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[ { "context": "Hello. Here's your morning briefing: The island of Barbuda is described as \"barely habitable\". Officials say the French territory of St Martin is almost destroyed. And in the US territory of Puerto Rico, through which Hurricane Irma has been passing, more than half the island's three million residents are without power. The hurricane, graded five - the highest possible - is continuing its journey through the Caribbean. Several deaths have been reported, but the numbers will prove hard to gather, such is the level of destruction. Projections suggest the hurricane, which has brought wind speeds of 295km/h (185mph), could hit Florida on Sunday. US President Donald Trump said he was monitoring its progress, adding: \"But it looks like it could be something that will be not good. Believe me, not good.\" The bad news continues. Another storm, Jose, further out in the Atlantic, could be near major hurricane strength by Friday, and might hit some areas already affected by Irma. And storm Katia, in the Gulf of Mexico, has been upgraded to hurricane status, with a warning in place for the coast of the Mexican state of Veracruz. Get our morning briefing in your inbox each weekday The government's main Brexit bill is up for debate in Parliament later, with ministers and Labour in disagreement over what it should include. The EU (Withdrawal) Bill is designed to end the supremacy of EU law in the UK, but convert all existing EU laws into domestic ones. Labour is unhappy about what it calls a \"power grab\", allowing ministers to make important changes \"at the stroke of a pen\". But Brexit Secretary David Davis challenged MPs demanding changes to the bill to come up with any existing major rights that would not be carried forward as a result of passing it into law. Go on, have a dollop of whipped cream in your (large) coffee. Onion rings - well, they count as vegetables, surely? Unhealthy food and drink choices are all around us, and the Royal Society for Public Health is warning that companies are doing too much to push consumers towards making them. \"Upselling\" fattening food is one of the tricks used, it argues. People are eating, on average, 17,000 extra calories a year as a result, it's claimed. The BBC contacted industry groups including the British Retail Consortium and British Hospitality Association, but none commented. It's something we all worry about, but what are the actual chances that you'll become a victim of crime? The BBC has crunched the data for England and Wales. So, why not have a go at using our calculator? By Jonathan Beale, defence correspondent A war game takes place in London. President Trump is not being played by a person. Instead, there's a board with chance cards that reveal his state of mind. Some are based on his own tweets. One of the cards warns North Korea of \"fire and fury\". Read the full article \"May God protect us all\" is the i's headline, as it considers the effect of Hurricane Irma. The Daily Star says many British tourists are trapped by the awful conditions in the Caribbean. Meanwhile, the Financial Times reports that some leading business executives are \"angered\" by what they consider the government's \"strong-armed\" tactics to garner support for its version of Brexit. And the Times says there's going to be more scrutiny of university vice-chancellors' pay. Cancer diagnosis Pen \"can detect affected tissue in 10 seconds\" Crime concern West Midlands Police \"failing to record reported incidents\" Emptying out Why is Bulgaria's population shrinking so rapidly? George's first day Four-year-old prince starts school Handcuffed woman escapes in police car David Baddiel tries to get the Kardashians Does it matter what colour you wear to work? 08:10 A new single by the late singer-songwriter George Michael gets its first play on BBC Radio 2. 11:00 The third and final Test match between England and the West Indies starts at the Oval, with the visitors chasing a series victory few predicted before the tour started. 1978 UK Prime Minister James Callaghan announces there will not be an election this autumn. His opponents accuse him of running scared. The treasures saved from Hurricane Harvey (New York Times) Pooled delivery services cut traffic in British cities (Economist) When will Voyager stop calling home? (The Atlantic) Is Bake Off's Steven too good to be true? (Guardian)", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2555, "answer_start": 2351, "text": "It's something we all worry about, but what are the actual chances that you'll become a victim of crime? The BBC has crunched the data for England and Wales. So, why not have a go at using our calculator?" } ], "id": "9400_0", "question": "What's your risk of crime?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Swiss government wants to put an end to its emergency stockpile of coffee after declaring that it is \"not essential\" for human survival. Switzerland began storing emergency reserves of coffee between World War One and World War Two in preparation for potential shortages. It continued in subsequent decades to combat shortages sparked by war, natural disasters or epidemics. It now hopes to end the practice by late 2022. But opposition is mounting. It currently has 15,300 tonnes saved up - that's enough to last the country three months. The government now says coffee is \"not essential for life\" so doesn't need to be included in the emergency reserves. \"Coffee contains almost no calories and therefore does not contribute, from the physiological perspective, to safeguarding nutrition,\" the Federal Office for National Economic Supply said (in German). The plan has now been released for public comment with a final decision expected in November. But not everyone is happy about it. Reservesuisse, which oversees Switzerland's food stockpiles, says 12 of 15 companies that stockpile coffee in the country want to continue doing so. In a letter seen by Reuters, it says the \"weighting of calories as the main criteria for a vital staple did not do justice to coffee\". The Swiss are big fans of coffee, consuming about 9kg (20lb) per person per year, according to the International Coffee Organization. This is almost triple that consumed in Britain, where 3.3kg per person per year is consumed.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 861, "answer_start": 544, "text": "The government now says coffee is \"not essential for life\" so doesn't need to be included in the emergency reserves. \"Coffee contains almost no calories and therefore does not contribute, from the physiological perspective, to safeguarding nutrition,\" the Federal Office for National Economic Supply said (in German)." } ], "id": "9401_0", "question": "Why stop this?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1275, "answer_start": 862, "text": "The plan has now been released for public comment with a final decision expected in November. But not everyone is happy about it. Reservesuisse, which oversees Switzerland's food stockpiles, says 12 of 15 companies that stockpile coffee in the country want to continue doing so. In a letter seen by Reuters, it says the \"weighting of calories as the main criteria for a vital staple did not do justice to coffee\"." } ], "id": "9401_1", "question": "Will stockpiling definitely end?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1502, "answer_start": 1276, "text": "The Swiss are big fans of coffee, consuming about 9kg (20lb) per person per year, according to the International Coffee Organization. This is almost triple that consumed in Britain, where 3.3kg per person per year is consumed." } ], "id": "9401_2", "question": "How much coffee do the Swiss drink?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US Democrat Elizabeth Warren has proposed breaking up tech giants like Amazon, Facebook and Google if elected to the US presidency in 2020. Seeking to stand out in a crowded Democratic field, Ms Warren told a crowd in Queens, New York, that she was \"sick of freeloading billionaires\". Her regulatory plan would reverse some tech mergers and stop companies from competing on their own platforms. This would promote competition and safeguard small businesses, she said. Ms Warren pinpointed the Amazon acquisition of WholeFoods as one she would reverse, along with Facebook's merger with WhatsApp and Instagram, and Google's with Waze. And she said she would halt practices such as Amazon selling on its own Amazon Marketplace platform. She outlined her proposals in a post on the website Medium. The companies have not yet commented. Amazon had planned to build a new headquarters close to where Ms Warren spoke but withdrew plans last month, blaming local leaders. One woman at the rally, who was undecided about who to vote for, said: \"What I like is that she's proposing big ideas.\" Analysis by BBC North America reporter Anthony Zurcher Elizabeth Warren was the first major Democrat to announce a 2020 presidential bid. She's since been joined by five of fellow senators, a current governor, a former governor and an ex-cabinet secretary, among others. Although she came out of the gate first, the pack has quickly caught up. She's tried to stand out from the crowd by proposing a series of big, detailed progressive policies, including a \"wealth tax\" on multimillionaires, universal childcare and - in her latest move - using the government's anti-monopoly power to break up big tech companies. She'll have a chance to make her case for it on Saturday in front of what could be a not-so-welcoming crowd, here at the South by Southwest technology conference in Austin, Texas. Politicians sometimes benefit from taking uncomfortable - and politically risky - stands in front of otherwise sympathetic audiences as a way to show a bit of spine. There is still a very long road ahead for Ms Warren, and her competitors - many of whom will also be on the Austin stage this weekend. The Massachusetts senator is doing her best to be heard above the din - but so is everyone else. A Massachusetts senator, she has a background in law and policy academia and sits on the progressive left of the Democratic Party. She burst on to the national scene following the 2008 economic collapse, championing the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - a government agency that would serve as a Wall Street watchdog and public advocate. In 2010, following congressional passage of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, she helped the Obama administration set it up. Two years later, Ms Warren rode that wave of attention to a seat in the US Senate, and on New Year's Eve she became the first major Democratic candidate to announce that she was planning a presidential bid. Bernie Sanders has joined the race to stop Donald Trump from being re-elected. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president? Find out who is already running and who might join them.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2971, "answer_start": 2277, "text": "A Massachusetts senator, she has a background in law and policy academia and sits on the progressive left of the Democratic Party. She burst on to the national scene following the 2008 economic collapse, championing the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - a government agency that would serve as a Wall Street watchdog and public advocate. In 2010, following congressional passage of the Dodd-Frank financial reform bill, she helped the Obama administration set it up. Two years later, Ms Warren rode that wave of attention to a seat in the US Senate, and on New Year's Eve she became the first major Democratic candidate to announce that she was planning a presidential bid." } ], "id": "9402_0", "question": "Who is Elizabeth Warren?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3163, "answer_start": 2972, "text": "Bernie Sanders has joined the race to stop Donald Trump from being re-elected. But who else has a shot at becoming the next president? Find out who is already running and who might join them." } ], "id": "9402_1", "question": "Who will take on Trump in 2020?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hundreds of UK men are trying out a new screening test for prostate cancer to see if it should eventually be offered routinely on the NHS. The test is a non-invasive MRI scan that takes images of the inside of the body to check for any abnormal growths. Scientists running the trial say it will take a few years to know if MRI will be better than available blood tests and biopsies at spotting cancers. NHS England said it would review this \"potentially exciting\" development. The UK currently doesn't offer routine screening because there is no reliable test. A blood test, called PSA, can check for high levels of a protein that can sometimes indicate that the person might have prostate cancer, but it is not always accurate. About three in four men with a raised PSA level will not have cancer and the test can also miss more than one in 10 cancers. Men with a raised PSA may need more checks, such as a biopsy. This involves taking small samples of tissue from the prostate gland, using a needle, so that they can be examined under the microscope. In some cases, this can miss a cancer that is there, fail to spot whether it is aggressive, and cause side-effects, including bleeding, serious infections and erectile dysfunction. MRI is non-invasive. It might be a way to make prostate cancer testing more reliable and maybe even do away with the need for biopsies altogether, researchers hope. A recent UK trial in men with high PSA levels showed more than a quarter could be spared invasive biopsies. The experts from University College London who are running the screening trial hope MRI will detect serious cancers earlier while reassuring the majority of men that they don't have cancer. Prof Mark Emberton and colleagues say MRI is a good tool because it is relatively cheap, widely available and reliable. Men found to have possible signs of cancer on the scan would be sent for more tests. Prostate cancer kills about 11,800 men each year in the UK. It usually develops slowly so there may be no signs or symptoms for many years. The prostate is a small gland that sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra - the tube men urinate through. The chances of developing prostate cancer increase with age. Most cases develop in men aged 50 or older. Men whose father or brother was affected by prostate cancer are at slightly increased risk themselves. For many men with prostate cancer, treatment is not immediately necessary - doctors may suggest watchful waiting or surveillance. More aggressive prostate cancer will need immediate treatment, which includes surgery and radiotherapy. Co-researcher Prof Caroline Moore said: \"We know that at the moment around 6,000 men a year are diagnosed with late-stage cancer, where it is not curable. \"And we know that if we could detect those men at an earlier stage, where it would be curable, we would be in a much better position. \"The finer details are why we need this first study to work things out.\" An NHS England official said: \"NHS England is already rolling out some of the latest developments in MRI scanning for prostate cancer diagnosis and care. \"This new test is potentially an exciting development that the NHS will look at as more evidence becomes available.\" Karen Stalbow, from Prostate Cancer UK, said: \"This trial could provide an exciting step towards our ambition for a national screening programme that enables men to get the early prostate cancer diagnosis that can save more lives. \"If the results are positive, then MRI scanning could offer a non-invasive first stage of prostate cancer diagnosis in the future. \"Anything that offers men an easy and more effective way to be checked for prostate cancer is a good thing and we await the results with interest.