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[ { "context": "Israel says it has carried out an evacuation of members of Syria's White Helmets civil defence group from a war zone in south-western Syria. Some 422 volunteers and family members were taken to Jordan via the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights overnight. The UK, one of the nations requesting Israel's help, hailed the operation and will assist with resettlement. The White Helmets describe themselves as a volunteer workforce that acts to save people in Syria's war zones. Supporters of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and his Russian allies, say the White Helmets support the rebels and also have links to jihadist groups. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were acting on a request from the US, the UK and other European nations. The White Helmets had become trapped in an area of south-western Syria near the border with the Golan Heights after an offensive by the Syrian military. The offensive, begun in June, has seen a number of agreements that have led to the evacuation of rebel forces from the Deraa and Quneitra areas to regions further north. The latest deal for Quneitra was reached on Thursday. The White Helmets operate only in rebel-held areas, although they say they are non-partisan. The evacuees were driven to the border with the Golan Heights and taken on from there by Israeli troops to Jordan. The plan had been to evacuate 800 White Helmets and their families, but only 422 made it. The BBC's Mark Lowen says the others have been hemmed in by the expansion of Islamic State group fighters into pockets of south-west Syria and, as this was a one-off operation, fears remain for the fate of those left behind. Those successfully evacuated included about 100 White Helmets, with the rest family members. The IDF said they had \"completed a humanitarian effort to rescue members of a Syrian civil organisation and their families\", saying there was an \"immediate threat to their lives\". Although Israel is not directly involved in the Syria conflict, the two countries have been in a state of war for decades. Despite the intervention, the IDF said that \"Israel continues to maintain a non-intervention policy regarding the Syrian conflict\". Jordan's government confirmed it had \"authorised the United Nations to organise the passage of 800 Syrian citizens through Jordan to be resettled in Western countries\". The White Helmet volunteers and their families will be held in a \"restricted area\" of Jordan and assessed by the UN, pending resettlement. Jordan said that \"Britain, Germany and Canada made a legally binding undertaking to resettle them within a specified period of time due to 'a risk to their lives'.\" The UK confirmed it would help with the resettlement, providing protection to \"as many of the volunteers and their families as possible\". A statement from Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: \"White Helmets have been the target of attacks and, due to their high profile, we judged that, in these particular circumstances, the volunteers required immediate protection. \"We pay tribute to the brave and selfless work that White Helmet volunteers have done to save Syrians on all sides of the conflict.\" Their official name is the Syrian Civil Defence and it began in early 2013 as an organisation of volunteers from all walks of life, including electricians and builders. Its main task soon became to rescue civilians in war zones in the immediate aftermath of air strikes, and it says its volunteers have saved the lives of more than 100,000 people during the civil war. Numbering about 3,000 volunteers, they also carry out essential repair works. Some 200 members have been killed. The White Helmets have gained worldwide praise, were nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize and were the subject of a Netflix documentary and BBC Panorama programme. But Syria's government and its ally Russia have accused the group of links to jihadist groups. President Assad said it used \"humanitarian masks and umbrellas just to implement a certain agenda\". The group has been financed by public donations, as well as funding from foreign governments.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1207, "answer_start": 623, "text": "The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said they were acting on a request from the US, the UK and other European nations. The White Helmets had become trapped in an area of south-western Syria near the border with the Golan Heights after an offensive by the Syrian military. The offensive, begun in June, has seen a number of agreements that have led to the evacuation of rebel forces from the Deraa and Quneitra areas to regions further north. The latest deal for Quneitra was reached on Thursday. The White Helmets operate only in rebel-held areas, although they say they are non-partisan." } ], "id": "9300_0", "question": "How did the operation come about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1730, "answer_start": 1208, "text": "The evacuees were driven to the border with the Golan Heights and taken on from there by Israeli troops to Jordan. The plan had been to evacuate 800 White Helmets and their families, but only 422 made it. The BBC's Mark Lowen says the others have been hemmed in by the expansion of Islamic State group fighters into pockets of south-west Syria and, as this was a one-off operation, fears remain for the fate of those left behind. Those successfully evacuated included about 100 White Helmets, with the rest family members." } ], "id": "9300_1", "question": "How was it carried out?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2334, "answer_start": 1731, "text": "The IDF said they had \"completed a humanitarian effort to rescue members of a Syrian civil organisation and their families\", saying there was an \"immediate threat to their lives\". Although Israel is not directly involved in the Syria conflict, the two countries have been in a state of war for decades. Despite the intervention, the IDF said that \"Israel continues to maintain a non-intervention policy regarding the Syrian conflict\". Jordan's government confirmed it had \"authorised the United Nations to organise the passage of 800 Syrian citizens through Jordan to be resettled in Western countries\"." } ], "id": "9300_2", "question": "What have Israel and Jordan said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3193, "answer_start": 2335, "text": "The White Helmet volunteers and their families will be held in a \"restricted area\" of Jordan and assessed by the UN, pending resettlement. Jordan said that \"Britain, Germany and Canada made a legally binding undertaking to resettle them within a specified period of time due to 'a risk to their lives'.\" The UK confirmed it would help with the resettlement, providing protection to \"as many of the volunteers and their families as possible\". A statement from Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt and International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt said: \"White Helmets have been the target of attacks and, due to their high profile, we judged that, in these particular circumstances, the volunteers required immediate protection. \"We pay tribute to the brave and selfless work that White Helmet volunteers have done to save Syrians on all sides of the conflict.\"" } ], "id": "9300_3", "question": "What happens next?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4132, "answer_start": 3194, "text": "Their official name is the Syrian Civil Defence and it began in early 2013 as an organisation of volunteers from all walks of life, including electricians and builders. Its main task soon became to rescue civilians in war zones in the immediate aftermath of air strikes, and it says its volunteers have saved the lives of more than 100,000 people during the civil war. Numbering about 3,000 volunteers, they also carry out essential repair works. Some 200 members have been killed. The White Helmets have gained worldwide praise, were nominated for the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize and were the subject of a Netflix documentary and BBC Panorama programme. But Syria's government and its ally Russia have accused the group of links to jihadist groups. President Assad said it used \"humanitarian masks and umbrellas just to implement a certain agenda\". The group has been financed by public donations, as well as funding from foreign governments." } ], "id": "9300_4", "question": "Who are the White Helmets?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "South Korea will grant pardons to 1,879 men who refused to do military service for religious or personal reasons. It comes after a court last year recognised \"conscience or religious beliefs\" as a justifiable reason to turn down military service. All able-bodied men in South Korea are required to serve for up to 24 months by the time they are 28. Conscientious objectors faced 18 months in prison and often struggled to find employment. One objector who is on parole will be exempt from the remaining penalty. All the others have already been freed, and the pardon allows them to correct their criminal records. Rights groups say conscientious objectors face social stigma in Korea - and struggle to find employment after their jail sentence. An \"alternative\" non-military service - lasting three years and taking place in prisons or \"correctional facilities\" - is being introduced next year. Monday's announcement was the third round of special pardons since President Moon Jae-in was elected in 2017. More than 5,000 people were pardoned in total, including 267 who breached election law, and three political and labour activists, the justice ministry said. The government said the move would help convicts return to society. South Korea shares a tense relationship - and one of the world's most heavily-fortified borders - with North Korea, and conscription is seen as key to the country's defence. Able-bodied Korean men are required to serve in the army for 21 months, the navy for 23 months, or the air force for 24 months. Male conscription has been law for decades, and conscientious objectors have been arrested and subject to punishment. They face 18 months in jail. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that pop group BTS would not be exempt - despite fans calling for special treatment. South Korea's footballers - including Tottenham forward Son Heung-min - received exemptions after winning the Asian Games tournament. In 2018, a landmark court ruling recognised the need for an alternative service - that did not involve the use of firearms or other weapons - for those with faith-based objections. After the ruling, charges against hundreds of men, mostly Jehovah's Witnesses who refused to serve, were dropped. The government released from prison hundreds of men who were already serving jail time and had exhausted all their appeals. Last week, parliament passed a new law that allows conscientious objectors to do alternative service - but it was criticised by rights group Amnesty International. \"Confining people to work in a prison - and for almost twice as long as the typical military service - does not respect their right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief,\" said Arnold Fang, their east Asia researcher.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2750, "answer_start": 1230, "text": "South Korea shares a tense relationship - and one of the world's most heavily-fortified borders - with North Korea, and conscription is seen as key to the country's defence. Able-bodied Korean men are required to serve in the army for 21 months, the navy for 23 months, or the air force for 24 months. Male conscription has been law for decades, and conscientious objectors have been arrested and subject to punishment. They face 18 months in jail. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that pop group BTS would not be exempt - despite fans calling for special treatment. South Korea's footballers - including Tottenham forward Son Heung-min - received exemptions after winning the Asian Games tournament. In 2018, a landmark court ruling recognised the need for an alternative service - that did not involve the use of firearms or other weapons - for those with faith-based objections. After the ruling, charges against hundreds of men, mostly Jehovah's Witnesses who refused to serve, were dropped. The government released from prison hundreds of men who were already serving jail time and had exhausted all their appeals. Last week, parliament passed a new law that allows conscientious objectors to do alternative service - but it was criticised by rights group Amnesty International. \"Confining people to work in a prison - and for almost twice as long as the typical military service - does not respect their right to freedom of thought, conscience, religion or belief,\" said Arnold Fang, their east Asia researcher." } ], "id": "9301_0", "question": "How does conscription work in Korea?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Centre-left opposition candidate Alberto Fernandez has been elected president of Argentina in a vote dominated by economic concerns. Mr Fernandez, 60, got more than the 45% of the vote needed to win, beating conservative incumbent Mauricio Macri. Raucous crowds gathered at Mr Fernandez's election headquarters to celebrate the result of Sunday's poll. The vote was held amid an economic crisis that has left a third of Argentina's population in poverty. Former president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, 66, will now become vice-president in Mr Fernandez's administration. She is said to have played a key role in Mr Fernandez's electoral triumph. Mr Macri, 60, had trailed behind his challenger in pre-election polls and was trounced by the opposition in primary elections in August. He conceded defeat on Sunday night, congratulating his political rival. On Monday, Mr Fernandez was seen arriving at the presidential palace in Buenos Aires to discuss an orderly transition with Mr Macri. Mr Fernandez, who belongs to the populist Peronist movement, said his team would collaborate with the outgoing president \"in every way we can\". With 97.13% of ballots counted, Mr Fernandez had 48.10% of the vote, Argentina's electoral authority said. Mr Macri had 40.37%. To win in the first round, a candidate needs at least 45% of the vote, or 40% and a 10-point lead over the second-place contestant. Mr Fernandez is expected to assume the presidency on 10 December. The vote was dominated by concerns over the economy. With about one in 10 people out of work, Argentine voters backed the candidate they thought was best-placed to lead the country out of the crisis. Mr Macri promised to achieve \"zero poverty\", but things actually worsened during his four-year rule. His supporters say he inherited a broken economy when he came to power and needed more time to fix it. Mr Fernandez has vowed to play things safe financially, but some voters fear that under his administration Argentina could return to the populist policies that helped push the country to its current state. On Monday, the central bank restricted dollar purchases to $200 (PS155) from $10,000 a month until December. The move is aimed at reducing dollar demand and stabilising the Argentine peso. At the Alberto Fernandez campaign headquarters, people started gathering in celebration even before the result was out. Waving blue and white Argentine flags, many supporters also wore T-shirts with his face emblazoned on them. But more ubiquitous was the image of Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, his vice-president and former leader. For many, she is a modern-day Eva Peron - a woman who has supported the poor with social programmes. Her presence in this race clearly helped to propel Alberto Fernandez to the top. So much so that many people, when asked who they were voting for, replied \"Cristina\" as if she was the one running for president rather than vice-president. But she is a divisive figure, also accused of being corrupt and economically irresponsible. The chants from the crowds of \"we will be back\" came true. Alberto and Cristina - and Peronism - are back. The challenge now will be to satisfy those who wanted a return to old politics, while convincing their critics they'll move the country forward. Career politician Mr Fernandez has caused quite a stir since he first appeared in the limelight of Argentine politics some six months ago. The former campaign strategist began his bid for the presidency in May - something of a surprise as ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had been widely tipped to be the centre-left opposition coalition's candidate for the top office. But Mr Fernandez really came into his own in August when he defeated Mr Macri by nearly 15 percentage points in primary elections, a compulsory vote for all electors which is seen is a dry-run for the presidency. This victory, defying all predictions, set him up as the clear favourite.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1459, "answer_start": 1134, "text": "With 97.13% of ballots counted, Mr Fernandez had 48.10% of the vote, Argentina's electoral authority said. Mr Macri had 40.37%. To win in the first round, a candidate needs at least 45% of the vote, or 40% and a 10-point lead over the second-place contestant. Mr Fernandez is expected to assume the presidency on 10 December." } ], "id": "9302_0", "question": "So, what about the election results?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3944, "answer_start": 3277, "text": "Career politician Mr Fernandez has caused quite a stir since he first appeared in the limelight of Argentine politics some six months ago. The former campaign strategist began his bid for the presidency in May - something of a surprise as ex-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner had been widely tipped to be the centre-left opposition coalition's candidate for the top office. But Mr Fernandez really came into his own in August when he defeated Mr Macri by nearly 15 percentage points in primary elections, a compulsory vote for all electors which is seen is a dry-run for the presidency. This victory, defying all predictions, set him up as the clear favourite." } ], "id": "9302_1", "question": "Who is Alberto Fernandez?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The European Parliament has voted for a complete ban on a range of single-use plastics across the union in a bid to stop pollution of the oceans. MEPs backed a ban on plastic cutlery and plates, cotton buds, straws, drink-stirrers and balloon sticks. The proposal also calls for a reduction in single-use plastic for food and drink containers like plastic cups. One MEP said, if no action was taken, \"by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans\". The European Commission proposed a ban in May, following a surge in public support attributed to documentaries such as David Attenborough's BBC Blue Planet series. The measure still has to clear some procedural hurdles, but is expected to go through. The EU hopes it will go into effect across the bloc by 2021. The UK will also have to incorporate the rules into national law if the ban becomes a fully-fledged directive before the end of a Brexit transition period. After the Parliament vote was backed by 571-53, the MEP responsible for the bill, Frederique Ries, said it was \"a victory for our oceans, for the environment and for future generations.\" Several countries are already considering proposals to target disposable plastic products - including the UK. The directive targets some of the most common ocean-polluting plastics. The list of banned items such as cutlery and cotton buds was chosen because there are readily available alternatives, such as paper straws and cardboard containers. Other items, \"where no alternative exists\" will still have to be reduced by 25% in each country by 2025. Examples given include burger boxes and sandwich wrappers. MEPs also tacked on amendments to the plans for cigarette filters, a plastic pollutant that is common litter on beaches. Cigarette makers will have to reduce the plastic by 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2030. Another ambitious target is to ensure 90% of all plastic drinks bottles are collected for recycling by 2025. Currently, bottles and their lids account for about 20% of all the sea plastic, the European Parliament report said. Manufacturers will also have to take more responsibility for what happens to their plastic products and packaging. The EU's research on the topic says about 150,000 tonnes of plastic are tossed into European waters every year. That is only a small contributor to the global problem, with an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic entering the world's oceans annually. And once there, plastic can travel great distances on ocean currents. Those plastics have a huge effect on marine life. Fish and large aquatic mammals can be killed by the pollution. Whales can eat plastic bags, making it impossible for them to eat real food which can eventually lead to death. When plastic debris breaks down from wear and tear, it does not decompose the way other products like wood do - but instead breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming \"microplastic\". These tiny fragments often end up in fish and can then be passed on to humans. Large volumes of plastic waste wash up on beaches, where they can be eaten by sea birds and other animals and kill them.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2170, "answer_start": 1227, "text": "The directive targets some of the most common ocean-polluting plastics. The list of banned items such as cutlery and cotton buds was chosen because there are readily available alternatives, such as paper straws and cardboard containers. Other items, \"where no alternative exists\" will still have to be reduced by 25% in each country by 2025. Examples given include burger boxes and sandwich wrappers. MEPs also tacked on amendments to the plans for cigarette filters, a plastic pollutant that is common litter on beaches. Cigarette makers will have to reduce the plastic by 50% by 2025 and 80% by 2030. Another ambitious target is to ensure 90% of all plastic drinks bottles are collected for recycling by 2025. Currently, bottles and their lids account for about 20% of all the sea plastic, the European Parliament report said. Manufacturers will also have to take more responsibility for what happens to their plastic products and packaging." } ], "id": "9303_0", "question": "What's being banned?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3115, "answer_start": 2171, "text": "The EU's research on the topic says about 150,000 tonnes of plastic are tossed into European waters every year. That is only a small contributor to the global problem, with an estimated eight million tonnes of plastic entering the world's oceans annually. And once there, plastic can travel great distances on ocean currents. Those plastics have a huge effect on marine life. Fish and large aquatic mammals can be killed by the pollution. Whales can eat plastic bags, making it impossible for them to eat real food which can eventually lead to death. When plastic debris breaks down from wear and tear, it does not decompose the way other products like wood do - but instead breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, becoming \"microplastic\". These tiny fragments often end up in fish and can then be passed on to humans. Large volumes of plastic waste wash up on beaches, where they can be eaten by sea birds and other animals and kill them." } ], "id": "9303_1", "question": "How big is the problem?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "According to China, its Confucius Institute is \"a bridge reinforcing friendship\" between it and the world. But to its critics the government-run body - which offers language and cultural programmes overseas - is a way for Beijing to spread propaganda under the guise of teaching, interfere with free speech on campuses and even to spy on students. In recent weeks, a flurry of universities around the world have shut down programmes operated by the institute. And in Australia, an investigation is even under way into whether agreements between universities and the institute have broken anti-foreign interference laws. Open to the general public, Confucius Institutes promote Chinese language but also run classes in culture, from calligraphy and cooking to tai chi. They sponsor educational exchanges and hold public events and lectures. The first CI opened in 2004 in South Korea, and according to official data there were 548 Confucius Institutes around the world by the end of last year, as well as 1,193 Confucius classrooms based in primary and secondary schools. Shikha Pandey, a CI teacher at the University of Mumbai in India, tells the BBC they get students from all sorts of backgrounds including the IT industry, business, college students and retirees. \"They only come with a clear motive to learn Chinese language in order to boost their professional skills,\" she says. The CIs are joint ventures between the host university or school, a partner university in China, and Hanban, a controversial agency under China's education ministry. It oversees CI operations and provides partial funding, staff and other support. Backed by significant government funding, China aims to have 1,000 such institutes by 2020 in what it calls a \"Confucius revolution\" to tap into the growing overseas demand to learn Chinese. The Hanban website says all institutes must abide by the CI constitution, and not participate in activities that are inconsistent with their \"missions\". Ms Pandey, from the CI in Mumbai, said she had not found any direct propaganda in the curriculum or teaching. The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) told the BBC the CI on its campus was solely educational and that there was \"nothing about this straightforward QUT CI's work that could be identified as Chinese propaganda nor does it threaten academic freedom\". But though both the CI and Chinese government deny it, critics say the CI rules essentially mean topics like Tibet, Taiwan, and Tiananmen are considered off-limits. Matt Schrader, a China analyst with the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund, asserts that the CIs are indeed \"propaganda tools\". \"They are platforms for an authoritarian party that's fundamentally hostile to liberal ideas like free speech and free inquiry to propagate a state-approved narrative,\" he said. \"And since the Communist Party of China doesn't have a free press or rule of law to check its use of power, it's no surprise there have been strong indications that CIs are used for inappropriate covert activities like intelligence gathering, and facilitating military research.\" Human Rights Watch said in its 2019 report on China: \"Confucius Institutes are extensions of the Chinese government that censor certain topics and perspectives in course materials on political grounds, and use hiring practices that take political loyalty into consideration.\" The institutes have been accused of pressuring host universities to silence or censor talks on topics considered controversial by Beijing. For example, at a conference in Portugal in 2014, the head of Hanban, Xu Lin, told her staff to remove references to Taiwan from the conference programme before it was distributed to participants. In 2018, a keynote speaker at Savannah State University in the US had a reference to Taiwan deleted from her bio at the request of the co-director of the university's CI. China argues that CIs are no different from the cultural centres operated by other countries, such as the British Council and Spain's Cervantes Institute. Chinese officials have in the past, though, admitted that the CIs \"are an important part of China's overseas propaganda apparatus\". In July, Australian media reported that local universities hosting CIs had signed agreements which gave China decision-making authority over teaching at the facilities. Then in late August, New South Wales announced it was scrapping programmes run by the CI in its schools altogether. An education department review in the Australian state said that while there was no evidence of \"actual political influence\", a number of factors \"could give rise to the perception that the Confucius Institute is or could be facilitating inappropriate foreign influence in the department\". \"Having foreign government appointees based in a government department is one thing, having appointees of a one-party state that exercises censorship in its own country working in a government department in a democratic system is another,\" the review concluded. China has said the NSW decision is disrespectful and unfair to local students and urged Australia not to \"politicise normal exchange projects\". Protesters at the University of Queensland (UQ) have also demanded the closure of the CI there, particularly after pro-China students clashed with students rallying in support of the Hong Kong protests. In response, UQ insisted that its \"academic freedom and institutional autonomy are not negotiable\". The NSW move comes amid broader concerns about Chinese influence over Australian politics and society. The Australian government has now formed a task force to curb attempts by foreign governments to meddle in local universities. An investigation is also under way into whether agreements between Australian universities and CIs are in violation of new anti-foreign interference laws. A number of foreign universities - which had embraced the CI with open arms - are rethinking their partnerships amid mounting criticism. Arizona State and San Diego State are the latest in a string of universities in the US to close down their CIs in recent months. Similar closures have taken place in the UK, France, Sweden, and Denmark. Canada's New Brunswick province has also announced the removal of some Confucius programmes from its public schools. Meanwhile, the US Defense Department has said it will no longer fund Chinese-language programmes at universities that host CIs. Alex Joske, an analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, says the CIs \"serve as channels for Beijing to build greater influence over universities as a whole\". But completely disengaging with CIs may not be the right approach, he feels. \"Short of shutting down Confucius Institutes, the government should work with universities to ensure they have effective internal mechanisms to resist foreign interference,\" he says. \"Universities and the government should also seek to increase funding for Chinese-language programmes in order to reduce the appeal of Confucius Institutes and invest in greater expertise on China.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4191, "answer_start": 1823, "text": "The Hanban website says all institutes must abide by the CI constitution, and not participate in activities that are inconsistent with their \"missions\". Ms Pandey, from the CI in Mumbai, said she had not found any direct propaganda in the curriculum or teaching. The Queensland University of Technology (QUT) told the BBC the CI on its campus was solely educational and that there was \"nothing about this straightforward QUT CI's work that could be identified as Chinese propaganda nor does it threaten academic freedom\". But though both the CI and Chinese government deny it, critics say the CI rules essentially mean topics like Tibet, Taiwan, and Tiananmen are considered off-limits. Matt Schrader, a China analyst with the Alliance for Securing Democracy at the German Marshall Fund, asserts that the CIs are indeed \"propaganda tools\". \"They are platforms for an authoritarian party that's fundamentally hostile to liberal ideas like free speech and free inquiry to propagate a state-approved narrative,\" he said. \"And since the Communist Party of China doesn't have a free press or rule of law to check its use of power, it's no surprise there have been strong indications that CIs are used for inappropriate covert activities like intelligence gathering, and facilitating military research.\" Human Rights Watch said in its 2019 report on China: \"Confucius Institutes are extensions of the Chinese government that censor certain topics and perspectives in course materials on political grounds, and use hiring practices that take political loyalty into consideration.\" The institutes have been accused of pressuring host universities to silence or censor talks on topics considered controversial by Beijing. For example, at a conference in Portugal in 2014, the head of Hanban, Xu Lin, told her staff to remove references to Taiwan from the conference programme before it was distributed to participants. In 2018, a keynote speaker at Savannah State University in the US had a reference to Taiwan deleted from her bio at the request of the co-director of the university's CI. China argues that CIs are no different from the cultural centres operated by other countries, such as the British Council and Spain's Cervantes Institute. Chinese officials have in the past, though, admitted that the CIs \"are an important part of China's overseas propaganda apparatus\"." } ], "id": "9304_0", "question": "Culture or propaganda?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The biggest trade deal in decades was struck on Monday. The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) cuts trade tariffs and sets common standards in trade for 12 Pacific rim countries, including the US and Japan. It marks the end of five years of often bitter and tense negotiations. Supporters say it could be worth billions of dollars to the countries involved but critics say it was negotiated in secret and is biased towards corporations. The deal covers about 40% of the world economy and was signed after five days of talks in Atlanta in the US. Despite the success of the negotiations, the deal still has to be ratified by lawmakers in each country. How did it start? With a trade agreement signed 10 years ago between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. How big is it? Pretty big. The 12 countries have a population of about 800 million and are responsible for 40% of world trade. What are the criticisms? That negotiations have been conducted in secret, and that it favours big corporations. Who benefits most? Japan stands to reap huge economic benefits from the deal, while for the US it is an important strategic move. What happens next? The agreement will need to be ratified by each of the individual member countries. More: What is the TPP and why does it matter? For President Barack Obama, the trade deal is a major victory. He said: \"This partnership levels the playing field for our farmers, ranchers, and manufacturers by eliminating more than 18,000 taxes that various countries put on our products.\" But US Senator Bernie Sanders, a US Democratic presidential candidate, said: \"Wall Street and other big corporations have won again.\" He said the deal would cost US jobs and hurt consumers and that he would \"do all that I can to defeat this agreement\" in Congress. China was not involved in the agreement, and the Obama administration is hoping it will be forced to accept most of the standards laid down by TPP. He said: \"When more than 95% of our potential customers live outside our borders, we can't let countries like China write the rules of the global economy. \"We should write those rules, opening new markets to American products while setting high standards for protecting workers and preserving our environment.\" Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters the deal was a \"major outcome not just for Japan but also for the future of the Asia-Pacific\" region. The final round of talks were delayed by negotiations over how long pharmaceutical corporations should be allowed to keep a monopoly period on their drugs. The US wanted 12 years of protection, saying that by guaranteeing revenues over a long period it encouraged companies to invest in new research. Australia, New Zealand and several public health groups argued for five years before allowing cheaper generic or \"copy-cat\" into the market. They said a shorter patent would bring down drug costs for health services and bring lifesaving medicine to poorer patients. Even though a compromise was reached, no definitive protection period was confirmed. Speaking at a press conference following the deal, US Trade Representative Michael Froman hailed the deal as the first to set a period of protection for patents on new drugs, which he said would \"incentivise\" drug producers. But the Washington-based Biotechnology Industry Association said it was \"very disappointed\" by the reports that the agreement fell short of the 12-year protections sought by the US. The car industry was another area of intense negotiation with countries agonising over how much of a vehicle had to be manufactured within the TPP countries in order to qualify for duty-free status. Agriculture proved another sticking point with countries like New Zealand wanting more access to markets in Canada, Mexico, Japan and the United States. Canada meanwhile fought to keep access to its domestic dairy and poultry markets strictly limited. The issue and its impact on rural voters is particularly sensitive ahead of the federal election in two weeks time. Asked about potential job losses - a criticism of the deal - Canada's trade minister Ed Fast said: \"We don't anticipate that there will be job losses. Obviously there will be industries that have to adapt.\" The agreement was a \"once-in-a-lifetime opportunity\" for Canada to shape outcomes and rules in the Asia Pacific region, Mr Fast added.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1275, "answer_start": 648, "text": "How did it start? With a trade agreement signed 10 years ago between Brunei, Chile, New Zealand and Singapore. How big is it? Pretty big. The 12 countries have a population of about 800 million and are responsible for 40% of world trade. What are the criticisms? That negotiations have been conducted in secret, and that it favours big corporations. Who benefits most? Japan stands to reap huge economic benefits from the deal, while for the US it is an important strategic move. What happens next? The agreement will need to be ratified by each of the individual member countries. More: What is the TPP and why does it matter?" } ], "id": "9305_0", "question": "What is the TPP?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The film Crazy Rich Asians hit the box office last month, and the glossy rom-com has put a spotlight on the region's growing number of super-rich. In plenty of shopping malls in Singapore - where the movie is based - you'll see designer shops with customers carrying bags from Prada, Gucci and Louis Vuitton. It's much like that in other cities. But the region, which was once considered a model of equitable growth, has also seen increased inequality. According to Oxfam the number of super-rich in the Asia-Pacific has surpassed that of North America and Europe. It is also home to the greatest number of millionaires and billionaires in the world, but also hosts nearly two-thirds of the world's working poor. \"Wealth inequality has reached alarming levels in a number of countries in the region,\" said Mustafa Talpur, who heads the inequality campaign in Asia for Oxfam. Why Crazy Rich Asians could never please all What does it take to be a billionaire? 'World's richest 1% get 82% of the wealth' With 585 billionaires, the US still tops the table of the mega-rich, according to Forbes. Mainland China is not far behind with 373. But if you look at the Asia-Pacific region as a whole, then it has overtaken the US with 600 billionaires, according to Oxfam's analysis of data from Credit Suisse Global Wealth Databook 2017. Also, the Asia-Pacific region has the greatest number of high net worth individuals in the world, or people who have more than $1m on top of the value of their main residence. The region accounts for 34.1% of high net worth individuals globally versus 31.3% for North America, according a Capgemini report from 2018. Asia-Pacific also accounts for 30.8% of their total wealth versus 28.2% for North America. As China enjoyed annual growth of between around 8% and 11% between 2008 and 2012, the US and the eurozone licked their wounds after devastating financial crises. \"This strong growth through the years has been aided by robust GDP and equity markets growth especially in the emerging markets of China and India. Consistent growth in the key mature markets of Japan, Hong Kong, and Singapore also has been a contributing factor,\" said Chirag Thakral, deputy head of market intelligence at Capgemini in New York. Ma Huateng, also known as Pony Ma, is Asia's wealthiest person and number 17 in the world, according to the 2018 Forbes list. He is the chief executive of China's tech giant Tencent Holdings, which owns WeChat, an enormously popular messaging app in China. He has a net worth of $45.3bn. Also among Forbes' top 20 billionaires is Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant. Alibaba is one of the world's most valuable companies, and its shares nearly doubled in value last year. His net worth was $39bn. Also in the top 30 are Hong Kong's Li Ka-shing and China's Wang Jianlin, whose net worth was $34.9bn and $30bn respectively on the Forbes list. Li Ka-shing retired from leading his business empire earlier this year and is handing the reins to his eldest son. Li Ka-shing's CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings are involved in sectors including retail, telecoms and power. Wang Jianlin chairs Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group. The group is one of the world's biggest commercial real estate developers and owns US movie theatre chain AMC and film studio Legendary Entertainment. Last year, the heavily indebted firm sold a series of assets. Last year, 79% of the wealth created in China went to the richest 1% of the population, while 73% of the wealth created in India went to the top 1%, according to Oxfam's analysis. As a result, the top 1% of China's population owned 47% of its national wealth in 2017, while in India they owned 45% of the country's wealth. In Thailand - a highly unequal country in South East Asia - 96% of the wealth created last year went to the top 1% of the population. In another sign of rising inequality, Asia-Pacific's income Gini coefficient - a gauge of economic inequality - increased from 0.37 to 0.48 between 1990 and 2014. A coefficient of 0 denotes perfect equality and at 1 represents total inequality Wealth inequality in Asia is even wider. The Gini coefficient was at a lofty 0.82 for China, 0.88 for India and 0.90 for the rest of the Asia-Pacific region in 2015, according to reports by Oxfam and UNESCAP, a United Nations social commission.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3419, "answer_start": 2247, "text": "Ma Huateng, also known as Pony Ma, is Asia's wealthiest person and number 17 in the world, according to the 2018 Forbes list. He is the chief executive of China's tech giant Tencent Holdings, which owns WeChat, an enormously popular messaging app in China. He has a net worth of $45.3bn. Also among Forbes' top 20 billionaires is Jack Ma, chairman of Alibaba, the Chinese e-commerce giant. Alibaba is one of the world's most valuable companies, and its shares nearly doubled in value last year. His net worth was $39bn. Also in the top 30 are Hong Kong's Li Ka-shing and China's Wang Jianlin, whose net worth was $34.9bn and $30bn respectively on the Forbes list. Li Ka-shing retired from leading his business empire earlier this year and is handing the reins to his eldest son. Li Ka-shing's CK Hutchison Holdings and CK Asset Holdings are involved in sectors including retail, telecoms and power. Wang Jianlin chairs Chinese conglomerate Dalian Wanda Group. The group is one of the world's biggest commercial real estate developers and owns US movie theatre chain AMC and film studio Legendary Entertainment. Last year, the heavily indebted firm sold a series of assets." } ], "id": "9306_0", "question": "Who are the richest people in Asia?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4366, "answer_start": 3420, "text": "Last year, 79% of the wealth created in China went to the richest 1% of the population, while 73% of the wealth created in India went to the top 1%, according to Oxfam's analysis. As a result, the top 1% of China's population owned 47% of its national wealth in 2017, while in India they owned 45% of the country's wealth. In Thailand - a highly unequal country in South East Asia - 96% of the wealth created last year went to the top 1% of the population. In another sign of rising inequality, Asia-Pacific's income Gini coefficient - a gauge of economic inequality - increased from 0.37 to 0.48 between 1990 and 2014. A coefficient of 0 denotes perfect equality and at 1 represents total inequality Wealth inequality in Asia is even wider. The Gini coefficient was at a lofty 0.82 for China, 0.88 for India and 0.90 for the rest of the Asia-Pacific region in 2015, according to reports by Oxfam and UNESCAP, a United Nations social commission." } ], "id": "9306_1", "question": "How bad is inequality in Asia?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Dame Barbara Windsor's husband has revealed the actress has Alzheimer's and her condition has worsened in recent weeks. He said they had gone public with her diagnosis - made in 2014 - because it had become \"a lot more difficult for us to hide\". Alzheimer's often develops slowly over several years. And experts say it is not always obvious to begin with because the symptoms can overlap with other illnesses. An estimated 850,000 people in the UK are affected by this most common type of dementia. So how can you spot the signs? Alzheimer's is more than just forgetting things occasionally. Everyone can forget where they left that cup of tea or people's names - sometimes. Forgetting stuff is also part and parcel of normal ageing. But these aren't necessarily signs of Alzheimer's or another form of dementia. Memory loss is much more serious and is often one of the first signs of the disease. Short-term memory is usually affected, making people forget what they've done 10 minutes before or forgetting conversations they have just had. Memory problems can also lead to people repeating themselves, or having problems recalling events that happened recently or struggling with familiar daily tasks, such as following a recipe or using a bank card. 'My husband can no longer remember my name' How diet 'helps with my Alzheimer's disease' Ordinary, everyday activities can become a challenge in the early stages of Alzheimer's. On the face of it, making a cup of tea isn't complicated and doesn't require much thought. However, having Alzheimer's can make it a very difficult task which leaves people struggling to know what to do next. The changes that come with the condition are often small to start with, but they can become severe enough to affect daily life. The person or their family may notice that they now struggle to use the phone or regularly forget to take their medicine, for example. They can also develop problems with speech and language, such as having difficulty finding the right words. Their appearance may change too in time if they start to find the routine of getting washed and dressed in the morning a bit too much. Getting confused about where you are or why you are there is another common sign. People can get lost, especially in unfamiliar places, and they can become disorientated at home too. They might go upstairs or into another room and not recognise it, for example. Confusion can mean not knowing what day or month it is. Someone experiencing all the symptoms listed above is also likely to show signs of mood or behaviour changes. They might become easily upset or annoyed, get frustrated more often or lose confidence. This might extend to losing interest in daily activities or becoming less flexible and more hesitant to try new things. Anxiety and agitation often follow. Kathryn Smith, from the Alzheimer's Society, says dementia \"isn't a normal part of ageing - it's a disease of the brain\". And it doesn't just affect older people. More than 40,000 people under 65 have dementia in the UK. She says everyone's experience is different and no two types of dementia are the same, but most people realise when something is wrong. She says they won't get the support they need unless they go to their GP. \"It is possible to live well with dementia for many years. And a diagnosis doesn't change you instantly,\" Ms Smith says. But she recognises that the stigma of an Alzheimer's diagnosis means many people do feel isolated and misunderstood if they reveal it. If you are worried about a relative, NHS advice is to encourage them to make a GP appointment and perhaps go along with them. The GP can carry out simple checks, take some blood tests and refer to a specialist to help with a diagnosis. The Alzheimer's Society has a helpline - 0300 2221122 - for anyone looking for information, support or advice about dementia.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2463, "answer_start": 2146, "text": "Getting confused about where you are or why you are there is another common sign. People can get lost, especially in unfamiliar places, and they can become disorientated at home too. They might go upstairs or into another room and not recognise it, for example. Confusion can mean not knowing what day or month it is." } ], "id": "9307_0", "question": "Why am I here?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Three weeks ago, archaeologists in Egypt found a massive black granite sarcophagus in Alexandria, untouched for 2,000 years - and fleet-footed rumour quickly got to work. Could it contain the remains of ancient Macedonian leader Alexander the Great, or (less appealingly) a deadly curse? According to experts who have now unsealed it, it's a no to both. Instead, it revealed three skeletons and red-brown sewage water, which gave off an unbearable stench. Egypt's Ministry of Antiquities had appointed a committee of archaeologists to open the relic, which was unearthed at a construction site. According to Egyptian news outlet El-Watan, they initially lifted the lid of the tomb by just 5cm (2 inches) before the pungent smell forced them from the inspection scene entirely. They later prised it open with help from Egyptian military engineers. \"We found the bones of three people, in what looks like a family burial... Unfortunately the mummies inside were not in the best condition and only the bones remain,\" said Mostafa Waziri, secretary-general of the Supreme Council of Antiquities. Addressing media fears that disturbing the tomb could trigger an implacable Pharaoh's curse, Mr Waziri declared: \"We've opened it and, thank God, the world has not fallen into darkness. \"I was the first to put my whole head inside the sarcophagus... and here I stand before you ... I am fine.\" Despite that, the site has now been cleared of people amid fears the sarcophagus could release lethal toxic fumes, Egypt's state-owned newspaper Al-Ahram says. Scientists have debunked the infamous \"Mummy's Curse\", but are there other threats in ancient tombs? Lord Carnarvon, financial backer of the excavation of Tutankhamun's burial site, died from an infected mosquito bite shortly after they opened the chamber in 1923. Since then, rumours have swirled that mould or bacteria survived in the sealed area and caused or contributed to his fate. But F DeWolfe Miller, professor of epidemiology at the University of Hawaii, told National Geographic that there's no real danger. \"We don't know of even a single case of either an archaeologist or a tourist experiencing any negative consequences [from bacteria or tomb moulds],\" he told the magazine. Experts have said the three individuals in the Alexandria sarcophagus may have been soldiers in the time of the Pharaohs. The skull of one is said to show cracks which point to an arrow injury. An alabaster bust, its features weathered beyond recognition, was also found with the tomb. The structure is almost two metres (6.5ft) high and three metres long, and is the largest of its kind ever found intact. It weighs in at 27 tonnes (59,500lb), and is believed to date from the early Ptolemaic period, which began in 323 BC after the death of Alexander the Great. Archaeologists will now study the sarcophagus in depth to pinpoint when its occupants lived, and how they died.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2236, "answer_start": 1547, "text": "Scientists have debunked the infamous \"Mummy's Curse\", but are there other threats in ancient tombs? Lord Carnarvon, financial backer of the excavation of Tutankhamun's burial site, died from an infected mosquito bite shortly after they opened the chamber in 1923. Since then, rumours have swirled that mould or bacteria survived in the sealed area and caused or contributed to his fate. But F DeWolfe Miller, professor of epidemiology at the University of Hawaii, told National Geographic that there's no real danger. \"We don't know of even a single case of either an archaeologist or a tourist experiencing any negative consequences [from bacteria or tomb moulds],\" he told the magazine." } ], "id": "9308_0", "question": "Are mummies' tombs dangerous?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "North Korea has not stopped its nuclear and missile programmes, violating UN sanctions, a report commissioned by the UN Security Council says. It also says Pyongyang has resorted to a \"massive increase\" of illegal ship-to-ship transfers of oil products and has been trying to sell weapons abroad. The confidential report by a panel of independent experts was submitted to the UN Security Council on Friday. North Korea has so far not commented on the document's findings. Last week, US officials said Pyongyang appeared to be building new ballistic missiles despite recent warming ties with US President Donald Trump's administration and pledges to denuclearise. Unnamed US officials told the Washington Post that spy satellites had spotted continuing activity at a site that has produced ballistic missiles. President Trump met North Korea's Kim Jong-un in Singapore in June, and the two leaders then pledged to work towards denuclearisation, without specifying exactly what this would look like. Pyongyang is currently under a range of international and US sanctions over its nuclear programme and missile tests. The document was prepared by the experts monitoring the implementation of the UN sanctions against North Korea. It was seen by several media outlets early on Saturday. The report said: \"[North Korea] has not stopped its nuclear and missile programmes and continued to defy Security Council resolutions through a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products, as well as through transfers of coal at sea during 2018.\" It said that Pyongyang also \"attempted to supply small arms and lights weapons and other military equipment via foreign intermediaries\" to Libya, Yemen and Sudan. The experts concluded that North Korea's activities had made financial sanctions ineffective. The report came as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was \"optimistic\" that North Korean denuclearisation could be achieved. Speaking ahead of a summit of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) in Singapore, he said: \"The work has begun. The process of achieving denuclearisation of the [Korean] peninsula is one that I think we have all known would take some time.\" He stressed that it was important to maintain \"diplomatic and economic pressure\" on North Korea to achieve \"the final, fully verified denuclearisation\". He also said he had seen reports that Russia was issuing permits allowing North Koreans to work on its territory, defying the sanctions. \"I want to remind every nation that has supported these resolutions that this is a serious issue and something that we will discuss with Moscow. \"We expect the Russians and all countries to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions and enforce sanctions on North Korea,\" Mr Pompeo said. Russia has denied a report by the Wall Street Journal that it was letting thousands new North Korean labourers into the country.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2911, "answer_start": 1115, "text": "The document was prepared by the experts monitoring the implementation of the UN sanctions against North Korea. It was seen by several media outlets early on Saturday. The report said: \"[North Korea] has not stopped its nuclear and missile programmes and continued to defy Security Council resolutions through a massive increase in illicit ship-to-ship transfers of petroleum products, as well as through transfers of coal at sea during 2018.\" It said that Pyongyang also \"attempted to supply small arms and lights weapons and other military equipment via foreign intermediaries\" to Libya, Yemen and Sudan. The experts concluded that North Korea's activities had made financial sanctions ineffective. The report came as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was \"optimistic\" that North Korean denuclearisation could be achieved. Speaking ahead of a summit of the Association of South East Asian Nations (Asean) in Singapore, he said: \"The work has begun. The process of achieving denuclearisation of the [Korean] peninsula is one that I think we have all known would take some time.\" He stressed that it was important to maintain \"diplomatic and economic pressure\" on North Korea to achieve \"the final, fully verified denuclearisation\". He also said he had seen reports that Russia was issuing permits allowing North Koreans to work on its territory, defying the sanctions. \"I want to remind every nation that has supported these resolutions that this is a serious issue and something that we will discuss with Moscow. \"We expect the Russians and all countries to abide by the UN Security Council resolutions and enforce sanctions on North Korea,\" Mr Pompeo said. Russia has denied a report by the Wall Street Journal that it was letting thousands new North Korean labourers into the country." } ], "id": "9309_0", "question": "What did the UN report say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US military is trying to verify reports that it has killed one of the men behind a deadly attack on the USS Cole in Yemen in 2000. A US defence official confirmed a \"precision strike\" had been carried out on Tuesday against Jamal al-Badawi to the east of the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. Badawi was killed in the strike, according to US and Arab media reports. The militant, said to be an al-Qaeda commander, was on the FBI's most wanted list over the attack on the warship. He was convicted of plotting and taking part in the bombing in Yemen in 2004 but escaped from prison and, after handing himself in again, was allowed to walk free. A US grand jury indicted him in 2003 for his role in the bombing, and the FBI offered a reward of up to $5m (PS4m) for information leading to his arrest. Captain Bill Urban of US Central Command told the BBC the strike targeting Badawi had occurred in the Marib governorate, adding that US forces were \"still assessing the results of the strike following a deliberate process to confirm his death\". An unnamed official in the US presidential administration reportedly told CNN that all intelligence indicators showed Badawi had been killed in the strike as a result of a joint US military and intelligence operation. He was hit while driving alone in a vehicle and no collateral damage was reported, the official added. Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the chaos caused by Yemen's ongoing civil war to entrench its presence in the south and south-east of the country. Since 2015, the country has been embroiled in fighting between forces loyal to the internationally recognised president, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Shia Muslim Houthi rebels. Seventeen US sailors were killed and at least 40 people were wounded in the attack on 12 October 2000 which happened as the destroyer was refuelling. Two Yemeni suicide bombers rammed the ship in a small boat packed with up to 225kg (500lb) of high explosives, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the warship. The attack's alleged planner, Saudi-born Abd al-Nashiri, is being held in US custody at Guantanamo Bay and could face the death penalty.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1688, "answer_start": 791, "text": "Captain Bill Urban of US Central Command told the BBC the strike targeting Badawi had occurred in the Marib governorate, adding that US forces were \"still assessing the results of the strike following a deliberate process to confirm his death\". An unnamed official in the US presidential administration reportedly told CNN that all intelligence indicators showed Badawi had been killed in the strike as a result of a joint US military and intelligence operation. He was hit while driving alone in a vehicle and no collateral damage was reported, the official added. Al-Qaeda has taken advantage of the chaos caused by Yemen's ongoing civil war to entrench its presence in the south and south-east of the country. Since 2015, the country has been embroiled in fighting between forces loyal to the internationally recognised president, backed by a Saudi-led coalition, and Shia Muslim Houthi rebels." } ], "id": "9310_0", "question": "What is being said about Badawi's fate?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2136, "answer_start": 1689, "text": "Seventeen US sailors were killed and at least 40 people were wounded in the attack on 12 October 2000 which happened as the destroyer was refuelling. Two Yemeni suicide bombers rammed the ship in a small boat packed with up to 225kg (500lb) of high explosives, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the warship. The attack's alleged planner, Saudi-born Abd al-Nashiri, is being held in US custody at Guantanamo Bay and could face the death penalty." } ], "id": "9310_1", "question": "What happened in 2000?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US president-elect Donald Trump has received a series of congratulatory messages from South American leaders amidst uncertainty of what his election will mean to the region in terms of policy. South America barely received any mention from either US presidential candidate during the campaign, leaving analysts and pundits in the region to second guess the future. Washington is the main trading partner for many nations in South America. The heads of central banks in countries such as Brazil and Chile had to calm wobbly markets on Wednesday, by saying that authorities were ready to intervene if needed. Leaders from most nations in the region were in a rush to congratulate the Republican politician, but some of the messages did not seem entirely whole-hearted. Brazil's President Michel Temer sent a congratulatory note to Mr Trump, saying he was looking forward to deepening the friendship between both nations. But only a few weeks ago, Mr Temer's foreign minister, Jose Serra, scoffed at the prospects of Mr Trump being elected. \"That won't happen. It can't happen,\" Mr Serra told reporters during a TV interview. Argentine President Mauricio Macri also expressed his wish to work with Mr Trump for the good of both their people. Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra congratulated the Mr Trump but said that \"it was a pity not to see a woman as capable [as Hillary Clinton] elected to office\". Chilean leader Michelle Bachelet and Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski also sent their good wishes to Mr Trump only days after expressing either criticism of the Republican candidate or a preference for Mrs Clinton. The left-wing leader of Ecuador, Rafael Correa and Nicolas Maduro, has so far remained silent. Earlier this year, Mr Correa said that he hoped for the good of the world and of the US that Hillary Clinton would win. But he conceded that Mr Trump could end up inadvertently uniting and reviving the fractured left in the region. \"He is so basic that this will generate a reaction in Latin America which will build more support for progressive governments,\" Mr Correa told Venezuela-based broadcaster Telesur. Bolivia's leftist President Evo Morales congratulated Donald Trump on Twitter and said he hoped to work with the new US president to tackle \"racism, sexism and anti-immigration (feelings)\". Venezuela's socialist government, which has in the past accused the US of meddling in its affairs, said it hoped Mr Trump would advance `\"respectful bilateral political and diplomatic relations\" with respect for each other's internal affairs and without interventions. Mr Trump's victory also elicited comment from the far-right in the region. Jair Bolsonaro, a controversial Brazilian Congressman who wants to run for president in 2018, congratulated Americans for choosing Mr Trump who, he said, went against \"everything and everyone\". Mr Bolsonaro, who is hugely popular with his supporters, has in the past caused outrage for his homophobic comments and for dedicating a vote he cast to the memory of a colonel accused of human rights abuses. Mr Bolsonaro said Brazilians would follow suit two years from now and support his bid for Brazil's top job. Normally experts on bilateral relations say that a Democrat in the White House is more likely to affect trade in the region. They argue that close ties between the US Democratic party and workers' unions usually result in more protectionist policies. But in this campaign, it was Mr Trump and not Mrs Clinton who was advocating more protectionist policies. Chile's Foreign Minister Heraldo Munoz said he was concerned about the future of the Trans Pacific Partnership, a trade agreement signed by 12 nations but which still needs to be ratified by national parliaments. Mr Munoz said that even if President Barack Obama were to push for the deal to be approved by the US Congress before his term ended, Mr Trump could still unilaterally abandon it. Brazilian farmers are worried that Mr Trump's rise to power could result in more protectionist policies for US agribusiness, putting foreign farmers at a disadvantage. The director-general of the World Trade Organization, Brazilian diplomat Roberto Azevedo, congratulated Mr Trump on his victory, but urged him to lead US efforts towards free trade. \"It's clear many feel trade isn't working for them. We must address this and ensure trade delivers the widest benefit to the most people,\" he tweeted. There are also concerns about immigration. President Obama was in negotiation with Brazil to find a way to ease visa restrictions between the two countries. But as Mr Trump ran on an anti-immigration policy, those talks are now in doubt. Another point of uncertainty is the future of financial markets. Many analysts had predicted a hike in US interest rates later this year, which could provoke an outflow of capital from South American markets to the US. But as Mr Trump has been a fierce critic of Federal Reserve chairwoman Janet Yellen, that move, too, is now in doubt.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3183, "answer_start": 1632, "text": "The left-wing leader of Ecuador, Rafael Correa and Nicolas Maduro, has so far remained silent. Earlier this year, Mr Correa said that he hoped for the good of the world and of the US that Hillary Clinton would win. But he conceded that Mr Trump could end up inadvertently uniting and reviving the fractured left in the region. \"He is so basic that this will generate a reaction in Latin America which will build more support for progressive governments,\" Mr Correa told Venezuela-based broadcaster Telesur. Bolivia's leftist President Evo Morales congratulated Donald Trump on Twitter and said he hoped to work with the new US president to tackle \"racism, sexism and anti-immigration (feelings)\". Venezuela's socialist government, which has in the past accused the US of meddling in its affairs, said it hoped Mr Trump would advance `\"respectful bilateral political and diplomatic relations\" with respect for each other's internal affairs and without interventions. Mr Trump's victory also elicited comment from the far-right in the region. Jair Bolsonaro, a controversial Brazilian Congressman who wants to run for president in 2018, congratulated Americans for choosing Mr Trump who, he said, went against \"everything and everyone\". Mr Bolsonaro, who is hugely popular with his supporters, has in the past caused outrage for his homophobic comments and for dedicating a vote he cast to the memory of a colonel accused of human rights abuses. Mr Bolsonaro said Brazilians would follow suit two years from now and support his bid for Brazil's top job." } ], "id": "9311_0", "question": "Hope for the left?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Polish President Andrzej Duda has apologised to Jews driven out of the country by the communist authorities in 1968. Poland regretted the \"shameful act\", he said, paying tribute to thousands of Jews who were forced out. During his speech some protesters shouted \"hypocrite\" and \"shame\", local media report. Relations with Israel have been tense over a law relating to the Nazi Holocaust in World War Two. Talking about the events of 1968 in post-war Poland, Mr Duda said: \"What a shame, what a loss for the Polish Republic today that those who left - and some who are maybe dead because of 1968 - are not here with us today... I am so sorry. \"The free and independent Poland of today, my generation, is not responsible and does not need to apologise. \"To those who were driven out then... I'd like to say please forgive the Republic, Poles, the Poland of that time for having carried out such a shameful act.\" Before the speech, he laid a wreath in front of the board at the Gdanski Railway Station in Warsaw, which commemorates Poles of Jewish origin forced to leave the country. An estimated 15,000 people - half the country's Jewish population - were stripped of their citizenship and kicked out of Poland. The purge followed nationwide student protests that had begun after a decision to close down a patriotic play by Poland's national poet, Adam Mickiewicz. Protests had quickly spread across the country before being crushed with considerable violence. Many of the students and professors were of Jewish origin and the communist party used this to purge Jews from public life. Diplomats from Poland and Israel met in Jerusalem last week in an effort to resolve the row sparked by the Holocaust law, which came into effect last Thursday. The law makes it illegal to accuse the Polish nation or state of complicity in Nazi war crimes. Israel says it could criminalise some survivors whose testimony implicates Poles.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1583, "answer_start": 1081, "text": "An estimated 15,000 people - half the country's Jewish population - were stripped of their citizenship and kicked out of Poland. The purge followed nationwide student protests that had begun after a decision to close down a patriotic play by Poland's national poet, Adam Mickiewicz. Protests had quickly spread across the country before being crushed with considerable violence. Many of the students and professors were of Jewish origin and the communist party used this to purge Jews from public life." } ], "id": "9312_0", "question": "What happened in 1968?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Syrian government forces have captured more than a third of rebel-held territory in eastern Aleppo. The advance, after heavy bombing from the air, is a major blow for the armed opponents of President Bashar al-Assad. State TV said government troops were dismantling mines and explosives and continuing their advance. Thousands of civilians have fled the besieged districts after a weekend of heavy fighting. Hundreds of families have been displaced. Rebel fighters have been driven out of more neighbourhoods of their long-held enclave in eastern Aleppo, as Syrian government forces continue to advance. After further fighting on Monday, the rebels are reported to have lost all of the northern neighbourhoods they controlled before the weekend, leaving them with under two-thirds of the territory they had in the city. Two rebel officials told Reuters their forces had withdrawn to a more defendable front line after government advances risked splitting the rebel-held area in two. Syrian government troops now control the section of east Aleppo north of the Sakhour highway, according to monitors. Russia's defence ministry says Syrian government troops have captured 12 districts, or 40% of the territory, from the rebels. It says that more than 100 rebels have laid down their arms and left the city. Aerial bombardment of rebel-held areas was continuing on Monday, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Syrian army and its allies launched a major offensive to retake control of Aleppo in September. Thousands of residents of east Aleppo have fled to areas controlled by government forces and Kurdish groups since the fighting intensified on Saturday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said as many as 10,000 residents fled to government-controlled western areas and a Kurdish-run northern district. State media showed men, women and children being transported to government-held areas on green buses. Kurdish groups who control the Sheikh Maqsoud area of Aleppo provided images showing people fleeing the rebel-held neighbourhoods into a Kurdish-controlled district. A spokesman for the Syrian Kurdish PYD party told Reuters that 6,000-10,000 people had fled into the district. Scott Craig, the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Syria, told the BBC that there were 250,000 people in need of assistance in eastern Aleppo, 100,000 of them children. Food supplies were gone, he said. \"The situation on the ground in eastern Aleppo is almost beyond the imagination of those of us who are not there,\" Mr Craig said. Warning of a humanitarian disaster, a volunteer rescue service known as the White Helmets said it had run out of fuel reserves needed to reach people caught in the onslaught. On Sunday, seven-year-old Bana Alabed, who has gathered thousands of Twitter followers with her tweets from Aleppo, said her home in the east of the city had been bombed. On Monday morning, her account tweeted: \"Under heavy bombardments now. In between death and life now, please keep praying for us.\" Last week the United Nations' humanitarian chief, Stephen O'Brien, said that hundreds of civilians had been killed or injured since the bombardment of eastern Aleppo resumed six days earlier. He also highlighted deaths and injuries resulting from mortar and rocket attacks from rebel-held areas into western Aleppo. This advance follows two weeks of relentless aerial bombardment, as the government and its allies renewed their assault on the rebel-held portion of Aleppo. It followed a three-week pause in the Russian and Syrian bombing of the area, which ended on 15 November. There are no fully-functioning hospitals left in the rebel-held territory and food ran out earlier in November. Since the start of this month's offensive, pro-government forces have conducted 2,000 airstrikes, bombing the city with some 7,000 artillery rounds as well as ballistic missiles, cluster munitions and chlorine gas, according to the White Helmets rescue group. The BBC has not been able to verify these figures. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura estimated last month that there were 8,000 rebel fighters in eastern Aleppo. Retaking the whole of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city, is a key aim of the Syrian government. The east of Aleppo has been held by rebel factions opposed to President Bashar al-Assad for the past four years. Government forces have taken more and more territory from them since Russia intervened to back its ally, President Assad, in September 2015. Iranian-backed militias and Russian air strikes have helped Syrian government forces to break the deadlock. Russia says its air force is active in other parts of the country, but has not operated over Aleppo since the pause. The tide is clearly turning in Aleppo in favour of the Assad regime - raising serious questions about the ability of the disparate rebel groupings to maintain a significant area of control in northern Syria. The recapture of the city would be an important symbolic achievement for President Assad - underlining the fact that despite all the calls for his departure, Russian and Iranian support has been able not just to maintain him in power, but has enabled the regime to go onto the offensive. Indeed, external military support has been crucial. After years of gruelling attritional combat the regular Syrian army, despite new arms supplies from Moscow, is a shadow of its former self. The battle for Aleppo has depended upon air power and a variety of pro-Iranian militias, including Hezbollah fighters on the ground. This has cemented Iran's key role in the conflict, which may have consequences in the future.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1532, "answer_start": 450, "text": "Rebel fighters have been driven out of more neighbourhoods of their long-held enclave in eastern Aleppo, as Syrian government forces continue to advance. After further fighting on Monday, the rebels are reported to have lost all of the northern neighbourhoods they controlled before the weekend, leaving them with under two-thirds of the territory they had in the city. Two rebel officials told Reuters their forces had withdrawn to a more defendable front line after government advances risked splitting the rebel-held area in two. Syrian government troops now control the section of east Aleppo north of the Sakhour highway, according to monitors. Russia's defence ministry says Syrian government troops have captured 12 districts, or 40% of the territory, from the rebels. It says that more than 100 rebels have laid down their arms and left the city. Aerial bombardment of rebel-held areas was continuing on Monday, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Syrian army and its allies launched a major offensive to retake control of Aleppo in September." } ], "id": "9313_0", "question": "What are the latest developments?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3379, "answer_start": 1533, "text": "Thousands of residents of east Aleppo have fled to areas controlled by government forces and Kurdish groups since the fighting intensified on Saturday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said as many as 10,000 residents fled to government-controlled western areas and a Kurdish-run northern district. State media showed men, women and children being transported to government-held areas on green buses. Kurdish groups who control the Sheikh Maqsoud area of Aleppo provided images showing people fleeing the rebel-held neighbourhoods into a Kurdish-controlled district. A spokesman for the Syrian Kurdish PYD party told Reuters that 6,000-10,000 people had fled into the district. Scott Craig, the spokesperson for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Syria, told the BBC that there were 250,000 people in need of assistance in eastern Aleppo, 100,000 of them children. Food supplies were gone, he said. \"The situation on the ground in eastern Aleppo is almost beyond the imagination of those of us who are not there,\" Mr Craig said. Warning of a humanitarian disaster, a volunteer rescue service known as the White Helmets said it had run out of fuel reserves needed to reach people caught in the onslaught. On Sunday, seven-year-old Bana Alabed, who has gathered thousands of Twitter followers with her tweets from Aleppo, said her home in the east of the city had been bombed. On Monday morning, her account tweeted: \"Under heavy bombardments now. In between death and life now, please keep praying for us.\" Last week the United Nations' humanitarian chief, Stephen O'Brien, said that hundreds of civilians had been killed or injured since the bombardment of eastern Aleppo resumed six days earlier. He also highlighted deaths and injuries resulting from mortar and rocket attacks from rebel-held areas into western Aleppo." } ], "id": "9313_1", "question": "What has happened to residents?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4747, "answer_start": 3380, "text": "This advance follows two weeks of relentless aerial bombardment, as the government and its allies renewed their assault on the rebel-held portion of Aleppo. It followed a three-week pause in the Russian and Syrian bombing of the area, which ended on 15 November. There are no fully-functioning hospitals left in the rebel-held territory and food ran out earlier in November. Since the start of this month's offensive, pro-government forces have conducted 2,000 airstrikes, bombing the city with some 7,000 artillery rounds as well as ballistic missiles, cluster munitions and chlorine gas, according to the White Helmets rescue group. The BBC has not been able to verify these figures. UN envoy Staffan de Mistura estimated last month that there were 8,000 rebel fighters in eastern Aleppo. Retaking the whole of Aleppo, Syria's second largest city, is a key aim of the Syrian government. The east of Aleppo has been held by rebel factions opposed to President Bashar al-Assad for the past four years. Government forces have taken more and more territory from them since Russia intervened to back its ally, President Assad, in September 2015. Iranian-backed militias and Russian air strikes have helped Syrian government forces to break the deadlock. Russia says its air force is active in other parts of the country, but has not operated over Aleppo since the pause." } ], "id": "9313_2", "question": "Why has this happened now - and why does it matter?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Across Britain, people are spending more money on vegan products, and plant-based diets are trending online. With major supermarkets catching on and stocking up on vegan-friendly food - BBC News asks what's behind the rise? A vegan diet involves cutting out animal products like meat, fish, dairy and eggs. According to the latest research by the Vegan Society, conducted in 2018, there are around 600,000 vegans in Great Britain. It's estimated that this is up from 150,000 in 2006, and that there are twice as many women than men who are vegan. Around 360,000 people also describe themselves as lifestyle vegans, who commit to only using or buying cosmetics and clothes free from animal products, for example. Supermarket chains in the UK are stocking more vegan options to keep up with consumers' food choices. In 2018 Waitrose introduced a dedicated vegan section in more than 130 shops, while Iceland reported that sales of its plant-based food have risen by 10% over the last year. And a range of fast-food companies, from Greggs to McDonalds and Burger King to KFC, have launched, or announced, vegan options for the UK. The UK market for meat-free foods was reportedly worth PS740m in 2018, according to market researchers Mintel, up from PS539m only three years ago. Interest in vegetarian and vegan products shows no sign of slowing down, as retail sales are expected to increase to PS658m by 2021. Social media has had a big part to play in the rise of the plant-based lifestyle. Celebrities like Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Ellen DeGeneres are some of the well-known figures who don't eat animal products, while #vegan has more than 87 million posts listed on Instagram. Veganism is a hot topic - the number of Google searches worldwide has also spiked in recent years. The search engine uses a number out of 100 to represent interest in a search term. In 2009, the word \"veganism\" had a peak popularity score of only 33 but it had increased to 100 only 10 years later. The top three most-searched questions on the topic in the UK ask what veganism is, about its sustainability and how it affects climate change. Giles Quick, director at market researcher Kantar Worldpanel, said: \"The vegan market has changed fundamentally in the last six or seven years - it's now for everyone. \"Social media has brought it to the forefront of customer's minds, and the mainstream. It's not seen any more as a choice for life, but as a choice for one meal, one moment, for one or two days a week.\" Flexitarianism, part-time vegetarianism or veganism, is becoming more and more popular. And in January 2019, 250,000 people pledged to go vegan for the first month of the year, under the Veganuary campaign. Launched in the UK in 2014, and supported by a wide range of social media, Veganuary encourages people \"to try vegan for January and beyond\". According to analysts, young women are driving the growth of the vegan movement. But, a range of reasons lie behind veganism's rise. A total of 49% of those interested in cutting down on their meat consumption said they would do so for health reasons, according to a survey of more than 1,000 adults in Great Britain by Mintel. Weight management, animal welfare and environmental concerns were also big motivators. With interest increasing all the time in healthy eating, part-time veganism might well become a full-time fixture in many people's lives. Update: This piece was originally published on 18 June 2018. It has been updated to reflect the latest available statistics.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2847, "answer_start": 1409, "text": "Social media has had a big part to play in the rise of the plant-based lifestyle. Celebrities like Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Ellen DeGeneres are some of the well-known figures who don't eat animal products, while #vegan has more than 87 million posts listed on Instagram. Veganism is a hot topic - the number of Google searches worldwide has also spiked in recent years. The search engine uses a number out of 100 to represent interest in a search term. In 2009, the word \"veganism\" had a peak popularity score of only 33 but it had increased to 100 only 10 years later. The top three most-searched questions on the topic in the UK ask what veganism is, about its sustainability and how it affects climate change. Giles Quick, director at market researcher Kantar Worldpanel, said: \"The vegan market has changed fundamentally in the last six or seven years - it's now for everyone. \"Social media has brought it to the forefront of customer's minds, and the mainstream. It's not seen any more as a choice for life, but as a choice for one meal, one moment, for one or two days a week.\" Flexitarianism, part-time vegetarianism or veganism, is becoming more and more popular. And in January 2019, 250,000 people pledged to go vegan for the first month of the year, under the Veganuary campaign. Launched in the UK in 2014, and supported by a wide range of social media, Veganuary encourages people \"to try vegan for January and beyond\"." } ], "id": "9314_0", "question": "Do influencers influence what we eat?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3525, "answer_start": 2848, "text": "According to analysts, young women are driving the growth of the vegan movement. But, a range of reasons lie behind veganism's rise. A total of 49% of those interested in cutting down on their meat consumption said they would do so for health reasons, according to a survey of more than 1,000 adults in Great Britain by Mintel. Weight management, animal welfare and environmental concerns were also big motivators. With interest increasing all the time in healthy eating, part-time veganism might well become a full-time fixture in many people's lives. Update: This piece was originally published on 18 June 2018. It has been updated to reflect the latest available statistics." } ], "id": "9314_1", "question": "Why are more people going vegan?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The pictures of protesters clashing with police in Hamburg made front pages around the world. But what are they protesting about? According to Fox News' Eric Bolling, the protesters \"are angry that America isn't footing the bill for every social justice issue the world can come up with\". Speaking to experts and the protesters themselves, it is clear that is not true. In fact, protesters like these are at most G20 summits, not least during London in 2009 and Toronto in 2010 - both during Barack Obama's presidency. While the new US president's attitude towards climate change may have angered some gathered in Hamburg, Donald Trump is certainly not the only leader to have invoked protesters' ire. Russian President Vladimir Putin's intervention in Syria, Recep Tayyip Erdogan's crackdown on dissidents in Turkey and the corruption allegations surrounding Brazil's Michel Temer were just some of the issues brought up by one protester. However, the big problem appears to be the very idea that 19 world leaders, plus the two top officials of the European Union, doing deals behind closed doors. \"We know that the people who cause the misery that we have all over the world today - refugees, wars, and so on - they are sitting right now in the G20 and are having a chat,\" Suse Haber, a protester with an environmental group from Germany, told Reuters. \"In New York right now, some 130 countries are preparing a nuclear arms treaty, in order to abolish nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, the leader of the nuclear powers are sitting here having a good time. That's what we're protesting.\" Researcher Julia Kulik, of the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs, agrees that, for a large number of the protesters, the idea of the G20 in itself is enough to send people onto the streets. \"Seeing 20-21 people making decisions that affect the entire world is not appealing to a lot of people,\" she told Canada's Global News. If the pictures adorning news websites around the world are to be believed, those who descended on the city were masked and largely armed. But it is far from the truth: there are about 100,000 protesters in Hamburg for the G20, and all but a very a few are peaceful. Only 8,000 of those who descended on the city ahead of the summit were deemed a violence risk - and far fewer still were caught up in the clashes which erupted on Thursday night following the Welcome to Hell march. In fact, there is a range of events going on - including an alternative summit which was arranged by a group of NGOs, political parties and others ahead of the two-day G20. Those outside this tiny group were unimpressed with the more extreme fringes of the protest - but were also critical of the police. German protester Christian Luetzeler told Reuters those turning to violence were \"really shooting themselves into the foot\". \"But at the end of the day, the people have in fact been provoked,\" he added. \"The provocations still continue: not one politician from the government of Hamburg has come onto the street to de-escalate the situation. On the contrary, it is always pushed further.