's public service commitments. Any party represented by at least one MP when the 2019 Parliament dissolved is represented in this guide. Parties without MPs are included where they hold seats in a National Assembly or the European parliament. Under the \"All parties\" selection, parties are ordered by the number of seats held at Westminster - and then alphabetically. In the dropdown lists parties are grouped alphabetically under their relevant nations eg SNP appears under Scotland. This is an editorial process overseen by BBC journalists. All parties included in the guide have contacted by the BBC in order to help identify their key policies ahead of the manifesto launches. Because of devolution, the UK parliament cannot rule on, or has limited powers over, some of the issues highlighted in the guide. For example, \"health\" is devolved to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Yet, parties do still campaign locally on these devolved issues in the run up to a general election. For this reason, the guide labels the parties' policies on devolved issues as \"campaign points\", to acknowledge they may not become law in that nation even if the party won a majority in Westminster. To help you decide who to vote for here's a concise guide to where the parties stand on key issues like Brexit, education and the NHS.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1105, "answer_start": 450, "text": "The issue areas are based on issues highlighted in Ipsos Mori's Issues Index, which measures the issues the public believe to be the most important facing the country. Some issues have been grouped together under short titles for simplicity eg NHS, hospitals, healthcare and social care are included under the headline area of \"NHS and Care\". Inequality, poverty, unemployment, pensions and benefits are covered in the \"Work and Benefits\" category. The most popular issues were selected based on their aggregate score from January to September 2019. The \"Democracy\" issue area was added on editorial grounds to fulfil the BBC's public service commitments." } ], "id": "9172_0", "question": "How were the policy guide issue areas chosen?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1560, "answer_start": 1106, "text": "Any party represented by at least one MP when the 2019 Parliament dissolved is represented in this guide. Parties without MPs are included where they hold seats in a National Assembly or the European parliament. Under the \"All parties\" selection, parties are ordered by the number of seats held at Westminster - and then alphabetically. In the dropdown lists parties are grouped alphabetically under their relevant nations eg SNP appears under Scotland." } ], "id": "9172_1", "question": "How have parties been chosen and ordered?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1756, "answer_start": 1561, "text": "This is an editorial process overseen by BBC journalists. All parties included in the guide have contacted by the BBC in order to help identify their key policies ahead of the manifesto launches." } ], "id": "9172_2", "question": "How are the policies selected and summarised?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2262, "answer_start": 1757, "text": "Because of devolution, the UK parliament cannot rule on, or has limited powers over, some of the issues highlighted in the guide. For example, \"health\" is devolved to Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Yet, parties do still campaign locally on these devolved issues in the run up to a general election. For this reason, the guide labels the parties' policies on devolved issues as \"campaign points\", to acknowledge they may not become law in that nation even if the party won a majority in Westminster." } ], "id": "9172_3", "question": "What about issues that are devolved from the UK parliament to national assemblies/parliaments?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A former DUP adviser has admitted removing a reference to the poultry industry being the root cause of the RHI spike from an important government paper. Andrew Crawford told the RHI inquiry he should not have taken out the term. It was contained in a draft paper seeking the closure of the scheme in February 2016. He has three relatives who are RHI claimants, with 11 boilers between them. Dr Crawford was Arlene Foster's special adviser (Spad) in summer 2015, when plans were in motion to try to bring the flawed scheme under control. Officials wanted to introduce tariffs that October to reduce the level of lucrative subsidies claimants could earn, but a further four-week delay allowed a massive spike in applications to the scheme, which had a huge impact on the public purse. Poultry farmers make up a significant share of the claimants on the RHI scheme - almost all of them supply Moy Park. The term that Dr Crawford later removed was contained in a draft paper to be sent to the then Office of the First and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM), seeking the ultimate closure of the scheme in February 2016. The paper referred to the \"wholesale uptake\" of RHI boilers by poultry growers and how it had contributed in large part to the pressure on the budget. Dr Crawford now accepts that he should not have taken out the reference. He told the inquiry he was concerned about the inference it created and because he believed there were also other industries that had contributed to the huge numbers getting into the scheme. Inquiry chair Sir Patrick Coghlin questioned him closely about the removal of the reference. Sir Patrick said it was \"not an inference, it was a true fact\". He asked: \"Why remove something that was true?\" He urged Dr Crawford to think carefully about any inference that the panel might take from the change given Dr Crawford's family links to poultry and his regular contact with Moy Park. Dr Crawford said he felt it was \"unfair to single out Moy Park or the poultry industry\" especially given the company's contribution to the Northern Ireland economy. It had nothing to do with his family connections to the scheme and there was \"no malice intended\" in what he did, he added. Earlier on Friday, Dr Crawford denied he tried to mould changes in the RHI scheme to benefit the poultry industry when plans were being drawn up in summer 2015 for cost controls. He had suggested an amendment he claimed would have maintained income levels for poultry farmers when tariffs came in. Officials had suggested a tiered tariff with a lower payment kicking in after boilers had run for 1,314 hours. But Dr Crawford suggested the boilers be allowed to run for 3,000 hours at the higher tariff. He said he had been told by a boiler installer that poultry farmers needed 6,000 hours to grow their chicken crop. Three thousand hours was half the required time. But under the scheme changes, boilers which were twice as big would have been eligible, effectively producing the same amount of heat at the top subsidy payment. Sir Patrick said officials had wanted to mirror the scheme in Great Britain which paid out 1,314 at the higher tariff, adding: \"What you're saying here is that there's a special interest here and that it is the poultry industry that needs 3,000 hours.\" The inquiry chair suggested Dr Crawford had been involved in a \"sales pitch for Moy Park\". The former DUP adviser denied the portrayal. He said he was not helping any particular interest group, and was trying to come up with something that would ease the process of getting the changes through the assembly's enterprise committee and stop people running boilers 24/7. He also claimed that his proposal would have removed the potential risk of \"abuse\" of the scheme by those who had boilers installed. Officials rejected Dr Crawford's plan saying it would mean overcompensation and breach state-aid rules. The inquiry has heard claims that Dr Crawford was involved in party discussions about the way to deal with proposed cost controls. In January 2017, he resigned after being named by the enterprise department's top civil servant as the person believed to be responsible for the decisions to delay cost controls, which led to a massive spike in applications and did the most damage to the public purse. A party colleague, Timothy Cairns, has alleged that in the summer of 2015, he and Dr Crawford were told by another DUP adviser to co-operate on formulating a party position, which ultimately caused the cost-control delays. Dr Crawford has repeatedly denied the claims and suggested he was only offering \"friendly advice\". A son of a farmer from Beragh in County Tyrone, Andrew Crawford is a former employee of the Ulster Farmers' Union. He was an assistant to the former DUP MEP Jim Allister before the North Antrim politician quit to form the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV). Dr Crawford was an adviser to Arlene Foster when she was enterprise minister during the time the RHI scheme was created, and followed her to the Department of Finance and Personnel in 2015. When Mrs Foster became first minister in 2016, Mr Crawford then advised another DUP minister, Michelle McIlveen in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Dr Crawford's poultry farmer brother and two cousins are claimants of the RHI scheme. He instead told the inquiry that when they were looking at making changes to the scheme by the officials' preferred date on 1 October 2015, Mr Cairns was \"very nervous about the politics of it\". Sir Patrick suggested the \"politics\" referred to the saleability of the changes to the biomass boiler installers. But Dr Crawford said the concern was with getting the legislation through the assembly committee. He added that once the changes were being talked about \"there would have been a lobby on it\" and that Mr Cairns had ongoing difficulties with the then Enterprise Minister Jonathan Bell. Dr Crawford has claimed in his oral evidence and witness statements to the inquiry that Mr Cairns was concerned he could lose his position as an adviser if he \"wasn't careful\" in how he handled changes to the RHI scheme. Mr Cairns has denied that allegation. Also on Friday, Dr Crawford addressed claims heard by the inquiry that in January 2016 there was a \"major row\" between him and the now head of the civil service David Sterling over the scandal. Former minister Jonathan Bell, in his evidence, said he was told by his adviser Timothy Cairns that David Sterling had shouted at Dr Crawford: \"You kept this scheme open for the benefit of your family and you've caused a significant budgetary crisis in Northern Ireland.\" Dr Crawford said that conversation had never taken place and that \"at no stage did we have loud altercations or a row\". Instead, he said when RHI became a \"live issue\", Mr Sterling alerted him to the \"fact that Dr (Andrew) McCormick was blaming me for delays to the scheme\". \"I was quite taken back at the time,\" he added. The inquiry has also heard evidence that the row may not have actually involved David Sterling, but another finance department official, Mike Brennan. Mr Brennan has confirmed no such incident took place - and Dr Crawford said he did not recognise the claim either. He said when problems with the scheme became known, he made finance officials aware he had family members who were RHI claimants, but that at no time was an allegation put to him that he had sought to keep the scheme open for the benefit of his relatives. On Friday afternoon, it was put to Dr Crawford that in January 2016 he told Moy Park that the scheme was closing. It is alleged to have happened at a meeting attended by the new Finance Minister Mervyn Storey the company's head office. In its evidence to the inquiry, the poultry giant said Dr Crawford gave its officials advance notice of the closure date - three weeks before the news was publicly announced. Dr Crawford disputed that he would have given the information, because he did not believe he had the detail on the closure date at that time. He was also taken through a series of internal Moy Park emails from January 2016, which set out its plans to try and get a further 500 poultry houses converted to biomass before the scheme closed. The email chain concluded with one official making a reference to \"organising a time with Andrew Crawford\". Mr Crawford said he could not recall whether that meeting had ever taken place but he was not suggesting it had not happened. Ultimately the scheme was closed on 29 February 2016. Mr Crawford said he had done things he ought not to have. But on the question of whether he had delayed cost controls, he said he believed the inquiry had established that he had not been responsible. He looked forward to the inquiry's findings in respect of his role in that, he added. Dr Crawford appeared before the inquiry panel for a total of six days. Next week the inquiry will hear from officials from Moy Park and Invest NI.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5322, "answer_start": 4614, "text": "A son of a farmer from Beragh in County Tyrone, Andrew Crawford is a former employee of the Ulster Farmers' Union. He was an assistant to the former DUP MEP Jim Allister before the North Antrim politician quit to form the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV). Dr Crawford was an adviser to Arlene Foster when she was enterprise minister during the time the RHI scheme was created, and followed her to the Department of Finance and Personnel in 2015. When Mrs Foster became first minister in 2016, Mr Crawford then advised another DUP minister, Michelle McIlveen in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Dr Crawford's poultry farmer brother and two cousins are claimants of the RHI scheme." } ], "id": "9173_0", "question": "Who is Andrew Crawford?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Theresa May has said she is \"confident\" that the government will win its appeal against a High Court ruling on triggering Brexit talks. She told European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker and Germany's Angela Merkel she was committed to triggering Article 50 by March 2017. Three judges ruled that she cannot do so without Parliament's support. It comes as a Conservative MP said he was quitting due to \"irreconcilable\" differences with the government. Stephen Phillips has been among Tory MPs pushing for Parliament to be consulted over the UK's strategy for negotiating its exit from the EU, accusing ministers of trying to \"ignore their views\". The government is appealing against Thursday's ruling to the Supreme Court - all 11 judges are due to hear the case in early December. If it loses its appeal, it is expected that the government will have to publish some form of new law for MPs - and the House of Lords - to vote on. The prime minister's spokesman said she had expressed \"disappointment\" at Thursday's court ruling in a phone call to Mr Juncker and Mrs Merkel but had said \"the focus of the government is on the Supreme Court case. We are confident of winning that case and proceeding with Article 50\". But former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg - now the Lib Dems' Europe spokesman - said his party would seek to join with others \"in both the Commons and the Lords to amend the legislation\" to tell the government to pursue a \"soft Brexit\" that would keep the UK within the EU's single market. \"If they believe the government is pursuing an unnecessarily hard, in other words an unnecessarily self-harming version of Brexit, then of course MPs should be free to reject that,\" he told the BBC. Conservative peer Lady Wheatcroft told BBC Radio 4's Today she was willing to table an amendment to future legislation to delay the Brexit process, saying it was \"only right to delay triggering Article 50 until we have a clearer idea of what it actually entails\". But former Conservative cabinet minister Theresa Villiers told the programme: \"Frankly I think it would be a constitutional outrage if unelected Liberal Democrat peers were to stand in the way of implementing the clear result of a referendum in which 33 million people took part.\" On Friday, German foreign minister Walter Steinmeier reiterated the German government's desire to see Article 50 triggered quickly at a Berlin press conference with Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, ruling out any \"preliminary discussions\" before then. Boris Johnson's opening quip that (unlike his wife) he is not a Berliner did little to improve a rather frosty joint press conference after his first official bilateral meeting with his German counterpart Frank Walter Steinmeier. It is Mr Johnson's first visit as foreign secretary to Berlin, where he's widely regarded - in some cases with contempt - as being directly responsible for Britain's decision to leave the EU. This wasn't the outcome the German government hoped for. But now the decision's made they'd rather Britain just got on with it. Mr Steinmeier - who looked unimpressed by Mr Johnson's assertion that Brexit represented an opportunity - emphasised the need for the British government to trigger Article 50 as soon as possible. His priority, he added, was to the remaining 27 member states. Thursday's High Court ruling found that the government could not trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty alone, without the backing of Parliament - which would require publishing legislation to be debated by the Commons and the Lords. It was met with furious newspaper headlines, with the Daily Mail describing the judges involved as \"enemies of the people\" - which in turn sparked a social media backlash. Chantal-Aimee Doerries QC, chairman of the Bar Council, told BBC News the \"attack on judges\" and their role was \"extremely concerning\": \"The rule of law sits in our democracy as a cornerstone and it is important for our judiciary to rule on questions of the rule of law. If we do not respect the independent judiciary in that role we put at risk our democracy.\" Labour's shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon called on Justice Secretary Liz Truss to speak out against the \"hysterical headlines\" while Conservative former attorney general Dominic Grieve told the Guardian the attacks on the judiciary were \"entirely unjustified\". But UKIP leadership contender Suzanne Evans told the BBC's Daily Politics: \"Judges are allowing pressure groups and campaigners to bring cases for judicial review and making rulings which would not stand up to scrutiny at the ballot box.\" The government's appeal is expected to be heard in early December by the full Supreme Court for the first time in its history. The judgement may not be handed down until January. If the appeal fails, it is thought the government will then have to bring forward legislation - which would have to be approved by both Houses of Parliament. The bill could be subject to amendments. MPs and peers may push for more details of the government's negotiating strategy or possibly for a second referendum. The government wants to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017 so any legislation would need to be approved by then if the timetable is not to be pushed back. The government has argued that it cannot \"show its hand in detail\" ahead of negotiations with 27 other EU member states, despite calls from MPs to clarify her plans. For Labour, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry said that while she thought \"that in the end Parliament will vote for Article 50 to be triggered\" the judgement meant the government would have to give MPs \"some basic terms on which they are going to negotiate Brexit\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5258, "answer_start": 4599, "text": "The government's appeal is expected to be heard in early December by the full Supreme Court for the first time in its history. The judgement may not be handed down until January. If the appeal fails, it is thought the government will then have to bring forward legislation - which would have to be approved by both Houses of Parliament. The bill could be subject to amendments. MPs and peers may push for more details of the government's negotiating strategy or possibly for a second referendum. The government wants to trigger Article 50 by the end of March 2017 so any legislation would need to be approved by then if the timetable is not to be pushed back." } ], "id": "9174_0", "question": "What happens next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russia's call for a joint inquiry into the poisoning of an ex-spy and his daughter in England is \"perverse\", the UK has told the international chemical weapons watchdog in the Hague. The victim of an attack is not required to work with the \"likely perpetrator\", UK acting representative John Foggo told the OPCW's executive council. Russia called the meeting to challenge the UK, which has blamed Moscow for the March 4 poisoning. It has strongly denied any involvement. The British government says a military-grade Novichok nerve agent of a type developed by Russia was used in the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, southern England. The incident has caused a major diplomatic fallout, with the expulsion of some 150 Russian diplomats by the UK and its allies being met by counter-expulsions by Moscow. On Tuesday the UK's Porton Down laboratory said it could not verify the precise source of the Novichok nerve agent used in Salisbury, although it did say it was likely to have been deployed by a \"state actor\". The comments were seized upon by Russia to discredit the UK's accusations. On Wednesday, the European Union re-iterated that it backed the UK's assessment that it was highly likely that Russia was responsible. In the Hague, Mr Foggo told the emergency OPCW meeting that the UK had blamed Russia based on: - the identification of the nerve agent used - knowledge that Russia \"has produced this agent and remains capable of doing so\" - Russia's record of conducting state sponsored assassinations - The assessment that Russia \"views defectors as suitable targets for assassination\" He said that Russia had offered more than 24 \"contradictory and changing counter-narratives\" about the attack, including \"preposterous\" suggestions that Sweden, the US or Britain itself could have been responsible. The EU delegation offered its full support to Britain, saying Russia had unleashed \"a flood of insinuations targeting its member states\" in the aftermath of the poisoning. Russia's President Putin, speaking in the Turkish capital Ankara, said he hoped \"common sense\" would prevail. Russia called the meeting because, among other things, it wants to know what kind of evidence the UK has provided to the OPCW - the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; which inspectors visited the site of the attack in Salisbury, who they met and where the samples are being analysed. Diplomats at the OPCW said the Russian proposal for a joint inquiry - seen by Western powers as an attempt to undermine the OPCW's existing investigation - was unlikely to be approved by the 41-nation executive council. The OPCW expects to receive the results of its own independent laboratory tests within a week. It does not have the power to attribute blame, but it could ask the Kremlin to grant its inspectors access to former Soviet Union production facilities to check all of their chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed. The EU has said it is very concerned that Russia might reject the results of the investigation. Earlier, Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said in Moscow that the poisoning was a \"grotesque provocation... that was crudely concocted by the British and American security services\" to implicate Russia. \"It is appropriate to say that the dark times of the Cold War are back,\" he said. Analysis by the BBC's David Shukman The only way that scientists can be totally sure who made the Novichok agent is to compare it with another sample of the substance made in the same lab. That's what happened when Sarin was used by Saddam Hussein in Iraq and more recently by President Assad in Syria. Experts already knew which clues to look for, and that allowed them to lay the blame definitively. Novichok is much less well known. The traces of it gathered in Salisbury will have been put through detailed scientific screening and that would reveal the ingredients of the chemical and maybe also its basic structure. That could be matched with whatever is known about Novichok, maybe from lab notes handed over by defectors. And for Porton Down to describe it as \"military grade\" suggests a sophisticated state producer, not an amateur, though that itself is not categorical proof of Russian involvement. That leaves another scenario in this secretive world of smoke and mirrors - that Britain did already have a sample of Novichok and was able to compare it to the agent used on the Skripals but does not want to reveal the fact, to protect a valuable source of intelligence. Questions arose about whether the UK had been too quick to point the finger at Russia after the Porton Down laboratory said that it could not verify the precise source of the Novichok nerve agent. The laboratory, which had previously identified the Novichok nerve agent, said it was likely to have been deployed by a \"state actor\" but said it was not its job to say where the agent was manufactured. Porton Down's chief executive Gary Aitkenhead dismissed Russian claims it might have come from the UK military laboratory. On Twitter, the Russian Embassy highlighted a now-deleted tweet by the UK Foreign Office which suggested Porton Down had said the nerve agent had been produced in Russia. The Foreign Office said the tweet had been part of a real-time account of a speech by the UK's ambassador in Moscow and was deleted because it \"did not accurately report our Ambassador's words\". Security Minister Ben Wallace dismissed suggestions the government had been giving out mixed messages. \"Unlike Russia, we allow the media to come and meet our scientists and question the science,\" he said. \"That's important. That's why we have this debate today: we have nothing to hide.\" UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has criticised Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, suggesting he exaggerated evidence provided by Porton Down. The BBC understands Miss Skripal, 33, is now conscious and talking. Salisbury District Hospital has said her father, 66, remains critically ill but stable. Mr Aitkenhead said he had been advising those treating the Skripals. \"Unfortunately this is an extremely toxic substance. There is not, as far as we know, any antidote that you can use to negate the effects of it,\" he added.