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1233, "answer_start": 477, "text": "The UK currently doesn't offer routine screening because there is no reliable test. A blood test, called PSA, can check for high levels of a protein that can sometimes indicate that the person might have prostate cancer, but it is not always accurate. About three in four men with a raised PSA level will not have cancer and the test can also miss more than one in 10 cancers. Men with a raised PSA may need more checks, such as a biopsy. This involves taking small samples of tissue from the prostate gland, using a needle, so that they can be examined under the microscope. In some cases, this can miss a cancer that is there, fail to spot whether it is aggressive, and cause side-effects, including bleeding, serious infections and erectile dysfunction." } ], "id": "9403_0", "question": "Why don't we already screen for prostate cancer?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1901, "answer_start": 1234, "text": "MRI is non-invasive. It might be a way to make prostate cancer testing more reliable and maybe even do away with the need for biopsies altogether, researchers hope. A recent UK trial in men with high PSA levels showed more than a quarter could be spared invasive biopsies. The experts from University College London who are running the screening trial hope MRI will detect serious cancers earlier while reassuring the majority of men that they don't have cancer. Prof Mark Emberton and colleagues say MRI is a good tool because it is relatively cheap, widely available and reliable. Men found to have possible signs of cancer on the scan would be sent for more tests." } ], "id": "9403_1", "question": "What is the new test?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2604, "answer_start": 1902, "text": "Prostate cancer kills about 11,800 men each year in the UK. It usually develops slowly so there may be no signs or symptoms for many years. The prostate is a small gland that sits underneath the bladder and surrounds the urethra - the tube men urinate through. The chances of developing prostate cancer increase with age. Most cases develop in men aged 50 or older. Men whose father or brother was affected by prostate cancer are at slightly increased risk themselves. For many men with prostate cancer, treatment is not immediately necessary - doctors may suggest watchful waiting or surveillance. More aggressive prostate cancer will need immediate treatment, which includes surgery and radiotherapy." } ], "id": "9403_2", "question": "What is prostate cancer?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3747, "answer_start": 2605, "text": "Co-researcher Prof Caroline Moore said: \"We know that at the moment around 6,000 men a year are diagnosed with late-stage cancer, where it is not curable. \"And we know that if we could detect those men at an earlier stage, where it would be curable, we would be in a much better position. \"The finer details are why we need this first study to work things out.\" An NHS England official said: \"NHS England is already rolling out some of the latest developments in MRI scanning for prostate cancer diagnosis and care. \"This new test is potentially an exciting development that the NHS will look at as more evidence becomes available.\" Karen Stalbow, from Prostate Cancer UK, said: \"This trial could provide an exciting step towards our ambition for a national screening programme that enables men to get the early prostate cancer diagnosis that can save more lives. \"If the results are positive, then MRI scanning could offer a non-invasive first stage of prostate cancer diagnosis in the future. \"Anything that offers men an easy and more effective way to be checked for prostate cancer is a good thing and we await the results with interest.\"" } ], "id": "9403_3", "question": "What do experts think?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "There is the popstar Prince, the androgynous, multi-instrumentalist who sings about sex and spirituality in the same breath. And then there is Prince the enigma. It's this second Prince that has created a great pop-culture mystery - the story of a vault holding thousands of unreleased songs. Prince grew up in Minneapolis and that's still where he records most of his music. Following the success of his blockbuster Purple Rain in 1984 he was able to build his own recording utopia, Paisley Park. Since then, much of Prince's music has been recorded within its walls, making it a place of pilgrimage for fans. The building is at the centre of one particular legend - the idea that if Prince was to die tomorrow, he has so much unreleased music, he could release an album a year for the next 100 years. I've been hearing about the legendary vault for years. Some say it's an urban myth. Others claim to have actually seen it. Susan Rogers, Prince's former sound engineer sets the record straight. Prince once described his creativity as a curse, explaining: \"If I didn't make music, I'd die.\" He records something almost every day. Hans Martin-Buff, Prince's engineer from 1996-2000: I remember someone asking Prince why he was working on a weekend. He laughed and said, 'This might be work for Hans, but it's not work for me.' I never knew I had a day off, until the day had passed. I carried a pager. It could beep at any time of the day or night. If Prince wanted to record, I would set everything up and he would go for it. He'd move from drums to bass to guitar to keys and vocals. He could start working on a song from scratch and have it completely mixed within one session. It was completely normal to work through the night. In the same way that most people have a conversation about their day, Prince creates music. It's effortless for him. Eric Leeds, a saxophonist who's performed with Prince on and off for three decades: We would just go into the studio and jam every night and just record everything. We worked on a whole bunch of instrumentals and Prince threw it all to me and said, \"Make me an album.\" I actually sequenced the record. There was one 45-minute jam called Junk Music. The project was going to be called The Flesh and it was the greatest thing in the world in Prince's mind. That lasted about three days. Then Prince got bored and the record got shelved. There's no question about his speed. In 2004 we made an album called NEWS which did make it to release. That entire album was recorded pretty much as you hear it. It probably took an hour. Susan Rogers recalls Prince's real-life heartbreak being the inspiration for a particularly magical night of recording: He came into studio and recorded this ballad. It starts with spoken word. Prince is speaking to Wally, a dancer in his crew. He's telling him, \"I want go out tonight and meet someone new.\" He goes into this chorus. It's beautiful, just beautiful. There's a crescendo. The song gets huge. It breaks down. He says, \"I'm not going out any more.\" The background vocal arrangements, the expression of it was just gorgeous. Of course he played all the instruments. We finished recording the song and then Prince said to me, \"Erase it.\"' He said it very calmly. I could feel the fan in me screaming \"No!\" I said, \"Think about it. Wait til tomorrow at least.\" He reached over and hit record. He erased it. It was gone. There was perhaps a four-year period where every song he would record would make me think, \"This is the greatest thing he's ever done.\" Projects would just bleed into one another. There was Crystal Ball and Dream Factory and at one point he was saving songs for a kind of super-album called The Dawn. Before we'd go on tour I would take a map and plot out a route so I could mark where the closest recording studios would be. It was common for Prince to want to record after performing for two or three hours. He'd either do an after show or go into a studio to record.\" Speaking to those who have been in the studio with Prince, it soon became apparent that only a small amount of recorded work has been released. Brent Fischer, a Grammy-winning composer who has collaborated with Prince since the 80s: \"I think over 70% of the music we've worked on for Prince is yet to be released. There are lot of songs that were sent to us clearly with the idea that they would never be released. They were almost comical songs that he would work out with his horn players. There was lot of wild horn parts and experimentation with samples.\" Alan Leeds, Prince's former manager recalls a conversation with Prince in the early 90s in which Prince said he'd \"just burn everything\" one day. But there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of the vault too. Prince himself has teased fans, name-checking unreleased songs in his album liner notes and suggesting they could be released at \"a later date\". In 2012, he released a YouTube clip of new guitarist Donna Grantis auditioning to be part of his band. The clip ended with the text: \"Every good thing in the vault... coming 2013.\" But of course 2013 passed without the flood of music that was promised. Since his debut, Prince has released an average of one album a year, with two full-length releases coming out on the same day in 2014. But many fans and musical historians want to put together the missing pieces of the Prince puzzle. Only then will anyone be able to truly grasp the breadth of his creative energies. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1000, "answer_start": 805, "text": "I've been hearing about the legendary vault for years. Some say it's an urban myth. Others claim to have actually seen it. Susan Rogers, Prince's former sound engineer sets the record straight." } ], "id": "9404_0", "question": "Does it exist?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4022, "answer_start": 1001, "text": "Prince once described his creativity as a curse, explaining: \"If I didn't make music, I'd die.\" He records something almost every day. Hans Martin-Buff, Prince's engineer from 1996-2000: I remember someone asking Prince why he was working on a weekend. He laughed and said, 'This might be work for Hans, but it's not work for me.' I never knew I had a day off, until the day had passed. I carried a pager. It could beep at any time of the day or night. If Prince wanted to record, I would set everything up and he would go for it. He'd move from drums to bass to guitar to keys and vocals. He could start working on a song from scratch and have it completely mixed within one session. It was completely normal to work through the night. In the same way that most people have a conversation about their day, Prince creates music. It's effortless for him. Eric Leeds, a saxophonist who's performed with Prince on and off for three decades: We would just go into the studio and jam every night and just record everything. We worked on a whole bunch of instrumentals and Prince threw it all to me and said, \"Make me an album.\" I actually sequenced the record. There was one 45-minute jam called Junk Music. The project was going to be called The Flesh and it was the greatest thing in the world in Prince's mind. That lasted about three days. Then Prince got bored and the record got shelved. There's no question about his speed. In 2004 we made an album called NEWS which did make it to release. That entire album was recorded pretty much as you hear it. It probably took an hour. Susan Rogers recalls Prince's real-life heartbreak being the inspiration for a particularly magical night of recording: He came into studio and recorded this ballad. It starts with spoken word. Prince is speaking to Wally, a dancer in his crew. He's telling him, \"I want go out tonight and meet someone new.\" He goes into this chorus. It's beautiful, just beautiful. There's a crescendo. The song gets huge. It breaks down. He says, \"I'm not going out any more.\" The background vocal arrangements, the expression of it was just gorgeous. Of course he played all the instruments. We finished recording the song and then Prince said to me, \"Erase it.\"' He said it very calmly. I could feel the fan in me screaming \"No!\" I said, \"Think about it. Wait til tomorrow at least.\" He reached over and hit record. He erased it. It was gone. There was perhaps a four-year period where every song he would record would make me think, \"This is the greatest thing he's ever done.\" Projects would just bleed into one another. There was Crystal Ball and Dream Factory and at one point he was saving songs for a kind of super-album called The Dawn. Before we'd go on tour I would take a map and plot out a route so I could mark where the closest recording studios would be. It was common for Prince to want to record after performing for two or three hours. He'd either do an after show or go into a studio to record.\"" } ], "id": "9404_1", "question": "What is in it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4585, "answer_start": 4023, "text": "Speaking to those who have been in the studio with Prince, it soon became apparent that only a small amount of recorded work has been released. Brent Fischer, a Grammy-winning composer who has collaborated with Prince since the 80s: \"I think over 70% of the music we've worked on for Prince is yet to be released. There are lot of songs that were sent to us clearly with the idea that they would never be released. They were almost comical songs that he would work out with his horn players. There was lot of wild horn parts and experimentation with samples.\"" } ], "id": "9404_2", "question": "How much is there?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5615, "answer_start": 4586, "text": "Alan Leeds, Prince's former manager recalls a conversation with Prince in the early 90s in which Prince said he'd \"just burn everything\" one day. But there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of the vault too. Prince himself has teased fans, name-checking unreleased songs in his album liner notes and suggesting they could be released at \"a later date\". In 2012, he released a YouTube clip of new guitarist Donna Grantis auditioning to be part of his band. The clip ended with the text: \"Every good thing in the vault... coming 2013.\" But of course 2013 passed without the flood of music that was promised. Since his debut, Prince has released an average of one album a year, with two full-length releases coming out on the same day in 2014. But many fans and musical historians want to put together the missing pieces of the Prince puzzle. Only then will anyone be able to truly grasp the breadth of his creative energies. Subscribe to the BBC News Magazine's email newsletter to get articles sent to your inbox." } ], "id": "9404_3", "question": "What will happen to it?