\" Far-left extremism has become a feature of protests in recent years, and Hamburg - known for its squatter scene, which developed in the 1980s - is not stranger to violent protests. Clashes broke out at this year's May Day protest in the city, while in 2008 cars burned as extremists battled police on the streets for several hours. It meant Hamburg police were already aware of the potential issues ahead of the G20, drafting in police from around the country. They also carried out operations ahead of the summit, finding weapons they believe protesters would have used against officers. But the city was not just on alert for extremists within its bounds. Police were expecting them to be joined by left-wing extremists from other German cities, including Berlin and Rostock, with others coming from further afield. In particular, Hamburg's police chief, Ralf Martin Meyer, was expecting anarchists to travel to Hamburg from Scandinavia, Switzerland and Italy.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4069, "answer_start": 3106, "text": "Far-left extremism has become a feature of protests in recent years, and Hamburg - known for its squatter scene, which developed in the 1980s - is not stranger to violent protests. Clashes broke out at this year's May Day protest in the city, while in 2008 cars burned as extremists battled police on the streets for several hours. It meant Hamburg police were already aware of the potential issues ahead of the G20, drafting in police from around the country. They also carried out operations ahead of the summit, finding weapons they believe protesters would have used against officers. But the city was not just on alert for extremists within its bounds. Police were expecting them to be joined by left-wing extremists from other German cities, including Berlin and Rostock, with others coming from further afield. In particular, Hamburg's police chief, Ralf Martin Meyer, was expecting anarchists to travel to Hamburg from Scandinavia, Switzerland and Italy." } ], "id": "9315_0", "question": "So who are the anarchists?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Pope Francis has apologised for remarks he made last week in Chile defending a bishop accused of covering up sexual abuse. He said he realised his words hurt many, but repeated his belief that Chilean Bishop Juan Barros was innocent. The pontiff was speaking to journalists on board a plane flying back to Rome. Last week, he had said that victims who had accused Bishop Barros were committing slander. The Pope was openly criticised by Cardinal Sean O'Malley of Boston, who said he left victims of sexual abuse committed by priests feeling abandoned. \"I apologise to them if I hurt them without realising it, but it was a wound that I inflicted without meaning to,\" said the Pope on Monday, as quoted by Reuters news agency. \"It pains me very much.\" Bishop Barros has not been accused of abuse, but of being present when another priest, Fernando Karadima, molested young boys. When questioned by a Chilean journalist on Thursday, the Argentine pontiff had said: \"The day they bring me proof against Bishop Barros, then I will speak. There is not a single piece of proof against him. Everything is slander. Is this clear?\" This prompted some of Karadima's victims to hold a press conference where they said it was \"offensive and unacceptable to say that we need to provide concrete evidence\". On Monday, the Pope said he regretted using the word \"proof\", saying he realised that it came off as a slap in the face. \"There are lots of abused people who cannot show proof. They don't have it. Or they have it but they keep it to themselves, suffering in silence,\" he said. By Jane Chambers, BBC News in Santiago Protesters in Chile are not impressed with the Pope's apology. They say it is unfair that he is choosing to believe the bishop over victims. Juan Carlos Claret is the spokesperson for the parishioners of Osorno, who have repeatedly asked for the bishop's resignation. Reacting to the Pope's recent comments, he said: \"The Pope is now saying that he refused the bishop's resignation twice because he thinks that [it] will show that he is guilty. That makes the Pope responsible for the misery that we are suffering.\" He added: \"[The Pope] asks for evidence, but the victims have testified - isn't that enough for him? He apologises to us but now we need to see action. Sorry isn't good enough. Barros must resign.\" Across the country, a cartoon - by Chilean satirist Guillo - is now circulating through social media. It shows the Pope saying, \"To believe in us you have to have faith. But if you want us to believe in you - you must bring me evidence\". In 2010, Father Karadima was publicly accused of molesting several teenaged boys in the capital, Santiago, starting in the 1980s. After the Vatican found him guilty, he was sentenced to a lifetime of \"penance and prayer\". He never faced criminal prosecution in Chile as too much time had passed, but the judge who heard victims' testimony in a year-long investigation described them as \"truthful and reliable\". The Pope has been criticised for appointing Bishop Barros as bishop of Osorno, in south-central Chile, in 2015. The ceremony at which he was installed as bishop of Osorno had to be cut short over protests in the cathedral. The Pope was greeted with protests in Santiago, with demonstrators insisting the bishop should not hold his role. Francis also met victims of sexual abuse by priests in the country. He cried with them and said he felt \"pain and shame\" over the scandal.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3194, "answer_start": 2561, "text": "In 2010, Father Karadima was publicly accused of molesting several teenaged boys in the capital, Santiago, starting in the 1980s. After the Vatican found him guilty, he was sentenced to a lifetime of \"penance and prayer\". He never faced criminal prosecution in Chile as too much time had passed, but the judge who heard victims' testimony in a year-long investigation described them as \"truthful and reliable\". The Pope has been criticised for appointing Bishop Barros as bishop of Osorno, in south-central Chile, in 2015. The ceremony at which he was installed as bishop of Osorno had to be cut short over protests in the cathedral." } ], "id": "9316_0", "question": "What is the controversy about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3447, "answer_start": 3195, "text": "The Pope was greeted with protests in Santiago, with demonstrators insisting the bishop should not hold his role. Francis also met victims of sexual abuse by priests in the country. He cried with them and said he felt \"pain and shame\" over the scandal." } ], "id": "9316_1", "question": "How did this affect his latest trip?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Donald Trump has praised Viktor Orban during the Hungarian prime minister's visit to the White House. At a press conference, the US president said Mr Orban was \"respected all over Europe\" and had \"kept [Hungary] safe\". The conservative Hungarian premier is a controversial figure over his stances on immigration, press freedom and Russia. Critics of the visit, including some Republicans, argue that Mr Orban has eroded democracy in Hungary. US officials say the two leaders had a private meeting aimed at strengthening American \"re-engagement\" in central Europe, and to negotiate trade deals in arms and energy. Orban's spokesman, Zoltan Kovacs, said in a statement that both countries have \"much that keeps us close\", including \"Nato, security co-operation, energy security, migration, pro-family policies, and the protection of our Judeo-Christian heritage\". Mr Orban is a divisive figure in European politics and has been criticised for moves to consolidate power and curb the power of the judiciary and media. Like Mr Trump, he is tough on immigration. Critics also worry about his desire to strengthen Hungary's ties with Russia. He has been shunned by US presidents in the past. He first visited in 2001 during his initial term as prime minister, but was refused a meeting with President Bush. In a joint letter, several Democrat lawmakers condemned the visit, saying Mr Orban \"represents so many things that are antithetical to core American values\". Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump said: \"I know he's a tough man, but he's a respected man, and he's done the right thing, according to many people, on immigration.\" Mr Orban, in response, said Hungary was \"proud to stand together\" with the US \"on fighting illegal migration, on terrorism and protecting Christian communities all around the world\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 861, "answer_start": 442, "text": "US officials say the two leaders had a private meeting aimed at strengthening American \"re-engagement\" in central Europe, and to negotiate trade deals in arms and energy. Orban's spokesman, Zoltan Kovacs, said in a statement that both countries have \"much that keeps us close\", including \"Nato, security co-operation, energy security, migration, pro-family policies, and the protection of our Judeo-Christian heritage\"." } ], "id": "9317_0", "question": "Why is Orban visiting?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1458, "answer_start": 862, "text": "Mr Orban is a divisive figure in European politics and has been criticised for moves to consolidate power and curb the power of the judiciary and media. Like Mr Trump, he is tough on immigration. Critics also worry about his desire to strengthen Hungary's ties with Russia. He has been shunned by US presidents in the past. He first visited in 2001 during his initial term as prime minister, but was refused a meeting with President Bush. In a joint letter, several Democrat lawmakers condemned the visit, saying Mr Orban \"represents so many things that are antithetical to core American values\"." } ], "id": "9317_1", "question": "Why is the visit controversial?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1805, "answer_start": 1459, "text": "Speaking to reporters, Mr Trump said: \"I know he's a tough man, but he's a respected man, and he's done the right thing, according to many people, on immigration.\" Mr Orban, in response, said Hungary was \"proud to stand together\" with the US \"on fighting illegal migration, on terrorism and protecting Christian communities all around the world\"." } ], "id": "9317_2", "question": "What did Trump and Orban say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "More than five million people across England are unable to book an appointment with a GP outside of working hours. BBC analysis of official data shows 10% of registered patients live in areas where there is no access to GPs on evenings and at weekends. Labour has accused the government of \"breaking its promises\". NHS England said it was still on target to provide access to extended care for all patients by 1 October. Our analysis shows: - More than 22 million people - or 40% of patients registered with GPs - now have \"seven-day 8am to 8pm\" access to GPs - defined as full provision by NHS England - Just over half the population have access to partial provision. This is when a GP practice can offer the minimum of ninety minutes of bookable appointments once a week - Only two areas offer full provision to GPs for all patients - Some 5.4 million people - or 10% of patients - had no access to GPs outside of normal working hours Former Prime Minister David Cameron made a promise everyone in England would have access to GP services seven-days a week by 2020, at the Conservative party conference in 2014.. The plans have since been brought forward. From October, it will be mandatory for all Clinical Commissioning Groups to put in place arrangements for extended access to general practice. The latest data - from March and collated bi-annually from surveys filled out by GPs - shows widespread regional variation. In Sefton in Merseyside, for example, two thirds of patients had no access to GPs outside of working hours, the highest percentage in England. That compares to Herefordshire and Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire, where every patient had access to full provision. A spokesman for NHS South Sefton CCG said extended access to general practice was \"not compulsory\", but it was \"undertaking a procurement exercise\" to roll services out from October. Self-employed, mother of three, Pragya Agarwal is registered at a GP practice commissioned by NHS Southport and Formby CCG. No practices provide a full 8am-8pm service, but 94% of patients have access to some form of partial provision. Pragya said it was often impossible to access a doctor's appointment. She said \"You call in the morning to make an appointment at literally one minute to 8am and it's impossible to get through, the lines are jammed straight away, everyone is trying to call at the same time and there just aren't enough appointments in the day. \"Then usually you're offered an appointment a week, eight to ten days ahead... the access to appointments is very limited. It's really difficult unless you sound really, really urgent.\" Pragya said \"I hate to malign the NHS in any way, everyone works incredibly hard. Our local GP seems under a lot of pressure to meet deadlines, so when you do see someone for five to 10 minutes it's very rushed.\" Olivia Djouadi, 46, from Bromley in south London, where 94% of patients have full access to extended hours appointments. She is self-employed and cares for a disabled teenage son. \"I call for an appointment at 8 o'clock on a Monday morning and can be given an appointment for a couple of weeks time. \"At 8 o'clock, it seems they've booked all the slots for the day. If you are even slightly late, like 8.15, there is no chance of seeing someone that day. \"I've often been given an appointment for a couple of weeks time. I have diabetes and lots of medical needs so I can't really wait a couple of weeks. If I'm concerned, I will often go to the in-house GP at A&E ... and I sit and wait. \"I have a teenager in a wheelchair and work full-time, so I'd have to cancel his school day if I have to wait at A&E to see someone because I might not be back when his transport brings him home from school.\" A spokesperson for NHS Rushcliffe CCG said it was proud of the extended hours service it provides, through '\"vanguard funding\". In 2015, it became one of fifty 'vanguard' sites created and funded by the NHS. The purpose was to bring together hospitals, community services, GPs and care homes to provide extended care. NHS Herefordshire CCG has been able to offer full extended access, through the GP Access Fund. Originally called the Prime Minister's Challenge Fund, it became one of twenty-one pilot areas funded in 2015 to provide extended GP hours. That has enabled Herefordshire to commission a GP Federation to provide three hub sites across the county, to provide seven-day a week service. Christine Price from Healthwatch Herefordshire, the independent champion for people who use health services in the county, said though people want convenience of care, how to get to services for those living in rural communities is an issue. Christine said \"People thought their own local GP would be open as part of extended access, but it's not realistic with twenty-four practices across the whole county. \"With limited transport between market towns and rural areas, the reality is not everyone can access services. \"If all patients wanted to use it, it wouldn't have the capacity for them to use it. \"People without money, friends and family nearby struggle to access services outside of their immediate area. It's not there for everyone in reality.\" Doctors' groups have questioned the government's priority of extended access at a time when there is a critical shortage of GPs. In the recent British Medical Association's paper, Dr Richard Vautrey, its GP Committee chair, said the government should address \"increased demand and unmanageable GP workloads\". The Royal College of GPs said it wants to give patients access to services they need but states there are not enough GPs to provide this. Its chair, Helen Stokes-Lampard, has called for funding for an extra GP in every practice in England. Labour's Shadow Secretary of Health and Social Care, Jonathan Ashworth MP has been critical of the handling of the extended access scheme. He said \"This is yet more evidence that the Tories have broken their promises on access to GPs seven days a week. \"The truth is that years of austerity has taken its toll on general practice. We need a serious long term investment plan for primary care.\" A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said it had invested an extra PS2.4bn a year into general practice by 2021. It said alternative data, recorded in May 2018, sourced monthly from Clinical Commissioning Groups, suggests 55% of the population now had access to 8am-8pm GP services. NHS England has declined to release this data. A spokesman for NHS England said: \"The NHS is investing at least PS258m this year to offer improved access to general practice, including evening and weekend appointments. This is ahead of schedule with appointments available to more than half the country now, and they will be available across the whole country by October this year.\" A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said it wants everyone to have access to evening and weekend GP appointments and \"already millions have benefitted\" from the plans. The BBC also analysed similar data from Wales and Scotland. In Northern Ireland, there was no comparable data available. In Wales, five out of seven Health Boards provided no out-of-hours appointments after 18:30, in data provided by the Welsh government. GPs chose whether to provide 24-hour care for their patients or to transfer responsibility to local Health Boards. The Welsh government said its figures \"show more appointments are available for people at more convenient times\". In Scotland, 3% of patients are registered at a GP practice that has opted in to provide out-of-hours services, in data provided by the Information Services Division (ISD) on behalf of the Scottish Government. A Scottish Government spokesman said GPs were not contractually required to provide care, and it was the responsibility of local Health Boards. \"Everyone in Scotland has access to out-of-hours services - regardless of where they live,\" he added.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1867, "answer_start": 937, "text": "Former Prime Minister David Cameron made a promise everyone in England would have access to GP services seven-days a week by 2020, at the Conservative party conference in 2014.. The plans have since been brought forward. From October, it will be mandatory for all Clinical Commissioning Groups to put in place arrangements for extended access to general practice. The latest data - from March and collated bi-annually from surveys filled out by GPs - shows widespread regional variation. In Sefton in Merseyside, for example, two thirds of patients had no access to GPs outside of working hours, the highest percentage in England. That compares to Herefordshire and Rushcliffe in Nottinghamshire, where every patient had access to full provision. A spokesman for NHS South Sefton CCG said extended access to general practice was \"not compulsory\", but it was \"undertaking a procurement exercise\" to roll services out from October." } ], "id": "9318_0", "question": "What are extended hours?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7007, "answer_start": 5183, "text": "Doctors' groups have questioned the government's priority of extended access at a time when there is a critical shortage of GPs. In the recent British Medical Association's paper, Dr Richard Vautrey, its GP Committee chair, said the government should address \"increased demand and unmanageable GP workloads\". The Royal College of GPs said it wants to give patients access to services they need but states there are not enough GPs to provide this. Its chair, Helen Stokes-Lampard, has called for funding for an extra GP in every practice in England. Labour's Shadow Secretary of Health and Social Care, Jonathan Ashworth MP has been critical of the handling of the extended access scheme. He said \"This is yet more evidence that the Tories have broken their promises on access to GPs seven days a week. \"The truth is that years of austerity has taken its toll on general practice. We need a serious long term investment plan for primary care.\" A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said it had invested an extra PS2.4bn a year into general practice by 2021. It said alternative data, recorded in May 2018, sourced monthly from Clinical Commissioning Groups, suggests 55% of the population now had access to 8am-8pm GP services. NHS England has declined to release this data. A spokesman for NHS England said: \"The NHS is investing at least PS258m this year to offer improved access to general practice, including evening and weekend appointments. This is ahead of schedule with appointments available to more than half the country now, and they will be available across the whole country by October this year.\" A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care said it wants everyone to have access to evening and weekend GP appointments and \"already millions have benefitted\" from the plans." } ], "id": "9318_1", "question": "Should the money be spent elsewhere?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Saudi Arabia and Iran are at loggerheads. They have long been rivals, but it's all recently got a lot more tense. Here's why. Saudi Arabia and Iran - two powerful neighbours - are locked in a fierce struggle for regional dominance. The decades-old feud between them is exacerbated by religious differences. They each follow one of the two main branches of Islam - Iran is largely Shia Muslim, while Saudi Arabia sees itself as the leading Sunni Muslim power. This religious schism is reflected in the wider map of the Middle East, where other countries have Shia or Sunni majorities, some of whom look towards Iran or Saudi Arabia for support or guidance. Historically Saudi Arabia, a monarchy and home to the birthplace of Islam, saw itself as the leader of the Muslim world. However this was challenged in 1979 by the Islamic revolution in Iran which created a new type of state in the region - a kind of revolutionary theocracy - that had an explicit goal of exporting this model beyond its own borders. In the past 15 years in particular, the differences between Saudi Arabia and Iran have been sharpened by a series of events. The 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq overthrew Saddam Hussein, a Sunni Arab who had been a major Iranian adversary. This removed a crucial military counter-weight to Iran. It opened the way for a Shia-dominated government in Baghdad and Iranian influence in the country has been rising ever since. Fast-forward to 2011 and uprisings across the Arab world caused political instability throughout the region. Iran and Saudi Arabia exploited these upheavals to expand their influence, notably in Syria, Bahrain and Yemen, further heightening mutual suspicions. Iran's critics say it is intent on establishing itself or its proxies across the region, and achieving control of a land corridor stretching from Iran to the Mediterranean. The strategic rivalry is heating up because Iran is in many ways winning the regional struggle. In Syria, Iranian (and Russian) support for President Bashar al-Assad has enabled his forces to largely rout rebel group groups backed by Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia is trying desperately to contain rising Iranian influence while the militaristic adventurism of the kingdom's young and impulsive Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman - the country's de facto ruler - is exacerbating regional tensions. He is waging a war against the rebel Houthi movement in neighbouring Yemen, in part to stem perceived Iranian influence there, but after four years this is proving a costly gamble. Iran has denied accusations that it is smuggling weaponry to the Houthis, though successive reports from a panel of UN experts have demonstrated significant assistance for the Houthis from Tehran in terms of both technology and weaponry. Meanwhile in Lebanon, Iran's ally, Shia militia group Hezbollah, leads a politically powerful bloc and controls a huge, heavily armed fighting force. Many observers believe the Saudis forced Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, whom it backs, to resign in 2017 over Hezbollah's involvement in regional conflicts. He later returned to Lebanon and put the resignation on hold. There are also external forces at play. Saudi Arabia has been emboldened by support from the Trump administration while Israel, which sees Iran as a mortal threat, is in a sense \"backing\" the Saudi effort to contain Iran. The Jewish state is fearful of the encroachment of pro-Iranian fighters in Syria ever closer to its border. Israel and Saudi Arabia were the two countries most resolutely opposed to the 2015 international agreement limiting Iran's nuclear programme, insisting that it did not go far enough to roll back any chance of Iran obtaining the bomb. Broadly speaking the strategic map of the Middle East reflects the Shia-Sunni divide. In the pro-Saudi camp are the other major Sunni actors in the Gulf - the UAE and Bahrain - as well as Egypt and Jordan. In the Iranian camp is Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, a member of a heterodox Shia sect, who has relied on pro-Iranian Shia militia groups, including the Lebanon-based Hezbollah, to fight predominantly Sunni rebel groups. Iraq's Shia-dominated government is also a close ally of Iran, though paradoxically it also retains a close relationship with Washington on whom it has depended for help in the struggle against so-called Islamic State. This is in many ways a regional equivalent of the Cold War, which pitted the US against the Soviet Union in a tense military standoff for many years. Iran and Saudi Arabia are not directly fighting but they are engaged in a variety of proxy wars (conflicts where they support rival sides and militias) around the region. Syria is an obvious example, while in Yemen Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles fired at Saudi territory by the rebel Houthi movement. Iran is also accused of flexing its muscle in the strategic waterways of the Gulf, through which oil is shipped from Saudi Arabia. The US says Iran was behind recent attacks on foreign tankers there - something it denies. So far Tehran and Riyadh have fought via proxies. Neither is really geared up for a direct war with the other but a major Houthi attack against the Saudi capital or, as in the most recent case, against a key economic target could upset the apple cart. Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia's infrastructure have inevitably added a new front to the confrontation between Tehran and Riyadh. As in the Gulf, where Iran and Saudi face each other across a maritime border, rising tensions could risk a much broader conflict. For the US and other Western powers, freedom of navigation in the Gulf is essential and any conflict that sought to block the waterway - vital for international shipping and oil transportation - could easily draw in US naval and air forces. For a long time the US and its allies have seen Iran as a destabilising force in the Middle East. The Saudi leadership increasingly sees Iran as an existential threat and the crown prince seems willing to take whatever action he sees necessary, wherever he deems it necessary, to confront Tehran's rising influence. Saudi Arabia's vulnerability has been demonstrated by these latest attacks on its oil installations. If a war breaks out, it will be more perhaps by accident rather than design. But the Saudis' own activism, encouraged in part by a lingering uncertainty as to the Trump administration's own goals in the region, inevitably adds another element of tension.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5063, "answer_start": 4360, "text": "This is in many ways a regional equivalent of the Cold War, which pitted the US against the Soviet Union in a tense military standoff for many years. Iran and Saudi Arabia are not directly fighting but they are engaged in a variety of proxy wars (conflicts where they support rival sides and militias) around the region. Syria is an obvious example, while in Yemen Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of supplying ballistic missiles fired at Saudi territory by the rebel Houthi movement. Iran is also accused of flexing its muscle in the strategic waterways of the Gulf, through which oil is shipped from Saudi Arabia. The US says Iran was behind recent attacks on foreign tankers there - something it denies." } ], "id": "9319_0", "question": "How is the Saudi-Iranian rivalry being played out?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6494, "answer_start": 5064, "text": "So far Tehran and Riyadh have fought via proxies. Neither is really geared up for a direct war with the other but a major Houthi attack against the Saudi capital or, as in the most recent case, against a key economic target could upset the apple cart. Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia's infrastructure have inevitably added a new front to the confrontation between Tehran and Riyadh. As in the Gulf, where Iran and Saudi face each other across a maritime border, rising tensions could risk a much broader conflict. For the US and other Western powers, freedom of navigation in the Gulf is essential and any conflict that sought to block the waterway - vital for international shipping and oil transportation - could easily draw in US naval and air forces. For a long time the US and its allies have seen Iran as a destabilising force in the Middle East. The Saudi leadership increasingly sees Iran as an existential threat and the crown prince seems willing to take whatever action he sees necessary, wherever he deems it necessary, to confront Tehran's rising influence. Saudi Arabia's vulnerability has been demonstrated by these latest attacks on its oil installations. If a war breaks out, it will be more perhaps by accident rather than design. But the Saudis' own activism, encouraged in part by a lingering uncertainty as to the Trump administration's own goals in the region, inevitably adds another element of tension." } ], "id": "9319_1", "question": "Are we heading towards a direct war between Saudi Arabia and Iran?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Senior Tory Ken Clarke and former deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman are both prepared to lead an emergency government to avoid a no-deal Brexit, Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson has said. Ms Swinson rejected Jeremy Corbyn's proposal that he should be caretaker PM if he wins a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson's government. She said the Labour leader did not have enough support from MPs. Mr Corbyn said he was \"ready to serve\" as PM if the government collapsed. Speaking on a visit to Machynlleth, Powys, he said he was \"disappointed\" by Ms Swinson's response to his plan, adding that he hoped she would \"come round\" to it. Asked if he could support Mr Clarke or Ms Harman as an interim prime minister, Mr Corbyn said: \"Under normal constitutional processes in Britain, when a government collapses, the leader of the opposition is called on to form a government.\" It was \"not up to Jo Swinson to decide who the next prime minister is going to be\", he added. Ms Swinson put forward Mr Clarke and Ms Harman - who are the longest-continuously serving male and female MPs - as potential caretaker prime ministers, saying they were both experienced and command respect across Parliament. \"I have been in touch with them because obviously you don't just mention people's names without checking that they're OK with that,\" she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. \"They put public duty first and they don't want to see a no-deal Brexit,\" she added. \"If the House of Commons asks them to lead an emergency government to get our country out of this Brexit mess and to stop us driving off that cliff to a no deal, then yes, they are prepared to do that.\" However, Ms Swinson said she would be open to discussing alternative suggestions with Mr Corbyn of installing \"an experienced MP who has that respect across the House\". On Thursday, Mr Corbyn set out his plan to prevent a no-deal Brexit, which involves calling a vote of no confidence in the government and - if that is successful - a snap election, where he would campaign for another referendum. The SNP and Plaid Cymru did not rule out supporting a cross-party government to stop a no-deal exit and some Tory rebels suggested they would hold talks with Mr Corbyn. An SNP spokesman confirmed the party's Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, had held a \"constructive conversation\" with the Labour leader on Friday morning to discuss \"ways in which the opposition parties can work together in removing the growing threat of a disastrous no-deal Brexit\". Conservative former minister Guto Bebb said MPs should \"take seriously\" the offer, arguing that a short-term Mr Corbyn government would be \"less damaging than the generational damage that would be caused by a no-deal Brexit\". Another Conservative, Dominic Grieve, told the Guardian he was \"happy to talk\" to the leader of the opposition but added that he was \"a deeply divisive figure and in trying to stop a no-deal Brexit it is not my purpose to help him into Downing Street\". And David Gauke - a former justice secretary - signalled his opposition to the plan, tweeting: \"If anyone thinks the answer is Jeremy Corbyn, I think they're probably asking the wrong question.\" Senior Tory Remainer Dame Caroline Spelman and the Independent Group for Change also refused to support a Corbyn government. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he wants a deal with the European Union, but insists the UK must leave the bloc by the end of October \"do or die\". He has also said the cost of a no-deal Brexit would be \"vanishingly inexpensive, if you prepare\". Business Minister Kwasi Kwarteng said he was \"a great fan\" of Mr Clarke, but dismissed talk of the MP becoming prime minister as \"speculation\" - adding that he did not believe Labour could win a no-confidence vote. Ken Clarke was first elected to Parliament as a Conservative MP in 1970 for the Nottinghamshire constituency of Rushcliffe. He held several senior government posts under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including health secretary, education secretary and chancellor. However, his pro-European stance put him at odds with many in his party and despite three attempts in 1997, 2001 and 2005, he failed to become Conservative leader. Harriet Harman was first elected to the London constituency of Peckham in 1982. Under Tony Blair's government, she served as social security secretary, minister for women and solicitor general. In 2007 she won the race to be deputy leader of her party, and became acting leader in 2010 when Gordon Brown resigned following Labour's general election defeat.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4551, "answer_start": 3763, "text": "Ken Clarke was first elected to Parliament as a Conservative MP in 1970 for the Nottinghamshire constituency of Rushcliffe. He held several senior government posts under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, including health secretary, education secretary and chancellor. However, his pro-European stance put him at odds with many in his party and despite three attempts in 1997, 2001 and 2005, he failed to become Conservative leader. Harriet Harman was first elected to the London constituency of Peckham in 1982. Under Tony Blair's government, she served as social security secretary, minister for women and solicitor general. In 2007 she won the race to be deputy leader of her party, and became acting leader in 2010 when Gordon Brown resigned following Labour's general election defeat." } ], "id": "9320_0", "question": "Who are Ken Clarke and Harriet Harman?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The FBI has approached the second woman to accuse US Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct as it begins a fresh inquiry into him. Deborah Ramirez accuses Judge Kavanaugh of exposing himself to her during a drinking game when they were students at Yale University in the 1980s. He has denied the allegation, describing it as a smear. President Donald Trump ordered a new investigation after the judge's first accuser testified to a Senate panel. The panel approved Judge Kavanaugh's nomination but asked for the further inquiry before the full Senate votes on his appointment to America's top court. Despite ordering the FBI investigation, President Trump has continued to defend his nominee Mr Kavanaugh, who denies all the allegations against him. On Saturday, Mr Trump said the FBI had \"free rein\" to investigate the judge. \"They're going to do whatever they have to do, whatever it is they do. They'll be doing things that we have never even thought of. And hopefully at the conclusion everything will be fine,\" the president said. The Supreme Court has the final say on some of the most contentious matters in the US and appointments are for life. Judge Kavanaugh is expected to tilt the court in favour of conservatives. Her lawyer, John Clune, announced that the FBI had \"reached out\" to interview his client and she had agreed to co-operate with their investigation. He made no further comment. Ms Ramirez alleges the incident occurred during the 1983-4 academic year when they were both taking part in a drinking game at a dormitory party. At one point, she told the New Yorker, a plastic penis was pointed in her direction and Brett Kavanaugh then apparently showed his actual penis, which she accidentally touched when she pushed him away. In the interview, she acknowledges gaps in her memory caused by alcohol that night, which is said to have made her hesitant to come forward when contacted. Christine Blasey Ford testified to the Senate committee that he had sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers in the 1980s. Judge Kavanaugh angrily denied that he had ever assaulted her or anyone else. Mark Judge, a high school friend of Judge Kavanaugh who Dr Ford says was in the room at the time of the assault, has promised to co-operate with any law enforcement agency that will \"confidentially investigate\" the allegations. He has said he has no memory of the incident. Two others who were allegedly present in the house during the alleged assault, PJ Smyth and Dr Ford's friend Leland Ingham Keyser, are willing to co-operate \"fully\" with the FBI's investigation, their lawyers said. A third woman who has also publicly accused Judge Kavanaugh, Julie Swetnick, alleges he was involved in the drugging and sexual assault of girls at house parties in the 1980s. She says she was the victim of a gang rape in 1982 at a party attended by Brett Kavanaugh. Ms Swetnick's lawyer said on Saturday that they had yet to hear from the FBI. Announcing the move, President Trump said: \"I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file. \"As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.\" The inquiry involves the FBI reopening its previously completed background check on Judge Kavanaugh. This may mean going back to old witnesses - or speaking to new ones. Dr Ford's lawyer said her client welcomed the step but questioned the time limit of a week to hold the investigation.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1926, "answer_start": 1247, "text": "Her lawyer, John Clune, announced that the FBI had \"reached out\" to interview his client and she had agreed to co-operate with their investigation. He made no further comment. Ms Ramirez alleges the incident occurred during the 1983-4 academic year when they were both taking part in a drinking game at a dormitory party. At one point, she told the New Yorker, a plastic penis was pointed in her direction and Brett Kavanaugh then apparently showed his actual penis, which she accidentally touched when she pushed him away. In the interview, she acknowledges gaps in her memory caused by alcohol that night, which is said to have made her hesitant to come forward when contacted." } ], "id": "9321_0", "question": "What does Ms Ramirez say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2968, "answer_start": 1927, "text": "Christine Blasey Ford testified to the Senate committee that he had sexually assaulted her when they were teenagers in the 1980s. Judge Kavanaugh angrily denied that he had ever assaulted her or anyone else. Mark Judge, a high school friend of Judge Kavanaugh who Dr Ford says was in the room at the time of the assault, has promised to co-operate with any law enforcement agency that will \"confidentially investigate\" the allegations. He has said he has no memory of the incident. Two others who were allegedly present in the house during the alleged assault, PJ Smyth and Dr Ford's friend Leland Ingham Keyser, are willing to co-operate \"fully\" with the FBI's investigation, their lawyers said. A third woman who has also publicly accused Judge Kavanaugh, Julie Swetnick, alleges he was involved in the drugging and sexual assault of girls at house parties in the 1980s. She says she was the victim of a gang rape in 1982 at a party attended by Brett Kavanaugh. Ms Swetnick's lawyer said on Saturday that they had yet to hear from the FBI." } ], "id": "9321_1", "question": "What other allegations does Kavanaugh face?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3500, "answer_start": 2969, "text": "Announcing the move, President Trump said: \"I've ordered the FBI to conduct a supplemental investigation to update Judge Kavanaugh's file. \"As the Senate has requested, this update must be limited in scope and completed in less than one week.\" The inquiry involves the FBI reopening its previously completed background check on Judge Kavanaugh. This may mean going back to old witnesses - or speaking to new ones. Dr Ford's lawyer said her client welcomed the step but questioned the time limit of a week to hold the investigation." } ], "id": "9321_2", "question": "What will the FBI investigation do?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Theresa May has suffered three Brexit defeats in the Commons as she set out to sell her EU deal to sceptical MPs. Ministers have agreed to publish the government's full legal advice on the deal after MPs found them in contempt of Parliament for issuing a summary. And MPs backed calls for the Commons to have a direct say in what happens if the PM's deal is rejected next Tuesday. Mrs May said MPs had a duty to deliver on the 2016 Brexit vote and the deal on offer was an \"honourable compromise\". She was addressing the Commons at the start of a five-day debate on her proposed agreement on the terms of the UK's withdrawal and future relations with the EU. The agreement has been endorsed by EU leaders but must also be backed by the UK Parliament if it is to come into force. MPs will decide whether to reject or accept it on Tuesday 11 December. Mrs May said Brexit divisions had become \"corrosive\" to UK politics and the public believed the issue had \"gone on long enough\" and must be resolved. In other Brexit-related developments: - Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage has quit the party in protest at its direction - The BBC said it had been unable to agree a format for a televised Brexit debate between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn following discussions with the parties - The pound briefly fell to 18-month lows after the government lost the contempt vote - Former Bank of England Governor Mervyn King likens Brexit deal to appeasement - The UK should be able to unilaterally cancel its withdrawal from the EU, according to a top European law officer The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg The prime minister has had a terrible day today as the government made history in two excruciating ways. Ministers were found to be in contempt of Parliament - a very serious telling off - and the government had a hat trick of defeats - the first time since the 1970s that's happened. As you'd expect too, MP after MP after MP rose after Theresa May's remarks to slam her deal as Tory divisions were played out on the green benches, with harsh words exchanged. But in this topsy-turvy world, the overall outcome of the day for Mrs May's big test a week tonight might have been not all bad... By 311 votes to 293, the Commons supported a motion demanding full disclosure of the legal advice given to cabinet before the Brexit deal was agreed. The move was backed by six opposition parties, including Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party which has a parliamentary pact with the Conservatives. It came after Attorney General Geoffrey Cox published a summary of the advice on Monday and answered MPs questions for three hours - but argued that full publication would not be in the national interest. Labour had accused ministers of \"wilfully refusing to comply\" with a binding Commons vote last month demanding they provided the attorney general's full and final advice. After Labour demanded the advice should be released ahead of next Tuesday's key vote on Mrs May's deal, Commons Speaker John Bercow said it was \"unimaginable\" this would not happen. In response, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said she would \"respond\" on Wednesday, but would ask the Commons Privileges Committee to consider the constitutional repercussions. An attempt by ministers to refer the whole issue, including the government's conduct, to the committee of MPs was earlier defeated by four votes. The privileges committee will now decide which ministers should be held accountable and what sanction to apply, with options ranging from a reprimand to the more unlikely scenario of a minister being suspended from the Commons. Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said the result left the government \"on the ropes\", adding: \"Theresa May's majority has evaporated, and the credibility of her deal is evaporating with it.\" The prime minister suffered a further setback on Tuesday as MPs backed, by 321 votes to 299, changes to the parliamentary process should the Commons vote down her deal next week. If that happens, the government has 21 days in which to return to the House and set out what it plans to do next. But Tory Dominic Grieve's motion means that instead of MPs being confined to merely taking note of what the government tells them, the Commons would be able to exert more influence by voting on what they wanted the government to do as well. Tuesday's vote, in which 26 Tory MPs rebelled, could potentially tilt the balance of power between government and Parliament if, as expected, MPs push for a \"Plan B\" alternative to Mrs May's deal and also seek to prevent any chance of a no-deal exit. Mr Grieve, who has expressed support for another Brexit referendum, told Channel 4 News he was not seeking to \"guarantee a particular outcome\" if Mrs May's deal went down. But he said it would \"allow the UK time to consider its options\", including potentially re-starting negotiations with the EU or giving the public the final say. As she sought the backing of the Commons for her Brexit deal, the prime minister said she was confident the UK would enjoy a \"better future\" outside the European Union. She said the \"honourable compromise\" on offer was \"not the one-way street\" many had portrayed it to be and that the EU had made it clear that the agreement would not be improved on. \"I never said this deal was perfect, it was never going to be. That is the nature of a negotiation,\" she said. \"We should not let the search for a perfect Brexit prevent a good Brexit... I promise you today that this is the very best deal for the British people and I ask you to back it in the best interest of our constituents and our country.\" But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was a bad deal for the UK and Labour would seek a vote of no confidence in Mrs May if she could not get it through Parliament. \"This House will make its decision next Tuesday,\" he said. \"I hope and expect this House will reject that deal. \"At that point, the government has lost the confidence of the House. Either they have to get a better deal from the EU or give way to those who will.\" Nigel Dodds, the leader of the DUP in Westminster, said the agreement \"falls short\" of delivering Brexit \"as one United Kingdom\" and would mean entering \"a twilight world where the EU is given unprecedented powers over the UK\". \"We would have to rely on the goodwill of others to ever leave this arrangement,\" he said. \"So... the UK's future as a strong and independent global trading nation standing together is in real and imminent jeopardy - an outcome that doesn't honour the referendum or take back control of our laws, our money and our borders.\" Ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dismissed the deal as a \"paint and plaster pseudo-Brexit\" and said its supporters would be \"turning their backs\" on the 17.4 million Leave voters. \"If we try to cheat them now, as I fear we are, they will spot it and will never forgive us,\" he said. The leader of the SNP in Westminster, Ian Blackford, said beneath the \"theatre\" of the past few months was the \"cold, hard truth\" that this deal was \"a moment of self-harm in our history\". He said it was \"difficult\" and \"a real sorrow\" to even respond to a motion that could see the UK leave the EU - an institution that he called the \"greatest peace project in our lifetime\". \"It is not too late to turn back. Fundamentally, there is no option that is going to be better for our economy, jobs, and for our communities than staying in the European Union. \"And it is the height of irresponsibility of any government to bring forward a proposition that is going to make its people poorer.\" However, in closing the debate shortly after 01:00 GMT on Wednesday, Brexit Secretary Stephen Barclay argued the deal would bring \"real changes which will improve the livelihoods of people up and down the country\". \"This deal is a choice between the certainty of continued co-operation or the potentially damaging fracture of no deal, or indeed the instability of a second referendum vote,\" he said. \"Rejecting this deal would create even more uncertainty at a time when we owe it to our constituents to show clarity and conviction.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3796, "answer_start": 2195, "text": "By 311 votes to 293, the Commons supported a motion demanding full disclosure of the legal advice given to cabinet before the Brexit deal was agreed. The move was backed by six opposition parties, including Northern Ireland's Democratic Unionist Party which has a parliamentary pact with the Conservatives. It came after Attorney General Geoffrey Cox published a summary of the advice on Monday and answered MPs questions for three hours - but argued that full publication would not be in the national interest. Labour had accused ministers of \"wilfully refusing to comply\" with a binding Commons vote last month demanding they provided the attorney general's full and final advice. After Labour demanded the advice should be released ahead of next Tuesday's key vote on Mrs May's deal, Commons Speaker John Bercow said it was \"unimaginable\" this would not happen. In response, Commons Leader Andrea Leadsom said she would \"respond\" on Wednesday, but would ask the Commons Privileges Committee to consider the constitutional repercussions. An attempt by ministers to refer the whole issue, including the government's conduct, to the committee of MPs was earlier defeated by four votes. The privileges committee will now decide which ministers should be held accountable and what sanction to apply, with options ranging from a reprimand to the more unlikely scenario of a minister being suspended from the Commons. Lib Dem leader Sir Vince Cable said the result left the government \"on the ropes\", adding: \"Theresa May's majority has evaporated, and the credibility of her deal is evaporating with it.\"" } ], "id": "9322_0", "question": "What was the legal advice row?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5611, "answer_start": 4915, "text": "As she sought the backing of the Commons for her Brexit deal, the prime minister said she was confident the UK would enjoy a \"better future\" outside the European Union. She said the \"honourable compromise\" on offer was \"not the one-way street\" many had portrayed it to be and that the EU had made it clear that the agreement would not be improved on. \"I never said this deal was perfect, it was never going to be. That is the nature of a negotiation,\" she said. \"We should not let the search for a perfect Brexit prevent a good Brexit... I promise you today that this is the very best deal for the British people and I ask you to back it in the best interest of our constituents and our country.\"" } ], "id": "9322_1", "question": "What did the PM say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6879, "answer_start": 5612, "text": "But Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said it was a bad deal for the UK and Labour would seek a vote of no confidence in Mrs May if she could not get it through Parliament. \"This House will make its decision next Tuesday,\" he said. \"I hope and expect this House will reject that deal. \"At that point, the government has lost the confidence of the House. Either they have to get a better deal from the EU or give way to those who will.\" Nigel Dodds, the leader of the DUP in Westminster, said the agreement \"falls short\" of delivering Brexit \"as one United Kingdom\" and would mean entering \"a twilight world where the EU is given unprecedented powers over the UK\". \"We would have to rely on the goodwill of others to ever leave this arrangement,\" he said. \"So... the UK's future as a strong and independent global trading nation standing together is in real and imminent jeopardy - an outcome that doesn't honour the referendum or take back control of our laws, our money and our borders.\" Ex-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson dismissed the deal as a \"paint and plaster pseudo-Brexit\" and said its supporters would be \"turning their backs\" on the 17.4 million Leave voters. \"If we try to cheat them now, as I fear we are, they will spot it and will never forgive us,\" he said." } ], "id": "9322_2", "question": "And what about her critics?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi Speaker has shrugged off a new lawmaker's use of a profane epithet to assail President Donald Trump. Democrat Rashida Tlaib courted controversy when she used explicit language while calling for the president's impeachment. Ms Pelosi on Thursday said while she would not use such language, it was no worse than things Mr Trump has said. The controversy comes amid renewed talk of impeachment among lawmakers. The Republican president called her comments \"highly disrespectful\" to the US in a news conference on Friday. \"I thought her comments were disgraceful. This is a person I don't know, I assume she's new,\" he told reporters. \"I think she dishonoured herself and dishonoured her family using language like that in front of her son and whoever else was there.\" When asked about her call for impeachment, Mr Trump responded: \"You can't impeach somebody that's doing a great job that's the way I view it.\" Earlier on Friday, he tweeted that his political enemies only want to remove him from office because he is \"the most successful\". Michigan's Ms Tlaib made the remark to supporters at a reception hours after she was sworn in on Thursday as one of the first two Muslim women members of Congress. \"People love you and you win,\" she said. \"And when your son looks at you and says, 'Momma, look you won. Bullies don't win.' And I said, 'Baby, they don't.'\" She added that they would impeach Mr Trump, using a profane term to describe him. Ms Tlaib had also co-authored an opinion piece calling for impeachment that was published in the Detroit Free Press earlier on Thursday. On Friday, she was unapologetic about the furore over her remark. The new congresswoman took her oath of office using a family Koran while wearing a traditional garment stitched by her Palestinian-born mother. Palestinian dress worn in new US Congress Speaking at an MSNBC town hall on Friday, Ms Pelosi said while she may have a \"generational reaction\" to the language, she is \"not in the censorship business\". \"I don't like that language, I wouldn't use that language, but I wouldn't establish any language standards for my colleagues. \"But I don't think it's anything worse than what the president has said.\" On impeachment, Ms Pelosi has been cautious, saying Democrats must \"wait and see\" what happens with special counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US election. Mr Trump told reporters on Friday Ms Pelosi assured him in budget negotiations that House Democrats were not looking to impeach him. A number of Democratic congressmen rebuked the new lawmaker. Civil rights icon John Lewis said Ms Tlaib's comments were \"inappropriate\" and \"distracting\". The Georgia congressman also said talk of impeachment was \"a little premature\". Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri said: \"What she said yesterday was wrong. Wrong is wrong.\" Jerry Nadler of New York told CNN: \"I don't really like that kind of language, but more to the point it is too early to talk about [impeachment] intelligently.\" But Ms Tlaib is not the only hardline Democrat to call for Mr Trump's removal from office. Brad Sherman of California and Al Green of Texas on Thursday reintroduced articles of impeachment against the president. Mr Sherman responded to claims that impeachment talks were distracting from the shutdown battle by saying: \"Does it compete for attention? Yes. So do the Lakers' games,\" the Associated Press reported. As for Ms Tlaib's controversial language, much like Ms Pelosi, California congresswoman Maxine Waters said Mr Trump was responsible for starting all the incivility. \"He's opened up a new way of talking, a new way of addressing these issues in ways that we never heard before,\" Ms Waters said, according to The Hill. \"That gives others the permission to speak passionately about it in the same manner that he has done.\" Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington The newly elected Democrats in the House of Representatives don't look like the membership of past Congresses. It appears they won't sound like them, either. While the party elders, from Nancy Pelosi on down, are preaching restraint and patience with their newly gained power, the rank and file may have different ideas. They are itching for a fight, and they're more than willing to let everyone know. Rashida Tlaib, with her obscenity laced call for the president's impeachment Thursday night, only drives that point home. Ms Pelosi has earned a reputation as a skilled manager and tactician, but she must now walk a fine line in expressing disapproval of Ms Tlaib's remarks - which could complicate ongoing negotiations with Republicans over the budget - while acknowledging the power of the sentiments that they reflect. This will only be the first test of her ability to bridge the generational, strategic and stylistic divides within her party. The reality, however, is that the civility ship has long since sailed in American politics. Donald Trump did not win the presidency by following the rules and norms of discourse, and the new Democrats appear more than ready to join the fray on his terms, whether Ms Pelosi wants them to or not. Republicans were quick to condemn the remarks. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Ms Pelosi ought to make clear to Ms Tlaib that such language is unacceptable. \"I think this is a role as a leader and a speaker to have a conversation with this member,\" he told reporters on Friday. \"Are the House majority going to be serious about anything?\" More women than ever before won seats in Congress in the 2018 mid-terms. What does it mean for Congress - and America?", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2561, "answer_start": 1872, "text": "Speaking at an MSNBC town hall on Friday, Ms Pelosi said while she may have a \"generational reaction\" to the language, she is \"not in the censorship business\". \"I don't like that language, I wouldn't use that language, but I wouldn't establish any language standards for my colleagues. \"But I don't think it's anything worse than what the president has said.\" On impeachment, Ms Pelosi has been cautious, saying Democrats must \"wait and see\" what happens with special counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US election. Mr Trump told reporters on Friday Ms Pelosi assured him in budget negotiations that House Democrats were not looking to impeach him." } ], "id": "9323_0", "question": "What did Pelosi say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3876, "answer_start": 2562, "text": "A number of Democratic congressmen rebuked the new lawmaker. Civil rights icon John Lewis said Ms Tlaib's comments were \"inappropriate\" and \"distracting\". The Georgia congressman also said talk of impeachment was \"a little premature\". Emanuel Cleaver of Missouri said: \"What she said yesterday was wrong. Wrong is wrong.\" Jerry Nadler of New York told CNN: \"I don't really like that kind of language, but more to the point it is too early to talk about [impeachment] intelligently.\" But Ms Tlaib is not the only hardline Democrat to call for Mr Trump's removal from office. Brad Sherman of California and Al Green of Texas on Thursday reintroduced articles of impeachment against the president. Mr Sherman responded to claims that impeachment talks were distracting from the shutdown battle by saying: \"Does it compete for attention? Yes. So do the Lakers' games,\" the Associated Press reported. As for Ms Tlaib's controversial language, much like Ms Pelosi, California congresswoman Maxine Waters said Mr Trump was responsible for starting all the incivility. \"He's opened up a new way of talking, a new way of addressing these issues in ways that we never heard before,\" Ms Waters said, according to The Hill. \"That gives others the permission to speak passionately about it in the same manner that he has done.\"" } ], "id": "9323_1", "question": "What did other Democrats say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5521, "answer_start": 5173, "text": "Republicans were quick to condemn the remarks. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said Ms Pelosi ought to make clear to Ms Tlaib that such language is unacceptable. \"I think this is a role as a leader and a speaker to have a conversation with this member,\" he told reporters on Friday. \"Are the House majority going to be serious about anything?\"" } ], "id": "9323_2", "question": "How did Republicans react?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Last Saturday, Bangladesh executed a senior Islamist party leader, Mohammad Kamaruzzaman, for war crimes committed during the country's 1971 war of independence from Pakistan. It was the second such hanging, with several more death sentences handed down by a domestic court set up to try local collaborators of the Pakistani army from that period. The judicial process has come under repeated international criticism for not being up to standard, while supporters of the largest Islamist political party, Jamaat-e-Islami, have violently protested against the verdicts. But the trials have wide popular support. As the BBC's Bangladesh Correspondent, I covered the first execution and some of the first verdicts. Going through my notes, this stuck with me: closure is coming at a high cost. Heroes need villains. Facts need counterfactuals. But what happens to those who lose the argument? Where do those who lose the war go? Battles end, eventually. Then life resumes. The red lines drawn between them, and us, have to be smudged, if not washed off. But some lines, soaked with blood, divide people within nations and between tribes. The closure craved after friends have tortured friends, brothers have killed brothers, neighbours have raped neighbours can be hard to find. Four decades after the genocide in Bangladesh by the Pakistani army and their local militia, the urge for justice has cracked open old wounds. They had never healed, and their inherent maladies stem from a deeper crisis of identity: Bengali, or Muslim? If both, which comes first? Let's go back to 2013 first. Quite often for hours, as I stood sandwiched between police officers, sometimes reluctantly leaning on the chalky whitewashed wall, verdicts were read out in the packed air-conditioned Dhaka courtroom of the self-styled International Crimes Tribunal. It would all turn a little rowdy after the first death by hanging was announced - the first count that is. Usually several death sentences followed. No-one paid much attention though at that point. This court was trying Razakars, or collaborators, for their war crimes in 1971. It was to be the most violent year in Bangladesh's young life as hundreds were dying in clashes between police and the supporters of Jamaat. Most of those in the dock were from the party. Forty-four years ago, Jamaat had officially opposed the breaking up of Pakistan. Many of its leaders and members led local militias active in the brutal campaign of killing and rape against their own people. But they could not stop Bangladesh's \"bloody birth\". - Civil war erupts in Pakistan, pitting the West Pakistan army against East Pakistanis demanding autonomy and later independence - Fighting forces an estimated 10 million East Pakistani civilians to flee to India - In December, India invades East Pakistan in support of the East Pakistani people - Pakistani army surrenders at Dhaka and its army of more than 90,000 become Indian prisoners of war - East Pakistan becomes the independent country of Bangladesh on 16 December 1971 - Exact number of people killed is unclear - Bangladesh says it is three million but independent researchers say it is up to 500,000 fatalities In the new nation's early turbulent years, the desire to move on led to an almost collective amnesia. Governments dodged the messy process of trying war criminals when those accused were living among them. Successive military rulers seeking any sliver of legitimacy gradually rehabilitated Islamists accused of war crimes politically and economically - to take advantage of their minor yet crucial soft vote bank. After years of pressure from a dedicated group of campaigners, when the current government of Awami League, the party which led Bangladesh into independence, finally started the war crimes trials in 2010 one could not ignore a whiff of political opportunism. By now many of those suspected Islamists had become a mainstay of the opposition bloc. Some had even been government ministers in the past. Initial optimism gave way to criticisms from Western governments and international human rights groups surrounding the robustness of the judicial process, as it was a domestic set-up. Then two years ago, a group of secular bloggers gathered at the capital's Shahbag roundabout demanding the execution of one of the convicted Islamists, after the court handed down a life sentence. It captured the imagination of thousands of urban, middle-class young men and women, all chanting, \"Hang the Razakars\". As their threat to the Islamists was carried live on television - the line between secular, liberal values and mob justice was blurred by pent-up nationalism. While they did get what they wanted - a sentence of death, from an appeals court - it was soon to be a case of unintended consequences. In moderate Muslim-majority Bangladesh, decades of stealthy Saudi Salafist funding for madrassas and Islamic charities has created an underclass of poor, working-class young men shifting to a more puritan and confrontational strain of the religion. Now, feeling threatened from all sides, the Islamists came out of the woodwork. One afternoon that May, hundreds and thousands of madrassa students in traditional Islamic garb and skullcaps gathered at a different Dhaka roundabout - now showing their real numbers. Their favourite war cry, \"Hang atheist bloggers\". A new battle line was drawn. Standing at the gates of Dhaka Central Jail well past midnight on the comfortable chill of that December, waiting with other reporters for the body of the first person to have been executed for war crimes to be carried out in an ambulance, I kept wondering what next. Not much, it appeared - that night, or the weeks that followed. Then it started - the slow descent. Back in London, as I was the reading the news of another Islamist getting hanged this week, I read the last article on the Bangladesh timeline, barely two weeks old: secular blogger hacked to death in broad daylight by Islamists. Remember red lines? Well, this one just turned deep red, again.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4794, "answer_start": 3600, "text": "After years of pressure from a dedicated group of campaigners, when the current government of Awami League, the party which led Bangladesh into independence, finally started the war crimes trials in 2010 one could not ignore a whiff of political opportunism. By now many of those suspected Islamists had become a mainstay of the opposition bloc. Some had even been government ministers in the past. Initial optimism gave way to criticisms from Western governments and international human rights groups surrounding the robustness of the judicial process, as it was a domestic set-up. Then two years ago, a group of secular bloggers gathered at the capital's Shahbag roundabout demanding the execution of one of the convicted Islamists, after the court handed down a life sentence. It captured the imagination of thousands of urban, middle-class young men and women, all chanting, \"Hang the Razakars\". As their threat to the Islamists was carried live on television - the line between secular, liberal values and mob justice was blurred by pent-up nationalism. While they did get what they wanted - a sentence of death, from an appeals court - it was soon to be a case of unintended consequences." } ], "id": "9324_0", "question": "Political opportunism?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The rapper and outspoken advocate for the LGBT community Kevin Fret has been shot dead in Puerto Rico aged 24. The musician, described as Latin Trap music's first openly gay artist, was killed in the capital San Juan on Thursday morning, police said. Fret was shot at eight times while riding a motorbike in the street, and he was hit in the head and hip. His death brings the number of murders in Puerto Rico this year to 22, police added. Confirming his death, Fret's manager Eduardo Rodriguez said: \"There are no words that describe the feeling we have and the pain that causes us to know that a person with so many dreams has to go. \"We must all unite in these difficult times, and ask for much peace for our beloved Puerto Rico.\" Fret was out in the Santurce neighbourhood of San Juan at 5:30 local time (9:30 GMT) on Thursday when he was fatally shot. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead. Police are now searching for another man on a motorcycle who was with Fret when he was found, but quickly fled the scene. There is no immediate indication of a motive, and an investigation is under way. Puerto Rico has seen a rise in street crime in recent weeks, which has been described by police on the Caribbean island as a \"crisis of violence\". The Puerto Rican was a rising trap artist in the Latin trap scene, and his debut music video, Soy Asi (I'm Like This), has more than half a million views on YouTube. Mr Rodriguez described the rapper as \"an artistic soul\" who had a passion for music. \"He still had a lot left to do.\" \"I'm a person that doesn't care what anybody has to say,\" Fret told online magazine Paper last year. \"[Now I see] young gay guys or young lesbians that are looking at me now like a role model, like wow, if he did it, and he don't care what anybody else has to say, I can do it.\" However, Fret's rise to prominence was not without turbulence - while living in Miami last year, he was charged with battery after a fight, media reported. He said he had been attacked because of his sexuality, and threw a metal bottle at the man. Fret has also responded strongly to homophobic threats in the lyrics of a rival musician, making some of his supporters wonder whether his murder was motivated by hate. Trap is a style of Southern hip hop, popularised in the late 90s and early 00s. It is characterised by its use of multilayered energetic and hard-hitting sounds, and overall dark atmosphere. The word \"trap\" refers to where drug deals happen, and the lyrics, which are both sung and rapped, often reflect the poverty, violence and street life that artists have faced. The Latin variant of the genre gained popularity in the Caribbean in the 2010s, and is typically sung in Spanish. It mixes American trap, rhythm and blues and local sounds like Puerto Rican reggaeton. Well-known Latin trap rappers like Bad Bunny, Messiah and Ozuna have collaborated with mainstream hip hop artists like Drake and Cardi B.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1270, "answer_start": 735, "text": "Fret was out in the Santurce neighbourhood of San Juan at 5:30 local time (9:30 GMT) on Thursday when he was fatally shot. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead. Police are now searching for another man on a motorcycle who was with Fret when he was found, but quickly fled the scene. There is no immediate indication of a motive, and an investigation is under way. Puerto Rico has seen a rise in street crime in recent weeks, which has been described by police on the Caribbean island as a \"crisis of violence\"." } ], "id": "9325_0", "question": "What happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2250, "answer_start": 1271, "text": "The Puerto Rican was a rising trap artist in the Latin trap scene, and his debut music video, Soy Asi (I'm Like This), has more than half a million views on YouTube. Mr Rodriguez described the rapper as \"an artistic soul\" who had a passion for music. \"He still had a lot left to do.\" \"I'm a person that doesn't care what anybody has to say,\" Fret told online magazine Paper last year. \"[Now I see] young gay guys or young lesbians that are looking at me now like a role model, like wow, if he did it, and he don't care what anybody else has to say, I can do it.\" However, Fret's rise to prominence was not without turbulence - while living in Miami last year, he was charged with battery after a fight, media reported. He said he had been attacked because of his sexuality, and threw a metal bottle at the man. Fret has also responded strongly to homophobic threats in the lyrics of a rival musician, making some of his supporters wonder whether his murder was motivated by hate." } ], "id": "9325_1", "question": "Who is Kevin Fret?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2956, "answer_start": 2251, "text": "Trap is a style of Southern hip hop, popularised in the late 90s and early 00s. It is characterised by its use of multilayered energetic and hard-hitting sounds, and overall dark atmosphere. The word \"trap\" refers to where drug deals happen, and the lyrics, which are both sung and rapped, often reflect the poverty, violence and street life that artists have faced. The Latin variant of the genre gained popularity in the Caribbean in the 2010s, and is typically sung in Spanish. It mixes American trap, rhythm and blues and local sounds like Puerto Rican reggaeton. Well-known Latin trap rappers like Bad Bunny, Messiah and Ozuna have collaborated with mainstream hip hop artists like Drake and Cardi B." } ], "id": "9325_2", "question": "What is trap music?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Donald Trump has disavowed the \"send her back\" chants directed at Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar by his supporters at a campaign rally. Ms Omar is a US citizen who emigrated from Somalia with her family after fleeing the country's civil war. The chants, which came after Mr Trump criticised Ms Omar and three other congresswomen, were widely condemned, including by some Republicans. \"I was not happy with it. I disagree with it,\" Mr Trump said of the chant. He did not elaborate on what he disagreed with. \"It was quite a chant and I felt a little bit badly about it,\" Mr Trump told reporters on Thursday. \"I started speaking very quickly but it started up rather fast, as you probably noticed.\" The controversial chants took place at Mr Trump's campaign rally in North Carolina. Mr Trump was cheered on by the crowd of thousands as he again accused Ms Omar and her fellow congresswomen Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rashia Tlaib, Ayanna Pressley - known as \"the squad\" - of hating America. Ahead of the rally, a bid to impeach Mr Trump was blocked in Congress. Critics say it echoed the \"lock her up\" phrase adopted by his supporters against Hillary Clinton in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election. The chant comes as tensions escalate between the president and the four Democratic congresswomen over recent tweets, in which Mr Trump told the then four politicians to \"go back\" to their countries. Ms Omar told reporters on Thursday: \"Every single person who is in this country, who's aspiring to become part of the American fabric understands that nothing this president says should be taken to heart.\" \"As he's spewing his fascist ideology on stage, telling US citizens to go back because they don't agree with his detrimental policies for our country, we tell people that here in the US dissent is patriotic, here in the US disagreement is welcome.\" On Wednesday, Ms Omar tweeted lines from Maya Angelou's poem Still I Rise and later shared a photo of herself in the House of Representatives saying, \"I am where I belong\". On Twitter, #IStandWithIlhan began trending as Democrats expressed their support for Ms Omar and criticised the president for prompting the chants with his rhetoric. Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted: \"Trump is stoking the most despicable and disturbing currents in our society\" while Senator Kamala Harris, another Democratic 2020 contender, described the actions as \"vile\". Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer drew comparisons to dictatorships. Some conservatives have also censured the use of the phrase. Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee Tom Emmer - who, like Ms Omar, represents Minnesota in Congress - told reporters he did not agree with the language. \"There's no place for that kind of talk,\" Mr Emmer said, according to Politico. He said the chant was \"not acceptable\". North Carolina congressman Mark Walker said that he \"struggled\" with the chant and that the focus should be on \"her history, words & actions\" instead of \"phrasing that's painful to our friends in the minority communities\". His fellow Republican Adam Kinzinger said the chants were \"ugly\". Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro said \"chanting for her deportation based on her exercise of the First Amendment is disgusting\". Senator Lindsay Graham, a vocal Trump supporter, defended the president, though he said he wished Mr Trump would focus on \"policies not the personality\". \"I've said before that if you're a Somali refugee wearing a Maga hat, he doesn't want to send you back. You'd probably have dinner at the White House,\" Mr Graham told reporters. Republican leader Mitch McConnell told the Fox Business Network on Thursday that Mr Trump is \"on to something\" by attacking the four congresswomen as their policies will be important in the upcoming election. \"We're in a big debate now and next year about what we want America to be like. Do we really think socialism applies here at a time of great prosperity, 50-year-low unemployment?\" Three years ago, crowds at Donald Trump rallies called for the imprisonment of a political adversary. On Wednesday, they chanted for a member of the opposition party to be expelled from the country. These are not behaviours emblematic of a healthy, well-functioning democracy. The president's defenders have parsed his incendiary language in an effort to explain why telling people to \"go back\" to the \"totally broken and crime infested places from which they came\" is not simply the latest iteration of age-old racist invective. It was, they insist, just a Trumpian twist on \"love it or leave it\" sloganeering. When the rhetoric filters down to the president's vocal crowds, however, such nuance is lost. Mr Trump is an instinctual politician who senses weakness and opportunity and often acts before a strategy is fully formed. The goal, however, is clear. He is both trying to sow divisions within Democratic ranks and rile up a base whose enthusiastic turnout will be needed in the coming election. Such a course is not without risk, however. His actions could motivate and unify opponents as much as they do his base. It's a recipe for a toxic, divisive campaign that will get ugly - and fast. In an interview with the Daily Mail just before the Greenville rally, Mr Trump said he was \"not unhappy\" with the way the row has played out and said he believes he is \"winning the political fight...by a lot\". \"I'm not relishing the fight,\" Mr Trump said. \"I'm enjoying it because I have to get the word out to the American people. And you have to enjoy what you do. I enjoy what I do.\" In a series of tweets on Sunday, the president said the four congresswomen - who he did not identify - \"originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe\" and should \"go back\". The president has denied accusations that the tweets were racist, but the Democrat-controlled House passed a symbolic resolution denouncing Mr Trump's \"racist comments that have legitimised fear and hatred of New Americans and people of colour\". A July poll by the Pew Research Center found that while 62% of overall Americans believe openness to people from around the world is \"essential to who we are as a nation\", 57% of Republicans said the US risks \"losing our identity as a nation\" if it is too open. Earlier on Wednesday, a bid to launch impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump was blocked in the US House of Representatives after it failed to win enough support, with only 95 Democrats voting in favour.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4027, "answer_start": 1419, "text": "Ms Omar told reporters on Thursday: \"Every single person who is in this country, who's aspiring to become part of the American fabric understands that nothing this president says should be taken to heart.\" \"As he's spewing his fascist ideology on stage, telling US citizens to go back because they don't agree with his detrimental policies for our country, we tell people that here in the US dissent is patriotic, here in the US disagreement is welcome.\" On Wednesday, Ms Omar tweeted lines from Maya Angelou's poem Still I Rise and later shared a photo of herself in the House of Representatives saying, \"I am where I belong\". On Twitter, #IStandWithIlhan began trending as Democrats expressed their support for Ms Omar and criticised the president for prompting the chants with his rhetoric. Democratic presidential hopeful Senator Bernie Sanders tweeted: \"Trump is stoking the most despicable and disturbing currents in our society\" while Senator Kamala Harris, another Democratic 2020 contender, described the actions as \"vile\". Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer drew comparisons to dictatorships. Some conservatives have also censured the use of the phrase. Chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee Tom Emmer - who, like Ms Omar, represents Minnesota in Congress - told reporters he did not agree with the language. \"There's no place for that kind of talk,\" Mr Emmer said, according to Politico. He said the chant was \"not acceptable\". North Carolina congressman Mark Walker said that he \"struggled\" with the chant and that the focus should be on \"her history, words & actions\" instead of \"phrasing that's painful to our friends in the minority communities\". His fellow Republican Adam Kinzinger said the chants were \"ugly\". Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro said \"chanting for her deportation based on her exercise of the First Amendment is disgusting\". Senator Lindsay Graham, a vocal Trump supporter, defended the president, though he said he wished Mr Trump would focus on \"policies not the personality\". \"I've said before that if you're a Somali refugee wearing a Maga hat, he doesn't want to send you back. You'd probably have dinner at the White House,\" Mr Graham told reporters. Republican leader Mitch McConnell told the Fox Business Network on Thursday that Mr Trump is \"on to something\" by attacking the four congresswomen as their policies will be important in the upcoming election. \"We're in a big debate now and next year about what we want America to be like. Do we really think socialism applies here at a time of great prosperity, 50-year-low unemployment?\"" } ], "id": "9326_0", "question": "What's the reaction?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5613, "answer_start": 5227, "text": "In an interview with the Daily Mail just before the Greenville rally, Mr Trump said he was \"not unhappy\" with the way the row has played out and said he believes he is \"winning the political fight...by a lot\". \"I'm not relishing the fight,\" Mr Trump said. \"I'm enjoying it because I have to get the word out to the American people. And you have to enjoy what you do. I enjoy what I do.\"" } ], "id": "9326_1", "question": "What else has Mr Trump said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6541, "answer_start": 5614, "text": "In a series of tweets on Sunday, the president said the four congresswomen - who he did not identify - \"originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe\" and should \"go back\". The president has denied accusations that the tweets were racist, but the Democrat-controlled House passed a symbolic resolution denouncing Mr Trump's \"racist comments that have legitimised fear and hatred of New Americans and people of colour\". A July poll by the Pew Research Center found that while 62% of overall Americans believe openness to people from around the world is \"essential to who we are as a nation\", 57% of Republicans said the US risks \"losing our identity as a nation\" if it is too open. Earlier on Wednesday, a bid to launch impeachment proceedings against Mr Trump was blocked in the US House of Representatives after it failed to win enough support, with only 95 Democrats voting in favour." } ], "id": "9326_2", "question": "What's the background?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The earliest fossilised trees, dating back 386 million years, have been found at an abandoned quarry in New York. Scientists believe the forest they belonged to was so vast it originally stretched beyond Pennsylvania. This discovery in Cairo, New York, is thought to be two or three million years older than what was previously the world's oldest forest at Gilboa, also in New York State. The findings throw new light on the evolution of trees. It was more than 10 years ago that experts from Cardiff University, UK, Binghamton University in the US and the New York State Museum began looking at the site in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley. Since then, they have mapped over 3,000 square metres of the forest and concluded the forest was home to at least two types of trees: Cladoxylopsids and Archaeopteris. A third type of tree has yet to be identified. Palaeobotanist Dr Chris Berry from Cardiff University is a co-author of the study in the journal Current Biology. \"This is the oldest place where you can wander around and map out where fossil trees were standing back in the middle part of the Devonian era.\" Researchers say they also discovered very long, woody roots that transformed the way plants and soils gather water. \"It's a very ancient forest from the beginnings of the time where the planet was turning green and forests were becoming a normal part of the Earth's system,\" said Dr Berry. It's understood the forest was wiped out by a flood. The researchers have found fish fossils on the surface of the quarry. The point in time that the fossil trees date to marks a transition between a planet with no forests and a planet that is largely covered in trees. Dr Berry says studying the site can give us a better understanding of how trees evolved and how they draw down carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. \"We're well aware at the moment that having forests is a good thing and burning down forests and deforestation is a bad thing. Prof Howard Falcon-Lang from Royal Holloway, London says there's no doubt this is the earliest fossilised forest that we know of. \"It may well be that in the future, something even older pops up - palaeontology is full of surprises! \"But for the time being, this is incredibly exciting.