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3359, "answer_start": 2119, "text": "Russia called the meeting because, among other things, it wants to know what kind of evidence the UK has provided to the OPCW - the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons; which inspectors visited the site of the attack in Salisbury, who they met and where the samples are being analysed. Diplomats at the OPCW said the Russian proposal for a joint inquiry - seen by Western powers as an attempt to undermine the OPCW's existing investigation - was unlikely to be approved by the 41-nation executive council. The OPCW expects to receive the results of its own independent laboratory tests within a week. It does not have the power to attribute blame, but it could ask the Kremlin to grant its inspectors access to former Soviet Union production facilities to check all of their chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed. The EU has said it is very concerned that Russia might reject the results of the investigation. Earlier, Russian foreign intelligence chief Sergei Naryshkin said in Moscow that the poisoning was a \"grotesque provocation... that was crudely concocted by the British and American security services\" to implicate Russia. \"It is appropriate to say that the dark times of the Cold War are back,\" he said." } ], "id": "9175_0", "question": "What is the OPCW meeting about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4541, "answer_start": 3360, "text": "Analysis by the BBC's David Shukman The only way that scientists can be totally sure who made the Novichok agent is to compare it with another sample of the substance made in the same lab. That's what happened when Sarin was used by Saddam Hussein in Iraq and more recently by President Assad in Syria. Experts already knew which clues to look for, and that allowed them to lay the blame definitively. Novichok is much less well known. The traces of it gathered in Salisbury will have been put through detailed scientific screening and that would reveal the ingredients of the chemical and maybe also its basic structure. That could be matched with whatever is known about Novichok, maybe from lab notes handed over by defectors. And for Porton Down to describe it as \"military grade\" suggests a sophisticated state producer, not an amateur, though that itself is not categorical proof of Russian involvement. That leaves another scenario in this secretive world of smoke and mirrors - that Britain did already have a sample of Novichok and was able to compare it to the agent used on the Skripals but does not want to reveal the fact, to protect a valuable source of intelligence." } ], "id": "9175_1", "question": "Did the UK already have a sample of Novichok?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5858, "answer_start": 4542, "text": "Questions arose about whether the UK had been too quick to point the finger at Russia after the Porton Down laboratory said that it could not verify the precise source of the Novichok nerve agent. The laboratory, which had previously identified the Novichok nerve agent, said it was likely to have been deployed by a \"state actor\" but said it was not its job to say where the agent was manufactured. Porton Down's chief executive Gary Aitkenhead dismissed Russian claims it might have come from the UK military laboratory. On Twitter, the Russian Embassy highlighted a now-deleted tweet by the UK Foreign Office which suggested Porton Down had said the nerve agent had been produced in Russia. The Foreign Office said the tweet had been part of a real-time account of a speech by the UK's ambassador in Moscow and was deleted because it \"did not accurately report our Ambassador's words\". Security Minister Ben Wallace dismissed suggestions the government had been giving out mixed messages. \"Unlike Russia, we allow the media to come and meet our scientists and question the science,\" he said. \"That's important. That's why we have this debate today: we have nothing to hide.\" UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has criticised Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, suggesting he exaggerated evidence provided by Porton Down." } ], "id": "9175_2", "question": "Is the UK under pressure over the inquiry?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6239, "answer_start": 5859, "text": "The BBC understands Miss Skripal, 33, is now conscious and talking. Salisbury District Hospital has said her father, 66, remains critically ill but stable. Mr Aitkenhead said he had been advising those treating the Skripals. \"Unfortunately this is an extremely toxic substance. There is not, as far as we know, any antidote that you can use to negate the effects of it,\" he added." } ], "id": "9175_3", "question": "How are the Skripals doing?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Whistle-blowing site Wikileaks has been criticised for not doing enough to screen sensitive information found in documents released via the site. An investigation by the Associated Press has found the names and addresses of teenage rape victims, people who have suffered sexual abuse, and information about individuals suffering mental illness in documents on Wikileaks. Now some are questioning whether the site should be more careful with the information it publishes. The website was set up in 2006 by Julian Assange to help whistle-blowers publish secret information, classified documents as well as stolen and leaked data. In early interviews, Mr Assange said it was intended to be a \"giant library of the world's most persecuted documents\". It has now published more than 10 million documents including: - US military logs and field reports from wars in Afghanistan and Iraq - US State Department diplomatic cables - Official messages sent between the Saudi government and its embassies - Millions of emails from intelligence firm Stratfor - Files and messages from the Democratic National Committee The news organisation combed through the site and found many instances where sensitive personal information was easily viewable in documents and files. In the worst cases the information revealed could put lives at risk or lead to people being jailed or harassed, it said. It is not the only risk involved with information on the site. Security researcher Vesselin Bontchev found more than 3,000 links to files that contained malware. The links were in a dump of emails from Turkey's ruling political party, the AKP. Wikileaks responded in a tweet calling the report \"ridiculous\" and said the information dated from 2015. However, it has taken some action to make it harder to fall victim to malware in the AKP files - though the dangerous links have not been completely removed. Not always. Sometimes the original whistle-blower publishes the files themselves in other places. In some cases more information is released via that route than is available via Wikileaks. However, in most cases the majority of files are accessible via Wikileaks, and its decision to publish information can mean they get more publicity. Human rights groups have asked Wikileaks many times to do more to censor information found in documents. They fear reprisals against aid workers, activists and civilians named in the leaked data. In addition, AP said it had evidence that fraudsters had used credit card numbers and other personal details revealed in some documents. Other leaks have led to people losing their jobs, or have ended relationships. The US government has condemned Wikileaks several times, saying its work has harmed diplomatic relations and put the lives of staff in sensitive positions at risk. Direct evidence of harm has been hard to find, but in 2010 Julian Assange told the Guardian that Wikileaks' 2007 exposure of widespread corruption in Kenya influenced violence during national elections that led to 1,300 deaths. He justified the release of the information saying Kenyans had a right to know the information. \"Yes,\" says Prof Christian Christensen, from the University of Stockholm who studies media and communication. \"In the long run they have done a lot of good.\" The early leaks it oversaw gave insights into corporate and official abuse on a scale never seen before, he said, adding that it also made it much easier for whistle-blowers and activists to get information into the public domain. He said the organisation was now operating in a very different world than it did a decade ago when it was set up. To begin with, he said, there was much more competition for Wikileaks. Publishing quickly and doing less to curate documents was one way for Wikileaks to remain relevant, he said. However, he added, there had been a shift in the information it released. Now, the information was less about clear cases of harm or the abuse of power, and more to do with subjects that were much less black and white. There was a danger, he said, that Wikileaks was now part of the story rather than just the route through which information is released. \"When that happens it really starts to muddy the waters,\" he said. In the early days of Wikileaks, it took more care - thanks to working with newspapers that did the job of removing sensitive information from documents about the Afghan and Iraq wars. Spokesman Julian Assange has often said that the sheer amount of documents Wikileaks handles makes it all but impossible to censor or edit them if they are to be released in a timely fashion. In some cases it has no way to contact whoever handed over documents, making it difficult to find out what information might prove damaging. The lack of oversight has led to criticism about the release of almost 300,000 emails from Turkey's AKP, with some saying they contained more trivia than treasure. Wikileaks practices what it calls \"radical transparency\", said Prof Christensen, which leads it to believe that exposing corruption, malfeasance and abuse of power trumps the damage it might do to individuals. Many other whistle-blowing sites take greater care with documents they are passed to ensure that no more information than necessary is released. No. The \"wiki\" part of the name simply refers to its aim of letting people collaborate to edit documents and releases. The original idea was for Wikileaks to build up a large group of helpers that would censor and prepare information before publication. This changed in 2010 when the organisation became more centralised. The change in structure led to a split that saw some of its original co-founders leave and others ended their association with it. Ironically, for an organisation that preaches \"radical transparency\" it has never revealed how many people work for it, or who oversees the release of information.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1885, "answer_start": 1106, "text": "The news organisation combed through the site and found many instances where sensitive personal information was easily viewable in documents and files. In the worst cases the information revealed could put lives at risk or lead to people being jailed or harassed, it said. It is not the only risk involved with information on the site. Security researcher Vesselin Bontchev found more than 3,000 links to files that contained malware. The links were in a dump of emails from Turkey's ruling political party, the AKP. Wikileaks responded in a tweet calling the report \"ridiculous\" and said the information dated from 2015. However, it has taken some action to make it harder to fall victim to malware in the AKP files - though the dangerous links have not been completely removed." } ], "id": "9176_0", "question": "What has AP found?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2223, "answer_start": 1886, "text": "Not always. Sometimes the original whistle-blower publishes the files themselves in other places. In some cases more information is released via that route than is available via Wikileaks. However, in most cases the majority of files are accessible via Wikileaks, and its decision to publish information can mean they get more publicity." } ], "id": "9176_1", "question": "Is Wikileaks the only source for these files?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3123, "answer_start": 2224, "text": "Human rights groups have asked Wikileaks many times to do more to censor information found in documents. They fear reprisals against aid workers, activists and civilians named in the leaked data. In addition, AP said it had evidence that fraudsters had used credit card numbers and other personal details revealed in some documents. Other leaks have led to people losing their jobs, or have ended relationships. The US government has condemned Wikileaks several times, saying its work has harmed diplomatic relations and put the lives of staff in sensitive positions at risk. Direct evidence of harm has been hard to find, but in 2010 Julian Assange told the Guardian that Wikileaks' 2007 exposure of widespread corruption in Kenya influenced violence during national elections that led to 1,300 deaths. He justified the release of the information saying Kenyans had a right to know the information." } ], "id": "9176_2", "question": "Is harm being done?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4228, "answer_start": 3124, "text": "\"Yes,\" says Prof Christian Christensen, from the University of Stockholm who studies media and communication. \"In the long run they have done a lot of good.\" The early leaks it oversaw gave insights into corporate and official abuse on a scale never seen before, he said, adding that it also made it much easier for whistle-blowers and activists to get information into the public domain. He said the organisation was now operating in a very different world than it did a decade ago when it was set up. To begin with, he said, there was much more competition for Wikileaks. Publishing quickly and doing less to curate documents was one way for Wikileaks to remain relevant, he said. However, he added, there had been a shift in the information it released. Now, the information was less about clear cases of harm or the abuse of power, and more to do with subjects that were much less black and white. There was a danger, he said, that Wikileaks was now part of the story rather than just the route through which information is released. \"When that happens it really starts to muddy the waters,\" he said." } ], "id": "9176_3", "question": "Has it done any good?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5264, "answer_start": 4229, "text": "In the early days of Wikileaks, it took more care - thanks to working with newspapers that did the job of removing sensitive information from documents about the Afghan and Iraq wars. Spokesman Julian Assange has often said that the sheer amount of documents Wikileaks handles makes it all but impossible to censor or edit them if they are to be released in a timely fashion. In some cases it has no way to contact whoever handed over documents, making it difficult to find out what information might prove damaging. The lack of oversight has led to criticism about the release of almost 300,000 emails from Turkey's AKP, with some saying they contained more trivia than treasure. Wikileaks practices what it calls \"radical transparency\", said Prof Christensen, which leads it to believe that exposing corruption, malfeasance and abuse of power trumps the damage it might do to individuals. Many other whistle-blowing sites take greater care with documents they are passed to ensure that no more information than necessary is released." } ], "id": "9176_4", "question": "Why doesn't it censor documents?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5881, "answer_start": 5265, "text": "No. The \"wiki\" part of the name simply refers to its aim of letting people collaborate to edit documents and releases. The original idea was for Wikileaks to build up a large group of helpers that would censor and prepare information before publication. This changed in 2010 when the organisation became more centralised. The change in structure led to a split that saw some of its original co-founders leave and others ended their association with it. Ironically, for an organisation that preaches \"radical transparency\" it has never revealed how many people work for it, or who oversees the release of information." } ], "id": "9176_5", "question": "Is it connected to Wikipedia?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Strikes against US forces in Iraq could have been just the beginning of a major operation across the region if the US had responded, a senior Iranian commander is reported as saying. Quoted by state TV, Amir Ali Hajizadeh said the only fitting revenge for Gen Qasem Soleimani's killing by the US was to drive US forces from the region. His remarks came a day after Iran fired missiles at bases housing US forces. This was a response to Soleimani's death in a Baghdad drone strike. US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced further sanctions against Iran but said Tehran was \"standing down\" after the missile strikes. He made no mention of further military action. But on Thursday, Vice-President Mike Pence told Fox News that \"on the president's direction we're going to remain vigilant\". In another interview for CBS, Mr Pence said the US was receiving \"encouraging intelligence\" that Iran was sending messages to its allied militias not to attack US targets. The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on Thursday on a resolution to force Mr Trump to halt further military action against Iran unless Congress gives it the all-clear. \"Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about the administration's decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward,\" Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House, said in a statement. In a news conference covered by Iranian state media, Revolutionary Guards aerospace commander Brig-Gen Hajizadeh said Iran had been prepared to fire hundreds or even thousands of missiles. In the event fewer than 20 were fired. The intention had not been to kill any US troops, he said, but the operation could have been planned in such a way that as many as 500 died in the first stage. \"We had thought that the clash would continue for three days to one week. We had prepared a few thousand missiles for such circumstances,\" he said in remarks carried by the Fars news agency. Brig-Gen Hajizadeh also said that Iran had launched cyber attacks which had disabled US systems for tracking missiles during the strikes. However, US officials say casualties at the bases were prevented because early warning systems worked effectively. BBC Persian's Jiyar Gol says the commander's appearance - with the flags of numerous militia groups lined up behind him - was a significant show of regional power, as it means the groups are under Iranian command. The flags included those of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces - whose leader was killed alongside Soleimani - as well as Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas. The flag of Yemen's Houthi movement, which until now Iran has always denied controlling, was also present. On Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the attacks on US forces as a \"slap in the face\" for the US, but said revenge was a \"different issue\". Gen Soleimani was widely regarded as Iran's second most powerful man. As head of the Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, he was an architect of Iranian policy in the Middle East. Meanwhile the US said it was \"ready to engage without preconditions in serious negotiations\" with Iran following the countries' exchange of hostilities. In a letter to the UN, it justified Soleimani's killing as an act of self-defence. Tensions between Tehran and Washington began rising in 2018 after President Trump pulled the US out of a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. The accord was intended to curb Iran's nuclear programme and prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. Mr Trump wanted a new deal that would also curb Iran's ballistic missile programme and its involvement in regional conflicts. The US also re-imposed sanctions on Iran, sending its economy into freefall. Soleimani's assassination on 3 January followed a sharp escalation between the US, Iran and Iran-backed groups in Iraq sparked by the death of a US military contractor in a missile attack on a US base in Iraq - for which the US held Iran responsible. The US responded with air strikes against the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah. Militia supporters then attacked the US embassy in Baghdad. Soleimani was regarded as a terrorist by the US government, which says he was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and was plotting \"imminent\" attacks. The US has not provided evidence of this. Iran vowed \"severe revenge\" for his death. Millions of Iranians turned out for the commander's funeral, with mourners chanting \"death to America\" and \"death to Trump\". A stampede at the funeral in Soleimani's hometown, Kerman, killed 50 people and injured 200 more on Tuesday. The US strike on Soleimani also killed members of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, who have also vowed revenge.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3279, "answer_start": 1381, "text": "In a news conference covered by Iranian state media, Revolutionary Guards aerospace commander Brig-Gen Hajizadeh said Iran had been prepared to fire hundreds or even thousands of missiles. In the event fewer than 20 were fired. The intention had not been to kill any US troops, he said, but the operation could have been planned in such a way that as many as 500 died in the first stage. \"We had thought that the clash would continue for three days to one week. We had prepared a few thousand missiles for such circumstances,\" he said in remarks carried by the Fars news agency. Brig-Gen Hajizadeh also said that Iran had launched cyber attacks which had disabled US systems for tracking missiles during the strikes. However, US officials say casualties at the bases were prevented because early warning systems worked effectively. BBC Persian's Jiyar Gol says the commander's appearance - with the flags of numerous militia groups lined up behind him - was a significant show of regional power, as it means the groups are under Iranian command. The flags included those of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces - whose leader was killed alongside Soleimani - as well as Lebanese Hezbollah and Palestinian Hamas. The flag of Yemen's Houthi movement, which until now Iran has always denied controlling, was also present. On Wednesday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the attacks on US forces as a \"slap in the face\" for the US, but said revenge was a \"different issue\". Gen Soleimani was widely regarded as Iran's second most powerful man. As head of the Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, he was an architect of Iranian policy in the Middle East. Meanwhile the US said it was \"ready to engage without preconditions in serious negotiations\" with Iran following the countries' exchange of hostilities. In a letter to the UN, it justified Soleimani's killing as an act of self-defence." } ], "id": "9177_0", "question": "What did the Iranian commander say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Attackers have detonated explosives before storming the offices of the Save the Children charity in the eastern Afghan city of Jalalabad. At least two people have been killed and 12 injured, officials say. It is believed about 50 staff were in the building at the time. The Islamic State group has said three of its fighters are behind the attack, which is said to have now ended. Save the Children has temporarily suspended all of its Afghan programmes. The attack started at about 09:10 local time (04:40 GMT) on Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle explosive at the entrance to the Save the Children compound, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, told the BBC. An eyewitness who was inside the compound at the time told AFP news agency that he saw a gunman hitting the main gate with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Afghan commandos joined police to try to end the attack. About 45 people were reported to have been rescued from the basement, as fighting continued on the upper floors. Earlier, one WhatsApp message, reported by AFP to be from an employee, had read: \"I can hear two attackers... They are looking for us. Pray for us... Inform the security forces.\" There are several other aid agencies in the area, along with government offices. The Islamic State group said in a message on its news outlet Amaq that three attackers and an explosives-laden car had targeted \"British, Swedish and Afghan institutions in Jalalabad\". The city has been a stronghold for IS, whose fighters have been active there since 2015. The Taliban had earlier denied carrying out the attack. Their fighters had been behind the storming of a luxury hotel in Kabul at the weekend that killed at least 22 people, mostly foreigners. A statement from Save the Children said the group was \"devastated\" at the news of the attack, confirmed the incident was ongoing and added: \"Our primary concern is for the safety and security of our staff.\" It continued: \"All of our programmes across Afghanistan have been temporarily suspended and our offices are closed.\" But it said it remained \"committed to resuming our operations and lifesaving work as quickly as possible\". The UN's mission in Afghanistan said: \"Attacks directed at civilians or aid organisations are clear violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.