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Royal Family are \"hurt\" at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's announcement they will step back as senior royals. Prince Harry and Meghan did not consult any royal about making their personal statement, BBC royal correspondent Jonny Dymond was told by palace sources. Buckingham Palace was \"blindsided\", he said, as talks about their future had begun but were in very early stages. The palace said there were \"complicated issues\" to work through. In their statement on Wednesday, Harry and Meghan said they made the decision \"after many months of reflection and internal discussions\". They said they intend \"to step back as 'senior' members of the Royal Family, and work to become financially independent\". They plan to split their time between the UK and North America, while \"continuing to honour our duty to the Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages\". \"This geographic balance will enable us to raise our son with an appreciation for the royal tradition into which he was born, while also providing our family with the space to focus on the next chapter,\" the couple said. Despite the couple's decision, Harry will remain sixth in line to the throne. The pair was already preparing to launch their own Sussex Royal charity, which they set up after splitting from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's foundation in June last year. The Sussexes' new charity is expected to be global, linked to Africa and the US, rather than domestic - and will have a commitment to female empowerment. It was revealed in December the couple had made an application to trademark their Sussex Royal brand across a string of items including books, calendars, clothing, charitable fundraising, education and social care services. Meghan, of course, is American herself and has a particularly close relationship with her mother who lives in California. But the Sun, which broke the story on Wednesday, was firm in its speculation that Canada was their likely destination. The couple have just returned after a six-week break from royal duties, which they spent in Canada with their eight-month-old son, Archie. After returning to the UK on Tuesday, Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, visited Canada's High Commission in London to thank the country for hosting them and said the warmth and hospitality they received was \"unbelievable\". Former actress Meghan lived and worked in Toronto for seven years during her time starring in the popular US legal drama Suits. She has previously spoken about adopting the city as her second home after her native Los Angeles, and she has several Canadian friends. Jessica Mulroney, a close friend of the duchess, posted a quote on Instagram about a \"strong woman\" facing a challenge. The Canadian stylist and TV star wrote: \"A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.\" The couple's announcement raises numerous questions over what their future royal roles will entail. In stepping back as senior royals, Harry and Meghan have announced they will no longer receive funding from the Sovereign Grant. The couple said this will make them \"members of the Royal Family with financial independence\". The Sovereign Grant is public money which pays for the cost of official royal duties, in exchange for the surrender by the Queen of the revenue from the Crown Estate. The Queen's Sovereign Grant from the Treasury was PS82m in 2018-19. The couple said the Sovereign Grant paid for 5% of their official office from 2019, with the remaining 95% being funded by Prince Charles through his income from the Duchy of Cornwall. Under current rules, the pair said they are \"prohibited from earning income in any form\", but in their new roles could follow other title-holding royals in having full-time jobs. The costs of official overseas visits will be funded by the Sovereign Grant and contributions from the host country \"when appropriate\". The couple are classified as \"internationally protected people\", which means they must have armed security provided by the Metropolitan Police. They will retain Frogmore cottage, the Grade-2 listed property in Windsor that cost taxpayers PS2.4m to renovate, as their official residence so they have a \"place to call home\" in the UK. Bryony Gordon, a Daily Telegraph journalist who knows and has interviewed the couple, suggested their decision could be linked to their mental health, after becoming a \"punching bag\" for a \"misogynistic and racist\" nation. In 2017, Ms Gordon interviewed the prince for her Mad World podcast in which he revealed he sought counselling while struggling in his late 20s to cope with the death of his mother. Speaking to Emma Barnett on BBC 5 Live, she said: \"Here is a man who every day has to live out the trauma that he experienced as a little boy when he had to walk behind her coffin at the age of 12 in front of the world, and I think if any of us were put in that situation we would find it incredibly triggering.\" She added the couple had become a \"punching bag for a nation that is still sort of deeply misogynistic and racist\" and they were \"entitled\" to \"do what is best\" for their family's mental health. She believes the couple will carry on exactly as before \"but just for free\", as they're \"sick of the scrutiny\" that comes with taking public money. Royal historian Prof Kate Williams said it will be \"difficult\" for Harry and Meghan to lead \"normal\" lives, as media interest in them will increase after their \"unprecedented\" move. She told BBC Breakfast: \"It is going to be difficult if Harry and Meghan are going to live in Canada for a certain period of time and try and get on with business and be normal, charitable CEOs. \"They will require security because I don't see the media interest in them waning, I see it as probably increasing, because what they're doing is so unprecedented for royals.\" Royal commentator Penny Junor said the couple's actions were reminiscent of those of Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The suggestion that they had not consulted other royals before making their statement was \"beyond bizarre\". She said: \"It has echoes of Diana when she suddenly announced after her separation [from Charles] that she was stepping back from 50 of her charities without consulting anybody. \"The problem is that they are not working for themselves, they are working for a family firm and to be making announcements of this sort without consulting is beyond bizarre.\" Graham Smith, a spokesman for Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, said Harry and Meghan's decision \"raises questions about the monarchy's future\" and will prompt taxpayers to ask how the couple's extra security and overseas lifestyle will be funded. \"To suggest that they're not already financially independent is incredibly crass and belies a sense of self-entitlement and a lack of self-awareness that is common among royals,\" he said. \"This really is wanting to have your cake and eat it. They have said they will dip in and out of royal duties as it suits them but won't stop taking public money until they find other sources of income.\" Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said \"we must continue to celebrate and support\" the contribution the Royal Family makes to the UK, adding that it has an \"important role in public service\". This is clearly a major rift between Harry and Meghan on one part, and the rest of the Royal Family on the other. There are far more questions than answers. What will their new role be? Where will they live, and who will pay for it? What relationship will they have with the rest of the Royal Family? And there's the institutional question - what does this mean for the Royal Family? It comes just months after Prince Andrew stepped back from his duties after a BBC interview about his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some might see this as the slimmed-down monarchy that the 21st Century needs. But Harry and Meghan reached people that other royals didn't. They were part of the reinvention and refreshing of the institution. It's understood talks have begun between Palace officials and No 10 about the implications of Harry and Meghan's announcement. We're now in wait-and-see mode as to whether this new model of being a royal can work - or if this is really a staging post for them to leave the Royal Family. Signs the couple were unhappy with their royal life have been apparent for some months. In October last year, the Duchess of Sussex began legal action against the Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters. The paper stands by its story. At the time, Prince Harry said his wife had \"become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press\" after a \"ruthless campaign\" of \"relentless propaganda\". \"Though we have continued to put on a brave face... I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been,\" he said. In an ITV documentary last year, Meghan, who was born in the US, described motherhood as a \"struggle\" due to intense interest from newspapers. \"Not many people have asked if I'm OK,\" she said. Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said on Thursday the press should \"leave Harry and Meghan alone\" in the wake of their decision. The Labour MP for Leicester South expressed support for the couple, adding that the duchess had suffered \"appalling\" abuse and that she \"deserves a break\". On Wednesday the royal couple announced they would be adopting a \"revised media approach\" from the spring. As part of the new strategy, published on their website, they will \"engage with grassroots media organisations and young, up-and-coming journalists\". They will also pull out of the so-called royal rota system, where journalists and media representatives are given exclusive access to cover royal engagements on the understanding they share the material they gather. \"The current system predates the dramatic transformation of news reporting in the digital age,\" the couple said. The National Union of Journalists criticised the plans, saying the move appears to try and \"prevent the media from functioning and compromising the ability of journalists to do their jobs, which is completely unacceptable\". Harry is sixth in line to the throne - behind Prince Charles, Prince William and his three children.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2904, "answer_start": 1717, "text": "Meghan, of course, is American herself and has a particularly close relationship with her mother who lives in California. But the Sun, which broke the story on Wednesday, was firm in its speculation that Canada was their likely destination. The couple have just returned after a six-week break from royal duties, which they spent in Canada with their eight-month-old son, Archie. After returning to the UK on Tuesday, Harry, 35, and Meghan, 38, visited Canada's High Commission in London to thank the country for hosting them and said the warmth and hospitality they received was \"unbelievable\". Former actress Meghan lived and worked in Toronto for seven years during her time starring in the popular US legal drama Suits. She has previously spoken about adopting the city as her second home after her native Los Angeles, and she has several Canadian friends. Jessica Mulroney, a close friend of the duchess, posted a quote on Instagram about a \"strong woman\" facing a challenge. The Canadian stylist and TV star wrote: \"A strong woman looks a challenge in the eye and gives it a wink.\" The couple's announcement raises numerous questions over what their future royal roles will entail." } ], "id": "9405_0", "question": "Why North America?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4196, "answer_start": 2905, "text": "In stepping back as senior royals, Harry and Meghan have announced they will no longer receive funding from the Sovereign Grant. The couple said this will make them \"members of the Royal Family with financial independence\". The Sovereign Grant is public money which pays for the cost of official royal duties, in exchange for the surrender by the Queen of the revenue from the Crown Estate. The Queen's Sovereign Grant from the Treasury was PS82m in 2018-19. The couple said the Sovereign Grant paid for 5% of their official office from 2019, with the remaining 95% being funded by Prince Charles through his income from the Duchy of Cornwall. Under current rules, the pair said they are \"prohibited from earning income in any form\", but in their new roles could follow other title-holding royals in having full-time jobs. The costs of official overseas visits will be funded by the Sovereign Grant and contributions from the host country \"when appropriate\". The couple are classified as \"internationally protected people\", which means they must have armed security provided by the Metropolitan Police. They will retain Frogmore cottage, the Grade-2 listed property in Windsor that cost taxpayers PS2.4m to renovate, as their official residence so they have a \"place to call home\" in the UK." } ], "id": "9405_1", "question": "How will they become 'financially independent'?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7254, "answer_start": 4197, "text": "Bryony Gordon, a Daily Telegraph journalist who knows and has interviewed the couple, suggested their decision could be linked to their mental health, after becoming a \"punching bag\" for a \"misogynistic and racist\" nation. In 2017, Ms Gordon interviewed the prince for her Mad World podcast in which he revealed he sought counselling while struggling in his late 20s to cope with the death of his mother. Speaking to Emma Barnett on BBC 5 Live, she said: \"Here is a man who every day has to live out the trauma that he experienced as a little boy when he had to walk behind her coffin at the age of 12 in front of the world, and I think if any of us were put in that situation we would find it incredibly triggering.\" She added the couple had become a \"punching bag for a nation that is still sort of deeply misogynistic and racist\" and they were \"entitled\" to \"do what is best\" for their family's mental health. She believes the couple will carry on exactly as before \"but just for free\", as they're \"sick of the scrutiny\" that comes with taking public money. Royal historian Prof Kate Williams said it will be \"difficult\" for Harry and Meghan to lead \"normal\" lives, as media interest in them will increase after their \"unprecedented\" move. She told BBC Breakfast: \"It is going to be difficult if Harry and Meghan are going to live in Canada for a certain period of time and try and get on with business and be normal, charitable CEOs. \"They will require security because I don't see the media interest in them waning, I see it as probably increasing, because what they're doing is so unprecedented for royals.\" Royal commentator Penny Junor said the couple's actions were reminiscent of those of Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The suggestion that they had not consulted other royals before making their statement was \"beyond bizarre\". She said: \"It has echoes of Diana when she suddenly announced after her separation [from Charles] that she was stepping back from 50 of her charities without consulting anybody. \"The problem is that they are not working for themselves, they are working for a family firm and to be making announcements of this sort without consulting is beyond bizarre.\" Graham Smith, a spokesman for Republic, which campaigns for an elected head of state, said Harry and Meghan's decision \"raises questions about the monarchy's future\" and will prompt taxpayers to ask how the couple's extra security and overseas lifestyle will be funded. \"To suggest that they're not already financially independent is incredibly crass and belies a sense of self-entitlement and a lack of self-awareness that is common among royals,\" he said. \"This really is wanting to have your cake and eat it. They have said they will dip in and out of royal duties as it suits them but won't stop taking public money until they find other sources of income.\" Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said \"we must continue to celebrate and support\" the contribution the Royal Family makes to the UK, adding that it has an \"important role in public service\"." } ], "id": "9405_2", "question": "What do commentators say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8274, "answer_start": 7255, "text": "This is clearly a major rift between Harry and Meghan on one part, and the rest of the Royal Family on the other. There are far more questions than answers. What will their new role be? Where will they live, and who will pay for it? What relationship will they have with the rest of the Royal Family? And there's the institutional question - what does this mean for the Royal Family? It comes just months after Prince Andrew stepped back from his duties after a BBC interview about his ties to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Some might see this as the slimmed-down monarchy that the 21st Century needs. But Harry and Meghan reached people that other royals didn't. They were part of the reinvention and refreshing of the institution. It's understood talks have begun between Palace officials and No 10 about the implications of Harry and Meghan's announcement. We're now in wait-and-see mode as to whether this new model of being a royal can work - or if this is really a staging post for them to leave the Royal Family." } ], "id": "9405_3", "question": "A staging post to leaving the Royal Family?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 9316, "answer_start": 8275, "text": "Signs the couple were unhappy with their royal life have been apparent for some months. In October last year, the Duchess of Sussex began legal action against the Mail on Sunday over a claim that it unlawfully published one of her private letters. The paper stands by its story. At the time, Prince Harry said his wife had \"become one of the latest victims of a British tabloid press\" after a \"ruthless campaign\" of \"relentless propaganda\". \"Though we have continued to put on a brave face... I cannot begin to describe how painful it has been,\" he said. In an ITV documentary last year, Meghan, who was born in the US, described motherhood as a \"struggle\" due to intense interest from newspapers. \"Not many people have asked if I'm OK,\" she said. Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said on Thursday the press should \"leave Harry and Meghan alone\" in the wake of their decision. The Labour MP for Leicester South expressed support for the couple, adding that the duchess had suffered \"appalling\" abuse and that she \"deserves a break\"." } ], "id": "9405_4", "question": "Was it a surprise?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Venezuela's president has said its subsidised fuel prices should rise, to stop smugglers cheating the country out of billions of dollars. \"Gasoline must be sold at an international price to stop smuggling to Colombia and the Caribbean,\" Nicolas Maduro said in a televised address. Like many oil producing nations, Venezuela offers its citizens heavily subsidised petrol. A fuel price rise in 1989 caused deadly riots in the capital, Caracas. Venezuela's economy is in freefall, with the International Monetary Fund predicting inflation rates will reach a million percent this year - but the price of fuel has barely changed. The price of a litre of petrol in Venezuela currently stands at 1 bolivar. On the black market, Venezuelans pay more than 4m bolivares for one US dollar. That means that for the equivalent of one dollar, Venezuelans can fill the tank of a medium-sized car about 720 times. Smuggling the subsidised fuel from Venezuela into neighbouring countries, where prices are much higher, is big business. Venezuela loses $18bn to fuel smuggling annually, according to government figures. President Maduro says adapting Venezuelan fuel prices to international levels will stamp out smuggling. The move is part of a wider plan to increase government revenue in the face of falling oil production, Venezuela's main export income. No, according to President Maduro \"only those individuals who don't answer the call to register will have to pay fuel at international prices\". The president said that all Venezuelans who hold the \"Fatherland ID\", a government-issued identity card introduced by his administration in 2017, will continue to receive \"direct subsidies\" for \"about two years\". However, many Venezuelans opposed to Mr Maduro's government have refused to get the ID cards, alleging they are used by officials to keep tabs on them. The price rise is therefore expected to hit opponents of President Maduro in greater numbers than those who support him. President Maduro said he would announce further details of how the new subsidies scheme would work in the coming days. It is expected to come into effect on 20 August. President Maduro introduced the new ID card in January 2017 arguing it would serve to make his socialist government's social programmes more effective. Getting the ID is free and voluntary for anyone over 15 but those who apply have to answer a series of questions about their socio-economic status and what state benefits, if any, they are receiving. According to government figures, by January 2018, 16.5 million Venezuelans out of 31.5 million citizens had applied for a \"Fatherland ID\". Only those who are in possession of the ID can apply to receive subsidised food parcels and other state benefits. Government critics opposed the introduction of the Fatherland ID from the start, arguing that there was no need for it as Venezuelans already had government-issued ID cards. They said that it was a way to restrict the hand-out of state benefits to government supporters. They also fear that the government uses the Fatherland ID to collect information on citizens. Unlikely, as smugglers who hold a Fatherland ID or apply for one will still be able to buy fuel at rock bottom prices and sell it at a massive profit in Colombia and other countries. Some opposition politicians fear that the measure will be used as a way to introduce petrol rationing through the back door by limiting the amount each individual can buy on his Fatherland ID. But so far no limits on the amount of petrol people can buy have been announced. Venezuelans are very car-dependant. It is not unusual for families to have multiple cars and for them to drive long distances to work. For those who cannot afford cars getting around has become increasingly difficult. Public transport is poor and has worsened in recent years as a lack of maintenance has led to a shortage of public buses. Venezuelans complain about having to queue to get on trucks previously used to transport livestock. Many spend hours commuting to and from work. A rise in the price of fuel would not just hit those who drive their own cars as companies running bus routes would likely pass on the price hike to their customers. There have been very few fuel price rises since 1989 when such a rise - amid other austerity measures - sparked massive riots in Caracas and its environs. The president at the time sent troops into the streets to quell the riots and hundreds of people were killed. The incident, known as the Caracazo, has haunted Venezuelans ever since. Venezuela is rich in oil. It has the largest proven oil reserves in the world. But it is arguably precisely this wealth that is also at the root of many of its economic problems. Venezuela's oil revenues account for about 95% of its export earnings. This means that when oil prices were high, a lot of money was flowing into the coffers of the Venezuelan government. When socialist President Hugo Chavez was in power, from February 1999 until his death in March 2013, he used some of that money to finance generous social programmes to reduce inequality and poverty. But when oil prices dropped sharply in 2014, the government was suddenly faced with a gaping hole in its finances and had to cut back on some of its most popular programmes.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1340, "answer_start": 442, "text": "Venezuela's economy is in freefall, with the International Monetary Fund predicting inflation rates will reach a million percent this year - but the price of fuel has barely changed. The price of a litre of petrol in Venezuela currently stands at 1 bolivar. On the black market, Venezuelans pay more than 4m bolivares for one US dollar. That means that for the equivalent of one dollar, Venezuelans can fill the tank of a medium-sized car about 720 times. Smuggling the subsidised fuel from Venezuela into neighbouring countries, where prices are much higher, is big business. Venezuela loses $18bn to fuel smuggling annually, according to government figures. President Maduro says adapting Venezuelan fuel prices to international levels will stamp out smuggling. The move is part of a wider plan to increase government revenue in the face of falling oil production, Venezuela's main export income." } ], "id": "9406_0", "question": "What's behind the move?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2138, "answer_start": 1341, "text": "No, according to President Maduro \"only those individuals who don't answer the call to register will have to pay fuel at international prices\". The president said that all Venezuelans who hold the \"Fatherland ID\", a government-issued identity card introduced by his administration in 2017, will continue to receive \"direct subsidies\" for \"about two years\". However, many Venezuelans opposed to Mr Maduro's government have refused to get the ID cards, alleging they are used by officials to keep tabs on them. The price rise is therefore expected to hit opponents of President Maduro in greater numbers than those who support him. President Maduro said he would announce further details of how the new subsidies scheme would work in the coming days. It is expected to come into effect on 20 August." } ], "id": "9406_1", "question": "Will all Venezuelans have to pay full whack now?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3108, "answer_start": 2139, "text": "President Maduro introduced the new ID card in January 2017 arguing it would serve to make his socialist government's social programmes more effective. Getting the ID is free and voluntary for anyone over 15 but those who apply have to answer a series of questions about their socio-economic status and what state benefits, if any, they are receiving. According to government figures, by January 2018, 16.5 million Venezuelans out of 31.5 million citizens had applied for a \"Fatherland ID\". Only those who are in possession of the ID can apply to receive subsidised food parcels and other state benefits. Government critics opposed the introduction of the Fatherland ID from the start, arguing that there was no need for it as Venezuelans already had government-issued ID cards. They said that it was a way to restrict the hand-out of state benefits to government supporters. They also fear that the government uses the Fatherland ID to collect information on citizens." } ], "id": "9406_2", "question": "What's the 'Fatherland ID'?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3565, "answer_start": 3109, "text": "Unlikely, as smugglers who hold a Fatherland ID or apply for one will still be able to buy fuel at rock bottom prices and sell it at a massive profit in Colombia and other countries. Some opposition politicians fear that the measure will be used as a way to introduce petrol rationing through the back door by limiting the amount each individual can buy on his Fatherland ID. But so far no limits on the amount of petrol people can buy have been announced." } ], "id": "9406_3", "question": "Will the new measure end smuggling?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4554, "answer_start": 3566, "text": "Venezuelans are very car-dependant. It is not unusual for families to have multiple cars and for them to drive long distances to work. For those who cannot afford cars getting around has become increasingly difficult. Public transport is poor and has worsened in recent years as a lack of maintenance has led to a shortage of public buses. Venezuelans complain about having to queue to get on trucks previously used to transport livestock. Many spend hours commuting to and from work. A rise in the price of fuel would not just hit those who drive their own cars as companies running bus routes would likely pass on the price hike to their customers. There have been very few fuel price rises since 1989 when such a rise - amid other austerity measures - sparked massive riots in Caracas and its environs. The president at the time sent troops into the streets to quell the riots and hundreds of people were killed. The incident, known as the Caracazo, has haunted Venezuelans ever since." } ], "id": "9406_4", "question": "Why are fuel price rises so controversial?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5295, "answer_start": 4555, "text": "Venezuela is rich in oil. It has the largest proven oil reserves in the world. But it is arguably precisely this wealth that is also at the root of many of its economic problems. Venezuela's oil revenues account for about 95% of its export earnings. This means that when oil prices were high, a lot of money was flowing into the coffers of the Venezuelan government. When socialist President Hugo Chavez was in power, from February 1999 until his death in March 2013, he used some of that money to finance generous social programmes to reduce inequality and poverty. But when oil prices dropped sharply in 2014, the government was suddenly faced with a gaping hole in its finances and had to cut back on some of its most popular programmes." } ], "id": "9406_5", "question": "What's at the root of Venezuela's economic crisis?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The three men had been on assignment, investigating reports of Russian mercenaries fighting in Central African Republic, when their vehicle came under attack and they were shot dead. News of the ambush has led to tributes to the trio, but many questions remain about the circumstances behind their deaths, as Elizaveta Fokht and Sergey Goryashko explain. Renowned war correspondent Orkhan Dzhemal, documentary filmmaker Alexander Rastorguyev, and cameraman Kirill Radchenko were attacked at 19:00 on Monday as they travelled from the CAR capital Bangui to the town of Sibut, some 180km (112 miles) north, local officials say. They had been travelling at night despite warnings that it was not safe. Their mission was to look into reports that fighters from a Russian private military company (PMC), the Wagner Group, were operating there. Wagner PMC has hit the headlines before for its activities in Syria. More recent reports have emerged that the group may have also deployed to CAR. Russian officials and the Kremlin deny any ties with the fighters. However, Russia did send 180 trainers to Bangui in February, after receiving UN approval to train and arm the CAR military. Dzhemal, Rastorguyev and Radchenko had been sent to CAR by the Investigation Control Center (ICC), an investigative journalism project sponsored by exiled former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. All three were employed on a freelance basis. According to the ICC, the journalists had already visited the Berengo military base outside the capital where the CAR military is being trained by Russian instructors. Their next destination was the central town of Bambari, where they had arranged a meeting with a UN worker, the ICC says. \"He was going to provide information about the situation with Russian military trainers in CAR and he was going to help with the filming of gold mines at Ndassima.