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1556, "answer_start": 445, "text": "It was more than 10 years ago that experts from Cardiff University, UK, Binghamton University in the US and the New York State Museum began looking at the site in the foothills of the Catskill Mountains in the Hudson Valley. Since then, they have mapped over 3,000 square metres of the forest and concluded the forest was home to at least two types of trees: Cladoxylopsids and Archaeopteris. A third type of tree has yet to be identified. Palaeobotanist Dr Chris Berry from Cardiff University is a co-author of the study in the journal Current Biology. \"This is the oldest place where you can wander around and map out where fossil trees were standing back in the middle part of the Devonian era.\" Researchers say they also discovered very long, woody roots that transformed the way plants and soils gather water. \"It's a very ancient forest from the beginnings of the time where the planet was turning green and forests were becoming a normal part of the Earth's system,\" said Dr Berry. It's understood the forest was wiped out by a flood. The researchers have found fish fossils on the surface of the quarry." } ], "id": "9327_0", "question": "What did they find?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2271, "answer_start": 1557, "text": "The point in time that the fossil trees date to marks a transition between a planet with no forests and a planet that is largely covered in trees. Dr Berry says studying the site can give us a better understanding of how trees evolved and how they draw down carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. \"We're well aware at the moment that having forests is a good thing and burning down forests and deforestation is a bad thing. Prof Howard Falcon-Lang from Royal Holloway, London says there's no doubt this is the earliest fossilised forest that we know of. \"It may well be that in the future, something even older pops up - palaeontology is full of surprises! \"But for the time being, this is incredibly exciting.\"" } ], "id": "9327_1", "question": "How does this help us understand the planet's past?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A leading secular politician in Turkey has been sentenced to nearly 10 years in jail for \"terror propaganda and insults\" against the Turkish state. Canan Kaftancioglu, 47, was convicted mainly over tweets which date back several years. She has said the charges were politically motivated and remains free pending an appeal. She heads the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) in Istanbul, the country's largest city. Kaftancioglu played a key in the CHP's triumph in Istanbul's mayoral election in June, defeating the governing AKP party. CHP's Ekrem Imamoglu beat the AKP candidate in the re-run poll, delivering a stinging blow to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. On Friday, she was sentenced to nine years, eight months and 20 days in prison. She was accused of \"insulting\" President Erdogan and the Turkish state in the posts, as well as \"spreading terror propaganda\". The charges related to 2013 anti-government protests and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). The hashtag #TurkiyeSeninleCananBaskan (Turkey Stands With You, Chief Canan) trended online during Kaftanciouglu's trial in Istanbul. Speaking shortly after the court's verdict, Mr Imamoglu said: \"There is no justice in this country. In Turkey, instead of listening to their conscience, judges look towards the palace (the President's office).\" He said Ms Kaftancioglu was sentenced \"because of her success in Istanbul elections\". CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu beat his AKP rival Binali Yildirim, a former prime minister, by a bigger margin than he achieved in the earlier election. That victory in March had been annulled after the AKP alleged irregularities. Mr Yildirim conceded to Mr Imamoglu, while President Erdogan congratulated the CHP candidate on victory. Mr Erdogan had previously said that \"whoever wins Istanbul, wins Turkey\". He has ruled the country since 2003 both as prime minister and now president, becoming the most powerful leader since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1422, "answer_start": 683, "text": "On Friday, she was sentenced to nine years, eight months and 20 days in prison. She was accused of \"insulting\" President Erdogan and the Turkish state in the posts, as well as \"spreading terror propaganda\". The charges related to 2013 anti-government protests and the outlawed Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK). The hashtag #TurkiyeSeninleCananBaskan (Turkey Stands With You, Chief Canan) trended online during Kaftanciouglu's trial in Istanbul. Speaking shortly after the court's verdict, Mr Imamoglu said: \"There is no justice in this country. In Turkey, instead of listening to their conscience, judges look towards the palace (the President's office).\" He said Ms Kaftancioglu was sentenced \"because of her success in Istanbul elections\"." } ], "id": "9328_0", "question": "What was Canan Kaftanciouglu convicted of?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2015, "answer_start": 1423, "text": "CHP candidate Ekrem Imamoglu beat his AKP rival Binali Yildirim, a former prime minister, by a bigger margin than he achieved in the earlier election. That victory in March had been annulled after the AKP alleged irregularities. Mr Yildirim conceded to Mr Imamoglu, while President Erdogan congratulated the CHP candidate on victory. Mr Erdogan had previously said that \"whoever wins Istanbul, wins Turkey\". He has ruled the country since 2003 both as prime minister and now president, becoming the most powerful leader since Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic." } ], "id": "9328_1", "question": "What about the Istanbul mayoral re-run in June?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The European Union has introduced a new mechanism for screening foreign investment. It's widely believed to have been prompted by concerns over China's economic ambitions in Europe. It will allow the European Commission - the EU's executive arm - to give an opinion when an investment \"threatens the security or public order\" of more than one member state or undermines an EU-wide project such as the Galileo satellite project. In March, the European Commission called China a \"systemic rival\" and a \"strategic competitor\". The Chinese Ambassador to the EU urged the bloc to remain \"open and welcome\" to Chinese investment, and not to \"discriminate\". China's ownership of EU businesses is relatively small, but has grown quickly over the past decade. A third of the bloc's total assets are now in the hands of foreign-owned, non-EU companies, according to a report from the European Commission in March. Of these, 9.5% of companies had their ownership based in China, Hong Kong or Macau - up from 2.5% in 2007. That compares with 29% controlled by US and Canadian interests by the end of 2016 - down from nearly 42% in 2007. So, it's a significant increase, but the total amount is not huge, comparatively speaking. The amount of Chinese foreign direct investment in the EU has been rising rapidly, peaking at EUR37.2bn in 2016. However, it's fallen away since then amidst a slowdown in Chinese investment globally, according to the Rhodium Group and the Mercator Institute for China Studies. In European countries outside the EU, Chinese investment also dropped in 2018. A large proportion of Chinese direct investment, both state and private, is concentrated in the major economies, such as the UK, France and Germany combined, according to the Rhodium Group and Mercator Institute. Analysis by Bloomberg last year said that China now owned, or had a stake in, four airports, six maritime ports and 13 professional soccer teams in Europe. It estimated there had been 45% more investment activity in 30 European countries from China than from the US, since 2008. And it said this was underestimating the true extent of Chinese activity. In March, Italy was the first major European economy to sign up to China's new Silk Road programme - known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It involves huge infrastructure building to increase trade between China and markets in Asia and Europe. Officially more than 20 countries in Europe (including Russia) are part of the initiative. For example, China is financing the expansion of the port of Piraeus in Greece and is building roads and railways in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and North Macedonia. This could prove attractive to poorer Balkan and southern European countries, especially as demands for transparency and good governance can make EU funding appear less attractive. However, analysts point out that Chinese loans come with conditions - such as the involvement of Chinese companies - and also risk burdening these countries with large amounts of debt. Globally, China's outward direct investment has slowed over the last year or two, after more than a decade of expansion. \"This is mainly the result of stricter controls on capital outflows from China, but also of a changing political environment globally concerning Chinese investment,\" says Agatha Kratz of the Rhodium Group. The US administration is taking a tougher line towards China's economic activities. Governments elsewhere are more cautious - particularly when it comes to investment in sensitive areas of the economy, such as telecommunications and defence. But there's little doubt China is now a significant player in Europe, whether through direct investments or via the new Silk Road project. What do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1571, "answer_start": 651, "text": "China's ownership of EU businesses is relatively small, but has grown quickly over the past decade. A third of the bloc's total assets are now in the hands of foreign-owned, non-EU companies, according to a report from the European Commission in March. Of these, 9.5% of companies had their ownership based in China, Hong Kong or Macau - up from 2.5% in 2007. That compares with 29% controlled by US and Canadian interests by the end of 2016 - down from nearly 42% in 2007. So, it's a significant increase, but the total amount is not huge, comparatively speaking. The amount of Chinese foreign direct investment in the EU has been rising rapidly, peaking at EUR37.2bn in 2016. However, it's fallen away since then amidst a slowdown in Chinese investment globally, according to the Rhodium Group and the Mercator Institute for China Studies. In European countries outside the EU, Chinese investment also dropped in 2018." } ], "id": "9329_0", "question": "How much foreign investment is in the EU?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2137, "answer_start": 1572, "text": "A large proportion of Chinese direct investment, both state and private, is concentrated in the major economies, such as the UK, France and Germany combined, according to the Rhodium Group and Mercator Institute. Analysis by Bloomberg last year said that China now owned, or had a stake in, four airports, six maritime ports and 13 professional soccer teams in Europe. It estimated there had been 45% more investment activity in 30 European countries from China than from the US, since 2008. And it said this was underestimating the true extent of Chinese activity." } ], "id": "9329_1", "question": "What and where is China investing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3022, "answer_start": 2138, "text": "In March, Italy was the first major European economy to sign up to China's new Silk Road programme - known as the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It involves huge infrastructure building to increase trade between China and markets in Asia and Europe. Officially more than 20 countries in Europe (including Russia) are part of the initiative. For example, China is financing the expansion of the port of Piraeus in Greece and is building roads and railways in Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina and North Macedonia. This could prove attractive to poorer Balkan and southern European countries, especially as demands for transparency and good governance can make EU funding appear less attractive. However, analysts point out that Chinese loans come with conditions - such as the involvement of Chinese companies - and also risk burdening these countries with large amounts of debt." } ], "id": "9329_2", "question": "What about infrastructure?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US may be about to set off an international tax war, as it moves to slash the corporate rate and overhaul the treatment of multinational firms. The changes are aimed at making the US a more attractive place to do business, while reducing loopholes firms use to shield profits overseas. But some of the new items - including a perk for exporters - may breach international rules and treaties. European finance ministers have already voiced concerns about some of the plans. The US is likely to face challenges to some measures and the combination of changes could pressure other countries to rewrite their own rules, perhaps by lowering taxes, said Reuven Avi-Yonah, a law professor at the University of Michigan. \"It's kind of turbulent waters ahead,\" he said. \"The real question is, how will other countries react.\" The US Congress is set to vote on the final version of the US tax bill on Tuesday, signing off on what will be the most sweeping overhaul of the tax code in a generation. Tax attorneys have predicted it will take at least a year to understand the implications of the international changes. \"This stuff is not going to go down like chocolate sauce,\" said David Rosenbloom, an attorney at Caplin & Drysdale and a former tax official. At the heart of the US plan is a reduction in the corporate rate from 35% to 21%. It also changes how businesses account for certain kinds of expenses. Under the proposals, the US will also stop taxing the profits that American companies earn abroad - a change that brings the US into line with tax regimes in other countries. Together, these measures would cost the US more than $1.4tn in revenue. To offset the revenue losses, the US is imposing a one-time tax on profits held abroad, levied at 15.5% for cash and 8% for illiquid assets. Depending on your perspective, the measure either captures tax that firms otherwise would have avoided, or provides companies with a major break on what they would have otherwise owed. \"Allowing them to pay a low rate is basically a get-out-of-jail halfway free card,\" said Matthew Gardner, senior fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning Washington think tank. To discourage unfair profit-shifting in the future, the US is imposing a new minimum tax of about 10% on global intangible income - such as patents - and toughening rules related to payments to foreign subsidiaries. Those provisions are expected to hit pharmaceutical and technology companies, which currently avoid taxes by booking profits attributable to technology in low-tax jurisdictions. But it is not clear how effective the rules will be. Analysts said the provision might encourage firms to move important \"tangible\" investments, such as factories, abroad, since the bill exempts some of the profits gained from these from tax. Because the minimum tax is calculated on a global basis, it also does little to counter the appeal of tax shelters, they said. \"I don't see this as raising tax burdens for very many, especially by the time this all gets through,\" said Kimberly Clausing, a professor of economics at Reed College. Tax attorney Robert Misey, who leads the international department at law firm Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, said he thought there might be opportunities to circumvent the new levies. And, he noted, some of the provisions apply to companies with more than $500m in revenue over three years - those that can most afford savvy tax advice. \"Let's face it,\" Mr Misey said. \"Those are the companies that are going to try to figure out every angle to avoid it.\" The bill allows US companies to claim a deduction for money earned from exports, in effect lowering the rate on exports to about 13%. That change is likely to be seen as an illegal subsidy by the World Trade Organization and could lead to challenges. \"I would expect foreign countries to be somewhat aggrieved by this statute,\" said Caplin & Drysdale's Mr Rosenbloom, who added that policymakers were using the US tax plan for \"isolationist\" goals. The new plan also increases the tax liability of US subsidiaries that make payments to foreign firms. That measure has companies in places such as Germany worried. Prof Clausing said she thought those rules were vulnerable to challenge - or negotiation - and could be designed to strengthen the hand of the US in international discussions about taxes. \"Many people view that as a more of a political gambit,\" she said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2185, "answer_start": 1253, "text": "At the heart of the US plan is a reduction in the corporate rate from 35% to 21%. It also changes how businesses account for certain kinds of expenses. Under the proposals, the US will also stop taxing the profits that American companies earn abroad - a change that brings the US into line with tax regimes in other countries. Together, these measures would cost the US more than $1.4tn in revenue. To offset the revenue losses, the US is imposing a one-time tax on profits held abroad, levied at 15.5% for cash and 8% for illiquid assets. Depending on your perspective, the measure either captures tax that firms otherwise would have avoided, or provides companies with a major break on what they would have otherwise owed. \"Allowing them to pay a low rate is basically a get-out-of-jail halfway free card,\" said Matthew Gardner, senior fellow at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, a left-leaning Washington think tank." } ], "id": "9330_0", "question": "How is the plan aiming to make the US more attractive for businesses?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3572, "answer_start": 2186, "text": "To discourage unfair profit-shifting in the future, the US is imposing a new minimum tax of about 10% on global intangible income - such as patents - and toughening rules related to payments to foreign subsidiaries. Those provisions are expected to hit pharmaceutical and technology companies, which currently avoid taxes by booking profits attributable to technology in low-tax jurisdictions. But it is not clear how effective the rules will be. Analysts said the provision might encourage firms to move important \"tangible\" investments, such as factories, abroad, since the bill exempts some of the profits gained from these from tax. Because the minimum tax is calculated on a global basis, it also does little to counter the appeal of tax shelters, they said. \"I don't see this as raising tax burdens for very many, especially by the time this all gets through,\" said Kimberly Clausing, a professor of economics at Reed College. Tax attorney Robert Misey, who leads the international department at law firm Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren, said he thought there might be opportunities to circumvent the new levies. And, he noted, some of the provisions apply to companies with more than $500m in revenue over three years - those that can most afford savvy tax advice. \"Let's face it,\" Mr Misey said. \"Those are the companies that are going to try to figure out every angle to avoid it.\"" } ], "id": "9330_1", "question": "Will this do anything to prevent companies keeping their profits offshore?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4440, "answer_start": 3573, "text": "The bill allows US companies to claim a deduction for money earned from exports, in effect lowering the rate on exports to about 13%. That change is likely to be seen as an illegal subsidy by the World Trade Organization and could lead to challenges. \"I would expect foreign countries to be somewhat aggrieved by this statute,\" said Caplin & Drysdale's Mr Rosenbloom, who added that policymakers were using the US tax plan for \"isolationist\" goals. The new plan also increases the tax liability of US subsidiaries that make payments to foreign firms. That measure has companies in places such as Germany worried. Prof Clausing said she thought those rules were vulnerable to challenge - or negotiation - and could be designed to strengthen the hand of the US in international discussions about taxes. \"Many people view that as a more of a political gambit,\" she said." } ], "id": "9330_2", "question": "Will this lead to a tax war?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Frenchwoman who hid her baby in a maggot-filled car boot for 23 months has been sentenced to five years in prison, three of them suspended. Rosa-Maria Da Cruz kept her daughter, Serena, between the Peugeot 307 and an unused room in her house for two years. She is said to have hidden the pregnancy and birth from her partner and three older children. Now aged 7, Serena has a disability and autistic traits which experts say were caused by sensory deprivation. The little girl, who does not speak or socialise, has been placed in foster care. Da Cruz, 50, was charged with negligence causing mental disability. Baby Serena was discovered in 2013 by a garage mechanic in Dordogne, who heard noises when the car was brought in for repairs. He opened the boot to find the child surrounded by excrement. She was dirty, dehydrated, and weighed less than half what she should have. Guillaume Iguacel, the mechanic, said of the scene: \"There was a horrible smell, a smell of death in the car. Finding a child in this state - it's unimaginable.\" Da Cruz's partner Domingos Sampaio Alves, an unemployed bricklayer, said he had never been told the child existed. \"I don't know why she did this,\" he said in court, describing her as \"a good mother\" to their older children, aged nine, 14 and 15. Serena was never brought before the jury. \"To bring her here would destroy her a little more,\" said Isabelle Faure-Roche, lawyer for the local council. \"Entering a car for this little girl is a daily test.\" According to France Info, the expert who examined Serena shortly after she was found said she was suffering from a rare form of \"deficient autism,\" also observed in Romanian orphanages in the 1990s. A childhood specialist described his \"discomfort\" watching the child, saying: \"We are in front of a kind of wall, without reaction, without anything.\" Da Cruz told the Assize Court in Tulle, central France, that she could not explain her actions. During the five-day trial, a paediatrician described her three older children as having been \"perfectly raised\". Psychiatrists said Da Cruz was emotionally immature, but \"not psychotic\", \"not manipulative\", and \"absolutely not perverse\". Defence lawyers argued that she displayed \"a denial of pregnancy\", saying she had never accepted she was having a fourth child. It emerged that she had initially failed to reveal two of her other pregnancies to her partner. Da Cruz said she had viewed Serena as \"a thing\" until she was 18 months old, when the baby smiled at her. She sometimes forgot to feed her for entire days. \"I would like to ask Serena for forgiveness for all the harm I have done to her\", the mother said in court. \"I realise I hurt her a lot, and that I'll never see my little girl again.\" Prosecutors argued that the trial was not about denial of pregnancy, but a wilful cover-up, \"deprivation of care and food, and the violence committed\". \"There is only one victim, not two, and that's Serena,\" said Ms Faure-Roche. The president of the Assize Court, Gilles Fonrouge, said Da Cruz's sentence would enable her to educate her three other children. France Info reports that he told the mother: \"The court wanted to take into account your background, and this decision may disappoint many parties.\" The Assize Court also ordered that she be permanently stripped of parental authority over Serena. Da Cruz will be monitored by social services for five years, and will receive psychiatric treatment.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1843, "answer_start": 613, "text": "Baby Serena was discovered in 2013 by a garage mechanic in Dordogne, who heard noises when the car was brought in for repairs. He opened the boot to find the child surrounded by excrement. She was dirty, dehydrated, and weighed less than half what she should have. Guillaume Iguacel, the mechanic, said of the scene: \"There was a horrible smell, a smell of death in the car. Finding a child in this state - it's unimaginable.\" Da Cruz's partner Domingos Sampaio Alves, an unemployed bricklayer, said he had never been told the child existed. \"I don't know why she did this,\" he said in court, describing her as \"a good mother\" to their older children, aged nine, 14 and 15. Serena was never brought before the jury. \"To bring her here would destroy her a little more,\" said Isabelle Faure-Roche, lawyer for the local council. \"Entering a car for this little girl is a daily test.\" According to France Info, the expert who examined Serena shortly after she was found said she was suffering from a rare form of \"deficient autism,\" also observed in Romanian orphanages in the 1990s. A childhood specialist described his \"discomfort\" watching the child, saying: \"We are in front of a kind of wall, without reaction, without anything.\"" } ], "id": "9331_0", "question": "How was the baby found?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2970, "answer_start": 1844, "text": "Da Cruz told the Assize Court in Tulle, central France, that she could not explain her actions. During the five-day trial, a paediatrician described her three older children as having been \"perfectly raised\". Psychiatrists said Da Cruz was emotionally immature, but \"not psychotic\", \"not manipulative\", and \"absolutely not perverse\". Defence lawyers argued that she displayed \"a denial of pregnancy\", saying she had never accepted she was having a fourth child. It emerged that she had initially failed to reveal two of her other pregnancies to her partner. Da Cruz said she had viewed Serena as \"a thing\" until she was 18 months old, when the baby smiled at her. She sometimes forgot to feed her for entire days. \"I would like to ask Serena for forgiveness for all the harm I have done to her\", the mother said in court. \"I realise I hurt her a lot, and that I'll never see my little girl again.\" Prosecutors argued that the trial was not about denial of pregnancy, but a wilful cover-up, \"deprivation of care and food, and the violence committed\". \"There is only one victim, not two, and that's Serena,\" said Ms Faure-Roche." } ], "id": "9331_1", "question": "Why did the mother do it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3448, "answer_start": 2971, "text": "The president of the Assize Court, Gilles Fonrouge, said Da Cruz's sentence would enable her to educate her three other children. France Info reports that he told the mother: \"The court wanted to take into account your background, and this decision may disappoint many parties.\" The Assize Court also ordered that she be permanently stripped of parental authority over Serena. Da Cruz will be monitored by social services for five years, and will receive psychiatric treatment." } ], "id": "9331_2", "question": "Why did the court suspend her sentence?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The northern Indian state of Punjab has witnessed a sharp increase in the number of drug-related deaths this year. BBC Punjabi's Arvind Chhabra investigates why the drug menace has become worse in the state. \"He was my only son, but I had started wishing that he would die... And now, I cry the whole night with his photograph in my hand,\" says 55-year-old Lakshmi Devi. Her son, Ricky Lahoria, recently died of a drug overdose. He was 25. His was one of 60 deaths linked to drug abuse in Punjab between January and June 2018, according to official estimates. In comparison, 30 people died in drug-related incidents in all of 2017. Police officials say that the number is likely to increase when they release data for the second half of 2018. Drugs have been a scourge in Punjab for years now - once a transit point on the drug route, the state has now become a major consumer base. Punjab's health minister Brahm Mohindra told the BBC his government had reduced the inflow of drugs into the state. But he could not explain why drugs had claimed more lives in 2018 than in previous years. \"It's not clear what concoction is causing [the] deaths. But so many deaths have happened. It is a serious and unfortunate thing,\" he said. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences in Delhi conducted the first comprehensive study in 2015 to estimate the magnitude of drug addiction in Punjab - and the report concluded that there were more than 200,000 addicts in the state. Ms Devi says Ricky started using drugs when he was still in school and, eventually, he dropped out. In the early days, he was addicted to cough syrups and injections but he gradually turned to heroin, locally known as chitta. At one point, his mother recalls, Ricky wanted to quit and even asked her for help. But she did not know that a rehab centre was an option. \"I just took him to a regular hospital, where he died after three days,\" she says. Data from various government departments shows that the problem seems to have got worse in recent years. According to police records, 303kg of heroin was seized from the beginning of 2018 until 15 October. Only 191kg of heroin was seized from January to December 2017. The BBC spoke to police officers, border security forces and intelligence officials to understand how drugs are distributed and consumed in the state. They say the most commonly abused drugs in Punjab are the three opium derivatives - raw opium, poppy husk and heroin - followed by medications sold over the counter. But addicts often see heroin as the \"champagne of intoxicants\". Like champagne, heroin is costly. One gram costs between 4000 ($56; PS43) to 6000 rupees - an addict usually consumes half a gram to two grams in a single day. While \"misuse of pharmaceuticals\" is more common in cities, heroin is \"more prevalent in rural areas\", says Sukhchain Singh, the police commissioner of Ludhiana city. Despite its hefty price tag, heroin remains popular among addicts regardless of social class and income. Police told the BBC that this was because many of them also turned to peddling as a source of income. Others simply steal to support their habit. \"Our jewellery and household goods started vanishing as he would take away and sell whatever items he could lay his hands on,\" one woman, whose son died due to addiction, told the BBC. The border fence that separates India and Pakistan is clearly visible from the rooftops of houses in Dhanoa Kalan village. Border security forces and police officers can be seen patrolling the streets and some of them are dressed as civilians. The village is home to about 1,400 adults and about 150 of them cultivate farm land beyond the border fence, which puts their fields in no man's land. So these farmers cross the border almost every day and they are searched by the security forces when they return. Sometimes, they find packets of drugs in their fields. \"Last year, a farmer spotted some packets containing a white powder and he informed border security officers,\" says Sukhdev Singh, a former village chief. Mr Singh says this has happened a few times. \"We don't know who does it and how,\" he adds. Security officers say smugglers often hurl packets of drugs across the border - and some farmers help them. Farmers also make cavities in their tools to hide the drugs, making it hard to detect them. \"All that the farmers have to do is carry these packets to their homes. Once it's inside Indian territory, couriers pick up these packets from the farmers,\" says an Indian intelligence officer, speaking on the condition of anonymity. The couriers, he adds, then transport the packets to distributors in different cities. Police say they have discovered tunnels along the border that are used by smugglers. The entire process relies on secrecy - most of those who are involved don't know who the kingpin is or even the names of couriers or distributors. All of this makes it hard to trace the smugglers who are running the operation, say security officials. About 20 battalions of India's Border Security Force (BSF) guard the border. But officers say smugglers sneak in through gaps in the fence or during dense fog in the winter. In May 2017, police in Ludhiana city revealed that some farmers had Sim cards from Pakistan so that they could talk to smugglers across the border. In July the following year, customs officers in Amritsar city seized packets of heroin concealed in the empty wagons attached to a goods train that had arrived from Pakistan. \"Most of the heroin comes from Afghanistan to India via Pakistan,\" says Rajesh Kumar Jaiswal, inspector general of the Punjab police force that investigates drug smuggling. Punjab has become a major part of the so-called opium drug route that is now used for transporting heroin as well. Officials say smugglers use different routes to enter India, choosing between Punjab, Rajasthan or Indian-administered Kashmir. \"If there's pressure on the Punjab border then they shift to Rajasthan and if there's pressure there, they move elsewhere,\" Mr Jaiswal adds. \"While [the] India-Pakistan border has been the usual route, we have seized narcotic consignments even from Delhi. And they could be arriving in Delhi from any border.\" The local police and security agencies have also been accused of helping smugglers. In June 2016, the federal government's junior home minister, Kiren Rijiju, said in parliament that 68 employees of the Punjab police and other security forces were arrested due to their involvement in the drug trade. Two deputy superintendents of police have also been arrested in recent months on similar charges. Senior officers acknowledge the problem, adding that they are taking strict action against such officers. Health officials say the state needs to open more rehab centres for addicts as there are too few existing ones. While there are 90 private rehab centres, there are only 50 that are run by the government. The government has been running awareness campaigns in schools and colleges. But most families in rural areas do not know about rehab centres or how they can turn lives around. And the stigma associated with drugs often stops people from seeking help. There are also attempts to understand what drives the youth of Punjab to drugs. One survey of drug addiction, conducted by the Society for Promotion of youth and masses in the state said the biggest reason for people to start trying drugs was \"fun\", followed by \"peer pressure\". A second study, conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences also pointed to peer pressure. \"Punjab needs a three-pronged strategy to reduce supply, demand and consumption,\" says Dr D Basu, a psychiatrist who has studied drug addiction in the state. Until then, he adds, stories like Ms Devi's will remain all too familiar. \"[Ricky] would sell whatever he could lay his hands on to buy drugs,\" Ms Devi says. \"I wanted him to lead a normal life, have a family and earn enough for them. I felt so helpless, so broken whenever he became unconscious after taking drugs. He would forget where he was and what he was doing. \"In those moments, I would just wish and pray that he would die. But now I regret my words.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8182, "answer_start": 6725, "text": "Health officials say the state needs to open more rehab centres for addicts as there are too few existing ones. While there are 90 private rehab centres, there are only 50 that are run by the government. The government has been running awareness campaigns in schools and colleges. But most families in rural areas do not know about rehab centres or how they can turn lives around. And the stigma associated with drugs often stops people from seeking help. There are also attempts to understand what drives the youth of Punjab to drugs. One survey of drug addiction, conducted by the Society for Promotion of youth and masses in the state said the biggest reason for people to start trying drugs was \"fun\", followed by \"peer pressure\". A second study, conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences also pointed to peer pressure. \"Punjab needs a three-pronged strategy to reduce supply, demand and consumption,\" says Dr D Basu, a psychiatrist who has studied drug addiction in the state. Until then, he adds, stories like Ms Devi's will remain all too familiar. \"[Ricky] would sell whatever he could lay his hands on to buy drugs,\" Ms Devi says. \"I wanted him to lead a normal life, have a family and earn enough for them. I felt so helpless, so broken whenever he became unconscious after taking drugs. He would forget where he was and what he was doing. \"In those moments, I would just wish and pray that he would die. But now I regret my words.\"" } ], "id": "9332_0", "question": "So, what is the solution?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Apex Legends - the Fortnite-style battle royale game - has just hit 50m players in 28 days since it came out. The game, released at the start of February, has a similar narrative to Fortnite. But Apex's new spin has taken the gaming world by storm, leading people to question whether it will be a threat. Apex Legends is available on PlayStation and Xbox - and like Fortnite, it's free to download. The speed that Apex is growing has come as a shock to some. Although Fortnite now has over 200 million players, Apex Legends seems to be growing much faster in its earlier stages. Fortnite was released in July, 2017. In its first month, around 15 million gamers had played it. Javy Gwaltney, an associate editor for Game Informer in Minnesota, spoke to Newsbeat a couple of weeks into the Apex hype - when it had reached 25m downloads in two weeks. He said that he prefers the gameplay of Apex Legends over Fortnite. \"The combat is fantastic. Movement, gunplay, sound, everything is just superb. \"The shooting in Fortnite is bad. It's real bad.\" Javy adds that the challenge for Apex makers Respawn is to keep the momentum going by offering more. \"They have to learn, in a shockingly short amount of time, how to give players reasons to return over and over again outside of the core gameplay loop. \"That means doing more than just dropping cosmetic skins and weapons into the game.\" Skins are a range of costumes that can be used to customize aspects of your character and playing experience. They can be bought with the in-game currency V-Bucks. The 29-year-old believes the reason Apex Legends has done so well so far is due to the hype around the battle royale concept. Whether that's sustainable is a different matter. \"Fortnite was at the right time and place when nothing else was,\" he says. \"[Fortnite makers] Epic wisely built on that in a way that was massively beneficial to them. \"You can't replicate that kind of success by making a great, even better game.\" Cade Onder is editor-in-chief of GameZone. The 18-year-old from Iowa in the United States says Apex Legends is a completely different experience compared to Fortnite. \"Apex has 60 players and you're forced into squads of three. \"Fortnite has 100 players and you can play solos, duos, or squads of four. Apex is first person, Fortnite is third person\" Similar to Javy, Cade thinks Apex's gameplay gives it the edge. \"Communicating with players without headsets, automatically transferring attachments to new guns you pick up, and more. \"It gets rid of a large amount of junk and fixes the issues that bog down other battle royale games. \"Apex has much better shooting mechanics, much more enjoyable. \"If Apex Legends can find a way to raise the bar and keep the engagement alive, it could at the very least go toe to toe with Fortnite.\" Josh, a YouTuber from Birmingham who goes by the name Frenzee, told Newsbeat a couple of weeks ago that \"Fortnite are a little scared\". He added: \"If the Apex developers have a solid roadmap and keep things fresh I do believe it could continue to take over the battle royale genre.\" Jason Wyllie, 23, a Twitch streamer from Scotland says Apex can be enjoyed by casual and hardcore first-person-shooter lovers. \"The game has a high skill ceiling cap - but low threshold for beginners - which means new players have a better first time experience [than Fortnite].\" But Jason, who goes by the name Jaspers, believes Fortnite might not be finished yet. \"Fortnite is such a unique game that they will always have a core group that play the game and caters to the younger generation, as well as older generations.\" However when asked to choose between the two, Apex Legends still comes out on top. \"The big draw to Apex over Fortnite is it comes down to team play, individual ability and gun skill. \"Fortnite has a added skill of building, which I'm not a fan of - I prefer one-on-one gunfights where your aim is what wins the fight.\" 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": 4112, "answer_start": 2807, "text": "Josh, a YouTuber from Birmingham who goes by the name Frenzee, told Newsbeat a couple of weeks ago that \"Fortnite are a little scared\". He added: \"If the Apex developers have a solid roadmap and keep things fresh I do believe it could continue to take over the battle royale genre.\" Jason Wyllie, 23, a Twitch streamer from Scotland says Apex can be enjoyed by casual and hardcore first-person-shooter lovers. \"The game has a high skill ceiling cap - but low threshold for beginners - which means new players have a better first time experience [than Fortnite].\" But Jason, who goes by the name Jaspers, believes Fortnite might not be finished yet. \"Fortnite is such a unique game that they will always have a core group that play the game and caters to the younger generation, as well as older generations.\" However when asked to choose between the two, Apex Legends still comes out on top. \"The big draw to Apex over Fortnite is it comes down to team play, individual ability and gun skill. \"Fortnite has a added skill of building, which I'm not a fan of - I prefer one-on-one gunfights where your aim is what wins the fight.\" 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": "9333_0", "question": "But what do actual gamers think about Apex?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The European Central Bank (ECB) is under mounting pressure to decide how much longer its enormous stimulus package will continue. The bank's president, Mario Draghi, says it will make a decision in the autumn about the stimulus measures. More than 2.3 trillion euros (PS2.1tn) will have been pumped into the eurozone economy by the end of the year in a process known as quantiative easing (QE). But the bank needs to decide if the 19-country bloc is ready to come off the emergency measures introduced in response to the financial crisis. And if so, how best to do it without threatening the eurozone's recovery. The ECB introduced the huge bond-buying programme in 2015 as it looked to kick-start the bloc's ailing economy. The bank, which had already slashed interest rates to cope with the eurozone debt crisis, followed the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England by introducing QE. \"QE is what central banks do when everything else has failed,\" Gilles Moec, chief European economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, told the BBC. More than two years later, the ECB is still buying 60bn euros of government and corporate bonds a month. How to wean the eurozone off that artificial support - due to expire at the end of December \"or beyond if necessary\" - is the big question facing Mr Draghi. The eurozone economy is growing at a much healthier pace than it was in 2015 - but it is hard to prove how much this is down to QE. Figures released on Thursday confirmed the bloc's economy grew by 0.6% in the three months to June, a faster pace than the UK. That leaves it on track to grow by 2.1% this year, which would be the fastest rate in a decade, according to analysts at IHS Markit. Mr Moec says QE frees up banks to lend to more people and lowers the cost of borrowing for companies. It also increases the price of financial assets, which should feed through to more consumer spending, he says. \"In Europe what you do by doing this is that you trigger what is called a 'wealth effect'. People feel richer, and as they feel richer they spend more,\" Mr Moec says. Mr Draghi said in a speech last month that policies like QE had been a success both sides of the Atlantic. They have \"made the world more resilient\", he said, but he also recognised that gaps remain in understanding these relatively new tools. However, critics say the economic stimulus has not dealt with the underlying weaknesses in the eurozone. Not all parts of the bloc are growing so strongly, and while unemployment is coming down, it is still above 17% in Spain and 11% in Italy. Others argue that the bond-buying programme promotes inequality, because it favours those with assets and, combined with record low interest rates, harms savers. Last month, Lord Macpherson, who was permanent secretary to the Treasury when the Bank of England started QE in 2009, likened it to \"heroin\". Economies \"need ever increasing fixes to create a high\", but the negative side effects are increasing, he said. Eurozone inflation is also still stubbornly below the ECB's 2% target, which is giving the bank's policymakers pause for thought. By taking away the stimulus, will the economy and inflation also slow down? The cost of living rose by 1.5% in the year to August, and some analysts predict the euro's recent gains against the dollar - rising 13% this year - will further depress inflation by making imports cheaper. But there are members of the ECB - known as \"hawks\" - who think the time has come to drop the emergency measures and get the bank back to normal. QE has swelled the ECB's balance sheet to about 4.5 trillion euros, which is close to half the eurozone's GDP, according to Mr Moec. Central banks have never tried anything of this magnitude, he says. \"The ECB is going to tread very, very carefully on the way back.\" Mr Draghi has a difficult balancing act, says Michael Hewson, an analyst at CMC Markets. Against the hawks, there are those who worry that cutting QE prematurely could prompt a slowdown in some of the weaker countries of the euro area, he says. \"It is this more than anything that highlights the dilemma for policymakers in trying to set a monetary policy for an economy that has full employment in Germany, with Italy and Spain who remain a long way short of it,\" he adds.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1296, "answer_start": 613, "text": "The ECB introduced the huge bond-buying programme in 2015 as it looked to kick-start the bloc's ailing economy. The bank, which had already slashed interest rates to cope with the eurozone debt crisis, followed the US Federal Reserve and Bank of England by introducing QE. \"QE is what central banks do when everything else has failed,\" Gilles Moec, chief European economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, told the BBC. More than two years later, the ECB is still buying 60bn euros of government and corporate bonds a month. How to wean the eurozone off that artificial support - due to expire at the end of December \"or beyond if necessary\" - is the big question facing Mr Draghi." } ], "id": "9334_0", "question": "What is the eurozone stimulus?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2556, "answer_start": 1297, "text": "The eurozone economy is growing at a much healthier pace than it was in 2015 - but it is hard to prove how much this is down to QE. Figures released on Thursday confirmed the bloc's economy grew by 0.6% in the three months to June, a faster pace than the UK. That leaves it on track to grow by 2.1% this year, which would be the fastest rate in a decade, according to analysts at IHS Markit. Mr Moec says QE frees up banks to lend to more people and lowers the cost of borrowing for companies. It also increases the price of financial assets, which should feed through to more consumer spending, he says. \"In Europe what you do by doing this is that you trigger what is called a 'wealth effect'. People feel richer, and as they feel richer they spend more,\" Mr Moec says. Mr Draghi said in a speech last month that policies like QE had been a success both sides of the Atlantic. They have \"made the world more resilient\", he said, but he also recognised that gaps remain in understanding these relatively new tools. However, critics say the economic stimulus has not dealt with the underlying weaknesses in the eurozone. Not all parts of the bloc are growing so strongly, and while unemployment is coming down, it is still above 17% in Spain and 11% in Italy." } ], "id": "9334_1", "question": "Has it worked?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3531, "answer_start": 2557, "text": "Others argue that the bond-buying programme promotes inequality, because it favours those with assets and, combined with record low interest rates, harms savers. Last month, Lord Macpherson, who was permanent secretary to the Treasury when the Bank of England started QE in 2009, likened it to \"heroin\". Economies \"need ever increasing fixes to create a high\", but the negative side effects are increasing, he said. Eurozone inflation is also still stubbornly below the ECB's 2% target, which is giving the bank's policymakers pause for thought. By taking away the stimulus, will the economy and inflation also slow down? The cost of living rose by 1.5% in the year to August, and some analysts predict the euro's recent gains against the dollar - rising 13% this year - will further depress inflation by making imports cheaper. But there are members of the ECB - known as \"hawks\" - who think the time has come to drop the emergency measures and get the bank back to normal." } ], "id": "9334_2", "question": "Should the ECB start winding it down?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4272, "answer_start": 3532, "text": "QE has swelled the ECB's balance sheet to about 4.5 trillion euros, which is close to half the eurozone's GDP, according to Mr Moec. Central banks have never tried anything of this magnitude, he says. \"The ECB is going to tread very, very carefully on the way back.\" Mr Draghi has a difficult balancing act, says Michael Hewson, an analyst at CMC Markets. Against the hawks, there are those who worry that cutting QE prematurely could prompt a slowdown in some of the weaker countries of the euro area, he says. \"It is this more than anything that highlights the dilemma for policymakers in trying to set a monetary policy for an economy that has full employment in Germany, with Italy and Spain who remain a long way short of it,\" he adds." } ], "id": "9334_3", "question": "What are the risks?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US National Security Adviser John Bolton has warned Iran's rulers that there will be \"hell to pay\" if they harm the US, its citizens or allies. His comments came hours after President Donald Trump accused Iran of sowing \"chaos, death and destruction\" across the Middle East. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani responded by criticising the Trump administration for its hostility. The US recently imposed sanctions after leaving the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. The accord, negotiated by former President Barack Obama, saw Iran limit its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. The remaining signatories are standing by the deal. The UK, China, France, Germany and Russia say they will set up a new payment system to maintain business with Iran and bypass US sanctions. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo condemned the plan as \"one of the most counterproductive measures imaginable\". Mr Bolton said the \"murderous regime\" of \"mullahs in Tehran\" would face significant consequences if they continued to \"lie, cheat and deceive\". The former US envoy to the UN was speaking at an anti-Iran conference in New York on Tuesday. \"If you cross us, our allies, or our partners; if you harm our citizens,\" he said, \"there will indeed be hell to pay.\" \"Let my message today be clear: We are watching, and we will come after you.\" Mr Bolton, who has argued for military action against Iran in the past, said the US would be aggressive in enforcing economic sanctions. Meanwhile, President Trump defended his decision to abandon the nuclear deal while speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York. \"Iran's leaders sow chaos, death and destruction,\" he said. \"They do not respect their neighbours or borders or the sovereign rights of nations. Instead, Iran's leaders plunder the nation's resources to enrich themselves and spread mayhem across the Middle East and far beyond.\" He believes renewed economic pressure will force Iran to agree to a new deal. On Wednesday, Mr Trump is due to lead a UN Security Council meeting on Iran and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Mr Rouhani said dialogue should begin by ending threats and what he called \"unjust sanctions\", adding that no nation could be brought to the negotiating table by force. \"The United States' understanding of international relations is authoritarian. In its estimation might makes right. Its understanding of power, not of legal and legitimate authority, is reflected in bullying and imposition,\" he said in New York. Iran has accused Mr Trump of waging \"psychological warfare\" against it and denies any involvement in terrorism. It insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. In August, the US reinstated sanctions targeting the Iranian government's purchase of US dollars, Iran's trade in gold and other precious metals, and its automotive sector. The value of Iran's currency, the rial, has been damaged by the new US policy. In November, a second batch of potentially more damaging sanctions will be re-imposed on Iran's oil and shipping sectors as well as its central bank. As the US and Iranian presidents took digs at one another at the UN, Persian- and English-speaking Twitter users engaged in their own war of words, BBC Monitoring reports. Opponents of the Islamic Republic turned #IraniansWantRegimeChange into a trend with nearly 650,000 tweets, while Iranians who still hope for reforms used #NoSanctionsNoWars almost 40,000 times. However, both numbers appear to have been heavily skewed by bot activity. Meanwhile, Iranian state TV and print media of all political stripes - including hardline outlets normally critical of Mr Rouhani, a moderate - were broadly supportive of the president's speech and highlighted the delegates' \"mockery\" of Mr Trump. The remaining members in the nuclear deal say they will set up a new payment system to allow oil companies and businesses to continue trading without relying on the US-led global market and dollar. Exactly how the system would work is still being determined. The plan has infuriated the US. Mr Pompeo said: \"I was disturbed and indeed deeply disappointed to hear remaining parties in the Iran deal announce they are setting up a special payment system to bypass US sanctions. \"By sustaining revenues to the regime you are solidifying Iran's ranking as number one state sponsor of terror.\" The EU had also earlier vowed to protect firms against the impact of US sanctions for doing legitimate business with Iran. In his speech at the UN, French President Emmanuel Macron called for \"dialogue and multilateralism\" on Iran, remarks widely seen as directed at Mr Trump.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2069, "answer_start": 887, "text": "Mr Bolton said the \"murderous regime\" of \"mullahs in Tehran\" would face significant consequences if they continued to \"lie, cheat and deceive\". The former US envoy to the UN was speaking at an anti-Iran conference in New York on Tuesday. \"If you cross us, our allies, or our partners; if you harm our citizens,\" he said, \"there will indeed be hell to pay.\" \"Let my message today be clear: We are watching, and we will come after you.\" Mr Bolton, who has argued for military action against Iran in the past, said the US would be aggressive in enforcing economic sanctions. Meanwhile, President Trump defended his decision to abandon the nuclear deal while speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York. \"Iran's leaders sow chaos, death and destruction,\" he said. \"They do not respect their neighbours or borders or the sovereign rights of nations. Instead, Iran's leaders plunder the nation's resources to enrich themselves and spread mayhem across the Middle East and far beyond.\" He believes renewed economic pressure will force Iran to agree to a new deal. On Wednesday, Mr Trump is due to lead a UN Security Council meeting on Iran and the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons." } ], "id": "9335_0", "question": "What did the US say about Iran?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3053, "answer_start": 2070, "text": "Mr Rouhani said dialogue should begin by ending threats and what he called \"unjust sanctions\", adding that no nation could be brought to the negotiating table by force. \"The United States' understanding of international relations is authoritarian. In its estimation might makes right. Its understanding of power, not of legal and legitimate authority, is reflected in bullying and imposition,\" he said in New York. Iran has accused Mr Trump of waging \"psychological warfare\" against it and denies any involvement in terrorism. It insists its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. In August, the US reinstated sanctions targeting the Iranian government's purchase of US dollars, Iran's trade in gold and other precious metals, and its automotive sector. The value of Iran's currency, the rial, has been damaged by the new US policy. In November, a second batch of potentially more damaging sanctions will be re-imposed on Iran's oil and shipping sectors as well as its central bank." } ], "id": "9335_1", "question": "How did Iran respond?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3742, "answer_start": 3054, "text": "As the US and Iranian presidents took digs at one another at the UN, Persian- and English-speaking Twitter users engaged in their own war of words, BBC Monitoring reports. Opponents of the Islamic Republic turned #IraniansWantRegimeChange into a trend with nearly 650,000 tweets, while Iranians who still hope for reforms used #NoSanctionsNoWars almost 40,000 times. However, both numbers appear to have been heavily skewed by bot activity. Meanwhile, Iranian state TV and print media of all political stripes - including hardline outlets normally critical of Mr Rouhani, a moderate - were broadly supportive of the president's speech and highlighted the delegates' \"mockery\" of Mr Trump." } ], "id": "9335_2", "question": "What did Iranians say online?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4608, "answer_start": 3743, "text": "The remaining members in the nuclear deal say they will set up a new payment system to allow oil companies and businesses to continue trading without relying on the US-led global market and dollar. Exactly how the system would work is still being determined. The plan has infuriated the US. Mr Pompeo said: \"I was disturbed and indeed deeply disappointed to hear remaining parties in the Iran deal announce they are setting up a special payment system to bypass US sanctions. \"By sustaining revenues to the regime you are solidifying Iran's ranking as number one state sponsor of terror.\" The EU had also earlier vowed to protect firms against the impact of US sanctions for doing legitimate business with Iran. In his speech at the UN, French President Emmanuel Macron called for \"dialogue and multilateralism\" on Iran, remarks widely seen as directed at Mr Trump." } ], "id": "9335_3", "question": "Where do other key nations stand?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Fianna Fail has won the most seats in the Irish general election just one ahead of Sinn Fein, who recorded a historic result. Sinn Fein's haul of 37 seats is an increase of 14 on the 2016 election. Fine Gael, whose party leader Leo Varadkar led the outgoing government as taoiseach (Irish prime minister), finished with 35 seats, down 15 from four years ago. The tight numbers could lead to lengthy negotiations to form a government. The election results were confirmed shortly after midnight when two Fianna Fail candidates, Brendan Smith and Niamh Smyth, won the last two seats in Cavan-Monaghan. The final results showed that: - Sinn Fein had won 37 seats, an increase of 14 on the 2016 election - Fianna Fail had lost six seats since 2016 but became the largest party by one seat - Fine Gael lost 15 seats from 2016 - The Green Party recorded their best ever election result, winning 12 seats - an improvement of 10 from 2016 The outcome was described as \"something of a revolution in the ballot box\" by Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. With all first preferences counted, the left-wing republican party has taken 24.5% of the vote, compared to 22% for Fianna Fail and 21% for Fine Gael. Before the election, both Fine Gael and Fianna Fail had ruled out forging a coalition with left-wing republican party Sinn Fein, citing its tax policies and IRA past as deterrents. On Sunday, taoiseach (Irish PM) and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar conceded it would be \"challenging\" to form a government. Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin did not rule out working with Sinn Fein, but said \"significant incompatibilities\" still existed. Sinn Fein President Mary Lou McDonald, who topped the poll in her four-seat Dublin Central constituency, said Sinn Fein wanted to be in government and was working to establish if the numbers were there to deliver it without Fianna Fail or Fine Gael. On Monday evening, she said she had not heard from the leaders of those two parties and has instead been speaking to Labour, the Green Party and other smaller parties that make up the Dail (Irish parliament). \"People want different politics, new politics and better government - a new government - and I believe Sinn Fein will be the core of that,\" she told reporters in Dublin. \"I may well be the next taoiseach,\" she added. Speaking to BBC Newsnight, Mrs McDonald also said she believed constitutional change was coming. \"The point has been conceded in the Good Friday agreement by the British state - the presence here is solely on the basis of consent,\" she said. \"That consent can only be tested in a unity referendum and we are going to have a unity referendum - and I want us to do it in an orderly, thoughtful democratic and absolutely peaceful manner.\" Sinn Fein's vice-president, Michelle O'Neill, said the party would have \"asks in terms of the republican project\", in line with its repeated calls for the next government to prepare for Irish unity. Left-leaning Sinn Fein managed to successfully tap into the public anger felt in the Republic of Ireland over issues that have dogged centre-right Fine Gael for a number of years - a shortage of housing, rocketing rents and homelessness, analysts suggest. That is despite the fact the country is forecast to have one of the fastest growing economies in the EU in 2020. They were dubbed \"the problems of success\" by former Finance Minister Michael Noonan as far back as 2015. Brexit - a considerable focus of Leo Varadkar and his deputy Simon Coveney while in power - barely registered as an issue in the campaign. Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster, whose party is in a power-sharing government with Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland, said younger voters had backed Sinn Fein as a \"protest vote\". \"From a Northern Ireland perspective we will have to work with whoever the government is in the Republic of Ireland,\" Mrs Foster told BBC News NI. She also said Sinn Fein may have their focus on Northern Ireland questioned, in the way there had been a \"wailing and gnashing of teeth\" over her party's confidence-and-supply agreement with the previous Conservative government in the UK. Sinn Fein's best-ever result is the success story of this election. However, with how the overall votes have fallen, we know that Sinn Fein will not necessarily end up in government despite its swathe of victories. The magic number for winning a majority government in the Republic of Ireland is 80 seats. None of the three big parties - Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and now Sinn Fein - will come close to that figure. Attempts to form a new coalition-of-sorts will formally get under way, although this will be complex. Previous administrations in the Republic of Ireland have been forged this way too, but it's taken a while to get there. In 2016, it took 70 days for a government to be formed after the parties agreed a confidence-and-supply agreement, which saw a Fine Gael-only cabinet, propped up by Fianna Fail votes on key policy areas. Read more of Jayne's analysis here. Sinn Fein's vote has increased dramatically - winning 37 seats out of the 42 seats it stood candidates in and topping the poll in 30 constituencies. Following the last election in 2016 Sinn Fein had 23 seats in the Dail. Fine Gael has been in government since 2011, firstly with the Labour Party and then with independents and since 2016, a confidence-and-supply deal with Fianna Fail. It looks set to lose seats for the second election in a row, but that does not necessarily rule it out of forming another government. Its share of first preference votes dropped from 25.5% at the last election to 20.9%. The taoiseach said he was \"not really\" disappointed that he did not top the poll in his own constituency. He did get an increase in his votes compared to the last election. He added it was clear there was now a \"three-party system\". On Sunday Micheal Martin said reports suggested his party \"would be the largest\" but that it was early days and that he respected the will of the people. The Green Party has increased the number of seats it holds, jumping from two seats in the last election to 10. Green leader Eamon Ryan, who was elected for Dublin Bay South, said his party would play its part in talks to form a government. The Green Party secured 7.1% of first preference votes, followed by Labour (4.4%), Social Democrats (2.9%), Solidarity-People Before Profit (2.6%). Aontu (1.9%) independents (12.2%) and others (1.3%) accounted for the rest.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4137, "answer_start": 2941, "text": "Left-leaning Sinn Fein managed to successfully tap into the public anger felt in the Republic of Ireland over issues that have dogged centre-right Fine Gael for a number of years - a shortage of housing, rocketing rents and homelessness, analysts suggest. That is despite the fact the country is forecast to have one of the fastest growing economies in the EU in 2020. They were dubbed \"the problems of success\" by former Finance Minister Michael Noonan as far back as 2015. Brexit - a considerable focus of Leo Varadkar and his deputy Simon Coveney while in power - barely registered as an issue in the campaign. Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster, whose party is in a power-sharing government with Sinn Fein in Northern Ireland, said younger voters had backed Sinn Fein as a \"protest vote\". \"From a Northern Ireland perspective we will have to work with whoever the government is in the Republic of Ireland,\" Mrs Foster told BBC News NI. She also said Sinn Fein may have their focus on Northern Ireland questioned, in the way there had been a \"wailing and gnashing of teeth\" over her party's confidence-and-supply agreement with the previous Conservative government in the UK." } ], "id": "9336_0", "question": "Why the Sinn Fein surge?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6469, "answer_start": 6006, "text": "The Green Party has increased the number of seats it holds, jumping from two seats in the last election to 10. Green leader Eamon Ryan, who was elected for Dublin Bay South, said his party would play its part in talks to form a government. The Green Party secured 7.1% of first preference votes, followed by Labour (4.4%), Social Democrats (2.9%), Solidarity-People Before Profit (2.6%). Aontu (1.9%) independents (12.2%) and others (1.3%) accounted for the rest." } ], "id": "9336_1", "question": "What about the smaller parties?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Two fraternities at a US college have disbanded after leaked meeting minutes that referred to buying date rape drugs and a \"rape attic\". Students had staged sit-ins at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, calling for Phi Psi and Delta Upsilon to be banned from campus. College president Valerie Smith said the frats had agreed to disband but that an investigation would continue. \"As a community, we have much healing to do,\" she added. Fraternities are exclusive, mostly all-male student organisations. Some are based on areas of study, professions, academic credentials, or on specific religious or ethnical backgrounds. Others serve more of a social purpose. Last month two student publications - The Phoenix and Voices - published what are alleged to be internal documents from the Phi Psi fraternity. The redacted, 117-page documents include \"meeting minutes\" and details of pledging rituals from 2012-16. They feature racist, misogynistic and homophobic language and accounts of physical and sexual assaults, and bravado about buying \"date rape\" drugs. The \"minutes\" also allege that Delta Upsilon \"have both a rape tunnel AND a rape attic (gotta choose one or the other)\". Allegations of sexual assault, violence and harassment have also been shared by students on an anonymous Tumblr page named \"Why Swarthmore's Fraternities Must Go.\" In her statement, Ms Smith said that an investigation ordered into the fraternities would continue, despite the two groups having disbanded. \"We have heard heartbreaking stories from students who feel unwelcome to the point of wanting to transfer out of our community,\" she said. \"Those stories have come from across the spectrum of our student body - from student protesters to fraternity members. Stories such as these reflect our failure to realise the values we so often espouse.\" She added that \"at this time, we have no evidence that any current student participated in the behaviours documented in those materials\", but that they would be analysed by an external investigator. Student protesters began occupying Phi Psi's on-campus fraternity house and camping outside on Saturday. Organizing for Survivors (O4S) and the Swarthmore Coalition Against Fraternity Violence, which arranged the protest, called on Swarthmore to terminate the leases of both fraternities and ban them from campus. Instead, they want the properties to be designated for \"marginalised\" students groups like women and ethnic minorities. Fraternities are the only student groups able to lease property on campus. Many members also play in college sports teams, and alumni are often important donors for fundraising campaigns. Organiser Morgin Goldberg, 22, told the BBC that this had given fraternities \"undue social power that they not only hold, but abuse\". Ms Goldberg says she has witnessed harassment, racism and homophobia by members. \"If any other student group had this way of conduct, they would be off campus in 10 seconds,\" she added. \"Isolating a few bad apples will not address the structure,\" said Ms Goldberg. \"This is the start of the conversation, not the end of it, about social life at college and which students groups are represented and which are under the bus\". Phi Psi, which is not affiliated with the national umbrella group for fraternities, was suspended from Swarthmore in 2016 for violating its alcohol and drugs policy. It reopened for parties a year ago. In a statement, the group said language used in the leaked documents \"[was] not representative of who we are today\". \"All our current brothers were in high school and middle school at the time of these unofficial minutes, and none of us would have joined the organization had this been the standard when we arrived.\" Delta Upsilon fraternity told Philadelphia Magazine that it read the documents \"with total revulsion\" and said they \"do not reflect the values\" of the group.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2026, "answer_start": 1343, "text": "In her statement, Ms Smith said that an investigation ordered into the fraternities would continue, despite the two groups having disbanded. \"We have heard heartbreaking stories from students who feel unwelcome to the point of wanting to transfer out of our community,\" she said. \"Those stories have come from across the spectrum of our student body - from student protesters to fraternity members. Stories such as these reflect our failure to realise the values we so often espouse.\" She added that \"at this time, we have no evidence that any current student participated in the behaviours documented in those materials\", but that they would be analysed by an external investigator." } ], "id": "9337_0", "question": "What has the college said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2460, "answer_start": 2027, "text": "Student protesters began occupying Phi Psi's on-campus fraternity house and camping outside on Saturday. Organizing for Survivors (O4S) and the Swarthmore Coalition Against Fraternity Violence, which arranged the protest, called on Swarthmore to terminate the leases of both fraternities and ban them from campus. Instead, they want the properties to be designated for \"marginalised\" students groups like women and ethnic minorities." } ], "id": "9337_1", "question": "When did students start protesting?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3207, "answer_start": 2461, "text": "Fraternities are the only student groups able to lease property on campus. Many members also play in college sports teams, and alumni are often important donors for fundraising campaigns. Organiser Morgin Goldberg, 22, told the BBC that this had given fraternities \"undue social power that they not only hold, but abuse\". Ms Goldberg says she has witnessed harassment, racism and homophobia by members. \"If any other student group had this way of conduct, they would be off campus in 10 seconds,\" she added. \"Isolating a few bad apples will not address the structure,\" said Ms Goldberg. \"This is the start of the conversation, not the end of it, about social life at college and which students groups are represented and which are under the bus\"." } ], "id": "9337_2", "question": "What are the protesters saying?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3884, "answer_start": 3208, "text": "Phi Psi, which is not affiliated with the national umbrella group for fraternities, was suspended from Swarthmore in 2016 for violating its alcohol and drugs policy. It reopened for parties a year ago. In a statement, the group said language used in the leaked documents \"[was] not representative of who we are today\". \"All our current brothers were in high school and middle school at the time of these unofficial minutes, and none of us would have joined the organization had this been the standard when we arrived.\" Delta Upsilon fraternity told Philadelphia Magazine that it read the documents \"with total revulsion\" and said they \"do not reflect the values\" of the group." } ], "id": "9337_3", "question": "What did the fraternities say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US investigators are working to determine the causes of the helicopter crash that killed basketball star Kobe Bryant in California on Sunday. All nine people on board the helicopter died, including Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna. Investigators are expected to focus on the weather conditions, which were foggy, and on any mechanical failures that may have occurred. Bryant was considered to be one of the greatest players in the game's history. He was a five-time NBA champion for his only team, the Los Angeles Lakers, and a double Olympic gold medallist. He retired in April 2016. Tributes from fans, fellow basketball players and other public figures have been pouring in from around the world while fans congregate at a makeshift memorial for the player in front of the Lakers' Staples Center in Los Angeles. The NBA cancelled a game between the Lakers and the Clippers scheduled for the stadium on Tuesday. Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are gathering in the area to launch separate crash investigations. The federal agency has a team of about 20 people in LA and will work with the FAA, the helicopters' manufacturer and the company that made its engine, the Washington Post reports. Investigators began searching through the wreckage on Monday. The FBI is helping the NTSB's staff document the scene, which is standard procedure. The aircraft - a Sikorsky S-76B - went down into a hillside outside the city of Calabasas, west of Los Angeles, on Sunday at 09:45 local time (17:45 GMT). Conditions were foggy when the flight took off, and local police had grounded their helicopters due to the poor weather. The pilot asked air traffic controllers for a special clearance, known as Special Visual Flight Rules, to fly in less than optimal weather, said NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy, who went to the crash scene to collect evidence. The helicopter, she added, circled in the air for 12 minutes before being given the clearance. The pilot then asked controllers for \"flight following\", an assistance given to helicopters to avoid collisions, but was told the craft was too low to be picked up by radar. Minutes later, the pilot said he was \"climbing to avoid a cloud layer\", she added. The helicopter climbed and began a left descending turn, according to radar data, before communication was lost \"consistent with the accident location\". Pilots can experience \"spatial disorientation\" when they fly in cloudy conditions, due to the lack of visual input, Thomas Anthony, director of the USC Aviation Safety and Security Programme, told the BBC. \"That's why it's necessary to use the [flight] instruments, which give you an artificial horizon.\" However, he added that it was \"never one thing that causes an aircraft accident\", and investigators would need to look into \"what things came together to result in this tragic mishap\". The S-76 is a \"well evolved, sophisticated aircraft that is used widely around the world\", he said, adding that it had two jet engines, which gave it capability even if one stopped working. Ms Homendy said debris was spread out over about 500ft (150m) with the tail and the main rotor having separated from the fuselage, calling it a \"devastating accident scene\". She added there was no cockpit voice recorder, known as a black box, as there was no requirement for it. Bryant had been on his way to coach his daughter's basketball team in a local youth tournament. He was known for taking his helicopter to beat traffic in Los Angeles. \"Los Angeles is notorious\" for traffic jams, says Professor Michael Manville, traffic lead at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies. He says this is due to the lack of road pricing- as well as the fact that LA has \"the urbanisation and economy of a city, but the zoning and layout of a suburb\" - which means residents cannot avoid driving, but the volume of traffic on roads is high. According to research firm Inrix, drivers in Los Angeles lost an average of 128 hours to congestion in 2018. The journey, from Bryant's home near Newport Beach to Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, would take just over an hour without traffic - but can take more than three hours when congestion is bad. Coroners have recovered three bodies so far, but the victims have not been officially identified. Family members and colleagues however said John Altobelli, coach of the Orange Coast College baseball team, was among the passengers, along with his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa - who played with Bryant's daughter, Gianna. Christina Mauser, a basketball coach at Gianna's school, was also on board, her husband wrote on Facebook. US media have cited family tributes being paid to another victim, Sarah Chester, and her daughter Payton, who are said to have also been on board the helicopter; and Ara Zobayan has also been named as the pilot. A five-time NBA champion, Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers before his retirement in 2016. His achievements include being the 2008 NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and two-time NBA Finals MVP. He was also NBA scoring champion twice and a two-time Olympic champion. He famously scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history. He also won an Oscar for best short animated film in 2018 for Dear Basketball, a five-minute film based on a love letter to the sport he had written in 2015. Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, have three other daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. Italy has said a minute's silence would be observed at all basketball games \"in every category for the entire week\". Bryant spent part of his childhood in the country as his father played in the Italian basketball league. Bryant was accused of sexual assault in 2003 by a 19-year-old woman working at a Colorado resort. He denied the allegation, saying the two had consensual sex. The case was dropped after the accuser refused to testify in court. He later apologised, saying he recognised that \"she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did\". A subsequent civil suit was settled out of court.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3395, "answer_start": 919, "text": "Investigators from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are gathering in the area to launch separate crash investigations. The federal agency has a team of about 20 people in LA and will work with the FAA, the helicopters' manufacturer and the company that made its engine, the Washington Post reports. Investigators began searching through the wreckage on Monday. The FBI is helping the NTSB's staff document the scene, which is standard procedure. The aircraft - a Sikorsky S-76B - went down into a hillside outside the city of Calabasas, west of Los Angeles, on Sunday at 09:45 local time (17:45 GMT). Conditions were foggy when the flight took off, and local police had grounded their helicopters due to the poor weather. The pilot asked air traffic controllers for a special clearance, known as Special Visual Flight Rules, to fly in less than optimal weather, said NTSB board member Jennifer Homendy, who went to the crash scene to collect evidence. The helicopter, she added, circled in the air for 12 minutes before being given the clearance. The pilot then asked controllers for \"flight following\", an assistance given to helicopters to avoid collisions, but was told the craft was too low to be picked up by radar. Minutes later, the pilot said he was \"climbing to avoid a cloud layer\", she added. The helicopter climbed and began a left descending turn, according to radar data, before communication was lost \"consistent with the accident location\". Pilots can experience \"spatial disorientation\" when they fly in cloudy conditions, due to the lack of visual input, Thomas Anthony, director of the USC Aviation Safety and Security Programme, told the BBC. \"That's why it's necessary to use the [flight] instruments, which give you an artificial horizon.\" However, he added that it was \"never one thing that causes an aircraft accident\", and investigators would need to look into \"what things came together to result in this tragic mishap\". The S-76 is a \"well evolved, sophisticated aircraft that is used widely around the world\", he said, adding that it had two jet engines, which gave it capability even if one stopped working. Ms Homendy said debris was spread out over about 500ft (150m) with the tail and the main rotor having separated from the fuselage, calling it a \"devastating accident scene\". She added there was no cockpit voice recorder, known as a black box, as there was no requirement for it." } ], "id": "9338_0", "question": "What will investigators focus on?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4261, "answer_start": 3396, "text": "Bryant had been on his way to coach his daughter's basketball team in a local youth tournament. He was known for taking his helicopter to beat traffic in Los Angeles. \"Los Angeles is notorious\" for traffic jams, says Professor Michael Manville, traffic lead at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies. He says this is due to the lack of road pricing- as well as the fact that LA has \"the urbanisation and economy of a city, but the zoning and layout of a suburb\" - which means residents cannot avoid driving, but the volume of traffic on roads is high. According to research firm Inrix, drivers in Los Angeles lost an average of 128 hours to congestion in 2018. The journey, from Bryant's home near Newport Beach to Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, would take just over an hour without traffic - but can take more than three hours when congestion is bad." } ], "id": "9338_1", "question": "Why was Kobe Bryant travelling by helicopter?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4920, "answer_start": 4262, "text": "Coroners have recovered three bodies so far, but the victims have not been officially identified. Family members and colleagues however said John Altobelli, coach of the Orange Coast College baseball team, was among the passengers, along with his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa - who played with Bryant's daughter, Gianna. Christina Mauser, a basketball coach at Gianna's school, was also on board, her husband wrote on Facebook. US media have cited family tributes being paid to another victim, Sarah Chester, and her daughter Payton, who are said to have also been on board the helicopter; and Ara Zobayan has also been named as the pilot." } ], "id": "9338_2", "question": "Who else was in the helicopter?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Labour has pledged to bring in rent controls in England if it wins the general election. It is an idea that has been tried in many cities worldwide, but what is rent control and how does it work? There are a number of different ways to control rent. They can include setting a cap on the amount landlords can charge, or even freezing rents. Rent increases once a new tenancy is agreed could also be limited, and it could be made easier for people to stay on in a property. Rent controls can vary hugely in how they are implemented. For example, officials might choose to cap rent prices at the current market rate, or to set a lower limit if prices are high. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is calling for rent increases to be capped at the national inflation rate. He says areas with high rents would be able to make the case for more controls. The Conservatives have promised to ban Section 21 notices, which allow landlords to evict tenants without a reason after their fixed-term tenancy ends. The cost of renting a property has been increasing in the UK, but wages have been struggling to keep up. In London, average monthly private rents increased by 35% from PS1,095 in 2011 to PS1,473 in 2018. Many young people in the capital are spending more than half of their income on rent, a study by PwC suggested. Young people have been particularly affected across the country, because 25 to 34-year-olds make up the largest proportion of the rental market. There is concern that young adults are being priced out of areas where they want to work, and are unable to save enough for a deposit towards their first property. Rent controls have been suggested as a way of limiting how much people are spending. There is no official measure of what an \"unaffordable\" rent is, but several housing organisations suggest rent should be no more than 30% of income. The private rental sector was regulated for a lot of the 20th Century. In 1915 rent controls were introduced in the UK, capping prices at August 1914 levels. Costs had been driven up by an increased demand for housing. Rules were relaxed before the outbreak of World War Two, but reintroduced in 1939 as housebuilding slowed. They stayed in place until 1968. The regulation of rent for new private tenancies was only abolished in 1989. Berlin recently approved a plan to freeze rents for the next five years, on top of its existing rent controls. The German capital saw protests urging the authorities to keep housing affordable. The average monthly rent for a furnished Berlin flat is about EUR1,100 (PS940). The plan still needs to be approved by the state parliament. It could apply to 1.4 million properties, but not to social housing - which has separate rules - or new-builds. Across Germany, one-fifth of tenants in the private rented sector say they spend more than 40% of their disposable income on rent. In Paris, average rents are assigned to different areas, with landlords unable to charge more than 20% above that price. And in New York City new laws were introduced in June, establishing permanent rent controls. Cities in the rest of the state can also adopt controls. Rent controls introduced in San Francisco may have had an unexpected knock-on effect. A Stanford University study in 2017 found that measures introduced there led some landlords to convert their properties into expensive apartments. That was because these were classed as new-builds, which were exempt from the restrictions. Researchers found that between 1994 and 2010, people in rent-controlled properties paid about $2.9bn (PS2.3bn) less in rent. But they also found that renters who came to the city later paid an extra $2.9bn over the same period, largely because of a shortage of housing. The Labour Party says it would introduce rent controls to help tenants in the private sector. It has also pledged to introduce open-ended tenancies to protect them from unfair evictions. In Scotland, more than 12,000 people signed a petition calling on the Scottish government to introduce \"proper rent controls\". In December 2017, changes to Scottish law brought an end to fixed-term tenancies. Rent increases can now only be made once every 12 months. The current Welsh government has not indicated an intention to pursue such a policy. In Northern Ireland, there is rent control on unfit private tenancies that began after 1 April 2007 and some other types of tenancy. But some people have questioned what rent controls could mean for the housing market. A 2015 survey of private landlords by University of Cambridge suggested that a three-year freeze on existing private rents would not make much difference to affordability. More radical measures, like setting rents at two-thirds of the current market value, could lead landlords to sell their properties. Jonathan Cribb, an economist for the Institute for Fiscal Studies, previously suggested rent controls could affect the quality of housing. Landlords could look for other ways to save costs, he said, \"and a key way to do that is to not maintain the property\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 993, "answer_start": 196, "text": "There are a number of different ways to control rent. They can include setting a cap on the amount landlords can charge, or even freezing rents. Rent increases once a new tenancy is agreed could also be limited, and it could be made easier for people to stay on in a property. Rent controls can vary hugely in how they are implemented. For example, officials might choose to cap rent prices at the current market rate, or to set a lower limit if prices are high. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is calling for rent increases to be capped at the national inflation rate. He says areas with high rents would be able to make the case for more controls. The Conservatives have promised to ban Section 21 notices, which allow landlords to evict tenants without a reason after their fixed-term tenancy ends." } ], "id": "9339_0", "question": "What are rent controls?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1852, "answer_start": 994, "text": "The cost of renting a property has been increasing in the UK, but wages have been struggling to keep up. In London, average monthly private rents increased by 35% from PS1,095 in 2011 to PS1,473 in 2018. Many young people in the capital are spending more than half of their income on rent, a study by PwC suggested. Young people have been particularly affected across the country, because 25 to 34-year-olds make up the largest proportion of the rental market. There is concern that young adults are being priced out of areas where they want to work, and are unable to save enough for a deposit towards their first property. Rent controls have been suggested as a way of limiting how much people are spending. There is no official measure of what an \"unaffordable\" rent is, but several housing organisations suggest rent should be no more than 30% of income." } ], "id": "9339_1", "question": "Why do people want rent controls?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2288, "answer_start": 1853, "text": "The private rental sector was regulated for a lot of the 20th Century. In 1915 rent controls were introduced in the UK, capping prices at August 1914 levels. Costs had been driven up by an increased demand for housing. Rules were relaxed before the outbreak of World War Two, but reintroduced in 1939 as housebuilding slowed. They stayed in place until 1968. The regulation of rent for new private tenancies was only abolished in 1989." } ], "id": "9339_2", "question": "Has the UK ever had rent controls?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3137, "answer_start": 2289, "text": "Berlin recently approved a plan to freeze rents for the next five years, on top of its existing rent controls. The German capital saw protests urging the authorities to keep housing affordable. The average monthly rent for a furnished Berlin flat is about EUR1,100 (PS940). The plan still needs to be approved by the state parliament. It could apply to 1.4 million properties, but not to social housing - which has separate rules - or new-builds. Across Germany, one-fifth of tenants in the private rented sector say they spend more than 40% of their disposable income on rent. In Paris, average rents are assigned to different areas, with landlords unable to charge more than 20% above that price. And in New York City new laws were introduced in June, establishing permanent rent controls. Cities in the rest of the state can also adopt controls." } ], "id": "9339_3", "question": "Which cities around the world use them?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5053, "answer_start": 3733, "text": "The Labour Party says it would introduce rent controls to help tenants in the private sector. It has also pledged to introduce open-ended tenancies to protect them from unfair evictions. In Scotland, more than 12,000 people signed a petition calling on the Scottish government to introduce \"proper rent controls\". In December 2017, changes to Scottish law brought an end to fixed-term tenancies. Rent increases can now only be made once every 12 months. The current Welsh government has not indicated an intention to pursue such a policy. In Northern Ireland, there is rent control on unfit private tenancies that began after 1 April 2007 and some other types of tenancy. But some people have questioned what rent controls could mean for the housing market. A 2015 survey of private landlords by University of Cambridge suggested that a three-year freeze on existing private rents would not make much difference to affordability. More radical measures, like setting rents at two-thirds of the current market value, could lead landlords to sell their properties. Jonathan Cribb, an economist for the Institute for Fiscal Studies, previously suggested rent controls could affect the quality of housing. Landlords could look for other ways to save costs, he said, \"and a key way to do that is to not maintain the property\"." } ], "id": "9339_4", "question": "What could happen in the UK?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has said he wants a new nuclear pact to be signed by both Russia and China. Mr Trump said he had spoken to the two countries about the idea, and that they were both \"very, very excited\". His comments came after the US withdrew from a key nuclear treaty with Russia, raising fears of a new arms race. The Cold War-era Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty banned missiles with ranges of 500-5,500 km (310-3,400 miles). The US withdrawal on Friday followed accusations by Washington that Russia had violated the pact by deploying a new type of cruise missile. Moscow has denied this. Responding to questions about how he would avoid a nuclear arms race following the INF treaty's demise, Mr Trump said his administration had been speaking to Russia \"about a pact for nuclear, so that they get rid of some, we get rid of some\". \"We'd certainly have to include China at some point,\" he added. Mr Trump said such a treaty would be \"a great thing for the world\" and that he believed it would happen. \"China was very, very excited about talking about it and so was Russia. So I think we'll have a deal at some point\", he told reporters. In an earlier statement, Russia's foreign ministry said the US decision to withdraw was \"a grave mistake\". It also accused America of violating the treaty by deploying MK-41 launchers in Europe, capable of firing intermediate-range cruise missiles. It called on the US to denounce the deployment of such missiles, \"otherwise all the responsibility for escalating tensions across the world will rest with Washington\". The US has accused Russia of violating the deal by deploying a number of 9M729 missiles - known to Nato as SSC-8. This accusation was then put to Washington's Nato allies, which all backed the US claim. \"Russia is solely responsible for the treaty's demise,\" US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement on Friday. \"With the full support of our Nato allies, the United States has determined Russia to be in material breach of the treaty, and has subsequently suspended our obligations under the treaty,\" he added. In February, Mr Trump set a 2 August deadline for the US to withdraw if Russia did not comply with US and Nato demands. Russian President Vladimir Putin suspended his country's own obligations to the treaty shortly afterwards. Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the transatlantic alliance would \"respond in a measured and responsible way to the significant risks posed by the Russian 9M729 missile to allied security\". But, he added, Nato \"does not want a new arms race\" - and he confirmed there were no plans for the alliance to deploy land-based nuclear missiles of its own in Europe. Last month, he told the BBC that the Russian missiles were nuclear-capable, mobile, very hard to detect and could reach European cities within minutes. \"This is serious,\" he added. \"The INF treaty has been a cornerstone in arms control for decades, and now we see the demise of the treaty.\" UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that \"an invaluable brake on nuclear war\" is being lost. \"This will likely heighten, not reduce, the threat posed by ballistic missiles,\" he said, urging all parties to \"seek agreement on a new common path for international arms control\". Analysts fear that the collapse of the historic agreement could lead to a new arms race between the US, Russia and China. \"Now that the treaty is over, we will see the development and deployment of new weapons,\" Pavel Felgenhauer, a Russian military analyst, told AFP news agency. \"Russia is already ready.\" - Signed by the US and the USSR in 1987, the arms control deal banned all nuclear and non-nuclear missiles with short and medium ranges, except sea-launched weapons - The US had been concerned by the Soviet deployment of the SS-20 missile system in 1979 and responded by placing Pershing and cruise missiles in Europe - sparking widespread protests - By 1991, nearly 2,700 missiles had been destroyed - The two countries were allowed to inspect each other's installations", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3588, "answer_start": 2332, "text": "Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the transatlantic alliance would \"respond in a measured and responsible way to the significant risks posed by the Russian 9M729 missile to allied security\". But, he added, Nato \"does not want a new arms race\" - and he confirmed there were no plans for the alliance to deploy land-based nuclear missiles of its own in Europe. Last month, he told the BBC that the Russian missiles were nuclear-capable, mobile, very hard to detect and could reach European cities within minutes. \"This is serious,\" he added. \"The INF treaty has been a cornerstone in arms control for decades, and now we see the demise of the treaty.\" UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that \"an invaluable brake on nuclear war\" is being lost. \"This will likely heighten, not reduce, the threat posed by ballistic missiles,\" he said, urging all parties to \"seek agreement on a new common path for international arms control\". Analysts fear that the collapse of the historic agreement could lead to a new arms race between the US, Russia and China. \"Now that the treaty is over, we will see the development and deployment of new weapons,\" Pavel Felgenhauer, a Russian military analyst, told AFP news agency. \"Russia is already ready.\"" } ], "id": "9340_0", "question": "Why has the withdrawal sparked concern?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Trump administration is poised to nullify Obama-era regulations designed to protect internet users' private data. What does this mean for users in the US? On Tuesday, the US House of Representatives passed a bill that effectively tears up a 2016 internet privacy rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) called, \"Protecting the Privacy of Customers of Broadband and Other Telecommunication Services\". The rule said that internet service providers (ISPs) must obtain permission from their users before harvesting personal data and selling it to advertisers or other third-party entities. It also required ISPs to adopt security practices to help prevent large-scale data breaches, and to notify users, the FCC and the FBI in case of a major hack. The bill to scrap all these regulations now heads for President Donald Trump's desk and his administration has already pledged to sign it. Which parts of the Internet will this rule affect? Thanks to this law, big-name internet service providers like AT&T, Verizon, Charter Communications and Comcast will not have to ask their users for permission to collect, share or sell their data. Other services like Google and Facebook already harvest this kind of information - a fact that ISP companies use to argue they were being unfairly singled out by the FCC. \"The phone and cable companies have always had Google envy,\" says Jeffrey Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy, a privacy rights advocacy group. Chester says that while users can easily opt-out of using Facebook or switch to another search engine, many Americans have little if any choice about where they buy their internet access. In some places, there is only a single provider. ISPs are also capable of collecting even more information than a web browser or social network. \"They know what you watch on cable television, they know what you stream,\" Chester says. The original FCC rule sought to protect customer proprietary information including, \"financial information, health information, Social Security numbers, precise geo-location information, information pertaining to children, content of communications, web browsing history, application usage history, and the functional equivalents of web browsing history or application usage history\". Now that data is conceivably up for grabs to ISPs. However, Ryan Radia, regulatory counsel at the pro-business think tank Competitive Enterprise Institute, says he doesn't think that ISPs will be able to retain their customer base if they're selling off highly personal or de-anonymised information. \"No self-respecting ISP is ever going to do anything to let that happen intentionally,\" he says. \"[It'll be] what domain names you visited, what broad interest category, maybe detailed URLs - certainly demographics.\" It likely won't change much at all for the average user in the US. Had the FCC regulations gone into effect later this year as originally planned, logging on to the web via your phone, tablet, smart TV or laptop might have brought up a request from your ISPfor permission to access and share your information. \"Consumers would have had to have some process where they click on something or check a box,\" says Neema Singh Guliani, legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union. \"On the most basic level it's going to make it much more difficult to fully understand how their information is being shared and used.\" At minimum, users may notice that the advertisements they are being shown on their devices gets more targeted - a pregnant woman may see more ads for baby products, or a house-hunting couple will start seeing ads from banks. \"I think most people won't really notice a difference,\" says Radia. Guliani worries that personal data could be used for discriminatory advertising practices, like showing ads for high-interest loans only to low-income consumers, or prices for products that vary based on the user's income information. Super targeted ads \"don't always benefit the consumer,\" she says. But business advocates and critics of federal oversight argueconsumers ought to be free to make their own decisions. \"I reject the idea that we should protect people from buying things that they might actually want because their preferences were revealed by their browsing history,\" says Radia. Chester says that there is a two-fold risk when it comes to data breaches. Not only are ISPs no longer required to notify consumers about major hacking incidents, they've also put a big target on their backs as repositories for new, proprietary information about Americans. \"This is a data breach in the waiting,\" Chester says. \"They'll get to it.\" The advocacy group Fight for the Future also put out a statement saying that bypassing consumer consent will \"enable more unconstitutional mass government surveillance\". Some experts recommend using a virtual private network (VPN) service, which can encrypt data leaving your computer or phone, and make it impossible for your ISP to collect. It is also possible to contact your ISP to find out more about the kind of data they collect, and to ask if you can opt out. Companies like Facebook have backed off of unpopular data collection practices after outcry for their users. \"There will be an ISP in the next few years that does something outrageous and hopefully someone will notice, and it'll be reported and stopped,\" Radia says. \"That's probably what will stop the bad practices more than any regulatory body.\" But Guliani says that puts all the onus on the consumer, and most people rarely read the fine print on their contracts, much less take the time to grill their internet companies about how their data is being used. \"There is this growing concern that companies are going to make consenting to using your information a condition of using their service,\" she says. \"The system as it is today is just not working. People care about how their data is shared - they would like more control.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2816, "answer_start": 1915, "text": "The original FCC rule sought to protect customer proprietary information including, \"financial information, health information, Social Security numbers, precise geo-location information, information pertaining to children, content of communications, web browsing history, application usage history, and the functional equivalents of web browsing history or application usage history\". Now that data is conceivably up for grabs to ISPs. However, Ryan Radia, regulatory counsel at the pro-business think tank Competitive Enterprise Institute, says he doesn't think that ISPs will be able to retain their customer base if they're selling off highly personal or de-anonymised information. \"No self-respecting ISP is ever going to do anything to let that happen intentionally,\" he says. \"[It'll be] what domain names you visited, what broad interest category, maybe detailed URLs - certainly demographics.\"" } ], "id": "9341_0", "question": "What kind of data will my ISP be able to collect and sell?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3736, "answer_start": 2817, "text": "It likely won't change much at all for the average user in the US. Had the FCC regulations gone into effect later this year as originally planned, logging on to the web via your phone, tablet, smart TV or laptop might have brought up a request from your ISPfor permission to access and share your information. \"Consumers would have had to have some process where they click on something or check a box,\" says Neema Singh Guliani, legislative counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union. \"On the most basic level it's going to make it much more difficult to fully understand how their information is being shared and used.\" At minimum, users may notice that the advertisements they are being shown on their devices gets more targeted - a pregnant woman may see more ads for baby products, or a house-hunting couple will start seeing ads from banks. \"I think most people won't really notice a difference,\" says Radia." } ], "id": "9341_1", "question": "How will my user experience change?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4851, "answer_start": 3737, "text": "Guliani worries that personal data could be used for discriminatory advertising practices, like showing ads for high-interest loans only to low-income consumers, or prices for products that vary based on the user's income information. Super targeted ads \"don't always benefit the consumer,\" she says. But business advocates and critics of federal oversight argueconsumers ought to be free to make their own decisions. \"I reject the idea that we should protect people from buying things that they might actually want because their preferences were revealed by their browsing history,\" says Radia. Chester says that there is a two-fold risk when it comes to data breaches. Not only are ISPs no longer required to notify consumers about major hacking incidents, they've also put a big target on their backs as repositories for new, proprietary information about Americans. \"This is a data breach in the waiting,\" Chester says. \"They'll get to it.\" The advocacy group Fight for the Future also put out a statement saying that bypassing consumer consent will \"enable more unconstitutional mass government surveillance\"." } ], "id": "9341_2", "question": "Why should I care?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5984, "answer_start": 4852, "text": "Some experts recommend using a virtual private network (VPN) service, which can encrypt data leaving your computer or phone, and make it impossible for your ISP to collect. It is also possible to contact your ISP to find out more about the kind of data they collect, and to ask if you can opt out. Companies like Facebook have backed off of unpopular data collection practices after outcry for their users. \"There will be an ISP in the next few years that does something outrageous and hopefully someone will notice, and it'll be reported and stopped,\" Radia says. \"That's probably what will stop the bad practices more than any regulatory body.\" But Guliani says that puts all the onus on the consumer, and most people rarely read the fine print on their contracts, much less take the time to grill their internet companies about how their data is being used. \"There is this growing concern that companies are going to make consenting to using your information a condition of using their service,\" she says. \"The system as it is today is just not working. People care about how their data is shared - they would like more control.\"" } ], "id": "9341_3", "question": "What can I do to protect my information?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Greta Thunberg, the Swedish schoolgirl who has inspired an international movement to fight climate change, has been nominated as a candidate to receive this year's Nobel Peace Prize. The 16-year-old was nominated by three Norwegian MPs. If she were to win, she would be the youngest recipient since Pakistan's Malala Yousafzai, who was 17 when she received the prize. Ms Thunberg tweeted she was \"honoured\" to receive the nomination: \"We have proposed Greta Thunberg because if we do nothing to halt climate change, it will be the cause of wars, conflict and refugees,\" Norwegian Socialist MP Freddy Andre Ovstegard told AFP news agency. \"Greta Thunberg has launched a mass movement which I see as a major contribution to peace,\" he added. On Friday, thousands of schoolchildren are expected to strike again against climate change in more than 100 countries around the world. The school strikes were inspired by the Fridays For The Future movement started by Ms Thunberg under the hashtag #FridaysForFuture. So far, there have been regular walkouts around the world, including in countries likes Germany, Belgium, the UK, France, Australia and Japan. But Friday's protest is billed as the biggest so far. The Swedish teenager - who on her Twitter page describes herself as \"a 16-year-old climate activist with Asperger [syndrome]\" - first staged a school strike for the climate in front of the Swedish parliament in August last year. Since then, she has been missing lessons most Fridays to stage her regular protests. She continued to gain international attention after speaking at the UN Climate Talks in Poland in December and at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. \"On climate change, we have to acknowledge that we have failed,\" she told global economic leaders in Davos. Read more:Who is Greta Thunberg? National politicians, international officials, academics and previous winners are among those who can nominate potential recipients. The prize is announced in October and awarded in December in the Norwegian capital, Oslo. There are 301 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019, out of which 223 are individuals and 78 are organisations, says the Nobel committee on its website. The names of nominators and nominees are not normally made public until 50 years have elapsed, it adds.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1204, "answer_start": 740, "text": "On Friday, thousands of schoolchildren are expected to strike again against climate change in more than 100 countries around the world. The school strikes were inspired by the Fridays For The Future movement started by Ms Thunberg under the hashtag #FridaysForFuture. So far, there have been regular walkouts around the world, including in countries likes Germany, Belgium, the UK, France, Australia and Japan. But Friday's protest is billed as the biggest so far." } ], "id": "9342_0", "question": "What are the school protests?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1819, "answer_start": 1205, "text": "The Swedish teenager - who on her Twitter page describes herself as \"a 16-year-old climate activist with Asperger [syndrome]\" - first staged a school strike for the climate in front of the Swedish parliament in August last year. Since then, she has been missing lessons most Fridays to stage her regular protests. She continued to gain international attention after speaking at the UN Climate Talks in Poland in December and at the World Economic Forum in Davos in January. \"On climate change, we have to acknowledge that we have failed,\" she told global economic leaders in Davos. Read more:Who is Greta Thunberg?" } ], "id": "9342_1", "question": "Who is Greta Thunberg?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2307, "answer_start": 1820, "text": "National politicians, international officials, academics and previous winners are among those who can nominate potential recipients. The prize is announced in October and awarded in December in the Norwegian capital, Oslo. There are 301 candidates for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2019, out of which 223 are individuals and 78 are organisations, says the Nobel committee on its website. The names of nominators and nominees are not normally made public until 50 years have elapsed, it adds." } ], "id": "9342_2", "question": "How is the Nobel Peace Prize nominated and chosen?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have left hospital after the arrival of their third child, a boy. The couple's second son, who was born at 11:01 BST, weighing 8lb 7oz, is fifth in line to the throne. Prince George and Princess Charlotte had visited their brother at the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, London. Leaving the hospital Prince William said the couple were very happy, before holding up three fingers and joking he had \"thrice the worry now\". \"We didn't keep you waiting too long this time,\" he added. When someone asked him whether the couple had decided on a name, he said: \"You'll find out soon enough.\" Minutes earlier, Prince William and Catherine had come out of the hospital briefly to greet the crowds with their new son. They then returned inside to put their newborn son in his car seat before driving away towards their home Kensington Palace. The duchess wore a red Jenny Packham dress with a white collar as she left the hospital. Fashion commentators said that its colours reflected St George's flag, while others saw echoes of Princess Diana, who wore red and white when she left hospital with a newborn Prince Harry in 1984. Members of both families have said they are \"delighted with the news\" of the birth. Kensington Palace said the name of the baby would be announced in due course while a formal notice of the birth had been posted on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. Favourite names at the bookmakers include Arthur, Albert, Frederick, James and Philip. Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted her \"warmest congratulations\" to William and Catherine. She said: \"I wish them great happiness for the future.\" Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn also sent his regards, tweeting: \"Congratulations to Kate and William on the birth of their baby boy. I wish them all the very best.\" The Archbishop of Canterbury added: \"Congratulations to The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the safe delivery of their baby, a brother for Prince George and Princess Charlotte. \"May God bless them and all of their children with love, happiness and health.\" By Jonny Dymond, BBC royal correspondent After some quieter times, the Royal Family is back in the news - and there is a noticeable sense of renewal; new faces, with Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's fiancee, making her first public appearances, and now another child, the as-yet unnamed third child of Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. It's always gone like this - waves of interest followed by periods of relative quiet. But there has been a sense of renewal in the past few months. Of course there has been concern over the health of the Duke of Edinburgh; and interest in the Queen, with her decades of service, never falters. But the attention of a new group, both in Britain and around the world, has been caught by this birth and then the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle next month. From the darkest days of the World War Two to the Instagram generation, the Royal Family now connects them all. Following a change in the law in 2013, Princess Charlotte keeps her place as fourth in line to the throne. Previously, younger royal males would have taken precedence over older female siblings. The duchess was admitted to hospital shortly before 06:00 on Monday with the announcement of the birth coming shortly after 13:00. Senior royal doctors consultant obstetrician Guy Thorpe-Beeston and consultant gynaecologist Alan Farthing oversaw the birth. Both were also called in for the arrival of Prince George in 2013 and Princess Charlotte in 2015. The new prince, born on St George's Day, shares a birthday with Lady Gabriella Windsor - the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, who was born at the Lindo Wing on 23 April 1981. To become King or Queen as the third-born royal child is rare - and has yet to happen within the current House of Windsor. But the third child of George III and Queen Charlotte, William IV, took on the task and ruled from 1830 to 1837. The Hanoverian king acceded to the throne aged 64 when his older brother, George IV, died without an heir. He became next in line when he was 62 and his other older brother, Frederick, Duke of York, died.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4152, "answer_start": 3712, "text": "To become King or Queen as the third-born royal child is rare - and has yet to happen within the current House of Windsor. But the third child of George III and Queen Charlotte, William IV, took on the task and ruled from 1830 to 1837. The Hanoverian king acceded to the throne aged 64 when his older brother, George IV, died without an heir. He became next in line when he was 62 and his other older brother, Frederick, Duke of York, died." } ], "id": "9343_0", "question": "Will the new prince be king?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Iranian boats tried to impede a British oil tanker near the Gulf - before being driven off by a Royal Navy ship, the Ministry of Defence has said. HMS Montrose, a British frigate shadowing the BP-owned tanker, was forced to move between the three boats and the tanker, a spokesman said. He described the Iranians' actions as \"contrary to international law\". Iran had threatened to retaliate for the seizure of one of its own tankers, but denied any attempted seizure. Last week, British Royal Marines helped the authorities in Gibraltar seize an Iranian tanker because of evidence it was carrying oil to Syria in breach of EU sanctions. A spokesman for the Royal Gibraltar Police said they had arrested the Indian captain and chief officer of the Iranian tanker on Thursday, on suspicion of breaching EU sanctions, but neither had been charged. On Wednesday boats believed to belong to Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) approached the British Heritage tanker and tried to bring it to a halt as it was moving out of the Gulf into the Strait of Hormuz. Guns on HMS Montrose were trained on the Iranian boats as they were ordered to back off, US media reported. The boats heeded the warning and no shots were fired. The BBC has been told British Heritage was near the island of Abu Musa when it was approached by the Iranian boats. Although Abu Musa is in disputed territorial waters, HMS Montrose remained in international waters throughout. Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt said the government was concerned by the incident and urged the Iranian authorities to \"de-escalate the situation\". Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt added the UK would monitor the situation \"very carefully\". Prime Minister Theresa May's official spokesman said the government was \"committed to maintaining freedom of navigation in accordance with international law\". The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps has denied claims it tried to seize the tanker, Iranian news agencies reported. IRGC's navy said there had been no confrontation with any foreign vessels in the past 24 hours. Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the UK made the claims \"for creating tension\". \"These claims have no value,\" Mr Zarif added, according to the Fars news agency. The relationship between the UK and Iran has become increasingly strained, after Britain said the Iranian regime was \"almost certainly\" responsible for the attacks on two oil tankers in June. Tensions grew after the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker by authorities in Gibraltar, assisted by British Royal Marines. On Thursday an Iranian official told the BBC the seizure was \"unnecessary and non-constructive escalation by the UK\". The official claimed the oil was not bound for Syria and called for the tanker to be released. The government of Gibraltar said it would not comment on matters relating to the vessel as it was the subject of a police investigation. It said the matter was also now in the Supreme Court. The Port of Gibraltar's live map showed the tanker, Grace 1, remained anchored about 3km off the east coast of Gibraltar. At the time of the Gibraltar incident, Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to complain about what it said was a \"form of piracy\". An Iranian official said a British oil tanker should be seized if Grace 1 was not released. On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani mocked the UK, calling it \"scared\" and \"hopeless\" for using Royal Navy warships to shadow another British tanker in the Gulf. HMS Montrose had shadowed the British tanker Pacific Voyager for some of the way through the Strait of Hormuz, but that journey had passed without incident. \"You, Britain, are the initiator of insecurity and you will realise the consequences later,\" Mr Rouhani said. The UK has also been pressing Iran to release British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was jailed for five years in 2016 after being convicted for spying, which she denies. The Royal Navy has a frigate, four minehunters and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship already stationed in a permanent Naval Support Facility in the region, at Mina Salman in Bahrain. This is enough to provide reassurance, but probably not to deal with a crisis, BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said. \"HMS Montrose will not be able to provide protection for every commercial vessel in the Gulf with links to the UK,\" he added. \"Ministers will now have to contemplate sending another Royal Navy warship to the region. But in doing so, that may only further escalate tensions with Iran, which is something the government wants to avoid.\" The Ministry of Defence confirmed Royal Marines were on board HMS Montrose and said this was normal for frigates and destroyers deployed to the Gulf. The Strait of Hormuz, through which all ships must pass to enter the Gulf, is so narrow - just 21 nautical miles (39km) at its narrowest - that Iranian and Omani territorial waters meet in the middle. So instead of sailing through international waters, ships must pass through Iranian or Omani territory which both extend 12 nautical miles out from their coasts. Ships do this under something called Rights of Straits Passage - part of a UN convention which gives ships free passage through the world's chokepoints like the Strait of Gibraltar and the Malacca Strait. In the case of the Strait of Hormuz, shipping is channelled through two lanes heading in opposite directions, each one two nautical miles wide. This is called the Traffic Separation Scheme. Both Iran and the US Navy deploy warships to patrol this area and have narrowly avoided confrontation on several occasions. Once ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz and enter the Gulf they need to be wary of a contested area around the islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs. These are claimed by both Iran and the UAE but occupied solely by Iranian forces. Iran appears to have been attempting to make good on its threat against British-flagged vessels in the wake of the seizure of an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar. But though this incident has a specifically bilateral dimension, it is also a powerful reminder that the tensions in the Gulf have not gone away. And with every sign that the dispute over the nuclear agreement with Iran is set to continue, things may only get worse. The episode may add some impetus to US-brokered efforts to muster an international naval force in the Gulf to protect international shipping. But most worrying of all, it shows that elements within the Iranian system - the Revolutionary Guard Corps's naval arm, or whatever - are intent on stoking the pressure. This inevitably plays into President Trump's hands as Britain and its key European partners struggle to keep the nuclear agreement alive. It is understood British Heritage was not carrying cargo at the time of the incident with the Iranian boats. A spokesman for BP said: \"Our top priority is the safety and security of our crews and vessels. \"While we are not commenting on these events, we thank the Royal Navy for their support.\" The vessel is registered at the port of Douglas, in the Isle of Man. The US has blamed Iran for attacks on six oil tankers in May and June. On Wednesday the chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it wanted to create a multi-national military coalition to safeguard waters around Iran and Yemen. The news followed the Trump administration's decision to pull out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme and reinforce punishing sanctions against Iran. European allies to the US, including the UK, have not followed suit. Iran's ambassador to the UN has insisted Europeans must do more to compensate Tehran for economic losses inflicted by US sanctions. Tehran has begun to nudge the levels of its enriched uranium beyond the limits of a nuclear deal agreed with a group of world powers, in small and calculated steps. Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC, Iran would move to the \"third phase\" of its stepped-up uranium enrichment programme unless the Europeans kept promises to uphold the economic benefits of the accord.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2252, "answer_start": 1848, "text": "The navy of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps has denied claims it tried to seize the tanker, Iranian news agencies reported. IRGC's navy said there had been no confrontation with any foreign vessels in the past 24 hours. Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the UK made the claims \"for creating tension\". \"These claims have no value,\" Mr Zarif added, according to the Fars news agency." } ], "id": "9344_0", "question": "What does Iran say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4746, "answer_start": 2253, "text": "The relationship between the UK and Iran has become increasingly strained, after Britain said the Iranian regime was \"almost certainly\" responsible for the attacks on two oil tankers in June. Tensions grew after the seizure of an Iranian oil tanker by authorities in Gibraltar, assisted by British Royal Marines. On Thursday an Iranian official told the BBC the seizure was \"unnecessary and non-constructive escalation by the UK\". The official claimed the oil was not bound for Syria and called for the tanker to be released. The government of Gibraltar said it would not comment on matters relating to the vessel as it was the subject of a police investigation. It said the matter was also now in the Supreme Court. The Port of Gibraltar's live map showed the tanker, Grace 1, remained anchored about 3km off the east coast of Gibraltar. At the time of the Gibraltar incident, Iran summoned the British ambassador in Tehran to complain about what it said was a \"form of piracy\". An Iranian official said a British oil tanker should be seized if Grace 1 was not released. On Wednesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani mocked the UK, calling it \"scared\" and \"hopeless\" for using Royal Navy warships to shadow another British tanker in the Gulf. HMS Montrose had shadowed the British tanker Pacific Voyager for some of the way through the Strait of Hormuz, but that journey had passed without incident. \"You, Britain, are the initiator of insecurity and you will realise the consequences later,\" Mr Rouhani said. The UK has also been pressing Iran to release British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was jailed for five years in 2016 after being convicted for spying, which she denies. The Royal Navy has a frigate, four minehunters and a Royal Fleet Auxiliary support ship already stationed in a permanent Naval Support Facility in the region, at Mina Salman in Bahrain. This is enough to provide reassurance, but probably not to deal with a crisis, BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale said. \"HMS Montrose will not be able to provide protection for every commercial vessel in the Gulf with links to the UK,\" he added. \"Ministers will now have to contemplate sending another Royal Navy warship to the region. But in doing so, that may only further escalate tensions with Iran, which is something the government wants to avoid.\" The Ministry of Defence confirmed Royal Marines were on board HMS Montrose and said this was normal for frigates and destroyers deployed to the Gulf." } ], "id": "9344_1", "question": "Why are UK-Iran tensions escalating?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5880, "answer_start": 4747, "text": "The Strait of Hormuz, through which all ships must pass to enter the Gulf, is so narrow - just 21 nautical miles (39km) at its narrowest - that Iranian and Omani territorial waters meet in the middle. So instead of sailing through international waters, ships must pass through Iranian or Omani territory which both extend 12 nautical miles out from their coasts. Ships do this under something called Rights of Straits Passage - part of a UN convention which gives ships free passage through the world's chokepoints like the Strait of Gibraltar and the Malacca Strait. In the case of the Strait of Hormuz, shipping is channelled through two lanes heading in opposite directions, each one two nautical miles wide. This is called the Traffic Separation Scheme. Both Iran and the US Navy deploy warships to patrol this area and have narrowly avoided confrontation on several occasions. Once ships pass through the Strait of Hormuz and enter the Gulf they need to be wary of a contested area around the islands of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs. These are claimed by both Iran and the UAE but occupied solely by Iranian forces." } ], "id": "9344_2", "question": "Can ships in the area avoid Iranian waters?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6756, "answer_start": 5881, "text": "Iran appears to have been attempting to make good on its threat against British-flagged vessels in the wake of the seizure of an Iranian tanker off Gibraltar. But though this incident has a specifically bilateral dimension, it is also a powerful reminder that the tensions in the Gulf have not gone away. And with every sign that the dispute over the nuclear agreement with Iran is set to continue, things may only get worse. The episode may add some impetus to US-brokered efforts to muster an international naval force in the Gulf to protect international shipping. But most worrying of all, it shows that elements within the Iranian system - the Revolutionary Guard Corps's naval arm, or whatever - are intent on stoking the pressure. This inevitably plays into President Trump's hands as Britain and its key European partners struggle to keep the nuclear agreement alive." } ], "id": "9344_3", "question": "Could the UK-Iran situation get worse?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8105, "answer_start": 7121, "text": "The US has blamed Iran for attacks on six oil tankers in May and June. On Wednesday the chairman of the US military's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it wanted to create a multi-national military coalition to safeguard waters around Iran and Yemen. The news followed the Trump administration's decision to pull out of an international agreement on Tehran's nuclear programme and reinforce punishing sanctions against Iran. European allies to the US, including the UK, have not followed suit. Iran's ambassador to the UN has insisted Europeans must do more to compensate Tehran for economic losses inflicted by US sanctions. Tehran has begun to nudge the levels of its enriched uranium beyond the limits of a nuclear deal agreed with a group of world powers, in small and calculated steps. Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC, Iran would move to the \"third phase\" of its stepped-up uranium enrichment programme unless the Europeans kept promises to uphold the economic benefits of the accord." } ], "id": "9344_4", "question": "What are US-Iran tensions about?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A woman shot and wounded three people at YouTube's headquarters in Northern California before killing herself, police say. Police have named the suspect as Nasim Aghdam, 39, and say they are still investigating a motive. They say there is no evidence yet that she knew the victims, a 36-year-old man said to be in a critical condition, and two women aged 32 and 27. Aghdam had in the past posted material venting anger at YouTube. Such \"active shooter\" incidents are overwhelmingly carried out by men - an FBI report found that out of 160 incidents between 2000-2013 only six of the people who opened fire were women. The suspect is reported to have approached an outdoor patio and dining area at the offices in San Bruno, near San Francisco, at about lunchtime and opened fire with a handgun. San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said officers arrived at the offices at 12:48 (19:48 GMT) local time to find a \"chaotic scene\", with numerous people fleeing. Images broadcast on local TV stations showed employees leaving with their hands raised. Other footage showed evacuees forming a queue before being individually frisked by police. One person with a bullet wound was found at the front of the company headquarters, Mr Barberini said. Minutes later officers found a woman who appeared to have shot herself, he said. Two further victims were later discovered at an adjacent business. An employee at a nearby fast food restaurant told Fox station KTVU he had treated a young woman who suffered a bullet wound to the leg. He said he had fashioned a makeshift tourniquet from a bungee cord as they waited for first responders. Several YouTube employees tweeted about the attack as it was taking place. Product manager Todd Sherman said people fled the building in panic as the shooting unfolded. Another employee, Vadim Lavrusik, tweeted he was barricaded in a room with other staff. He later said he had been evacuated. The three wounded were taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Officials said the 32-year-old woman's condition was serious and the 27-year-old's condition was fair. A fourth person was also taken to hospital with an ankle injury sustained while trying to escape, Mr Barberini said. Some 1,700 people work at the YouTube HQ. The company is owned by Google and is the area's biggest employer. San Bruno police identified the suspect as Nasim Aghdam, a Californian resident of Iranian descent. She appeared often on YouTube and in one of her videos criticised the platform for discriminating against and filtering her posts. YouTube terminated her account following the shooting. Her Instagram and Facebook accounts have also been removed. On her personal website she accused YouTube of taking steps to prevent her videos from getting views. \"There is no equal growth opportunity on YouTube or any other video sharing site. Your channel will grow if they want to!\" she wrote. There had been earlier media reports that the man shot was her boyfriend, but police later said; \"At this time there is no evidence that the shooter knew the victims of this shooting or that individuals were specifically targeted.\" YouTube spokesman Chris Dale praised the police response to the incident. \"Today it feels like the entire community of YouTube and all of the employees were victims of this crime. Our hearts go out to those who suffered in this particular attack,\" he said. Another online giant, Twitter, said it was horrified by the shooting and said it was monitoring instances of misinformation. President Trump said he had been briefed about the incident.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2322, "answer_start": 618, "text": "The suspect is reported to have approached an outdoor patio and dining area at the offices in San Bruno, near San Francisco, at about lunchtime and opened fire with a handgun. San Bruno Police Chief Ed Barberini said officers arrived at the offices at 12:48 (19:48 GMT) local time to find a \"chaotic scene\", with numerous people fleeing. Images broadcast on local TV stations showed employees leaving with their hands raised. Other footage showed evacuees forming a queue before being individually frisked by police. One person with a bullet wound was found at the front of the company headquarters, Mr Barberini said. Minutes later officers found a woman who appeared to have shot herself, he said. Two further victims were later discovered at an adjacent business. An employee at a nearby fast food restaurant told Fox station KTVU he had treated a young woman who suffered a bullet wound to the leg. He said he had fashioned a makeshift tourniquet from a bungee cord as they waited for first responders. Several YouTube employees tweeted about the attack as it was taking place. Product manager Todd Sherman said people fled the building in panic as the shooting unfolded. Another employee, Vadim Lavrusik, tweeted he was barricaded in a room with other staff. He later said he had been evacuated. The three wounded were taken to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. Officials said the 32-year-old woman's condition was serious and the 27-year-old's condition was fair. A fourth person was also taken to hospital with an ankle injury sustained while trying to escape, Mr Barberini said. Some 1,700 people work at the YouTube HQ. The company is owned by Google and is the area's biggest employer." } ], "id": "9345_0", "question": "What happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3136, "answer_start": 2323, "text": "San Bruno police identified the suspect as Nasim Aghdam, a Californian resident of Iranian descent. She appeared often on YouTube and in one of her videos criticised the platform for discriminating against and filtering her posts. YouTube terminated her account following the shooting. Her Instagram and Facebook accounts have also been removed. On her personal website she accused YouTube of taking steps to prevent her videos from getting views. \"There is no equal growth opportunity on YouTube or any other video sharing site. Your channel will grow if they want to!\" she wrote. There had been earlier media reports that the man shot was her boyfriend, but police later said; \"At this time there is no evidence that the shooter knew the victims of this shooting or that individuals were specifically targeted.\"" } ], "id": "9345_1", "question": "Who was the suspect?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3579, "answer_start": 3137, "text": "YouTube spokesman Chris Dale praised the police response to the incident. \"Today it feels like the entire community of YouTube and all of the employees were victims of this crime. Our hearts go out to those who suffered in this particular attack,\" he said. Another online giant, Twitter, said it was horrified by the shooting and said it was monitoring instances of misinformation. President Trump said he had been briefed about the incident." } ], "id": "9345_2", "question": "What's the reaction been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Swiss firms have been criticised in a report for their links to the African trade in diesel with toxin levels that are illegal in Europe. Campaign group Public Eye says retailers are exploiting weak regulatory standards. Vitol, Trafigura, Addax & Oryx and Lynx Energy have been named because they are shareholders of the fuel retailers. Trafigura and Vitol say the report is misconceived and retailers work within legal limits enforced in the countries. Three of the distribution companies mentioned in the report have responded by saying that they meet the regulatory requirements of the market and have no vested interest in keeping sulphur levels higher than they need to be. Although this is within the limits set by national governments, the sulphur contained in the fumes from the diesel fuel could increase respiratory illnesses like asthma and bronchitis in affected countries, health experts say. The picture is changing but there are still several African countries which allow diesel to have a sulphur content of more than 2,000 parts per million (ppm), with some allowing more than 5,000ppm, whereas the European standard is less than 10ppm. Rob de Jong from the UN Environment Programme (Unep) told the BBC that there was a lack of awareness among some policy makers about the significance of the sulphur content. For a long time countries relied on colonial-era standards, which have only been revised in recent years. Another issue is that in the countries where there are refineries, these are unable, for technical reasons, to reduce the sulphur levels to the standard acceptable in Europe. This means that the regulatory standard is kept at the level that the refineries can operate at. Some governments are also worried that cleaner diesel would be more expensive, therefore pushing up the price of transport. But Mr De Jong argued that the difference was minimal and oil price fluctuations were much more significant in determining the diesel price. The sulphur particles emitted by a diesel engine are considered to be a major contributor to air pollution, which the World Health Organization (WHO) ranks as one of the top global health risks. It is associated with heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory problems. The WHO says that pollution is particularly bad in low and middle income countries. Reducing the sulphur content in diesel would go some way to reducing the risk that air pollution poses. Unep is at the forefront of trying to persuade governments to tighten up the sulphur content regulations and is gradually making progress. In 2015, the East African Community introduced new regulations for Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Diesel cannot now have more than 50ppm in those countries. It is clear that the situation has improved since 2005. Unep's Jane Akumu is currently working with the West African regional grouping Ecowas and its Southern African counterpart Sadc to try and change the regulations there. She told the BBC that she was optimistic that governments would bring down the legal sulphur limits as the arguments in favour are compelling.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1969, "answer_start": 906, "text": "The picture is changing but there are still several African countries which allow diesel to have a sulphur content of more than 2,000 parts per million (ppm), with some allowing more than 5,000ppm, whereas the European standard is less than 10ppm. Rob de Jong from the UN Environment Programme (Unep) told the BBC that there was a lack of awareness among some policy makers about the significance of the sulphur content. For a long time countries relied on colonial-era standards, which have only been revised in recent years. Another issue is that in the countries where there are refineries, these are unable, for technical reasons, to reduce the sulphur levels to the standard acceptable in Europe. This means that the regulatory standard is kept at the level that the refineries can operate at. Some governments are also worried that cleaner diesel would be more expensive, therefore pushing up the price of transport. But Mr De Jong argued that the difference was minimal and oil price fluctuations were much more significant in determining the diesel price." } ], "id": "9346_0", "question": "Why are regulations so lax?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2427, "answer_start": 1970, "text": "The sulphur particles emitted by a diesel engine are considered to be a major contributor to air pollution, which the World Health Organization (WHO) ranks as one of the top global health risks. It is associated with heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory problems. The WHO says that pollution is particularly bad in low and middle income countries. Reducing the sulphur content in diesel would go some way to reducing the risk that air pollution poses." } ], "id": "9346_1", "question": "What's so bad about sulphur?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3105, "answer_start": 2428, "text": "Unep is at the forefront of trying to persuade governments to tighten up the sulphur content regulations and is gradually making progress. In 2015, the East African Community introduced new regulations for Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania. Diesel cannot now have more than 50ppm in those countries. It is clear that the situation has improved since 2005. Unep's Jane Akumu is currently working with the West African regional grouping Ecowas and its Southern African counterpart Sadc to try and change the regulations there. She told the BBC that she was optimistic that governments would bring down the legal sulphur limits as the arguments in favour are compelling." } ], "id": "9346_2", "question": "What's being done about it?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Six weeks ago, a young woman called Zed (not her real name) was in a meeting at work when a message popped up on Facebook Messenger from a distant friend. \"Hey babe,\" it began. The friend asked Zed to vote for her in an online modelling competition, which she agreed to do. But then - disaster. Adding her email address to the competition register had caused a tech meltdown, her friend said. She needed to borrow her email log-in to fix it quickly and restore her votes. Zed was unsure. The friend begged - her career was at stake, she pleaded. Still in the meeting and powerless to make a call, Zed gave in - a momentary leap of faith. Except it was not her friend that she was talking to - someone else had got into the account and was pretending to be her. It's a scamming technique known as spear phishing. \"Phishing uses behavioural psychology to trick victims into trusting the attacker in order to obtain sensitive information,\" said Paul Bischoff of Comparitech, who also talked to Zed. \"Spear phishing is less prevalent, but far more dangerous. Spear phishing targets an individual or small group of people. The attacker can gather personal information about their target to build a more believable persona.\" Besides never sharing the credentials for your online accounts, a good way to stay safe is to enable \"two-step authentication\". This means that users must enter another code besides their password, received for example by their mobile phone, to log in. This can usually be set up in the security settings for your account or during the sign-up process. Two-step authentication is offered by Gmail, Hotmail, Apple, Amazon, Yahoo, Facebook and Twitter among others. Within minutes, Zed watched in horror as she was locked out of one account after another, as well as her Apple iCloud where she stored all her data - including a photo of her passport, bank details, and some explicit pictures. The hacker took control of all her IDs as they were all linked to the email address details she had supplied. The scammer also activated an extra layer of security, called two-step authentication, meaning that they received all alerts about her accounts and could reset them. Then a man called. The number had a Pakistan area code. \"He started the call by saying he didn't want any drama, he didn't want me to cry, he wanted me to talk to him like a professional,\" she said. He sounded young, perhaps a college student, she thought. Get news from the BBC in your inbox, each weekday morning He accused her of leading an \"immoral\" life. He had seen her photographs, he knew she had smoked and had boyfriends and was sexually active. He asked her what her parents would think and was furious when she said they already knew. \"He claimed he had hacked thousands of women,\" Zed says. \"He said 10 or 12 he had felt bad about because he couldn't find anything about them that was 'wrong'.\" Zed was not part of that group. \"He said he was happy when he hacked my account. That I deserved everything.\" He told her he would post the explicit pictures on her Facebook page - where she has more than 1,000 friends. \"I offered him money. I asked if I could pay. He said, 'Don't talk about money.' He sounded irritated,\" she said. Instead, he wanted her to perform a sex act for him on camera. Zed refused. \"Either you do it for me or you do it for the whole world,\" he told her - and uploaded one of the photos to Facebook. Zed had already warned her boyfriend and parents who assembled an army of friends waiting to report activity on her account. Within 15 minutes it had been disabled by Facebook - but she still received concerned messages from contacts. \"A friend who is like a brother sent me a message - it wasn't him who had seen [the photo] but a friend of his,\" she said. \"I feel like I mustn't think too much about how many people saw [the photos].\" The last thing the scammer said to her was, \"Have a great life.\" \"It seemed to me the only reason he was doing this was to morally police women and get them to do stuff for him,\" Zed said. \"He wanted a gallery of explicit photographs of women. That seemed to be his motive.\" Zed does not consider herself to be digitally naive. She is a bright, articulate 20-something from India who works in the media industry on the US east coast. \"I have been tech savvy and on the internet almost my entire life - but I've never really seen the power of what people can do until now,\" she says. Regaining control of her accounts has been a struggle. It took Zed a month to get her Apple ID back after engineers created a bespoke questionnaire for her containing answers that were not stored in her account. Gmail and Facebook have also been restored, but she has lost Snapchat and her Hotmail address - her central account which she had used for more than 13 years. \"I feel for the poor woman - these scams are so easy to fall for,\" said cybersecurity expert Prof Alan Woodward from Surrey University. \"I think what it shows is that security is a combination of people, process and technology. You can be very 'savvy' in any one or two of these but scammers are superb at finding novel combinations that, frankly, we just wouldn't think of. \"I know it sounds so obvious but, regardless of who they are, you should not share your username and password. Give these scammers a small chink in the armour and they are sadly brilliant at getting in and running amok in your digital life.\" Zed still uses iCloud but does not store personal stuff on it anymore - and has activated two-step verification everywhere. \"I still see the value in the storage. But I will never ever give any information away again,\" she said. Zed originally decided to share her story on community site Reddit after trying to find others who may have been conned by the same man. \"I was really shocked to discover that I found absolutely nothing,\" she said. \"I was hoping that speaking up about it would remedy that problem and encourage others to share their stories. \"It also felt like the only way to get back at him.\" As far as Zed knows, the scammer has not been caught. \"Cyber-criminals come in all shapes and sizes,' said prof Woodward. \"Their motive is not always monetary gain. As we have sadly seen of late, revenge or just being plain malicious is a growing trend.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1218, "answer_start": 812, "text": "\"Phishing uses behavioural psychology to trick victims into trusting the attacker in order to obtain sensitive information,\" said Paul Bischoff of Comparitech, who also talked to Zed. \"Spear phishing is less prevalent, but far more dangerous. Spear phishing targets an individual or small group of people. The attacker can gather personal information about their target to build a more believable persona.\"" } ], "id": "9347_0", "question": "What is spear phishing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1682, "answer_start": 1219, "text": "Besides never sharing the credentials for your online accounts, a good way to stay safe is to enable \"two-step authentication\". This means that users must enter another code besides their password, received for example by their mobile phone, to log in. This can usually be set up in the security settings for your account or during the sign-up process. Two-step authentication is offered by Gmail, Hotmail, Apple, Amazon, Yahoo, Facebook and Twitter among others." } ], "id": "9347_1", "question": "How do I protect myself?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A man accused of groping a woman on an aircraft has told US police that President Donald Trump had said it was OK to grab women. The man was charged in New Mexico with \"abusive sexual contact\" after he allegedly touched the breasts of the passenger sitting in front of him. The woman was helped by aircraft staff to find a different seat and the man was arrested on arrival in Albuquerque. Mr Trump was once recorded boasting about grabbing women by the genitals. According to the criminal complaint released by the district court in Albuquerque, the accused told police \"that the President of the United States says it's ok to grab women by their private parts\". The accused will remain in custody pending a preliminary hearing, the court said. A conviction of abusive sexual contact would carry a maximum penalty of two years in prison and a fine of $250,000 (PS193,000). The woman says in the complaint that she fell asleep after boarding but woke from being touched \"on her right side at and around her 'bra line'\". She first assumed the contact had been by accident but half an hour later was allegedly being groped a second time. The woman said she had then got up and confronted the man seated behind her. She was helped by a crew member to move to another section of the aircraft for the remainder of the flight. During the 2016 US presidential campaign, a tape surfaced on which Mr Trump can be heard bragging about grabbing women. The tape was of a 2005 conversation with TV host Billy Bush with neither of the two men aware they were being recorded. On it, Mr Trump can be heard saying that \"you can do anything\" to women and \"grab them by the pussy\". The then-candidate later apologised for the comments, saying they did not reflect who he was.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1756, "answer_start": 874, "text": "The woman says in the complaint that she fell asleep after boarding but woke from being touched \"on her right side at and around her 'bra line'\". She first assumed the contact had been by accident but half an hour later was allegedly being groped a second time. The woman said she had then got up and confronted the man seated behind her. She was helped by a crew member to move to another section of the aircraft for the remainder of the flight. During the 2016 US presidential campaign, a tape surfaced on which Mr Trump can be heard bragging about grabbing women. The tape was of a 2005 conversation with TV host Billy Bush with neither of the two men aware they were being recorded. On it, Mr Trump can be heard saying that \"you can do anything\" to women and \"grab them by the pussy\". The then-candidate later apologised for the comments, saying they did not reflect who he was." } ], "id": "9348_0", "question": "What is said to have happened?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Three-time Formula 1 world champion Niki Lauda has died at the age of 70. Lauda, who underwent a lung transplant in August, \"passed away peacefully\" on Monday, his family said. The legendary Austrian, one of the best-known figures in motor racing, took the title for Ferrari in 1975 and 1977 and McLaren in 1984. For many, he will be remembered for his remarkable recovery and return to racing after being badly burned in a crash in the 1976 German Grand Prix. A new generation of fans was introduced to Lauda in the acclaimed 2013 film Rush, which detailed his rivalry with British driver James Hunt, the 1976 world champion. Lauda, who was born in Vienna in February 1949, was a motor racing legend who went on to be a successful businessman following his retirement from the sport. However, he was probably best-known for surviving a crash during the 1976 season which left him scarred for life. On 1 August 1976, one year after winning his first title, he suffered third-degree burns to his head and face and inhaled toxic gases that damaged his lungs after his vehicle burst into flames at Nurburgring. He was given the last rites in hospital but made an almost miraculous recovery and returned to racing, still bandaged, just 40 days later. After his career as a racing driver, he became an airline entrepreneur and, most recently, a non-executive chairman for the Formula 1 Mercedes team, instrumental in bringing in British driver Lewis Hamilton, who has won five world championships. \"His unique achievements as an athlete and entrepreneur are and will remain unforgettable, his tireless zest for action, his straightforwardness and his courage remain a role model and a benchmark for all of us,\" his family's statement said. However, ill health followed him into his later years and he underwent a lung transplant in August 2018. He had previously had two kidney transplants, the second donated in 2005 by his then-girlfriend Birgit Wetzinger, a former flight attendant for his airline whom he married in 2008. In January 2019, Lauda spent 10 days in hospital while suffering from influenza. Lauda leaves behind his wife, their twins born in 2009, and three sons from previous relationships. by Andrew Benson, BBC chief F1 writer Niki Lauda was perhaps the most heroic and simply remarkable figure in the history of Formula 1, and yet the striking thing about him was how down-to-earth he was. Here was a man who had cheated death, been given the last rites, and raced a Grand Prix car again a few weeks later with blood seeping into the bandages still covering the burns on his face. But in person, Lauda was humble, practical, matter-of-fact and straightforward. There was no arrogance about him. He was warm, friendly, direct and wickedly funny, his humour often directed at himself, or at puncturing some of the pomposity that can sometimes infect Formula 1. Lauda simply said it as it was, often in salty language. He was a man of integrity, and he was respected as much for his character as for his achievements. Which is really saying something. He was a titan of the sport who lived a life beyond compare. A legend, in the truest, most absolute sense. He will be profoundly missed. - Read our correspondent's obituary to Lauda here. Mercedes said the passing of their \"irreplaceable\" chairman \"leaves a void in Formula 1\". \"We haven't just lost a hero who staged the most remarkable comeback ever seen, but also a man who brought precious clarity and candour to modern Formula 1,\" Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said. \"It was our honour to call you our chairman - and my privilege to call you my friend,\" he added. McLaren - the team behind his 1984 victory - said he would be \"enshrined in our history\" in a tweet. Ferrari's Formula 1 team, with which Lauda won two world championships in 1975 and 1977, said he would \"remain forever in our hearts\". Fellow drivers have also been adding their tributes throughout the morning. British former F1 champion Jenson Button has called him a \"legend\" while Nico Rosberg, another former F1 champion, paid tribute to Lauda's \"passion\", \"fighting spirit\" and \"your patience with us youngsters\". \"Myself and... 100 million fans around the world whom you also so strongly inspired to never give up in the hardest of times are thinking of you and your family. Rest in peace,\" he said in a statement.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2201, "answer_start": 627, "text": "Lauda, who was born in Vienna in February 1949, was a motor racing legend who went on to be a successful businessman following his retirement from the sport. However, he was probably best-known for surviving a crash during the 1976 season which left him scarred for life. On 1 August 1976, one year after winning his first title, he suffered third-degree burns to his head and face and inhaled toxic gases that damaged his lungs after his vehicle burst into flames at Nurburgring. He was given the last rites in hospital but made an almost miraculous recovery and returned to racing, still bandaged, just 40 days later. After his career as a racing driver, he became an airline entrepreneur and, most recently, a non-executive chairman for the Formula 1 Mercedes team, instrumental in bringing in British driver Lewis Hamilton, who has won five world championships. \"His unique achievements as an athlete and entrepreneur are and will remain unforgettable, his tireless zest for action, his straightforwardness and his courage remain a role model and a benchmark for all of us,\" his family's statement said. However, ill health followed him into his later years and he underwent a lung transplant in August 2018. He had previously had two kidney transplants, the second donated in 2005 by his then-girlfriend Birgit Wetzinger, a former flight attendant for his airline whom he married in 2008. In January 2019, Lauda spent 10 days in hospital while suffering from influenza. Lauda leaves behind his wife, their twins born in 2009, and three sons from previous relationships." } ], "id": "9349_0", "question": "Who was Niki Lauda?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4359, "answer_start": 3251, "text": "Mercedes said the passing of their \"irreplaceable\" chairman \"leaves a void in Formula 1\". \"We haven't just lost a hero who staged the most remarkable comeback ever seen, but also a man who brought precious clarity and candour to modern Formula 1,\" Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said. \"It was our honour to call you our chairman - and my privilege to call you my friend,\" he added. McLaren - the team behind his 1984 victory - said he would be \"enshrined in our history\" in a tweet. Ferrari's Formula 1 team, with which Lauda won two world championships in 1975 and 1977, said he would \"remain forever in our hearts\". Fellow drivers have also been adding their tributes throughout the morning. British former F1 champion Jenson Button has called him a \"legend\" while Nico Rosberg, another former F1 champion, paid tribute to Lauda's \"passion\", \"fighting spirit\" and \"your patience with us youngsters\". \"Myself and... 100 million fans around the world whom you also so strongly inspired to never give up in the hardest of times are thinking of you and your family. Rest in peace,\" he said in a statement." } ], "id": "9349_1", "question": "How have people reacted?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The ancient adage was never wrong, and thanks to Fox News we can now offer an update: to lose one may be considered a misfortune; to lose two is a sign something's up; but to lose three is a sign that something is rotten in America's most watched news network. The sacking of ratings juggernaut Bill O'Reilly last month was the most significant departure in the modern history of American cable news. Except that is, for the departure of his boss Roger Ailes last year. These two monumental media events - the first, a dismissal of the biggest talent on America's most influential news service; the second, a dismissal of the most influential man in American news media (after his boss, Rupert Murdoch) - have now been followed by another remarkable departure: that of Bill Shine, who ran Fox News with Ailes for two decades, and was appointed co-president to sort the mess out. Three huge departures within nine months. There is now chatter that Sean Hannity, the senior anchor who tweeted last week that Fox News would be finished without Shine, could be the next to go. What is going on? And could this affect UK communications regulator Ofcom's forthcoming judgement on whether to reject the Murdoch family's bid for the 61% of broadcaster Sky they don't own? That is certainly the hope of the cross-party group of MPs who have been lobbying Ofcom, and who would rather not see the Murdochs consolidate their power here in the UK. Interestingly, former business secretary Sir Vince Cable said on BBC Radio 4's World at One that Ofcom told him they were in listening mode. And there is certainly a lot of noise emanating from Fox News HQ in Manhattan right now. There is a palpable fear in New York that the sexual harassment scandal which has toppled Roger Ailes and Bill O'Reilly could be an American version of the phone hacking scandal that dogged Rupert Murdoch's British newspapers. The echoes are eerie. First, there is the instinctive blame on one rogue individual. Fox insiders have generally blamed the dominant, strongman personality of Roger Ailes for what went wrong, saying that with his departure the culture would improve. This sounds familiar to those who remember the initial claim that phone hacking was conducted by \"one rogue reporter\". Second, there are the wider questions about a corporate culture. I don't mean by this whether or not Fox News leans to the right. I mean whether or not it is well run. Shine, who we're told resigned over the weekend, wasn't accused of sexual or racial harassment himself; but he was accused by multiple individuals of knowing plenty about the behaviour of his boss, and failing to act appropriately. Third, and related, there are the legal investigations now under way: not one, but two. The bigger one is a federal probe looking at whether or not Fox withheld settlement payments over sexual harassment from investors. And fourth, and worst of all for the Murdochs, there is the time. The phone hacking scandal derailed their last attempt to acquire the part of Sky which they don't already own. Now, with Ofcom's assessment of their latest takeover bid in the long grass until after the UK general election on 8 June, this huge scandal threatens to generate all the wrong headlines. The timing couldn't be worse. For all that, it is important to note that Fox's ratings haven't suffered, and the advertising boycott that followed the revelations around O'Reilly - who strenuously denies he's done anything wrong, and is now forging a fresh career as a podcaster - hasn't yet dented Fox revenues in a really significant way. Moreover, Fox has moved swiftly and decisively in removing toxic individuals, in a way that shows they are extremely alert to potential reputational and commercial damage. It really was unimaginable this time last year that Fox News could exist without Ailes, let alone O'Reilly and even Megyn Kelly, who is probably America's most sought after female anchor, and left the network a few months ago. The dominant narrative in American media is that these moves show Rupert's sons, James and Lachlan, imposing their worldview on their father's media giant by decisively rejecting the orthodoxies of his reign. In conversations with seasoned observers of Planet Murdoch, individuals at 21st Century Fox, and opponents of that company's bid for the 61% of Sky it doesn't already own, that narrative finds plenty of support. That both Ailes and O'Reilly have gone does give credence to the idea that Fox News is being reconfigured by its parent company, 21st Century Fox, where Executive Chairman Lachlan, and CEO James - who are of equal status - want change. Since they acquired this joint status in June 2015, these two have made a concerted effort to modernise their father's firm. They have held regular town hall meetings with staff, extended parental leave, and made a habit of sending memos to staff - whether groups or individuals - saying well done: a pillar of right-on modern management. More importantly, they have appointed several women to key roles, from Stacey Snider (in charge of 20th Century Fox film studio) to Courteney Monroe (CEO of National Geographic, a particular passion for James). The entertainment division of 21st Century Fox has several women in key executive roles, from Elizabeth Gabler and Nancy Utley to Emma Watts and Vanessa Morrison. Fox insiders are frustrated that the strides made in equality in the entertainment division garner much less publicity than the misdeeds of senior men in the (much smaller and less profitable) news division. With commercial titans like Chase Carey, Peter Chernin, and now Ailes out of the picture, and James and Lachlan in the ascendant, there is a sense of a new broom at the company. But Rupert still rules the roost. I would urge caution on those who argue that his grip is weakening. Not only was he, as you'd expect, ultimately responsible for the decisions to remove Ailes, Shine and O'Reilly; not only did he install himself as the temporary but very hands-on chairman of Fox News after Ailes left; but the idea that there was a battle of wills between father and sons, who outnumbered and outfoxed their father, is fanciful. It is worth bearing in mind how much Rupert would have hated the New York Times felling of O'Reilly. It was their brilliant investigation that revealed the payments made to complainants against O'Reilly, causing a boycott by dozens of advertisers. Murdoch senior coveted the Grey Lady for many years, and paid a huge price for the Wall Street Journal partly because he was so determined to get one over it. The New York Times is the very embodiment of the liberal coastal elite O'Reilly, Shine and Ailes have spent decades bashing. The irony is not lost on either party. What next for Fox News? Hannity's future remains unclear. Former UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage, who works for Fox News, told me a fortnight ago that Tucker Carlson, the anchor who has replaced O'Reilly in the key 8pm slot, has long been thought of as his likely successor. In his first few days, Carlson has rated well. But the bigger drama is yet to come: the federal probes into whether payments were withheld from investors could intensify just as Ofcom consider whether to approve the Murdochs' bid for Sky. The last bid was of course derailed by the phone hacking scandal; and while Ofcom won't comment on what is a quasi-judicial process, their deliberations aren't taking place in a vacuum. In ancient times, before Donald Trump was elected and when some people naively believed Hillary Clinton would be US president, the mood music coming out of New York suggested that the sons would build Fox News around Megyn Kelly, taking it in a more centrist and female-friendly direction. Now she's gone, and Rupert Murdoch is trying to rid his network of the cancer threatening to spread through it. Suddenly, the future of Fox News is up for grabs - and British regulators are watching.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5741, "answer_start": 4195, "text": "In conversations with seasoned observers of Planet Murdoch, individuals at 21st Century Fox, and opponents of that company's bid for the 61% of Sky it doesn't already own, that narrative finds plenty of support. That both Ailes and O'Reilly have gone does give credence to the idea that Fox News is being reconfigured by its parent company, 21st Century Fox, where Executive Chairman Lachlan, and CEO James - who are of equal status - want change. Since they acquired this joint status in June 2015, these two have made a concerted effort to modernise their father's firm. They have held regular town hall meetings with staff, extended parental leave, and made a habit of sending memos to staff - whether groups or individuals - saying well done: a pillar of right-on modern management. More importantly, they have appointed several women to key roles, from Stacey Snider (in charge of 20th Century Fox film studio) to Courteney Monroe (CEO of National Geographic, a particular passion for James). The entertainment division of 21st Century Fox has several women in key executive roles, from Elizabeth Gabler and Nancy Utley to Emma Watts and Vanessa Morrison. Fox insiders are frustrated that the strides made in equality in the entertainment division garner much less publicity than the misdeeds of senior men in the (much smaller and less profitable) news division. With commercial titans like Chase Carey, Peter Chernin, and now Ailes out of the picture, and James and Lachlan in the ascendant, there is a sense of a new broom at the company." } ], "id": "9350_0", "question": "A new broom?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "German Chancellor Angela Merkel has begun talks with President Vladimir Putin on her first visit to Russia since 2015. The meeting, at Mr Putin's summer residence in Sochi, comes with bilateral relations in a trough over the war in Syria and Russia's annexation of Crimea. They are to discuss both issues but no breakthroughs are expected. Mr Putin will then meet Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday. \"Of course, we cannot but take advantage of this visit and discuss bilateral relations and the most problematic points, by which I mean Ukraine, Syria and possibly some other regions,\" Mr Putin said at the start of the talks with Mrs Merkel, quoted by Russia's Interfax news agency. Ties between Russia and Germany have worsened since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea in Ukraine, with Germany being a driving force behind the EU sanctions imposed in response. The pair, who are among the most powerful world leaders, have met a number of times outside Russia over the past two years - most recently in October to discuss Ukraine along with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and French President Francois Hollande. The official purpose is to discuss the G20 summit of world leaders to be held in Hamburg in July. This is now the only forum for Russia to meet other powers, after its exclusion from the G8 (now the G7) over Crimea. Mrs Merkel wants Russia to seek an end to the conflict in Ukraine by using its influence on pro-Russian separatists, and also needs Moscow's co-operation to reach a peace deal in Syria, says the BBC correspondent in Berlin, Damien McGuinness. Berlin has been the driving force behind keeping Europe united on sanctions so Russia's only hope of sanctions being lifted, is with German support., our correspondent adds. Mr Putin is also keen to hear her opinion of US President Donald Trump, whom she recently met. The situation in Libya, beset by chaos since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, is also on their agenda, Russian media report. As two of the world's most powerful long-serving leaders, the pair have long experience in dealing with each other. They spoke frequently before the breakdown in communications since 2014, and were said to have a grudging respect for one another. She speaks Russian, having grown up in communist East Germany, and he speaks German, from his years working for the KGB in Dresden, in the same country, in the 1980s. But both sides have downplayed the prospect of breakthroughs during their meeting in Sochi. As well as their opposition over Crimea and Syria, the German domestic intelligence agency has also accused Russia of being behind a series of cyber attacks on state computer systems. Russian-linked hackers are also suspected to have been behind a direct attack on Mrs Merkel's own Christian Democratic Union party. Mrs Merkel will also be keenly aware of the growing evidence of intervention from Russian-backed groups trying to spread influence in the domestic sphere, for instance, as she seeks a fourth term in federal elections on 24 September. In contrast, Mr Putin's scheduled meeting with the Turkish president the following day comes at a time of increased co-operation between the two nations. While they back opposing sides in Syria's civil war - with Moscow supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Ankara his opponents - the two countries began carrying out joint air strikes against the so-called Islamic State in January. The joint operation came a little over a year after Turkey shot down a Russian military jet, resulting in a crisis in bilateral relations. US President Donald Trump is also scheduled to speak to President Putin by phone on Tuesday, the White House announced on Monday night. They are expected to discuss the war in Syria. US ties with Russia had been expected to improve with the election of Mr Trump but were hit by Moscow's use of a veto to protect Syria at the UN Security Council following a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held Syrian town.