\" UK Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt condemned the attack in a departmental tweet. The charity has been working in Afghanistan since 1976. It currently runs programmes across 16 provinces in Afghanistan. According to the aid agency, more than 700,000 children in Afghanistan have been reached over the years through its efforts. The organisation says it aims to provide better access to education, healthcare and essential supplies to children across the globe. They continue to work under tough conditions in the country, facing regular attacks and kidnappings. The Red Cross announced in October that it was drastically reducing its presence in Afghanistan after seven of its staff were killed in attacks in 2017. Attacks over the years include: - May 2017: Attackers storm a guesthouse run by a Swedish NGO, Operation Mercy, killing a German woman and Afghan guard - July 2014: Gunmen shoot dead two Finnish women working for a Christian aid charity, the International Assistance Mission (IAM), in the western city of Herat - October 2010: Kidnapped UK aid worker Linda Norgrove is killed in a rescue attempt - August 2010: 10 members of an eye care team working for IAM are shot dead in Nuristan province Additionally, the US bombing of a Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in Kunduz in October 2015 killed 22 people.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1300, "answer_start": 455, "text": "The attack started at about 09:10 local time (04:40 GMT) on Wednesday when a suicide bomber detonated a vehicle explosive at the entrance to the Save the Children compound, Attaullah Khogyani, a spokesman for the governor of Nangarhar province, told the BBC. An eyewitness who was inside the compound at the time told AFP news agency that he saw a gunman hitting the main gate with a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). Afghan commandos joined police to try to end the attack. About 45 people were reported to have been rescued from the basement, as fighting continued on the upper floors. Earlier, one WhatsApp message, reported by AFP to be from an employee, had read: \"I can hear two attackers... They are looking for us. Pray for us... Inform the security forces.\" There are several other aid agencies in the area, along with government offices." } ], "id": "9178_0", "question": "What's the latest?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1767, "answer_start": 1301, "text": "The Islamic State group said in a message on its news outlet Amaq that three attackers and an explosives-laden car had targeted \"British, Swedish and Afghan institutions in Jalalabad\". The city has been a stronghold for IS, whose fighters have been active there since 2015. The Taliban had earlier denied carrying out the attack. Their fighters had been behind the storming of a luxury hotel in Kabul at the weekend that killed at least 22 people, mostly foreigners." } ], "id": "9178_1", "question": "Who is responsible?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2487, "answer_start": 1768, "text": "A statement from Save the Children said the group was \"devastated\" at the news of the attack, confirmed the incident was ongoing and added: \"Our primary concern is for the safety and security of our staff.\" It continued: \"All of our programmes across Afghanistan have been temporarily suspended and our offices are closed.\" But it said it remained \"committed to resuming our operations and lifesaving work as quickly as possible\". The UN's mission in Afghanistan said: \"Attacks directed at civilians or aid organisations are clear violations of international humanitarian law and may amount to war crimes.\" UK Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt condemned the attack in a departmental tweet." } ], "id": "9178_2", "question": "What has Save the Children said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2866, "answer_start": 2488, "text": "The charity has been working in Afghanistan since 1976. It currently runs programmes across 16 provinces in Afghanistan. According to the aid agency, more than 700,000 children in Afghanistan have been reached over the years through its efforts. The organisation says it aims to provide better access to education, healthcare and essential supplies to children across the globe." } ], "id": "9178_3", "question": "What is Save the Children's Afghan work?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3725, "answer_start": 2867, "text": "They continue to work under tough conditions in the country, facing regular attacks and kidnappings. The Red Cross announced in October that it was drastically reducing its presence in Afghanistan after seven of its staff were killed in attacks in 2017. Attacks over the years include: - May 2017: Attackers storm a guesthouse run by a Swedish NGO, Operation Mercy, killing a German woman and Afghan guard - July 2014: Gunmen shoot dead two Finnish women working for a Christian aid charity, the International Assistance Mission (IAM), in the western city of Herat - October 2010: Kidnapped UK aid worker Linda Norgrove is killed in a rescue attempt - August 2010: 10 members of an eye care team working for IAM are shot dead in Nuristan province Additionally, the US bombing of a Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in Kunduz in October 2015 killed 22 people." } ], "id": "9178_4", "question": "Are charity groups targeted in Afghanistan?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It started as a bit of a joke, but now the US Air Force has told people not to go near Area 51. More than a million people have RSVP'd to an event on Facebook, threatening to storm the top-secret base in Nevada, which some believe is home to aliens. Thousands have commented on the page, which reads: \"We can move faster than their bullets. Let's see them aliens.\" A spokeswoman for the Air Force has told The Washington Post it is \"ready to protect America and its assets\". Facebook user Jackson Barnes wrote on the event page: \"Hello US government, this is a joke, and I do not actually intend to go ahead with this plan\". \"I just thought it would be funny and get me some thumbsy uppies on the Internet. I'm not responsible if people decide to actually storm area 51.\" But the Air Force isn't seeing the funny side. \"[Area 51] is an open training range for the US Air Force, and we would discourage anyone from trying to come into the area where we train American armed forces,\" the spokeswoman said. Some conspiracy theorists think the US government has information on alien life and UFOs that they are withholding from the general population. They think the Area 51 base - which was formally recognised in 2013 - holds captured aliens, their technology and crashed UFOs (unidentified flying objects) - something denied by the government. Theories about the base started in 1989 when a man named Bob Lazar claimed in an interview on US TV that he was a physicist who had worked in Area 51. He recently appeared on comedian Joe Rogan's podcast. There's also a Netflix documentary about him, which could have prompted renewed interest in his story. Lazar said he had worked on taking apart a UFO and had read government documents describing alien involvement in life on earth. He has no hard evidence or proof for what he's claiming, and no records of his alleged university physics degrees exist - but he definitely helped fuel the stories about Area 51. As Thomas Bullard, author of The Myth and Mystery of UFOs says: \"After trust between government and public eroded with Vietnam and Watergate, Roswell and Area 51 entered the popular vocabulary as bywords for official double-dealing.\" Roswell is an area in New Mexico where an airborne object crashed in 1947. The military says it was a weather balloon, but a theory has been widely held that it was actually a UFO that had crash-landed and then been covered up. Despite the US government revealing in the 1990s that it was actually a nuclear test surveillance balloon, the incident still attracts lots of attention and conspiracy theories. - Paul - Simon Pegg and Nick Frost wrote and starred in this film, which sees two comic book enthusiasts travel across the US visiting sites where people have spotted UFOs. Along the way they meet an alien called Paul, who's been held prisoner in Area 51 - Independence Day - The 1996 film focuses on a group of people who end up together in the Nevada desert after a worldwide attack by an unknown alien race. They take a captured alien to Area 51 and find out the government has been involved in a UFO conspiracy since the Roswell incident in the 40s - The X-Files - During the sixth series of the sci-fi TV show, one of the storylines saw FBI special agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully visit Area 51. They witness the flight of a mysterious looking craft that could be a UFO - Area 51 - A video game developed by Midway Games in 2005. It's a first-person shooter where you attack alien soldiers and a mutant alien that's been developed at the Air Base Area 51 is part of a military base about 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The US government calls it the Nevada Test and Training Range, which is part of the wider Edwards Air Force Base. Its primary use is hidden from the public, like many military bases across the US. Storming the site as per the comments on Facebook might prove a bit difficult - it's restricted to the public and has armed guards patrolling the perimeters. It's also impossible to enter the airspace above without permission from air traffic control, which won't be given. \"We obviously didn't make it on to the airbase but we tried our luck, driving as far into the desert as possible - only to see some quite scary signs from the US military warning us to stay well clear,\" says Sinead Garvan. She was formerly our entertainment reporter at Radio 1 Newsbeat - but over the course of this story has become our chief alien correspondent. She went to Area 51 in 2014 as part of a road trip. \"All the areas surrounding the top secret military base are alien-themed. \"You're greeted with the sign 'Welcome Earthlings' along the extra-terrestrial highway. \"The petrol station is alien-themed with all the alien merchandise you could ever want - and a slightly bored-of-tourists lady behind the counter. \"Cartoon aliens and UFOs are all over the walls of the few buildings that are around, one of which is the famous Little Ale'inn motel. \"There are so many photo opportunities, but we did get a little shiver wondering if we were being watched all the way from the secure gates of Area 51.\" Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2597, "answer_start": 1004, "text": "Some conspiracy theorists think the US government has information on alien life and UFOs that they are withholding from the general population. They think the Area 51 base - which was formally recognised in 2013 - holds captured aliens, their technology and crashed UFOs (unidentified flying objects) - something denied by the government. Theories about the base started in 1989 when a man named Bob Lazar claimed in an interview on US TV that he was a physicist who had worked in Area 51. He recently appeared on comedian Joe Rogan's podcast. There's also a Netflix documentary about him, which could have prompted renewed interest in his story. Lazar said he had worked on taking apart a UFO and had read government documents describing alien involvement in life on earth. He has no hard evidence or proof for what he's claiming, and no records of his alleged university physics degrees exist - but he definitely helped fuel the stories about Area 51. As Thomas Bullard, author of The Myth and Mystery of UFOs says: \"After trust between government and public eroded with Vietnam and Watergate, Roswell and Area 51 entered the popular vocabulary as bywords for official double-dealing.\" Roswell is an area in New Mexico where an airborne object crashed in 1947. The military says it was a weather balloon, but a theory has been widely held that it was actually a UFO that had crash-landed and then been covered up. Despite the US government revealing in the 1990s that it was actually a nuclear test surveillance balloon, the incident still attracts lots of attention and conspiracy theories." } ], "id": "9179_0", "question": "What are the theories about Area 51?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4104, "answer_start": 3552, "text": "Area 51 is part of a military base about 80 miles northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. The US government calls it the Nevada Test and Training Range, which is part of the wider Edwards Air Force Base. Its primary use is hidden from the public, like many military bases across the US. Storming the site as per the comments on Facebook might prove a bit difficult - it's restricted to the public and has armed guards patrolling the perimeters. It's also impossible to enter the airspace above without permission from air traffic control, which won't be given." } ], "id": "9179_1", "question": "Where and what is Area 51?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5118, "answer_start": 4105, "text": "\"We obviously didn't make it on to the airbase but we tried our luck, driving as far into the desert as possible - only to see some quite scary signs from the US military warning us to stay well clear,\" says Sinead Garvan. She was formerly our entertainment reporter at Radio 1 Newsbeat - but over the course of this story has become our chief alien correspondent. She went to Area 51 in 2014 as part of a road trip. \"All the areas surrounding the top secret military base are alien-themed. \"You're greeted with the sign 'Welcome Earthlings' along the extra-terrestrial highway. \"The petrol station is alien-themed with all the alien merchandise you could ever want - and a slightly bored-of-tourists lady behind the counter. \"Cartoon aliens and UFOs are all over the walls of the few buildings that are around, one of which is the famous Little Ale'inn motel. \"There are so many photo opportunities, but we did get a little shiver wondering if we were being watched all the way from the secure gates of Area 51.\"" } ], "id": "9179_2", "question": "What's it like at Area 51?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "An estimated one million people have joined a peaceful protest march in Chile's capital, calling on the government to tackle inequality. Participants walked for miles around the city, banging pots, waving flags and calling for reform. Santiago's governor said it was a \"historic\" moment for the country, which has seen days of protests. President Sebastian Pinera said the government had \"heard the message\". \"We have all changed. Today's joyful and peaceful march, in which Chileans have asked for a more just and unified Chile, opens hopeful paths into the future,\" he wrote on Twitter. Earlier on Friday, politicians and officials had to be escorted out of the Congress building in the city of Valparaiso, after anti-government activists tried to force their way in. Santiago Governor Karla Rubilar said a million people had marched in the capital - more than 5% of the country's population. On Twitter she said the protesters \"represent a dream for a new Chile.\" Protesters also took to the streets in every major Chilean city. \"We're asking for justice, honesty, ethical government,\" 38-year-old Francisco Anguitar told AFP news agency in Santiago. Many participants were calling for the resignation of Mr Pinera. The protests were originally sparked by a now-suspended increase in metro fares but grew to take in wider grievances over living costs and inequality. In the days of demonstrations, there have been outbreaks of looting and arson. At least 16 people have died since the unrest began a week ago, hundreds have been injured and more than 7,000 people have been detained. Chile's military has taken over security in Santiago, which is now under a state of emergency with night-time curfews and 20,000 police on the streets. Chile is one of Latin America's wealthiest countries but also one of its most unequal - it has the worst levels of income equality among the 36 member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The president on Wednesday announced a package of reforms aimed at ending the protests, including increasing the basic pension and minimum wage. But this has done little to quell the unrest.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1218, "answer_start": 770, "text": "Santiago Governor Karla Rubilar said a million people had marched in the capital - more than 5% of the country's population. On Twitter she said the protesters \"represent a dream for a new Chile.\" Protesters also took to the streets in every major Chilean city. \"We're asking for justice, honesty, ethical government,\" 38-year-old Francisco Anguitar told AFP news agency in Santiago. Many participants were calling for the resignation of Mr Pinera." } ], "id": "9180_0", "question": "What happened at the march?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2158, "answer_start": 1219, "text": "The protests were originally sparked by a now-suspended increase in metro fares but grew to take in wider grievances over living costs and inequality. In the days of demonstrations, there have been outbreaks of looting and arson. At least 16 people have died since the unrest began a week ago, hundreds have been injured and more than 7,000 people have been detained. Chile's military has taken over security in Santiago, which is now under a state of emergency with night-time curfews and 20,000 police on the streets. Chile is one of Latin America's wealthiest countries but also one of its most unequal - it has the worst levels of income equality among the 36 member nations of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The president on Wednesday announced a package of reforms aimed at ending the protests, including increasing the basic pension and minimum wage. But this has done little to quell the unrest." } ], "id": "9180_1", "question": "What is the background?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It all started so well. The much vaunted \"special relationship\" between the UK and US was confirmed in the most affectionate way. Theresa May was not only the first foreign leader to meet Donald Trump just days after his inauguration as president, but to ensure she didn't slip on a ramp at the White House, he gallantly took her hand. That moment in January sent commentators and opposition politicians into a spin, with critics suggesting it showed the relationship had become too close. Mrs May was quick to insist it was nothing like that - claiming the gesture had simply been \"a moment of assistance\". Even at their closest - remember their delight in telling the world they shared the same brand of toothpaste after a sleepover at Camp David - US President George Bush and then UK Prime Minister Tony Blair were never pictured holding hands. But that perceived familiarity, that apparently special relationship - and Mrs May's swift and controversial invitation for the US president to make a state visit to the UK - seem a long, long time ago now, amid the spat over Mr Trump's decision to share three inflammatory videos posted online by a British far-right group. A comment by Mrs May's spokesman that it was \"wrong for the president to have done this\", seems to have gone down badly with Mr Trump. But what is the potential impact of this flare-up for the UK in a post-Brexit world, and its urgent hope to strike a trade deal with the US? Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable says for starters the UK should immediately rescind its state visit invitation to the US president. He also called on the president to apologise. London Mayor Sadiq Khan backed that view, insisting: \"After this latest incident, it is increasingly clear that any official visit at all from President Trump to Britain would not be welcomed. \"The prime minister of our country should be using any influence she and her government claim to have with the President and his administration to ask him to delete these tweets and to apologise to the British people.\" Labour's London mayor and the Republican President have a long history of bad blood. But Conservative Communities Secretary Sajid Javid was among cabinet ministers to go on the record with their criticism: Education Secretary Justine Greening sought to play down the significance of the run-in, telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme that while she did not agree with the president's tweet, she did \"not believe it should detract from the close relationship the UK has had for many, many years and will go on to have with America and the American people\". Theresa May and Donald Trump have spoken at least 11 times on the phone, held a joint press conference at the White House and a meeting at the UN General Assembly since the US president was elected in November 2016, according to the Downing Street website. But despite what she has described as the \"enduring\" relationship between the US and America, not all of those conversations have been easy. Who can forget Mrs May's disappointment at Mr Trump's decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement in June, this year? Or the president's condolences following the Parsons Green tube bombing in London, in September? But there have also been congratulatory calls - from the PM to Mr Trump on his presidential success, and back the other way from Mr Trump to Mrs May, following her snap election in June. Who wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall when the two leaders have their next chinwag...? Home Secretary Amber Rudd said that while the US president \"was wrong\" to retweet the far-right group's videos, MPs should also keep in mind \"the bigger picture\". \"The unparalleled sharing of intelligence between our two countries is vital,\" she said, adding that it had \"undoubtedly saved British lives\". She argued that the prime minister had been \"explicit in criticising this tweet\" and would always make sure \"she calls it out\" when she disagrees with comments made. After all, it is not the first time, the UK and US have disagreed with each other - or the first time Mrs May has been critical of Mr Trump. When she was home secretary in 2015, Mrs May dismissed as \"nonsense\" Mr Trump's claim that pockets of London were so radicalised that the police did not dare enter them. She told the Commons home affairs select committee at the time: \"I think we all agree that the comments Donald Trump made in relation to Muslims were divisive, unhelpful and wrong.\" Theresa May insisted she was not afraid to speak out when she disagreed with her closest ally. \"The fact that we work together doesn't mean that we're afraid to say that when we think the US has got it wrong and be very clear with them,\" she said, during a visit to Jordan. \"I'm very clear that retweeting from Britain First was the wrong thing to do.\" But Mrs May insisted it was \"in both our national interests\" and those of the wider world that the \"long term, special relationship\" continued. \"I'm not a prolific tweeter myself and that means I don't spend all my time looking at other people's tweets, but when I feel that there should be a response, I give it - and I've given it to President Trump's tweets.\" Asked whether she regarded Mr Trump as a fit person to be hosted by the Queen on a state visit, the PM said only the invitation had been extended and accepted but \"we have yet to set a date\". Describing Britain First as a \"hateful organisation\", she said she had \"absolute confidence\" none of her cabinet ministers would ever make the same mistake as President Trump.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4464, "answer_start": 2594, "text": "Theresa May and Donald Trump have spoken at least 11 times on the phone, held a joint press conference at the White House and a meeting at the UN General Assembly since the US president was elected in November 2016, according to the Downing Street website. But despite what she has described as the \"enduring\" relationship between the US and America, not all of those conversations have been easy. Who can forget Mrs May's disappointment at Mr Trump's decision to pull the US out of the Paris climate agreement in June, this year? Or the president's condolences following the Parsons Green tube bombing in London, in September? But there have also been congratulatory calls - from the PM to Mr Trump on his presidential success, and back the other way from Mr Trump to Mrs May, following her snap election in June. Who wouldn't want to be a fly on the wall when the two leaders have their next chinwag...? Home Secretary Amber Rudd said that while the US president \"was wrong\" to retweet the far-right group's videos, MPs should also keep in mind \"the bigger picture\". \"The unparalleled sharing of intelligence between our two countries is vital,\" she said, adding that it had \"undoubtedly saved British lives\". She argued that the prime minister had been \"explicit in criticising this tweet\" and would always make sure \"she calls it out\" when she disagrees with comments made. After all, it is not the first time, the UK and US have disagreed with each other - or the first time Mrs May has been critical of Mr Trump. When she was home secretary in 2015, Mrs May dismissed as \"nonsense\" Mr Trump's claim that pockets of London were so radicalised that the police did not dare enter them. She told the Commons home affairs select committee at the time: \"I think we all agree that the comments Donald Trump made in relation to Muslims were divisive, unhelpful and wrong.\"" } ], "id": "9181_0", "question": "Phone a friend?