\" Russia said this year it was interested in developing CAR's natural resources. The three were ambushed by men, all wearing turbans and speaking Arabic, according to Marcelin Yoyo from the Sibut local administration. A government spokesman said that nine men in headscarves had stopped the journalists at a roadblock. They had then been shot and one had died on the spot while the others died later of their wounds. Their driver somehow managed to escape and raise the alarm. - Kirill Radchenko, 33, was a promising cameraman who had worked in Chechnya and more recently in Syria with the Anna news agency - Alexander Rastorguyev, 47, was well known for his work documenting the conflict in eastern Ukraine and particularly for his internet documentaries on Russia's opposition protests in 2011-12 - Orkhan Dzhemal, 51, had covered conflicts in Libya, Syria, eastern Ukraine and South Ossetia, working for Novaya Gazeta, Izvestia, Kommersant and TV channel Dozhd. Known as a fearless and calm war correspondent, colleagues remember him filing a report from a cemetery during the height of a battle in Ukraine Timeline: Central African Republic Neither the reason for the attack nor the identity of the killers is clear. Robbery could have been a motive, according to Interfax news agency. Colleagues of the three say expensive camera kit and more than $8,000 (PS6,100; EUR6,850) in cash disappeared from the scene. Russian state-owned news agency Tass speculated that the Seleka, a local mainly Muslim armed group, might have been involved. CAR has been unstable since the Seleka overthrew the then president in 2013 and a band of largely Christian militias rose up against the rebels. A UN peacekeeping mission of 13,000 is struggling to maintain order there. But why were the journalists not travelling with security guards? The killing of journalists in the CAR is rare, but not unknown. French photojournalist Camille Lepage died when she was caught up in fighting in 2014. ICC deputy editor Anastasia Gorshkova explained that they had faced big logistical challenges deploying to the CAR. It had taken weeks to find a Russian-speaking interpreter and finding any security advisers had proved impossible, she said. The team, all experienced war reporters, had therefore decided to go it alone. Questions have been raised about the team's driver, who escaped the attack in circumstances that are yet to be fully explained. Anastasia Gorshkova told the BBC that, in the days before the attack, ICC editors in Moscow had raised concerns about the man after it emerged the group had been stopped by the police close to their hotel and forced to pay a bribe. The driver had apparently acted as go-between, translating for the police and negotiating payment. However, Kirill Radchenko had assured his editors that the driver was not working for the police and there was no cause for alarm, the editor said. The Central African Republic does not have functional armed forces and the state of security is dire. UN peacekeepers are overstretched and rebel groups control large parts of the country. There have been attempts to revive the military, and this is where Russia enters the scene. In December 2017, Moscow persuaded the UN Security Council to allow an exemption from a small arms ban to the CAR army. It sent specialists to train the forces and some security agents to be part of President Faustin Touadera's presidential guard. Is Wagner PMC involved? Observers think so. Russia has also signed deals with the CAR for mineral extraction and has talked to rebel groups in some mining areas. It is not clear whether Wagner mercenaries are involved in these other activities. Additional reporting by Tomi Oladipo, BBC Monitoring's Africa security correspondent", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2344, "answer_start": 355, "text": "Renowned war correspondent Orkhan Dzhemal, documentary filmmaker Alexander Rastorguyev, and cameraman Kirill Radchenko were attacked at 19:00 on Monday as they travelled from the CAR capital Bangui to the town of Sibut, some 180km (112 miles) north, local officials say. They had been travelling at night despite warnings that it was not safe. Their mission was to look into reports that fighters from a Russian private military company (PMC), the Wagner Group, were operating there. Wagner PMC has hit the headlines before for its activities in Syria. More recent reports have emerged that the group may have also deployed to CAR. Russian officials and the Kremlin deny any ties with the fighters. However, Russia did send 180 trainers to Bangui in February, after receiving UN approval to train and arm the CAR military. Dzhemal, Rastorguyev and Radchenko had been sent to CAR by the Investigation Control Center (ICC), an investigative journalism project sponsored by exiled former tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky. All three were employed on a freelance basis. According to the ICC, the journalists had already visited the Berengo military base outside the capital where the CAR military is being trained by Russian instructors. Their next destination was the central town of Bambari, where they had arranged a meeting with a UN worker, the ICC says. \"He was going to provide information about the situation with Russian military trainers in CAR and he was going to help with the filming of gold mines at Ndassima.\" Russia said this year it was interested in developing CAR's natural resources. The three were ambushed by men, all wearing turbans and speaking Arabic, according to Marcelin Yoyo from the Sibut local administration. A government spokesman said that nine men in headscarves had stopped the journalists at a roadblock. They had then been shot and one had died on the spot while the others died later of their wounds. Their driver somehow managed to escape and raise the alarm." } ], "id": "9407_0", "question": "What happened?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4166, "answer_start": 3013, "text": "Neither the reason for the attack nor the identity of the killers is clear. Robbery could have been a motive, according to Interfax news agency. Colleagues of the three say expensive camera kit and more than $8,000 (PS6,100; EUR6,850) in cash disappeared from the scene. Russian state-owned news agency Tass speculated that the Seleka, a local mainly Muslim armed group, might have been involved. CAR has been unstable since the Seleka overthrew the then president in 2013 and a band of largely Christian militias rose up against the rebels. A UN peacekeeping mission of 13,000 is struggling to maintain order there. But why were the journalists not travelling with security guards? The killing of journalists in the CAR is rare, but not unknown. French photojournalist Camille Lepage died when she was caught up in fighting in 2014. ICC deputy editor Anastasia Gorshkova explained that they had faced big logistical challenges deploying to the CAR. It had taken weeks to find a Russian-speaking interpreter and finding any security advisers had proved impossible, she said. The team, all experienced war reporters, had therefore decided to go it alone." } ], "id": "9407_1", "question": "Who was behind the attack?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4773, "answer_start": 4167, "text": "Questions have been raised about the team's driver, who escaped the attack in circumstances that are yet to be fully explained. Anastasia Gorshkova told the BBC that, in the days before the attack, ICC editors in Moscow had raised concerns about the man after it emerged the group had been stopped by the police close to their hotel and forced to pay a bribe. The driver had apparently acted as go-between, translating for the police and negotiating payment. However, Kirill Radchenko had assured his editors that the driver was not working for the police and there was no cause for alarm, the editor said." } ], "id": "9407_2", "question": "How did the driver survive?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The academic at the centre of the Facebook data scandal has said the social network is in full-on \"PR crisis mode\". Aleksandr Kogan's remarks came as he faced a grilling over his role from MPs. The social network was fully aware that its platform \"was being mined by thousands of others\", he said. He also rubbished Cambridge Analytica boss Alexander Nix's initial claims that it had not received data from him. \"That is a fabrication,\" he said. In a later clarification, Cambridge Analytica did admit that it had licensed data from the firm set up by Dr Kogan, although denied that the information was used in the US elections. At a press conference held after Dr Kogan's appearance before the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Cambridge Analytica spokesman Clarence Mitchell said the company was \"no Bond villain\". \"Data analysis is commonly used for better targeting and is perfectly legitimate. It is not some Bond-like brainwashing as has been portrayed by some.\" Dr Kogan was questioned by MPs about his role in the data harvesting row. He revealed that he had signed a non-disclosure agreement with Facebook, which prevented him from revealing some details about his relationship with the tech giant to the MPs. The Cambridge academic has become a central figure in the debate over whether the personal information of millions of Facebook users was used in US elections without their consent. During the committee hearing, he explained that he was approached by SCL - the parent firm of Cambridge Analytica - in spring 2014 about monetising an app he had developed at the University of Cambridge's Psychology Department. He set up a commercial entity - Global Science Research - and later developed the personality quiz My Digital Life for SCL, using a market research firm to recruit 200,000 people to take part. At the time, the social network's terms and conditions - which have since been changed - allowed developers to cull the details of all of these people's friends as well. \"Initially the conversations with SCL were about consulting services, survey designs and the interest in Facebook data grew out of that,\" he said. MPs grilled him on the relationship with business partner Joseph Chancellor, with whom he set up GSR and who is now employed by Facebook. \"Facebook has called your company a scam and a fraud. Is it not odd that they employ someone who by their admission has violated the platform's policies?\" asked committee chairman Damian Collins. \"I don't believe that they actually believe this. They know that their platform is being mined left and right by thousands of others,\" Dr Kogan replied. \"It is convenient to point the finger at my firm and call it a rogue agency,\" he added. He was asked whether the firm had been set up as a money-making exercise and replied that it had only received PS230,000 in total. Initial payments of between PS600,000 and PS800,000 from SCL were used to pay those who agreed to take the quiz, he said. In written evidence presented ahead of the committee, Dr Kogan pointed out that the personality scores provided to Cambridge Analytica's parent firm SCL were \"highly inaccurate\". \"We estimate that we were right about all five traits for about 1% of the people.\" He added that the data would not have been useful for micro-targeting ads on Facebook. Following his appearance, Cambridge Analytica broke its silence on the row with a press conference held in London. Spokesman Clarence Mitchell agreed that the data Dr Kogan had provided to the company had been \"virtually useless\". \"It was only just above random guessing in statistical terms,\" he said. He reiterated that the data had not been used in the US presidential campaign and that while Cambridge Analytica had pitched for work to both Vote Leave and Remain, it had undertaken no work for either side in the EU referendum campaign. He said the results of an independent inquiry into the company were due imminently. When questioned about the notable absence of currently suspended Cambridge Analytica chief executive Alexander Nix, Mr Mitchell said he was \"not here to speak for him\". But he defended Mr Nix's decision to \"postpone\" an appearance in front of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee. \"He is keen and willing to speak to the DCMS committee but has been advised that he should not do so while an independent inquiry is ongoing.\" On Thursday, Facebook's chief technology officer, Mike Schroepfer, will be questioned by the committee.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3325, "answer_start": 980, "text": "Dr Kogan was questioned by MPs about his role in the data harvesting row. He revealed that he had signed a non-disclosure agreement with Facebook, which prevented him from revealing some details about his relationship with the tech giant to the MPs. The Cambridge academic has become a central figure in the debate over whether the personal information of millions of Facebook users was used in US elections without their consent. During the committee hearing, he explained that he was approached by SCL - the parent firm of Cambridge Analytica - in spring 2014 about monetising an app he had developed at the University of Cambridge's Psychology Department. He set up a commercial entity - Global Science Research - and later developed the personality quiz My Digital Life for SCL, using a market research firm to recruit 200,000 people to take part. At the time, the social network's terms and conditions - which have since been changed - allowed developers to cull the details of all of these people's friends as well. \"Initially the conversations with SCL were about consulting services, survey designs and the interest in Facebook data grew out of that,\" he said. MPs grilled him on the relationship with business partner Joseph Chancellor, with whom he set up GSR and who is now employed by Facebook. \"Facebook has called your company a scam and a fraud. Is it not odd that they employ someone who by their admission has violated the platform's policies?\" asked committee chairman Damian Collins. \"I don't believe that they actually believe this. They know that their platform is being mined left and right by thousands of others,\" Dr Kogan replied. \"It is convenient to point the finger at my firm and call it a rogue agency,\" he added. He was asked whether the firm had been set up as a money-making exercise and replied that it had only received PS230,000 in total. Initial payments of between PS600,000 and PS800,000 from SCL were used to pay those who agreed to take the quiz, he said. In written evidence presented ahead of the committee, Dr Kogan pointed out that the personality scores provided to Cambridge Analytica's parent firm SCL were \"highly inaccurate\". \"We estimate that we were right about all five traits for about 1% of the people.\" He added that the data would not have been useful for micro-targeting ads on Facebook." } ], "id": "9408_0", "question": "Money-making exercise?