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1992, "answer_start": 1133, "text": "The official purpose is to discuss the G20 summit of world leaders to be held in Hamburg in July. This is now the only forum for Russia to meet other powers, after its exclusion from the G8 (now the G7) over Crimea. Mrs Merkel wants Russia to seek an end to the conflict in Ukraine by using its influence on pro-Russian separatists, and also needs Moscow's co-operation to reach a peace deal in Syria, says the BBC correspondent in Berlin, Damien McGuinness. Berlin has been the driving force behind keeping Europe united on sanctions so Russia's only hope of sanctions being lifted, is with German support., our correspondent adds. Mr Putin is also keen to hear her opinion of US President Donald Trump, whom she recently met. The situation in Libya, beset by chaos since Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011, is also on their agenda, Russian media report." } ], "id": "9351_0", "question": "What will they talk about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3048, "answer_start": 1993, "text": "As two of the world's most powerful long-serving leaders, the pair have long experience in dealing with each other. They spoke frequently before the breakdown in communications since 2014, and were said to have a grudging respect for one another. She speaks Russian, having grown up in communist East Germany, and he speaks German, from his years working for the KGB in Dresden, in the same country, in the 1980s. But both sides have downplayed the prospect of breakthroughs during their meeting in Sochi. As well as their opposition over Crimea and Syria, the German domestic intelligence agency has also accused Russia of being behind a series of cyber attacks on state computer systems. Russian-linked hackers are also suspected to have been behind a direct attack on Mrs Merkel's own Christian Democratic Union party. Mrs Merkel will also be keenly aware of the growing evidence of intervention from Russian-backed groups trying to spread influence in the domestic sphere, for instance, as she seeks a fourth term in federal elections on 24 September." } ], "id": "9351_1", "question": "What are bilateral relations like?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3994, "answer_start": 3049, "text": "In contrast, Mr Putin's scheduled meeting with the Turkish president the following day comes at a time of increased co-operation between the two nations. While they back opposing sides in Syria's civil war - with Moscow supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Ankara his opponents - the two countries began carrying out joint air strikes against the so-called Islamic State in January. The joint operation came a little over a year after Turkey shot down a Russian military jet, resulting in a crisis in bilateral relations. US President Donald Trump is also scheduled to speak to President Putin by phone on Tuesday, the White House announced on Monday night. They are expected to discuss the war in Syria. US ties with Russia had been expected to improve with the election of Mr Trump but were hit by Moscow's use of a veto to protect Syria at the UN Security Council following a suspected chemical attack on a rebel-held Syrian town." } ], "id": "9351_2", "question": "What about Mr Putin's other encounters this week?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Reality check verdict: The US president has the power to both dismiss and appoint the director of the FBI. US President Donald Trump sacked James Comey, director of the FBI, on 9 May, with immediate effect. Mr Trump said he had acted on the recommendation of senior figures at the Justice Department, criticising Mr Comey's handling of the investigation over Hillary Clinton's emails. Mr Comey was sworn in as the seventh FBI director in September 2013, under the Obama administration. He was in his fourth year of a potential 10-year term, heading the organisation within the Justice Department with a broad array of powers to investigate domestic crime and to gather intelligence. According to federal law, the president has authority to both appoint and dismiss the director of the FBI, as well as other senior officials in the Justice Department, but the nominee has to pass hearings and be confirmed by a simple majority vote in the Senate. Only one FBI director has been removed by the President in the bureau's 100-plus-year history. That man was William Sessions, who was fired by President Bill Clinton in 1993. As president, Mr Trump has used his power to remove senior officials in the Justice Department before. He fired the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, at the end of January this year. The White House says the search for the next director has already begun. Before his removal from office, Mr Comey was in charge of investigations into alleged Russian interference during the 2016 presidential election. During a Senate hearing on 20 March 2017, Mr Comey acknowledged that potential links between Trump's associates and Russia were also under review. There's no reason why the investigation would stop, but with Mr Comey gone, Democrats in Congress are demanding that a special prosecutor be appointed to oversee the investigation into Russian involvement in the election. Deconstructing Comey's testimony on Clinton emails", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1307, "answer_start": 683, "text": "According to federal law, the president has authority to both appoint and dismiss the director of the FBI, as well as other senior officials in the Justice Department, but the nominee has to pass hearings and be confirmed by a simple majority vote in the Senate. Only one FBI director has been removed by the President in the bureau's 100-plus-year history. That man was William Sessions, who was fired by President Bill Clinton in 1993. As president, Mr Trump has used his power to remove senior officials in the Justice Department before. He fired the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, at the end of January this year." } ], "id": "9352_0", "question": "How can a president simply fire the head of the FBI?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Japanese stock market has seen the longest winning streak since 1988. Big Japanese manufacturers are the most upbeat they've been in a decade. And Japan's economy has seen the sixth straight quarter of growth - again, the longest in a decade. No wonder then that Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears to be feeling pretty confident about his chances of victory at this weekend's elections. But how much of the economy's feel good factors are down to his Abenomics policies? First, a quick reminder. The self-named Abenomics programme is the set of policies that Mr Abe came up with when he came into power in 2012. His plan was to jumpstart Japan's economy out of two decades of stagnant growth using the three \"arrows\" of Abenomics: - Monetary policy: Japan's hyper-easy monetary policy in the form of negative short term interest rates was put in place to make it cheaper for consumers and companies to borrow money and spend. - Fiscal stimulus: Pumping money into the economy, which means the government spending more money on things like infrastructure, or giving financial incentives to companies like tax breaks. - Structural reforms: Corporate reform, adding more women into the workforce, labour liberalisation, and allowing more migrants into the workforce to help ease labour pressures and add to economic growth. But the pledges Mr Abe made in 2012 haven't come to pass. While Japan's economy has done well in recent months, it hasn't hit the targets Mr Abe set back then. And while most Japanese feel better about their country's current economic situation than they did a year ago, according to a recent survey from the Pew Research Centre, concerns about the future - especially amongst the youth and middle-aged professionals - are still a big issue. That's because so far the success of Abenomics has been mixed - at best. Mr Abe can be credited for pushing through the first two \"arrows\" of Abenomics aggressively. But the third arrow of structural reform - and arguably the most important - has been sorely lacking, and Abenomics doesn't work all that well without all three arrows working together. Sure, Mr Abe can tout the fact that unemployment levels are at near four decade lows but salaries still aren't moving that much higher. Wages of full time workers rose an average of 0.7% in August and haven't budged much over the last four years. It is a vicious circle: although companies are doing better it is mainly because Japanese exporters are selling well overseas, rather than into the domestic market. That is because they don't think people will buy their goods, which means they don't make great profits at home, which means they don't raise wages, which means people feel less confident to spend money - and so the cycle goes on and on. This doesn't bode too well for one of the central goals of Abenomics - to push consumer prices higher, and to get inflation levels to 2%. Current levels are far lower than that. And Mr Abe shouldn't get too complacent about economic growth either. Growth will slow to 1% in 2019 from 1.7% this year, according to Capital Economics. The International Monetary Fund is even more pessimistic - forecasting growth of 0.7% next year. IF Mr Abe's party wins on Sunday, as some polls suggest, it won't be thanks to an Abenomics bump. Tough talk on North Korea, and the fact that Mr Abe represents a modicum of stability in Japanese politics, after years of the country seeing revolving door leaders, are all things that are helping him. But if Mr Abe gets a new mandate, the Prime Minister will have a lot of unfinished business to attend to. In order to keep the economy growing he wants to increase the national sales tax - but that could put more pressure on households, and curb consumption at a time when he wants prices to go up, not down. Mr Abe could start with making good on his promises to reform the structure of the Japanese economy, cutting red tape, liberalising the labour market and making it easier for foreigners to invest in Japan. Otherwise, without structural reforms, Mr Abe may well just be setting himself up for another political battle - and next time he may not be so lucky.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2128, "answer_start": 483, "text": "First, a quick reminder. The self-named Abenomics programme is the set of policies that Mr Abe came up with when he came into power in 2012. His plan was to jumpstart Japan's economy out of two decades of stagnant growth using the three \"arrows\" of Abenomics: - Monetary policy: Japan's hyper-easy monetary policy in the form of negative short term interest rates was put in place to make it cheaper for consumers and companies to borrow money and spend. - Fiscal stimulus: Pumping money into the economy, which means the government spending more money on things like infrastructure, or giving financial incentives to companies like tax breaks. - Structural reforms: Corporate reform, adding more women into the workforce, labour liberalisation, and allowing more migrants into the workforce to help ease labour pressures and add to economic growth. But the pledges Mr Abe made in 2012 haven't come to pass. While Japan's economy has done well in recent months, it hasn't hit the targets Mr Abe set back then. And while most Japanese feel better about their country's current economic situation than they did a year ago, according to a recent survey from the Pew Research Centre, concerns about the future - especially amongst the youth and middle-aged professionals - are still a big issue. That's because so far the success of Abenomics has been mixed - at best. Mr Abe can be credited for pushing through the first two \"arrows\" of Abenomics aggressively. But the third arrow of structural reform - and arguably the most important - has been sorely lacking, and Abenomics doesn't work all that well without all three arrows working together." } ], "id": "9353_0", "question": "What is Abenomics?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4174, "answer_start": 3208, "text": "IF Mr Abe's party wins on Sunday, as some polls suggest, it won't be thanks to an Abenomics bump. Tough talk on North Korea, and the fact that Mr Abe represents a modicum of stability in Japanese politics, after years of the country seeing revolving door leaders, are all things that are helping him. But if Mr Abe gets a new mandate, the Prime Minister will have a lot of unfinished business to attend to. In order to keep the economy growing he wants to increase the national sales tax - but that could put more pressure on households, and curb consumption at a time when he wants prices to go up, not down. Mr Abe could start with making good on his promises to reform the structure of the Japanese economy, cutting red tape, liberalising the labour market and making it easier for foreigners to invest in Japan. Otherwise, without structural reforms, Mr Abe may well just be setting himself up for another political battle - and next time he may not be so lucky." } ], "id": "9353_1", "question": "So what next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A bottle of malt whisky worth PS12,000 has been stolen in a raid on a Perth and Kinross distillery. The rare malt was among seven bottles of whisky taken from Tullibardine Distillery's shop in Blackford at the weekend. About PS14,000 worth of whisky and two glasses were stolen from the shop during the break in. Police want to trace a man seen walking with two bags near the A9 at Blackford at about 21:55 on Saturday. He was described as between 25 and 35-years-old, of medium build, and was wearing a red top, light-coloured shorts and worker boots. Police Scotland said the Stirling Street shop was broken into between 17:00 on Saturday and 09:25 on Sunday. A typical branded whisky sold in a UK supermarket can cost about PS14. Cheaper blends can be bought for less, a single malt would be about twice as much. But, at the top end of the market, a rare bottle might fetch many thousands of pounds. In some examples, luxury packaging (think crystal decanter, encrusted with jewels) makes up much of the cost. In others, the rarity of the drink itself, from casks matured decades ago, pushes up the price tag. The top prices in auction can match works of art. In 2010, an auction house in New York sold a decanter of whisky for $460,000 (PS353,000).", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1252, "answer_start": 662, "text": "A typical branded whisky sold in a UK supermarket can cost about PS14. Cheaper blends can be bought for less, a single malt would be about twice as much. But, at the top end of the market, a rare bottle might fetch many thousands of pounds. In some examples, luxury packaging (think crystal decanter, encrusted with jewels) makes up much of the cost. In others, the rarity of the drink itself, from casks matured decades ago, pushes up the price tag. The top prices in auction can match works of art. In 2010, an auction house in New York sold a decanter of whisky for $460,000 (PS353,000)." } ], "id": "9354_0", "question": "How much can a bottle of whisky cost?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Germany's Ursula von der Leyen has been narrowly elected president of the EU Commission following a secret ballot among MEPs. The centre-right defence minister will replace Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker on 1 November. She secured the backing of more than half of the members of the European parliament on Tuesday evening. The Commission drafts EU laws, enforces EU rules and has the power to impose fines on member states if necessary. \"The trust you placed in me is confidence you placed in Europe,\" Mrs von der Leyen, who is the first woman to be elected president of the European Commission, said in a speech immediately after the vote. \"Your confidence in a united and strong Europe, from east to west, from south to north.\" \"It is a big responsibility and my work starts now,\" she added. \"Let us work together constructively.\" She was confirmed by a margin of 383 votes to 327. She needed the backing of 374 out of 747 MEPs to win. A total of 751 MEPs were elected in May, but four were absent for Tuesday's vote. Born in Brussels, Mrs von der Leyen has seven children and trained as a gynaecologist before entering politics. The 60-year-old defence minister has been criticised in Germany over the armed forces' persistent equipment shortages and what some consider to be her aloof management style. She has promised to push for the EU to play a bigger role in social welfare, to tackle poverty, and has stressed that she would stand up for women's rights. She has also pledged in the past to allow a further extension of the UK's withdrawal date from the EU \"should more time be required for a good reason\". In a speech in the European parliament earlier on Tuesday, Mrs von der Leyen made some other significant pledges: - She would push to give the European Parliament \"the right of initiative\" - meaning the Commission would have to legislate on MEPs' resolutions; currently only the Commission can draft laws - On irregular migration to the EU, she said she would boost the EU's border force Frontex to 10,000 staff by 2024, but said \"we need to preserve the right to asylum through humanitarian corridors\" - She offered an EU \"reinsurance scheme\" to bolster national insurance schemes for the unemployed. Analysis by Damian Grammaticas, Europe Correspondent, BBC News European leaders will be breathing a sigh of relief. It took days of fraught negotiations and a difficult compromise among EU countries to nominate Mrs von der Leyen, a German conservative and close ally of Angela Merkel. She scraped through with 383 votes, just nine more than the minimum. That may leave her in a weakened position, as it seems she was helped over the line by votes from Eurosceptic and right-wing MEPs in Poland and Italy. Greens, on the other hand, did not vote for her. They said her commitments on climate change and saving the lives of refugees trying to cross the Mediterranean were too weak. Socialists, too, were angered that their preferred candidate was overlooked by EU leaders. So what does all this division mean? For a start, the European Commission Mrs von der Leyen will lead from November may have problems passing legislation through the parliament. Figures from across the bloc have been quick to congratulate Mrs von der Leyen on her election victory. \"This job is a huge responsibility and a challenge. I am sure you will make a great president,\" outgoing Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker wrote on Twitter. German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid tribute to her outgoing defence minister, who she described as a \"committed and convincing European\". \"Even if I lose a long-standing minister today, I win a new partner in Brussels,\" she said in a statement. \"I am therefore looking forward to good co-operation.\" \"About time we get a woman in that important position,\" Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said in a tweet. \"Time to continue work on the crucial issues: jobs, climate change, migration and security in Europe.\" Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his congratulations and said: \"Europe has to move forward. In this we have to work together, addressing the changes that the common project needs.\" Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, tweeted a simple message: Belgium's leader - and incoming head of the European Council - Charles Michel said: \"I wish to congratulate [Mrs von der Leyen]. Let's work together in the interest of all Europeans.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4405, "answer_start": 3178, "text": "Figures from across the bloc have been quick to congratulate Mrs von der Leyen on her election victory. \"This job is a huge responsibility and a challenge. I am sure you will make a great president,\" outgoing Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker wrote on Twitter. German Chancellor Angela Merkel paid tribute to her outgoing defence minister, who she described as a \"committed and convincing European\". \"Even if I lose a long-standing minister today, I win a new partner in Brussels,\" she said in a statement. \"I am therefore looking forward to good co-operation.\" \"About time we get a woman in that important position,\" Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said in a tweet. \"Time to continue work on the crucial issues: jobs, climate change, migration and security in Europe.\" Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez offered his congratulations and said: \"Europe has to move forward. In this we have to work together, addressing the changes that the common project needs.\" Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, tweeted a simple message: Belgium's leader - and incoming head of the European Council - Charles Michel said: \"I wish to congratulate [Mrs von der Leyen]. Let's work together in the interest of all Europeans.\"" } ], "id": "9355_0", "question": "What is the reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A number of top US officials have denied that they are the author of a damning anonymous editorial that attacks President Donald Trump. The New York Times article, said to be written by a senior White House official, says Mr Trump's appointees are trying to stifle his agenda. There is fierce speculation over who is responsible - with the vice-president among those to deny any involvement. Mr Trump has described the writer as \"gutless\" and the newspaper as \"phony\". A spokesman for Vice-President Mike Pence has dismissed claims that he wrote the op-ed, describing it as \"false, illogical and gutless\". Several other cabinet members and top officials have also denied writing the piece. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo attacked the writer as a \"disgruntled deceptive bad actor\", adding: \"I come from a place where if you're not in a position to execute the commander's intent, you have a singular option - that is to leave.\" Meanwhile, a spokesman for Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin described the anonymous piece as \"irresponsible\", while a spokesman for the Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said: \"These types of political attacks are beneath the secretary and the department's mission\". The article - entitled I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration - is written by someone the New York Times describes as a senior official in the Trump administration. The paper says the author requested anonymity and that this was essential to deliver an \"important perspective\" to its readers. \"Many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations,\" the article says. \"I would know. I am one of them.\" Although the writer says they support the administration's objectives, they say that its successes have come in spite of the president, who is described as impulsive, erratic and amoral, someone whose \"misguided impulses\" need to be controlled for the good of the US. \"It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room. We fully recognise what is happening. And we are trying to do what's right even when Donald Trump won't,\" it says. Angrily. One of Mr Trump's tweets simply said \"TREASON?\". Another said the \"Deep State and the Left, and their vehicle, the Fake News Media, are going Crazy - & they don't know what to do\", pointing to the growing US economy as an achievement. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the author was \"not putting country first, but putting himself and his ego ahead of the will of the American people. This coward should do the right thing and resign\". Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump said: \"If a person is bold enough to accuse people of negative actions, they have a responsibility to publicly stand by their words.\" The White House is already on the defensive amid questions over Mr Trump's suitability for office raised in a book by revered political journalist Bob Woodward. Fear: Trump in the White House also describes staff deliberately undermining the president, with some hiding sensitive documents from him to prevent him signing them, and other aides calling him an \"idiot\" and a \"liar\". Mr Trump has called the book a \"con\". One of the most explosive passages in the New York Times article says there were \"early whispers within the cabinet of invoking the 25th Amendment\", which would allow Mr Trump to be forced out of office. That top officials are reportedly working against the elected US leader has raised some alarm and not just from the White House. In the Atlantic, David Frum, a Republican commentator who is a fierce critic of Mr Trump, called it a \"constitutional crisis\". \"What the author has just done is throw the government of the United States into even more dangerous turmoil,\" he wrote. \"He or she has enflamed the paranoia of the president and empowered the president's wilfulness.\" A former CIA director, John Brennan, who has been strongly critical of Mr Trump, called the article \"active insubordination\" although he said it was \"born out of loyalty to the country\". Others have wondered whether it was an attempt to distance the Republican administration from their president ahead of the important mid-term elections. So far, officials who have said they did not write the editorial include: - Defence Secretary James Mattis - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo - Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats - Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin - Secretary for Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen - Secretary for Housing Ben Carson - Attorney General Jeff Sessions - Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley - Office of Management and Budget Director Mike Mulvaney - Secretary for Veterans Affairs Robert Wilkie - Labour Secretary Alex Acosta - CIA Director Gina Haspel - Energy Secretary Rick Perry - Counsellor Kellyanne Conway - Environmental Protection Agency chief Andrew Wheeler - Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue - Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon - Health Secretary Alex Azar - Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao - Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2216, "answer_start": 1209, "text": "The article - entitled I Am Part of the Resistance Inside the Trump Administration - is written by someone the New York Times describes as a senior official in the Trump administration. The paper says the author requested anonymity and that this was essential to deliver an \"important perspective\" to its readers. \"Many of the senior officials in his own administration are working diligently from within to frustrate parts of his agenda and his worst inclinations,\" the article says. \"I would know. I am one of them.\" Although the writer says they support the administration's objectives, they say that its successes have come in spite of the president, who is described as impulsive, erratic and amoral, someone whose \"misguided impulses\" need to be controlled for the good of the US. \"It may be cold comfort in this chaotic era, but Americans should know that there are adults in the room. We fully recognise what is happening. And we are trying to do what's right even when Donald Trump won't,\" it says." } ], "id": "9356_0", "question": "What's in the editorial?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2854, "answer_start": 2217, "text": "Angrily. One of Mr Trump's tweets simply said \"TREASON?\". Another said the \"Deep State and the Left, and their vehicle, the Fake News Media, are going Crazy - & they don't know what to do\", pointing to the growing US economy as an achievement. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the author was \"not putting country first, but putting himself and his ego ahead of the will of the American people. This coward should do the right thing and resign\". Meanwhile, First Lady Melania Trump said: \"If a person is bold enough to accuse people of negative actions, they have a responsibility to publicly stand by their words.\"" } ], "id": "9356_1", "question": "How has the White House responded?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4291, "answer_start": 2855, "text": "The White House is already on the defensive amid questions over Mr Trump's suitability for office raised in a book by revered political journalist Bob Woodward. Fear: Trump in the White House also describes staff deliberately undermining the president, with some hiding sensitive documents from him to prevent him signing them, and other aides calling him an \"idiot\" and a \"liar\". Mr Trump has called the book a \"con\". One of the most explosive passages in the New York Times article says there were \"early whispers within the cabinet of invoking the 25th Amendment\", which would allow Mr Trump to be forced out of office. That top officials are reportedly working against the elected US leader has raised some alarm and not just from the White House. In the Atlantic, David Frum, a Republican commentator who is a fierce critic of Mr Trump, called it a \"constitutional crisis\". \"What the author has just done is throw the government of the United States into even more dangerous turmoil,\" he wrote. \"He or she has enflamed the paranoia of the president and empowered the president's wilfulness.\" A former CIA director, John Brennan, who has been strongly critical of Mr Trump, called the article \"active insubordination\" although he said it was \"born out of loyalty to the country\". Others have wondered whether it was an attempt to distance the Republican administration from their president ahead of the important mid-term elections." } ], "id": "9356_2", "question": "Why does it matter?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russia and Turkey have agreed to create a demilitarised buffer zone in Syria's Idlib province to separate government forces from rebel fighters based there. Russian President Vladimir Putin said it would be 15km to 25km (9-15 miles) wide and come into force by 15 October. Troops from Russia, an ally of Syria's government, and Turkey, which backs the rebels, will patrol the zone. The UN had warned of a humanitarian catastrophe if the Syrian army launched an all-out assault to retake Idlib. But after Monday's meeting between Mr Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Sochi, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said the deal meant there would be no such operation in the region. The Russian president said that under the deal, all heavy weaponry, including tanks, rocket launch systems and mortar launchers operated by rebel groups would need to be pulled out of the buffer zone by 10 October. \"Radically-minded rebels\", including members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham - a jihadist alliance linked to al-Qaeda that was once known as al-Nusra Front - would also have to leave the zone, Mr Putin added. It was not immediately clear if the zone included Idlib city. Mr Erdogan said: \"We will prevent a humanitarian tragedy which could happen as a result of military action.\" He had earlier called for a ceasefire in northern Syria to prevent what he said would be a \"bloodbath\" and another major refugee crisis on Turkey's southern border. Analysis by BBC Diplomatic Correspondent Jonathan Marcus Any diplomatic arrangement that postpones a full-scale onslaught against Idlib will be welcomed by the international community. Such an attack by the Assad government - backed by its Russian and Iranian allies - risked not just a humanitarian catastrophe, but also a direct military confrontation with Turkey. Turkey has deployed troops at a number of locations in Idlib and has been reinforcing these over recent days. President Assad wants to reassert control over Idlib - the last province in rebel hands. Both he and the Russians want to destroy rebel groups they call \"terrorists\". It is hard to see exactly how a buffer zone arrangement involving Russia and Turkey can address these long-term problems. But averting an offensive for now may give breathing space for additional diplomatic moves. Idlib province is the last major stronghold of rebel and jihadist groups which have been trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad for the past seven years, in a civil war that has killed more than 350,000 people. Idlib, and adjoining areas of Hama and Aleppo, are home to an estimated 2.9 million people, including one million children. A sharp increase in hostilities since the start of September and fears of further escalation have led to the displacement of tens of thousands. Hundreds of thousands in Idlib live in dire, overcrowded conditions, with a lack of basic services. Idlib is not controlled by a single group, but rather by a number of rival factions commanding up to 70,000 fighters. The dominant force is HTS, which the UN estimates has 10,000 fighters. Idlib is also strategically vital. It borders Turkey to the north and straddles major highways running south from Aleppo to Hama and the capital, Damascus, and west to the Mediterranean coastal city of Latakia. If Idlib is taken by the government, it would leave the rebels with a few pockets of territory scattered across the country and effectively signal their military defeat.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1449, "answer_start": 698, "text": "The Russian president said that under the deal, all heavy weaponry, including tanks, rocket launch systems and mortar launchers operated by rebel groups would need to be pulled out of the buffer zone by 10 October. \"Radically-minded rebels\", including members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham - a jihadist alliance linked to al-Qaeda that was once known as al-Nusra Front - would also have to leave the zone, Mr Putin added. It was not immediately clear if the zone included Idlib city. Mr Erdogan said: \"We will prevent a humanitarian tragedy which could happen as a result of military action.\" He had earlier called for a ceasefire in northern Syria to prevent what he said would be a \"bloodbath\" and another major refugee crisis on Turkey's southern border." } ], "id": "9357_0", "question": "What is the deal and what did Putin and Erdogan say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3463, "answer_start": 2308, "text": "Idlib province is the last major stronghold of rebel and jihadist groups which have been trying to overthrow President Bashar al-Assad for the past seven years, in a civil war that has killed more than 350,000 people. Idlib, and adjoining areas of Hama and Aleppo, are home to an estimated 2.9 million people, including one million children. A sharp increase in hostilities since the start of September and fears of further escalation have led to the displacement of tens of thousands. Hundreds of thousands in Idlib live in dire, overcrowded conditions, with a lack of basic services. Idlib is not controlled by a single group, but rather by a number of rival factions commanding up to 70,000 fighters. The dominant force is HTS, which the UN estimates has 10,000 fighters. Idlib is also strategically vital. It borders Turkey to the north and straddles major highways running south from Aleppo to Hama and the capital, Damascus, and west to the Mediterranean coastal city of Latakia. If Idlib is taken by the government, it would leave the rebels with a few pockets of territory scattered across the country and effectively signal their military defeat." } ], "id": "9357_1", "question": "What is Idlib and why does it matter?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Donald Trump has stepped back from comments he made about reporting foreign interference in a US political campaign. He told Fox News he would \"of course\" refer to the FBI any offer of damaging information about a political opponent. Mr Trump disputed in another interview aired this week whether the FBI should be notified of such approaches. Democrats said he was giving Russia the go-ahead to meddle again in the next 2020 presidential election. On Friday, Mr Trump called into the Fox & Friends show to give a 50-minute live interview. Asked how he would respond to any offer from another government to help his campaign, Mr Trump said: \"Of course, you give it to the FBI or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that.\" He continued: \"But of course you do that. You couldn't have that happen with our country.\" Mr Trump also maintained he would still at least review any such foreign-supplied information. \"Of course, you have to look at it, because if you don't look at it, you won't know it's bad,\" he said. In an interview broadcast this week on ABC News, Mr Trump pushed back on whether he should report to law enforcement officials any foreign offer of help for his re-election bid. Mr Trump said: \"If somebody called from a country, Norway, 'we have information on your opponent' - oh, I think I'd want to hear it.\" \"It's not an interference, they have information,\" Mr Trump added, \"I think I'd take it.\" \"If I thought there was something wrong, I'd go maybe to the FBI - if I thought there was something wrong.\" When the ABC anchor referred to the FBI director telling Congress his agency should be made aware of any such foreign election meddling, Mr Trump said: \"The FBI director is wrong.\" In a pointed tweet, Federal Election Commission chairwoman Ellen Weintraub clarified the rules. Even several of the president's fellow Republicans spoke out against his remarks to ABC. Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham said the comments were \"wrong\". Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the president \"does not know right from wrong\". However, Republicans cried hypocrisy, bring up how Russian comedians posing as a Ukrainian politician prank-called the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee in April 2017. Adam Schiff had greeted the hoaxers' claim that Vladimir Putin was blackmailing Mr Trump with naked photos as \"very helpful\". In a recording of the call, Mr Schiff also said he would tell the FBI. During Friday's lengthy interview, given on his 73rd birthday, the president dismissed calls from an ethics watchdog to fire top White House aide Kellyanne Conway. The Office of Special Counsel said Mrs Conway's disparaging comments about Democratic candidates were banned political activities under the Hatch Act. But Mr Trump told Fox & Friends: \"No, I'm not going to fire her. I think she's a terrific person. \"I think you're entitled to free speech in this country.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1036, "answer_start": 459, "text": "On Friday, Mr Trump called into the Fox & Friends show to give a 50-minute live interview. Asked how he would respond to any offer from another government to help his campaign, Mr Trump said: \"Of course, you give it to the FBI or report it to the attorney general or somebody like that.\" He continued: \"But of course you do that. You couldn't have that happen with our country.\" Mr Trump also maintained he would still at least review any such foreign-supplied information. \"Of course, you have to look at it, because if you don't look at it, you won't know it's bad,\" he said." } ], "id": "9358_0", "question": "What did President Trump tell Fox?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1727, "answer_start": 1037, "text": "In an interview broadcast this week on ABC News, Mr Trump pushed back on whether he should report to law enforcement officials any foreign offer of help for his re-election bid. Mr Trump said: \"If somebody called from a country, Norway, 'we have information on your opponent' - oh, I think I'd want to hear it.\" \"It's not an interference, they have information,\" Mr Trump added, \"I think I'd take it.\" \"If I thought there was something wrong, I'd go maybe to the FBI - if I thought there was something wrong.\" When the ABC anchor referred to the FBI director telling Congress his agency should be made aware of any such foreign election meddling, Mr Trump said: \"The FBI director is wrong.\"" } ], "id": "9358_1", "question": "What did he say earlier this week?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2456, "answer_start": 1728, "text": "In a pointed tweet, Federal Election Commission chairwoman Ellen Weintraub clarified the rules. Even several of the president's fellow Republicans spoke out against his remarks to ABC. Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham said the comments were \"wrong\". Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said the president \"does not know right from wrong\". However, Republicans cried hypocrisy, bring up how Russian comedians posing as a Ukrainian politician prank-called the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee in April 2017. Adam Schiff had greeted the hoaxers' claim that Vladimir Putin was blackmailing Mr Trump with naked photos as \"very helpful\". In a recording of the call, Mr Schiff also said he would tell the FBI." } ], "id": "9358_2", "question": "What was the reaction?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2927, "answer_start": 2457, "text": "During Friday's lengthy interview, given on his 73rd birthday, the president dismissed calls from an ethics watchdog to fire top White House aide Kellyanne Conway. The Office of Special Counsel said Mrs Conway's disparaging comments about Democratic candidates were banned political activities under the Hatch Act. But Mr Trump told Fox & Friends: \"No, I'm not going to fire her. I think she's a terrific person. \"I think you're entitled to free speech in this country.\"" } ], "id": "9358_3", "question": "What else did Trump tell Fox?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Donald Trump has cancelled a planned visit to the UK in February, where he had been expected to open a new $1bn (PS738m) US embassy in London. The US president tweeted he was not a \"big fan\" of the new embassy - which is moving from Mayfair to south London. He blamed Barack Obama's administration for a \"bad deal\" despite the fact the move was agreed under George W Bush. The trip was not the controversial full state visit offered by Theresa May, for which no date has yet been set. Downing Street said no date has been confirmed for any visit by Mr Trump and that the opening of the US embassy \"is a matter for the US\". The \"strong and deep\" partnership between Britain and the US \"will endure\" despite Mr Trump's cancellation, a spokesman added. However, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan - who has clashed with the president in the past - said the US president had \"got the message\" that many Londoners were staunchly opposed to his policies and actions. BBC North America editor Jon Sopel said he suspected the possibility of protests in London would have also weighed in the calculation. The US embassy move was confirmed in October 2008, when President George W Bush was still in the White House. It was moved from its Mayfair site because it was too small to put in the modern security it needed, the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Landale said. However, Mr Trump blamed former president Mr Obama's administration for selling \"perhaps the best located and finest embassy in London for peanuts\". Mr Trump also criticised the location of the new building in Vauxhall, south London, as an \"off location\", adding: \"Wanted me to cut ribbon-NO!\" The BBC's North America editor said February's planned visit could have included meetings with Mrs May at Chequers or Downing Street and lunch with the Queen. However, no firm date for the visit had ever been agreed, nor had the White House \"nailed down the details of the trip\", James Lansdale added. By BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale Donald Trump says that he is not coming to open the new US embassy in London because he is not a fan of the building. Some diplomats suggest the president was unimpressed by the low key nature of the proposed trip, shorn of the pomp and bling he expected. Others say the White House was worried about the scale of the public protests that were threatened. But amid all this is the nagging fear that the real reason is that Mr Trump just does not see the UK as a priority. In his first year of office, he has visited most other G7 countries and several European nations, including Belgium, so the absence of Britain from his itinerary stands out. Of course, trips - like tweets - can be easily remedied, and a visit by Mr Trump later this year could in theory dispel the fears. But with the UK at odds with the US on an increasing numbers of issues, from Iran to Jerusalem, the lack of a visit carries greater symbolic weight. The ribbon-cutting ceremony may instead be hosted by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Mr Trump accepted the Queen's invitation for an official state visit when the prime minister met him last year. A petition calling for the invitation to be withdrawn was signed by more than 1.8m people, while the issue was also debated in parliament. Reports in June suggested Mr Trump wanted to delay a potential visit amid concerns about large-scale protests. However, the BBC understands Downing Street is considering options for the visit later in the year. A former British ambassador to the United States, Christopher Meyer, told BBC Radio 4's World at One he would be \"surprised\" if the US president visited the UK in his first term. Mr Meyer said: \"It would be so difficult to manage from a security point of view [and] from a public point of view if he remained as unpopular among the British people at large as he is now.\" Speaking last month, US ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson told the BBC he \"absolutely\" expected Mr Trump to visit Britain in 2018. During the Queen's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament last summer, there was no mention of a visit - although a Downing Street spokesman said an invitation had been \"extended and accepted\". Mrs May was the first foreign leader to meet Mr Trump after his inauguration when she visited the Oval Office in January 2017. Typically during state visits, the government, the visiting government and the royal household agree on a detailed schedule where the Queen acts as the official host. The cancellation comes after recent disagreements between the US and UK. Mr Trump clashed with Mayor of London Sadiq Khan in the aftermath of the London Bridge attack last year, when he questioned Mr Khan's statement that there was \"no reason to be alarmed\". Mr Khan, who also questioned Mr Trump's proposed US travel ban, said the US president's visit would \"without doubt have been met by mass peaceful protests\". However, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson accused Mr Khan and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of putting the UK's \"crucial relationship\" with the US at risk by opposing the visit. A No 10 spokesman said the tweet was \"political\" rather than representing the views of government. Relations between London and Washington were also put under the spotlight last year after Mr Trump moved to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Mrs May said she disagreed with that US decision, which she deemed \"unhelpful in terms of prospects for peace in the region\". And in November, Mr Trump clashed with Mrs May after she said it was \"wrong\" for the US president to share videos posted by the far-right group Britain First. Mrs May more recently discussed Brexit and events in the Middle East in a pre-Christmas phone call with Mr Trump.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2922, "answer_start": 1951, "text": "By BBC diplomatic correspondent James Landale Donald Trump says that he is not coming to open the new US embassy in London because he is not a fan of the building. Some diplomats suggest the president was unimpressed by the low key nature of the proposed trip, shorn of the pomp and bling he expected. Others say the White House was worried about the scale of the public protests that were threatened. But amid all this is the nagging fear that the real reason is that Mr Trump just does not see the UK as a priority. In his first year of office, he has visited most other G7 countries and several European nations, including Belgium, so the absence of Britain from his itinerary stands out. Of course, trips - like tweets - can be easily remedied, and a visit by Mr Trump later this year could in theory dispel the fears. But with the UK at odds with the US on an increasing numbers of issues, from Iran to Jerusalem, the lack of a visit carries greater symbolic weight." } ], "id": "9359_0", "question": "Is the UK a priority for Trump?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The UK is negotiating its exit from the European Union after the country voted to leave in a referendum in June 2016. As it stands, the UK will depart the EU on 30 March 2019 but the terms of its withdrawal and the nature of its future relationship with the EU are yet to be decided. So what is being discussed and by whom? In the first phase of negotiations, British and EU officials are meeting each month for four days in Brussels, the home of the European Commission. So far, there have been two rounds of talks. The first one, in June, was largely a get-to-know you session in which both sides sized each other up, engaged in a few official pleasantries and discussed scheduling issues. July's session was much more serious and detailed, with full discussions taking place in four key areas: the rights of EU citizens in the UK and Britons on the continent, the future of the 300 mile land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, general separation issues, and the question of money. Matters are at an early stage and there has been no agreement in any of these areas yet. The two sides will next meet in the last week of August. The UK team is led by David Davis, the veteran Conservative MP who is Secretary of State for Exiting The European Union. His EU counterpart is Michel Barnier, a former French foreign minister and EU commissioner who was chosen by the other 27 EU member states to represent them. Both sides are deploying a Olympic-size squad of officials to work on the negotiations. Much of the spadework is being done by co-ordinators or \"sherpas\", senior officials whose job it is to pore over the nitty-gritty details and try and pave the way for a political agreement. The lead British sherpa is Oliver Robbins, the top civil servant in the Brexit department. Other key figures on the British side include Sir Tim Barrow, the UK's permanent representative in Brussels and Simon Case, David Cameron's former private secretary who is now director general of the UK-EU partnership, which is looking at post-Brexit co-operation. This is difficult to gauge and depends, to an extent, on which side you listen to. The UK and EU have set out their respective positions on citizens rights, highlighting areas of convergence in green, disagreement in red and areas that need further discussion and \"deeper understanding\" in amber. The UK is stressing what it regards as areas of consensus while pushing back on any suggestions that its offer is less generous than the EU's in terms of granting permanent residence, or settled status, to its three or so million EU residents, and accompanying rights, including of family reunion. The EU has expressed mild disappointment at the UK's approach so far and there is genuine disagreement over how new guarantees will be legally enforced. David Davis said the EU was only offering restricted residency rights to Britons living in the EU. The UK is questioning that. Their offer \"only guarantees residence rights in the member state in which a British national was resident at the point of our exit from the EU,\" he said in a letter to Lord Jay of the parliamentary committee on Brexit. \"It does not guarantee the holder of those residence rights any right to onward movement within the EU, for example to work or study in a neighbouring member state,\" he said. Nor will the EU maintain existing voting rights for UK nationals living in the EU after Brexit, he said. On the issue of finance, reports spoke of \"robust\" discussions about the UK's so-called \"divorce bill\" and the \"need for flexibility\" on both sides can be interpreted as diplomatic-speak for the two parties not seeing eye to eye. The UK has spoken of \"sorting out the obligations we have to one another\" but media reports of the government being handed a \"legacy\" bill of up to 100bn euros (PS89bn) has prompted a vociferous response from British ministers. The reality appears to be that no detailed sums have been discussed yet and it has been widely reported any settlement is unlikely before the end of 2018. One other running theme of the discussions so far has been the EU's constant plea for more clarity from British negotiators. The UK has hit back, pointing out that it has been publishing position papers ahead of each round of negotiations, most recently on judicial proceedings, nuclear regulation and privileges and immunities. Talks over the Irish border and related issues are being handled at the highest level, reflecting what the EU has acknowledged are the \"unique circumstances and challenges\" facing the island of Ireland. For months, the joint mantra from both Dublin and London has been that after Brexit, the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland should be as \"seamless and frictionless as possible\" and nothing should be done to endanger the peace process and political progress made over the past 25 years. But cracks seems to be surfacing amid concerns in Dublin that technological solutions - such as number plate recognition and computerised trader schemes - are not sufficient in themselves to address the risk of smuggling and a wider political agreement is needed. Unionist parties in Northern Ireland have reacted angrily to suggestions that customs controls could be moved to seaports and airports, rather than anywhere near the land border, which they say would create an unacceptable divide between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. Given the fragility of power-sharing in Northern Ireland, and the frisson caused by the Conservatives' parliamentary pact with the Democratic Unionists, there seem to be real obstacles to overcome before this most sensitive of subjects is settled to the satisfaction of all. The end of October, when EU leaders will hold their first post-summer summit, has been talked up as something of a watershed moment. If the 27 agree that sufficient progress has been made on separation, rights and financial issues, it is possible they could agree to begin negotiations on trade and the all-important question of the UK's future relationship with its largest commercial partner. The UK had wanted talks on divorce and trade to take place in tandem but the EU said no, also insisting that no agreement on a future trade deal - which would involve a new treaty - can be finalised until the UK has actually left the EU. More recently, EU sources have suggested that October is not set in stone and any decision could slip until the end of the year. As we move into 2018, there will be attention on areas vital to the British economy such as financial services, aviation and agriculture. Airlines have said agreement on the UK's future within the European Common Aviation Area and its participation in the Open Skies transatlantic system is needed by the summer of 2018 to allow them to schedule flights six months ahead. There have been warnings of chaos and passengers not being able to travel in and out of the UK. In a major speech in January, Theresa May committed the UK to leaving the EU's single market and the customs union, saying the UK must be able to control its own borders and negotiate its own trade agreements with other countries. At the same time, she said the UK wanted tariff-free trade with the EU after Brexit and a new customs agreement. She also talked of an \"implementation period\" after the UK leaves the EU and an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) as the supremacy of EU law ceases. This government line generally held firm during the general election campaign but has come under pressure since the Conservatives lost their Commons majority, with several cabinet ministers breaking ranks to emphasise what they see as their priorities for the negotiation. Chancellor Philip Hammond has made it clear that economic stability and business certainty is paramount and suggested there is cabinet support for a transitional period of up to three years in which the status quo would be maintained in many areas to help business to adjust. Brexit-supporting colleagues, such as Liam Fox and Michael Gove, have indicated they have no objection to the principle of a phased transition. But the devil will be in the detail and many Tory MPs are likely to fiercely resist any concessions which would allow the free movement of people from the EU to continue in its current form - something Downing Street has ruled out - or which would give the ECJ any interim role. Mr Barnier has not been slow to remind British officials that the \"clock is ticking\" on the negotiations. What was, by general agreement, a very tight two-year process to start off with has been further condensed by the UK's snap general election, which meant a two-month delay to the start of talks. While EU summits in March and June 2018 will be important staging posts, the real crunch is expected to come in the autumn of 2018. A deal will effectively have to be agreed by this point if it is to be approved by Parliament, the European Parliament and by EU states - 72% of whom will have to vote for it under super-qualified majority rules - in time to meet the Article 50 withdrawal deadline. With the EU sticking to its mantra that \"nothing is agreed until everything is agreed\", this period could become what one football manager famously described as \"squeaky bum\" time. The UK could leave before March 2019 if a withdrawal agreement is agreed earlier, although this would seem unlikely at this stage. There also remains the possibility that the UK could simply leave without any agreement, if either of the two sides reject a deal or can't agree on one and decide against extending the talks. For many critics of Brexit, this is the doomsday scenario but many Leave supporters are relaxed about what it would entail. The government says it is preparing for every eventuality but believes it will secure a deal that works for both sides.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1155, "answer_start": 324, "text": "In the first phase of negotiations, British and EU officials are meeting each month for four days in Brussels, the home of the European Commission. So far, there have been two rounds of talks. The first one, in June, was largely a get-to-know you session in which both sides sized each other up, engaged in a few official pleasantries and discussed scheduling issues. July's session was much more serious and detailed, with full discussions taking place in four key areas: the rights of EU citizens in the UK and Britons on the continent, the future of the 300 mile land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, general separation issues, and the question of money. Matters are at an early stage and there has been no agreement in any of these areas yet. The two sides will next meet in the last week of August." } ], "id": "9360_0", "question": "What's being discussed and when?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2068, "answer_start": 1156, "text": "The UK team is led by David Davis, the veteran Conservative MP who is Secretary of State for Exiting The European Union. His EU counterpart is Michel Barnier, a former French foreign minister and EU commissioner who was chosen by the other 27 EU member states to represent them. Both sides are deploying a Olympic-size squad of officials to work on the negotiations. Much of the spadework is being done by co-ordinators or \"sherpas\", senior officials whose job it is to pore over the nitty-gritty details and try and pave the way for a political agreement. The lead British sherpa is Oliver Robbins, the top civil servant in the Brexit department. Other key figures on the British side include Sir Tim Barrow, the UK's permanent representative in Brussels and Simon Case, David Cameron's former private secretary who is now director general of the UK-EU partnership, which is looking at post-Brexit co-operation." } ], "id": "9360_1", "question": "Who is doing the talking?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4385, "answer_start": 2069, "text": "This is difficult to gauge and depends, to an extent, on which side you listen to. The UK and EU have set out their respective positions on citizens rights, highlighting areas of convergence in green, disagreement in red and areas that need further discussion and \"deeper understanding\" in amber. The UK is stressing what it regards as areas of consensus while pushing back on any suggestions that its offer is less generous than the EU's in terms of granting permanent residence, or settled status, to its three or so million EU residents, and accompanying rights, including of family reunion. The EU has expressed mild disappointment at the UK's approach so far and there is genuine disagreement over how new guarantees will be legally enforced. David Davis said the EU was only offering restricted residency rights to Britons living in the EU. The UK is questioning that. Their offer \"only guarantees residence rights in the member state in which a British national was resident at the point of our exit from the EU,\" he said in a letter to Lord Jay of the parliamentary committee on Brexit. \"It does not guarantee the holder of those residence rights any right to onward movement within the EU, for example to work or study in a neighbouring member state,\" he said. Nor will the EU maintain existing voting rights for UK nationals living in the EU after Brexit, he said. On the issue of finance, reports spoke of \"robust\" discussions about the UK's so-called \"divorce bill\" and the \"need for flexibility\" on both sides can be interpreted as diplomatic-speak for the two parties not seeing eye to eye. The UK has spoken of \"sorting out the obligations we have to one another\" but media reports of the government being handed a \"legacy\" bill of up to 100bn euros (PS89bn) has prompted a vociferous response from British ministers. The reality appears to be that no detailed sums have been discussed yet and it has been widely reported any settlement is unlikely before the end of 2018. One other running theme of the discussions so far has been the EU's constant plea for more clarity from British negotiators. The UK has hit back, pointing out that it has been publishing position papers ahead of each round of negotiations, most recently on judicial proceedings, nuclear regulation and privileges and immunities." } ], "id": "9360_2", "question": "Much progress so far?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6947, "answer_start": 5718, "text": "The end of October, when EU leaders will hold their first post-summer summit, has been talked up as something of a watershed moment. If the 27 agree that sufficient progress has been made on separation, rights and financial issues, it is possible they could agree to begin negotiations on trade and the all-important question of the UK's future relationship with its largest commercial partner. The UK had wanted talks on divorce and trade to take place in tandem but the EU said no, also insisting that no agreement on a future trade deal - which would involve a new treaty - can be finalised until the UK has actually left the EU. More recently, EU sources have suggested that October is not set in stone and any decision could slip until the end of the year. As we move into 2018, there will be attention on areas vital to the British economy such as financial services, aviation and agriculture. Airlines have said agreement on the UK's future within the European Common Aviation Area and its participation in the Open Skies transatlantic system is needed by the summer of 2018 to allow them to schedule flights six months ahead. There have been warnings of chaos and passengers not being able to travel in and out of the UK." } ], "id": "9360_3", "question": "What about trade?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8441, "answer_start": 6948, "text": "In a major speech in January, Theresa May committed the UK to leaving the EU's single market and the customs union, saying the UK must be able to control its own borders and negotiate its own trade agreements with other countries. At the same time, she said the UK wanted tariff-free trade with the EU after Brexit and a new customs agreement. She also talked of an \"implementation period\" after the UK leaves the EU and an end to the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) as the supremacy of EU law ceases. This government line generally held firm during the general election campaign but has come under pressure since the Conservatives lost their Commons majority, with several cabinet ministers breaking ranks to emphasise what they see as their priorities for the negotiation. Chancellor Philip Hammond has made it clear that economic stability and business certainty is paramount and suggested there is cabinet support for a transitional period of up to three years in which the status quo would be maintained in many areas to help business to adjust. Brexit-supporting colleagues, such as Liam Fox and Michael Gove, have indicated they have no objection to the principle of a phased transition. But the devil will be in the detail and many Tory MPs are likely to fiercely resist any concessions which would allow the free movement of people from the EU to continue in its current form - something Downing Street has ruled out - or which would give the ECJ any interim role." } ], "id": "9360_4", "question": "Is the UK government united?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 9888, "answer_start": 8442, "text": "Mr Barnier has not been slow to remind British officials that the \"clock is ticking\" on the negotiations. What was, by general agreement, a very tight two-year process to start off with has been further condensed by the UK's snap general election, which meant a two-month delay to the start of talks. While EU summits in March and June 2018 will be important staging posts, the real crunch is expected to come in the autumn of 2018. A deal will effectively have to be agreed by this point if it is to be approved by Parliament, the European Parliament and by EU states - 72% of whom will have to vote for it under super-qualified majority rules - in time to meet the Article 50 withdrawal deadline. With the EU sticking to its mantra that \"nothing is agreed until everything is agreed\", this period could become what one football manager famously described as \"squeaky bum\" time. The UK could leave before March 2019 if a withdrawal agreement is agreed earlier, although this would seem unlikely at this stage. There also remains the possibility that the UK could simply leave without any agreement, if either of the two sides reject a deal or can't agree on one and decide against extending the talks. For many critics of Brexit, this is the doomsday scenario but many Leave supporters are relaxed about what it would entail. The government says it is preparing for every eventuality but believes it will secure a deal that works for both sides." } ], "id": "9360_5", "question": "Will a deal be done and by when?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "India has entered full election mode: voting is due to begin on 11 April, with the final ballot cast more than five weeks later on 19 May. Every day, the BBC will be bringing you all the latest updates on the twists and turns of the world's largest democracy. What happened? Hardik Patel, the firebrand social activist who rose to fame challenging Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his home state of Gujarat, won't be able to contest the election after a court ruling. The Gujarat high court refused to stay his conviction in a 2015 rioting case. Under India's laws a convicted person cannot stand for election unless the conviction is stayed. His lawyer told reporters that they will appeal in the Supreme Court soon. Mr Patel joined the opposition Congress party earlier this month and has appeared on stage with party leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi. Why is this important? Mr Patel's decision to join the Congress was seen as a significant victory for the party. His speeches and fiery oratory have attracted millions of supporters - many of whom have traditionally voted for Mr Modi's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has ruled Gujarat for more than two decades. \"He brings mass appeal for the Congress, which is something the party has desperately sought in the past 20 years,\" said Ankur Jain, BBC Gujarati's editor. Mr Patel has been seen as a strong threat to the BJP ever since 2015, when caste protests took off in Gujarat. \"He became a prominent voice of dissent for shaking up the status quo in the state,\" our editor explained. Mr Patel had previously said that the BJP was \"scared\" of him and was \"trying every trick in the book\" to ensure that he would not be able to contest. However, he said in that event, he would still campaign to get the Congress candidates elected in Gujarat and the rest of the country. What happened? A gushing film about the prime minister is scheduled for release on April 5 - days before the first stage of voting begins. The opposition Congress party has called on the Election Commission (EC) to delay the release of the \"biopic\" called PM Narendra Modi until after the election, saying that to release it as planned would violate election rules known as the model code of conduct. The EC had asked the film's producers to make their case and they now have, saying that the have no links to the BJP and that they used their personal funds to finance the film. \"The allegations made linking our client's movie with a political party merely on a few public events, Facebook posts and tweets are not only false but have no basis in either fact and/or law,\" a lawyer for the producers was quoted by the Indian Express newspaper as saying. Why does this matter? The lead-up to these elections has seen an unprecedented number of political films but PM Narendra Modi, starring Vivek Oberoi in the title role, is the most controversial. Judging by the trailer, it paints a fawning picture of India's leader. Many critics have already written it off as a hagiography, pointing out that BJP President Amit Shah has helped to promote it. If the Election Commission decides to ban it. Congress will be very pleased. But the producers say such a ruling would violate freedom of expression. What happened? PM Narendra Modi kicked off his campaign for the upcoming elections with a rally in Meerut, a city in northern Uttar Pradesh state. After he addressed the crowds there, Mr Modi travelled two other rallies - one in Jammu and the other in Uttarakhand. Why does this matter? This was Mr Modi's first big speech this campaign, and was therefore being watched very closely. He focused on national security as expected, saying that only his government had the \"courage\" to carry out air strikes in Pakistan. He was referring to government claims that it hit militant camps inside Pakistani territory after a suicide attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 40 troops last month. Our BBC correspondents were at the rally in Meerut and sent us some pictures of the crowds. People are wearing \"chowkidar\" or \"watchman\" T-shirts. Mr Modi has used the term for a while, telling Indians that he is their \"watchman\" - someone who looks out for them and serves them. But in recent weeks, he has really upped the ante, even changing his Twitter handle to \"Chowkidar Narendra Modi\" - prompting senior members of his cabinet and many supporters to do the same. Analysts say it is a clever use of the term to address the issue of national security. And it appears to have worked since many at the rally could be heard referring to India's relations with Pakistan, national security and \"surgical strikes\" even before it began, the BBC's Geeta Pandey said. Mr Modi also attacked the opposition Congress party's election pledge of a minimum income guarantee scheme, calling it a \"big sham\". The crowd at the venue was not massive, but those gathered were very excited at the prospect of seeing Mr Modi, our correspondent addsed. They cheered and clapped enthusiastically as they chanted \"Modi! Modi!\" In his typical style, Mr Modi would start a sentence and the crowd would finish it for him. \"Every time you press the button [for the BJP], you're voting for me,\" he said as he concluded his speech. Mr Modi has consistently remained his party's main vote-getter. Correspondents who have been covering the election say that Mr Modi seems to have transcended any disenchantment that voters feel towards his party's MPs. The BBC's Soutik Biswas says that this is likely to be a presidential-style faceoff in a parliamentary election. Modi merchandise was on sale at the rally for his biggest fans: What happened? Priyanka Gandhi, the sister of main opposition Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, said that she would contest the upcoming election - if her party wanted her to. \"If my party wants me to, I will definitely do so,\" she told reporters in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Her name did not appear in the Congress party's first list of candidates. She had however been listed as one of the party's \"star speakers\" who would be addressing rallies around the country. Why does this matter? Considered the more charismatic of the Gandhi siblings, she is often likened to her grandmother and former PM Indira Gandhi, which has served to bolster her popularity within the party and beyond. Party workers who had lobbied hard for a larger role for her were left disappointed she didn't appear on the first candidate list. This was clearly not what they had envisioned when she announced her \"formal entry\" into politics in January. The announcement came soon after the Congress had suffered a blow - the two main regional parties in the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh decided to leave it out of a key alliance. So her entry was to ostensibly galvanise demoralised party members. Therefore to say she was not running gave the impression that her entry was nothing but a half-hearted measure, and that the party was afraid that she could lose. Which is why her announcement is significant. It could well be that she may actually run, but even if she doesn't, she is sending a clear message that the party has a plan, and she is abiding by it. But will this be enough to convince workers in the state? What happened? The Election Commission (EC) announced that it would investigate Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation on Wednesday. In it, he announced that India had successfully shot down a low-orbit satellite in a missile test. The commission has appointed a committee to look into whether the speech, which was only announced half an hour before it happened, violated any of its guidelines. The opposition has already alleged that it did. Why does this matter? Opposition parties immediately took aim at Mr Modi, claiming that the timing of his address was nothing but a blatant move to grab votes. While the election commission rules do state that political parties announcing \"achievements\" in the media should be \"avoided\", it is still unclear whether Mr Modi's speech strictly violated that. Former Chief Election Commissioner TS Krishnamurthy told BBC Tamil that there was \"no provision\" in the election guidelines about whether such an announcement would be a \"violation\". \"As he has addressed the nation in his capacity as PM, it doesn't seem to be a violation,\" he said. Election guidelines, known in India as the model code of conduct, are a set of guidelines that are in place to ensure a level playing field for all parties. However, this year the EC has had to deal with several cases which have tested the limits of the guidelines. Apart from Mr Modi's speech, they have been asked to rule on a film about PM Modi. A new web series on Mr Modi, which will be out in April, could further complicate matters. Earlier in March, the EC announced that its rules would also apply to social media for the first time. What happened? Prime Minister Narendra Modi made an unexpected address to the nation. He said that India was now an \"established space power\" and in space's \"super league\" because it had successfully managed to shoot down a low-orbit satellite in a missile test. He had earlier tweeted that he would be addressing the nation, without mentioning what he would be talking about, sparking fevered speculation. Why does this matter? According to Mr Modi, with the successful launch of an anti-satellite missile (ASAT), India has become only the fourth country after the US, China and Russia to have this technology. He said that it would \"make India stronger, even more secure and will further peace and harmony\". Jonathan Marcus, the BBC's defence correspondent, said the announcement was \"yet one more aspect of the trend towards the militarisation of space\". He pointed out that the Trump administration has proposed establishing a fully-fledged \"space force\" as a separate element of its armed forces. \"The news will also lead to renewed calls from arms control advocates who see an urgent need to control this ongoing militarisation of space,\" says our correspondent. When China carried out a similar test in 2007- destroying a weather satellite - it caused international alarm over a possible space arms race. There are also concerns that the debris from such tests can harm civilian and military satellite operations. However, India said that it had intentionally carried out its test in the lower atmosphere to ensure that there was no debris and that whatever was left would \"decay and fall back onto the earth within weeks\". The timing of the announcement has however raised questions. With less than two weeks to go for a national election, the opposition has accused Mr Modi of trying to score political points and take credit for the achievements of the country's space agency. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said Mr Modi was trying to \"reap political benefits\" at the time of the election. But former chief election commissioner TS Krishnamurthy told BBC Tamil that there is \"no provision\" in the election guidelines about whether such an announcement is a \"violation\". \"As he has addressed the nation in his capacity as PM, it doesn't seem to be a violation. However, the election commission has to examine it,\" he said. President of India's opposition Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, wished him a \"happy world theatre day\". Journalist Shekhar Gupta also said that the fact that India had this technology was not unknown and called the timing \"odd\". Although the announcement is significant, it did come as a bit of an anti-climax to the country's media, who had worked themselves into a frenzy after seeing Mr Modi's initial tweet. The guess was that the address would be about national security and, therefore, something to do with Pakistan. Pundits came into television studios and \"Dawood\" began trending on Twitter. Dawood Ibrahim is a fugitive in India and is accused of masterminding serial bombings in Mumbai in 1993. India alleges that Ibrahim lives in the Pakistani city of Karachi, but Islamabad has always denied the charge. People also began pointing to a recent Financial Times interview with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, who said he was afraid of further hostilities ahead of the Indian elections, as further proof that the announcement would involve India's nuclear-armed neighbour. Tensions between the two countries escalated sharply after a suicide attack in Indian-administered Kashmir last month. What happened? Police have seized nearly 540 million rupees ($80m; PS60m) worth of cash, alcohol, narcotics, gold and other valuables across India in poll-related inspections, the election commission has said. They recovered all of this just two weeks - between 10 March, when the polls were announced, and 25 March. Why does this matter? Well, it shows that the parasitic relationship between elections, cash and freebies continues. The country's elections have always been notorious for this - candidates and parties are known to bribe voters with cash, alcohol, gold and even TVs and laptops. So, police are deployed in every consistency and it's common for them to stop vehicles for inspection. Data released by the election commission shows that police found more than $22m in cash alone - the largest haul was made in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh ($7.9m). They recovered an additional $13.5m worth of alcohol and $19.2m in narcotics. Research suggests that bribes don't actually win votes in India, but that doesn't seem to stop political parties from trying anyway. What happened? Farmers in the southern state of Telangana have resorted to an unusual form of protest to demand better prices for their crops. As many as 236 of them have filed election nomination papers in a single constituency. They are contesting as independents from Nizamabad, a seat they chose so they could run against Kalvakuntla Kavitha, who is the sitting MP and daughter of the state's chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Why does this matter? It shows how India's deepening agrarian crisis has become a crucial issue in this year's election. In recent years, farmers across the country have staged large and at times dramatic protests to draw attention to their plight. Agriculture has been adversely affected by a depleting water table and declining productivity, which has meant that many farmers have been caught up in a massive debt trap. Nizamabad's farmers, for instance, say they have been demanding higher crop prices - which are set by the federal government - for years now. They told BBC Telugu that they were promised price increases during the last election but the government has not delivered. \"No matter how much we protested, we did not receive a response,\" says Venkatesh Kola, a farmer from the village of Armoor, who will be one of those running against Ms Kavitha. He said they decided to run against Ms Kavitha because she had personally \"vowed\" that she would not seek their votes again if she did not fulfil their demands. And yet, he added, she was still contesting the election this year. Mr Kola also said that more farmers had been planning to run as candidates but had been pressured not to by local political leaders. It is likely that not all of the farmers will end up on the ballot - once filed, nomination forms have to be approved by the election commission. But as a form of protest, it is still significant. Ms Kavitha has alleged that the farmers are proxy candidates, propped up by the two national parties - BJP and Congress. What happened? Finance minister Arun Jaitley has slammed the main opposition Congress party after its leader Rahul Gandhi pledged to create \"the world's largest minimum income scheme\" if his party wins the election. \"A party with such a terrible track record of poverty alleviation has no right to make lofty assurances,\" Mr Jaitley told reporters on Monday evening, adding that it was a \"bluff announcement\". Why does this matter? The scheme, which guarantees a basic income for 50 million of India's poorest families, is Congress' biggest offering to voters so far. The Congress first mentioned an income scheme in January amid rumours that the government was preparing to unveil a similar programme. That never happened. So, Mr Gandhi's announcement was seen by some, including activist Prashant Bhushan, as the Congress beating the BJP to the punch. Given the scale of the scheme, it is likely to capture the imagination of voters -which could be a threat to the BJP. Mr Jaitley took to social media on Monday, where he posted a lengthy response, outlining how the BJP has supported the poor while attacking the Congress' policies. \"No political party has betrayed India for more than seven decades other than the Congress Party,\" he wrote in a Facebook post. Other ministers also joined the attack. \"This showing of false dream to the people of India, is not going to cut any ice because the Congress record of 55 years has always been anti-poor,\" information minister Ravi Shankar Prasad told local media. French economist Thomas Piketty, noted for his work on income inequality, told the BBC he supports \"all efforts to reduce income inequality in India\" and \"to move away the political debate from caste-based political to class-based redistribution of income and wealth.\" But some Indian economists have questioned the preference for targeted schemes over universal ones. What happened? It was the last day for political parties to hand in their nominations for the first phase of voting that begins 11 April. And campaigning has started in earnest, warts and all. In the politically crucial state of Uttar Pradesh, the chief minister, firebrand Hindu monk Yogi Adityanath, referred to one of the opposition Congress party candidates - a Muslim named Imran Masood - as the \"son-in-law\" of militant Masood Azhar. Azhar is the Pakistani-based founder of the militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad, which in February carried out a suicide attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 40 troops and sparked tit-for-tat strikes between India and Pakistan. Why does this matter? Mr Adityanath's comments indicate what tone the campaigning is going to take in the days leading up to voting in Uttar Pradesh, which sends the most number of MPs to parliament However, Imran Masood is also a controversial figure. He was arrested in 2014 after a speech in which he threatened Mr Modi, saying he would \"cut him into pieces\". \"Saharanpur [constituency] also has the son-in-law of Azhar Masood, who speaks in his language. You have to decide whether you will elect a person who speaks in Azhar Masood's language or Modi-ji's lieutenant in Raghav Lakhanpal, who will ensure development for all,\" Yogi Adityanath said at a rally on Sunday. In 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of which Mr Adityanath is a member, swept Uttar Pradesh with what political commentators described as a clever mix of communal division and promises of development. Mr Adityanath seems to be following a similar formula this time around. In the wake of the Kashmir suicide attack a tough stance on Pakistan has become a major theme of the BJP's campaign. On Sunday India's foreign minister Sushma Swaraj had a Twitter spat with Pakistan's information minister over a news report that two Hindu girls had been abducted and forcibly married off in Pakistan. You can read a full recap of everything that happened here. But here are the highlights: - The week began with a tussle for the state assembly of Goa, following the death of its chief minister Manohar Parrikar. His death sparked some late-night political wrangling as the BJP rushed to retain its hold over the coalition government in the wake of a challenge from the opposition Congress party which tried to woo away some independent lawmakers. However, the BJP prevailed and swore in new chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday. - Wednesday was all about Dalit leader Mayawati who delivered a poll shock by saying she would not contest the general election. She said she would instead concentrate on ensuring the victory of the coalition between her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and regional rival Samajwadi Party (SP). - Thursday saw a break for the spring festival of colours Holi, although the BJP released its first list of candidates for the polls later that night. Highlights included the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would contest once again from the northern city of Varanasi, and the official sidelining of party stalwart LK Advani in favour of BJP president Amit Shah. - Friday ended with fire and fury as the prime minister went after several opposition leaders and those associated with opposition parties. He launched a particularly fierce attack on Sam Pitroda, a close aide of the Congress government who is credited with being the father of the Indian telecom revolution. He picked up an interview in which Mr Pitroda objected to \"vilifying all Pakistanis\" over the Kashmir suicide attack, and accused him of demeaning the armed forces and supporting terrorism. - The Congress meanwhile unveiled its much anticipated alliance with the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the northern state of Bihar. And former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir joined the BJP, saying: \"I have been influenced by the prime minister and his vision for the country.\" 11-15 March: From Priyanka Gandhi's debut to a contentious UN vote India's lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, has 543 elected seats. Any party or coalition needs a minimum of 272 MPs to form a majority government. Some 900 million voters - 86 million more than the last elections in 2014 - are eligible to vote at 930,000 polling stations. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used at all polling stations. The entire process will be overseen by the Election Commission of India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who won a landslide victory in 2014 is seeking a second term for both himself and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His main challengers are the main opposition Congress party led by Rahul Gandhi, and a consortium of regional parties called the Mahagathbandhan (which translates from the Hindi into massive alliance). The Mahagathbandhan has seen some of India's strongest regional parties, including fierce rivals, come together. This includes the Samajwadi Party (SP) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) led by Dalit icon Mayawati, normally fierce rivals in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, which sends the most number of MPs to parliament. The alliance also includes the Trinamool Congress which is in power in the state of West Bengal and Arvind Kejriwal whose Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) rules Delhi. The aim of the alliance is to consolidate regional and anti-BJP votes, in order to oust Mr Modi from power. Other regional players including Tamil Nadu's DMK and AIADMK and Telangana's TRS in the south are not part of the alliance, but are expected to perform well in their own states, which is likely to make them key to any coalition government. 11 April: Andhra Pradesh (25), Arunachal Pradesh (2), Assam (5), Bihar (4), Chhattisgarh (1), J&K (2), Maharashtra (7), Manipur (1), Meghalaya (2), Mizoram (1), Nagaland (1), Odisha (4), Sikkim (1), Telangana (17), Tripura (1), Uttar Pradesh (UP) (8), Uttarakhand (5), West Bengal (2), Andaman & Nicobar (1), Lakshadweep (1) 18 April: Assam (5), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (3), Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) (2), Karnataka (14), Maharashtra (10), Manipur (1), Odisha (5), Tamil Nadu (39), Tripura (1), UP (8), West Bengal (3), Puducherry (1) 23 April: Assam (4), Bihar (5), Chhattisgarh (7), Gujarat (26), Goa (2), J&K (1), Karnataka (14), Kerala (20), Maharashtra (14), Odisha (6), UP (10), West Bengal (5), Dadar and Nagar Haveli (1), Daman and Diu (1) 29 April: Bihar (5), J&K (1), Jharkhand (3), MP (6), Maharashtra (17), Odisha (6), Rajasthan (13), UP (13), Bengal (8) 6 May: Bihar (1), J&K (2), Jharkhand (4), Madhya Pradesh (MP) (7), Rajasthan (12), UP (14), Bengal (7) 12 May: Bihar (8), Haryana (10), Jharkhand (4), MP (8), UP (14), Bengal (8), Delhi (7) 19 May: Bihar (8), Jharkhand (3), MP (8), Punjab (13), Bengal (9), Chandigarh (1), UP (13), Himachal Pradesh (4) 23 May: Votes counted Key: Date: State (number of seats being contested)) Find out exactly when you are voting by visiting the Election Commission of India's website", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 21331, "answer_start": 19358, "text": "You can read a full recap of everything that happened here. But here are the highlights: - The week began with a tussle for the state assembly of Goa, following the death of its chief minister Manohar Parrikar. His death sparked some late-night political wrangling as the BJP rushed to retain its hold over the coalition government in the wake of a challenge from the opposition Congress party which tried to woo away some independent lawmakers. However, the BJP prevailed and swore in new chief minister Pramod Sawant on Tuesday. - Wednesday was all about Dalit leader Mayawati who delivered a poll shock by saying she would not contest the general election. She said she would instead concentrate on ensuring the victory of the coalition between her Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and regional rival Samajwadi Party (SP). - Thursday saw a break for the spring festival of colours Holi, although the BJP released its first list of candidates for the polls later that night. Highlights included the fact that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would contest once again from the northern city of Varanasi, and the official sidelining of party stalwart LK Advani in favour of BJP president Amit Shah. - Friday ended with fire and fury as the prime minister went after several opposition leaders and those associated with opposition parties. He launched a particularly fierce attack on Sam Pitroda, a close aide of the Congress government who is credited with being the father of the Indian telecom revolution. He picked up an interview in which Mr Pitroda objected to \"vilifying all Pakistanis\" over the Kashmir suicide attack, and accused him of demeaning the armed forces and supporting terrorism. - The Congress meanwhile unveiled its much anticipated alliance with the regional Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) in the northern state of Bihar. And former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir joined the BJP, saying: \"I have been influenced by the prime minister and his vision for the country.\"" } ], "id": "9361_0", "question": "What happened last week?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 21823, "answer_start": 21399, "text": "India's lower house of parliament, the Lok Sabha, has 543 elected seats. Any party or coalition needs a minimum of 272 MPs to form a majority government. Some 900 million voters - 86 million more than the last elections in 2014 - are eligible to vote at 930,000 polling stations. Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used at all polling stations. The entire process will be overseen by the Election Commission of India." } ], "id": "9361_1", "question": "How do the Lok Sabha elections work?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Japanese firm is planning to use a drone to force employees out of their offices by playing music at them if they stay to work evening overtime. The drone will fly through offices after hours playing Auld Lang Syne, which is commonly used to announce that stores are closing. Japan has for years been trying to curb excessive overtime and the health issues and even deaths it can cause. Experts were unimpressed, one branding it a \"silly\" idea. According to Japanese media, office security and cleaning firm Taisei will develop the device with drone maker Blue Innovation and telecommunications company NTT East. The camera-equipped drone will take flights through the office space playing the famous Scottish tune. \"You can't really work when you think 'it's coming over any time now' and hear Auld Lang Syne along with the buzz,\" Norihiro Kato, a director at Taisei, told news agency AFP. Taisei plans to start the drone service in April 2018 as a trial within their own company and later in the year offer it to others. \"Will this help? The short answer is: no,\" Seijiro Takeshita, professor of management and information at the University of Shizuoka told the BBC. \"It's a pretty silly thing and companies are doing this just because they have to be seen to be doing something on the problem.\" The issue of excessive overtime is deeply rooted in the work culture and should be tackled from a more fundamental basis, he argues. \"Creating awareness is of course very important - but this is almost a hoax in my opinion.\" Scott North, professor of sociology at Osaka University, said: \"Even if this robotic harassment gets workers to leave the office, they will take work home with them if they have unfinished assignments.\" He added: \"To cut overtime hours, it is necessary to reduce workloads, either by reducing the time-wasting tasks and tournament-style competitions for which Japanese workplaces are notorious, or by hiring more workers.\" Japan has long been struggling to break its decades-old work culture where it is frowned upon to leave before your colleagues or boss. The problem of long hours has even led to the coining of a new word: karoshi, or dying from overwork. The habit, especially among people who are new at a company, is seen as the cause of many health problems leading to strokes, heart attacks and suicides. In October, advertising firm Dentsu was fined for violating labour laws after a young worker killed herself. She was later found to have worked 159 hours of overtime in one month. Earlier this year, the government introduced Premium Fridays, encouraging companies to let their employees leave at 15:00 on the last Friday of each month. But the plan has failed to have an impact so far, with many employees saying the last Friday of the month is one of their busiest days. Reporting by the BBC's Andreas Illmer.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2849, "answer_start": 1025, "text": "\"Will this help? The short answer is: no,\" Seijiro Takeshita, professor of management and information at the University of Shizuoka told the BBC. \"It's a pretty silly thing and companies are doing this just because they have to be seen to be doing something on the problem.\" The issue of excessive overtime is deeply rooted in the work culture and should be tackled from a more fundamental basis, he argues. \"Creating awareness is of course very important - but this is almost a hoax in my opinion.\" Scott North, professor of sociology at Osaka University, said: \"Even if this robotic harassment gets workers to leave the office, they will take work home with them if they have unfinished assignments.\" He added: \"To cut overtime hours, it is necessary to reduce workloads, either by reducing the time-wasting tasks and tournament-style competitions for which Japanese workplaces are notorious, or by hiring more workers.\" Japan has long been struggling to break its decades-old work culture where it is frowned upon to leave before your colleagues or boss. The problem of long hours has even led to the coining of a new word: karoshi, or dying from overwork. The habit, especially among people who are new at a company, is seen as the cause of many health problems leading to strokes, heart attacks and suicides. In October, advertising firm Dentsu was fined for violating labour laws after a young worker killed herself. She was later found to have worked 159 hours of overtime in one month. Earlier this year, the government introduced Premium Fridays, encouraging companies to let their employees leave at 15:00 on the last Friday of each month. But the plan has failed to have an impact so far, with many employees saying the last Friday of the month is one of their busiest days. Reporting by the BBC's Andreas Illmer." } ], "id": "9362_0", "question": "An effective tool?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "If you'd travelled across the world to pursue a better life, would you move back in return for money? Germany is betting that the answer is yes. The country has long offered migrants and asylum seekers financial incentives to leave its shores, and until 28 February 2018 it's prepared to pay out extra. Individuals will get EUR1,000 and families up to EUR3,000 (PS2,650; $3,540) to cover rent or resettlement costs back in their home countries - things like basic kitchen or bathroom facilities. Critics say Angela Merkel's government is trying to bribe its way out of a tricky situation, but supporters say the scheme will help sad, exhausted migrants who just want to go home. Germany is by no means first to this approach. So where else has done it - and is it morally wrong? According to Dr Jeff Crisp, a Fellow at the Chatham House think tank, so-called \"voluntary return\" programmes for asylum seekers have been around for at least 20 years, and everywhere from Australia to the UK and Canada has tried them. \"The pressure on people to return is definitely being ramped up, and return is being seen as the key to the whole migration situation in Europe at the moment,\" he told the BBC. \"Governments in Europe particularly much prefer these programmes because they're less messy. There's less likelihood that things will go wrong than when you're forcing people onto planes in handcuffs.\" Figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM), which runs many countries' reward schemes, show that it helped 98,403 people return to their countries of origin in 2016. Over half of them - 54,006 people - were leaving Germany. Some 39,000 out of the 98,403 received cash (given to 61% of people) or benefits in kind, at a cost of $32.7m. How does a government sell that kind of outlay to the voting public? In Scandinavia, which has seen a migrant influx in the past decade, officials say it's cheaper to help asylum seekers leave than to house them in immigration centres. Sweden currently offers grants of 30,000 Krona (PS2,653; $ 3,550) for lone migrants and 75,000 for families, paid as a lump sum in US dollars. And in spring 2016, nearby Norway made headlines for adding a 10,000 kroner \"bonus\" onto its existing rewards package for the first 500 asylum seekers to apply. \"We need to entice more [people] to voluntarily travel back by giving them a bit more money on their way out,\" Migration Minister Sylvi Listhaug declared. But is that really an ethical approach? While the IOM says it adopts \"a humane and dignified approach\" to help migrants get home, human rights groups have argued otherwise. In Germany, pro-refugee group Pro Asyl accused the government of \"trying to entice people to give up their rights in the basest manner\". Dr Crisp questions whether these schemes should be described as voluntary at all when participants may be destitute, unable to work legally in their host country. \"The IOM is very keen to push up the numbers. I think they get paid pretty much on a per capita basis. So for everyone they send back to their home country, they get money from donor states such as Germany,\" he says. The rule about which countries are exempt from the scheme is also controversial. Migrants from Syria, Yemen, and Libya are not eligible for assistance, as the IOM feels it can't guarantee their safe return from Germany. But observers say departees could also be at risk in Afghanistan, which the funding does cover, as conflict is ongoing and the authorities lack resources to help them. Sabine Lehmann, a spokeswoman for IOM Germany, said there was a long-term plan in place for every person's reintegration in their home country, via IOM offices on the ground. She said all volunteers received \"return counselling\" before departing, and left on ordinary passenger flights. \"Not all of them are obliged to leave the country. Many of them are rejected asylum seekers - but it's not the majority,\" she said. \"It could be that you have been living in Germany for 10 years or for 30 years. Maybe your partner dies, you want to go back, you don't have the money - then you can participate in this programme.\" She adds that people being held in detention centres are not eligible to apply for the funding - so nobody is bartering for their freedom. The news that 222 planned flights were stopped by German pilots who refused to fly failed asylum seekers back to Afghanistan shows how controversial deportation has become there. While the number of new asylum applications in Germany fell by almost half to 90,389 in the first half of 2017, a humane solution is needed for the thousands whose requests have already been turned down. Berlin clearly hopes its latest push will be good value compared with the cost of grounded flights and the security officers who oversee forced deportations. And then there's the saving in court time. Almost twice as many asylum seekers are launching appeals in Germany year on year in 2017, as its deportation drive cranks up. Around one in two rulings makes it to court, and about a quarter of appeals succeed. German public broadcaster NDR (cited by the news portal DW) puts the rough cost of these judgements at 19m euros from January to November 2017 - a full 7.8m more than in 2016. For that money, the latest incentive scheme could afford to pay 19,000 people to leave voluntarily. A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3522, "answer_start": 2485, "text": "While the IOM says it adopts \"a humane and dignified approach\" to help migrants get home, human rights groups have argued otherwise. In Germany, pro-refugee group Pro Asyl accused the government of \"trying to entice people to give up their rights in the basest manner\". Dr Crisp questions whether these schemes should be described as voluntary at all when participants may be destitute, unable to work legally in their host country. \"The IOM is very keen to push up the numbers. I think they get paid pretty much on a per capita basis. So for everyone they send back to their home country, they get money from donor states such as Germany,\" he says. The rule about which countries are exempt from the scheme is also controversial. Migrants from Syria, Yemen, and Libya are not eligible for assistance, as the IOM feels it can't guarantee their safe return from Germany. But observers say departees could also be at risk in Afghanistan, which the funding does cover, as conflict is ongoing and the authorities lack resources to help them." } ], "id": "9363_0", "question": "Preying on the desperate?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4278, "answer_start": 3523, "text": "Sabine Lehmann, a spokeswoman for IOM Germany, said there was a long-term plan in place for every person's reintegration in their home country, via IOM offices on the ground. She said all volunteers received \"return counselling\" before departing, and left on ordinary passenger flights. \"Not all of them are obliged to leave the country. Many of them are rejected asylum seekers - but it's not the majority,\" she said. \"It could be that you have been living in Germany for 10 years or for 30 years. Maybe your partner dies, you want to go back, you don't have the money - then you can participate in this programme.\" She adds that people being held in detention centres are not eligible to apply for the funding - so nobody is bartering for their freedom." } ], "id": "9363_1", "question": "How voluntary are these schemes?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5730, "answer_start": 4279, "text": "The news that 222 planned flights were stopped by German pilots who refused to fly failed asylum seekers back to Afghanistan shows how controversial deportation has become there. While the number of new asylum applications in Germany fell by almost half to 90,389 in the first half of 2017, a humane solution is needed for the thousands whose requests have already been turned down. Berlin clearly hopes its latest push will be good value compared with the cost of grounded flights and the security officers who oversee forced deportations. And then there's the saving in court time. Almost twice as many asylum seekers are launching appeals in Germany year on year in 2017, as its deportation drive cranks up. Around one in two rulings makes it to court, and about a quarter of appeals succeed. German public broadcaster NDR (cited by the news portal DW) puts the rough cost of these judgements at 19m euros from January to November 2017 - a full 7.8m more than in 2016. For that money, the latest incentive scheme could afford to pay 19,000 people to leave voluntarily. A note on terminology: The BBC uses the term migrant to refer to all people on the move who have yet to complete the legal process of claiming asylum. This group includes people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria, who are likely to be granted refugee status, as well as people who are seeking jobs and better lives, who governments are likely to rule are economic migrants." } ], "id": "9363_2", "question": "Will it save Germany money?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Conservative leaflets obtained by the BBC suggest the party accepts the UK might not have left the EU by the time it has to fight an election. One says voting for The Brexit Party would mean \"more delay\" because Nigel Farage's party \"can't deliver Brexit\". The \"new campaigning products\", made available to agents and activists last week, also reveal some of the arguments the party may use in an election. Boris Johnson has insisted the UK will leave the EU at the end of October. \"Getting Brexit done by 31 October is absolutely crucial,\" the prime minister said in Parliament on Monday. He is currently trying to reach a deal with Brussels, but maintains the UK will leave the EU with or without one on that date. However, a law passed by MPs last month - the so-called Benn Act - says the prime minister must request a three-month delay unless he can pass a deal, or get MPs to approve a no-deal exit, by 19 October. Mr Johnson also wants an election soon to try to restore the Conservative Party's ruling majority in the Commons. A general election campaign must last at least five weeks, so one cannot take place before 31 October. However the leaflets obtained by the BBC are written on the basis that voters will get to make a choice between parties before Brexit has been delivered. When a party approaches an election they decide on their arguments and put together campaign materials such as leaflets and online adverts. The Conservative Party has been quiet on this front recently, posting no new Facebook adverts for several weeks after a flurry in August and September. But new leaflets were made available to agents and activists last week, which suggest the party is preparing for Brexit to be delayed beyond October. These leaflets were sent out in an email to Conservative activists, which described them as \"new campaigning products\" available for order. They also shed light on how the Tories might attack their opponents in a campaign - and seek to win over voters depending on their EU stance. For example, one leaflet is aimed at people who voted Leave and are now deciding between the Conservatives and The Brexit Party. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Tories will argue that voting for The Brexit Party could mean further uncertainty by helping Remain candidates win. But more intriguingly, the language in the leaflets clearly suggests the party is expecting the UK not to have left the EU by the time of a general election, saying: \"Without a strong majority government, we can't deliver Brexit,\" and \"Nigel Farage can't deliver Brexit but he could yet block it.\" Adverts with these messages have not yet appeared in Facebook's political ad archive, which these days is usually the first place we spot a campaign slogan. Another leaflet is aimed at people who voted Leave in 2016 who are now tempted to vote for the Liberal Democrats. This leaflet says \"without a strong majority government Brexit won't get delivered\", again suggesting the party intends on sending this leaflet out after the UK's departure has been delayed. Another one is aimed at people who voted Remain and are now deciding between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems. Boris Johnson's party holds lots of Remain-leaning seats which the Lib Dems are now eyeing up, like Richmond Park, Cheltenham and St Albans. This leaflet says voting Lib Dem would mean \"more delay\" and \"more of the endless arguments about Brexit\", again suggesting the UK won't have left the EU when the leaflet lands on the doormat. People who voted Leave and are now deciding between the Conservatives and Labour will be targeted with the following leaflet. It says \"Labour's Brexit policy is more delay\", once more suggesting that the UK will not have left the EU at the time of a general election. A Conservative Party spokesman said: \"The prime minister has made it clear - repeatedly - that we will leave the EU on the 31 October - and to suggest otherwise is nonsense. \"These leaflets simply set out the clear risk that a coalition of political parties that have sworn, in opposition, to do everything they can to reverse Brexit would, in government, do precisely that.\" What did you think of this story? Have you seen something worth investigating? Email us", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2743, "answer_start": 482, "text": "\"Getting Brexit done by 31 October is absolutely crucial,\" the prime minister said in Parliament on Monday. He is currently trying to reach a deal with Brussels, but maintains the UK will leave the EU with or without one on that date. However, a law passed by MPs last month - the so-called Benn Act - says the prime minister must request a three-month delay unless he can pass a deal, or get MPs to approve a no-deal exit, by 19 October. Mr Johnson also wants an election soon to try to restore the Conservative Party's ruling majority in the Commons. A general election campaign must last at least five weeks, so one cannot take place before 31 October. However the leaflets obtained by the BBC are written on the basis that voters will get to make a choice between parties before Brexit has been delivered. When a party approaches an election they decide on their arguments and put together campaign materials such as leaflets and online adverts. The Conservative Party has been quiet on this front recently, posting no new Facebook adverts for several weeks after a flurry in August and September. But new leaflets were made available to agents and activists last week, which suggest the party is preparing for Brexit to be delayed beyond October. These leaflets were sent out in an email to Conservative activists, which described them as \"new campaigning products\" available for order. They also shed light on how the Tories might attack their opponents in a campaign - and seek to win over voters depending on their EU stance. For example, one leaflet is aimed at people who voted Leave and are now deciding between the Conservatives and The Brexit Party. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Tories will argue that voting for The Brexit Party could mean further uncertainty by helping Remain candidates win. But more intriguingly, the language in the leaflets clearly suggests the party is expecting the UK not to have left the EU by the time of a general election, saying: \"Without a strong majority government, we can't deliver Brexit,\" and \"Nigel Farage can't deliver Brexit but he could yet block it.\" Adverts with these messages have not yet appeared in Facebook's political ad archive, which these days is usually the first place we spot a campaign slogan." } ], "id": "9364_0", "question": "Will Brexit be delayed?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has said the CIA did not conclude that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Khashoggi was killed on 2 October in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. US officials have reportedly said that such an operation would have needed the prince's approval. But Saudi Arabia maintains it was a \"rogue operation\". \"They didn't conclude,\" Mr Trump said when asked about the CIA's reported evaluation by reporters in Florida. His comments on Thursday came as the Saudi crown prince began a regional tour of the Middle East, starting with the United Arab Emirates - his first official trip abroad since Khashoggi was killed. The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Mohammed bin Zayed, tweeted to say the UAE \"will always be a loving and supportive home for our brothers in Saudi Arabia\". The Saudi crown prince is also expected to participate in a G20 meeting of world leaders in Buenos Aires at the end of the month that will be attended by leaders from the US, Turkey and a number of European countries. In another development, about 200 British military personnel and eight Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets have arrived in Saudi Arabia to take part in a joint military exercise. The RAF described it as a \"pre-planned exercise\" but the timing is potentially embarrassing to the UK government, BBC defence correspondent Jonathan Beale says. Britain has previously called on Saudi authorities to fully explain Khashoggi's death. Meanwhile, France has announced that it is imposing sanctions on 18 Saudi nationals - the same individuals targeted with sanctions by the US, UK and Germany - allegedly linked to the Khashoggi murder. Their list of individuals does not include the crown prince, a spokesperson for the French ministry of foreign affairs said. \"They have feelings certain ways. I have the report, they have not concluded, I don't know if anyone's going to be able to conclude the crown prince did it,\" Mr Trump told reporters in Florida. \"But whether he did or whether he didn't, he denies it vehemently. His father denies it, the king, vehemently,\" he added. Earlier this week, Mr Trump released a statement suggesting that the crown prince \"could very well\" have known about the murder. His statement said: \"[It] could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event - maybe he did and maybe he didn't!\" The president has repeatedly stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia to the US following the killing, calling the kingdom a \"steadfast partner\" that has agreed to invest \"a record amount of money\" in the US. On 17 November, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that Mr Trump had confidence in the CIA following conversations with Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the Khashoggi murder. Sources quoted in the US media at the time stressed that there was no single piece of evidence linking the crown prince directly to the murder, but officials believe the killing would have required his endorsement. BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says intelligence agencies rarely offer their governments cast-iron, 100% conclusions, instead producing nuanced assessments often based on probabilities. This wariness has become more pronounced since the mistakes made in the run-up to the Iraq invasion of 2003. Separately, the Hurriyet newspaper reported on Thursday that Ms Haspel told Turkish officials last month that the CIA had a recording in which the crown prince gave instructions to \"silence\" the Saudi writer as soon as possible. When asked about the claims by reporters, Mr Trump said: \"I don't want to talk about it. You'll have to ask them.\" Saudi Arabia says claims that the crown prince may have ordered the Khashoggi killing are false and maintains that he knew nothing about it. The Gulf kingdom's public prosecutor has said Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate as a result of a \"rogue operation\" on the orders of an intelligence officer. Khashoggi was given a lethal injection after a struggle. His body was then dismembered inside the consulate in Istanbul and the body parts were handed over to a local \"collaborator\" outside the grounds, the prosecutor said. He said investigations had \"revealed that the person who ordered the killing was the head of the negotiations team\", but did not identify any of the 11 people charged with the murder. As a prominent journalist, he covered major stories including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden for various Saudi news organisations. For decades he was close to the Saudi royal family and also served as an adviser to the government. But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US last year. From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In his first column for the newspaper, Khashoggi said he feared being arrested in an apparent crackdown on dissent overseen by the prince since. In his last column, he criticised Saudi involvement in the Yemen conflict.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3690, "answer_start": 1809, "text": "\"They have feelings certain ways. I have the report, they have not concluded, I don't know if anyone's going to be able to conclude the crown prince did it,\" Mr Trump told reporters in Florida. \"But whether he did or whether he didn't, he denies it vehemently. His father denies it, the king, vehemently,\" he added. Earlier this week, Mr Trump released a statement suggesting that the crown prince \"could very well\" have known about the murder. His statement said: \"[It] could very well be that the crown prince had knowledge of this tragic event - maybe he did and maybe he didn't!\" The president has repeatedly stressed the importance of Saudi Arabia to the US following the killing, calling the kingdom a \"steadfast partner\" that has agreed to invest \"a record amount of money\" in the US. On 17 November, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that Mr Trump had confidence in the CIA following conversations with Director Gina Haspel and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo about the Khashoggi murder. Sources quoted in the US media at the time stressed that there was no single piece of evidence linking the crown prince directly to the murder, but officials believe the killing would have required his endorsement. BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner says intelligence agencies rarely offer their governments cast-iron, 100% conclusions, instead producing nuanced assessments often based on probabilities. This wariness has become more pronounced since the mistakes made in the run-up to the Iraq invasion of 2003. Separately, the Hurriyet newspaper reported on Thursday that Ms Haspel told Turkish officials last month that the CIA had a recording in which the crown prince gave instructions to \"silence\" the Saudi writer as soon as possible. When asked about the claims by reporters, Mr Trump said: \"I don't want to talk about it. You'll have to ask them.\"" } ], "id": "9365_0", "question": "What has Trump said about the CIA report?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4404, "answer_start": 3691, "text": "Saudi Arabia says claims that the crown prince may have ordered the Khashoggi killing are false and maintains that he knew nothing about it. The Gulf kingdom's public prosecutor has said Khashoggi was killed inside the consulate as a result of a \"rogue operation\" on the orders of an intelligence officer. Khashoggi was given a lethal injection after a struggle. His body was then dismembered inside the consulate in Istanbul and the body parts were handed over to a local \"collaborator\" outside the grounds, the prosecutor said. He said investigations had \"revealed that the person who ordered the killing was the head of the negotiations team\", but did not identify any of the 11 people charged with the murder." } ], "id": "9365_1", "question": "What have the Saudis said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5105, "answer_start": 4405, "text": "As a prominent journalist, he covered major stories including the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and the rise of Osama Bin Laden for various Saudi news organisations. For decades he was close to the Saudi royal family and also served as an adviser to the government. But he fell out of favour and went into self-imposed exile in the US last year. From there, he wrote a monthly column in the Washington Post in which he criticised the policies of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In his first column for the newspaper, Khashoggi said he feared being arrested in an apparent crackdown on dissent overseen by the prince since. In his last column, he criticised Saudi involvement in the Yemen conflict." } ], "id": "9365_2", "question": "Who was Jamal Khashoggi?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump has signed into law a bill that supports pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. The Human Rights and Democracy Act mandates an annual review, to check if Hong Kong has enough autonomy to justify its special status with the US. Mr Trump said he signed the law \"out of respect for President Xi [Jinping], China, and the people of Hong Kong\". China's foreign ministry threatened \"counter measures\" if the US continued \"going down the wrong path\". Mr Trump is currently seeking a deal with China, in order to end a trade war between the two countries. \"The US has been disregarding facts and distorting truth,\" a Chinese foreign ministry statement said. \"It openly backed violent criminals who rampantly smashed facilities, set fire, assaulted innocent civilians, trampled on the rule of law, and jeopardized social order.\" The foreign ministry summoned the US ambassador to demand that Washington stops interfering in Chinese internal affairs. Hong Kong's government also reacted, saying the American bill would send the wrong signal and would not help to ease the situation. But a key activist in the Hong Kong protest movement, Joshua Wong, said the US law was a \"remarkable achievement\" for \"all Hongkongers\". Mr Trump had previously been non-committal about whether he would sign the bill, saying he was \"with\" Hong Kong but also that Mr Xi was \"an incredible guy\". However, the bill had widespread congressional support, which meant that even if he vetoed it, lawmakers could potentially have voted to overturn his decision. The president also signed a second bill, which bans the export of crowd-control munitions to the police in Hong Kong - including tear gas, rubber bullets and stun guns. \"[The bills] are being enacted in the hope that leaders and representatives of China and Hong Kong will be able to amicably settle their differences, leading to long-term peace and prosperity for all,\" Mr Trump said. The bill was introduced in June in the early stages of the protests in Hong Kong, and was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives last month. It says: \"Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system. \"The [annual review] shall assess whether China has eroded Hong Kong's civil liberties and rule of law as protected by Hong Kong's Basic Law.\" Among other things, Hong Kong's special trading status means it is not affected by US sanctions or tariffs placed on the mainland. The bill also says the US should allow Hong Kong residents to obtain US visas, even if they have been arrested for being part of non-violent protests. Hong Kong's protests started in June against a proposed law to allow extradition to mainland China but it has since transformed into a larger pro-democracy movement. The protests have also seen increasingly violent clashes, with police being attacked, and officers firing live bullets. Protesters have thrown petrol bombs and attacked businesses seen as being pro-Beijing. The protesters, meanwhile, have accused police of brutality. On Sunday, Hong Kong held local council elections that were seen as a barometer of public opinion towards the government and the protesters. The elections saw a landslide victory for the pro-democracy movement, with 17 of the 18 councils now controlled by pro-democracy councillors. On Thursday, authorities moved into the Polytechnic University days after it had been the site of a fierce standoff between student activists and riot police. The police searched the campus for dangerous items, to gather evidence and to see whether any students were still left on the site.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2612, "answer_start": 1939, "text": "The bill was introduced in June in the early stages of the protests in Hong Kong, and was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives last month. It says: \"Hong Kong is part of China but has a largely separate legal and economic system. \"The [annual review] shall assess whether China has eroded Hong Kong's civil liberties and rule of law as protected by Hong Kong's Basic Law.\" Among other things, Hong Kong's special trading status means it is not affected by US sanctions or tariffs placed on the mainland. The bill also says the US should allow Hong Kong residents to obtain US visas, even if they have been arrested for being part of non-violent protests." } ], "id": "9366_0", "question": "What does the law say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3620, "answer_start": 2613, "text": "Hong Kong's protests started in June against a proposed law to allow extradition to mainland China but it has since transformed into a larger pro-democracy movement. The protests have also seen increasingly violent clashes, with police being attacked, and officers firing live bullets. Protesters have thrown petrol bombs and attacked businesses seen as being pro-Beijing. The protesters, meanwhile, have accused police of brutality. On Sunday, Hong Kong held local council elections that were seen as a barometer of public opinion towards the government and the protesters. The elections saw a landslide victory for the pro-democracy movement, with 17 of the 18 councils now controlled by pro-democracy councillors. On Thursday, authorities moved into the Polytechnic University days after it had been the site of a fierce standoff between student activists and riot police. The police searched the campus for dangerous items, to gather evidence and to see whether any students were still left on the site." } ], "id": "9366_1", "question": "What is the situation in Hong Kong?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Despite being (possibly) the world's cuddliest creature, the super-sweet koala is also one of the unluckiest animals on the planet. Australia's most famous tree hugger has been ravaged by sexually transmitted disease, attacks from dogs, being hit by cars and habitat loss. Chlamydia has spread fast in koalas, causing infertility and blindness. But scientists say decoding the genome should lead to an effective vaccine for the STD. In fact, researchers say they've been amazed by the information that's been hidden in the marsupial's DNA. While they didn't find a gene for cuteness, they've worked out how koalas can survive solely on a diet of eucalyptus - which poisons most other creatures that consume it. Genes that are switched on in the koala's \"cast-iron livers\" appear to be responsible for the ability to detoxify the leaves. Their DNA also equips them with powerful senses of smell and taste that allow them to sniff out the leaves with the most water in them; koalas will eat only those with at least 55% water content. However, one of the great hopes from this five-year gene project is that scientists will be able to develop a vaccine against chlamydia, something which is present in the vast majority of the species. Chlamydia is a horrid infection in koalas. In addition to blindness and infertility, koalas endure something called \"dirty tail\", a painful inflammation of the urinary tract that often results in the animal's death. Researchers have tested vaccines in the past but say the new information will speed up the process. \"The genome absolutely brings a vaccine closer,\" lead author Prof Rebecca Johnson from the Australian Museum Research Institute told BBC News. \"It's really critical information to continue the development of a chlamydial vaccine.\" \"If you think about the advances that have been made in human medicine following the sequencing of the genome, we're at the point in humans where you can sequence an individual and tailor-make the medicine based on their genome. \"That's now the position we are in for koalas, having all that information at our fingertips.\" Koalas are recognised as an iconic species around the world - not just in Australia. There is a great deal of anxiety about the survival of the koala because of its biological uniqueness, as a symbol for preservation and also because of their value as a tourist attraction (they're worth around A$1.5bn). Experts say there are around 329,000 koalas alive in Australia today, but this is just a fraction of the population that existed in the middle of the 19th century. Demand for their furs saw millions killed between 1870 and the late 1920s. Since then, they have been classed as \"vulnerable\" by the Australian government. The clearing of woodland habitats that koalas favour to make way for settlements, collisions with road vehicles and increased stress from climate change are among the pressures that arise from human activity. A genome is the biological set of instructions required to make you, me and every living thing, including koalas. It is written in a chemical code called DNA. Genes are short sections of this DNA which serve as the templates for proteins. Humans have around 20,000 genes, but the koala genome is slightly larger. The genome contains all the information needed to build a person, including obvious traits such as their hair and eye colour. The koala is also a test case for the use of genetic information as a means of conserving species. As well as helping scientists develop new vaccines for diseases like chlamydia, understanding the koala's genetic make-up will allow researchers to compare different populations. This could perhaps help them move some creatures to prevent inbreeding and assist them with developing more effective immune systems against major threats. Yes and no. Female koalas are highly promiscuous, while males spend a lot of their (few) waking hours fighting with others for the right to mate. Most males have scars from their battles on their arms, faces and ears. Koalas also inherit chlamydia, catching it while they are developing in their mum's pouch. The most common and deadly strain of chlamydia that affects koalas is different to the one that hits humans. Despite the urban myth that members of One Direction had contracted the illness from the animals during a photo shoot in Australia, there are no documented cases of humans catching chlamydia from the cuddly critters. The are one of the main contenders for the title. The creatures have developed hard cartilage along their back. Over time, this becomes a groove that lets them wedge their bottoms into the fork of a tree. Which is just as well, since Koalas sleep for up to 19 hours a day. They spend the rest of the time eating, and about four minutes a day travelling! The researchers have learned how baby koalas survive being born without an immune system. The youngsters are born after just 35 days gestation and are roughly the size of a kidney bean. They gain protection against infections through their mother's milk. Genes allow koala mums to fine-tune milk protein production for different stages of development during the six months the baby will spend in her pouch. You can find koalas in eucalyptus forests all along Australia's Great Dividing Range which runs along the whole of the east coast of Australia with populations in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. In Queensland, you can hold a koala, but in New South Wales you can only pat them. Outside Australia you'll find koalas in zoos in places as diverse as San Diego, Budapest and Edinburgh. The scientists also say that having advanced genetic information will benefit long term conservation efforts. Koala numbers are set to shrink considerably in the next few years. \"Some populations are set to decline up to 50% in the next three koala generations, which is only 20 years,\" says Prof Rebecca Johnson. The team members hope that the genetic information can be used to move koala populations around, helping them resist disease and avoid inbreeding. They might look fluffy and cute, but they have been known to bite and have sharp claws. \"You probably want to stay away from them and admire them from afar,\" says Prof Johnson. \"I wouldn't want to pick a wild one up under any circumstances. I don't think they'll thank you for it.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2938, "answer_start": 2410, "text": "Experts say there are around 329,000 koalas alive in Australia today, but this is just a fraction of the population that existed in the middle of the 19th century. Demand for their furs saw millions killed between 1870 and the late 1920s. Since then, they have been classed as \"vulnerable\" by the Australian government. The clearing of woodland habitats that koalas favour to make way for settlements, collisions with road vehicles and increased stress from climate change are among the pressures that arise from human activity." } ], "id": "9367_0", "question": "How many koalas are left?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3377, "answer_start": 2939, "text": "A genome is the biological set of instructions required to make you, me and every living thing, including koalas. It is written in a chemical code called DNA. Genes are short sections of this DNA which serve as the templates for proteins. Humans have around 20,000 genes, but the koala genome is slightly larger. The genome contains all the information needed to build a person, including obvious traits such as their hair and eye colour." } ], "id": "9367_1", "question": "What is a genome?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3811, "answer_start": 3378, "text": "The koala is also a test case for the use of genetic information as a means of conserving species. As well as helping scientists develop new vaccines for diseases like chlamydia, understanding the koala's genetic make-up will allow researchers to compare different populations. This could perhaps help them move some creatures to prevent inbreeding and assist them with developing more effective immune systems against major threats." } ], "id": "9367_2", "question": "Will genetics protect koalas?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4120, "answer_start": 3812, "text": "Yes and no. Female koalas are highly promiscuous, while males spend a lot of their (few) waking hours fighting with others for the right to mate. Most males have scars from their battles on their arms, faces and ears. Koalas also inherit chlamydia, catching it while they are developing in their mum's pouch." } ], "id": "9367_3", "question": "Is promiscuity the cause of koala chlamydia?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4446, "answer_start": 4121, "text": "The most common and deadly strain of chlamydia that affects koalas is different to the one that hits humans. Despite the urban myth that members of One Direction had contracted the illness from the animals during a photo shoot in Australia, there are no documented cases of humans catching chlamydia from the cuddly critters." } ], "id": "9367_4", "question": "Can humans catch chlamydia from koalas?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4800, "answer_start": 4447, "text": "The are one of the main contenders for the title. The creatures have developed hard cartilage along their back. Over time, this becomes a groove that lets them wedge their bottoms into the fork of a tree. Which is just as well, since Koalas sleep for up to 19 hours a day. They spend the rest of the time eating, and about four minutes a day travelling!" } ], "id": "9367_5", "question": "Are koalas the sleepiest animal on Earth?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5207, "answer_start": 4801, "text": "The researchers have learned how baby koalas survive being born without an immune system. The youngsters are born after just 35 days gestation and are roughly the size of a kidney bean. They gain protection against infections through their mother's milk. Genes allow koala mums to fine-tune milk protein production for different stages of development during the six months the baby will spend in her pouch." } ], "id": "9367_6", "question": "What about baby koalas?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6077, "answer_start": 5617, "text": "The scientists also say that having advanced genetic information will benefit long term conservation efforts. Koala numbers are set to shrink considerably in the next few years. \"Some populations are set to decline up to 50% in the next three koala generations, which is only 20 years,\" says Prof Rebecca Johnson. The team members hope that the genetic information can be used to move koala populations around, helping them resist disease and avoid inbreeding." } ], "id": "9367_7", "question": "What does the future hold for koalas?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6359, "answer_start": 6078, "text": "They might look fluffy and cute, but they have been known to bite and have sharp claws. \"You probably want to stay away from them and admire them from afar,\" says Prof Johnson. \"I wouldn't want to pick a wild one up under any circumstances. I don't think they'll thank you for it.\"" } ], "id": "9367_8", "question": "Are koalas dangerous?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The level of migration from the EU to the UK has been underestimated by the Office for National Statistics from the mid-2000s to 2016. The ONS said the error affected the number of migrants from eight of the countries which joined the EU in 2004, including Poland. It said it may have also overstated migration from non-EU countries. As a result, the status of the immigration figures compiled by the ONS has been downgraded to \"experimental\". Immigration experts at the University of Oxford said the latest ONS analysis showed official data has been \"systematically underestimating net migration from EU countries\". The ONS said new analysis showed that in 2015-16, EU net migration - the difference between people arriving and leaving - was 16% higher (29,000) than first thought. This means an increase in the estimate of EU migration from 178,000 to 207,000 for the year ending March 2016. Net migration from outside the EU was 13% (25,000) lower, because more foreign students left than previously estimated. The goal of cutting net migration to less than 100,000 a year was introduced by then-Prime Minister David Cameron. It continued to be a promise in the Conservative manifesto in the 2017 election, with Theresa May wanting to bring net migration down to the \"tens of thousands\". But the government never came close to meeting the target and faced repeated calls to drop it. When draft proposals for a new immigration system were published, the target of 100,000 was left out. Unveiling the new rules, Sajid Javid - who was then home secretary - said while there was no \"specific target\" for reducing numbers coming to the UK, net migration would come down to \"sustainable levels\". At the heart of the ONS' migration updates - which are published every three months - is the International Passenger Survey. The survey was launched in 1961 to help the government better understand how travel and tourism was affecting the economy. But later, and once Mr Cameron had set a net migration target, the survey became a useful way to estimate who was coming and going for broader political purposes. For 362 days a year, IPS staff approach travellers at 19 airports, eight ports and the Channel Tunnel rail link. They ask them where they're from, why they are in the UK and how long they might be staying. Every year, they survey 800,000 people. Around 250,000 of these results are used to form an estimate for the people either arriving to live in the UK or leaving the UK for at least a year. However, the IPS does not cover all ports, all of the time, and the sample works out at just over 1% of Heathrow's annual traffic of 78 million people. The system has faced criticism, with two parliamentary committees concluding the International Passenger Survey is now next to useless on its own for government purposes. Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said its monitoring of net migration figures had shown \"for a while that something wasn't quite right\". She said: \"This matters because for the past nine years the UK policy debate has been fixated on a single data source, which couldn't bear the load that it was forced to carry. \"Whether the question is how to meet the net migration target or what to do about international students, the truth is that the data were simply not robust enough to be picked apart in such detail.\" The admission by the ONS - 24 hours before the latest immigration statistics are published - that its figures have been wrong for over a decade is acutely embarrassing for a body which prides itself on accuracy and reliability. It adds to growing doubts from a number of experts about the methods it has been using, while the decision to downgrade the status of its figures to \"experimental\" - which is a kind-of kitemark - raises serious questions about whether future immigration statistics can be trusted. The regulator says there's \"significant uncertainty\" about the estimates since 2016, the year of the EU referendum. That's partly because EU citizens arriving in the UK, who are interviewed for the passenger survey on which the figures are based, may themselves be unclear as to whether or not they'll stay in Britain for at least 12 months, the cut-off point for inclusion in the immigration data. The ONS said its research showed no single source of data \"can fully reflect the complexity of migration\" but looking at all available sources provided \"a much clearer picture\". \"Whilst we go through this transformation journey, we have sought to re-classify our migration statistics as 'experimental statistics' in line with Office for Statistics regulation guidance,\" it added. BBC home affairs correspondent Dominic Casciani said the errors in the methodology \"broadly cancel each other out\". In February this year, the ONS' update reported that net migration to the UK from countries outside the EU had reached its highest level for 15 years.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1692, "answer_start": 1014, "text": "The goal of cutting net migration to less than 100,000 a year was introduced by then-Prime Minister David Cameron. It continued to be a promise in the Conservative manifesto in the 2017 election, with Theresa May wanting to bring net migration down to the \"tens of thousands\". But the government never came close to meeting the target and faced repeated calls to drop it. When draft proposals for a new immigration system were published, the target of 100,000 was left out. Unveiling the new rules, Sajid Javid - who was then home secretary - said while there was no \"specific target\" for reducing numbers coming to the UK, net migration would come down to \"sustainable levels\"." } ], "id": "9368_0", "question": "What is the government's migration policy?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2821, "answer_start": 1693, "text": "At the heart of the ONS' migration updates - which are published every three months - is the International Passenger Survey. The survey was launched in 1961 to help the government better understand how travel and tourism was affecting the economy. But later, and once Mr Cameron had set a net migration target, the survey became a useful way to estimate who was coming and going for broader political purposes. For 362 days a year, IPS staff approach travellers at 19 airports, eight ports and the Channel Tunnel rail link. They ask them where they're from, why they are in the UK and how long they might be staying. Every year, they survey 800,000 people. Around 250,000 of these results are used to form an estimate for the people either arriving to live in the UK or leaving the UK for at least a year. However, the IPS does not cover all ports, all of the time, and the sample works out at just over 1% of Heathrow's annual traffic of 78 million people. The system has faced criticism, with two parliamentary committees concluding the International Passenger Survey is now next to useless on its own for government purposes." } ], "id": "9368_1", "question": "How are immigration statistics compiled?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3388, "answer_start": 2822, "text": "Madeleine Sumption, director of the Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford, said its monitoring of net migration figures had shown \"for a while that something wasn't quite right\". She said: \"This matters because for the past nine years the UK policy debate has been fixated on a single data source, which couldn't bear the load that it was forced to carry. \"Whether the question is how to meet the net migration target or what to do about international students, the truth is that the data were simply not robust enough to be picked apart in such detail.\"" } ], "id": "9368_2", "question": "Why does the ONS error matter?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Brunei has introduced a tough Islamic penal code, known as Sharia law, sparking concern from the UN and the US. The BBC explains how the Sharia system works. Sharia law is Islam's legal system. It is derived from both the Koran, Islam's central text, and fatwas - the rulings of Islamic scholars. Sharia literally means \"the clear, well-trodden path to water\". Sharia law acts as a code for living that all Muslims should adhere to, including prayers, fasting and donations to the poor. It aims to help Muslims understand how they should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's wishes. Background on Sharia law (BBC religion) Sharia can inform every aspect of daily life for a Muslim. For example, a Muslim wondering what to do if their colleagues invite them to the pub after work may turn to a Sharia scholar for advice to ensure they act within the legal framework of their religion. Other areas of daily life where Muslims may turn to Sharia for guidance include family law, finance and business. The many faces of Sharia Sharia law divides offences into two general categories: \"hadd\" offences, which are serious crimes with set penalties, and \"tazir\" crimes, where the punishment is left to the discretion of the judge. Hadd offences include theft, which can be punishable by amputating the offender's hand, and adultery, which can carry the penalty of death by stoning. Some Islamic organisations have argued that there are many safeguards and a high burden of proof in the application of hadd penalties. The UN has spoken out against death by stoning, saying it \"constitutes torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and is thus clearly prohibited\". Not all Muslim countries adopt or enforce such punishments for hadd offences, and polling suggests attitudes of Muslims to harsh penalties for such offences vary widely. Tariq Ramadan, a prominent Muslim thinker in Europe, has called for a moratorium on corporal punishment, stoning and the death penalty in the Muslim world. He argues that the conditions under which such penalties would be legal are almost impossible to re-establish in today's world. Governing under Sharia (external link) Apostasy, or leaving the faith, is a very controversial issue in the Muslim world and experts say the majority of scholars believe it is punishable by death. But a minority of Muslim thinkers, particularly those engaged with Western societies, argue that the reality of the modern world means the \"punishment\" should be left to God - and that Islam itself is not threatened by apostasy. The Koran itself declares there is \"no compulsion\" in religion. Like any legal system, Sharia is complex and its practice is entirely reliant on the quality and training of experts. Islamic jurists issue guidance and rulings. Guidance that is considered a formal legal ruling is called a fatwa. There are five different schools of Sharia law. There are four Sunni doctrines: Hanbali, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanafi, and one Shia doctrine, Shia Jaafari. The five doctrines differ in how literally they interpret the texts from which Sharia law is derived.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 637, "answer_start": 158, "text": "Sharia law is Islam's legal system. It is derived from both the Koran, Islam's central text, and fatwas - the rulings of Islamic scholars. Sharia literally means \"the clear, well-trodden path to water\". Sharia law acts as a code for living that all Muslims should adhere to, including prayers, fasting and donations to the poor. It aims to help Muslims understand how they should lead every aspect of their lives according to God's wishes. Background on Sharia law (BBC religion)" } ], "id": "9369_0", "question": "What is Sharia?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2189, "answer_start": 1038, "text": "Sharia law divides offences into two general categories: \"hadd\" offences, which are serious crimes with set penalties, and \"tazir\" crimes, where the punishment is left to the discretion of the judge. Hadd offences include theft, which can be punishable by amputating the offender's hand, and adultery, which can carry the penalty of death by stoning. Some Islamic organisations have argued that there are many safeguards and a high burden of proof in the application of hadd penalties. The UN has spoken out against death by stoning, saying it \"constitutes torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and is thus clearly prohibited\". Not all Muslim countries adopt or enforce such punishments for hadd offences, and polling suggests attitudes of Muslims to harsh penalties for such offences vary widely. Tariq Ramadan, a prominent Muslim thinker in Europe, has called for a moratorium on corporal punishment, stoning and the death penalty in the Muslim world. He argues that the conditions under which such penalties would be legal are almost impossible to re-establish in today's world. Governing under Sharia (external link)" } ], "id": "9369_1", "question": "What are some of the tough punishments?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2640, "answer_start": 2190, "text": "Apostasy, or leaving the faith, is a very controversial issue in the Muslim world and experts say the majority of scholars believe it is punishable by death. But a minority of Muslim thinkers, particularly those engaged with Western societies, argue that the reality of the modern world means the \"punishment\" should be left to God - and that Islam itself is not threatened by apostasy. The Koran itself declares there is \"no compulsion\" in religion." } ], "id": "9369_2", "question": "Can Muslims be executed for converting?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3127, "answer_start": 2641, "text": "Like any legal system, Sharia is complex and its practice is entirely reliant on the quality and training of experts. Islamic jurists issue guidance and rulings. Guidance that is considered a formal legal ruling is called a fatwa. There are five different schools of Sharia law. There are four Sunni doctrines: Hanbali, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanafi, and one Shia doctrine, Shia Jaafari. The five doctrines differ in how literally they interpret the texts from which Sharia law is derived." } ], "id": "9369_3", "question": "How are rulings made?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The number of British applications for an Irish passport has boomed following the UK's vote to leave the European Union. Some UK residents are entitled to an Irish passport if their parents or grandparents were born in Ireland. In 2015, the year before the Brexit vote, more than 46,000 applications were lodged from Britain - excluding Northern Ireland. By the end of 2017 that number had nearly doubled to 81,000. In an earlier version of this story, the BBC wrongly reported there had also been a surge in the number of rejections of British applicants. A discrepancy between the number of applications made and passports issued through the London embassy amounted to some 15,000 people. However, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said that figure did not represent the number of passport applications refused. Instead it reflects the fact that not all applications from residents are submitted via the London embassy, it said. The actual number of rejected applications is not clear. Applications can be rejected for a range of reasons including incomplete applications or uncertain identity. Citizens of the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state, will retain visa-free travel benefits after Brexit, no matter the outcome of the UK's negotiations with the EU. In the first five months of this year, almost 45,000 British people had requested an Irish passport, according to figures from Neale Richmond, Chair of the Irish Senate's Brexit committee. London's Irish embassy has issued more than 176,000 since 2016 - more than 10 times that of any other office. Mr Richmond said embassy staff were expecting 2018 to be the busiest year ever. Each application for a standard 10-year passport costs EUR80 (PS71). You can claim an Irish passport (or Irish citizenship) if: - You were born in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland before 1 January 2005 - You were born in Ireland after that date but your parents were British or Irish citizens - Your parents or grandparents were Irish citizens born in Ireland, even though you were born elsewhere Several other exemptions apply for those resident in Ireland for extended periods, adoptions, children of refugees, and other special circumstances. There has also been a surge in applications from Northern Ireland, where most UK citizens are automatically entitled to an Irish passport if they so wish. Senator Richmond's figures show that applications from there grew from 53,715 in 2015 to 82,274 in 2017. Excluding Northern Ireland, Mr Richmond said at least 10% of Britain's population were thought to qualify for an Irish passport. \"In light of Brexit many including a number of my own family members are staking their claim,\" he said - and \"there is no sign of this rush for Irish passports abating.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2208, "answer_start": 1721, "text": "You can claim an Irish passport (or Irish citizenship) if: - You were born in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland before 1 January 2005 - You were born in Ireland after that date but your parents were British or Irish citizens - Your parents or grandparents were Irish citizens born in Ireland, even though you were born elsewhere Several other exemptions apply for those resident in Ireland for extended periods, adoptions, children of refugees, and other special circumstances." } ], "id": "9370_0", "question": "Can I get an Irish passport?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Reddit plans to host more of the content its users discuss, including images and video, its chief executive Steve Huffman has revealed to BBC News. The forum has traditionally built its discussions around posts to external links, which the community then votes up or down. \"Every time we send a user away there's a chance we won't get them back,\" Mr Huffman explained. The shift will align it with sites such as YouTube, Facebook and Twitter. \"We have a lot of communities on Reddit that produce original content. Basically prioritising the content producers will be a direction of ours for the next little while. \"It just makes the process so much more streamlined,\" says Huffman. The move is also seen as part of a bid to increase the site's revenue. Privately-owned Reddit has more than 200 million monthly users and the site has a huge influence on global online discussion. In the early days, it was lack of users that was the problem. Huffman, who co-founded the company in the summer of 2005 at the University of Virginia (and retains the air of a clean-cut freshman), admits to dirty tricks to build the site's reputation at the outset. \"Alexis my cofounder and I, we faked all of our users. We [found] content elsewhere on the internet, submitting it to Reddit as a unique username. It's like a 'fake it till you make it' sort of thing. You don't want a community website to look like a ghost town.\" But two months into the project things changed. Huffman - aka Spez on Reddit - took a break one day and neglected to falsify any user engagement. When he went to check Reddit's front page in trepidation, he was shocked. Genuine content had appeared. \"That was the moment in my mind when it switched from 'we're just playing around' to 'hey, there's an actual real community here' and the motivation became: 'let's preserve this thing'. That was a special day, I don't think I will forget that one.\" The potential commercial value of Reddit was soon apparent and in late 2006 it was bought by Conde Nast publishers. \"We were dysfunctional internally, we didn't know what we were building, so it didn't feel like we were cheating ourselves out of a plan or some big success or anything. We were already getting more than we had ever imagined.\" Huffman stayed on at Reddit for three years, but then left to pursue other projects. After changes to Conde Nast's company structure, Reddit became independent again in 2012. Huffman returned as chief executive last year after the short-lived tenure of Ellen Pao and protests over the dismissal of Victoria Taylor, a popular talent manager respected by moderators. At an AMA [Ask Me Anything] session to mark his return, the community's concerns were laid bare to Huffman. One upvoted issue was the perceived pressure to \"monetise\" the website. There has been speculation that Victoria Taylor was dismissed for resisting pressures from management to do this. \"Monetisation is of course something we think about a lot,\" says Huffman. This is one reason why he now wants to host images and video on the site, he explains, to increase traffic and therefore advert impressions. Asked if this will make Reddit more like Facebook, he says: \"There's similarities there, but I think Facebook's strategy is a little bit more aggressive in that they seem to want to replace the rest of the internet. \"The work is making our ad products better, getting better tools for advertisers so they can find the users they're looking for.\" But connecting advertisers and users is a particular challenge for Reddit, according to one digital analyst. \"If you look at Reddit's reported revenue it's pitifully small compared to its traction, its audience and time they spend on it,\" says Nick Thomas of Ovum. \"Its fundamental problem is that making money is not in its DNA and runs counter to the user experience. \"When Steve Huffman said at The Next Web conference, 'We know your dark secrets, we know everything,' he articulated one of the biggest fears for Reddit users. They don't want their activity on Reddit to come bouncing back as a series of targeted adverts.\" Concerns about privacy, transparency and advertising have been raised on Reddit by users. The company launched its first official mobile app with functionality for adverts earlier this year. It has also launched experimental new products, like Upvoted, a news outlet with original content inspired by Reddit discussions - so often used as a story source by other media outlets. Upvoted also contains paid-for branded content, a model used by Buzzfeed. Despite this move, Huffman maintains Reddit's future does not lie in generating original content. \"Something I say over and over internally is we're not a media company.\" The other main challenge Huffman has set himself is to regulate bullying on the site, without shutting down free speech. \"We've created a trust and safety team and hired new community managers,\" he says. \"We've created an anti-evil engineering team that focuses on finding the people undermining Reddit.\" There are about five people in it, according to Huffman, looking at spam, account takeovers and harassment. \"Those sorts of things we want to eliminate,\" says Huffman, who has pledged to get rid of illegal activity and incitement to violence on the \"anything goes\" website. As it prepares to host images and video, this will be another challenge, as it will need to moderate the wild and varied pixellated content its community is sure to upload. Follow Dougal Shaw on Twitter @dougalshawbbc", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2615, "answer_start": 1908, "text": "The potential commercial value of Reddit was soon apparent and in late 2006 it was bought by Conde Nast publishers. \"We were dysfunctional internally, we didn't know what we were building, so it didn't feel like we were cheating ourselves out of a plan or some big success or anything. We were already getting more than we had ever imagined.\" Huffman stayed on at Reddit for three years, but then left to pursue other projects. After changes to Conde Nast's company structure, Reddit became independent again in 2012. Huffman returned as chief executive last year after the short-lived tenure of Ellen Pao and protests over the dismissal of Victoria Taylor, a popular talent manager respected by moderators." } ], "id": "9371_0", "question": "Selling out?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4720, "answer_start": 3471, "text": "But connecting advertisers and users is a particular challenge for Reddit, according to one digital analyst. \"If you look at Reddit's reported revenue it's pitifully small compared to its traction, its audience and time they spend on it,\" says Nick Thomas of Ovum. \"Its fundamental problem is that making money is not in its DNA and runs counter to the user experience. \"When Steve Huffman said at The Next Web conference, 'We know your dark secrets, we know everything,' he articulated one of the biggest fears for Reddit users. They don't want their activity on Reddit to come bouncing back as a series of targeted adverts.\" Concerns about privacy, transparency and advertising have been raised on Reddit by users. The company launched its first official mobile app with functionality for adverts earlier this year. It has also launched experimental new products, like Upvoted, a news outlet with original content inspired by Reddit discussions - so often used as a story source by other media outlets. Upvoted also contains paid-for branded content, a model used by Buzzfeed. Despite this move, Huffman maintains Reddit's future does not lie in generating original content. \"Something I say over and over internally is we're not a media company.\"" } ], "id": "9371_1", "question": "Money maker?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Prime Minister Boris Johnson has told the House of Commons that in the case of a no-deal Brexit: \"We would of course have available the PS39bn in the withdrawal agreement to help deal with any consequences.\" He was referring to the UK's \"divorce bill\" from the European Union (EU). Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked Mr Johnson if he would \"acknowledge that the PS39bn is now PS33bn\". Mr Corbyn is right - the latest estimate from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) says that, as a result of the delay to the Brexit date, a chunk of the money has already been paid, and that the current bill would be about PS33bn. This is the money the UK agreed to pay the EU after leaving. Officially it is called the financial settlement (unofficially, the \"divorce bill\") and was negotiated as part of Mrs May's withdrawal agreement. The withdrawal agreement was the deal that would have seen the UK leave the EU on 29 March, and then enter a transition period until 31 December 2020. During this period, the UK-EU trading relationship would have stayed the same - allowing both sides to try to sort out a future trade deal. Although no longer an EU member, the UK would have paid into the EU budget as it does now (and receive funding back). But the deal was rejected three times by MPs at Westminster and Brexit was delayed until 31 October. The withdrawal agreement (agreed in November 2018) set out calculations, rather than a figure, for how much the UK would need to pay to settle all of its obligations. That is why there has not been an official figure for it. The OBR estimated it would be PS38bn, while the government had said between PS35bn and PS39bn. The biggest part of the bill was the UK contributions to the 2019 and 2020 EU budgets. The UK puts about PS9bn a year into the budget, once you have deducted the rebate and money returned to the UK to be spent on public sector projects. As Brexit was delayed from 29 March to 31 October, some of that money has been paid as part of the UK's normal membership contributions, which means it is no longer part of the \"divorce bill\". The OBR estimates that the bill is now PS33bn. Some of the rest of the payment would come from contributions towards EU budget commitments made while the UK was still a member of the EU, which have not yet been paid. The UK would also contribute towards EU staff pensions incurred before Brexit. The UK would receive some money back: the PS3bn of capital it had paid into the European Investment Bank, as well as a small amount of capital paid into the European Central Bank. The OBR expects that most of the money - around three-quarters of the total - would be paid by 2022, with some relatively small payments still being made in the 2060s. Mr Johnson has suggested withholding the money - using it as a bargaining chip in future negotiations with the EU, or injecting it into the UK economy to try to avert the effects of a no-deal Brexit. This could have legal and other consequences. The Institute for Government think tank says refusing to pay could lead to a legal challenge. It says: \"The EU might seek redress through the International Court of Justice or the Permanent Court of Arbitration, both located in The Hague.\" But a House of Lords report into Brexit and the EU budget, published in 2017, stated: \"While the legal advice we have received differed, the stronger argument suggests that the UK will not be strictly obliged, as a matter of law, to render any payments at all after leaving.\" Catherine Barnard, professor of EU law at University of Cambridge, says that because such a situation has never arisen before, \"no-one is quite sure what might happen\". When it comes to future talks with the EU - such as negotiating a free trade agreement - withholding the money would sour relations. The EU has said consistently that it will only begin trade negotiations once the issue of financial obligations, citizens' rights and the Irish border have been resolved. What do you want BBC Reality Check to investigate? Get in touch Read more from Reality Check Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1338, "answer_start": 622, "text": "This is the money the UK agreed to pay the EU after leaving. Officially it is called the financial settlement (unofficially, the \"divorce bill\") and was negotiated as part of Mrs May's withdrawal agreement. The withdrawal agreement was the deal that would have seen the UK leave the EU on 29 March, and then enter a transition period until 31 December 2020. During this period, the UK-EU trading relationship would have stayed the same - allowing both sides to try to sort out a future trade deal. Although no longer an EU member, the UK would have paid into the EU budget as it does now (and receive funding back). But the deal was rejected three times by MPs at Westminster and Brexit was delayed until 31 October." } ], "id": "9372_0", "question": "What is the \"divorce bill\"?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2135, "answer_start": 1339, "text": "The withdrawal agreement (agreed in November 2018) set out calculations, rather than a figure, for how much the UK would need to pay to settle all of its obligations. That is why there has not been an official figure for it. The OBR estimated it would be PS38bn, while the government had said between PS35bn and PS39bn. The biggest part of the bill was the UK contributions to the 2019 and 2020 EU budgets. The UK puts about PS9bn a year into the budget, once you have deducted the rebate and money returned to the UK to be spent on public sector projects. As Brexit was delayed from 29 March to 31 October, some of that money has been paid as part of the UK's normal membership contributions, which means it is no longer part of the \"divorce bill\". The OBR estimates that the bill is now PS33bn." } ], "id": "9372_1", "question": "How much is it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2733, "answer_start": 2136, "text": "Some of the rest of the payment would come from contributions towards EU budget commitments made while the UK was still a member of the EU, which have not yet been paid. The UK would also contribute towards EU staff pensions incurred before Brexit. The UK would receive some money back: the PS3bn of capital it had paid into the European Investment Bank, as well as a small amount of capital paid into the European Central Bank. The OBR expects that most of the money - around three-quarters of the total - would be paid by 2022, with some relatively small payments still being made in the 2060s." } ], "id": "9372_2", "question": "What is the money for?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3968, "answer_start": 2734, "text": "Mr Johnson has suggested withholding the money - using it as a bargaining chip in future negotiations with the EU, or injecting it into the UK economy to try to avert the effects of a no-deal Brexit. This could have legal and other consequences. The Institute for Government think tank says refusing to pay could lead to a legal challenge. It says: \"The EU might seek redress through the International Court of Justice or the Permanent Court of Arbitration, both located in The Hague.\" But a House of Lords report into Brexit and the EU budget, published in 2017, stated: \"While the legal advice we have received differed, the stronger argument suggests that the UK will not be strictly obliged, as a matter of law, to render any payments at all after leaving.\" Catherine Barnard, professor of EU law at University of Cambridge, says that because such a situation has never arisen before, \"no-one is quite sure what might happen\". When it comes to future talks with the EU - such as negotiating a free trade agreement - withholding the money would sour relations. The EU has said consistently that it will only begin trade negotiations once the issue of financial obligations, citizens' rights and the Irish border have been resolved." } ], "id": "9372_3", "question": "Can the UK withhold the money?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Vladimir Putin has temporarily banned Georgian airlines from flying to Russia amid rising tensions between the two countries. On Thursday, some 240 people were injured in protests in Georgia. The protests were ignited by the appearance of a Russian MP in the country's parliament. Mr Putin signed a decree on Friday suspending flights to Georgia by Russian airlines. The suspensions will start from 8 July. A transport statement on Saturday said the reason for the latest suspension was to \"ensure a sufficient level of air security and arrears\" owed by Georgian companies. The Kremlin said the suspension on Russian airlines flying to Georgia was to \"ensure Russia's national security and protect Russian nationals from criminal and other unlawful activities.\" Tensions between the countries remain high, 11 years after they fought a war over the region of South Ossetia. On Saturday, a news team from Russian state TV was attacked by two men on the street in the capital, Tbilisi. Nobody appeared to have been seriously hurt in the incident, which was captured on film. Mr Putin has ordered plans to be made to help bring back Russian citizens already in Georgia. Moscow also recommended that Russian travel agencies suspend all tours to Georgia. Several thousand Russian tourists are currently in Georgia, Russian tour agency representative Maia Lomidze told Russian media. According to Russian data, about half a million Russians have visited Georgia to date this year while 1.7 million Russian tourists went there last year. \"Tourism in Georgia is on the rise, and the decision has shocked the whole industry,\" Aleksan Mkrtchyan, who runs a chain of Russian travel agents, said in a statement. \"Georgians have traditionally treated Russians well,\" Irina Tyurina, a spokeswoman for the Russian Tourism Union, told AFP News agency. Analysis by Rayhan Demytrie in Tbilisi Protesters gathered again on Friday night outside the Georgian parliament building where they have been chanting \"No to Russia\" over and over again. But they have motives that extend beyond denouncing Moscow. These demonstrators want the Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia to resign over his handling of the unrest. They are also angry at how the police dealt with Thursday's protests. Tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannon were used to push back the crowd in what were ugly scenes. And on Friday, protesters came out in bigger numbers. It appears the visit of a Russian MP has unlocked much deeper frustrations with the current administration and the way it has handled relations with its northern neighbour. Sergei Gavrilov, the Russian MP who sparked the fury, had addressed an assembly of MPs from Orthodox Christian nations on Thursday. He had been taking part in the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) - a body set up by the Greek parliament in 1993 to foster relations between Christian Orthodox lawmakers. Opposition MPs in Georgia's parliament called for protests after he delivered his speech in Russian from the Speaker's seat. \"That was a slap in the face of recent Georgian history,\" Elene Khoshtaria, an opposition member of parliament, said. Thousands of protesters tried to storm the parliament, and police used rubber bullets and tear gas in an attempt to disperse them. Some protesters carried EU flags and placards reading \"Russia is an occupier\". Giga Bokeria, an opposition MP for the European Georgia party, told AFP news agency the rally outside parliament had been \"a spontaneous protest by ordinary Georgians\". The Speaker of the parliament, Irakli Kobakhidze, resigned following the violence. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called Russia \"an enemy and occupier\", saying Moscow had helped to stir the unrest. The Kremlin condemned the protests as \"Russophobic provocation\", while Russia's foreign ministry accused Georgia's opposition of trying to prevent an improvement in bilateral relations. When Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, separatist conflicts erupted in the regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In August 2008, Georgia attempted to recapture South Ossetia. Russia poured troops in, ousting Georgian forces and only halting their advance within striking distance of Tbilisi. Following a ceasefire, Russia withdrew most of its troops from undisputed parts of Georgia but still maintains a military presence in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, recognising both as \"independent\" states. Since then, diplomatic relations between Russia and Georgia have remained clouded by mutual suspicion. Georgia has ambitions to join the European Union and Nato, a prospect viewed dimly by Russia. However, bilateral trade and tourism had been growing in recent years.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1844, "answer_start": 1082, "text": "Mr Putin has ordered plans to be made to help bring back Russian citizens already in Georgia. Moscow also recommended that Russian travel agencies suspend all tours to Georgia. Several thousand Russian tourists are currently in Georgia, Russian tour agency representative Maia Lomidze told Russian media. According to Russian data, about half a million Russians have visited Georgia to date this year while 1.7 million Russian tourists went there last year. \"Tourism in Georgia is on the rise, and the decision has shocked the whole industry,\" Aleksan Mkrtchyan, who runs a chain of Russian travel agents, said in a statement. \"Georgians have traditionally treated Russians well,\" Irina Tyurina, a spokeswoman for the Russian Tourism Union, told AFP News agency." } ], "id": "9373_0", "question": "What other action is Putin taking?