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Plastic waste is \"one of the great environmental scourges of our time\". These are the words of Prime Minister Theresa May, who has pledged to ban all avoidable plastic waste in the UK by 2042. About 6.3bn tonnes of plastic waste had been generated globally by 2015, with almost 80% of it going to landfills or the natural environment. And despite extending the 5p charge on single-use plastic bags, major retailers in England still sold 2.1 billion in the last financial year. In a bid to tackle the problem, the PM has called on supermarkets to introduce \"plastic-free\" aisles and consider taxes and charges on single-use plastic items like food containers. But organisations like Greenpeace UK are sceptical about the plan, citing Mrs May's \"vague aspirations\" and calling for \"concrete action\", such as a bottle deposit return scheme or a \"latte levy\" on disposable coffee cups. So what are Britain's 10 biggest supermarkets doing to combat the \"scourge\" of plastic? By 2025, Tesco wants all its packaging to be recyclable or compostable and its total packaging weight to be halved compared to 2007. It has removed all polystyrene from its fish packaging, and claims that more than 78% of its packaging is recyclable, though this depends on the type of material accepted by local authorities. Replacing two layer plastic trays with single layer plastic has also helped them to remove 92 tonnes of plastic. Sainsbury's has set a target to reduce packaging by a half by 2020, compared to 2005. It has also committed to remove all plastic cotton buds, a major source of ocean plastic pollution. The supermarket recycles carrier bags, and has achieved a 33% reduction in its own brand-packaging since 2006. Between 2015 and 2016, it also redesigned its two-pint milk bottles, saving 580 tonnes of plastic a year. Asda has reduced the weight of its packaging by 27% since 2007, partly by introducing \"skin\" packaging on some of its meat products. It also saved 82 tonnes of plastic by making its two-litre own-brand water bottles lighter. Morrisons recycles its carrier bags and uses \"returnable bins\" for fish products to reduce the use of poly boxes. The company says it keeps 95% of its store waste out of direct landfill. It has also banned microbeads and plastic cotton buds in its own-brand cosmetic products, and plans to phase out drinking straws in its cafes. In September, it trialled removing single-use carrier bags entirely in six of its stores. Aldi wants to source all its pulp-based packaging from certified forests by 2020 and has seen a relative 11% reduction in packaging of 11% between 2012 to 2015. It has not sent any waste directly to landfill since 2014, and recycles 100% of its cardboard and plastic. Co-Op aims for 80% of its products to have \"easily recyclable\" packaging by 2020. It has replaced polystyrene pizza discs with cardboard, saving 200 tonnes of plastic from landfill, and uses single-plastic packaging for meat, poultry and fish products. It has also supported the idea of a deposit return scheme for bottles. Waitrose has thinned its prepared salad bags and reduced smoked salmon packaging by 50%. It charges 30p or 40p for its food to be delivered or collected in plastic bags. Despite plastic bag charging, Waitrose says it supplied 63 million bags in England from April 2016 to April 2017. By switching to biodegradable cotton buds, Waitrose estimates it has saved 21 tonnes of plastic. Last July, the supermarket introduced a new sandwich wrapper, the plastic and cardboard of which can be more easily separated for recycling than other packaging. It also trialled a non-plastic punnet made from tomato leaf and cardboard pulp in October, and does not sell any products containing microbeads. It plans to make its own-label packaging widely recyclable, reusable or home compostable by 2025. Lidl says it is in the process of setting targets for plastic waste. It removed microbeads from all its cosmetic and household products last year, and has also committed to switching to biodegradable cotton buds. For the last 24 years it has charged for plastic carrier bags, and it stopped selling single-use bags last year. Iceland announced plans in January 2018 to eliminate or drastically reduce plastic packaging of all its own-label products by the end of 2023. It had previously supported the idea of a deposit return scheme for bottles. Marks & Spencer says that more than 90% of all its UK packaging is recyclable, and less than 1% (by weight) of all its packaging can be traced back to polystyrene. It has trialled new materials to replace its black CPET (a type of plastic) packaging, and the foils in packaging for biscuits and crisps. Between 2007 and 2012 it reduced its total packaging by 25%, and between 2012 and 2014, its food packaging usage per item decreased by 10%. It is also looking at using plastics made from plant-based oils. Louise Edge, senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said that while initiatives like these were good, \"more radical and comprehensive policies\" were needed to tackle the plastic waste crisis. \"We need to see supermarkets making firm commitments to move away from using disposable plastic packaging altogether, starting with going plastic free in their own brands.\" Businesses should be using \"reusable containers wherever possible\", she said, and investment in research and development was \"vital\" to finding less problematic packaging materials. Supermarkets also needed to avoid solving one problem by causing another, such as reducing the weight of packaging by replacing glass with plastic, she said. But the most important step for retailers was to make an open commitment to reducing the use of resources and carbon emissions. \"None of these processes will be reliable without significantly increased transparency,\" she added. Greenpeace UK suggests retailers should: - Eliminate all non-recyclable plastics from own brand products - Remove single-use plastic packaging for own brand products - Trial dispensers and refillable containers for own brand items like shampoos, house cleaning products, beverages - Push national brand suppliers to eliminate non-recyclable plastics and to stop using single use plastic packaging - Install free water fountains in-store and water re-fill stations - Support deposit return schemes in-store - Trial reusable packaging and product refills via home deliveries A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was committed to stemming the damage caused by plastic waste and had made great progress in boosting recycling rates. \"We are encouraged by industry action to reduce plastic and packaging waste and look forward to seeing others following its lead,\" it said. Written and researched by Becca Meier. Infographic by Joy Roxas.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6740, "answer_start": 4890, "text": "Louise Edge, senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said that while initiatives like these were good, \"more radical and comprehensive policies\" were needed to tackle the plastic waste crisis. \"We need to see supermarkets making firm commitments to move away from using disposable plastic packaging altogether, starting with going plastic free in their own brands.\" Businesses should be using \"reusable containers wherever possible\", she said, and investment in research and development was \"vital\" to finding less problematic packaging materials. Supermarkets also needed to avoid solving one problem by causing another, such as reducing the weight of packaging by replacing glass with plastic, she said. But the most important step for retailers was to make an open commitment to reducing the use of resources and carbon emissions. \"None of these processes will be reliable without significantly increased transparency,\" she added. Greenpeace UK suggests retailers should: - Eliminate all non-recyclable plastics from own brand products - Remove single-use plastic packaging for own brand products - Trial dispensers and refillable containers for own brand items like shampoos, house cleaning products, beverages - Push national brand suppliers to eliminate non-recyclable plastics and to stop using single use plastic packaging - Install free water fountains in-store and water re-fill stations - Support deposit return schemes in-store - Trial reusable packaging and product refills via home deliveries A spokesperson from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was committed to stemming the damage caused by plastic waste and had made great progress in boosting recycling rates. \"We are encouraged by industry action to reduce plastic and packaging waste and look forward to seeing others following its lead,\" it said." } ], "id": "9182_0", "question": "So is it enough?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A TV journalist in China who was photographed wearing sunglasses and holding an umbrella to shelter from the sun has been suspended from her job. The unnamed journalist was photographed while conducting an interview in Xiamen city on efforts to help the city recover from Typhoon Meranti. Her appearance was a stark contrast to the volunteers she was interviewing as they helped clean up after the storm. The images went viral, with many accusing her of being unprofessional. Xiamen TV station said in a statement: \"One of our journalists didn't obey our rules and failed to conduct an interview properly. \"That damages the image of [the] journalist and had a negative impact on the public.\" Weather officials said Typhoon Meranti was the strongest storm of its kind this year. At least one person in China died and another was killed in Taiwan. On mainland China the storm struck southern Fujian province particularly badly. Online comment, mainly on China's Twitter-like Weibo network, has been divided over the journalist's image and behaviour while reporting on the aftermath of the storm. Weibo user \"Eclairask\" asked whether the TV station had been clear that its journalists \"cannot have sunglasses on\". \"Or is the station forced to suspend the journalist because of public pressure and anger?\" User Pan said: \"If you know how difficult and hard it is to be a journalist, you would not focus on her accessories.\" But another Weibo user said the problem was that she appeared to lack manners and failed to show respect to the people she was interviewing. Yanping Zhang, one of the first people to repost the image online, told the BBC the reaction had been far harsher than she was expecting. Ms Zhang said it was not clear who originally took the picture but that \"the punishment is too much\". \"I think an internal verbal warning should be fine,\" she said. \"What I intended to do was show the public that it's disrespectful for a journalist to wear sunglasses and hold an umbrella in an interview.\" But Ms Zhang is now the subject of abuse and a backlash on her Weibo page. Internet users accused her of taking the moral high ground and she has been the subject of abuse. She was labelled a modern day Red Guard, a reference to the zealous and often ruthless youths who enforced the principles of China's Cultural Revolution, a time which saw many killed and beaten in the name of upholding Maoist ideals. \"I am very innocent. I even don't know the journalist personally,\" said Ms Zhang. A Shanghai-based female TV journalist Yijing Lin also cast more light on the angry reaction. She told the BBC that it must be understood in the context of the expectations and image the Chinese public has of journalists. \"I wouldn't call it a stereotype, but it does happen,\" she said. \"I see adventurous people who don't mind getting their feet dirty,\" an image that many would associate with journalists reporting in the aftermath of bad weather. Ms Lin argues that the Chinese public wants to see their journalists as smart and intellectually driven. The perceived focus on appearance does seem to be what has enraged people and, in this instance, it has had serious consequence for the journalist involved. It is unclear if the suspension will eventually lead to dismissal, but the issue has got China talking about the ethics of journalism as well as the power of online indignation.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3384, "answer_start": 2496, "text": "A Shanghai-based female TV journalist Yijing Lin also cast more light on the angry reaction. She told the BBC that it must be understood in the context of the expectations and image the Chinese public has of journalists. \"I wouldn't call it a stereotype, but it does happen,\" she said. \"I see adventurous people who don't mind getting their feet dirty,\" an image that many would associate with journalists reporting in the aftermath of bad weather. Ms Lin argues that the Chinese public wants to see their journalists as smart and intellectually driven. The perceived focus on appearance does seem to be what has enraged people and, in this instance, it has had serious consequence for the journalist involved. It is unclear if the suspension will eventually lead to dismissal, but the issue has got China talking about the ethics of journalism as well as the power of online indignation." } ], "id": "9183_0", "question": "What should a journalist be in China?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Four Arab states have sent Qatar a list of 13 demands it must meet if it wants them to lift their sanctions. Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain are asking the Gulf state to shut down its broadcaster, Al Jazeera. They are also asking Qatar to reduce ties with Iran and close a Turkish military base - all within 10 days. Qatar, which sought to raise its profile in recent years, denies funding terrorism and fostering instability. It has been subjected to more than two weeks of unprecedented diplomatic and economic sanctions, in the worst political crisis among Gulf countries in decades. Qatar crisis deepens as Gulf allies dig in Why Qatar is the focus of terrorism claims There was no immediate response from Qatar but Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said earlier that it would not negotiate until the punitive measures were lifted. He also denied his country supported \"any terrorist organisation\". The stakes have just been raised, dramatically. The sanctions imposed by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and others two weeks ago had failed to produce the result they wanted. Qatar has remained defiant, rejecting their accusations and pulling in help from Iran and Turkey. The list of demands now being made are humiliating for Qatar - closing its flagship TV channel Al Jazeera, for example, would spell an end to a 21-year drive to put Qatar firmly on the global media map. Some Gulf commentators believe these demands may be just a starting point for negotiations but the Saudi and UAE governments are in no mood for compromise. They don't trust Qatar's word. So if there really is no room for manoeuvre on the demands that would leave only two courses: total capitulation by Qatar and its return to the Gulf Arab fold, as a meek and much reduced national figure; or a defiant Qatar expelled from the GCC and quite possibly becoming a dependent ally of Iran's. Qatar's critics may yet regret what they have started. Five surprising facts about Qatar According to the Associated Press news agency, which obtained a copy of the list, Qatar must also: - Sever all ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned in other Arab states - Refuse to naturalise citizens from the four countries and expel those currently on its territory, in what the countries describe as an effort to keep Qatar from meddling in their internal affairs - Hand over all individuals who are wanted by the four countries for terrorism - Stop funding any extremist entities that are designated as terrorist groups by the US - Provide detailed information about opposition figures whom Qatar has funded, ostensibly in Saudi Arabia and the other nations - Align itself politically, economically and otherwise with the Gulf Co-operation Council - Stop funding other news outlets in addition to Al Jazeera, including Arabi21 and Middle East Eye - Pay an unspecified sum in compensation An unnamed official from one of the four countries told Reuters news agency that Qatar was also being asked to sever links with so-called Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah. According to the document seen by AP, Qatar is being asked to shut down diplomatic posts in Iran, expel any members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard and only conduct trade with Iran that complies with US sanctions. The demands have not been officially unveiled. Their publication has increased the friction between the two sides. Anwar Gargash, the UAE's state minister for foreign affairs, accused Qatar of leaking the details, saying it was \"an attempt to abort the mediation in a childish act that we have grown accustomed to from our brother\". The document specifies that both Al Jazeera and all of its affiliates must be shut down. Al Jazeera, which has an English-language branch, is one of the most widely watched Arabic satellite channels. Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia's close ally, Egypt, have long accused the broadcaster of providing a platform for Islamist movements and encouraging dissent - claims the broadcaster has denied. Speaking to the BBC World Service, Jamal al-Shayyal, a senior journalist and spokesman for the award-winning network, said: \"The fact that the claims are being levelled by countries who are directly involved either in the creation or funding of [extremist] organisations is beyond ironic. \"Nobody has shown any evidence of any misdoing by our network that would amount to such a ridiculous accusation.\" He said staff would be continuing to work as normal to defend press freedoms and \"speak truth to power\". Can Al Jazeera survive Qatar crisis? If 10 days pass and Qatar has failed to comply, the list becomes \"void\", the Reuters source said. It would appear that at least some of the demands are unacceptable to Qatar. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed said this week his country would not accept any \"foreign dictations\" and \"rejected discussing any matter related to the Al Jazeera channel as it considered it an internal affair\". Turkey has been supplying Qatar with food and other goods by air since the sanctions started, and dispatched its first ship carrying food this week, Reuters reports. Exports from Turkey to the Gulf state have tripled from their normal levels to $32.5m since the sanctions, Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci said on Thursday. Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci was quoted as saying that 105 planeloads of supplies had been sent but the airlifting supplies was not sustainable in the long run. The Turkish military base in Qatar was set up under an agreement signed in 2014. Two dozen more Turkish soldiers and five armoured cars arrived in Qatar on Thursday, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reports. Turkey already has some 90 soldiers deployed at the base. Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik was quoted by Reuters as saying any demand for the base's closure would represent interference in Ankara's relations with Qatar. Qatar is also supplied by Iran, which sends about 1,100 tonnes of fruit and vegetables each day by sea, Iran's Fars news agency reports. It has also opened its airspace to flights to and from Qatar, which has been banned from using Saudi and other countries' airspace. The list of demands was announced after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Qatar's neighbours to make their demands \"reasonable and actionable\". Correspondents say there has been frustration in Washington, which is seeking to resolve the dispute, over the time taken by the Saudis and others to formalise their demands. US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line towards Qatar, accusing it of being a \"high level\" sponsor of terrorism. However, the Arab states involved in the crisis are all close allies of the US. America's largest base in the Middle East is in Qatar.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3664, "answer_start": 2003, "text": "According to the Associated Press news agency, which obtained a copy of the list, Qatar must also: - Sever all ties with the Muslim Brotherhood, which is banned in other Arab states - Refuse to naturalise citizens from the four countries and expel those currently on its territory, in what the countries describe as an effort to keep Qatar from meddling in their internal affairs - Hand over all individuals who are wanted by the four countries for terrorism - Stop funding any extremist entities that are designated as terrorist groups by the US - Provide detailed information about opposition figures whom Qatar has funded, ostensibly in Saudi Arabia and the other nations - Align itself politically, economically and otherwise with the Gulf Co-operation Council - Stop funding other news outlets in addition to Al Jazeera, including Arabi21 and Middle East Eye - Pay an unspecified sum in compensation An unnamed official from one of the four countries told Reuters news agency that Qatar was also being asked to sever links with so-called Islamic State, al-Qaeda and Lebanese Shia militant group Hezbollah. According to the document seen by AP, Qatar is being asked to shut down diplomatic posts in Iran, expel any members of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard and only conduct trade with Iran that complies with US sanctions. The demands have not been officially unveiled. Their publication has increased the friction between the two sides. Anwar Gargash, the UAE's state minister for foreign affairs, accused Qatar of leaking the details, saying it was \"an attempt to abort the mediation in a childish act that we have grown accustomed to from our brother\"." } ], "id": "9184_0", "question": "What are the other demands?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4604, "answer_start": 3665, "text": "The document specifies that both Al Jazeera and all of its affiliates must be shut down. Al Jazeera, which has an English-language branch, is one of the most widely watched Arabic satellite channels. Gulf countries and Saudi Arabia's close ally, Egypt, have long accused the broadcaster of providing a platform for Islamist movements and encouraging dissent - claims the broadcaster has denied. Speaking to the BBC World Service, Jamal al-Shayyal, a senior journalist and spokesman for the award-winning network, said: \"The fact that the claims are being levelled by countries who are directly involved either in the creation or funding of [extremist] organisations is beyond ironic. \"Nobody has shown any evidence of any misdoing by our network that would amount to such a ridiculous accusation.\" He said staff would be continuing to work as normal to defend press freedoms and \"speak truth to power\". Can Al Jazeera survive Qatar crisis?" } ], "id": "9184_1", "question": "Why is Al Jazeera being targeted?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6200, "answer_start": 4993, "text": "Turkey has been supplying Qatar with food and other goods by air since the sanctions started, and dispatched its first ship carrying food this week, Reuters reports. Exports from Turkey to the Gulf state have tripled from their normal levels to $32.5m since the sanctions, Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci said on Thursday. Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci was quoted as saying that 105 planeloads of supplies had been sent but the airlifting supplies was not sustainable in the long run. The Turkish military base in Qatar was set up under an agreement signed in 2014. Two dozen more Turkish soldiers and five armoured cars arrived in Qatar on Thursday, Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reports. Turkey already has some 90 soldiers deployed at the base. Turkish Defence Minister Fikri Isik was quoted by Reuters as saying any demand for the base's closure would represent interference in Ankara's relations with Qatar. Qatar is also supplied by Iran, which sends about 1,100 tonnes of fruit and vegetables each day by sea, Iran's Fars news agency reports. It has also opened its airspace to flights to and from Qatar, which has been banned from using Saudi and other countries' airspace." } ], "id": "9184_2", "question": "Who is helping Qatar?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6783, "answer_start": 6201, "text": "The list of demands was announced after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson urged Qatar's neighbours to make their demands \"reasonable and actionable\". Correspondents say there has been frustration in Washington, which is seeking to resolve the dispute, over the time taken by the Saudis and others to formalise their demands. US President Donald Trump has taken a hard line towards Qatar, accusing it of being a \"high level\" sponsor of terrorism. However, the Arab states involved in the crisis are all close allies of the US. America's largest base in the Middle East is in Qatar." } ], "id": "9184_3", "question": "Where is the US in this?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "For one woman with Down's syndrome, rejection and discrimination spurred her on - as far as London Fashion Week. Now this designer from Guatemala is on the BBC's 2016 list of 100 inspirational women. Before she was an internationally-recognised designer, Isabella Springmuhl says she was rejected by two fashion schools in her native Guatemala because she has Down's syndrome. \"They said I would not be able to cope,\" recalls the 19-year-old. But that rejection was exactly what Isabella needed to turn her life around, says her mother, Isabel Tejada. \"I was furious that these institutions did not give Isabella a chance to learn. It was so sad, but it made her change everything. She then decided she wanted to learn sewing so I took her to a sewing academy for women.\" While learning how to sew, Isabella was asked to design outfits for worry dolls - traditionally hand-made dolls originating from Guatemalan and Mexican folk traditions. The tiny dolls are usually put under children's pillows in the hope that they will take away their sorrows while they sleep. Isabella took a different approach. \"Isabella didn't want to design clothes for... finger-sized dolls,\" says Mrs Tejada. \"She created life-sized dolls and dressed them in the colourful embroidered jackets and ponchos that she's now famous for.\" Isabella moved from designing for dolls to people, and soon enough produced a collection that gained the attention of the fashion world. Earlier this year, she became the first designer with Down's syndrome to take part in London Fashion Week. It was the platform that made her. But aside from having a passion for fashion, Isabella points out that her main inspiration for designing arose after a struggle to find well-fitting clothing for her body type. \"It was difficult for me to get clothes,\" Isabella says. \"We have a different body constitution; we are shorter, wider, or very thin. My mother always had to fix the clothes she bought for me. \"So I decided to design clothes that fit people with Down's syndrome, plus I really love Guatemalan textiles and the diversity of colours and textures they represent.\" BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: 'I married a man to keep my girlfriend' 'Adults are so obsessed with children they have no time for important things' Who is on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list? Isabella's colourful signature designs, consisting of one-of-a-kind Guatemalan vintage textiles combined with colourful floral embroidery, have increased the popularity of the young designer who has already been invited to fashion events being held in Panama and Miami next year. She has her own unique design process. It starts with hand-picking vintage, authentic Guatemalan textiles from her trusted supplier in Antigua which are then taken back to her atelier and worked on by a seamstress and an embroidery expert, all according to Isabella's specifications. \"She's quite opinionated and headstrong about her decisions,\" laughs Mrs Tejada. \"If I or anyone else makes a suggestion she says 'Uh uh mama no, I want it this way.'\" Her strength and determination came about precisely because her journey to success was not an easy one. \"The truth is, people were critical and didn't believe I could do things\", Isabella says. \"I was discriminated against. \"But I had the love of my family and my friends and that helped me to make my dream come true. I have already been to Rome, London, Mexico and have been invited next year to go to Miami, Chicago and possibly Paris.\" What's next for the teenage designer? To conquer the world, of course. \"I want to export my brand Down to Xjabelle all over the world. I want people to know my designs and to know that people with Down's syndrome can do what they set out to do. I want to be able to live on my own and be 100% self -sufficient. \"I want people to know me for my work, and what is inside my heart.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2533, "answer_start": 2128, "text": "BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year. We create documentaries, features and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre. Other stories you might like: 'I married a man to keep my girlfriend' 'Adults are so obsessed with children they have no time for important things' Who is on the BBC's 100 Women 2016 list?" } ], "id": "9185_0", "question": "What is 100 women?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Michigan has become the first US state to ban flavoured e-cigarettes as part of efforts to curb youth vaping. The measure goes into effect in the next 30 days and bars the sale of any flavoured vaping products in retail stores and online. \"My number one priority is keeping our kids safe,\" said Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in a statement. The measure will last six months, with the possibility of an extension and comes amid other action against vaping. Ms Whitmer, a Democrat, also banned what she described as misleading marketing of such products, prohibiting adverts that describe vaping products as \"clean\", \"safe\" or \"healthy\". \"We've seen an explosive increase in the number of Michigan kids exposed to vaping products,\" said Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive for Michigan. \"This is a public health crisis.\" E-cigarettes have experienced huge growth in recent years, especially among young people. In just one year - from 2017-18 - the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported a 78% jump in school students vaping. Last year, more than 3.6 million children were using e-cigarettes, a \"sharp and startling reversal of overall declines\" in tobacco use among young people, according to the FDA. \"Youth use of electronic cigarettes has reached an epidemic proportion,\" said FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb. But the rise of e-cigarettes has provoked mounting opposition from lawmakers. Ms Whitmer said: \"Right now, companies selling vaping products are using candy flavours to hook children on nicotine and misleading claims to promote the belief that these products are safe. That ends today.\" Michigan has joined a number of US states and cities taking steps to block the sale of e-cigarettes. In June, San Francisco became the first US city to ban sales of e-cigarettes and lawmakers in Boulder, Colorado, passed a similar ban last week. Nancy Brown, chief executive of the American Heart Association, called the measure a \"bold and appropriate\" response \"to the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use\", noting the recent outbreak in illnesses associated with e-cigarettes. Last week, Juul - the market leader in e-cigarettes - said in a statement that it recognised youth vaping in the US was a \"serious and urgent problem\". The e-cigarette giant ended sales of most flavoured products in 2018 in an effort to deter teenage use of the product, and stopped sales to anyone under 21 years of age. \"We want to be the off-ramp for adult smokers to switch from cigarettes, not an on-ramp for America's youth to initiate on nicotine,\" the company said in a statement announcing the changes. Defenders of e-cigarettes called the Michigan ban misguided, arguing that e-cigarettes are much less unhealthy than cigarettes. \"This shameless attempt at backdoor prohibition will close down several hundred Michigan small businesses and could send tens of thousands of ex-smokers back to deadly combustible cigarettes,\" Greg Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, said in a statement. According to the FDA, 34.3 million US adults and nearly 1.4 million young people in the US, ages 12-17, currently smoke cigarettes. Despite declines in cigarette smoking, tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the US, killing about 480,000 Americans every year. The battle surrounding e-cigarettes has been heightened by a recent spike in respiratory illnesses linked to e-cigarettes. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last month there were 193 \"potential cases\" of a mystery lung disease related to vaping across 22 US states. The possible cases include one death in Illinois, the first death linked to vaping. Last year, the FDA announced a series of enforcement actions against more than 1,300 retailers and five major manufacturers for catering vaping products to children. According to the American Lung Association, 97% of current youth e-cigarette users used a flavoured product in the last month, and 70% list flavours as a key reason for their use. It says there are 15,000 flavours on the market, from mango and mint to cotton candy and gummy bear.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3006, "answer_start": 1863, "text": "Nancy Brown, chief executive of the American Heart Association, called the measure a \"bold and appropriate\" response \"to the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use\", noting the recent outbreak in illnesses associated with e-cigarettes. Last week, Juul - the market leader in e-cigarettes - said in a statement that it recognised youth vaping in the US was a \"serious and urgent problem\". The e-cigarette giant ended sales of most flavoured products in 2018 in an effort to deter teenage use of the product, and stopped sales to anyone under 21 years of age. \"We want to be the off-ramp for adult smokers to switch from cigarettes, not an on-ramp for America's youth to initiate on nicotine,\" the company said in a statement announcing the changes. Defenders of e-cigarettes called the Michigan ban misguided, arguing that e-cigarettes are much less unhealthy than cigarettes. \"This shameless attempt at backdoor prohibition will close down several hundred Michigan small businesses and could send tens of thousands of ex-smokers back to deadly combustible cigarettes,\" Greg Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, said in a statement." } ], "id": "9186_0", "question": "What's the reaction?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4128, "answer_start": 3007, "text": "According to the FDA, 34.3 million US adults and nearly 1.4 million young people in the US, ages 12-17, currently smoke cigarettes. Despite declines in cigarette smoking, tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the US, killing about 480,000 Americans every year. The battle surrounding e-cigarettes has been heightened by a recent spike in respiratory illnesses linked to e-cigarettes. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said last month there were 193 \"potential cases\" of a mystery lung disease related to vaping across 22 US states. The possible cases include one death in Illinois, the first death linked to vaping. Last year, the FDA announced a series of enforcement actions against more than 1,300 retailers and five major manufacturers for catering vaping products to children. According to the American Lung Association, 97% of current youth e-cigarette users used a flavoured product in the last month, and 70% list flavours as a key reason for their use. It says there are 15,000 flavours on the market, from mango and mint to cotton candy and gummy bear." } ], "id": "9186_1", "question": "What's the bigger picture?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It has won numerous awards, broken BBC Radio 4 records, launched the career of \"a once in a generation writer\" and spawned a devoted, international fan base with a particular enthusiasm for travelling lemons and otter storage dilemmas. It's the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Cabin Pressure - which for 10 years has chronicled life at a tiny (fictional) charter airline. But it is also a programme that very nearly didn't get made. Comedian and writer John Finnemore was tutoring and occasionally writing for sketch shows when he passed his pilot Cabin Pressure script to comedy producer David Tyler. France brings back national service Missing Thai boys found alive in caves Botched Spanish art restoration criticised \"I immediately had a visceral feeling of wow,\" remembers Tyler, 10 years on. \"I thought - this is perfect.\" Caroline Raphael, then commissioning editor for comedy at BBC Radio 4, agreed: \"I absolutely adored it.\" But it wasn't a universal reaction: Mark Damazer, Radio 4's controller at the time, didn't like the script. \"I was quite taken aback because he just didn't get it,\" Raphael says. \"I just went on and on trying to convince him but realised I wasn't winning him round.\" A disappointed Tyler was about to pass on the rejection to Finnemore, but decided to go back to the radio bosses one last time. \"I said: 'I know comedy is subjective and we're all juggling with air but he [Damazer] is wrong'.\" Raphael was similarly disappointed with the decision so tried, once again, to plead Cabin Pressure's case. \"We don't have many sitcoms with such beautifully defined characters. Please, can we do it?\" she said. The combined approach worked. \"Oh, go on then,\" replied Damazer, who said he trusted Tyler's judgement so was happy to reconsider. Tyler says Cabin Pressure is about \"growing up\". For Finnemore, the sitcom is about \"leaving home\". At its simplest the sitcom concerns the (mis)adventures of two pilots, a steward and the CEO of MJN Air - a tiny charter airline with just one plane, nicknamed \"Gerti\" - almost a character in herself. As the owner puts it, MJN isn't an airline so much as but an \"airdot\": \"I don't have an airline. I have one jet. You cannot put one jet in a line.\" MJN's boss is the fearsome Carolyn Knapp-Shappey (Stephanie Cole), awarded a passenger plane in her divorce, and determined to make it work as a business. One of the few times Carolyn's formidable facade cracked was when another character asked why - given that trying to run an airline was taking her to the edge of bankruptcy - she persevered. \"Because I am the chief executive officer of MJN Air,\" she said. \"It's a good thing to be. It's better than... a little old lady.\" Helping her in the endeavour is her son Arthur Shappey - played by Finnemore himself as a consistently cheery steward who claims to have found the secret to true happiness. (For anyone interested, it is throwing an apple from one hand to the other.) The pilots are charming, experienced, always-scheming Douglas Richardson, played by Roger Allam, and Martin Crieff - played by Benedict Cumberbatch - who wanted to fly since the age of six, but never seemed very good at it. Much to Douglas' (suppressed) irritation and everyone else's surprise, it is Martin who, for reasons revealed during the series, captains the plane, while Douglas is his junior. This disparity in the pilots' abilities and their positions forms one of the central tensions in the sitcom. The other is the business's precarious financial position, epitomised in Carolyn's hopeful declaration: \"Today's the day we try running MJN as a profitable business rather than a charitable sanctuary for rubbish pilots.\" Nicholas Lezard from the Independent called the first episode \"flawless\", and Nosheen Iqbal of the Guardian praised the show's \"impressive cast\" describing the script as \"packed tight with superb lines\". The programme also proved popular with listeners. For the final recording, Radio 4 received more than 22,000 audience ticket requests - breaking the world record for a BBC radio comedy. Awards followed: in 2011, 2013 and 2014 the series won comedy.co.uk's best British radio sitcom award, also becoming the first radio programme to win the website's comedy of the year award in 2014. Finnemore himself has won two Writers' Guild Awards - including one for Cabin Pressure. \"He [Finnemore] is an extraordinary writer,\" says producer Tyler. \"He is once in a generation.\" \"He writes about genuine emotion and is able to do so many different characters. What I find astonishing about his work is the psychological consistency.\" Raphael agrees. \"John has the ability to go deep into the character and ask what is the thing that person wants more than anything,\" she says. Pondering the writer's capacity to get so thoroughly inside the minds of others, she quoted David Tyler: \"Finnemore's a genius but you wouldn't want to live in his head.\" Tyler says one of the underlying themes of the show is that the two pilots, are \"very intelligent, highly trained people\" who are bored for \"most of the time\". \"So they muck about,\" he added. The pair's diversions have included playing a high-risk game of hide the lemon, naming the \"Brians of Britain\" (Eno, Blessed, May etc) and stealing a bottle of Talisker whisky from a passenger on his way to a rugby match. The quality of the script, plus the relative ease of radio, (no make-up and no learning lines) meant Cabin Pressure was able to attract an impressive cast. Cole (Waiting for God, Open All Hours, Coronation Street) and Allam (The Thick of It, Endeavour) were already accomplished and experienced TV and film actors. And when the series began, Cumberbatch, as the hapless and insecure Martin, was on the cusp of stardom. Although a successful - if largely unknown - actor at the time, his role in the series was very different to that of the arrogant, fiercely intelligent Sherlock he later played in the popular BBC One drama. Perhaps the casting of a future global film star was one of the factors that helped create the sitcom's loyal female fan base - a trend that the show's creators began to notice between the second and third series. \"After Sherlock the applications for [studio audience] tickets came largely from women under the age of 25,\" says Finnemore. And those who worked on Cabin Pressure remember fans gathered outside the studio at 07:00 on cold, misty mornings - not a normal occurrence for a radio sitcom. But while the presence of the Sherlock actor may have brought listeners in, many say they ended up loving the sitcom on its own merits. \"I usually say that most people came to Cabin Pressure because of Benedict Cumberbatch. But they stayed because of John Finnemore,\" says Carina Pereira, a fan from Belgium. While the presence of Cumberbatch may explain some of Cabin Pressure's young following, the character he played may have chimed with them too. The sitcom's first episode aired in 2008, shortly after the financial crash and as many millennials entered adulthood and encountered a harsh economic climate. Although Martin was in his thirties, he faced many of their problems. For those 20-somethings, struggling to carve out a life and career for themselves, his plight may have struck a familiar chord. To fund Martin's pursuit of the perfect career he had to do odd jobs and live in \"a horrible attic in a shared house\". He knew what his dream job was, but in order to get a foot in the door he had to work for free. Essentially he was interning as a pilot. The show sparked some unusual displays of appreciation from its fans - like Kayleigh Fitzgerald, author of the the Lemons and Landmarks book. Kayleigh saw Finnemore perform a sketch at a comedy night, in which he played a comedian worried about not having achieved enough in his life. \"I thought it would be nice if people from all over the world could show their appreciation by taking a picture of a lemon and attaching a message for John,\" she says. Kayleigh received so many photos - including one taken near the border of North Korea - that with the help of others, she turned them into a book and presented it to Finnemore at a Cabin Pressure recording. Despite the programme's popularity, Finnemore says he didn't want to \"flog it to death\" and, in December 2014, after four series and a Christmas special he brought it to an end. Finnemore has gone on to further success with his sketch show and half hour radio dramas (John Finnemore's Double Acts). Over the summer he will be writing a film with Armando Iannucci. However, the programme that made his name is still admired and celebrated. On fan sites and social media, devotees continue to share pictures of hidden lemons, arrange \"Finnemeets\", exchange favourite quotes and ponder the feasibility of storing otters in a plane's overhead compartment. \"I've spoken to fans who suffer from depression,\" says Kayleigh Fitzgerald, \"and Cabin Pressure is something that, even for only half an hour, can make them smile.\" \"That's a lovely thing to do.\" The final episode of Cabin Pressure will feature on BBC Radio 4 Extra's Comedy Club on Sunday 15 July at 23:00.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7508, "answer_start": 6752, "text": "While the presence of Cumberbatch may explain some of Cabin Pressure's young following, the character he played may have chimed with them too. The sitcom's first episode aired in 2008, shortly after the financial crash and as many millennials entered adulthood and encountered a harsh economic climate. Although Martin was in his thirties, he faced many of their problems. For those 20-somethings, struggling to carve out a life and career for themselves, his plight may have struck a familiar chord. To fund Martin's pursuit of the perfect career he had to do odd jobs and live in \"a horrible attic in a shared house\". He knew what his dream job was, but in order to get a foot in the door he had to work for free. Essentially he was interning as a pilot." } ], "id": "9187_0", "question": "Martin the Millennial?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Three Vietnamese policemen who died during clashes over a land rights dispute have been buried with honours in Hanoi. Their deaths came during a massive security operation last week in a village near the capital, in which a local leader also died. Villagers had been resisting attempts by the military to build an airfield on their land for several years. Land disputes are common in Vietnam, but rarely escalate into such conflict. The raid and the unexplained death of the popular local leader, 84-year-old Le Dinh Kinh, have caused huge public controversy. The government has blamed the officers' deaths on \"rioters\", but locals say police used excessive force. President Nguyen Phu Trong posthumously decorated the officers, while Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the funeral in Hanoi on Thursday, saying they \"sacrificed their lives to protect the national security\". The military began work on an airport at Mieu Mon, close to Dong Tam, about three years ago. Local people say that in the process, about 50 hectares (124 acres) of their land was unfairly taken over and handed to Viettel Group, Vietnam's military-run communications company. All land in communist Vietnam is owned by the state, so the government can technically use what it wants for military or civilian purposes. But locals say they have farmed the land for generations and were not being properly compensated. Dong Tam first hit national headlines in 2017, when four people were arrested for \"disturbing public order\" in protests against the acquisition of the land. Villagers retaliated by holding 38 officials, including police officers, inside a community house, for about a week. They were eventually released after the authorities agreed some concessions. Villagers told BBC News Vietnamese that early that morning, up to 3,000 security personnel turned up. \"A lot of government people in mobile police uniforms, carrying sticks, clubs, clubs, guns, shields, rushed to the village,\" said one woman who asked to remain anonymous, fearing retribution. Another witness said the police \"threw flares, fired tear gas, blocked every corner, beat up women and the elderly\". In a statement, the Ministry of Public Security said police had been sent to protect the public from protesters and to help the army build the boundary wall, a couple of kilometres away. Construction of the wall annexing disputed land to the airfield was due to reach the edge of Dong Tam rural commune that day. As workers began building the wall \"some people resisted, using hand grenades, petrol bombs and knives to attack police forces, fighting officers on duty and disrupting public order\", the statement said, according to VNExpress. Le Dinh Kinh was a Communist Party member and retired local official. But in recent years he had become an unlikely opponent of the government. He was leading a group of local people who had sworn to sacrifice their lives to defend the land. He had been detained - and allegedly beaten by police - during the 2017 clashes. According to the security ministry, three police officers who entered the village - Col Nguyen Huy Thinh, Cpt Pham Cong Huy and Lt Duong Duc Hoang Quan - came under attack. They died after being set on fire. Local authorities said Mr Kinh was found dead inside a house holding a grenade. His family and supporters dispute this. They say a widely circulated video of his body shows apparent bullet wounds. His son, Le Dinh Chuc, was injured in the raid. Deputy Minister Luong Tam Quang said police had seized petrol bombs, iron rods and other weapons. Twenty people are being investigated on murder charges. On 13 January, three of Mr Kinh's family appeared on TV, with bruised faces, apparently admitting to possessing homemade weapons and petrol bombs. Rights groups have said these were forced confessions. Mr Kinh's wife, Du Thi Thanh, also says she was beaten by police. The government and state-run media have painted Mr Kinh and the villagers as rioters and terrorists and the police officers as martyrs. Coverage of the clashes on social media has been swamped by pro-government comment, while the government has demanded videos, articles and comments criticising the police operation be taken down. Amnesty International said some users on Facebook had received warning messages saying their access was restricted \"due to legal requirements in your country\", something the rights group said was likely due to a flood of complaints from the government's significant \"cyber troop force\". Radio Free Asia was also briefly blocked from uploading videos to its Vietnamese YouTube channel after being accused of violating \"community guidelines\". \"The authorities want to muzzle discussion of what happened in Dong Tam and avoid it becoming yet another touchpoint for popular discontent,\" said Amnesty's regional director Nicholas Bequelin. \"Silicon Valley cannot become complicit in this blatant attempt to keep Vietnamese citizens in the dark about human rights violations.\" Nonetheless, many people have raised concern about the use of excessive force in the raid. \"My feeling is a boundary has been overstepped, by both sides. Sending thousands of armed troops into a village at 4am can't have been the right solution,\" Pham Thi Loan, a former MP representing Hanoi, told BBC Vietnamese. Human Rights Watch called on Vietnam to hold anyone responsible for violence to account. \"Government officials need to recognise the importance of carrying out dialogues and negotiations with farmers to solve land disputes like Dong Tam in a peaceful manner rather than using violence,\" said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director. MyHang Tran, BBC News Vietnamese There are thousands of land dispute victims across Vietnam, some homeless or living in miserable conditions, spending their days knocking on doors of government bodies, with land ownership documents in their hands, hoping for their case to be heard. Some struggle to get by on compensation which, per square metre, is barely enough to buy a bowl of noodles. Some have taken their lives. Le Dinh Kinh had regularly livestreamed to Facebook. He never spoke with hate about the government or the Communist Party. But he pledged the villagers would \"fight to the very end\" for the land they considered theirs. This case has shaken the country. As Vietnam's economy is booming, and the government wants more land for development purposes, the fear is such cases could become more common.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1744, "answer_start": 881, "text": "The military began work on an airport at Mieu Mon, close to Dong Tam, about three years ago. Local people say that in the process, about 50 hectares (124 acres) of their land was unfairly taken over and handed to Viettel Group, Vietnam's military-run communications company. All land in communist Vietnam is owned by the state, so the government can technically use what it wants for military or civilian purposes. But locals say they have farmed the land for generations and were not being properly compensated. Dong Tam first hit national headlines in 2017, when four people were arrested for \"disturbing public order\" in protests against the acquisition of the land. Villagers retaliated by holding 38 officials, including police officers, inside a community house, for about a week. They were eventually released after the authorities agreed some concessions." } ], "id": "9188_0", "question": "What is the dispute in Dong Tam?