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Israel and Jordan have agreed on moves aimed at reducing tensions surrounding a prominent holy site in Jerusalem, US Secretary of State John Kerry says. Issues relating to the complex have been at the centre of fresh violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Mr Kerry was speaking after talks in Jordan, the formal custodian of what is known to Jews as the Temple Mount and as Haram al-Sharif to Muslims. He said Israel had renewed a pledge to maintain existing rules there. In the latest upsurge of violence, at least eight Israelis have been killed and dozens wounded in knife or gun attacks by Palestinians, following rumours that Israel was planning to change the rules - something Israel denies. About 50 Palestinians, including several of the attackers, have been killed in recent weeks. Mr Kerry, who is on a tour of the region, met Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and King Abdullah of Jordan in Amman on Saturday. \"All the violence and the incitement to violence must stop. Leaders must lead,'' Mr Kerry told reporters. The steps he announced include round-the-clock video monitoring and Israel's agreement to reaffirm Jordan's historic role as custodian of the religious complex. \"There are serious additional issues, security and otherwise, between Israelis and Palestinians that must be addressed but we've agreed that this is a first step to creating some space in order to allow us to resume those steps and that dialogue,\" he said. Mr Kerry met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday, and said the talks had raised ideas that were worth exploring. Later on Saturday, Mr Kerry will travel to Saudi Arabia for talks with regional leaders. In the latest violence, Israeli police said they shot dead a Palestinian attacker in the northern West Bank early on Saturday. \"A terrorist, who arrived armed with a knife, tried to stab a security guard at the site. In response, the terrorist was shot by the security force,\" it said, according to AFP news agency. There has been a spate of stabbings of Israelis and some shootings - several of them fatal - by Palestinians since early October, and one apparent revenge stabbing by an Israeli. The attackers have struck in Jerusalem and across Israel, and in the occupied West Bank. Israel has tightened security and its security forces have clashed with rioting Palestinians, leading to deaths on the Palestinian side. The violence has also spread to the border with Gaza. After a period of relative quiet, violence between the two communities has spiralled since clashes erupted at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site in mid-September. It was fuelled by rumours among Palestinians that Israel was attempting to alter a long-standing religious arrangement governing the site. Israel repeatedly dismissed the rumours as incitement. Soon afterwards, two Israelis were shot dead by Palestinians in the West Bank and the stabbing attacks began. Both Israel and the Palestinian authorities have accused one another of doing nothing to protect each other's communities. There have been two organised uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation, in the 1980s and early 2000s. With peace talks moribund, some observers have questioned whether we are now seeing a third. The stabbing attacks seem to be opportunistic and although they have been praised by militant groups, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said Palestinians are not interested in a further escalation. What is driving the latest violence?", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2443, "answer_start": 1985, "text": "There has been a spate of stabbings of Israelis and some shootings - several of them fatal - by Palestinians since early October, and one apparent revenge stabbing by an Israeli. The attackers have struck in Jerusalem and across Israel, and in the occupied West Bank. Israel has tightened security and its security forces have clashed with rioting Palestinians, leading to deaths on the Palestinian side. The violence has also spread to the border with Gaza." } ], "id": "9409_0", "question": "What is happening between Israelis and Palestinians?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3031, "answer_start": 2444, "text": "After a period of relative quiet, violence between the two communities has spiralled since clashes erupted at a flashpoint Jerusalem holy site in mid-September. It was fuelled by rumours among Palestinians that Israel was attempting to alter a long-standing religious arrangement governing the site. Israel repeatedly dismissed the rumours as incitement. Soon afterwards, two Israelis were shot dead by Palestinians in the West Bank and the stabbing attacks began. Both Israel and the Palestinian authorities have accused one another of doing nothing to protect each other's communities." } ], "id": "9409_1", "question": "What's behind the latest unrest?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3476, "answer_start": 3032, "text": "There have been two organised uprisings by Palestinians against Israeli occupation, in the 1980s and early 2000s. With peace talks moribund, some observers have questioned whether we are now seeing a third. The stabbing attacks seem to be opportunistic and although they have been praised by militant groups, Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has said Palestinians are not interested in a further escalation. What is driving the latest violence?" } ], "id": "9409_2", "question": "Is this a new Palestinian intifada, or uprising?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Theresa May has ruled out lowering the voting age at UK elections if the Conservatives win power on 8 June. Labour, the Lib Dems, the SNP and the Greens all back votes at 16 - only UKIP and the Tories are against it. Sixteen-and 17-year-olds were allowed to take part in 2014's Scottish independence referendum. But Mrs May will tell BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour she believed it was \"right\" to keep the current minimum age of 18 at UK-wide elections. \"This is one of those questions where you have to draw a line,\" she will say in an interview to be broadcast at 2200 GMT. \"You have to pick a point at which you think it is right for the voting age to be. I continue to think it is right for it to be 18.\" How many people are registering to vote? Would visiting Parliament inspire you to vote? Greens demand votes for 16-year-olds In an interview with presenter Carolyn Quinn, she argued there are other ways for young people to participate, saying: \"The implication from your question is that the only way to get engaged in politics is by casting a vote. \"I think it is important young people watch politics, pay attention to politics, get to think about their own views and where possible start to get involved.\" Asked what Conservatives were offering to appeal to young people, she called attention to forthcoming talks on Brexit. \"We have to get those negotiations right and we have to get them right for those young people's futures,\" she said. She was also challenged on changes to the housing benefit element of Universal Credit which exclude 18- to 21-year-olds. She told the Westminster Hour: \"I don't think any of us wants to see any one sleeping rough on our streets. \"We are putting PS500m over these five years into homelessness, into preventing homelessness.\" Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas told the BBC: \"We should be trusting young people to have a real say about the future direction of their country, not shutting them out.\" SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson highlighted that as well as voting in the 2014 referendum, Scottish 16- and 17-year-olds can vote in local and Holyrood elections. \"It is ridiculous that thousands of young people who voted in the Scottish local elections just weeks ago are now being denied a say on their future in this Westminster election,\" he said. Lib Dem spokesman Tom Brake accused Theresa May of \"robbing young people of future opportunities through her damaging hard Brexit agenda\", adding: \"It's no surprise she is now refusing to give 16- and 17-year-olds the vote.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2530, "answer_start": 1777, "text": "Green Party co-leader Caroline Lucas told the BBC: \"We should be trusting young people to have a real say about the future direction of their country, not shutting them out.\" SNP deputy leader Angus Robertson highlighted that as well as voting in the 2014 referendum, Scottish 16- and 17-year-olds can vote in local and Holyrood elections. \"It is ridiculous that thousands of young people who voted in the Scottish local elections just weeks ago are now being denied a say on their future in this Westminster election,\" he said. Lib Dem spokesman Tom Brake accused Theresa May of \"robbing young people of future opportunities through her damaging hard Brexit agenda\", adding: \"It's no surprise she is now refusing to give 16- and 17-year-olds the vote.\"" } ], "id": "9410_0", "question": "What are the other parties saying?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A German far-right party has beaten the centre-right party of Chancellor Angela Merkel into third place in the eastern German state of Thuringia. Alternative for Germany (AfD) got 23.4% against 22% for the Christian Democrats (CDU). The AfD more than doubled its vote, from 10.6% five years ago. The AfD is stronger in ex-communist eastern Germany than in western states. The far-left Die Linke party, part of Thuringia's ruling coalition, won the state election with just over 30%. It plans to lead a new coalition, but that may prove difficult, as the CDU has refused to work with Die Linke. No mainstream party is willing to do a coalition deal with the AfD, which is anti-immigration and anti-establishment. The Thuringia AfD is led by Bjorn Hocke, 47, who heads a stridently nationalist group called Flugel and has been accused of inflammatory rhetoric. During the campaign, his CDU rival in Thuringia, Mike Mohring, called him a \"Nazi\". Mr Hocke has expressed controversial views about the Nazi period: he once deplored Berlin's Holocaust memorial as a \"monument of shame\". The CDU's junior partner in the national ruling coalition, the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD), saw its support crumble from 12.4% to 8% in Thuringia. So the result is seen as a significant setback for the central government. It is expected to intensify leadership battles in both ruling parties. Analysis by the BBC's Damien McGuinness in Berlin The election results have thrown Angela Merkel's CDU into turmoil. Until 2014, Thuringia was a CDU stronghold. But on Sunday the party came third, beaten by the far-left and the far-right. The region's CDU leaders have been unusually blunt about who they blame: the national party in Berlin, which is accused of drift as it prepares for the post-Merkel era. Chancellor Merkel herself remains untainted - she stepped down as party leader earlier this year, precisely to avoid a defeat in eastern Germany, where she is a hate figure for the AfD. But it is a blow for the CDU's new leader Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, whose chances of being the next chancellor have been fading after a series of recent missteps. More conservative rivals, who feel they have a better chance of beating the AfD, are already circling. The CDU is split over whether to work with Die Linke in Thuringia. The CDU's policy rules it out. But CDU leaders in Thuringia disagree, and say they are open to talks. For the conservatives, even talking to a party with roots in East German communism would be a political earthquake. \"For Thuringia and the democratic centre this is a bitter result,\" said the CDU's Mike Mohring. \"We fought for this democratic centre and this democratic centre did not get a majority.\" The AfD was founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party but dramatically shifted its focus to immigration and Islam, building support during the migrant crisis of 2015. \"The sun is rising above the east and soon we will let the sun shine above all of Germany,\" Mr Hocke told chanting supporters on Sunday. \"We have made the east blue [the AfD colour] and in just a few years, we will be a people's party for all of Germany.\" Two years ago, the AfD shocked Germany's political establishment, acutely sensitive to the country's Nazi past, when it won 12.6% of the vote in a general election and entered parliament for the first time. The government warned this month of a high threat posed by right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism and right-wing terrorism. Bodo Ramelow, who became Die Linke's first state premier in 2014 in Thuringia, told Germanys ARD channel he saw himself \"clearly strengthened\". \"My party clearly has the mandate to govern and I will take it up,\" he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3719, "answer_start": 2527, "text": "\"For Thuringia and the democratic centre this is a bitter result,\" said the CDU's Mike Mohring. \"We fought for this democratic centre and this democratic centre did not get a majority.\" The AfD was founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party but dramatically shifted its focus to immigration and Islam, building support during the migrant crisis of 2015. \"The sun is rising above the east and soon we will let the sun shine above all of Germany,\" Mr Hocke told chanting supporters on Sunday. \"We have made the east blue [the AfD colour] and in just a few years, we will be a people's party for all of Germany.\" Two years ago, the AfD shocked Germany's political establishment, acutely sensitive to the country's Nazi past, when it won 12.6% of the vote in a general election and entered parliament for the first time. The government warned this month of a high threat posed by right-wing extremism, anti-Semitism and right-wing terrorism. Bodo Ramelow, who became Die Linke's first state premier in 2014 in Thuringia, told Germanys ARD channel he saw himself \"clearly strengthened\". \"My party clearly has the mandate to govern and I will take it up,\" he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency." } ], "id": "9411_0", "question": "Why does the AfD alarm mainstream Germany so much?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Democratic White House front-runners Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders are offering starkly diverging visions for America in a TV debate. Mr Biden, a moderate, and Mr Sanders, an ultraliberal, are battling for the soul of the party as it ponders how best to take on President Donald Trump. Eight other candidates are vying on the stage in Miami, Florida, to impress voters ahead of next year's election. Sparks flew in the first debate with 10 other Democrats on Wednesday night. The crowd of contenders will be winnowed until a winner is picked at the party convention in July next year. He or she will face the Republican president in the November 2020 election. Mr Biden, who served two terms as Barack Obama's vice-president, is aiming to consolidate his status at the tip of the field on Thursday night after recent missteps. The 76-year-old has flip-flopped on abortion, recanted after provoking liberal ire for calling Vice-President Mike Pence \"a decent guy\", and was strafed for touting his work decades ago with senators who favoured racial segregation. Mr Biden is an ideological centrist notable for his professed willingness to work with Republicans in order to govern. He has warned that embracing a more left-leaning platform will alienate the very working-class voters Democrats need to overcome Mr Trump. As pack leader, the former Delaware senator found a bullseye on his back as he took to the podium before a national TV audience of millions. He is flanked by nine competitors, including Mr Sanders standing right next to him, and they may sorely test his above-the-fray posture. On the stump, avowed Democratic socialist Mr Sanders has recently been attacking Mr Biden's record on trade and his vote for the Iraq war. The 77-year-old Vermont senator, who lost out to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 race for the party nomination, is promising a political revolution including free healthcare and cancelling student debt. But Mr Sanders has been losing ground in recent opinion polls to a rival liberal firebrand, Senator Elizabeth Warren. As the debate began, Mr Sanders confirmed he would raise taxes on American working families, but said they would end up paying less overall because of savings on healthcare. Biden pledged instead to eliminate Mr Trump's tax cuts for the wealthy. Mr Sanders pilloried the president as \"a pathological liar and a racist\". Choose your candidate and filter by category While the duel between the old guard heavyweights unfolds, younger candidates have a chance to present themselves as the future of the Democratic party. Two other top-tier candidates are setting out their policy stalls: Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and 54-year-old Senator Kamala Harris of California. Both enjoyed brief initial surges in popularity, but their campaigns have so far not lived up to supporters' high hopes. Mr Buttigieg, a Harvard-educated military veteran, has been criticised back home for his handling of the police shooting of a black man, exposing fissures in his appeal to African Americans. Both have been jabbing at Mr Biden. Ms Harris has criticised the former vice-president for supporting a 1994 crime bill now blamed for mass incarceration of black men. Debate-watchers are keen to see whether the former San Francisco prosecutor will repeat that line of attack to his face. The only black woman in the field, she has been hotly tipped as a running mate for Mr Biden if he wins the nomination. The forum will include six other candidates who are all polling at one per cent or less. They are Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Michael Bennet, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, congressman Eric Swalwell, self-help guru Marianne Williamson and entrepreneur Andrew Yang. Mr Biden found himself under early attack on an issue that he has presented as one of his strengths - political longevity. Mr Swalwell said: \"I was six years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic convention and said, 'It's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans.' \"That candidate was then-Senator Joe Biden. Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation Americans 32 years ago - he's still right today.\" Mr Biden retorted: \"I'm still holding on to that torch.\" Fellow septuagenarian Mr Sanders interjected: \"The issue, if I may say, is not generational. The issue is who has the guts to take on Wall Street, to take on the fossil fuel industry, to take on the big money interests.\" As the debated descended into a free-for-all shouting match, Ms Harris was cheered for saying: \"America does not want to witness a food fight - they want to know how we're going to put food on their table!\" Healthcare dominated the first half hour of the debate. All of the candidates raised their hands when asked who would provide healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants. But they argued over whether there should be government-run healthcare, or incremental change to the current US medical system dominated by the private marketplace. Mr Sanders outlined his plan for Medicare for All, a programme along the lines of Britain's NHS, though he was short on specifics of how it would be delivered. But Mr Biden said he opposed any Democrat that was against Obamacare, a veiled jab at Mr Sanders. Mr Biden pledged to build on Obamacare, saying: \"Urgency matters.\" The flow of undocumented migrants over the US-Mexico border inspired two of the most powerful answers of the night. Her voice cracking, Ms Harris said: \"A mother who pays a coyote to transport her child through their country of origin, through the entire country of Mexico, facing unknown peril, to come here. Why would that mother do that? \"I will tell you. Because she has decided for that child to remain where they are is worse. But what does Donald Trump do? He says, 'Go back to where you came from.' That is not reflective of our America and our values and it's got to to end!\" Mr Buttigieg drew more applause as he accused the Republican party of religious hypocrisy. \"For a party that associates itself with Christianity, to say it is OK, to suggest that that God would smile on the division of families at the hands of federal agents, that God would condone putting children in cages, has lost all claim to ever use religion language again,\" he said. One of the moderators pointed out to Mr Biden that the Obama administration had deported more than three million Americans, and asked if undocumented migrants should be kicked out of the country. \"Depending on if they committed a major crime, they should be deported.\" Ms Warren is widely judged to have cemented her top-tier status after emerging from the debating ring on Wednesday night without a glove being laid upon her. The Massachusetts senator, who has pledged to institute a wealth tax and break up tech giants, railed on stage against nationwide income disparities as \"corruption, pure and simple\". Several lesser-known contenders turned their fire on one another as they vied to emerge from the shadows with only a limited time to make an impression. Ex-congressman Beto O'Rourke, Senator Cory Booker, former San Antonio mayor Julian Castro and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio clashed on everything from healthcare to foreign policy and immigration. They were united in opposition to Mr Trump, but disagreed on the extent to which the next president should shift the nation on a more liberal course - a theme sure to resurface on Thursday night. The first debate hauled in a surprisingly large 15.3 million viewers, according to estimates released by host NBC. The climactic round two is expected to draw an even bigger audience.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2370, "answer_start": 660, "text": "Mr Biden, who served two terms as Barack Obama's vice-president, is aiming to consolidate his status at the tip of the field on Thursday night after recent missteps. The 76-year-old has flip-flopped on abortion, recanted after provoking liberal ire for calling Vice-President Mike Pence \"a decent guy\", and was strafed for touting his work decades ago with senators who favoured racial segregation. Mr Biden is an ideological centrist notable for his professed willingness to work with Republicans in order to govern. He has warned that embracing a more left-leaning platform will alienate the very working-class voters Democrats need to overcome Mr Trump. As pack leader, the former Delaware senator found a bullseye on his back as he took to the podium before a national TV audience of millions. He is flanked by nine competitors, including Mr Sanders standing right next to him, and they may sorely test his above-the-fray posture. On the stump, avowed Democratic socialist Mr Sanders has recently been attacking Mr Biden's record on trade and his vote for the Iraq war. The 77-year-old Vermont senator, who lost out to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 race for the party nomination, is promising a political revolution including free healthcare and cancelling student debt. But Mr Sanders has been losing ground in recent opinion polls to a rival liberal firebrand, Senator Elizabeth Warren. As the debate began, Mr Sanders confirmed he would raise taxes on American working families, but said they would end up paying less overall because of savings on healthcare. Biden pledged instead to eliminate Mr Trump's tax cuts for the wealthy. Mr Sanders pilloried the president as \"a pathological liar and a racist\"." } ], "id": "9412_0", "question": "What's at stake in Biden v Sanders?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3756, "answer_start": 2416, "text": "While the duel between the old guard heavyweights unfolds, younger candidates have a chance to present themselves as the future of the Democratic party. Two other top-tier candidates are setting out their policy stalls: Pete Buttigieg, the 37-year-old gay mayor of South Bend, Indiana, and 54-year-old Senator Kamala Harris of California. Both enjoyed brief initial surges in popularity, but their campaigns have so far not lived up to supporters' high hopes. Mr Buttigieg, a Harvard-educated military veteran, has been criticised back home for his handling of the police shooting of a black man, exposing fissures in his appeal to African Americans. Both have been jabbing at Mr Biden. Ms Harris has criticised the former vice-president for supporting a 1994 crime bill now blamed for mass incarceration of black men. Debate-watchers are keen to see whether the former San Francisco prosecutor will repeat that line of attack to his face. The only black woman in the field, she has been hotly tipped as a running mate for Mr Biden if he wins the nomination. The forum will include six other candidates who are all polling at one per cent or less. They are Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Michael Bennet, former Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, congressman Eric Swalwell, self-help guru Marianne Williamson and entrepreneur Andrew Yang." } ], "id": "9412_1", "question": "Who else is on stage?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4729, "answer_start": 3757, "text": "Mr Biden found himself under early attack on an issue that he has presented as one of his strengths - political longevity. Mr Swalwell said: \"I was six years old when a presidential candidate came to the California Democratic convention and said, 'It's time to pass the torch to a new generation of Americans.' \"That candidate was then-Senator Joe Biden. Joe Biden was right when he said it was time to pass the torch to a new generation Americans 32 years ago - he's still right today.\" Mr Biden retorted: \"I'm still holding on to that torch.\" Fellow septuagenarian Mr Sanders interjected: \"The issue, if I may say, is not generational. The issue is who has the guts to take on Wall Street, to take on the fossil fuel industry, to take on the big money interests.\" As the debated descended into a free-for-all shouting match, Ms Harris was cheered for saying: \"America does not want to witness a food fight - they want to know how we're going to put food on their table!\"" } ], "id": "9412_2", "question": "How did age become an issue?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5394, "answer_start": 4730, "text": "Healthcare dominated the first half hour of the debate. All of the candidates raised their hands when asked who would provide healthcare coverage for undocumented immigrants. But they argued over whether there should be government-run healthcare, or incremental change to the current US medical system dominated by the private marketplace. Mr Sanders outlined his plan for Medicare for All, a programme along the lines of Britain's NHS, though he was short on specifics of how it would be delivered. But Mr Biden said he opposed any Democrat that was against Obamacare, a veiled jab at Mr Sanders. Mr Biden pledged to build on Obamacare, saying: \"Urgency matters.\"" } ], "id": "9412_3", "question": "What did they say on healthcare?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6625, "answer_start": 5395, "text": "The flow of undocumented migrants over the US-Mexico border inspired two of the most powerful answers of the night. Her voice cracking, Ms Harris said: \"A mother who pays a coyote to transport her child through their country of origin, through the entire country of Mexico, facing unknown peril, to come here. Why would that mother do that? \"I will tell you. Because she has decided for that child to remain where they are is worse. But what does Donald Trump do? He says, 'Go back to where you came from.' That is not reflective of our America and our values and it's got to to end!\" Mr Buttigieg drew more applause as he accused the Republican party of religious hypocrisy. \"For a party that associates itself with Christianity, to say it is OK, to suggest that that God would smile on the division of families at the hands of federal agents, that God would condone putting children in cages, has lost all claim to ever use religion language again,\" he said. One of the moderators pointed out to Mr Biden that the Obama administration had deported more than three million Americans, and asked if undocumented migrants should be kicked out of the country. \"Depending on if they committed a major crime, they should be deported.\"" } ], "id": "9412_4", "question": "What did they say on immigration?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7696, "answer_start": 6626, "text": "Ms Warren is widely judged to have cemented her top-tier status after emerging from the debating ring on Wednesday night without a glove being laid upon her. The Massachusetts senator, who has pledged to institute a wealth tax and break up tech giants, railed on stage against nationwide income disparities as \"corruption, pure and simple\". Several lesser-known contenders turned their fire on one another as they vied to emerge from the shadows with only a limited time to make an impression. Ex-congressman Beto O'Rourke, Senator Cory Booker, former San Antonio mayor Julian Castro and New York Mayor Bill de Blasio clashed on everything from healthcare to foreign policy and immigration. They were united in opposition to Mr Trump, but disagreed on the extent to which the next president should shift the nation on a more liberal course - a theme sure to resurface on Thursday night. The first debate hauled in a surprisingly large 15.3 million viewers, according to estimates released by host NBC. The climactic round two is expected to draw an even bigger audience." } ], "id": "9412_5", "question": "How did the first debate go?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A dual citizenship saga that has captivated Australian politics for three months will be debated in the nation's highest court from Tuesday. It will test the cases of seven parliamentarians who held an additional citizenship when they were elected last year. Under Section 44(i) of Australia's constitution, politicians cannot stand for federal office if they are \"a subject or citizen of a foreign power\". However, some argue the rules are not clear-cut. If some or all of the politicians are ruled ineligible, it could have significant consequences for the government. Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who learned in August that he had inherited New Zealand citizenship at birth, will draw the greatest interest. Mr Joyce is a member of the House of Representatives, which determines government. At present, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has only a one-seat majority in the lower house. The other politicians under citizenship scrutiny were elected to the Senate. The government argues that only MPs who \"voluntarily obtained, or retained\" dual citizenship should be ineligible. Mr Joyce would lose his seat, prompting a probable by-election. Having renounced his dual citizenship in August, Mr Joyce would be free to contest a by-election and he would start as frontrunner. Alternatively, the court could order a recount of last year's election votes, redistributing those won by Mr Joyce and electing a runner-up. However, most experts say this scenario is unlikely. If Mr Joyce did not retain or reclaim his seat, Mr Turnbull's numbers in the 150-seat parliament would drop from 76 to 75. This means he would oversee a minority government and rely on independent MPs to pass legislation, making his life harder. That prospect is not realistic, Australian political experts have told the BBC. Even without Mr Joyce, Mr Turnbull would still have six more seats than the Labor opposition, which has 69. To force a change in government, every independent and opposition MP would need to join a vote of no confidence - an unlikely prospect. \"You can't just bring down governments on the floor on a whim. There would have to be something seriously wrong,\" said Antony Green, an election analyst for the Australian Broadcasting Corp. He explained that as meaning an additional, severe justification - such as evidence of corruption, of which there is none. \"Even if Barnaby Joyce is defeated, the government would be in a stronger position than the [Julia] Gillard government was in any period of their three years,\" he said. Ms Gillard formed a minority government in 2010 with only 72 seats, after winning the support of four independent MPs. \"It [losing Mr Joyce] would be uncomfortable for the government but would not bring the government down or cause a new election,\" said Rodney Smith, a politics professor at the University of Sydney. As senators, the other politicians - if ruled ineligible - would be replaced by members of their own party. The government does not have a majority in the Senate, so this would not necessarily make its position more difficult there. The High Court of Australia hearing will run for three consecutive days from Tuesday. A ruling could come as early as Thursday, but legal experts say it could also take longer - possibly even weeks - if the court decides that is necessary.