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3935, "answer_start": 2606, "text": "Sergei Gavrilov, the Russian MP who sparked the fury, had addressed an assembly of MPs from Orthodox Christian nations on Thursday. He had been taking part in the Interparliamentary Assembly on Orthodoxy (IAO) - a body set up by the Greek parliament in 1993 to foster relations between Christian Orthodox lawmakers. Opposition MPs in Georgia's parliament called for protests after he delivered his speech in Russian from the Speaker's seat. \"That was a slap in the face of recent Georgian history,\" Elene Khoshtaria, an opposition member of parliament, said. Thousands of protesters tried to storm the parliament, and police used rubber bullets and tear gas in an attempt to disperse them. Some protesters carried EU flags and placards reading \"Russia is an occupier\". Giga Bokeria, an opposition MP for the European Georgia party, told AFP news agency the rally outside parliament had been \"a spontaneous protest by ordinary Georgians\". The Speaker of the parliament, Irakli Kobakhidze, resigned following the violence. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called Russia \"an enemy and occupier\", saying Moscow had helped to stir the unrest. The Kremlin condemned the protests as \"Russophobic provocation\", while Russia's foreign ministry accused Georgia's opposition of trying to prevent an improvement in bilateral relations." } ], "id": "9373_1", "question": "What caused the protests?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Stephen Hawking has said he is worried about the future of the NHS, in a speech critical of government policy and Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt. The Cambridge University scientist, who publicly backed Labour in the election, accused Mr Hunt of \"cherry-picking\" evidence to support his policies. The 75-year-old also said he was concerned about the involvement of the private sector in the NHS in England. But Mr Hunt said some of Mr Hawking's comments were \"pernicious\". A statement released by the Department of Health after the text of the speech was given to the BBC in advance said extra money was being invested in the NHS and it had recently been ranked as a top-performing health system. Prof Hawking, who has had motor neurone disease for most of his adult life that has impaired his movement and ability to speak, delivered the speech at a conference at the Royal Society of Medicine in London, organised to air concerns about the future of the NHS. The author of A Brief History of Time, who is a Labour supporter, said he had been motivated to speak because of the role the health service has played in his life, saying if it was not for the NHS he \"wouldn't be here today\". In the speech, Prof Hawking listed a number of occasions on which the NHS was there for him. This included an episode in 1985 when he caught pneumonia in Switzerland. Doctors there suggested his ventilator be turned off to end his life, but his wife refused and he was flown back to Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge where he received treatment and recovered. Fourteen years after that, he had pioneering throat reconstruction surgery in London after his condition worsened and he was struggling to eat and breathe. \"I have had a lot of experience of the NHS and the care I received has enabled me to live my life as I want and to contribute to major advances in our understanding of the universe,\" he said, referring to his theories on black holes and the origin of the Universe. His speech then listed some of the developments in the NHS that concerned him, including the move toward what he called a \"US-style insurance system\". He said he believed there had been an increase in private provision of care, including the use of agency staff, that was leading to profit being extracted from the health service. \"The more profit is extracted from the system, the more private monopolies grow and the more expensive healthcare becomes. The NHS must be preserved from commercial interests and protected from those who want to privatise it,\" he said. He said that a publicly provided, publicly run system was the \"most efficient\" and so those who say we cannot afford the NHS are wrong. \"We cannot afford not to have the NHS,\" he added. His speech also mentioned Mr Hunt by name. In a section about the move towards a seven-day NHS, Prof Hawking said that while he would like there to be more services available at weekends, the government has failed to carry out \"proper due diligence\", particularly with regard to whether there would be enough staff. He quoted from a letter he put his name to last year explaining how Mr Hunt \"cherry-picked\" research to put his case. The health secretary initially said on Twitter that Mr Hawking was a \"brilliant physicist but wrong on the lack of a weekend effect\" in the NHS. He also said the the study into mortality rates associated with weekend NHS services was \"the most comprehensive ever\". But hours later he posted two further tweets, in which he said Mr Hawking's concerns, about the development in the UK of the type of insurance system seen in the United States, were a \"pernicious falsehood\". He also said the Conservatives had provided the NHS with more money and medical staff than ever before. The Department of Health responded to Mr Hawking's comments by pointing out that the numbers of staff working in the NHS were increasing and it \"makes no apology\" for tackling the weekend effect. The statement pointed out that only about 8% of NHS funding goes to the private sector. It also said that \"despite being busy\", the NHS had been ranked as the \"best, safest and most affordable healthcare system out of 11 wealthy nations\" in a recent study by the Commonwealth Fund. \"The government is fully committed to a world-class NHS, free at the point of use now and in the future - that's why we're backing it with an extra PS8bn of investment over the next five years,\" the statement said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3731, "answer_start": 3155, "text": "The health secretary initially said on Twitter that Mr Hawking was a \"brilliant physicist but wrong on the lack of a weekend effect\" in the NHS. He also said the the study into mortality rates associated with weekend NHS services was \"the most comprehensive ever\". But hours later he posted two further tweets, in which he said Mr Hawking's concerns, about the development in the UK of the type of insurance system seen in the United States, were a \"pernicious falsehood\". He also said the Conservatives had provided the NHS with more money and medical staff than ever before." } ], "id": "9374_0", "question": "What has Jeremy Hunt said?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Germany is returning the remains of dozens of Aboriginal ancestors to Australia in what has been called the largest handover of its kind. In total, the remains of 53 ancestors are being returned this month. Skulls and bones of Aboriginal Australians were removed by researchers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and put on show in museums around the world. Germany has committed to returning the human remains in its collections. Australia's Minister for Communications and the Arts Mitch Fifield welcomed the repatriations, which he said \"contributes to healing and reconciliation\". He said his government was committed to seeing the \"unconditional return of ancestral remains held in overseas collections\". The remains of 37 indigenous ancestors from the State Ethnographic Collections and five ancestors from Martin Luther University are being returned on Monday afternoon. Representatives of the Yawuru indigenous group from Western Australia will collect seven sets of remains from the State Ethnographic Collections. The other sets will be put into the temporary care of the Australian government. The return will mark the end of what Australia has called the \"largest\" repatriation of its indigenous ancestors from Germany. The skeletal remains of an Aboriginal ancestral king were handed over last Tuesday to representatives of the Yidinji indigenous group. Days later, eight ancestors' remains were returned to Australia by the University of Freiburg and two from the Linden-Museum. Work is underway to identify their communities of origin. Australia's native Aboriginal population has occupied the country for about 50,000 years. However, they were displaced by settlers two centuries ago and thousands were killed. For more than 150 years, their remains were removed and sent to museums, universities and private collections in Australia and elsewhere. Some were subjected to \"race research\". Germany also has large holdings of African human remains. Officials last month agreed to speed up the return of human remains and artwork from Germany's former African colonies, saying they would determine which \"were acquired in a way that legally or ethically would no longer be acceptable\". The country has previously repatriated remains to Namibia, where it killed tens of thousands of indigenous Herero and Nama people from 1904 to 1908.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1911, "answer_start": 1558, "text": "Australia's native Aboriginal population has occupied the country for about 50,000 years. However, they were displaced by settlers two centuries ago and thousands were killed. For more than 150 years, their remains were removed and sent to museums, universities and private collections in Australia and elsewhere. Some were subjected to \"race research\"." } ], "id": "9375_0", "question": "Why were the remains taken?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Anthony Clarry has had to get used to breaking the law. Once a month he smuggles two cannabis-based medicines into the UK for his five-year-old daughter Indie-Rose, who has a rare form of severe epilepsy. Speaking minutes after clearing customs at Stansted Airport, he told the BBC: \"Every time I come back from the Netherlands I am really anxious that they might stop me and then I risk a criminal record, and also having Indie's medicine taken away which would potentially put her life at risk.\" Indie-Rose's mother, Tannine Montgomery, has also made the trip. She said: \"We should not have to spend PS1,500 a month on these medicines, but be able to pick it up from a local pharmacy.\" At home in Clare, Suffolk, they are reunited with Indie-Rose, who has Dravet syndrome, a rare and hard to treat form of epilepsy. They say the cannabis oils have dramatically reduced the frequency, duration and severity of their daughter's seizures. Tannine said: \"Since she has been on the cannabis oils, she has not been hospitalised with a seizure. Not only that, but she is more alert, happier, a different child, and it's made her life worth living.\" The couple have spent about PS25,000 on cannabis medicines over the past year. Much of that has been raised through crowdfunding online, and with the support of their local community. The whole family had to spend several weeks in the Netherlands while Indie-Rose was assessed by a Dutch doctor, who has prescribed two cannabis-based oils, Bedrolite and Bedica. It was. On 1 November 2018, cannabis medicines were moved from Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, meaning they have no therapeutic value, to Schedule 2, to recognise there is conclusive evidence of benefit for some patients. From that date, specialist doctors were allowed to prescribe cannabis medicines \"where there is an unmet clinical need\". following a recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies. But Tannine and Anthony have not been able to persuade their daughter's neurologist to prescribe the Dutch products, so they have to pay for it. The campaign group End Our Pain says there are several other families who are bringing cannabis medicines into the UK illegally. There are no official figures, but it appears that only two children with severe epilepsy now have NHS prescriptions for unlicensed cannabis medicines. One of them is Sophia Gibson, aged seven, from Newtownards near Belfast. She also has Dravet syndrome and used to suffer life-threatening seizures. Her mum, Danielle Davis, told the BBC: \"Barely a week went by without us having to call an ambulance for Sophia, because her seizures were impossible to control. \"Sometimes the doctors had to put her into an induced coma and take over her breathing, it was terrifying.\" Danielle says the cannabis medicines have had a dramatic impact. \"Sophia has not been hospitalised as a result of a seizure since last July. We know it is not a cure because she still has seizures, but they are infrequent, last less than a minute and are much milder. \"She is also happier, more alert and her cognitive ability has improved,\" her mum says. There are hundreds of chemicals in cannabis. The two key active compounds, called cannabinoids, in medical use are: - tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - which is the main psychoactive, mood-altering component in cannabis - cannabidiol (CBD) - which is not a controlled substance A variety of CBD oils can be bought in the UK, but only if they contain virtually no THC. Indie-Rose and Sophia are being treated with Bedrolite, and Bedica, which are administered under the tongue. Bedrolite is 9% CBD and less than 1% THC, but still above the 0.2% legal limit in the UK. Bedica is 14% THC. They are manufactured in the Netherlands by Bedrocan, whose sole customer is the Dutch government. The dried cannabis flowers are turned into oil-based medicines by a pharmacy in The Hague. The British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA) guidelines say there is \"good quality clinical evidence\" that CBD reduces seizures in Dravet syndrome, but \"no high quality evidence\" to support the use of THC. This is a key question. Last year, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: \"Having been moved by heartbreaking cases involving sick children, it was important to me that we took swift action to help those who can benefit from medicinal cannabis. \"We have now delivered on our promise and specialist doctors will have the option to prescribe these products where there is a real need.\" Understandably, politicians recognised that clinical decisions had to be left to doctors, but paediatric neurologists have largely refused to prescribe cannabis-based medicines from companies such as Bedrocan in the Netherlands or Tilray in Canada. Why? Prof Helen Cross, a consultant in paediatric neurology at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and a leading epilepsy researcher, said: \"There was a perception from families, after 1 November, that they could walk in and get a prescription for cannabis-based medicines, which they perceive to be a natural product, so must be better than other drugs. \"But we need to look at the evidence base and ensure we are not going to make the children any worse.\" At present there is an impasse because the BPNA says there is not enough evidence that THC is safe or effective, and it has concerns about its effects on the developing brain. Later this year, the health watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will issue guidelines to specialist doctors which may clarify the circumstances in which products containing THC can be prescribed. Prof Cross accepts some children on these medications may be doing well, but not everyone. \"I've seen an equal number of very disappointed families, because they haven't seen the miracle that they're expecting, but these cases don't get reported, as it's not what people want to hear.\" Sophia and Indie-Rose's parents say some of the standard epilepsy medicines left the girls heavily sedated and lethargic, and did not control their seizures. Prof Cross is hopeful that a new cannabidiol medicine, Epidiolex, manufactured in the UK by GW Pharma, will get a European licence within a few months. It contains no THC. Epidiolex has undergone randomised controlled trials, and was found to reduce seizures by nearly 40% in children with Dravet or Lennox Gastaux syndromes. About 80 children in the UK are already being prescribed Epidiolex on a compassionate basis, where their seizures have proved resistant to other medications. Prof Cross, who led the trials of Epidiolex in the UK, said it was sensible to start with cannabidiol and then see \"do we need to add THC in some circumstances?\". But it won't come cheaply. The list price of the drug in the US is $32,500 (PS25,000) a year. There has been a broad welcome from clinicians and parents for the decision to move cannabis medicines from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2, as this will make research much easier. Prof Cross says she hopes to set up clinical trials involving some of the unlicensed cannabis medicines which will seek to establish whether THC has a beneficial role in controlling seizures. Follow Fergus on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3142, "answer_start": 1506, "text": "It was. On 1 November 2018, cannabis medicines were moved from Schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Regulations, meaning they have no therapeutic value, to Schedule 2, to recognise there is conclusive evidence of benefit for some patients. From that date, specialist doctors were allowed to prescribe cannabis medicines \"where there is an unmet clinical need\". following a recommendation from the Chief Medical Officer Dame Sally Davies. But Tannine and Anthony have not been able to persuade their daughter's neurologist to prescribe the Dutch products, so they have to pay for it. The campaign group End Our Pain says there are several other families who are bringing cannabis medicines into the UK illegally. There are no official figures, but it appears that only two children with severe epilepsy now have NHS prescriptions for unlicensed cannabis medicines. One of them is Sophia Gibson, aged seven, from Newtownards near Belfast. She also has Dravet syndrome and used to suffer life-threatening seizures. Her mum, Danielle Davis, told the BBC: \"Barely a week went by without us having to call an ambulance for Sophia, because her seizures were impossible to control. \"Sometimes the doctors had to put her into an induced coma and take over her breathing, it was terrifying.\" Danielle says the cannabis medicines have had a dramatic impact. \"Sophia has not been hospitalised as a result of a seizure since last July. We know it is not a cure because she still has seizures, but they are infrequent, last less than a minute and are much milder. \"She is also happier, more alert and her cognitive ability has improved,\" her mum says." } ], "id": "9376_0", "question": "But wasn't the cannabis meds law changed in 2018?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4126, "answer_start": 3143, "text": "There are hundreds of chemicals in cannabis. The two key active compounds, called cannabinoids, in medical use are: - tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) - which is the main psychoactive, mood-altering component in cannabis - cannabidiol (CBD) - which is not a controlled substance A variety of CBD oils can be bought in the UK, but only if they contain virtually no THC. Indie-Rose and Sophia are being treated with Bedrolite, and Bedica, which are administered under the tongue. Bedrolite is 9% CBD and less than 1% THC, but still above the 0.2% legal limit in the UK. Bedica is 14% THC. They are manufactured in the Netherlands by Bedrocan, whose sole customer is the Dutch government. The dried cannabis flowers are turned into oil-based medicines by a pharmacy in The Hague. The British Paediatric Neurology Association (BPNA) guidelines say there is \"good quality clinical evidence\" that CBD reduces seizures in Dravet syndrome, but \"no high quality evidence\" to support the use of THC." } ], "id": "9376_1", "question": "What is in the cannabis-based medicines?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7189, "answer_start": 4127, "text": "This is a key question. Last year, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: \"Having been moved by heartbreaking cases involving sick children, it was important to me that we took swift action to help those who can benefit from medicinal cannabis. \"We have now delivered on our promise and specialist doctors will have the option to prescribe these products where there is a real need.\" Understandably, politicians recognised that clinical decisions had to be left to doctors, but paediatric neurologists have largely refused to prescribe cannabis-based medicines from companies such as Bedrocan in the Netherlands or Tilray in Canada. Why? Prof Helen Cross, a consultant in paediatric neurology at Great Ormond Street Hospital, and a leading epilepsy researcher, said: \"There was a perception from families, after 1 November, that they could walk in and get a prescription for cannabis-based medicines, which they perceive to be a natural product, so must be better than other drugs. \"But we need to look at the evidence base and ensure we are not going to make the children any worse.\" At present there is an impasse because the BPNA says there is not enough evidence that THC is safe or effective, and it has concerns about its effects on the developing brain. Later this year, the health watchdog the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will issue guidelines to specialist doctors which may clarify the circumstances in which products containing THC can be prescribed. Prof Cross accepts some children on these medications may be doing well, but not everyone. \"I've seen an equal number of very disappointed families, because they haven't seen the miracle that they're expecting, but these cases don't get reported, as it's not what people want to hear.\" Sophia and Indie-Rose's parents say some of the standard epilepsy medicines left the girls heavily sedated and lethargic, and did not control their seizures. Prof Cross is hopeful that a new cannabidiol medicine, Epidiolex, manufactured in the UK by GW Pharma, will get a European licence within a few months. It contains no THC. Epidiolex has undergone randomised controlled trials, and was found to reduce seizures by nearly 40% in children with Dravet or Lennox Gastaux syndromes. About 80 children in the UK are already being prescribed Epidiolex on a compassionate basis, where their seizures have proved resistant to other medications. Prof Cross, who led the trials of Epidiolex in the UK, said it was sensible to start with cannabidiol and then see \"do we need to add THC in some circumstances?\". But it won't come cheaply. The list price of the drug in the US is $32,500 (PS25,000) a year. There has been a broad welcome from clinicians and parents for the decision to move cannabis medicines from Schedule 1 to Schedule 2, as this will make research much easier. Prof Cross says she hopes to set up clinical trials involving some of the unlicensed cannabis medicines which will seek to establish whether THC has a beneficial role in controlling seizures. Follow Fergus on Twitter." } ], "id": "9376_2", "question": "So why can't more children with severe epilepsy access cannabis medicines under the new law?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Australian bureaucrats have launched an investigation into how top-secret documents were exposed after being left in a second-hand shop. The Australian Broadcasting Corp has published a series of exclusive reports this week, citing Cabinet files from current and previous governments. On Wednesday, the ABC revealed the files had been found in locked filing cabinets purchased at a Canberra shop. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet ordered an urgent review. The ABC described it as \"one of the biggest breaches of Cabinet security in Australian history\", saying the filing cabinets contained hundreds of documents - most of them classified. The filing cabinets were in a second-hand shop where ex-government furniture is sold cheaply, Australia's largest public broadcaster said. \"The deals can be even cheaper when the items in question are two heavy filing cabinets to which no-one can find the keys,\" the ABC said in its news report. \"They were purchased for small change and sat unopened for some months until the locks were attacked with a drill.\" The ABC did not identify the shop nor the person who had bought the filing cabinets. Australian Cabinet documents are normally sealed and kept confidential until they are released to the public 20 years later. The documents reported this week were said to delve into the workings of five previous governments over the last decade. The ABC's revelations include allegations that: - the Australian Federal Police lost almost 400 national security files in five years - former Prime Minister Tony Abbott's government had considered denying welfare to people under 30, - former Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard were warned about risks of a home insulation scheme that later claimed four lives, - former Prime Minister John Howard's administration had debated removing the right of people to remain silent under police questioning. Much of the reaction has been amusement about how the files were found. However, others have noted that national security information could have ended up with anyone - even a foreign government. Martin Parkinson, the head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, said an urgent review would be conducted, but he declined to comment further to local media. The discovery comes at a time when Australia is fiercely debating new laws aimed at preventing foreign interference in its politics. Last month, Mr Turnbull said foreign powers were making \"unprecedented\" attempts to influence political processes in Australia and internationally.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1151, "answer_start": 655, "text": "The filing cabinets were in a second-hand shop where ex-government furniture is sold cheaply, Australia's largest public broadcaster said. \"The deals can be even cheaper when the items in question are two heavy filing cabinets to which no-one can find the keys,\" the ABC said in its news report. \"They were purchased for small change and sat unopened for some months until the locks were attacked with a drill.\" The ABC did not identify the shop nor the person who had bought the filing cabinets." } ], "id": "9377_0", "question": "How were they found?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said a reported chemical attack in Syria was staged by foreign agents. A spokesman for Russia's defence ministry accused the UK of being involved in staging the attack. The US and France say they have proof it took place and, alongside the UK, are considering military retaliation. Russia, which has military forces deployed in Syria in support of the government, has warned that Western air strikes risk starting a war. During a press briefing on Friday, Mr Lavrov said he had \"irrefutable evidence\" that the attack was staged as part of a \"Russophobic campaign\" led by one country, which he did not name. General Igor Konashenkov, a spokesman for Russia's defence ministry, said: \"We have... evidence that proves Britain was directly involved in organising this provocation.\" The UK's envoy to the UN has called this a \"grotesque, blatant lie\", Reuters news agency reports. The White House says it is continuing to assess intelligence and talk to its allies about how to respond. Meanwhile the UN's secretary general has said the Middle East is \"in chaos\" and the Cold War is \"back with a vengeance\". Antonio Guterres was speaking to a special meeting of the UN Security Council, called by Russia. He urged countries to \"act responsibly in these dangerous circumstances\". A delegation from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will arrive in Syria's Eastern Ghouta region on Saturday. Few details are expected to be released about the movements of the chemical weapons inspectors, for safety reasons. The suspected attack, denied by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, was carried out in the Eastern Ghouta town of Douma on Saturday, reportedly killing dozens of people. Control over the town has since passed from rebels to the Syrian and Russian military authorities. The Violations Documentation Center (VDC), a Syrian opposition network which records alleged violations of international law in Syria, said bodies were found foaming at the mouth, and with discoloured skin and cornea burns. On Thursday, unnamed US officials told NBC News they had obtained blood and urine samples from victims which had tested positive for chlorine and a nerve agent. The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, told the network: \"We definitely have enough proof but now we just have to be thoughtful in our action.\" French President Emmanuel Macron also said he had \"proof\" that the Syrian government had attacked Douma with chemical weapons but did not give further details. A UN report last year found the Syrian government responsible for a deadly chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, in which more than 80 people died. That attack was followed by a US cruise missile attack on a Syrian airbase. In the UK, cabinet ministers agreed it was \"highly likely\" the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the alleged attack and said the use of chemical weapons must not \"go unchallenged\". During a phone call on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump had agreed to \"keep working closely\" on the issue, Mrs May's office said. The US president has said Russian President Vladimir Putin bears responsibility for the alleged attack in Douma because of his support for the Syrian government. On Wednesday he warned Russia that missiles were \"coming\" but later tweeted that he had \"never said when\". It \"could be very soon or not so soon at all\", Mr Trump said. Russia has described the reports of a chemical attack as a \"provocation\" designed to justify Western intervention. Moscow's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused Washington of putting international peace at risk. \"The immediate priority is to avert the danger of war,\" he said on Thursday. Senior Russian figures, including the head of the military, have warned that US missiles will be shot down and their launch sites targeted if Russian personnel come under threat. On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich criticised Mr Trump's rhetoric. \"We cannot depend on the mood of someone on the other side of the ocean when he wakes up,\" the Tass news agency quoted him as saying. After six weeks of heavy fighting and an estimated 1,700 civilian deaths in the Eastern Ghouta, rebels are now leaving the area. The final evacuations of about 4,000 remaining Islamist fighters and civilians were taking place on Friday, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring organisation.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2789, "answer_start": 1574, "text": "The suspected attack, denied by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government, was carried out in the Eastern Ghouta town of Douma on Saturday, reportedly killing dozens of people. Control over the town has since passed from rebels to the Syrian and Russian military authorities. The Violations Documentation Center (VDC), a Syrian opposition network which records alleged violations of international law in Syria, said bodies were found foaming at the mouth, and with discoloured skin and cornea burns. On Thursday, unnamed US officials told NBC News they had obtained blood and urine samples from victims which had tested positive for chlorine and a nerve agent. The US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, told the network: \"We definitely have enough proof but now we just have to be thoughtful in our action.\" French President Emmanuel Macron also said he had \"proof\" that the Syrian government had attacked Douma with chemical weapons but did not give further details. A UN report last year found the Syrian government responsible for a deadly chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Khan Sheikhoun, in which more than 80 people died. That attack was followed by a US cruise missile attack on a Syrian airbase." } ], "id": "9378_0", "question": "What proof is there of a chemical attack?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3501, "answer_start": 2790, "text": "In the UK, cabinet ministers agreed it was \"highly likely\" the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was responsible for the alleged attack and said the use of chemical weapons must not \"go unchallenged\". During a phone call on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Theresa May and US President Donald Trump had agreed to \"keep working closely\" on the issue, Mrs May's office said. The US president has said Russian President Vladimir Putin bears responsibility for the alleged attack in Douma because of his support for the Syrian government. On Wednesday he warned Russia that missiles were \"coming\" but later tweeted that he had \"never said when\". It \"could be very soon or not so soon at all\", Mr Trump said." } ], "id": "9378_1", "question": "How is the West responding this time?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4513, "answer_start": 3502, "text": "Russia has described the reports of a chemical attack as a \"provocation\" designed to justify Western intervention. Moscow's UN ambassador Vassily Nebenzia accused Washington of putting international peace at risk. \"The immediate priority is to avert the danger of war,\" he said on Thursday. Senior Russian figures, including the head of the military, have warned that US missiles will be shot down and their launch sites targeted if Russian personnel come under threat. On Friday, Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich criticised Mr Trump's rhetoric. \"We cannot depend on the mood of someone on the other side of the ocean when he wakes up,\" the Tass news agency quoted him as saying. After six weeks of heavy fighting and an estimated 1,700 civilian deaths in the Eastern Ghouta, rebels are now leaving the area. The final evacuations of about 4,000 remaining Islamist fighters and civilians were taking place on Friday, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring organisation." } ], "id": "9378_2", "question": "What is Russia saying about the risk of war?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Late on Wednesday afternoon US President-elect Donald Trump had a phone call with Pakistan's Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. According to a Pakistani account of what should probably have been a procedural discussion, Mr Trump lavished extravagant praise upon Pakistan's prime minister and its people. \"You have a very good reputation. You are a terrific guy,\" it goes. In addition, Pakistan is \"a fantastic country, fantastic place\" with the most \"intelligent\" people and \"your country is amazing with tremendous opportunities\". Not satisfied with that, the account, commonly known as read-outs, culminates with this flourish: \"Please convey to the Pakistani people that they are amazing and all Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people, said Mr Donald Trump.\" It is unclear to what extent these are direct quotes, but there was much bemusement both in mainstream and social media. Hours later, the Trump team released a statement which, if brief, emphasised the pleasantries generally found in these exchanges. Describing it as a \"productive conversation\", the two discussed how they would achieve \"a strong working relationship in the future\", the US-statement said. \"President-elect Trump also noted that he is looking forward to a lasting and strong personal relationship with Prime Minister Sharif.\" But the effusive praise detailed by the Pakistanis did not go unnoticed. Many pointed out that India may have something to say about the president-elect's apparent delight at the invitation to visit Pakistan - \"a fantastic country, fantastic place, of fantastic people\" - when no US president has been since 2006 and there is a delicate diplomatic tightrope to be negotiated. It it not yet clear if Delhi has any view at all. Following a number of cross-border attacks, relations between the neighbours are at their lowest point in years. And the tone of the exchange certainly contradicts a Trump view in 2011. But while Mr Trump was criticised by some as naive for being fulsome in his praise of the leader of a country that has been accused of backing militants, many more just saw the funny side. The two did not apparently discuss Mr Trump's campaign promise to enact a \"total and complete\" shutdown of Muslims coming to America, later downgraded to \"extreme vetting\". The overwhelming majority of Pakistanis, including the prime minister, are Muslim. For now, the two former businessmen stuck to warm words. And just in case there was any doubt: \"All Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people,\" was Mr Trump's view in the words of Pakistan.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2562, "answer_start": 1383, "text": "Many pointed out that India may have something to say about the president-elect's apparent delight at the invitation to visit Pakistan - \"a fantastic country, fantastic place, of fantastic people\" - when no US president has been since 2006 and there is a delicate diplomatic tightrope to be negotiated. It it not yet clear if Delhi has any view at all. Following a number of cross-border attacks, relations between the neighbours are at their lowest point in years. And the tone of the exchange certainly contradicts a Trump view in 2011. But while Mr Trump was criticised by some as naive for being fulsome in his praise of the leader of a country that has been accused of backing militants, many more just saw the funny side. The two did not apparently discuss Mr Trump's campaign promise to enact a \"total and complete\" shutdown of Muslims coming to America, later downgraded to \"extreme vetting\". The overwhelming majority of Pakistanis, including the prime minister, are Muslim. For now, the two former businessmen stuck to warm words. And just in case there was any doubt: \"All Pakistanis I have known are exceptional people,\" was Mr Trump's view in the words of Pakistan." } ], "id": "9379_0", "question": "What might India say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Chinese government has accused the US of causing \"panic\" in its response to the deadly coronavirus outbreak. It follows the US decision to declare a public health emergency and deny entry to foreign nationals who had visited China in the past two weeks. There are more than 17,000 confirmed cases of the virus in China. Some 361 people have died there. Outside China, there are more than 150 confirmed cases of the virus - and one death, in the Philippines. The virus causes severe acute respiratory infection and symptoms seem to start with a fever, followed by a dry cough. On Monday, a stud, published in Nature, by a Chinese virologist said a pneumonia outbreak associated with the coronavirus had likely started in bats. The outbreak took its toll on Chinese shares when markets reopened on Monday following the Lunar New Year holiday. The Shanghai Composite index closed nearly 8% lower, its biggest daily drop for more than four years. On 23 January, the US ordered the departure of all non-emergency US personnel and their family members from the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, where the virus originated. Less than a week later, the US allowed for the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel and relatives of US government employees from China. On 30 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency over the new virus. Following this, the US ordered the departure of all US personnel family members under the age of 21 in China. Any US citizen who has been in Hubei province will be subject to 14 days' quarantine upon returning to the US. On Monday, Hong Kong said it was suspending from midnight local time (16:00 GMT) 10 out of 13 border crossings with mainland China. Various countries have imposed varying travel restrictions and other preventative measures, including: - Denying entry to all foreign visitors who have recently been to China: US, Australia, Singapore - Denying entry to foreigners travelling from mainland China: New Zealand, Israel. (Russia will also apply these restrictions, though not through Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport) - Denying entry to foreigners who have visited Hubei province: Japan, South Korea - Temporarily suspending all flights to mainland China: Egypt, Finland, Indonesia, the UK, Italy - Closing the border with China: Mongolia, Russia (partially) The body that represents some of the world's largest cruise ship operators, the Cruise Lines International Association, announced on Monday that passengers and crew members who had recently travelled to China would not be allowed to board vessels. In a news briefing on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the US actions \"could only create and spread fear\" instead of offering assistance. She said the US was the first country to impose a travel ban on Chinese travellers and the first to suggest a partial withdrawal of its embassy staff. \"It is precisely developed countries like the US with strong epidemic prevention capabilities... that have taken the lead in imposing excessive restrictions contrary to WHO recommendations,\" Ms Hua said, according to a Reuters report. But Ms Hua also said that China urgently needed \"medical masks, protective suits and safety goggles\". Global health officials have advised against the bans. The WHO has warned that closing borders could even accelerate the spread of the virus, if travellers enter countries unofficially. \"Travel restrictions can cause more harm than good by hindering info-sharing, medical supply chains and harming economies,\" the head of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said last week. The WHO instead recommends introducing screening at border crossings. On Monday, Dr Tedros again praised China for its commitment to fighting the coronavirus, stressing that the only way to defeat it was for all countries to work together \"in a spirit of co-operation\". More than 75,000 people may have been infected in the city of Wuhan, experts say. But estimates by the University of Hong Kong suggest the total number of cases could be far higher than the official figures. A report on the early stages of the outbreak by the Lancet medical journal said most patients who died from the virus had pre-existing conditions. The report found that, of the first 99 patients treated at the Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, 40 had a weak heart or damaged blood vessels. A further 12 had diabetes. Most people infected are likely to fully recover - just as they would from a normal flu. An expert at China's National Health Commission (NHC) said that one week was sufficient for a recovery from mild coronavirus symptoms. How has the coronavirus outbreak affected you? Has your family been affected? What about your business or your travel plans? You can share your experiences 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 - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Or Upload your pictures/video here - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Please read our terms & conditions and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1593, "answer_start": 947, "text": "On 23 January, the US ordered the departure of all non-emergency US personnel and their family members from the city of Wuhan in Hubei province, where the virus originated. Less than a week later, the US allowed for the voluntary departure of non-emergency personnel and relatives of US government employees from China. On 30 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global health emergency over the new virus. Following this, the US ordered the departure of all US personnel family members under the age of 21 in China. Any US citizen who has been in Hubei province will be subject to 14 days' quarantine upon returning to the US." } ], "id": "9380_0", "question": "What measures has the US taken?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3249, "answer_start": 2593, "text": "In a news briefing on Monday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said the US actions \"could only create and spread fear\" instead of offering assistance. She said the US was the first country to impose a travel ban on Chinese travellers and the first to suggest a partial withdrawal of its embassy staff. \"It is precisely developed countries like the US with strong epidemic prevention capabilities... that have taken the lead in imposing excessive restrictions contrary to WHO recommendations,\" Ms Hua said, according to a Reuters report. But Ms Hua also said that China urgently needed \"medical masks, protective suits and safety goggles\"." } ], "id": "9380_1", "question": "How did China react to the US measures?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3897, "answer_start": 3250, "text": "Global health officials have advised against the bans. The WHO has warned that closing borders could even accelerate the spread of the virus, if travellers enter countries unofficially. \"Travel restrictions can cause more harm than good by hindering info-sharing, medical supply chains and harming economies,\" the head of the WHO, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said last week. The WHO instead recommends introducing screening at border crossings. On Monday, Dr Tedros again praised China for its commitment to fighting the coronavirus, stressing that the only way to defeat it was for all countries to work together \"in a spirit of co-operation\"." } ], "id": "9380_2", "question": "Do the travel bans work?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4641, "answer_start": 3898, "text": "More than 75,000 people may have been infected in the city of Wuhan, experts say. But estimates by the University of Hong Kong suggest the total number of cases could be far higher than the official figures. A report on the early stages of the outbreak by the Lancet medical journal said most patients who died from the virus had pre-existing conditions. The report found that, of the first 99 patients treated at the Jinyintan Hospital in Wuhan, 40 had a weak heart or damaged blood vessels. A further 12 had diabetes. Most people infected are likely to fully recover - just as they would from a normal flu. An expert at China's National Health Commission (NHC) said that one week was sufficient for a recovery from mild coronavirus symptoms." } ], "id": "9380_3", "question": "How deadly is the virus?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Mahinda Rajapaksa has resigned as Sri Lanka's prime minister, seven weeks after he was appointed in a surprise move that sparked a political crisis. Mr Rajapaksa, Sri Lanka's former president, signed his resignation letter in a ceremony at his house. Former PM Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to return to office on Sunday. The resignation could bring to an end a nearly two-month-long power struggle that has dented confidence in Sri Lanka's stability. \"Since I have no intention of remaining as prime minister without a general election being held, and in order to not hamper the president in any way, I will resign from the position of prime minister and make way for the president to form a new government,\" Mr Rajapaksa said in his resignation statement. In October, President Maithripala Sirisena sacked then prime minister Mr Wickremesinghe, replacing him with Mr Rajapaksa. Harin Fernando, a spokesman for Mr Wickremesinghe's party, told the BBC: \"The president has agreed to swear in Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister tomorrow at 10am.\" He said this would end the political deadlock, remarking that the country and its economy had suffered \"huge damage\" since the crisis began 50 days ago. On Thursday, the Supreme Court said Mr Sirisena had acted illegally in November by dissolving parliament and calling snap polls with nearly two years to go until elections were due. Throughout the crisis, Mr Wickremesinghe has always maintained he is the rightful prime minister. The crisis, which has provoked brawls in parliament and sparked large protests, has been closely watched by regional power India, as well as the US, China and the European Union. Mr Rajapaksa, who dominated Sri Lankan politics for a decade until 2015, has an uneasy relationship with the West over the bloody end to the country's civil war in 2009, when thousands of civilians were killed. Both government forces and the Tamil Tiger separatist rebels are accused of grave human rights abuses and crimes. On Wednesday, parliament passed a vote of confidence in Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister. His party and its allies have a simple majority in parliament - and have argued from the beginning that President Sirisena's actions were unconstitutional. Mr Sirisena was once a party ally of Mr Rajapaksa, and served in his government. But in 2015, he teamed up with Ranil Wickremesinghe to defeat him in an election and the pair went on to form a coalition government. However the relationship between president and prime minister turned sour and Mr Sirisena in October turned on Mr Wickremesinghe, sacking him in favour of Mr Rajapaksa, his old ally-turned-rival-turned-ally. He called Mr Wickremesinghe arrogant and linked him to a controversial central bank bond sale, which is alleged to have led to the loss of 11bn Sri Lankan rupees ($65m; PS50m). The president also alleged that a cabinet minister was involved in a plot to kill him and that police had obstructed an investigation.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2978, "answer_start": 2243, "text": "Mr Sirisena was once a party ally of Mr Rajapaksa, and served in his government. But in 2015, he teamed up with Ranil Wickremesinghe to defeat him in an election and the pair went on to form a coalition government. However the relationship between president and prime minister turned sour and Mr Sirisena in October turned on Mr Wickremesinghe, sacking him in favour of Mr Rajapaksa, his old ally-turned-rival-turned-ally. He called Mr Wickremesinghe arrogant and linked him to a controversial central bank bond sale, which is alleged to have led to the loss of 11bn Sri Lankan rupees ($65m; PS50m). The president also alleged that a cabinet minister was involved in a plot to kill him and that police had obstructed an investigation." } ], "id": "9381_0", "question": "What are the roots of the saga?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The political parties are setting out their ideas for the country. Labour likes to talk about the risk of privatising the NHS, accusing the Conservatives of wanting to do a deal with Donald Trump. Meanwhile, the Conservatives have criticised Labour's plans to nationalise part of BT, to provide free broadband But what do nationalisation and privatisation actually mean? Nationalisation is when a government takes control or ownership of private property, like a company. It is complex, but there are different ways this can be done. For example, a government could buy up 50.1% (ie the majority) of the shares in a company. Private owners don't have to agree to transfer ownership to the government - it makes that decision for them. Full nationalisation involves a government taking on an industry's entire assets and operations. When the coal industry was nationalised after World War Two, for example, it involved the transfer of ownership and control of 1,200 pits owned by 800 companies who employed 700,000 workers. Tens of millions of pounds was paid in compensation to the previous owners for their assets - the mines, colliery plants and all the equipment. The government can also buy individual companies outright, although this is fairly unusual. Privatisation is the opposite of nationalisation. It typically refers to the ownership of property, a business, or an industry being transferred from a government to an individual, or another private company. Under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, at least 22 big privatisations took place. They included companies like BT and British Airways, as well as more complex ones like the rail industry. Among them, water and sewerage services were privatised in England and Wales in 1989. They are now run by private companies, although there is a national regulator of the regional water companies called Ofwat. It can set caps on how much water companies charge customers. The privatisation of Royal Mail took place in 2013. The government sold a 13% stake in the business, while 1% was awarded to employees. A bailout is usually when a government rescues a failing private company by giving it money or loans, or buys shares in it. It is a form of nationalisation, and can be a temporary measure. It has been used to save banks that were in trouble. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) received a PS45bn bailout from the taxpayer during the financial crisis, for example. In the last decade, it has had to cut 130,000 jobs and shut up or sell operations in 41 countries. The government still owns a 62% share in the bank. In the 2018 Budget, it said it was planning to sell all of its remaining shares in the company by 2023-24. Nationalisation can stir up a lot of debate. Some people think that it makes sense for the government to be in charge of industries where a natural monopoly exists. That means where a single firm supplies everyone with a particular product or service. The state getting involved should mean theoretically that consumers pay the best prices available, and are not exploited. But, issues can still arise. Questions could be raised over a government's actions and their impact on other investors in a partly-nationalised company. For example, some shareholders in a nationalised energy company might lose money if a government decided to reduce energy bills. Such a decision could break company law, because those smaller investors could suffer if share prices went down. This means they are being \"unfairly prejudiced\". - 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 The Labour Party has proposed bringing private rail companies back into public ownership, as train operators' contracts to run parts of the rail network expire. The policy gained support from some commuters annoyed by fare increases and overcrowded trains. It is argued that national ownership could also lead to cost savings. For example, a nationalised rail service could bulk buy the materials, track and the rolling stock needed across a rail network, reducing costs. Labour has also previously proposed bringing water companies back into public ownership. Unions often favour nationalisation. That's because they feel they might be treated better by a government, rather than big businesses. However, the Conservatives have said Labour's nationalisation plans would result in \"a collapse in business investment and a crash in the value of the pound\". Other people argue that private companies are more efficient. That's because they're in competition with each other and may have to cut costs and use better production methods to make more profit. There's also a fear that governments interfere in how state-owned companies are run, making changes that suit their political agenda, or that suit them ahead of an election. Nationalised companies or industries might also struggle for cash long-term. If they are competing with other government departments like education, health and defence, there could be a risk that state-owned industries are underfunded.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1258, "answer_start": 371, "text": "Nationalisation is when a government takes control or ownership of private property, like a company. It is complex, but there are different ways this can be done. For example, a government could buy up 50.1% (ie the majority) of the shares in a company. Private owners don't have to agree to transfer ownership to the government - it makes that decision for them. Full nationalisation involves a government taking on an industry's entire assets and operations. When the coal industry was nationalised after World War Two, for example, it involved the transfer of ownership and control of 1,200 pits owned by 800 companies who employed 700,000 workers. Tens of millions of pounds was paid in compensation to the previous owners for their assets - the mines, colliery plants and all the equipment. The government can also buy individual companies outright, although this is fairly unusual." } ], "id": "9382_0", "question": "What is nationalisation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2064, "answer_start": 1259, "text": "Privatisation is the opposite of nationalisation. It typically refers to the ownership of property, a business, or an industry being transferred from a government to an individual, or another private company. Under Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, at least 22 big privatisations took place. They included companies like BT and British Airways, as well as more complex ones like the rail industry. Among them, water and sewerage services were privatised in England and Wales in 1989. They are now run by private companies, although there is a national regulator of the regional water companies called Ofwat. It can set caps on how much water companies charge customers. The privatisation of Royal Mail took place in 2013. The government sold a 13% stake in the business, while 1% was awarded to employees." } ], "id": "9382_1", "question": "What is privatisation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2682, "answer_start": 2065, "text": "A bailout is usually when a government rescues a failing private company by giving it money or loans, or buys shares in it. It is a form of nationalisation, and can be a temporary measure. It has been used to save banks that were in trouble. The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) received a PS45bn bailout from the taxpayer during the financial crisis, for example. In the last decade, it has had to cut 130,000 jobs and shut up or sell operations in 41 countries. The government still owns a 62% share in the bank. In the 2018 Budget, it said it was planning to sell all of its remaining shares in the company by 2023-24." } ], "id": "9382_2", "question": "What is a bailout?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Many people in Africa buy second-hand clothes sent from Europe and the US. But East African countries could ban imports of used clothes and second-hand cars in the next three years, putting an end to a lucrative trade in the region. Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda could all ban second-hand clothes and leather. They make up the East Africa Community (EAC). The EAC directed member countries to buy their textiles and shoes from within the region with a view to phasing out imports by 2019. Before the meeting on Wednesday, the EAC also proposed a reduction in imports of used cars. The EAC suggested phasing out imports in the next three years. However, the newspaper The East African reports that it depends on the five countries' heads of states all agreeing to a common industrialisation policy. It adds that the proposal suggests a ban would only come in after an increase in local textile production. The idea is to give a boost to local manufacturing, and help the economy. One argument is that the imported clothes are so cheap that the local textiles factories and self-employed tailors can't compete, so they either close down or don't do as well as they could. A release from a previous EAC manufacturing and business summit says the leather and textile industries are \"crucial for employment creation, poverty reduction and advancement in technological capability\" in the region. Second-hand underwear has been called unhygienic. The EAC urged governments to make sure that used-clothes imports complied with sanitary standards. instead urging East African governments to make sure that used-clothes imports complied with sanitary standards. Used knickers were banned in Ghana in 2011 and a Ugandan bill also proposed a ban in the country last year. Second-hand cars have also been blamed for causing accidents. BBC Swahili analyst Alex Mureithi explains that, to avoid paying taxes, people pay bribes at ports to import cars. Those cars then do not go through any safety checks. To give some idea of the extent of smuggled imports, it emerged in December that over 2,700 shipping containers had disappeared at Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania. In Uganda, second-hand garments account for 81% of all clothing purchases, Andrew Brooks says in his book Clothing Poverty. According to UN figures from 2013, South Korea and Canada combined exported $59m worth of used clothes to Tanzania while the UK alone exported $42m worth of used clothes to Kenya.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 595, "answer_start": 233, "text": "Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda could all ban second-hand clothes and leather. They make up the East Africa Community (EAC). The EAC directed member countries to buy their textiles and shoes from within the region with a view to phasing out imports by 2019. Before the meeting on Wednesday, the EAC also proposed a reduction in imports of used cars." } ], "id": "9383_0", "question": "Who wants to ban second-hand clothes and cars?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 919, "answer_start": 596, "text": "The EAC suggested phasing out imports in the next three years. However, the newspaper The East African reports that it depends on the five countries' heads of states all agreeing to a common industrialisation policy. It adds that the proposal suggests a ban would only come in after an increase in local textile production." } ], "id": "9383_1", "question": "When will the ban happen?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1404, "answer_start": 920, "text": "The idea is to give a boost to local manufacturing, and help the economy. One argument is that the imported clothes are so cheap that the local textiles factories and self-employed tailors can't compete, so they either close down or don't do as well as they could. A release from a previous EAC manufacturing and business summit says the leather and textile industries are \"crucial for employment creation, poverty reduction and advancement in technological capability\" in the region." } ], "id": "9383_2", "question": "Why do they want an import ban?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2167, "answer_start": 1405, "text": "Second-hand underwear has been called unhygienic. The EAC urged governments to make sure that used-clothes imports complied with sanitary standards. instead urging East African governments to make sure that used-clothes imports complied with sanitary standards. Used knickers were banned in Ghana in 2011 and a Ugandan bill also proposed a ban in the country last year. Second-hand cars have also been blamed for causing accidents. BBC Swahili analyst Alex Mureithi explains that, to avoid paying taxes, people pay bribes at ports to import cars. Those cars then do not go through any safety checks. To give some idea of the extent of smuggled imports, it emerged in December that over 2,700 shipping containers had disappeared at Dar es Salaam port in Tanzania." } ], "id": "9383_3", "question": "Are second-hand goods bad for your health?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2471, "answer_start": 2168, "text": "In Uganda, second-hand garments account for 81% of all clothing purchases, Andrew Brooks says in his book Clothing Poverty. According to UN figures from 2013, South Korea and Canada combined exported $59m worth of used clothes to Tanzania while the UK alone exported $42m worth of used clothes to Kenya." } ], "id": "9383_4", "question": "How common are second-hand clothes?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Scientists say they have made a leap in knowing why some people retain their youthful looks while others age badly. They found the first part of human DNA - the genetic code - that seems to affect how old people look to others. The mutations, reported in the journal Current Biology, were in the genetic instructions for protecting the body from UV radiation. But these can also lead to red hair, and experts caution the findings may be confused by eye, skin or hair colour. The study into \"perceived age\" was organised by the Erasmus University Medical Centre in the Netherlands and Unilever. Dr David Gunn, a senior scientist at the company, said perceived age was a phenomenon everyone was familiar with. He told the BBC News website: \"You meet two people you haven't seen for 10 years, and you happen to notice one doesn't look a day older than you remember and then the other person you think 'Wow what happened to them?'.\" Images of the make-up free \"naked-face\" of 2,693 people were independently assessed to see what age people thought they looked. This was compared with their true age. The next stage of the research was to scour the 2,693 people's DNA to find any differences or mutations that were more common in those who looked younger than they really were. All the evidence pointed to the MC1R gene - it is critical for making melanin, which affects skin pigmentation and protects against UV radiation from the Sun. But the gene comes in many different forms, or variants, many of which cause red hair - hence the nickname \"the ginger gene\". The study suggested some variants of the gene led to people looking, on average, two years younger than those with other forms of MC1R. Prof Manfred Kayser, from Erasmus, told the BBC News website: \"The exciting part is we actually found the gene, and that we did find the first means we will be able to find more. \"It is exciting because this is a well known phenomenon that so far cannot be explained - why do some people look so much younger?\" However, the researchers cannot explain why MC1R has such an effect - they tested ideas that the different variants might alter skin damage from the sun, but this did not appear to be the case. Does 'gingerism' really exist? What causes wrinkles and can you do anything about it? Prof Ian Jackson, from the UK Medical Research Council's Human Genetics Unit, said the study was interesting, but had not found the fountain of youth. He said: \"MC1R is the major gene involved in red hair and pale skin, and what they're trying to say is it's got an impact on making you look slightly younger that isn't to do with paler skin, but I'm not so sure.\" The researchers say they adjusted their data to account for different skin tones. But Prof Jackson said: \"The question is how well are they adjusting for that - what about hair colour and eye colour - my gut reaction is what they're looking at is an aspect of pigmentation. \"I would suspect people who have paler pigmentation would look younger and that might be paler skin or bluer eyes or blonde or red hair.\" More research is planned, but Dr Gunn hopes the findings will eventually lead to a product to make people look younger. \"This is the first genetic study ever of perceived age, ideally we'd want something to boost this gene for everybody,\" he said. However, it is far from clear whether it will be possible to lower someone's \"perceived age\". Also commenting on the study, Prof Tim Frayling, from the University of Exeter, said: \"This is an interesting finding that shows how genetics can influence the ageing process independently of developing disease. \"However, whilst interesting, the authors admit that they need to find more genetic variation to have any chance of predicting someone's appearance from DNA alone.\" Follow James on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3805, "answer_start": 929, "text": "Images of the make-up free \"naked-face\" of 2,693 people were independently assessed to see what age people thought they looked. This was compared with their true age. The next stage of the research was to scour the 2,693 people's DNA to find any differences or mutations that were more common in those who looked younger than they really were. All the evidence pointed to the MC1R gene - it is critical for making melanin, which affects skin pigmentation and protects against UV radiation from the Sun. But the gene comes in many different forms, or variants, many of which cause red hair - hence the nickname \"the ginger gene\". The study suggested some variants of the gene led to people looking, on average, two years younger than those with other forms of MC1R. Prof Manfred Kayser, from Erasmus, told the BBC News website: \"The exciting part is we actually found the gene, and that we did find the first means we will be able to find more. \"It is exciting because this is a well known phenomenon that so far cannot be explained - why do some people look so much younger?\" However, the researchers cannot explain why MC1R has such an effect - they tested ideas that the different variants might alter skin damage from the sun, but this did not appear to be the case. Does 'gingerism' really exist? What causes wrinkles and can you do anything about it? Prof Ian Jackson, from the UK Medical Research Council's Human Genetics Unit, said the study was interesting, but had not found the fountain of youth. He said: \"MC1R is the major gene involved in red hair and pale skin, and what they're trying to say is it's got an impact on making you look slightly younger that isn't to do with paler skin, but I'm not so sure.\" The researchers say they adjusted their data to account for different skin tones. But Prof Jackson said: \"The question is how well are they adjusting for that - what about hair colour and eye colour - my gut reaction is what they're looking at is an aspect of pigmentation. \"I would suspect people who have paler pigmentation would look younger and that might be paler skin or bluer eyes or blonde or red hair.\" More research is planned, but Dr Gunn hopes the findings will eventually lead to a product to make people look younger. \"This is the first genetic study ever of perceived age, ideally we'd want something to boost this gene for everybody,\" he said. However, it is far from clear whether it will be possible to lower someone's \"perceived age\". Also commenting on the study, Prof Tim Frayling, from the University of Exeter, said: \"This is an interesting finding that shows how genetics can influence the ageing process independently of developing disease. \"However, whilst interesting, the authors admit that they need to find more genetic variation to have any chance of predicting someone's appearance from DNA alone.\" Follow James on Twitter." } ], "id": "9384_0", "question": "How old?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Former US President Barack Obama has called on Americans to reject language from any of their leaders that feeds hatred or normalises racism. Mr Obama did not name anyone but his rare comments came after President Donald Trump sought to deflect criticism that his anti-immigrant rhetoric had fuelled violence. In a speech on Monday, Mr Trump condemned hatred and white supremacy. He was speaking after 31 people died in mass shootings in Texas and Ohio. While in office, Mr Obama fought unsuccessfully to restrict gun ownership. He told the BBC in 2015 that his failure to pass \"common sense gun safety laws\" had been the greatest frustration of his presidency. He has refrained from commenting on Mr Trump's controversial rhetoric regarding migrants but on Monday issued a statement. \"We should soundly reject language coming out of the mouths of any of our leaders that feeds a climate of fear and hatred or normalises racist sentiments; leaders who demonise those who don't look like us, or suggest that other people, including immigrants, threaten our way of life, or refer to other people as sub-human, or imply that America belongs to just one certain type of people,\" he said. \"It has no place in our politics and our public life. And it's time for the overwhelming majority of Americans of goodwill, of every race and faith and political party, to say as much - clearly and unequivocally.\" During his presidential campaign Mr Trump said Mexican immigrants included drug dealers, criminals and rapists. More recently, he caused widespread anger by suggesting that four US congresswomen of colour \"go back and help fix the totally broken and crime-infested places from which they came\". He denied his comments were racist. In a statement from the White House on Monday, Mr Trump called for mental health gun control reforms; the death penalty for those who commit mass murder and more bi-partisan co-operation over gun laws. \"Mental illness and hate pull the trigger, not the gun,\" Mr Trump said. He did not express support for gun control measures proposed in Congress. \"In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy,\" Mr Trump said. \"These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America.\" The president also outlined a number of policies, including more co-operation between government agencies and social media companies, changes to mental health laws as well as ending the \"glorification of violence\" in American culture. He called for red flag laws that would allow law enforcement authorities to take away weapons from individuals believed to be a threat to themselves or others. Mr Trump said government agencies must work together and identify individuals who may commit violent acts, prevent their access to firearms and also suggested involuntary confinement as a way to stop potential attackers. He also said he directed the justice department to propose legislation to ensure those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty. The president criticised the internet and \"gruesome\" video games for promoting violence in society. \"It is too easy today for troubled youth to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence,\" he said. \"We must stop or substantially reduce this and it has to begin immediately.\" But he did not address the criticisms of his own harsh rhetoric against illegal immigration, which opponents say has contributed to a rise in racially-motivated attacks. Mr Trump drew criticism after he incorrectly referred to the Ohio city of Dayton - where nine people were killed in one of two mass shootings that occurred just 13 hours apart - as Toledo. \"May God bless the memory of those who perished in Toledo, may God protect them. May God protect all of those from Texas to Ohio,\" he said before walking off stage. President Trump will visit El Paso on Wednesday. Saturday's shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, left 22 people dead and 24 wounded. The suspect was arrested and has been named as Patrick Crusius, a resident of the city of Allen, near Dallas. He is believed to be the author of a document posted online before the shooting which said the attack was \"a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas\". Then in the early hours of Sunday, a gunman killed his sister and eight others in Dayton, Ohio. Twenty-seven others were injured. The suspect, 24-year-old Connor Betts, was shot dead by police. Officials have not yet suggested a motive for the attack and police said on Monday it was unclear whether he had intended to kill his sister.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3876, "answer_start": 1729, "text": "In a statement from the White House on Monday, Mr Trump called for mental health gun control reforms; the death penalty for those who commit mass murder and more bi-partisan co-operation over gun laws. \"Mental illness and hate pull the trigger, not the gun,\" Mr Trump said. He did not express support for gun control measures proposed in Congress. \"In one voice, our nation must condemn racism, bigotry and white supremacy,\" Mr Trump said. \"These sinister ideologies must be defeated. Hate has no place in America.\" The president also outlined a number of policies, including more co-operation between government agencies and social media companies, changes to mental health laws as well as ending the \"glorification of violence\" in American culture. He called for red flag laws that would allow law enforcement authorities to take away weapons from individuals believed to be a threat to themselves or others. Mr Trump said government agencies must work together and identify individuals who may commit violent acts, prevent their access to firearms and also suggested involuntary confinement as a way to stop potential attackers. He also said he directed the justice department to propose legislation to ensure those who commit hate crimes and mass murders face the death penalty. The president criticised the internet and \"gruesome\" video games for promoting violence in society. \"It is too easy today for troubled youth to surround themselves with a culture that celebrates violence,\" he said. \"We must stop or substantially reduce this and it has to begin immediately.\" But he did not address the criticisms of his own harsh rhetoric against illegal immigration, which opponents say has contributed to a rise in racially-motivated attacks. Mr Trump drew criticism after he incorrectly referred to the Ohio city of Dayton - where nine people were killed in one of two mass shootings that occurred just 13 hours apart - as Toledo. \"May God bless the memory of those who perished in Toledo, may God protect them. May God protect all of those from Texas to Ohio,\" he said before walking off stage. President Trump will visit El Paso on Wednesday." } ], "id": "9385_0", "question": "What did President Trump say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4570, "answer_start": 3877, "text": "Saturday's shooting at a Walmart store in El Paso, Texas, left 22 people dead and 24 wounded. The suspect was arrested and has been named as Patrick Crusius, a resident of the city of Allen, near Dallas. He is believed to be the author of a document posted online before the shooting which said the attack was \"a response to the Hispanic invasion of Texas\". Then in the early hours of Sunday, a gunman killed his sister and eight others in Dayton, Ohio. Twenty-seven others were injured. The suspect, 24-year-old Connor Betts, was shot dead by police. Officials have not yet suggested a motive for the attack and police said on Monday it was unclear whether he had intended to kill his sister." } ], "id": "9385_1", "question": "What happened in Texas and Ohio?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Tensions continue to rise in the Middle East, after Israel launched missile attacks on Iranian targets in Syria, in response to rockets fired at its positions in the occupied Golan Heights on Wednesday night. There has been international condemnation of the rocket-firing, which Israel blamed on Iran, with the United States accusing Iran of trying to provoke a wider Middle East conflict. So what could happen next in the region, and why are the countries in conflict? The BBC's defence and diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus has answered some of your questions: There is little doubting Iran's fundamental antipathy towards Israel or its desire for the removal of the Jewish State. It has long supported radical groups opposed to Israel but now, because of its involvement in the war in Syria, it finds itself potentially on Israel's northern border. Syrian President Assad's victory is now Iran's regional opportunity. Iran's regional influence is growing. It is eager to establish itself as a military player in Syria. This - separately from its nuclear programme - is something that Israel sees as a fundamental threat. The nuclear dimension is now rearing its head again. Remember before the nuclear agreement with Iran - the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA - that Mr Trump just abandoned, Israel and Iran were potentially heading for conflict, with fears that Israel (and/or the US) would strike at Iran's nuclear facilities. While everyone is worried and urging caution, outside actors can only impact events in a limited fashion. Israel and Iran are on a strategic collision course. Russia - also a player in Syria - has largely turned a blind eye to Israel's use of Syrian air space. It does not see its own and Iran's regional interests as necessarily intertwined. The US has a diminishing diplomatic influence in the region and President Trump is likely to be a strong advocate of Israel's muscular stance. I don't know. It is certainly sending a very strong message to Tehran to think again. Iran sees Israel's actions in Syria as provocative. Israel is opposed to Iran's growing military role on its border. I'm not sure about active \"backing\". Britain is certainly unhappy about Iran's wider regional role and concerned about its nuclear ambitions. Unlike the US, it wants to stick with the nuclear deal. I think all major governments and international institutions will want to avoid a major regional conflagration between Israel and Iran. In the UK's first formal response to Wednesday night's attacks, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: \"The United Kingdom condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian rocket attacks against Israeli forces. We strongly support Israel's right to defend itself.\" And he urged Iran to \"refrain from further actions which will only lead to increased instability in the region.\" Israel's red lines up to now have been related to the transfer of advanced weaponry by Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. It has attacked arms convoys and weapons dumps. It is concerned about more accurate long-range missiles, sophisticated anti-ship and anti-armour weapons reaching the Shia militia. Now, though, things have moved on - Iranian forces are now establishing themselves in Syria - and by the scale and scope of its strikes on Wednesday night, Israel is saying that enough is enough. Effectively, these Iranian forces are a long way from home and should go back to Tehran! Israeli military spokesmen insist that all the 70 or so targets they hit on Wednesday night were core Iranian Revolutionary Guard installations - not pro-Iran militias or proxy forces. I would be surprised if there were any direct contacts at all. Others may act as intermediaries - Russia for example - but the \"message\" from Israel to Iran has clearly been delivered in a more direct way. In the days of the Shah, Israel was a close ally of Iran. Relations were broken off after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, though it is thought that for a period Israel continued to supply arms to Iran which was then waging a bitter struggle with Iraq. Ultimately, relations went into the freezer. Iranian rhetoric and policy is strongly anti-Israel. Iran has given strong military support, not only to its Shia allies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, but is widely thought to have helped sponsor terrorism against Israeli or Jewish targets abroad - something of course that Iran has always denied. Produced by Sherie Ryder, UGC and Social News team", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1130, "answer_start": 570, "text": "There is little doubting Iran's fundamental antipathy towards Israel or its desire for the removal of the Jewish State. It has long supported radical groups opposed to Israel but now, because of its involvement in the war in Syria, it finds itself potentially on Israel's northern border. Syrian President Assad's victory is now Iran's regional opportunity. Iran's regional influence is growing. It is eager to establish itself as a military player in Syria. This - separately from its nuclear programme - is something that Israel sees as a fundamental threat." } ], "id": "9386_0", "question": "Why is there conflict between Israel and Iran?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1448, "answer_start": 1131, "text": "The nuclear dimension is now rearing its head again. Remember before the nuclear agreement with Iran - the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA - that Mr Trump just abandoned, Israel and Iran were potentially heading for conflict, with fears that Israel (and/or the US) would strike at Iran's nuclear facilities." } ], "id": "9386_1", "question": "Will Israel strike Tehran if Iran gets closer to developing weapons of mass destruction?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1934, "answer_start": 1449, "text": "While everyone is worried and urging caution, outside actors can only impact events in a limited fashion. Israel and Iran are on a strategic collision course. Russia - also a player in Syria - has largely turned a blind eye to Israel's use of Syrian air space. It does not see its own and Iran's regional interests as necessarily intertwined. The US has a diminishing diplomatic influence in the region and President Trump is likely to be a strong advocate of Israel's muscular stance." } ], "id": "9386_2", "question": "What is the international community doing to prevent an escalation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2843, "answer_start": 2138, "text": "I'm not sure about active \"backing\". Britain is certainly unhappy about Iran's wider regional role and concerned about its nuclear ambitions. Unlike the US, it wants to stick with the nuclear deal. I think all major governments and international institutions will want to avoid a major regional conflagration between Israel and Iran. In the UK's first formal response to Wednesday night's attacks, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said: \"The United Kingdom condemns in the strongest terms the Iranian rocket attacks against Israeli forces. We strongly support Israel's right to defend itself.\" And he urged Iran to \"refrain from further actions which will only lead to increased instability in the region.\"" } ], "id": "9386_3", "question": "Who would the UK - not the UN or Nato - back in a conflict between Israel and Iran?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3610, "answer_start": 2844, "text": "Israel's red lines up to now have been related to the transfer of advanced weaponry by Iran to Hezbollah in Lebanon. It has attacked arms convoys and weapons dumps. It is concerned about more accurate long-range missiles, sophisticated anti-ship and anti-armour weapons reaching the Shia militia. Now, though, things have moved on - Iranian forces are now establishing themselves in Syria - and by the scale and scope of its strikes on Wednesday night, Israel is saying that enough is enough. Effectively, these Iranian forces are a long way from home and should go back to Tehran! Israeli military spokesmen insist that all the 70 or so targets they hit on Wednesday night were core Iranian Revolutionary Guard installations - not pro-Iran militias or proxy forces." } ], "id": "9386_4", "question": "What event on either side would characterise an \"escalation\"? Is there a defined red line for Israel and Iran, and if so, where?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4408, "answer_start": 3611, "text": "I would be surprised if there were any direct contacts at all. Others may act as intermediaries - Russia for example - but the \"message\" from Israel to Iran has clearly been delivered in a more direct way. In the days of the Shah, Israel was a close ally of Iran. Relations were broken off after the Islamic Revolution in 1979, though it is thought that for a period Israel continued to supply arms to Iran which was then waging a bitter struggle with Iraq. Ultimately, relations went into the freezer. Iranian rhetoric and policy is strongly anti-Israel. Iran has given strong military support, not only to its Shia allies like Hezbollah in Lebanon, but is widely thought to have helped sponsor terrorism against Israeli or Jewish targets abroad - something of course that Iran has always denied." } ], "id": "9386_5", "question": "Are there talks between Israel and Iran on any level?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Eleven of Scotland's 14 NHS health boards have been hit by a cyber-attack linked to IT attacks around the world. The only boards not to be affected are Lothian, Orkney and Shetland. The first minister chaired a meeting of the Scottish government's resilience committee on Friday evening to review the situation. A second meeting is planned for 07:00 on Saturday. Nicola Sturgeon said the government was taking immediate steps \"to minimise the impact on patients\". The health boards which have been affected are: - NHS Glasgow - NHS Lanakrshire - NHS Dumfries and Galloway - NHS Forth Valley - NHS Tayside - NHS Western Isles - NHS Borders - NHS Fife - NHS Ayrshire and Arran - NHS Grampian - NHS Highland The Scottish Ambulance Service has also been affected. The incidents are thought to be part of a wider attack affecting organisations around the world. The Scottish government said most incidents had been confined to desktop computers in GP surgeries, dental practices and other primary care centres. A spokesman said the only acute hospital sites so far affected had been in NHS Lanarkshire. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said there was \"no evidence\" that patient data had been compromised. She said: \"All necessary steps are being taken to ensure that the cause and nature of this attack is identified. \"Our priority is to ensure that boards get all the support required to identify the full extent of any problems, and return IT systems to normal as soon as possible, so there is as little impact on patient care as possible. \"I would like to thank all of the NHS staff who are continuing to work hard to ensure that the impact of this attack is kept to an absolute minimum. \"I have complete confidence that they will continue to provide the excellent care for which they are famous.\" Dr Emma Fardon, a GP in Dundee, told the BBC: \"It became very obvious at around 1pm. I came back from house visits to find all our computers hit by the virus. \"It was the red display asking for the money. We can't access any patient records. \"Everything is fully computerised. We have no idea what drugs people are on or the allergies they have. We can't access the appointments system. \"We've had to try and phone as many people to rearrange their appointments to next week. \"It's had a massively disruptive effect. We can't process any documents, can't issue prescriptions, or look up results. \"We're trying to accommodate who we can. We are still seeing people who really need it. \"We've had glitches in the past but I've never seen anything as bad as this. We've no idea how long it will last for.