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2697, "answer_start": 1745, "text": "Villagers told BBC News Vietnamese that early that morning, up to 3,000 security personnel turned up. \"A lot of government people in mobile police uniforms, carrying sticks, clubs, clubs, guns, shields, rushed to the village,\" said one woman who asked to remain anonymous, fearing retribution. Another witness said the police \"threw flares, fired tear gas, blocked every corner, beat up women and the elderly\". In a statement, the Ministry of Public Security said police had been sent to protect the public from protesters and to help the army build the boundary wall, a couple of kilometres away. Construction of the wall annexing disputed land to the airfield was due to reach the edge of Dong Tam rural commune that day. As workers began building the wall \"some people resisted, using hand grenades, petrol bombs and knives to attack police forces, fighting officers on duty and disrupting public order\", the statement said, according to VNExpress." } ], "id": "9188_1", "question": "What happened in the 9 January clashes?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5655, "answer_start": 3896, "text": "The government and state-run media have painted Mr Kinh and the villagers as rioters and terrorists and the police officers as martyrs. Coverage of the clashes on social media has been swamped by pro-government comment, while the government has demanded videos, articles and comments criticising the police operation be taken down. Amnesty International said some users on Facebook had received warning messages saying their access was restricted \"due to legal requirements in your country\", something the rights group said was likely due to a flood of complaints from the government's significant \"cyber troop force\". Radio Free Asia was also briefly blocked from uploading videos to its Vietnamese YouTube channel after being accused of violating \"community guidelines\". \"The authorities want to muzzle discussion of what happened in Dong Tam and avoid it becoming yet another touchpoint for popular discontent,\" said Amnesty's regional director Nicholas Bequelin. \"Silicon Valley cannot become complicit in this blatant attempt to keep Vietnamese citizens in the dark about human rights violations.\" Nonetheless, many people have raised concern about the use of excessive force in the raid. \"My feeling is a boundary has been overstepped, by both sides. Sending thousands of armed troops into a village at 4am can't have been the right solution,\" Pham Thi Loan, a former MP representing Hanoi, told BBC Vietnamese. Human Rights Watch called on Vietnam to hold anyone responsible for violence to account. \"Government officials need to recognise the importance of carrying out dialogues and negotiations with farmers to solve land disputes like Dong Tam in a peaceful manner rather than using violence,\" said Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director." } ], "id": "9188_2", "question": "What's the response been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A speechwriter has become the second White House aide this week to resign amid allegations of domestic abuse. David Sorensen denies his former wife's allegations he was violent and emotionally abusive. His departure comes just days after another Trump official, Rob Porter, quit over allegations of abuse from two ex-wives, something he denies. Questions have been raised over how long it took the White House to act on the accusations facing Mr Porter. Mr Sorensen's ex-wife Jessica Corbett told the Washington Post that he was physically abusive to her while they were married. She said that on separate occasions her former husband ran a car over her foot, threw her against a wall and extinguished a cigarette on her hand. In response, Mr Sorensen released a statement in which he said he had \"never committed violence of any kind against any woman in my entire life\" and that instead it was he who had been physically abused. He said he was considering legal action, but said he quit because he \"didn't want the White House to have to deal with this distraction\". White House officials said they learned of the accusations by Mr Sorensen's wife late on Thursday. \"We immediately confronted the staffer, he denied the allegations and he resigned today,\" deputy press secretary Raj Shah said. Allegations of domestic abuse against Mr Porter involving two ex-wives surfaced on Tuesday. It is alleged that the former White House staff secretary gave one ex-wife a black eye while another filed a restraining order. He denies the allegations. On Friday, Mr Trump paid tribute to Mr Porter, who quit his White House position on Wednesday. Speaking in the Oval Office Mr Trump said: \"We found out about it recently and I was surprised by it, but we certainly wish him well and it's a tough time for him.\" But Mr Trump did not refer to Mr Porter's accusers. His comments sparked criticism from Democrats, with former Vice-President Joe Biden saying Mr Trump had downplayed the allegations against Mr Porter. \"That's like saying: 'That axe murderer out there, he's a great painter'\", Mr Biden said. The case has put pressure on Mr Trump's Chief-of-Staff John Kelly, who has denied reports he offered to resign over his handling of the accusations. After initially praising Mr Porter as a man of \"integrity\", Mr Kelly later released a statement saying he was shocked by the claims and stressed domestic violence was unacceptable. US media report that Mr Kelly and other White House officials were aware for several months of the domestic abuse accusations because they were holding up Mr Porter's security clearance application. Mr Shah said that Mr Trump was not aware of any security issues before Tuesday and was \"disheartened\" and \"saddened\" by the accusations. White House communications director Hope Hicks' handling of the controversy has also reportedly displeased Mr Trump. The 29-year-old aide has recently been in a relationship with Mr Porter, a Harvard graduate and former Oxford Rhodes Scholar. Mr Trump was reportedly not consulted when Ms Hicks helped draft an initial statement defending Mr Porter. According to CBS News, Mr Porter approached White House Counsel Don McGahn in January 2017 to inform him his ex-wives might say unflattering things about him to background check investigators. In June 2017, Mr Porter's preliminary file was sent from the FBI to the White House security office, containing the abuse allegations. In November, Mr McGahn received a call from an ex-girlfriend of Mr Porter alleging physical violence by the aide. Mr McGahn told the White House chief of staff there was an issue with Mr Porter's security clearance, although he was vague, reports CBS. Mr Porter told Mr Kelly his ex-wives were saying false things about him. A White House spokesman said on Thursday that Mr Kelly did not realise the extent of the claims until a photo of one of Mr Porter's former wives, Colbie Holderness, suffering a black eye, emerged on Wednesday.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1295, "answer_start": 454, "text": "Mr Sorensen's ex-wife Jessica Corbett told the Washington Post that he was physically abusive to her while they were married. She said that on separate occasions her former husband ran a car over her foot, threw her against a wall and extinguished a cigarette on her hand. In response, Mr Sorensen released a statement in which he said he had \"never committed violence of any kind against any woman in my entire life\" and that instead it was he who had been physically abused. He said he was considering legal action, but said he quit because he \"didn't want the White House to have to deal with this distraction\". White House officials said they learned of the accusations by Mr Sorensen's wife late on Thursday. \"We immediately confronted the staffer, he denied the allegations and he resigned today,\" deputy press secretary Raj Shah said." } ], "id": "9189_0", "question": "What are the latest allegations?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2094, "answer_start": 1296, "text": "Allegations of domestic abuse against Mr Porter involving two ex-wives surfaced on Tuesday. It is alleged that the former White House staff secretary gave one ex-wife a black eye while another filed a restraining order. He denies the allegations. On Friday, Mr Trump paid tribute to Mr Porter, who quit his White House position on Wednesday. Speaking in the Oval Office Mr Trump said: \"We found out about it recently and I was surprised by it, but we certainly wish him well and it's a tough time for him.\" But Mr Trump did not refer to Mr Porter's accusers. His comments sparked criticism from Democrats, with former Vice-President Joe Biden saying Mr Trump had downplayed the allegations against Mr Porter. \"That's like saying: 'That axe murderer out there, he's a great painter'\", Mr Biden said." } ], "id": "9189_1", "question": "What happened with Mr Porter?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3110, "answer_start": 2095, "text": "The case has put pressure on Mr Trump's Chief-of-Staff John Kelly, who has denied reports he offered to resign over his handling of the accusations. After initially praising Mr Porter as a man of \"integrity\", Mr Kelly later released a statement saying he was shocked by the claims and stressed domestic violence was unacceptable. US media report that Mr Kelly and other White House officials were aware for several months of the domestic abuse accusations because they were holding up Mr Porter's security clearance application. Mr Shah said that Mr Trump was not aware of any security issues before Tuesday and was \"disheartened\" and \"saddened\" by the accusations. White House communications director Hope Hicks' handling of the controversy has also reportedly displeased Mr Trump. The 29-year-old aide has recently been in a relationship with Mr Porter, a Harvard graduate and former Oxford Rhodes Scholar. Mr Trump was reportedly not consulted when Ms Hicks helped draft an initial statement defending Mr Porter." } ], "id": "9189_2", "question": "What's the fallout been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3973, "answer_start": 3111, "text": "According to CBS News, Mr Porter approached White House Counsel Don McGahn in January 2017 to inform him his ex-wives might say unflattering things about him to background check investigators. In June 2017, Mr Porter's preliminary file was sent from the FBI to the White House security office, containing the abuse allegations. In November, Mr McGahn received a call from an ex-girlfriend of Mr Porter alleging physical violence by the aide. Mr McGahn told the White House chief of staff there was an issue with Mr Porter's security clearance, although he was vague, reports CBS. Mr Porter told Mr Kelly his ex-wives were saying false things about him. A White House spokesman said on Thursday that Mr Kelly did not realise the extent of the claims until a photo of one of Mr Porter's former wives, Colbie Holderness, suffering a black eye, emerged on Wednesday." } ], "id": "9189_3", "question": "Who knew what and when?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Thailand has held its first general election since a military coup in 2014. The country has long been politically split between populists largely tapping into the rural and poorer sections of the population, and their opponents who tend to support the military and win votes from the urban middle class and elites. A new constitution, introduced under the military leadership, changed the electoral process in a way that makes it likely it will retain control. This means the country looks set to remain deeply divided between pro-military forces and their populist opponents. The election is seen as a culmination of a decade-long struggle by the military and political establishment to curb the influence of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. The billionaire businessman rose to power in the 2001 by mobilising poorer, rural areas that felt increasingly left behind by the country's economic progress. He was ousted in 2006 by a military coup and his sister Yingluck Shinawatra, who followed him into politics suffered the same fate eight years later. While there's hope this election will help usher Thailand towards democracy, there's also ample reason to be cautious. Thailand is no stranger to political disruption and instability. The 2014 coup was the 12th time the military has toppled the government since the end of absolute monarchy in the 1930s. If all goes well for the military, the coup leader and current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will stay in power, backed by a political majority. If things don't go well for them, he is likely to remain in power - but with a minority government facing political gridlock. The military in 2017 introduced a new constitution which critics say is primarily designed to keep pro-military forces in power. How? Thailand's electorate only votes for the 500-seat lower house of parliament. The members of the 250-seat upper house are appointed by the military. But it's the combined votes from both houses that will select the future prime minister. Let's do the maths: Opposition groups would need 376 of those votes to get their candidate elected. And all those 376 must come from the lower house. The senators, appointed by the military, are likely to back the military's candidate. Hence, Gen Prayuth is highly likely to remain in power, even if parties backing him don't do so well at the ballot box. Clearly, this would be the least desirable outcome for the military. Gen Prayuth would have a hard time governing with only minority backing in the lower house. Yet a prime minister from the Thaksin camp is extremely unlikely - they'd need a landslide win of some 75% to get those 376 seats. Pheu Thai, the party founded by Mr Thaksin, is expected to once again be the strongest party. It's still seen as a vehicle for its founder's populist policies although Mr Thaksin himself can't run or return should they win. Both he and his sister Yingluck are currently in self-imposed exile and wanted in Thailand on charges of abuse of power and negligence, so the party has picked close Thaksin-ally Sudarat Keyuraphan as candidate. As the new constitution introduced a ceiling on how many seats each party can win, Pheu Thai has created smaller splinter parties to get around that. One such party was Thai Raksa Chart, seen largely as a proxy for Pheu Thai. Thai Raksa Chart was at the heart of a major political drama when in February a sister of the king was listed as the party's candidate for prime minister. Traditionally, the royals are not involved in politics and her announcement sent shockwaves through the political establishment. Soon after though, the king criticised her political bid and so she withdrew. Thai Raksa Chart was subsequently dissolved by the constitutional court. Pro-Thaksin parties now have very little chance of winning an outright majority in the lower house, although Pheu Thai is still expected to be by some margin the largest party. On the other side of the political spectrum are the main backers of the military junta: Palang Pracha Rath (PPRP) - Power of the People's State - which was formed last year. Gen Prayuth is its sole candidate for prime minister. An ex-general, he was one of the leaders of the 2014 coup but has since retired from the military and became civilian prime minister. The oldest establishment party is called the Democrats. While clearly in the anti-Thaksin camp, they have also explicitly ruled out backing pro-military forces. A new party in the race is Future Forward which is also opposed to the military and is thought to possibly back Pheu Thai. The military's struggle to win parties to support its side means the post-election outcome remains uncertain. If pro-military forces do very poorly, Mr Prayuth may still be elected as prime minister but would have a very hard time governing and could lose credibility among voters. The two sides of Thailand's political divide have a history of taking their cause to the streets. Over the past decade, protests by the pro-Thaksin Red Shirts versus the pro-establishment Yellow Shirts have several times paralysed Bangkok, raising the spectre of a possible escalation into violence. The recent constitutional changes are clearly geared to keeping the military in power. While they are likely to do exactly that, this will also make it a lot easier for the losing side to discredit the vote. This in turn could lead to political gridlock, tensions and even fresh unrest.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2010, "answer_start": 1366, "text": "If all goes well for the military, the coup leader and current Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha will stay in power, backed by a political majority. If things don't go well for them, he is likely to remain in power - but with a minority government facing political gridlock. The military in 2017 introduced a new constitution which critics say is primarily designed to keep pro-military forces in power. How? Thailand's electorate only votes for the 500-seat lower house of parliament. The members of the 250-seat upper house are appointed by the military. But it's the combined votes from both houses that will select the future prime minister." } ], "id": "9190_0", "question": "So who's expected to win?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3320, "answer_start": 2659, "text": "Pheu Thai, the party founded by Mr Thaksin, is expected to once again be the strongest party. It's still seen as a vehicle for its founder's populist policies although Mr Thaksin himself can't run or return should they win. Both he and his sister Yingluck are currently in self-imposed exile and wanted in Thailand on charges of abuse of power and negligence, so the party has picked close Thaksin-ally Sudarat Keyuraphan as candidate. As the new constitution introduced a ceiling on how many seats each party can win, Pheu Thai has created smaller splinter parties to get around that. One such party was Thai Raksa Chart, seen largely as a proxy for Pheu Thai." } ], "id": "9190_1", "question": "Who's running?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4860, "answer_start": 3933, "text": "On the other side of the political spectrum are the main backers of the military junta: Palang Pracha Rath (PPRP) - Power of the People's State - which was formed last year. Gen Prayuth is its sole candidate for prime minister. An ex-general, he was one of the leaders of the 2014 coup but has since retired from the military and became civilian prime minister. The oldest establishment party is called the Democrats. While clearly in the anti-Thaksin camp, they have also explicitly ruled out backing pro-military forces. A new party in the race is Future Forward which is also opposed to the military and is thought to possibly back Pheu Thai. The military's struggle to win parties to support its side means the post-election outcome remains uncertain. If pro-military forces do very poorly, Mr Prayuth may still be elected as prime minister but would have a very hard time governing and could lose credibility among voters." } ], "id": "9190_2", "question": "Who will side with the military?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5447, "answer_start": 4861, "text": "The two sides of Thailand's political divide have a history of taking their cause to the streets. Over the past decade, protests by the pro-Thaksin Red Shirts versus the pro-establishment Yellow Shirts have several times paralysed Bangkok, raising the spectre of a possible escalation into violence. The recent constitutional changes are clearly geared to keeping the military in power. While they are likely to do exactly that, this will also make it a lot easier for the losing side to discredit the vote. This in turn could lead to political gridlock, tensions and even fresh unrest." } ], "id": "9190_3", "question": "Will there be unrest?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "China is a crucial market for many South Korean companies, and the food and retail giant Lotte is no exception. The fifth biggest firm in South Korea gets an estimated 30% of its sales from China, and employs about 20,000 people there. But in the past week, several of its businesses have faced a backlash from hackers, customers and Chinese partners. On Monday, Lotte said that more than 10 of its department stores across the country had been closed down suddenly. So what's going on? At the end of February, Lotte finally agreed to provide land it owned in South Korea - which includes part of a golf course - so the US could build its controversial Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defence system. With the ability to shoot down ballistic missiles, the US says it is an important line of defence against North Korea's missile development programme. But over the past few months, Beijing has been lobbying heavily against it - saying the system's powerful radars are capable of monitoring Chinese territory. It disputes the argument that it will bring more stability to the region, saying it should not be allowed to go ahead. As well as its shops and food businesses, Lotte also has hotels and cinemas in China. But since signing the deal last week Lotte, has reported various operations in China have been disrupted. On Monday, photos and videos were circulating of protests outside Lotte stores. \"South Korea's Lotte has declared war on China. Lotte supports THAAD. Get the hell out of China\" said one banner. While confirming the department store closures, Lotte has given no explanation. Other incidents include: - Lotte Duty Free, the world's biggest duty free company which makes 70% of its sales to Chinese customers, said its website had been taken offline by a cyber attack. It is now up and running again. - Cosmetics retailer Jumei Youpin said it had \"completely scrubbed the name of Lotte from our website\". It added: \"We'd rather die than carry its goods in future\". - Chinese e-commerce site JD.com - which serves as a platform for retailers to sell online - temporarily closed the Lotte shopping site. Technical issues were blamed. - Snack maker Weilong said it was pulling its products from all Lotte stores, saying it would \"no longer cooperate\" with the South Korean firm. Prior to the missile deal being signed, Lotte had reported its businesses being put under extra scrutiny from tax authorities. And in February, a multi-billion dollar property project in China's north-east was halted after a fire inspection. Beijing certainly has not admitted any economic retaliation and Lotte has been restructuring loss-making China businesses. But China's state-run news agency Xinhua has described Lotte's decision to provide the land as \"opening a Pandora's box in North East Asia.\" Separately, it has written that \"the decision could turn into a nightmare for Lotte, which depends heavily on Chinese tourists to South Korea for revenue from duty free stores\". Meanwhile Lotte itself has not said directly that any of the incidents were linked to the missile project controversy. But South Korea's trade minister Joo Hyung-hwan, who has recently had an invitation to an annual forum withdrawn, has expressed \"deep concerns over a series of actions in China\". \"We will act accordingly to international law against any actions that violate policies of the World Trade Organization or the free trade agreement between South Korea and China,\" he said. There are reports of a broader backlash against South Korean products and industries from China. China's national tourism administration has told travel agencies to stop selling group packages in South Korea, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap. And Yonhap also reports that some Chinese streaming platforms have removed Korean material from their sites - a blow to viewers of the dramas which are increasingly popular.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2555, "answer_start": 1149, "text": "As well as its shops and food businesses, Lotte also has hotels and cinemas in China. But since signing the deal last week Lotte, has reported various operations in China have been disrupted. On Monday, photos and videos were circulating of protests outside Lotte stores. \"South Korea's Lotte has declared war on China. Lotte supports THAAD. Get the hell out of China\" said one banner. While confirming the department store closures, Lotte has given no explanation. Other incidents include: - Lotte Duty Free, the world's biggest duty free company which makes 70% of its sales to Chinese customers, said its website had been taken offline by a cyber attack. It is now up and running again. - Cosmetics retailer Jumei Youpin said it had \"completely scrubbed the name of Lotte from our website\". It added: \"We'd rather die than carry its goods in future\". - Chinese e-commerce site JD.com - which serves as a platform for retailers to sell online - temporarily closed the Lotte shopping site. Technical issues were blamed. - Snack maker Weilong said it was pulling its products from all Lotte stores, saying it would \"no longer cooperate\" with the South Korean firm. Prior to the missile deal being signed, Lotte had reported its businesses being put under extra scrutiny from tax authorities. And in February, a multi-billion dollar property project in China's north-east was halted after a fire inspection." } ], "id": "9191_0", "question": "What has happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3484, "answer_start": 2556, "text": "Beijing certainly has not admitted any economic retaliation and Lotte has been restructuring loss-making China businesses. But China's state-run news agency Xinhua has described Lotte's decision to provide the land as \"opening a Pandora's box in North East Asia.\" Separately, it has written that \"the decision could turn into a nightmare for Lotte, which depends heavily on Chinese tourists to South Korea for revenue from duty free stores\". Meanwhile Lotte itself has not said directly that any of the incidents were linked to the missile project controversy. But South Korea's trade minister Joo Hyung-hwan, who has recently had an invitation to an annual forum withdrawn, has expressed \"deep concerns over a series of actions in China\". \"We will act accordingly to international law against any actions that violate policies of the World Trade Organization or the free trade agreement between South Korea and China,\" he said." } ], "id": "9191_1", "question": "Is Lotte being paranoid?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3913, "answer_start": 3485, "text": "There are reports of a broader backlash against South Korean products and industries from China. China's national tourism administration has told travel agencies to stop selling group packages in South Korea, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap. And Yonhap also reports that some Chinese streaming platforms have removed Korean material from their sites - a blow to viewers of the dramas which are increasingly popular." } ], "id": "9191_2", "question": "Is it only Lotte that's affected?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "\"It smells of freshness, and of our deep respect for our leader,\" the woman declared, smiling to the Russian TV camera. A North Korean, she'd just sniffed a big red flower named after the country's former leader Kim Jong-il. Part of a series of glowing reports on everyday life in the secretive state, covering topics from fashion to food, the moment was broadcast to millions of Russians watching state television over their breakfast. The coverage suggested Russia was taking a rather different approach over North Korea's nuclear programme and its missile tests, two weeks after Donald Trump tweeted that the US military was \"locked and loaded\", primed to respond with what he called \"military solutions\". Vladimir Putin has underlined those differences many times this week, warning against whipping up \"military hysteria\", and insisting that North Koreans would rather \"eat grass\" under more sanctions, than give up their weapons programme. And while he has criticised recent missile tests as \"provocative\", he's also taken pains to explain them. North Koreans remember the 2003 US invasion of Iraq over Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons programme, Mr Putin reasoned. So the country sees becoming a nuclear state as its only sure-fire guarantee of self-defence. \"Russia believes that Pyongyang's aim is not to bomb anyone, that its [nuclear programme] is a deterrent against South Korea and the US,\" explains Alexander Gabuev of the Moscow Carnegie Centre. \"Russia understands that because it is just as paranoid about American 'democracy promotion' as North Korea is,\" he adds. Personal experience is perhaps also partly why Russia - under US sanctions itself - opposes imposing further penalties on Pyongyang to halt its nuclear ambitions. The US wants the international community to apply more economic pressure, including a full energy embargo and a ban on hiring North Korean labourers. \"What are we going to do? Stop all energy exports so people freeze and ambulances have no fuel to reach the sick?\" asks Georgy Toloraya, a Russian diplomat who spent many years in North Korea. He says Russia's position is motivated by a principle, rather than concern over lost trade. President Putin himself described energy exports to its neighbour as \"practically zero\", though some 30,000 North Koreans are employed in logging and construction in Russia's Far East. They are essentially hired out by the state which pockets most of their pay. \"It's not about whether Russia has any leverage. The question is why should we use that?\" Mr Toloraya asks. \"Our whole concept does not allow for the isolation and strangulation of North Korea, and the weakening of the regime,\" he explains. Like China, Russia shares a border with North Korea and sees it as a buffer against South Korea, a political and military ally of the US. Moscow and Beijing have presented their own road map for resolving the conflict. As a first step, it calls for a joint freeze of Pyongyang's missile tests - and US and South Korean military exercises. The next step would be bringing all sides together for talks. Some suggest that strategy is more about posturing than peace: that Russia wants to insert itself into another global crisis. \"Russia knows that plan won't fly, but it makes the US look bad,\" Alexander Gabuev argues. \"At least China and Russia have a peaceful programme, whereas the US president is just tweeting about fire and fury.\" He believes Moscow's leverage with Pyongyang these days is minimal, despite years of Soviet support for the regime. But this week, following a trip to China, President Putin hosted the leaders of South Korea and Japan at an economic forum in eastern Russia, also attended by a delegation from North Korea. They were in Vladivostok, which felt the tremors from Pyongyang's latest missile test. \"It's in our interests to have a peaceful, stable neighbour,\" Georgy Toloraya argues. \"As for North Korea, Russia is the least hostile of all the great powers involved in resolving this crisis,\" he says, insisting that historic ties mean Russia still knows \"many people\" who matter there. A few years back, President Putin wrote off most of North Korea's Soviet-era debt in a major goodwill gesture. Recent efforts to improve ties have included a ferry service to the peninsula, and even a North Korean tourism agency in Moscow, presumably banking on a rush of visitors keen to sniff flowers named after its leaders. The ferry has since been suspended due to lack of demand. All this is unfolding as Russia's relations with Washington have plummeted amid allegations of interference in the US elections, sanctions and tit-for-tat diplomatic expulsions. That gives Moscow little incentive to back the US against Pyongyang. It knows the power to reward Russia by lifting sanctions now lies with a hostile US Congress. Meanwhile, Russian ties with China have been increasing in importance. So the two continue to push for talks as the best way to prevent an accidental escalation of the Korean crisis into actual conflict. \"The Americans need to make contact [with Pyongyang] and the sooner the better. We can pass information on, if they want,\" says Mr Toloraya. \"Talks can go on for 10 or 20 years if necessary. But for that time we would have stability, not this creep towards war.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3725, "answer_start": 3085, "text": "Some suggest that strategy is more about posturing than peace: that Russia wants to insert itself into another global crisis. \"Russia knows that plan won't fly, but it makes the US look bad,\" Alexander Gabuev argues. \"At least China and Russia have a peaceful programme, whereas the US president is just tweeting about fire and fury.\" He believes Moscow's leverage with Pyongyang these days is minimal, despite years of Soviet support for the regime. But this week, following a trip to China, President Putin hosted the leaders of South Korea and Japan at an economic forum in eastern Russia, also attended by a delegation from North Korea." } ], "id": "9192_0", "question": "Leverage?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Cardinal Bernard Law, who was forced to resign as archbishop of Boston 15 years ago over a Church sex abuse scandal, has died aged 86 in Rome. Cardinal Law stepped down in 2002 after journalists reported he had moved paedophile priests between parishes rather than addressing victims' claims. The film Spotlight was later made about the allegations against dozens of priests in his Boston diocese. After leaving Boston, Cardinal Law took a post at the Vatican. He worked there until 2011. The child sex abuse allegations, which covered events over a period of decades, led to hundreds of lawsuits and threatened the Boston diocese with bankruptcy. As a result, it agreed to sell land and buildings for more than $100m (PS63m) to fund legal settlements for more than 500 victims. The scandal prompted the Vatican to draw up new plans to combat child sex abuse in the Roman Catholic Church. Born in 1931 in Torreon, Mexico, Cardinal Law was the son of a US Air Force colonel and a musician. He graduated from Harvard University and was ordained a priest in 1961. He soon became heavily involved in civil rights work in Mississippi and his name was included on a hit list compiled by segregationists. In 1984, Cardinal Law was appointed Archbishop of Boston and was a high-profile figure both in Church matters and in the wider world. He raised millions of dollars to help victims of natural disasters and worked to improve ties between Catholics and other Christian groups. Cardinal Law held deeply traditional positions on issues such as Aids, abortion, same-sex marriage and education policy. He stepped down as Archbishop of Boston in 2002 following a series of reports alleging the cover-up of sexual misconduct by priests exposed by the Boston Globe newspaper's investigative Spotlight team. \"It is my fervent prayer that this action may help the archdiocese of Boston to experience the healing, reconciliation and unity which are so desperately needed,\" he said at the time. Cardinal Law went on to serve as the archpriest of the Basilica of the Santa Maria Maggiore until his retirement at the age of 80 in 2011. By Martin Bashir, BBC religious affairs correspondent Although Cardinal Bernard Law played a major role in inter-religious dialogue, serving as chair of the Bishops' Committee on Ecumenical and Interracial Affairs and on the Vatican's Commission on Religious Relations with Jews, it was his action in covering up child sexual abuse that stained his entire career. Revelations in the Boston Globe newspaper led to the uncovering of widespread child abuse by Catholic clergy within his diocese. The newspaper was awarded the Pulitzer Prize and Cardinal Law was forced to resign as Archbishop of Boston in 2002. Cardinal Law never faced criminal charges for his role in allowing priests accused of abusing children to remain in the church and his appointment as archpriest of the Papal Liberian Basilica of St Mary Major, effectively a second career, was perceived as adding insult to the injuries inflicted on children. Key dates: - 1931: Born in Torreon, Mexico - 1961: Ordained a priest - 1973: Appointed bishop - 1984: Became Archbishop of Boston - 1985: Appointed cardinal - 2002: Vatican accepts his resignation The investigation carried out by the Boston Globe's Spotlight team led to reports that dozens of priests who sexually abused children had been moved from parish to parish for years under Cardinal Law's tenure without informing parishioners or police. At the time, the Church was politically powerful in Boston and the cover-up of sexual abuse by more than 70 priests in the Boston area was seen as a move aimed at protecting the institution's reputation. However the damning reports published by the Globe resulted not only in the resignation of Cardinal Law, but the uncovering of further abuse in 102 cities in the US and 105 dioceses worldwide. The story of the Spotlight investigation, which involved a team of four reporters, was immortalised in the 2015 film Spotlight, which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2016.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2117, "answer_start": 889, "text": "Born in 1931 in Torreon, Mexico, Cardinal Law was the son of a US Air Force colonel and a musician. He graduated from Harvard University and was ordained a priest in 1961. He soon became heavily involved in civil rights work in Mississippi and his name was included on a hit list compiled by segregationists. In 1984, Cardinal Law was appointed Archbishop of Boston and was a high-profile figure both in Church matters and in the wider world. He raised millions of dollars to help victims of natural disasters and worked to improve ties between Catholics and other Christian groups. Cardinal Law held deeply traditional positions on issues such as Aids, abortion, same-sex marriage and education policy. He stepped down as Archbishop of Boston in 2002 following a series of reports alleging the cover-up of sexual misconduct by priests exposed by the Boston Globe newspaper's investigative Spotlight team. \"It is my fervent prayer that this action may help the archdiocese of Boston to experience the healing, reconciliation and unity which are so desperately needed,\" he said at the time. Cardinal Law went on to serve as the archpriest of the Basilica of the Santa Maria Maggiore until his retirement at the age of 80 in 2011." } ], "id": "9193_0", "question": "Who was Cardinal Law?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4054, "answer_start": 3233, "text": "The investigation carried out by the Boston Globe's Spotlight team led to reports that dozens of priests who sexually abused children had been moved from parish to parish for years under Cardinal Law's tenure without informing parishioners or police. At the time, the Church was politically powerful in Boston and the cover-up of sexual abuse by more than 70 priests in the Boston area was seen as a move aimed at protecting the institution's reputation. However the damning reports published by the Globe resulted not only in the resignation of Cardinal Law, but the uncovering of further abuse in 102 cities in the US and 105 dioceses worldwide. The story of the Spotlight investigation, which involved a team of four reporters, was immortalised in the 2015 film Spotlight, which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 2016." } ], "id": "9193_1", "question": "What did Spotlight do?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Syrian government air strike aiming to stop a Turkish convoy reaching a rebel-held town in northern Syria has killed three civilians, Turkey alleges. Another 12 people were injured in the attack in Idlib province on Monday, the Turkish defence ministry said. Idlib, one of the few areas not under government control, was supposed to be protected by a buffer zone agreed with rebel-backing Turkey last year. But government assaults have been on the increase since April. Hundreds of civilians have already been killed as a result, and there are fears many more will die if the situation continues to escalate. \"This is our worst nightmare coming true,\" Jan Egeland, from the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), told the BBC. \"We have for years now warned against the ultimate catastrophe being Idlib, where there was no escape for three million civilians. There are some very bad militants inside. \"But a wholesale attack on this area of Idlib and adjacent northern Hama would mean that a million children would come in horrific crossfire, and it's that that now seems to be happening.\" Turkey, which backs some, but not all, the rebels, has forces in Idlib as part of last year's agreement with Russia. According to Naji Mustafa, a spokesman for the National Liberation Front rebel grouping, the convoy was heading to one of its observation points with \"reinforcements\" when the attack took place. An AFP correspondent who saw the convoy reported it included about 50 armoured vehicles, at least five of which were tanks. But Syria has said the convoy's arrival in the region is an act of aggression. It said the munitions would not stop government forces \"hunting the remnants of terrorists\". According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Russian aircraft carried out strikes near the convoy on 19 August. Turkey has said the attack breaches last year's agreement, with the incident raising fears of direct clashes between the countries. After eight years of war, the Syrian government is trying to win back control of the last rebel-held areas. Government forces, backed by Russia, reportedly entered the northwest outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun on Sunday. Khan Sheikhoun, which was hit by a Sarin gas attack in 2017, lies on a highway connecting Damascus to Aleppo and is a strategically important town in the south of the province. If it is captured, it will mean the Syrian regime has effectively encircled a rebel-held area to the south, which includes a Turkish observation post in the town of Morek. Mr Mustafa told AFP the convoy was heading to Morek. Syrian forces have now massed to both the east and west of Khan Sheikhoun, and air strikes are targeting the centre and surrounding villages. Last week a Syrian government war plane was shot down in the area, hit by an anti-aircraft missile fired by militants, according to Syrian state news agency Sana. Jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has claimed responsibility and released footage purportedly showing the captured pilot. A colonel from a rebel faction confirmed to Reuters news agency that there were battles going on on the outskirts. Fighters from a Turkish-backed rebel force have joined the defence, he said. How did the war start? The country descended into war after President Bashar al-Assad's government used deadly force to crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, who took to the streets in March 2011 demanding political freedom. Who is fighting who? That's complicated: President Assad's regime is fighting rebel groups ranging from pro-democracy groups to jihadist extremists, while a number of foreign powers are providing support to various sides. How many people have died? It is not known exactly, as death tolls vary according to the source, but it is estimated to stand at more than 500,000 dead or missing. How many refugees are there? More than 5.6 million people have fled Syria since 2011, with another 6.6 million internally displaced, according to the United Nations. What has happened to President Assad? His position looked tenuous at one point during the eight year conflict, but thanks to international allies like Russia and Iran, President Assad has won back control of most of Syria, and has set his sights on Idlib.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1964, "answer_start": 1086, "text": "Turkey, which backs some, but not all, the rebels, has forces in Idlib as part of last year's agreement with Russia. According to Naji Mustafa, a spokesman for the National Liberation Front rebel grouping, the convoy was heading to one of its observation points with \"reinforcements\" when the attack took place. An AFP correspondent who saw the convoy reported it included about 50 armoured vehicles, at least five of which were tanks. But Syria has said the convoy's arrival in the region is an act of aggression. It said the munitions would not stop government forces \"hunting the remnants of terrorists\". According to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a Russian aircraft carried out strikes near the convoy on 19 August. Turkey has said the attack breaches last year's agreement, with the incident raising fears of direct clashes between the countries." } ], "id": "9194_0", "question": "Why is Turkey sending a convoy into Syria?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3210, "answer_start": 1965, "text": "After eight years of war, the Syrian government is trying to win back control of the last rebel-held areas. Government forces, backed by Russia, reportedly entered the northwest outskirts of Khan Sheikhoun on Sunday. Khan Sheikhoun, which was hit by a Sarin gas attack in 2017, lies on a highway connecting Damascus to Aleppo and is a strategically important town in the south of the province. If it is captured, it will mean the Syrian regime has effectively encircled a rebel-held area to the south, which includes a Turkish observation post in the town of Morek. Mr Mustafa told AFP the convoy was heading to Morek. Syrian forces have now massed to both the east and west of Khan Sheikhoun, and air strikes are targeting the centre and surrounding villages. Last week a Syrian government war plane was shot down in the area, hit by an anti-aircraft missile fired by militants, according to Syrian state news agency Sana. Jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has claimed responsibility and released footage purportedly showing the captured pilot. A colonel from a rebel faction confirmed to Reuters news agency that there were battles going on on the outskirts. Fighters from a Turkish-backed rebel force have joined the defence, he said." } ], "id": "9194_1", "question": "Why is this happening now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Indonesian authorities are hunting for more than 250 inmates who escaped from a prison in the province of West Papua. The prison break happened Monday as protesters took to the streets in several cities blocking roads, and torching buildings including the jail. The unrest was triggered by the detention of Papuan students in the city of Surabaya over accusations they had disrespected the Indonesian flag. Police reinforcements have been sent to Papua ahead of more planned protests. On Wednesday, protests in Timika city involving around 1,000 people descended into violence as demonstrators clashed with police. The crowd, which reportedly threw rocks at a parliament building, dispersed when riot police fired tear gas and warning shots. On Monday, thousands of Papuans took the streets of cities, including Manokwari and Jayapura and Sorong, where the prison is based. The prison was set ablaze and rocks were thrown at prisoners, said justice ministry spokeswoman Marlien Lande. \"258 inmates escaped and only five of them had returned by this morning,\" Ms Lande said, adding that several guards and employees were injured as they tried to stop the escape. Papua, a former Dutch colony on the island of New Guinea, declared itself independent in 1961 but Indonesia, its larger western neighbour, later took control. A separatist movement continues to this day and Indonesian authorities have faced allegations of human rights abuses in the region. The latest anger stems from an incident over the weekend involving Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java - Indonesia's second biggest city. Reports said they disrespected the Indonesian flag in front of a dormitory during celebrations of Independence Day on Saturday. On Monday police in riot gear fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. The protests then spread to other parts of the region on Tuesday and Wednesday.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1888, "answer_start": 742, "text": "On Monday, thousands of Papuans took the streets of cities, including Manokwari and Jayapura and Sorong, where the prison is based. The prison was set ablaze and rocks were thrown at prisoners, said justice ministry spokeswoman Marlien Lande. \"258 inmates escaped and only five of them had returned by this morning,\" Ms Lande said, adding that several guards and employees were injured as they tried to stop the escape. Papua, a former Dutch colony on the island of New Guinea, declared itself independent in 1961 but Indonesia, its larger western neighbour, later took control. A separatist movement continues to this day and Indonesian authorities have faced allegations of human rights abuses in the region. The latest anger stems from an incident over the weekend involving Papuan students in Surabaya, East Java - Indonesia's second biggest city. Reports said they disrespected the Indonesian flag in front of a dormitory during celebrations of Independence Day on Saturday. On Monday police in riot gear fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds. The protests then spread to other parts of the region on Tuesday and Wednesday." } ], "id": "9195_0", "question": "What happened at the prison?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The judge in the trial of ex-Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort says he will not release the names of jurors because of fears for their safety. Judge TS Ellis also said he had received threats himself over the case. Mr Manafort denies charges of bank and tax fraud, in the first trial stemming from the inquiry into alleged Russian meddling into the 2016 US elections. The court in Alexandria, Virginia, has heard closing arguments and the jury has retired to consider a verdict. Prosecutors say the 69-year-old dodged taxes on millions of dollars he made lobbying for Ukrainian politicians. On Friday, US President Donald Trump said Mr Manafort was a \"very good person\", describing the trial as \"very sad\". Speaking in court while jurors deliberated for a second day, Judge Ellis said: \"I had no idea this case would excite these emotions... I don't feel right if I release their names, \"I've received criticism and threats. I imagine they would, too.\" The judge added that he was being protected by US marshals. A number of media outlets had earlier requested the names of jurors. Jury lists are considered to be public unless a judge bans any access to them. The judge later allowed the jurors - six men and six women - to finish their work for the day because one of them had a social engagement. If found guilty on the fraud charges, Mr Manafort could spend the rest of his life in jail. Mr Manafort managed Mr Trump's campaign for several months in 2016 - and he was in charge when Mr Trump won the Republican party's nomination. Last October, he was charged by special counsel Robert Mueller as a part of the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The allegations against him, however, are not linked to Mr Trump and instead centre on his consultancy work with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government found ledgers pledging more than $12m (PS9.2m) in cash to Mr Manafort for his advisory work with former President Viktor Yanukovych while he was in office, the New York Times reported. It has also been alleged that he secretly worked for a Russian billionaire to assist President Putin's political goals in other parts of the former USSR. Mr Manafort denied the allegation.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1395, "answer_start": 711, "text": "Speaking in court while jurors deliberated for a second day, Judge Ellis said: \"I had no idea this case would excite these emotions... I don't feel right if I release their names, \"I've received criticism and threats. I imagine they would, too.\" The judge added that he was being protected by US marshals. A number of media outlets had earlier requested the names of jurors. Jury lists are considered to be public unless a judge bans any access to them. The judge later allowed the jurors - six men and six women - to finish their work for the day because one of them had a social engagement. If found guilty on the fraud charges, Mr Manafort could spend the rest of his life in jail." } ], "id": "9196_0", "question": "How did the judge explain his decision?