\" NHS Lanarkshire closed down its non-essential IT network and urged patients only to attend A&E in an emergency. The board said in a statement: \"NHS Lanarkshire, along with other boards across the UK, is currently experiencing ransomware attack to its IT network. \"IT specialists are working to resolve the matter as quickly as possible. \"As a precaution, NHS Lanarkshire is closing down its non-essential networked IT systems on a temporary basis. \"All our sites remain open, however, we are appealing to members of the public only to attend hospital for emergency treatment during this period.\" Frances Dodd, Nurse Director for Acute Services at NHS Lanarkshire tweeted a message calling for public support. She said: \"We are working very hard to resolve this situation as quickly as possible and return our systems to normal as quickly as possible. \"But we would urge the support of the public at this time to really help us in trying to mitigate and reduce the risk.\" She also told BBC Scotland that staff were unable to access patients' medical histories, so urged anyone going into North Lanarkshire's Wishaw, Monklands and Hairmyres hospitals this weekend to take all their medication with them. NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said four GP practices had experienced disruption to their IT systems but elsewhere it was unaffected. NHS Tayside said 10 GP practices in the region, which were not using an NHS Tayside IT system, were having problems. A spokeswoman said: \"No NHS Tayside systems or hospital sites have been affected by today's UK-wide cyber attack. There is no impact on NHS Tayside's emergency departments or out-of-hours service. \"However, we are aware that the IT systems at 10 GP practices across Tayside, which operate on a non-NHS Tayside system, have been affected. Our eHealth team is working with the GPs to resolve the issue as soon as possible.\" By Chris Baraniuk, BBC technology reporter Software that locks a computer and demands payment before allowing access again - ransomware - is one of the world's biggest growing cyber-threats. It certainly looks like that is what has hit the NHS in this case - and one IT firm says 11 of its NHS customers have been affected. Screenshots shared online purportedly from NHS staff, show a program demanding $300 (PS230) in Bitcoin that looks similar to ransomware known as WannaCryptor or WCry. There's no indication of who is behind the attack yet, nor do we know exactly how it infected NHS systems. But hospitals have been targeted with similar software before - it struck three US hospitals last year. NHS Borders said three community sites had been affected. A spokesman said: \"The networks have been isolated, software has been shut down and there is no immediate risk to patient care or confidentiality. \"All other NHS Borders services are currently operating as normal.\" A spokesman for NHS Dumfries and Galloway said: \"Three GP practices have been initially affected and we are taking precautionary measures to prevent any others being affected.\" He declined the name the practices involved and said the board was \"comfortable and confident\" with the steps taken but added \"we don't know what we're dealing with\". He added: \"We are monitoring the situation here as are all health boards in Scotland.\" NHS Fife said the attack had affected \"a small non-operational area\" of its system. A spokeswoman said: \"This area has been isolated and taken off the network. \"Staff continue to be able to access patient records and clinical systems are unaffected. It is important to note that out of hours services remain open and available as normal and patient care is unaffected. \"We have taken guidance from Scottish government on how to protect ourselves from any spread and we are also undertaking further preventative work.\" Western Isles health board reported some disruption, though the extent was not clear. NHS Forth Valley confirmed that some of its services had also been affected. In a statement the health board said: \"We can confirm that a small number of GP and dental practices in the Forth Valley area have experienced disruption to their it systems which may be linked to the wider IT issues affecting parts of NHS England. \"Steps have been taken to isolate their IT systems to minimise the risk of any virus spreading to other parts of the NHS. \"The practices affected remain open and have put in place contingency arrangements.\" An NHS Western Isles spokeswoman said: \"We can confirm that we have been affected but can't confirm to what extent at the moment. \"We do have systems in place to cover all emergencies.\" Meanwhile, ScottishPower said that it had taken measures to ensure its IT services were not affected. A spokesman said: \"Due to an issue at an external company, ScottishPower has taken precautionary steps to ensure that our IT systems are fully secure. We continue to monitor the situation.\" In England, GP surgeries and hospitals in London, Blackburn, Nottingham, Cumbria and Hertfordshire were among those whose computer systems were affected. Staff were unable to access patient data, which has been encrypted by ransomware that hit NHS networks. There was no evidence patient data had been compromised. Are you a staff or a patient in the NHS? Have you been affected by this? If you are willing to do so, share with 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 7555 173285 - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (international)", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5173, "answer_start": 4472, "text": "By Chris Baraniuk, BBC technology reporter Software that locks a computer and demands payment before allowing access again - ransomware - is one of the world's biggest growing cyber-threats. It certainly looks like that is what has hit the NHS in this case - and one IT firm says 11 of its NHS customers have been affected. Screenshots shared online purportedly from NHS staff, show a program demanding $300 (PS230) in Bitcoin that looks similar to ransomware known as WannaCryptor or WCry. There's no indication of who is behind the attack yet, nor do we know exactly how it infected NHS systems. But hospitals have been targeted with similar software before - it struck three US hospitals last year." } ], "id": "9387_0", "question": "Analysis - What is ransomware?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Trump Organization's finance boss, Allen Weisselberg, has reportedly been granted legal immunity in the probe into Michael Cohen. He was summoned to testify earlier this year in the investigation into Cohen, Donald Trump's longtime former lawyer, US media report. Cohen pleaded guilty on Tuesday to handling hush money for Mr Trump in violation of campaign finance laws. Mr Weisselberg, Chief Financial Officer, is the latest to get immunity. On Thursday, it emerged that David Pecker, head of the company that publishes the National Enquirer tabloid, was also given immunity. Mr Weisselberg is reportedly mentioned on a tape secretly recorded by Cohen in 2016 in which a hush money payment to an alleged lover of Mr Trump is discussed. It is not yet clear what Mr Weisselberg has agreed to in return for getting legal immunity. The Trump Organization has not commented on the reports, which first emerged in the Wall Street Journal. This is the latest twist in a saga continuing to dog the Trump administration. In a serious blow, Cohen, Mr Trump's personal lawyer for more than a decade, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to eight criminal charges, including tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. He said he had paid hush money to two women who alleged they had affairs with Mr Trump, at the direction of \"the candidate\" - a clear reference to Mr Trump. Cohen said the payment was made for the \"principal purpose of influencing [the 2016] election\". His plea deal with prosecutors could see his prison sentence reduced from 65 years to five years and three months. Mr Weisselberg was one of those called to give evidence before a federal grand jury for the Cohen investigation earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reports. Separately, the Manhattan district attorney has launched a preliminary investigation into whether the Trump Organization falsified business records relating to payments made to Cohen, a source confirmed to CBS news. By Anthony Zurcher, Senior North America Reporter Donald Trump's former personal lawyer has told a federal judge that the president knew about his illegal payments to women claiming illicit affairs with the then-candidate. The publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid, formerly a close ally of Mr Trump's, has reportedly received immunity to discuss his role in the payments. Now multiple US media outlets are reporting that Allen Weisselberg, chief financial officer of the Trump Organization and the only non-relative trusted by the president to run his business empire during his presidency, is co-operating with federal investigators. While much of the political world has been focused on Special Counsel Robert Mueller, the situation in New York for the president is increasingly threatening. Mr Weisselberg reportedly oversaw the reimbursements Mr Cohen received from the Trump Organization for paying adult film star Stormy Daniels. Depending on how the financial transfer was accounted for, it could run afoul of a number of campaign finance and accounting laws. What's more, Mr Weisselberg has been at the beating heart of the Trump Organization since the 1970s. He handles the president's private trust, is the treasurer of the family's charitable foundation - currently under investigation by the state of New York - and has, at times, reviewed the Trump presidential campaign's accounting books. He's the man who knows things - and now he's talking. It is the latest fallout from the wider inquiry launched by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017 into suspected collusion between the Trump election campaign and Russia. As part of that probe, Cohen's offices were raided and investigators looked into his finances. What they found was passed on to New York judicial authorities. Cohen's lawyer has said his client is \"more than happy\" to help the collusion inquiry. Mr Trump has repeatedly denied collusion with Russia, and Russia denies involvement in the 2016 election.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1961, "answer_start": 938, "text": "This is the latest twist in a saga continuing to dog the Trump administration. In a serious blow, Cohen, Mr Trump's personal lawyer for more than a decade, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to eight criminal charges, including tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. He said he had paid hush money to two women who alleged they had affairs with Mr Trump, at the direction of \"the candidate\" - a clear reference to Mr Trump. Cohen said the payment was made for the \"principal purpose of influencing [the 2016] election\". His plea deal with prosecutors could see his prison sentence reduced from 65 years to five years and three months. Mr Weisselberg was one of those called to give evidence before a federal grand jury for the Cohen investigation earlier this year, the Wall Street Journal reports. Separately, the Manhattan district attorney has launched a preliminary investigation into whether the Trump Organization falsified business records relating to payments made to Cohen, a source confirmed to CBS news." } ], "id": "9388_0", "question": "Where does this fit in?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3953, "answer_start": 3426, "text": "It is the latest fallout from the wider inquiry launched by Special Counsel Robert Mueller in May 2017 into suspected collusion between the Trump election campaign and Russia. As part of that probe, Cohen's offices were raided and investigators looked into his finances. What they found was passed on to New York judicial authorities. Cohen's lawyer has said his client is \"more than happy\" to help the collusion inquiry. Mr Trump has repeatedly denied collusion with Russia, and Russia denies involvement in the 2016 election." } ], "id": "9388_1", "question": "What's the origin of all this?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Radical preacher Anjem Choudary, jailed for inviting support for the Islamic State group, has been released. The cleric was sentenced in 2016 to five and a half years in prison. He led an extremist network linked to violent jihadists, including one of the killers of soldier Lee Rigby in 2013. Choudary, 51, has served less than half of his sentence and will complete the rest under strict supervision. Up to 25 measures to control him have been prepared, the BBC understands. His release from prison comes approximately four months early because of time spent bailed on an electronic tag before his conviction. Choudary, from Ilford in east London, once headed up the al-Muhajiroun network - a leading extremist group which was banned under terrorism laws. The father-of-five did not organise terror attacks, but is considered one of the UK's most prominent radicalisers. He has been described as a \"hardened dangerous terrorist\" and someone who has had a \"huge influence on Islamist extremism in this country\" by former Met Police terror chief Richard Walton. The BBC has learnt from counter-extremism sources that Anjem Choudary refused to take part in deradicalisation courses or exercises while serving the custodial part of his sentence. He spent most of his time at HMP Frankland, County Durham, where he became the first inmate to be held in a separation unit, designed for the most high-risk terrorism offenders who are capable of radicalising others. On a number of occasions, Choudary was offered opportunities to speak to mainstream religious leaders and other experts who have successfully turned around the mindset of other extremists. But on each of those occasions, Choudary refused. Nevertheless, the prison authorities were not able to delay his release. His departure from Belmarsh prison came automatically under legislation that allows prisoners to serve the second part of their sentence \"on licence\" in the community. This means he will not be free but must comply with a list of conditions. If he breaches them, he risks being recalled to prison. Police will be closely monitoring Choudary - through probation officers and a requirement that he report to officials. Choudary is staying at a bail hostel in north London. He will be in a probation hostel for six months, the BBC understands. The conditions he must obey include: - A ban from preaching at or attending certain mosques - He will only be allowed to associate with people who have been approved by the authorities - He will be allowed one phone and is banned from using an internet-enabled device without permission - Use of the internet will be supervised - He cannot travel outside Greater London's M25 - He will not be able to leave the UK without permission. Earlier this week, it was announced Choudary had his assets frozen and was listed on a global record of known terrorists overseen by the United Nations Security Council. The asset-freezing order means he will be under extremely strict financial controls which typically mean the authorities will be alerted if he tries to open a bank account or move money. Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday that authorities including the police, prison and probation service had \"significant experience in dealing with such offenders\". But John Woodcock, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, tweeted that his release was \"wrong\", \"crazy\" and \"puts the public in danger\". Calling on Home Secretary Sajid Javid to take a tougher counter-terror approach, using Australian law as an example, Mr Woodcock added: \"He needs to act fast to protect the public from terrorists being released back onto British streets.\" Sir Mark Rowley, the former UK head of counter-terror policing, said it is important \"not to overstate his [Choudary's] significance\". \"At the end of the day he's a pathetic groomer of others, that's what he has done in the past,\" said Mr Rowley. \"He's not some sort of evil genius we all need to be afraid of.\" By BBC home affairs correspondent, Dominic Casciani When Choudary was charged in 2015 with inviting support for IS, it was a moment of great success for counter-terrorism chiefs - and they were already trying to build cases against other associates. Some, including close confidantes, were jailed. At least four others, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were subject to a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measure (TPim), a form of control that places two years of restrictions on the movements and activities of terrorism suspects who have not been charged with a crime. Detectives also looked for evidence of standard crimes - such as fraud - as a means to further \"disrupt\" the network. The insider view is that this work has been generally successful because it made the targets aware they could no longer act with impunity. In theory, it created space for the security service MI5 and their police detective colleagues to focus on more urgent threats. Read more", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1061, "answer_start": 612, "text": "Choudary, from Ilford in east London, once headed up the al-Muhajiroun network - a leading extremist group which was banned under terrorism laws. The father-of-five did not organise terror attacks, but is considered one of the UK's most prominent radicalisers. He has been described as a \"hardened dangerous terrorist\" and someone who has had a \"huge influence on Islamist extremism in this country\" by former Met Police terror chief Richard Walton." } ], "id": "9389_0", "question": "Who is Anjem Choudary?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1772, "answer_start": 1062, "text": "The BBC has learnt from counter-extremism sources that Anjem Choudary refused to take part in deradicalisation courses or exercises while serving the custodial part of his sentence. He spent most of his time at HMP Frankland, County Durham, where he became the first inmate to be held in a separation unit, designed for the most high-risk terrorism offenders who are capable of radicalising others. On a number of occasions, Choudary was offered opportunities to speak to mainstream religious leaders and other experts who have successfully turned around the mindset of other extremists. But on each of those occasions, Choudary refused. Nevertheless, the prison authorities were not able to delay his release." } ], "id": "9389_1", "question": "What happened while he was in prison?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2070, "answer_start": 1773, "text": "His departure from Belmarsh prison came automatically under legislation that allows prisoners to serve the second part of their sentence \"on licence\" in the community. This means he will not be free but must comply with a list of conditions. If he breaches them, he risks being recalled to prison." } ], "id": "9389_2", "question": "Why is he being released now?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3973, "answer_start": 2071, "text": "Police will be closely monitoring Choudary - through probation officers and a requirement that he report to officials. Choudary is staying at a bail hostel in north London. He will be in a probation hostel for six months, the BBC understands. The conditions he must obey include: - A ban from preaching at or attending certain mosques - He will only be allowed to associate with people who have been approved by the authorities - He will be allowed one phone and is banned from using an internet-enabled device without permission - Use of the internet will be supervised - He cannot travel outside Greater London's M25 - He will not be able to leave the UK without permission. Earlier this week, it was announced Choudary had his assets frozen and was listed on a global record of known terrorists overseen by the United Nations Security Council. The asset-freezing order means he will be under extremely strict financial controls which typically mean the authorities will be alerted if he tries to open a bank account or move money. Prime Minister Theresa May said on Thursday that authorities including the police, prison and probation service had \"significant experience in dealing with such offenders\". But John Woodcock, a member of the Home Affairs Select Committee, tweeted that his release was \"wrong\", \"crazy\" and \"puts the public in danger\". Calling on Home Secretary Sajid Javid to take a tougher counter-terror approach, using Australian law as an example, Mr Woodcock added: \"He needs to act fast to protect the public from terrorists being released back onto British streets.\" Sir Mark Rowley, the former UK head of counter-terror policing, said it is important \"not to overstate his [Choudary's] significance\". \"At the end of the day he's a pathetic groomer of others, that's what he has done in the past,\" said Mr Rowley. \"He's not some sort of evil genius we all need to be afraid of.\"" } ], "id": "9389_3", "question": "How will he be monitored?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been released from prison, two months after he began a 10-year jail sentence for corruption. The release came hours after a court suspended the sentences of Sharif and his daughter Maryam, who were jailed shortly before July's general election. Sharif's Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lost to Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) later that month. The decision came during the Sharifs' appeal. They have denied wrongdoing. The car carrying Sharif, his daughter and son-in-law Safdar Awan was showered with rose petals by supporters as their convoy left Adiala jail. The three then flew to Lahore, where they were met by more jubilant supporters. Their release comes just a week after Sharif's wife, Kulsoom Nawaz, died from cancer in London. They were briefly allowed out of prison in Rawalpindi to attend her funeral in Lahore before being imprisoned again. Sharif was sentenced in July after being found guilty of corrupt practices related to the ownership of four luxury properties in central London linked to his family. He says the charges are politically motivated. The three-time prime minister was ousted from power a year earlier by Pakistan's Supreme Court, after his children were linked to offshore companies in the Panama Papers leaks of 2015. His daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, received seven years for abetting a crime and one year for not co-operating - sentences which were due to run concurrently - while son-in-law Safdar Awan was given a one-year sentence for not co-operating. The convictions also barred them from seeking public office for up to 10 years after release. All three had the jail sentences imposed by the lower court on 6 July suspended by Islamabad's high court, as part of an appeals hearing. \"The prosecution has failed to show the properties belong to Nawaz Sharif. It also failed to prove how was Maryam Nawaz sentenced under the same charge sheet which convicted Nawaz Sharif,\" Justice Athar Minallah told the court. Their convictions remain under appeal within the top court, but a date for a hearing has yet to be fixed. The anti-graft body that launched the case, the National Accountability Bureau, can still appeal to the Supreme Court against the latest ruling. The trio were released on bail of $4,000 (PS3,000) each on Wednesday evening. By M Ilyas Khan, BBC News, Islamabad The suspension of Nawaz Sharif's conviction is likely to boost the morale of his followers. But with elections over and a new government in place, there is no likelihood of Sharif's PML-N party gaining any political advantage in the short run. The ruling may however entail a legal advantage to the Sharif family. His trial was seen by many as an unfair one, and the conviction was widely seen as based on assumptions rather than solid evidence. This is seen as the reason why his sentence has been suspended, and is likely to determine the final outcome of his appeal. Many say Sharif's conviction in July came under pressure from the ruling establishment which wanted to deprive him of a possible fourth term in power. With the elections over and a new government in place, they say, the courts are under no such pressure any more. But others feel that as a free man, Nawaz Sharif could still cause discomfort in the system, having emerged as a powerful voice against the political role of Pakistan's military. The case against Nawaz Sharif has divided opinion in Pakistan. Supporters of Sharif cheered outside the court when it gave its order to release him, while Maryam Aurangzeb, who served as deputy minister of information under Sharif, was filmed wiping her eyes. The leader of Sharif's PML-N party said the ruling was \"a victory for justice\", according to Pakistan's Express Tribune. But a senator from Prime Minister Khan's PTI party, Faisal Javad, told a local TV channel: \"It is only a suspension. But they are guilty all the same. Their destination remains Adiala Jail.\" Sharif had been serving as prime minister for a record third time when he stepped down last year. He also held the office from November 1990 to July 1993 and from February 1997 until he was toppled in a bloodless coup in October 1999.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1654, "answer_start": 922, "text": "Sharif was sentenced in July after being found guilty of corrupt practices related to the ownership of four luxury properties in central London linked to his family. He says the charges are politically motivated. The three-time prime minister was ousted from power a year earlier by Pakistan's Supreme Court, after his children were linked to offshore companies in the Panama Papers leaks of 2015. His daughter, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, received seven years for abetting a crime and one year for not co-operating - sentences which were due to run concurrently - while son-in-law Safdar Awan was given a one-year sentence for not co-operating. The convictions also barred them from seeking public office for up to 10 years after release." } ], "id": "9390_0", "question": "What was the case about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2349, "answer_start": 1655, "text": "All three had the jail sentences imposed by the lower court on 6 July suspended by Islamabad's high court, as part of an appeals hearing. \"The prosecution has failed to show the properties belong to Nawaz Sharif. It also failed to prove how was Maryam Nawaz sentenced under the same charge sheet which convicted Nawaz Sharif,\" Justice Athar Minallah told the court. Their convictions remain under appeal within the top court, but a date for a hearing has yet to be fixed. The anti-graft body that launched the case, the National Accountability Bureau, can still appeal to the Supreme Court against the latest ruling. The trio were released on bail of $4,000 (PS3,000) each on Wednesday evening." } ], "id": "9390_1", "question": "What changed on Wednesday?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3399, "answer_start": 2350, "text": "By M Ilyas Khan, BBC News, Islamabad The suspension of Nawaz Sharif's conviction is likely to boost the morale of his followers. But with elections over and a new government in place, there is no likelihood of Sharif's PML-N party gaining any political advantage in the short run. The ruling may however entail a legal advantage to the Sharif family. His trial was seen by many as an unfair one, and the conviction was widely seen as based on assumptions rather than solid evidence. This is seen as the reason why his sentence has been suspended, and is likely to determine the final outcome of his appeal. Many say Sharif's conviction in July came under pressure from the ruling establishment which wanted to deprive him of a possible fourth term in power. With the elections over and a new government in place, they say, the courts are under no such pressure any more. But others feel that as a free man, Nawaz Sharif could still cause discomfort in the system, having emerged as a powerful voice against the political role of Pakistan's military." } ], "id": "9390_2", "question": "What now for Sharif?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4206, "answer_start": 3400, "text": "The case against Nawaz Sharif has divided opinion in Pakistan. Supporters of Sharif cheered outside the court when it gave its order to release him, while Maryam Aurangzeb, who served as deputy minister of information under Sharif, was filmed wiping her eyes. The leader of Sharif's PML-N party said the ruling was \"a victory for justice\", according to Pakistan's Express Tribune. But a senator from Prime Minister Khan's PTI party, Faisal Javad, told a local TV channel: \"It is only a suspension. But they are guilty all the same. Their destination remains Adiala Jail.\" Sharif had been serving as prime minister for a record third time when he stepped down last year. He also held the office from November 1990 to July 1993 and from February 1997 until he was toppled in a bloodless coup in October 1999." } ], "id": "9390_3", "question": "What has the reaction been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Social media giant Facebook and its subsidiaries Instagram and WhatsApp have been the subject of most data investigations in the Republic of Ireland since the European Union's new data protection regulation came into force a year ago. Most of the major US tech companies, including Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Twitter, Apple, LinkedIn, Airbnb and Dropbox, are registered for processing personal data in Ireland. Ireland's Data Protection Commission says it has launched 19 statutory investigations, 11 of which focus on Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram. Twitter and LinkedIn are also under investigation, and last week the commission launched a probe in to Google over the way it uses personal data to provide targeted advertising. This follows on from Google's EUR50m ($56m; PS44m) fine imposed by French data regulator CNIL for \"lack of transparency, inadequate information and lack of valid consent regarding ads personalisation\". Google is appealing against the decision. So the responsibility for policing their compliance with the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) - which started in May 2018 - falls on the country's Data Protection Commission (DPC). Nine of the DPC's investigations were launched after complaints from individuals or businesses, while 10 have been instigated by the DPC itself. The most common concerns are about the legal basis for processing personal data, lack of transparency about how a company collects personal data, and people's right to access their data. \"There has been a huge increase in awareness among individuals about their data rights since GDPR came in,\" says Graham Doyle, the DPC's head of communications. This has led to a steep rise in complaints, with the number increasing from 2,500 in 2017 to more than 6,500 now, says Mr Doyle. An office of 27 staff has had to be beefed up to more than 130. Mr Doyle expects the number to rise eventually to more than 200 over the next year or so. A Facebook spokesperson said: \"We spent more than 18 months working to ensure we comply with the GDPR. \"We made our policies clearer, our privacy settings easier to find and introduced better tools for people to access, download, and delete their information. We are in close contact with the Irish Data Protection Office to ensure we are answering any questions they may have.\" The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect in May 2018 and gives EU citizens more rights over how their personal data is collected, used and stored. We have the right to demand a copy of our personal data from companies, and they have to comply within a month. That data must be easy to understand and should also be presented in a machine-readable format, so that a customer could transfer all their data to a competitor. We can ask for any incorrect data to be corrected or for the whole lot to be deleted if we want. And companies have a responsibility to keep our data safe. If any is stolen or unwittingly shared with unauthorised organisations - and this could pose a risk to people's rights and freedoms - companies have to inform the national data regulator within 72 hours. \"Big tech is well and truly in the spotlight at the moment following the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal and other well-publicised data breaches,\" says Anthony Lee, data privacy expert and partner at law firm DMH Stallard. \"A lot of these big tech companies are consumer facing so handle a lot of personal data, but come from the US which doesn't have as strong privacy laws as Europe,\" he adds. \"If they weren't well attuned to the requirements that GDPR imposes, they certainly are now.\" According to the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), fines levied for GDPR breaches now top EUR56m. Fines can be as high as EUR20m or 4% of annual turnover. \"In the first year, we've seen tens of thousands of complaints and data breaches,\" says Omer Tene, the IAPP's vice president and chief knowledge officer. \"But we've yet to see much evidence that the GDPR has led to an improvement in organisations' data practices.\" IAPP estimates that organisations have appointed more than 500,000 data protection officers with specific responsibility for handling GDPR-related issues. But it thinks many companies still need to do much more to bring themselves fully into compliance. And Ann Bevitt, partner at law firm Cooley, believes that while some companies have instigated a \"wholesale change in their culture around privacy and data protection\", many others have simply engaged in \"a box-ticking exercise with little to no embedded change in practice\". A year after GDPR came in to force, she warns that \"to some extent, the impact has yet to be felt, in that we haven't yet seen significant enforcement activity, both in terms of volume and amount\". This is likely to change over the next year as the number of completed investigations - and potential fines - rises. More Technology of Business There is a time lag because investigations can take many months. All parties need to be consulted before the data protection authority can reach a conclusion. Then the decision has to be circulated to all the other EU data protection authorities for approval. And the company under investigation has the right to appeal against the final decision. Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner, Helen Dixon, is expected to circulate her decisions on some cases by July or August, with final rulings made by the end of the year, Mr Doyle predicts. Big tech firms may be feeling the heat for some time to come. - Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter and Facebook", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3124, "answer_start": 2327, "text": "The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) took effect in May 2018 and gives EU citizens more rights over how their personal data is collected, used and stored. We have the right to demand a copy of our personal data from companies, and they have to comply within a month. That data must be easy to understand and should also be presented in a machine-readable format, so that a customer could transfer all their data to a competitor. We can ask for any incorrect data to be corrected or for the whole lot to be deleted if we want. And companies have a responsibility to keep our data safe. If any is stolen or unwittingly shared with unauthorised organisations - and this could pose a risk to people's rights and freedoms - companies have to inform the national data regulator within 72 hours." } ], "id": "9391_0", "question": "What is GDPR?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Asian banks are taking a hard look at the political and economic uncertainty in the UK - and some of them don't like what they see. Singapore's UOB has taken urgent action: it is temporarily suspending its loans programme for London properties as a result of what it called uncertainties post the UK referendum. It is the first of the big three Singapore banks to do this. UOB had other options - it could have raised borrowing rates on the loans, or ask for bigger deposits - or even decided to review the loans rather than suspend them all together. But it's a sign of just how concerned some Asian banks may be about the current situation in the UK. Meanwhile DBS, Singapore's and South East Asia's largest lender, and OCBC have decided to stay in the game for now. They say they're monitoring the situation closely - telling their customers to be aware of the foreign exchange and government policy risks. Read this as these banks telling Singapore borrowers - hold your horses chaps, you may be in for a bumpy ride. Market sources tell me that UOB has the highest exposure amongst the big three banks in Singapore to London property loans. UOB doesn't disclose how much it lends out for the London portfolio but it also offers international loans for Australia and Thailand. In 2015, Singapore was the top investor amongst Asian investors in UK, US and Australian commercial property, according to consultancy Knight Frank. Residential data is much harder to determine, according to the consultancy, but certainly since 2009 Singaporean investors have been significant buyers in many overseas markets, including London residential projects. Meanwhile, banking analysts say it's not surprising that some Asian banks are looking to reduce their exposure to the UK. \"From a banking perspective, this [the possibility of Brexit] is just the tip of the iceberg,\" Sam Ahmed, Managing Director of Deriv Asia told me. \"And banks will look to protect themselves from unintended consequences and adopt a more conservative approach by limiting their exposure for UK based assets.\" That's despite the depreciation in the pound, which is trading at around $1.34 - a fall of about 10% from pre-UK referendum highs which is likely to make it more appealing for Asian investors wanting to buy properties in London - many of whom are likely to apply for loans from British banks instead. That may be just as well - because as Mr Ahmed tells me, \"it may be very difficult to approach an Asian bank to get financing for a UK asset in the current environment\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2545, "answer_start": 1021, "text": "Market sources tell me that UOB has the highest exposure amongst the big three banks in Singapore to London property loans. UOB doesn't disclose how much it lends out for the London portfolio but it also offers international loans for Australia and Thailand. In 2015, Singapore was the top investor amongst Asian investors in UK, US and Australian commercial property, according to consultancy Knight Frank. Residential data is much harder to determine, according to the consultancy, but certainly since 2009 Singaporean investors have been significant buyers in many overseas markets, including London residential projects. Meanwhile, banking analysts say it's not surprising that some Asian banks are looking to reduce their exposure to the UK. \"From a banking perspective, this [the possibility of Brexit] is just the tip of the iceberg,\" Sam Ahmed, Managing Director of Deriv Asia told me. \"And banks will look to protect themselves from unintended consequences and adopt a more conservative approach by limiting their exposure for UK based assets.\" That's despite the depreciation in the pound, which is trading at around $1.34 - a fall of about 10% from pre-UK referendum highs which is likely to make it more appealing for Asian investors wanting to buy properties in London - many of whom are likely to apply for loans from British banks instead. That may be just as well - because as Mr Ahmed tells me, \"it may be very difficult to approach an Asian bank to get financing for a UK asset in the current environment\"." } ], "id": "9392_0", "question": "'Tip of the iceberg'?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US and Canada have reached a new trade deal, along with Mexico, to replace the current North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) gives the US greater access to Canada's dairy market and allows extra imports of Canadian cars. The deal has 34 chapters and governs more than $1tn (PS767bn) in trade. US President Donald Trump, who has long sought to change Nafta, said the new deal was \"wonderful\". Until recently it looked as if Canada could be excluded from a final trade agreement to replace Nafta which has been in place since 1994. The new USMCA is intended to last 16 years and be reviewed every six years. Following the agreement, Mr Trump tweeted that USMCA was a \"great deal\" for all three countries and solves the \"deficiencies and mistakes\" in Nafta. The US has been fighting trade wars on several fronts this year, including placing tariffs on steel and aluminium imports from Mexico and Canada, as part of President Trump's America First policy. Tariffs on cars are also threatened. The hundreds of pages of the agreement were released in the early hours of Monday and contain updated arrangements for Canada's dairy industry and measures aimed at shifting lower-paid car jobs from Mexico. - On dairy, US farmers will have access to 3.5% of Canada's $16bn-a-year dairy market. - On cars, Canada and Mexico have a quota of 2.6 million cars they can export to the US as a protection for their car industry if the US imposes a 25% global tariff on car imports - In addition, 40% of car parts of vehicles produced in the USMCA area must be made in areas of North America, paying wages of $16 an hour - On the lumber (or wood) industry, Canada secured protection from US anti-dumping tariffs through the preservation of a dispute-settlement mechanism. The US made a deal with Mexico in August, but relations with Canada over the trade pact had become increasingly strained in recent weeks. The Trump administration set Sunday as a deadline for Canada to strike a deal. A protectionist policy under the Mr Trump has seen the US forge ahead with individual trade deals, rejecting bigger multi-lateral trade agreements and posing a challenge to decades of global free trade. As part of this policy Mr Trump has also launched a trade war against China, which has already hurt companies and could curb global economic growth. Andrew Walker, BBC Economics Correspondent Is this a win for President Trump? He certainly has got Canada and Mexico to agree some important things he wanted. It will be harder, or at least more expensive, for car makers to use parts from outside North America, notably from China. American dairy farmers are getting better access to the highly protected Canadian market. There may well be some political benefit for him in the forthcoming Congressional elections. But he has another wider objective - to reduce the imbalance in US international trade, with individual trade partners and globally. The US imports more than it exports and President Trump wants to change that. Judging whether he has won in that sense will need more time. However, many economists don't think trade balances are primarily the outcome of trade policy - instead they reflect government borrowing, private investment and savings decisions and international capital movements. The Canadian dollar jumped to a five-month high and the Mexican peso rose to its highest level for seven weeks on news of the deal. Meredith Crowley, international trade economist at the University of Cambridge, said the agreement on dairy looked to be a \"cosmetic concession\" so in one way Canada had done well out of the pact. She said the insertion of a minimum wage level for car parts workers could lead to similar clauses in other trade deals. \"If it turns out to be very politically popular in the US it could [be used again],\" she said, Canadian dairy farmers were critical. \"We fail to see how this deal can be good for the 220,000 Canadian families that depend on dairy for their livelihood,\" said Pierre Lampron, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada. However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: \"It's a good day for Canada\". Mexico's Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said it was a good deal for his country and North America. The aim is for the agreement to be signed before Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto leaves office on 1 December.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2382, "answer_start": 1814, "text": "The US made a deal with Mexico in August, but relations with Canada over the trade pact had become increasingly strained in recent weeks. The Trump administration set Sunday as a deadline for Canada to strike a deal. A protectionist policy under the Mr Trump has seen the US forge ahead with individual trade deals, rejecting bigger multi-lateral trade agreements and posing a challenge to decades of global free trade. As part of this policy Mr Trump has also launched a trade war against China, which has already hurt companies and could curb global economic growth." } ], "id": "9393_0", "question": "How was the deal reached?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3337, "answer_start": 2383, "text": "Andrew Walker, BBC Economics Correspondent Is this a win for President Trump? He certainly has got Canada and Mexico to agree some important things he wanted. It will be harder, or at least more expensive, for car makers to use parts from outside North America, notably from China. American dairy farmers are getting better access to the highly protected Canadian market. There may well be some political benefit for him in the forthcoming Congressional elections. But he has another wider objective - to reduce the imbalance in US international trade, with individual trade partners and globally. The US imports more than it exports and President Trump wants to change that. Judging whether he has won in that sense will need more time. However, many economists don't think trade balances are primarily the outcome of trade policy - instead they reflect government borrowing, private investment and savings decisions and international capital movements." } ], "id": "9393_1", "question": "A win for Trump?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4400, "answer_start": 3338, "text": "The Canadian dollar jumped to a five-month high and the Mexican peso rose to its highest level for seven weeks on news of the deal. Meredith Crowley, international trade economist at the University of Cambridge, said the agreement on dairy looked to be a \"cosmetic concession\" so in one way Canada had done well out of the pact. She said the insertion of a minimum wage level for car parts workers could lead to similar clauses in other trade deals. \"If it turns out to be very politically popular in the US it could [be used again],\" she said, Canadian dairy farmers were critical. \"We fail to see how this deal can be good for the 220,000 Canadian families that depend on dairy for their livelihood,\" said Pierre Lampron, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada. However, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said: \"It's a good day for Canada\". Mexico's Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said it was a good deal for his country and North America. The aim is for the agreement to be signed before Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto leaves office on 1 December." } ], "id": "9393_2", "question": "What has been the reaction?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Corporate giants such as Estee Lauder, L'Oreal and Coty have dominated the fragrance market, but could that be about to change? \"Everything smells the same - people are getting bored of the big brands and want something different,\" says Nick Steward, the London-based founder of a new fragrance brand, Gallivant. He is convinced that there is a growing appetite for \"something more personal that other people don't have\". Mr Steward decided to start his own company after several years as creative director of the trendy Paris house L'Artisan Parfumeur. \"I wanted to do something clever and interesting, avoiding all the froth, focused on the best materials,\" he says. He now sells his fragrances online and via specialist retailers in the US, Italy, Germany and as far away as Australia. The Gallivant range of unisex fragrances are inspired by and named after cities such as Tel Aviv and London. They are packaged in air-travel-friendly 30ml bottles - smaller than the standard industry sizes. Mr Steward says that also makes them more affordable, reflecting consumers' desire to have a variety of fragrances to choose from. Reception from both consumers and retailers has been positive since the launch earlier this year, but he admits the road to profitability will be a challenge: \"It's a really tough business to make money in.\" He is seeking a slice of the fragrance market - worth about $27bn (PS20bn; EUR22bn) a year globally - but it is dominated by corporate giants such as Estee Lauder, L'Oreal and Coty. These firms spend tens of millions of dollars a year in a bid to make their fragrances seem impossibly alluring to consumers, using celebrities such as Kristen Stewart, star of the latest Chanel campaign, or Charlize Theron, who features in ads for Dior J'Adore. Seeing glamorous ads on TV, in the cinema or in magazines means consumers are more likely to try, if not buy, one of the hundreds of perfumes on the market. Despite the daunting competition, Michael Edwards, publisher of global perfume database Fragrances of the World, says some consumers are favouring niche and artisan fragrance brands like Gallivant because they offer something special that none of their friends will have. He believes that innovation in the sector is coming from smaller brands because the big players are afraid of taking risks. The big brands want a new launch to appeal to as wide a range of consumers as possible, meaning they often produce something \"bland\", he says. \"The future lies in bespoke - younger people want something of their own. While marketing is crucial, word of mouth is even more crucial,\" says Mr Edwards. The fact that some of the bigger names in the industry are struggling suggests he may be right. Even Coty - the New York beauty brand behind famous names such as Calvin Klein, Marc Jacobs, Gucci, Hugo Boss and Chloe - has faced headwinds this year. In August, it reported a surprise quarterly loss that was partly blamed on \"materially\" higher marketing costs for the launch of new fragrances, including Gucci Bloom and Hugo Boss Tonic. L'Oreal, which sells fragrances under brands including Yves Saint Laurent, Ralph Lauren and Diesel, also reported disappointing sales and profits for its most recent quarter. But Roshida Khanom, an analyst at market research firm Mintel, says the industry giants are not taking the threat from upstart rivals lying down. Chanel, one of the world's most well known perfume makers, has revamped its range, launching No5 L'Eau in time for the Christmas rush last year. The new version of Chanel's classic fragrance - aimed squarely at younger generations - helped boost sales of the No5 range by a fifth. At the same time, the French company also launched its first new fragrance in 15 years last month, Gabrielle, with a big-budget ad campaign. The experience of wearing the fragrance - not the bottle or the packaging - is still the most important thing for consumers, says Michael Edwards, publisher of global perfume database, Fragrances of the World. Most people want a scent that is \"pretty easy to like\", he says. A fragrance has to entice at first sniff with a compelling \"top note\", and convince the buyer that it will linger sufficiently long on his or her skin. Above all else, he says: \"It must make the wearer feel special.\" Retailers will be hoping that the launch will help return the fragrance sector to modest growth in the UK after two years of what Ms Khanom calls \"disappointing sales\". Mintel estimates UK sales will be worth about PS1.5bn this year, making it the fifth-biggest market globally behind Brazil, the US, Russia and France. As with other retail sectors, she says one of the problems is savvy consumers who try out products in a physical store but then go online to buy it for less. Manufacturers are spending more on the bottle and packaging, as well as marketing, in a bid to get consumers to buy their fragrances. But the power of another popular trick - releasing a fragrance emblazoned with the name of a celebrity, such as Britney Spears, Beyonce or Jennifer Lopez - appears to be waning. Mintel says that a third of consumers describe this approach as tacky. \"Celebrity fragrances are just not aspirational in the way they used to be,\" says Ms Khanom. Of course, for Gallivant's Mr Steward this is good news. But while some Gallivant buyers want it to remain a tiny brand only they know about for \"bragging rights\", Mr Steward says that is not sustainable. \"I can't live just selling five bottles a year.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4303, "answer_start": 3812, "text": "The experience of wearing the fragrance - not the bottle or the packaging - is still the most important thing for consumers, says Michael Edwards, publisher of global perfume database, Fragrances of the World. Most people want a scent that is \"pretty easy to like\", he says. A fragrance has to entice at first sniff with a compelling \"top note\", and convince the buyer that it will linger sufficiently long on his or her skin. Above all else, he says: \"It must make the wearer feel special.\"" } ], "id": "9394_0", "question": "What do people want from a perfume?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Bank of England expects growth this year to be the slowest since 2009 when the economy was in recession. It is forecasting growth of 1.2% this year, down from its previous forecast of 1.7% made in November. The Bank said it had seen further evidence that businesses were being cautious in the run-up to Brexit, including evidence from its own survey of firms. As expected the Bank kept interest rates on hold at 0.75%. The Bank put the fall in growth down to a decline in business investment and housebuilding, as well as a halving of the growth rate in exports. The UK was also being hit by slower-than-expected growth in the eurozone and China, the Bank said in its Quarterly Inflation Report. \"Growth appears to have slowed at the end of 2018 and is expected to remain subdued in the near term,\" it said. The Bank even sees a one-in-four chance of the economy slipping into recession in the second half of this year. There has been an \"intensification\" of Brexit uncertainties, the Bank said. Its survey of 208 firms showed that half had started putting plans in place for a no-deal Brexit. The survey also showed that a fifth had taken on extra warehouse space It also noted a sharp fall in business investment at the end of last year. \"Uncertainty appears to have risen recently, and may have weighed on investment by more than had been expected in August,\" the Bank said. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said: \"The fog of Brexit is causing short term volatility in the economic data, and more fundamentally, it is creating a series of tensions in the economy, tensions for business.\" Interest rates remain at 0.75%, where they have been since the Bank of England last raised in interest rates in August. Many economists think that once the uncertainty over Brexit is lifted then the economy will accelerate and the Bank will have to raise interest rates to stop it overheating. However, recent economic data has indicated weakness in the UK economy. Growth in the service sector, the biggest part of the economy, appeared to have stalled in January, according to closely-watched survey of purchasing managers. Samuel Tombs, an economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, predicts that the Bank will raise rates once this year and twice in 2020. Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said: \"We still think that a decent rebound in GDP growth, should a Brexit deal be reached, will result in interest rates rising further than the Bank and the financial markets assume.\" Moves in interest rates are important to the 3.5 million people with variable or tracker mortgages. Even a small rise of 0.25% can add hundreds of pounds to their annual mortgage costs. \"It's a very good time for people looking to borrow,\" said Andrew Montlake, a director at Coreco, a mortgage broker. He said there had been a lot of competition among lenders in January, with some very good deals for five-year fixed mortgage deals. Some lenders are offering five-year fixed deals at below 2%, he said. Concern over Brexit has held back some people from borrowing. \"There is a lot of pent-up demand,\" said Mr Montlake. Savers who depend on higher interest rates to boost their incomes will be disappointed that rates have stayed on hold for a sixth consecutive month. While the Bank cut its growth forecast it also noted the strength of the labour market, where the unemployment rate is currently 4%. The rate at which people are switching to new jobs is only slightly below the level hit before the financial crisis of 2007. That switching suggests that employers are having to compete to attract staff, the Bank said. It also noted a pick-up in the average number of hours worked at the end of last year and firmer wage growth. The Bank thinks that wage growth will increase in the coming years as the UK's unemployment rate continues to fall. The main reason the Bank thinks underlying inflation pressures will grow is that wage growth will rise. Britain's unemployment rate has hit its lowest level in more than 40 years. The Bank predicts that earnings will rise by more than 3% a year over the next three years.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1598, "answer_start": 924, "text": "There has been an \"intensification\" of Brexit uncertainties, the Bank said. Its survey of 208 firms showed that half had started putting plans in place for a no-deal Brexit. The survey also showed that a fifth had taken on extra warehouse space It also noted a sharp fall in business investment at the end of last year. \"Uncertainty appears to have risen recently, and may have weighed on investment by more than had been expected in August,\" the Bank said. Bank of England Governor Mark Carney said: \"The fog of Brexit is causing short term volatility in the economic data, and more fundamentally, it is creating a series of tensions in the economy, tensions for business.\"" } ], "id": "9395_0", "question": "What did the Bank say about Brexit?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2492, "answer_start": 1599, "text": "Interest rates remain at 0.75%, where they have been since the Bank of England last raised in interest rates in August. Many economists think that once the uncertainty over Brexit is lifted then the economy will accelerate and the Bank will have to raise interest rates to stop it overheating. However, recent economic data has indicated weakness in the UK economy. Growth in the service sector, the biggest part of the economy, appeared to have stalled in January, according to closely-watched survey of purchasing managers. Samuel Tombs, an economist at Pantheon Macroeconomics, predicts that the Bank will raise rates once this year and twice in 2020. Paul Dales, chief UK economist at Capital Economics, said: \"We still think that a decent rebound in GDP growth, should a Brexit deal be reached, will result in interest rates rising further than the Bank and the financial markets assume.\"" } ], "id": "9395_1", "question": "When will interest rates rise?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3262, "answer_start": 2493, "text": "Moves in interest rates are important to the 3.5 million people with variable or tracker mortgages. Even a small rise of 0.25% can add hundreds of pounds to their annual mortgage costs. \"It's a very good time for people looking to borrow,\" said Andrew Montlake, a director at Coreco, a mortgage broker. He said there had been a lot of competition among lenders in January, with some very good deals for five-year fixed mortgage deals. Some lenders are offering five-year fixed deals at below 2%, he said. Concern over Brexit has held back some people from borrowing. \"There is a lot of pent-up demand,\" said Mr Montlake. Savers who depend on higher interest rates to boost their incomes will be disappointed that rates have stayed on hold for a sixth consecutive month." } ], "id": "9395_2", "question": "What effect is all this having on mortgage rates?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3724, "answer_start": 3263, "text": "While the Bank cut its growth forecast it also noted the strength of the labour market, where the unemployment rate is currently 4%. The rate at which people are switching to new jobs is only slightly below the level hit before the financial crisis of 2007. That switching suggests that employers are having to compete to attract staff, the Bank said. It also noted a pick-up in the average number of hours worked at the end of last year and firmer wage growth." } ], "id": "9395_3", "question": "Is the Brexit uncertainty hitting jobs?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4112, "answer_start": 3725, "text": "The Bank thinks that wage growth will increase in the coming years as the UK's unemployment rate continues to fall. The main reason the Bank thinks underlying inflation pressures will grow is that wage growth will rise. Britain's unemployment rate has hit its lowest level in more than 40 years. The Bank predicts that earnings will rise by more than 3% a year over the next three years." } ], "id": "9395_4", "question": "What does it all mean for our wages?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump's top economic adviser Gary Cohn is resigning, the White House has said. It is the latest in a series of high-profile departures from President Trump's team. There has been speculation that Mr Cohn, a supporter of free trade, was angered by Mr Trump's plans to impose tariffs on aluminium and steel imports. In a statement released by the White House, Mr Cohn said it had been \"an honour to serve my country\". The 57-year-old former president of the Goldman Sachs bank had helped Mr Trump push through his sweeping tax reforms late last year. Gary Cohn and President Trump were never believed to be close. Mr Cohn wasn't specific about the reasons, saying in a statement it had been \"an honour to serve my country and enact pro-growth economic policies to benefit the American people, in particular the passage of historic tax reform\". Once that mission had been achieved, a number of differences may have prompted the departure, including the possible looming trade tariff war and his differences on that issue with trade adviser Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Mr Cohn had reportedly set up a meeting between Mr Trump and business executives who opposed the tariffs move. But Mr Trump pulled out of that meeting and on Tuesday reportedly asked Mr Cohn in the Oval Office to back the tariffs publicly. Mr Cohn did not answer, sources told Bloomberg. In August last year, Mr Cohn had also criticised Mr Trump over his reaction to a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying the administration \"can and must do better\". He was reported to have drafted a resignation letter after the event. An official said: \"For several weeks Gary had been discussing with the president that it was nearing time for him to transition out.\" The exact departure date had yet to be determined. In a statement, Mr Trump said: \"Gary... did a superb job in driving our agenda, helping to deliver historic tax cuts and reforms and unleashing the American economy once again. \"He is a rare talent and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people.\" Analysts were pointing to the resignation of Mr Cohn, a free market advocate, as one reason behind a drop in shares across Asia on Wednesday. The Nikkei closed 0.77% down and the Hang Seng 1.03%. Rick Meckler of LibertyView Capital Management told Reuters that Mr Cohn was \"very credible\" and the resignation announcement \"certainly causes short-term downward pressure\". The dollar continued its retreat against the yen, down from 113 at the start of the year to 105.6 on Wednesday. European stocks also opened lower, the FTSE 100 and pan-Europe STOXX 600 falling about 0.5% after opening. Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Gary Cohn was a bit of a stranger in a strange land. He was a Democrat in a Republican White House; an economic globalist working for a president who campaigned on economic nationalism. Now, it seems, Donald Trump's protectionist bent has pushed the top administration economic adviser to the exit. This was not an unexpected development. By many accounts, there had been a contentious White House fight over whether to impose sweeping sanctions on US steel and aluminium imports - a tug-of-war that was settled, precipitously, by the president himself last week. There were the rumours that Mr Cohn was only sticking around to see last year's tax bill over the finish line, after his extreme discomfort following the president's warm words about some of the white nationalist marchers involved in violent clashes in Charlottesville last August. Mr Cohn was reportedly viewed by many Trump loyalists in the White House as an unwelcome interloper. Some on the outside, particularly in the financial world, welcomed him as a moderating influence - along with son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka. Now the former is leaving and the latter two seem greatly weakened. All this could mark a sharp new direction in White House policy. Last week, Mr Trump announced he would be imposing steep tariffs on steel and aluminium imports - 25% and 10% respectively. He is yet to sign them into effect. He has regularly argued that other countries have been \"taking advantage of\" the US on trade for decades. Trading partners reacted angrily. The EU, which says the steel and aluminium tariffs could cost it EUR2.8bn ($3.48bn; PS2.5bn) a year, has now drawn up a $3.5bn hit list of retaliatory tariffs. These include higher import duties on bourbon, peanut butter, cranberries, orange juice, steel and industrial products, EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said. There are now fears of a global trade war. Mr Trump said on Tuesday: \"When we're behind on every single country, trade wars aren't so bad.\" But there is disquiet at his proposals even among members of Mr Trump's Republican party. House Speaker Paul Ryan was one of those urging Mr Trump to have a \"smarter\" plan that was \"more surgical and more targeted\" and avoided the \"unintended consequences\" of a trade war. Mr Trump tweeted that he would pick Mr Cohn's replacement \"soon\". \"Many people wanting the job - will choose wisely!\" he added. Possible candidates mooted by US media include Peter Navarro and Larry Kudlow, a conservative commentator and 2016 campaign adviser. President Trump tweeted that there was no chaos at the White House but there were \"still... some people that I want to change\". A piece in Bloomberg carries the concerns of Wall St operators that the White House is losing experienced financial experts. Kathy Wylde, who runs the Partnership for New York City, says: \"Gary was one that we counted on.\" A Washington Post article headlined \"Gary Cohn didn't get much done. But it could be worse - and it probably will\" says the adviser was an \"odd duck\" but that it is hard to fault him, given \"the Trump administration has been too understaffed and unfocused to get much done\". An editorial in the New York Times says Gary Cohn was \"supposed to be among the sensible adults in the room. Now, he is leaving after failing repeatedly to be the stabilising influence that the Trump administration sorely needed\". Bill Powell in Newsweek says there are two things Donald Trump really likes - a rising stock market and tariffs. But one thing the resignation of Gary Cohn makes abundantly clear, he says, is that \"you can't have both... the world just doesn't work that way\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1643, "answer_start": 569, "text": "Gary Cohn and President Trump were never believed to be close. Mr Cohn wasn't specific about the reasons, saying in a statement it had been \"an honour to serve my country and enact pro-growth economic policies to benefit the American people, in particular the passage of historic tax reform\". Once that mission had been achieved, a number of differences may have prompted the departure, including the possible looming trade tariff war and his differences on that issue with trade adviser Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. Mr Cohn had reportedly set up a meeting between Mr Trump and business executives who opposed the tariffs move. But Mr Trump pulled out of that meeting and on Tuesday reportedly asked Mr Cohn in the Oval Office to back the tariffs publicly. Mr Cohn did not answer, sources told Bloomberg. In August last year, Mr Cohn had also criticised Mr Trump over his reaction to a far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, saying the administration \"can and must do better\". He was reported to have drafted a resignation letter after the event." } ], "id": "9396_0", "question": "Why has Mr Cohn gone?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2093, "answer_start": 1644, "text": "An official said: \"For several weeks Gary had been discussing with the president that it was nearing time for him to transition out.\" The exact departure date had yet to be determined. In a statement, Mr Trump said: \"Gary... did a superb job in driving our agenda, helping to deliver historic tax cuts and reforms and unleashing the American economy once again. \"He is a rare talent and I thank him for his dedicated service to the American people.\"" } ], "id": "9396_1", "question": "What has the White House said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2683, "answer_start": 2094, "text": "Analysts were pointing to the resignation of Mr Cohn, a free market advocate, as one reason behind a drop in shares across Asia on Wednesday. The Nikkei closed 0.77% down and the Hang Seng 1.03%. Rick Meckler of LibertyView Capital Management told Reuters that Mr Cohn was \"very credible\" and the resignation announcement \"certainly causes short-term downward pressure\". The dollar continued its retreat against the yen, down from 113 at the start of the year to 105.6 on Wednesday. European stocks also opened lower, the FTSE 100 and pan-Europe STOXX 600 falling about 0.5% after opening." } ], "id": "9396_2", "question": "And the markets?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3969, "answer_start": 2684, "text": "Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC News, Washington Gary Cohn was a bit of a stranger in a strange land. He was a Democrat in a Republican White House; an economic globalist working for a president who campaigned on economic nationalism. Now, it seems, Donald Trump's protectionist bent has pushed the top administration economic adviser to the exit. This was not an unexpected development. By many accounts, there had been a contentious White House fight over whether to impose sweeping sanctions on US steel and aluminium imports - a tug-of-war that was settled, precipitously, by the president himself last week. There were the rumours that Mr Cohn was only sticking around to see last year's tax bill over the finish line, after his extreme discomfort following the president's warm words about some of the white nationalist marchers involved in violent clashes in Charlottesville last August. Mr Cohn was reportedly viewed by many Trump loyalists in the White House as an unwelcome interloper. Some on the outside, particularly in the financial world, welcomed him as a moderating influence - along with son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka. Now the former is leaving and the latter two seem greatly weakened. All this could mark a sharp new direction in White House policy." } ], "id": "9396_3", "question": "Does this herald a new direction?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5008, "answer_start": 3970, "text": "Last week, Mr Trump announced he would be imposing steep tariffs on steel and aluminium imports - 25% and 10% respectively. He is yet to sign them into effect. He has regularly argued that other countries have been \"taking advantage of\" the US on trade for decades. Trading partners reacted angrily. The EU, which says the steel and aluminium tariffs could cost it EUR2.8bn ($3.48bn; PS2.5bn) a year, has now drawn up a $3.5bn hit list of retaliatory tariffs. These include higher import duties on bourbon, peanut butter, cranberries, orange juice, steel and industrial products, EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmstrom said. There are now fears of a global trade war. Mr Trump said on Tuesday: \"When we're behind on every single country, trade wars aren't so bad.\" But there is disquiet at his proposals even among members of Mr Trump's Republican party. House Speaker Paul Ryan was one of those urging Mr Trump to have a \"smarter\" plan that was \"more surgical and more targeted\" and avoided the \"unintended consequences\" of a trade war." } ], "id": "9396_4", "question": "What's the trade tariff dispute about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5397, "answer_start": 5009, "text": "Mr Trump tweeted that he would pick Mr Cohn's replacement \"soon\". \"Many people wanting the job - will choose wisely!\" he added. Possible candidates mooted by US media include Peter Navarro and Larry Kudlow, a conservative commentator and 2016 campaign adviser. President Trump tweeted that there was no chaos at the White House but there were \"still... some people that I want to change\"." } ], "id": "9396_5", "question": "Who will replace Mr Cohn?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Who are Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the most powerful group in the last province held by rebels in Syria? The ongoing government offensive against the last rebel-held areas in northern Syria has once again put the spotlight on the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), the dominant faction in Idlib Province. Although HTS, formerly known as Nusra Front, continues to pursue a jihadist agenda, it formally split from al-Qaeda in 2016, prompting harsh criticism from al-Qaeda leadership and defections by al-Qaeda loyalists. Al-Qaeda appears to have given up on HTS returning to the fold. A new group called Hurras al-Din which emerged last year is widely believed to be al-Qaeda's new branch in Syria. Despite this, the UN and a number of countries continue to consider HTS as an al-Qaeda affiliate and to frequently use its former name, Nusra Front. The group itself appears to be trying to strike a balance between maintaining its jihadist credentials and distancing itself from global jihadist groups for the sake of survival. HTS today is one of the strongest militant factions in northern Syria, having consolidated its power in the region through seizing territory from rival rebel groups in the past two years. In July 2016, Nusra Front broke ties with al-Qaeda and re-branded as Jabhat Fatah al-Sham (JFS), introducing the separation as an amicable joint decision. The rebranding followed pressure from Syrian rebel groups who argued that Nusra Front's link with al-Qaeda was being used as an excuse by the Syrian government and its allies to label the entire insurgency as terrorist. In January 2017, HTS was founded as a result of a merger between JFS and other factions. The group stressed it was an independent entity, in a clear effort to indicate its separation from al-Qaeda. In June 2018 HTS reiterated that it had no links with any group after the US blacklisted it as a terrorist organisation. In October 2017 the head of the former Nusra Front, Abu Mohammed al-Jawlani, was named as HTS leader, having earlier served as HTS's chief military commander - a role critics said was used to mask his actual leading role in the new formation. By November 2017, al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri formally denounced Nusra Front's breakaway saying it marked a \"serious violation of a pledge\" of loyalty. His statement confirmed speculations from pro-al-Qaeda opinion formers online that al-Qaeda leadership had never agreed to the split. HTS's refusal to roll back its decision led to increased tension between HTS and loyal al-Qaeda figures and supporters, which has played out in a nasty war of words online that flares up every now and then. Matters came to a head after HTS during the same month detained a number of key al-Qaeda loyalists who had previously served as senior officials within Nusra Front. Several combat units and figures that remained loyal to al-Qaeda subsequently defected from HTS and later joined Hurras al-Din, which was set up in February 2018. Although HTS and Hurras al-Din are not enemies, they could be seen as rivals competing for territory, weapons and recruits. Al-Qaeda loyalists accuse HTS of seeking to make gains at the expense of core jihadist principles. They say the group is secretly working to implement a Turkish agenda in northern Syria that would ultimately rid the region of \"true\" jihadists and pave the way for a political deal with the Syrian government. HTS's suspected links with Turkey has been a key point of contention between it and jihadist hardliners who consider Ankara an enemy that cannot be trusted. The fact that HTS agreed to Turkey's set up of observations posts in Idlib and even accompanied Turkish military patrols, as part of a September 2017 political deal, has cemented jihadist hardliners' suspicion of HTS and their views that it has sold out on jihadist goals. Another point of contention is the matter of the \"disputed weapons\". Al-Qaeda figures argue that HTS owes al-Qaeda - presently represented by Hurras al-Din group - weapons it had when it was under al-Qaeda's patronage as Nusra Front. HTS has strongly denied accusations about its \"plotting\" to undermine the jihadist project in northern Syria, but its religious figures have also argued in favour of a pragmatic approach that would not alienate ordinary Syrians or bring them harm. But HTS has avoided openly spelling out its position on Turkey, although it has in the past acknowledged the country's \"support\" to Syrians, particularly refugees. HTS has carried out a number of military operations that saw it seize territory from rebel factions, allowing it to consolidate its power in northern Syria. In July 2017 HTS captured large parts of Idlib Province following battles against rebel groups, including its former ally Ahrar al-Sham. To address concerns about its growing power, HTS said it would hand over areas under its control to a civilian body. In October, the National Salvation Government (NSG) was born to administer the \"liberated areas\" in the north. HTS critics, both mainstream and jihadist, say the NGS is a front for HTS. In a surprise move in January 2019, HTS seized territory in Aleppo Province, key areas in northern Hama Province and a string of villages in southern Idlib Province following renewed infighting against members of the Turkey-backed alliance, the National Liberation Front (NLF). Once again, HTS was quick to hand over administrative control to the NSG. It remains to be seen whether the latest offensive by the Syrian government supported by Russian air force or future ones will bring HTS closer to al-Qaeda fighters, represented by Hurras al-Din. Similar government offensives in the past year have failed to cause solid collaboration between the two jihadist factions who have preferred to separately fight a common enemy. The matter also appears to be strongly linked to political agreements, particularly Turkey's role and whether or not HTS is willing to engage in any deals, secretly or openly. Following the government advance in Hama countryside in May, al-Qaeda loyalists sought to remind HTS that it could not trust Turkey to safeguard rebel territory against Russian action. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6321, "answer_start": 5438, "text": "It remains to be seen whether the latest offensive by the Syrian government supported by Russian air force or future ones will bring HTS closer to al-Qaeda fighters, represented by Hurras al-Din. Similar government offensives in the past year have failed to cause solid collaboration between the two jihadist factions who have preferred to separately fight a common enemy. The matter also appears to be strongly linked to political agreements, particularly Turkey's role and whether or not HTS is willing to engage in any deals, secretly or openly. Following the government advance in Hama countryside in May, al-Qaeda loyalists sought to remind HTS that it could not trust Turkey to safeguard rebel territory against Russian action. BBC Monitoring reports and analyses news from TV, radio, web and print media around the world. You can follow BBC Monitoring on Twitter and Facebook." } ], "id": "9397_0", "question": "What's next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "South Africa's ruling party has called a meeting of its top body for Wednesday, amid growing pressure on President Jacob Zuma to stand down. In a statement, the ANC said the meeting would discuss the \"management of the transition\" between the Zuma administration and the next one. On Monday, senior politicians held an emergency meeting in Johannesburg to discuss Mr Zuma's future. The president has resisted calls to quit over corruption allegations. Mr Zuma, 75, was replaced as party leader by his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, 65, in December. Mr Ramaphosa is now the front-runner to succeed him as president. An ANC spokeswoman told Reuters news agency that the removal of President Zuma was not on the agenda at Monday's meeting. The president, in power since 2009, is due to make a state of the nation address on Thursday, and some in the party want Mr Zuma to leave office ahead of that speech. On Wednesday the ANC's National Executive Committee will meet. If the committee agrees to recall Mr Zuma, the BBC's Andrew Harding says, it would be very hard for him to resist. He might even face a no-confidence motion in parliament the next day, our correspondent adds. Mr Zuma, who spent time in prison for his part in the fight against apartheid, met the ANC's top six on Sunday. They are said to have failed to convince him to stand aside. Julius Malema, an opposition leader and former ANC member, said on Twitter that Mr Zuma had refused to go early. Other unconfirmed reports from Sunday's meeting say that Mr Zuma asked for protection from prosecution for himself and his family. Mr Zuma's presidency has been overshadowed by allegations of corruption. In recent years his links to the wealthy India-born Gupta family, who are alleged to have influenced the government through their relationship with Mr Zuma, have caused his popularity to plummet. In South Africa, it has become known as \"state capture\". Both Mr Zuma and the Guptas deny the allegations. Then there is also the country's struggling economy, with the unemployment rate rising to about 28%. As a result, many in the ANC fear his presidency has become toxic - and is hurting the party's standing. That appeared to be borne out at the 2016 local elections, when the ANC lost ground to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). With a general election set for 2019, the ANC will be keen to distance itself from any more negative press - and therefore it is perhaps not surprising that Mr Ramaphosa was elected the party leader on an anti-corruption platform. However, Mr Zuma still has his supporters within the ANC - including at least two of the top six - so nothing is definite. On Monday, there were scuffles out the ANC headquarters between small groups of pro- and anti-Zuma supporters. - 2005: Charged with corruption over multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal - charges dropped shortly before he becomes president in 2009 - 2016: Court orders he should be charged with 18 counts of corruption over the deal - 2005: Charged with raping family friend - acquitted in 2006 - 2016: Court rules he breached his oath of office by using government money to upgrade private home in Nkandla - he has repaid the money - 2017: South Africa's public protector said he should appoint judge-led inquiry into allegations he profiteered from relationship with wealthy Gupta family - he denies allegations, as have the Guptas - 2018: Zuma approves inquiry", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2797, "answer_start": 1587, "text": "Mr Zuma's presidency has been overshadowed by allegations of corruption. In recent years his links to the wealthy India-born Gupta family, who are alleged to have influenced the government through their relationship with Mr Zuma, have caused his popularity to plummet. In South Africa, it has become known as \"state capture\". Both Mr Zuma and the Guptas deny the allegations. Then there is also the country's struggling economy, with the unemployment rate rising to about 28%. As a result, many in the ANC fear his presidency has become toxic - and is hurting the party's standing. That appeared to be borne out at the 2016 local elections, when the ANC lost ground to the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF). With a general election set for 2019, the ANC will be keen to distance itself from any more negative press - and therefore it is perhaps not surprising that Mr Ramaphosa was elected the party leader on an anti-corruption platform. However, Mr Zuma still has his supporters within the ANC - including at least two of the top six - so nothing is definite. On Monday, there were scuffles out the ANC headquarters between small groups of pro- and anti-Zuma supporters." } ], "id": "9398_0", "question": "Why does the ANC want to remove him?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Three hospital patients have died in an outbreak of listeria linked to pre-packed sandwiches. Public Health England (PHE) said the victims were among six patients affected in England and the deaths occurred in Manchester and Liverpool. Two of the victims were at Manchester Royal Infirmary, with the other a patient at Aintree Hospital. Sandwiches and salads from The Good Food Chain linked to the outbreak have been withdrawn and production stopped. PHE said the products were withdrawn from hospitals when the links to the infections were first identified. A spokesperson for the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust said it offered its \"deepest condolences to the bereaved families\" and \"sincerely regret\" that two of their seriously ill patients contracted listeria. The trust, which would not say when the deaths happened, said the sandwiches were from the patient menu. The first patient showed symptoms on 25 April while the most recent case was reported on 15 May, a PHE spokeswoman said. Aintree Hospital said: \"Public health experts advised us of this supply chain issue on Friday 24 May and we immediately removed all products from this supplier.\" Dr Nick Phin, deputy director at the National Infection Service at PHE said: \"To date, there have been no associated cases identified outside healthcare organisations, and any risk to the public is low.\" PHE said The Good Food Chain - which supplied 43 NHS trusts across the UK - had been supplied with meat produced by North Country Cooked Meats which subsequently produced a positive test result for the outbreak strain of listeria. This business and North Country Quality Foods, which it distributes through, have also voluntarily ceased production. A spokesman for The Good Food Chain Ltd said the company's production facility in Stone, Staffordshire, was \"cross contaminated by an ingredient from one of its approved meat suppliers\". A spokesman for North Country Cooked Meats said it was \"currently co-operating fully with the environmental health and the Food Standards Agency in their investigations\". Listeria is a bacterium which can cause a type of food poisoning called listeriosis. Normally, the symptoms are mild - a high temperature, chills, feeling sick - and go away on their own after a few days. But these cases occurred in people who were seriously ill. Along with pregnant women, newborn babies and the elderly, they are most at risk of a more serious infection that can spread to the brain or bloodstream. In 2017 there were 33 deaths linked to listeriosis in England and Wales. Listeria can be found in many types of food such as soft cheeses, chilled ready-to-eat foods like pre-packed salads, sandwiches and sliced meats, and unpasteurised milk products. To reduce the risk, the NHS advises people keep chilled food in the fridge, heat food until it is piping hot and not eat food after its use-by date.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2894, "answer_start": 2076, "text": "Listeria is a bacterium which can cause a type of food poisoning called listeriosis. Normally, the symptoms are mild - a high temperature, chills, feeling sick - and go away on their own after a few days. But these cases occurred in people who were seriously ill. Along with pregnant women, newborn babies and the elderly, they are most at risk of a more serious infection that can spread to the brain or bloodstream. In 2017 there were 33 deaths linked to listeriosis in England and Wales. Listeria can be found in many types of food such as soft cheeses, chilled ready-to-eat foods like pre-packed salads, sandwiches and sliced meats, and unpasteurised milk products. To reduce the risk, the NHS advises people keep chilled food in the fridge, heat food until it is piping hot and not eat food after its use-by date." } ], "id": "9399_0", "question": "What is listeria?" } ] } ]