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2232, "answer_start": 1396, "text": "Mr Manafort managed Mr Trump's campaign for several months in 2016 - and he was in charge when Mr Trump won the Republican party's nomination. Last October, he was charged by special counsel Robert Mueller as a part of the investigation into alleged Russian meddling in the 2016 election. The allegations against him, however, are not linked to Mr Trump and instead centre on his consultancy work with pro-Russian politicians in Ukraine. The Ukrainian government found ledgers pledging more than $12m (PS9.2m) in cash to Mr Manafort for his advisory work with former President Viktor Yanukovych while he was in office, the New York Times reported. It has also been alleged that he secretly worked for a Russian billionaire to assist President Putin's political goals in other parts of the former USSR. Mr Manafort denied the allegation." } ], "id": "9196_1", "question": "What's the background?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US Supreme Court has allowed the government to severely limit the ability of migrants to claim asylum. The policy bars people arriving at the US southern border from seeking protection if they failed to do so in a country they passed through en route. Legal challenges continue but the ruling means for now it can be enforced nationwide. The plan will affect tens of thousands of Central American migrants who travel north, often on foot, through Mexico. Mexico said on Thursday that it disagreed with the ruling. The Trump administration unveiled the new asylum policy in July but it was almost immediately blocked from taking effect by a lower court ruling by a judge in San Francisco. Curbing migration levels has been a key goal of Donald Trump's presidency and forms a major part of his bid for re-election in 2020. He hailed the Supreme Court's decision as a major victory. The change will affect non-Mexican migrants trying to enter through the US southern border. This includes, but is not limited to, those from Central American countries who have made up the vast majority of those seeking asylum so far this year. Some 811,016 people were detained on the south-western border up until the end of August 2019, and of these, nearly 590,000 were from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The majority arrived with at least one other family member. Many of those arriving are fleeing violence or poverty and travel north through Mexico until they reach the US border. Upon arrival, they must pass a \"credible fear\" interview to seek asylum in the US, which most do. The rule change means they would fail had they not claimed asylum in another country they had first passed through. The rule will also affect smaller numbers of African, Asian and South American migrants who arrive at the US southern border and seek asylum - many after taking extremely dangerous journeys. The American Civil Liberties Union, which challenged the ruling, argued it drastically limited those eligible for asylum. \"The current ban would eliminate virtually all asylum at the southern border, even at ports of entry, for everyone except Mexicans,\" it said in a petition. A lawyer for the group described the ruling as a \"temporary step\" and said it remained confident at challenging the change. \"The lives of thousands of families are at stake,\" Lee Gelerent said. Anyone whose asylum request has been rejected by a third country or is a victim of human trafficking can still apply. A US justice department spokesperson said the decision would help \"to bring order to the crisis at the southern border, close loopholes in our immigration system and discourage frivolous claims\". The rule change overturns long-standing convention that the US hears asylum claims no matter how people have arrived at the border. On the nine-judge Supreme Court, liberal-leaning Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented from the ruling. \"Once again the Executive Branch has issued a rule that seeks to upend longstanding practices regarding refugees who seek shelter from persecution,\" Justice Sotomayor wrote. The route to the US is fraught with risks, with Central American migrants often deliberately sought out by gangs in neighbouring countries because they are vulnerable. There are questions over whether Mexico and Guatemala can cope with a surge in asylum claimants. It's also unclear if other countries will co-operate with what amounts to a unilateral US policy. Mexican officials, who have been working to crack down on migration, have already pushed back strongly against the plan. Responding to the Supreme Court ruling on Thursday, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard reiterated that Mexico would not become a \"third country\" for US-bound asylum seekers. \"It's a US issue and obviously we don't agree with it, we have a different policy,\" he told reporters. Earlier this week, Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, said that in August 64,000 people were detained or turned back at the south-west border - down 22% from July and 56% from May. Mr Ebrard added that he expected the number of migrants passing through Mexico to fall further. Central American countries, with the exception of Guatemala, have also declined to sign \"safe third country\" agreements that would mean the US could send back asylum seekers who passed through without seeking protection. The Guatemalan deal, signed by its outgoing president, has faced legal hurdles and is yet to come into force. On Wednesday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador posted an image of himself on the phone to President Trump, who said they had had \"an excellent telephone conversation\". The Supreme Court ruling is the second in favour of Mr Trump's migration plans so far this year. In July the nation's top court ruled Mr Trump could use $2.5bn (PS2bn) of Pentagon funds for his long-promised southern border wall.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2669, "answer_start": 884, "text": "The change will affect non-Mexican migrants trying to enter through the US southern border. This includes, but is not limited to, those from Central American countries who have made up the vast majority of those seeking asylum so far this year. Some 811,016 people were detained on the south-western border up until the end of August 2019, and of these, nearly 590,000 were from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. The majority arrived with at least one other family member. Many of those arriving are fleeing violence or poverty and travel north through Mexico until they reach the US border. Upon arrival, they must pass a \"credible fear\" interview to seek asylum in the US, which most do. The rule change means they would fail had they not claimed asylum in another country they had first passed through. The rule will also affect smaller numbers of African, Asian and South American migrants who arrive at the US southern border and seek asylum - many after taking extremely dangerous journeys. The American Civil Liberties Union, which challenged the ruling, argued it drastically limited those eligible for asylum. \"The current ban would eliminate virtually all asylum at the southern border, even at ports of entry, for everyone except Mexicans,\" it said in a petition. A lawyer for the group described the ruling as a \"temporary step\" and said it remained confident at challenging the change. \"The lives of thousands of families are at stake,\" Lee Gelerent said. Anyone whose asylum request has been rejected by a third country or is a victim of human trafficking can still apply. A US justice department spokesperson said the decision would help \"to bring order to the crisis at the southern border, close loopholes in our immigration system and discourage frivolous claims\"." } ], "id": "9197_0", "question": "What will the changes mean?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4912, "answer_start": 2670, "text": "The rule change overturns long-standing convention that the US hears asylum claims no matter how people have arrived at the border. On the nine-judge Supreme Court, liberal-leaning Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor dissented from the ruling. \"Once again the Executive Branch has issued a rule that seeks to upend longstanding practices regarding refugees who seek shelter from persecution,\" Justice Sotomayor wrote. The route to the US is fraught with risks, with Central American migrants often deliberately sought out by gangs in neighbouring countries because they are vulnerable. There are questions over whether Mexico and Guatemala can cope with a surge in asylum claimants. It's also unclear if other countries will co-operate with what amounts to a unilateral US policy. Mexican officials, who have been working to crack down on migration, have already pushed back strongly against the plan. Responding to the Supreme Court ruling on Thursday, Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard reiterated that Mexico would not become a \"third country\" for US-bound asylum seekers. \"It's a US issue and obviously we don't agree with it, we have a different policy,\" he told reporters. Earlier this week, Mark Morgan, acting commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, said that in August 64,000 people were detained or turned back at the south-west border - down 22% from July and 56% from May. Mr Ebrard added that he expected the number of migrants passing through Mexico to fall further. Central American countries, with the exception of Guatemala, have also declined to sign \"safe third country\" agreements that would mean the US could send back asylum seekers who passed through without seeking protection. The Guatemalan deal, signed by its outgoing president, has faced legal hurdles and is yet to come into force. On Wednesday, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador posted an image of himself on the phone to President Trump, who said they had had \"an excellent telephone conversation\". The Supreme Court ruling is the second in favour of Mr Trump's migration plans so far this year. In July the nation's top court ruled Mr Trump could use $2.5bn (PS2bn) of Pentagon funds for his long-promised southern border wall." } ], "id": "9197_1", "question": "Why is this controversial?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Glastonbury's Pyramid Stage will be decorated with a giant lightning bolt in tribute to David Bowie, organiser Emily Eavis has told the BBC. The metal sculpture, inspired by the sleeve for Bowie's Aladdin Sane album, will hang above acts like Coldplay and Adele when they play the stage in June. The Park Stage will also host a performance of Philip Glass's Symphony No 4, based on Bowie's Heroes LP. Eavis added plans were also taking shape for a Prince tribute. The musician, who died last month at the age of 57, had long been rumoured as a potential headliner at the festival. Eavis confirmed his appearance had been \"close to happening for three years\" and called his death \"a huge loss to music\". Bowie did headline the festival in 2000, playing dozens of hits including Starman, Heroes, Let's Dance, China Girl and Life on Mars. Footage from the show - which Eavis called \"the best festival set I've ever seen\" - is due to be screened around the site this year. Eavis co-runs Glastonbury with her father, Michael, who established the event in 1970. She played down reports the festival was moving away from its base at Worthy Farm, but confirmed plans for a separate festival in 2018 or 2019. \"It's going to be the whole team behind the Glastonbury Festival but it's not going to be called Glastonbury,\" she said, explaining the event would be a \"visual feast\" featuring \"larger-scale installations, as well as music\". \"The main thing to set straight is that Glastonbury Festival itself will always be at Worthy Farm.\" Everybody's flat out. It's all hands to the pump. But it's looking to be a great festival, to be honest. The pyramid stage is going to have a tribute to David Bowie - the Aladdin Sane lightning flash, in metal, which will be designed by Joe Rush. And we're doing Philip Glass's Heroes Symphony on the Park Stage on Saturday night, which is going to be a really intimate tribute to Bowie. It's being conducted by Charles Hazlewood with members of the Paraorchestra. And we're going to do an incredible light show which will go on for the whole show and beyond, into the night. We're also looking at a few Prince tributes. There's talk of late-night Prince parties and things. Oh, it's gutting to be honest. We were so shocked and sad. It's been so close to happening for the last three years. A couple of times it's been confirmed and then not happened. It's really disappointing that he hasn't played here but it's also, obviously, a huge loss to music because he was an incredible force. Just phenomenal. There was no-one else like him on the planet. I did think it might happen. We were told she would like to announce it from the stage - but we didn't know exactly when. Getting Adele is such a huge deal for us. She's not doing any other festival in the world. We're really, really excited about that. It's just a huge coup. Not at all! Like all performers, she needs a few nerves then she'll come on and smash it. I went to see her show at the O2 and it was phenomenal. Her voice is just off the scale. You don't hear voices like that very often. It was amazing to see a whole arena completely struck by her voice. Then between each song, she was just so funny and it was like watching stand-up. It was so refreshing and brilliant and funny. I have no doubt about her. I hope not. They've got such a great history here. Every time they play, they have the whole field in their hand. So I'd like to hope they won't retire but I don't know what their plans are. Haha! We have been looking at drones, and unfortunately I don't think we can have them - for various reasons. But to be honest, all three nights have really unique and majorly ambitious plans. Some of the ideas that are floating around at the moment are really massive. Things we haven't done before on the Pyramid Stage. Every night, people are going to get very contrasting but amazing experiences. We've got a history of political speakers, of people arguing from all sides, so I think Jeremy Corbyn will go down well. The deal on the year off is we're planning a show - another event - somewhere nearby. It's either going to be in 2018 or 2019. It's going to be the whole team behind the Glastonbury Festival but it's not going to be called Glastonbury. The idea [is to plan] an event which is more of a visual feast, something really spectacular, using all of these incredible creative people that we work with all year. That's an idea that really excites us. It will be a music festival predominantly but it will have other elements which we already do at Glastonbury. There'll be more, larger-scale installations, as well as music. You know, we work with these artists all year, but we're always confined by the same hedgerows. The idea of doing it somewhere else, where you've got a huge, vast space is hugely exciting. Yeah, we try to keep it as equal as we can. There are so many stages across the site that you have to rely on the bookers across the site to consciously book women as well as men. Some are better than others but we do our best and it's really important that we represent both equally.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1630, "answer_start": 1526, "text": "Everybody's flat out. It's all hands to the pump. But it's looking to be a great festival, to be honest." } ], "id": "9198_0", "question": "It's eight weeks until the gates open. How are the preparations going?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2200, "answer_start": 1631, "text": "The pyramid stage is going to have a tribute to David Bowie - the Aladdin Sane lightning flash, in metal, which will be designed by Joe Rush. And we're doing Philip Glass's Heroes Symphony on the Park Stage on Saturday night, which is going to be a really intimate tribute to Bowie. It's being conducted by Charles Hazlewood with members of the Paraorchestra. And we're going to do an incredible light show which will go on for the whole show and beyond, into the night. We're also looking at a few Prince tributes. There's talk of late-night Prince parties and things." } ], "id": "9198_1", "question": "How will you be marking the deaths of David Bowie and Prince?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2577, "answer_start": 2201, "text": "Oh, it's gutting to be honest. We were so shocked and sad. It's been so close to happening for the last three years. A couple of times it's been confirmed and then not happened. It's really disappointing that he hasn't played here but it's also, obviously, a huge loss to music because he was an incredible force. Just phenomenal. There was no-one else like him on the planet." } ], "id": "9198_2", "question": "Prince was close to playing the Pyramid Stage a couple of times. How does it feel to know that will never happen?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2854, "answer_start": 2578, "text": "I did think it might happen. We were told she would like to announce it from the stage - but we didn't know exactly when. Getting Adele is such a huge deal for us. She's not doing any other festival in the world. We're really, really excited about that. It's just a huge coup." } ], "id": "9198_3", "question": "Adele announced she was headlining Glastonbury live on stage at the O2. Did that take you by surprise?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3299, "answer_start": 2855, "text": "Not at all! Like all performers, she needs a few nerves then she'll come on and smash it. I went to see her show at the O2 and it was phenomenal. Her voice is just off the scale. You don't hear voices like that very often. It was amazing to see a whole arena completely struck by her voice. Then between each song, she was just so funny and it was like watching stand-up. It was so refreshing and brilliant and funny. I have no doubt about her." } ], "id": "9198_4", "question": "She said in the past she was too nervous to play Glastonbury because of the size of the crowd. How much did you have to twist her arm?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3892, "answer_start": 3492, "text": "Haha! We have been looking at drones, and unfortunately I don't think we can have them - for various reasons. But to be honest, all three nights have really unique and majorly ambitious plans. Some of the ideas that are floating around at the moment are really massive. Things we haven't done before on the Pyramid Stage. Every night, people are going to get very contrasting but amazing experiences." } ], "id": "9198_5", "question": "Have Muse applied for permission to send drones out over Worthy Farm?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4013, "answer_start": 3893, "text": "We've got a history of political speakers, of people arguing from all sides, so I think Jeremy Corbyn will go down well." } ], "id": "9198_6", "question": "How will Jeremy Corbyn go down with the audience?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4456, "answer_start": 4014, "text": "The deal on the year off is we're planning a show - another event - somewhere nearby. It's either going to be in 2018 or 2019. It's going to be the whole team behind the Glastonbury Festival but it's not going to be called Glastonbury. The idea [is to plan] an event which is more of a visual feast, something really spectacular, using all of these incredible creative people that we work with all year. That's an idea that really excites us." } ], "id": "9198_7", "question": "There have been rumours the festival is moving to a new location. What can you say about that?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4819, "answer_start": 4457, "text": "It will be a music festival predominantly but it will have other elements which we already do at Glastonbury. There'll be more, larger-scale installations, as well as music. You know, we work with these artists all year, but we're always confined by the same hedgerows. The idea of doing it somewhere else, where you've got a huge, vast space is hugely exciting." } ], "id": "9198_8", "question": "So will it be more of an immersive experience than a music festival?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5104, "answer_start": 4820, "text": "Yeah, we try to keep it as equal as we can. There are so many stages across the site that you have to rely on the bookers across the site to consciously book women as well as men. Some are better than others but we do our best and it's really important that we represent both equally." } ], "id": "9198_9", "question": "Last year, a meme went around where people deleted male artists from festival posters, leaving them almost completely blank. Glastonbury's line-up has always been more diverse - but this year's poster is almost 50% female. Did you work hard to achieve that?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Senegalese troops have entered The Gambia in support of Adama Barrow, who was sworn in as president on Thursday after winning last month's election. Mr Barrow took the oath of office at the Gambian embassy in Senegal's capital, Dakar, and his legitimacy has been recognised internationally. The West African regional bloc Ecowas has now given Yahya Jammeh until noon on Friday to leave office. Ecowas has threatened to remove Mr Jammeh by force. The 15-member UN Security Council has given them its backing, while stressing that a political solution should be attempted first. Mr Jammeh's refusal to leave office is supported by Gambia's parliament. New mediation talks ahead of Friday's deadline will be led by Guinea's President Alpha Conde, after talks between Mr Jammeh and Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz failed to break the deadlock late on Thursday. Mr Barrow, who remains in Senegal, has said that he will not return to Gambia's capital, Banjul, until the military operation comes to an end. Nigeria deployed reconnaissance aircraft over The Gambia on Thursday as part of the mission, warning that it was ready to strike militarily. The tiny country, a popular destination for European holidaymakers attracted by its beaches, has been clouded by uncertainty for weeks. Thousands of Gambians have sought refuge in Senegal while tourists broke off their holidays to return home. At the scene - Thomas Fessy, BBC News, Banjul, The Gambia People have been following the inauguration of Adama Barrow live on Senegalese TV, which many receive here in The Gambia. Few people have come out to celebrate, timidly chanting the name of Mr Barrow or waving at the cars driving by. Tension is still running high, as people are very much aware that the political crisis is not over. Banjul feels like a ghost town. Even the usually busy thoroughfares of Serekunda, on the outskirt of the capital, are deserted. Many say the military remain - like Yayha Jammeh - unpredictable. But in a sign that parts of the security forces may switch sides, I have met five police officers standing outside their station, relaxed and visibly happy. I asked how things were going, and one of them replied with a smile \"everything is alright, change is good\". A convoy of heavily armed Senegalese soldiers, in full battle dress, could be seen heading for the Gambian border. They are backed by Nigerian air and naval power, as well as other troops from Ghana. A Senegalese army spokesman, Col Abdou Ndiaye, told the BBC that the troops had encountered no resistance and were heading for Banjul. He warned: \"It is already war. If we find any resistance, we will fight it. If there are people who are fighting for the former president, we will fight them. The main goal is to restore democracy and to allow the new elected president to take over.\" But Gambian army chief Ousman Badjie said his troops would not fight Senegalese forces because the dispute was \"political\". \"I am not going to involve my soldiers in a stupid fight,\" he said. \"I love my men.\" In his inaugural speech, President Barrow ordered all members of The Gambia's armed forces to remain in their barracks. Any found found illegally bearing arms would be considered \"rebels\", he said. After first accepting defeat he reversed his position and said he would not step down. He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process. The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow's win. Mr Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held. Remaining in power would also give him protection against prosecution for alleged abuses committed during his rule. The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) mandated Senegal to take the lead in outside intervention because it almost surrounds The Gambia. The Ecowas strategy was approved by the UN Security Council which unanimously approved a resolution expressing \"full support\" for President Barrow and calling on Mr Jammeh to step down. \"I think events will move quickly now,\" Alex Vines, head of the Africa programme at Chatham House in London, told the Associated Press. \"Jammeh will not last 90 days remaining in power. He may cling on to power for a few more days, increasingly isolated. After the inauguration of Adama Barrow, the trickle of power flowing to him will become more of a flood.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3750, "answer_start": 3245, "text": "After first accepting defeat he reversed his position and said he would not step down. He declared a 90-day state of emergency, blaming irregularities in the electoral process. The electoral commission accepted that some of its early results had contained errors but said they would not have affected Mr Barrow's win. Mr Jammeh has said he will stay in office until new elections are held. Remaining in power would also give him protection against prosecution for alleged abuses committed during his rule." } ], "id": "9199_0", "question": "Why is Mr Jammeh refusing to go?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4450, "answer_start": 3751, "text": "The Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) mandated Senegal to take the lead in outside intervention because it almost surrounds The Gambia. The Ecowas strategy was approved by the UN Security Council which unanimously approved a resolution expressing \"full support\" for President Barrow and calling on Mr Jammeh to step down. \"I think events will move quickly now,\" Alex Vines, head of the Africa programme at Chatham House in London, told the Associated Press. \"Jammeh will not last 90 days remaining in power. He may cling on to power for a few more days, increasingly isolated. After the inauguration of Adama Barrow, the trickle of power flowing to him will become more of a flood.\"" } ], "id": "9199_1", "question": "How great is the pressure to remove him?" } ] } ]