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1086, "answer_start": 571, "text": "Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, who learned in August that he had inherited New Zealand citizenship at birth, will draw the greatest interest. Mr Joyce is a member of the House of Representatives, which determines government. At present, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has only a one-seat majority in the lower house. The other politicians under citizenship scrutiny were elected to the Senate. The government argues that only MPs who \"voluntarily obtained, or retained\" dual citizenship should be ineligible." } ], "id": "9413_0", "question": "Whose case is the most crucial?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1722, "answer_start": 1087, "text": "Mr Joyce would lose his seat, prompting a probable by-election. Having renounced his dual citizenship in August, Mr Joyce would be free to contest a by-election and he would start as frontrunner. Alternatively, the court could order a recount of last year's election votes, redistributing those won by Mr Joyce and electing a runner-up. However, most experts say this scenario is unlikely. If Mr Joyce did not retain or reclaim his seat, Mr Turnbull's numbers in the 150-seat parliament would drop from 76 to 75. This means he would oversee a minority government and rely on independent MPs to pass legislation, making his life harder." } ], "id": "9413_1", "question": "What happens if he is ineligible?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2847, "answer_start": 1723, "text": "That prospect is not realistic, Australian political experts have told the BBC. Even without Mr Joyce, Mr Turnbull would still have six more seats than the Labor opposition, which has 69. To force a change in government, every independent and opposition MP would need to join a vote of no confidence - an unlikely prospect. \"You can't just bring down governments on the floor on a whim. There would have to be something seriously wrong,\" said Antony Green, an election analyst for the Australian Broadcasting Corp. He explained that as meaning an additional, severe justification - such as evidence of corruption, of which there is none. \"Even if Barnaby Joyce is defeated, the government would be in a stronger position than the [Julia] Gillard government was in any period of their three years,\" he said. Ms Gillard formed a minority government in 2010 with only 72 seats, after winning the support of four independent MPs. \"It [losing Mr Joyce] would be uncomfortable for the government but would not bring the government down or cause a new election,\" said Rodney Smith, a politics professor at the University of Sydney." } ], "id": "9413_2", "question": "In that case, could the government fall?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3080, "answer_start": 2848, "text": "As senators, the other politicians - if ruled ineligible - would be replaced by members of their own party. The government does not have a majority in the Senate, so this would not necessarily make its position more difficult there." } ], "id": "9413_3", "question": "What about the six other 'dual citizen' MPs?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3320, "answer_start": 3081, "text": "The High Court of Australia hearing will run for three consecutive days from Tuesday. A ruling could come as early as Thursday, but legal experts say it could also take longer - possibly even weeks - if the court decides that is necessary." } ], "id": "9413_4", "question": "When will we know?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Self-driving cars and taxis are the buzz of the industry. Everyone seems to be doing it, trying grab headlines with every step forward or new trial phase. But the real deal always seemed to be still years in the future. Now, here in Singapore, you can in fact hop into a driverless taxi and go for a ride. And it's even free. But hold your horses, it's still only a trial. It does, though, take things a wee bit further than what we've seen from the big car makers, Google or ride-hailing giant Uber. Well, sort of. Given that it is a trial, there's of course still a driver in the front. But the cars are doing the driving themselves, and the driver is only there to monitor the performance and as a backup in case something goes wrong. It is not any of the big names of the car industry who we know are all pushing the technology in their research and development departments. It's a company called nuTonomy, a US-based start-up developer of software for self-driving cars. The company was founded in 2013 by two MIT researchers specializing in robotics and driverless technology. The firm has offices both in the US and in Singapore. Earlier this year, nuTonomy was the first company to get permission from the Singapore government to test self-driving cars in a small area of the town. It's now begun tests with passengers. Given that nuTonomy is not a car manufacturer, these are not flashy futuristic vehicles designed for a driverless future. Rather, they are small Renault and Mitsubishi electric vehicles that have been equipped with the company's software and cameras. The micro cars are still, however, a step up from some of nuTonomy's previous trials with driverless vehicles in 2014 - back then, the flashy ride was in fact an electric golf cart. The new taxi trial currently consists of a fleet of six cars - each of them has a complex system of lasers that operate like a radar to monitor the car's surrounding. In addition there are cameras that work with the software. Not exactly. It's a very, very small part of town and far, far away from the centre. The taxis will run in a limited 2.6 sq mile (4 sq km) area in the west of the city-state. Also, there are designated pick-up and drop-off spots so you can't get on or off wherever you fancy. And it's not for everyone yet. You have to register after receiving an invitation from nuTonomy and so far, only a few dozen people are part of the programme. The firm says that it plans to expand the service to thousands of people within a few months. The city is already a bit of a taxi heaven. Owning your own car is mind-bogglingly expensive and many people take taxis on a regular basis. Cab rides are cheap and there's a very high demand. Also, the city's overall traffic situation is rather disciplined and organised. More often than not when Singaporeans talks about a traffic jam, all they mean are a few cars more than usual at a traffic light. So the goal is not just to complete a little trial but to expand it to a fully self-driving taxi fleet in Singapore by 2018 - that's according to nuTonomy. NuTonomy appears to be amongst the top of the pack, but is by no means way ahead of the other players. Uber is planning a very similar project to be launched in Pittsburgh in the US in a few weeks time. And just about every car company is working on driverless technology from Silicon Valley's Tesla to Ford, Volvo, BMW and a number of Chinese car makers. Internet giant Google was in fact amongst the first to pioneer and extensively test its driverless Google car and has teamed up with a number of car makers for their research.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3073, "answer_start": 2516, "text": "The city is already a bit of a taxi heaven. Owning your own car is mind-bogglingly expensive and many people take taxis on a regular basis. Cab rides are cheap and there's a very high demand. Also, the city's overall traffic situation is rather disciplined and organised. More often than not when Singaporeans talks about a traffic jam, all they mean are a few cars more than usual at a traffic light. So the goal is not just to complete a little trial but to expand it to a fully self-driving taxi fleet in Singapore by 2018 - that's according to nuTonomy." } ], "id": "9414_0", "question": "Why Singapore?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3605, "answer_start": 3074, "text": "NuTonomy appears to be amongst the top of the pack, but is by no means way ahead of the other players. Uber is planning a very similar project to be launched in Pittsburgh in the US in a few weeks time. And just about every car company is working on driverless technology from Silicon Valley's Tesla to Ford, Volvo, BMW and a number of Chinese car makers. Internet giant Google was in fact amongst the first to pioneer and extensively test its driverless Google car and has teamed up with a number of car makers for their research." } ], "id": "9414_1", "question": "Way ahead of the competition?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Puerto Rico's Governor Ricardo Rossello has announced his resignation after days of mass street protests in the US territory. Mr Rossello, who had only on Sunday insisted he would stay on, said he would continue working until 2 August to allow an orderly transition. He has been at the centre of a group text message scandal that has already led two top officials to resign. The leaked messages revealed sexist, profane and homophobic comments. The chat, which contained 880 pages of exchanges between the governor and 11 male allies, was leaked on 13 July and led to days of protests outside the governor's mansion in San Juan. He recorded a video statement that was broadcast on Wednesday evening. \"I announce that I will be resigning from the governor's post effective Friday, 2 August at 5pm,\" Mr Rossello said. \"I feel that to continue in this position would make it difficult for the success that I have achieved to endure,\" he added. Mr Rossello's announcement triggered celebrations on the streets of the capital San Juan. On Monday, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets, demanding Mr Rossello's immediate resignation. The 40-year-old governor is leader of the New Progressive Party, a Puerto Rican political party which advocates US statehood. Mr Rossello will be replaced by the US Caribbean island territory's Justice Secretary, Wanda Vazquez. Ms Vazquez was next in line under the constitution because the secretary of state, who would have succeeded the governor, resigned last week as part of the texting scandal. On Sunday, in an attempt to appease protesters, he said he would not seek re-election next year. \"I hear you,\" Mr Rossello said in a Facebook video. \"I have made mistakes and I have apologised.\" \"I know that apologising is not enough,\" he added. Mr Rossello's announcement came just hours after the leader of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives said that lawmakers were planning to commence impeachment proceedings to remove the governor. His ousting is viewed by many as both a repudiation of the governor and a rejection of the dysfunction and corruption that has plagued the island. Several of the texts mock victims of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in 2017 and may have led to more than 4,000 deaths. In one instance, Mr Rossello criticised the former Speaker of the New York City Council, Melissa Mark-Viverito, saying people should \"beat up that whore\". When the island's chief fiscal office wrote that he was \"salivating to shoot\" the mayor of San Juan, Mr Rossello replied: \"You'd be doing me a grand favour.\" What has been the reaction to the scandal? Local newspaper El Nuevo Dia called on the governor to resign in its Monday editorial. \"Puerto Rico has spoken up, not only as a strong, broad and united voice, but as the right voice,\" the editorial said. \"With a gesture of nobility and humility, Governor, it is time to listen to the people. You have to resign.\" San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz said in a Twitter message on Monday: \"They can't deny it: The power is in the street.\" Singer Ricky Martin, who was targeted in the secret messages, was among those calling for the governor to resign, as well as Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and reggaeton star Bad Bunny. \"They mocked our dead, they mocked women, they mocked the LGBT community, they made fun of people with physical and mental disabilities, they made fun of obesity. It's enough. This cannot be,\" Martin said in a video on Twitter. The island's political crisis also made headlines throughout mainland US. Many echoed the New York Times editorial board, which wrote that the \"callousness and partisan self-dealing\" exposed by the messages serve as exorbitant strain for the long-suffering island, effectively \"rubbing salt into a long-festering wound\". \"The Puerto Rican people have no use for petty political feuding,\" the New York Times wrote. \"Their territory is struggling under the weight of government corruption, incompetence and indifference. Having been failed by their leaders at every level, they are out of patience. They deserve better.\" US President Donald Trump had also called on the governor to resign.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2131, "answer_start": 629, "text": "He recorded a video statement that was broadcast on Wednesday evening. \"I announce that I will be resigning from the governor's post effective Friday, 2 August at 5pm,\" Mr Rossello said. \"I feel that to continue in this position would make it difficult for the success that I have achieved to endure,\" he added. Mr Rossello's announcement triggered celebrations on the streets of the capital San Juan. On Monday, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets, demanding Mr Rossello's immediate resignation. The 40-year-old governor is leader of the New Progressive Party, a Puerto Rican political party which advocates US statehood. Mr Rossello will be replaced by the US Caribbean island territory's Justice Secretary, Wanda Vazquez. Ms Vazquez was next in line under the constitution because the secretary of state, who would have succeeded the governor, resigned last week as part of the texting scandal. On Sunday, in an attempt to appease protesters, he said he would not seek re-election next year. \"I hear you,\" Mr Rossello said in a Facebook video. \"I have made mistakes and I have apologised.\" \"I know that apologising is not enough,\" he added. Mr Rossello's announcement came just hours after the leader of Puerto Rico's House of Representatives said that lawmakers were planning to commence impeachment proceedings to remove the governor. His ousting is viewed by many as both a repudiation of the governor and a rejection of the dysfunction and corruption that has plagued the island." } ], "id": "9415_0", "question": "What did Governor Rossello say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4163, "answer_start": 2132, "text": "Several of the texts mock victims of Hurricane Maria, which devastated the island in 2017 and may have led to more than 4,000 deaths. In one instance, Mr Rossello criticised the former Speaker of the New York City Council, Melissa Mark-Viverito, saying people should \"beat up that whore\". When the island's chief fiscal office wrote that he was \"salivating to shoot\" the mayor of San Juan, Mr Rossello replied: \"You'd be doing me a grand favour.\" What has been the reaction to the scandal? Local newspaper El Nuevo Dia called on the governor to resign in its Monday editorial. \"Puerto Rico has spoken up, not only as a strong, broad and united voice, but as the right voice,\" the editorial said. \"With a gesture of nobility and humility, Governor, it is time to listen to the people. You have to resign.\" San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz said in a Twitter message on Monday: \"They can't deny it: The power is in the street.\" Singer Ricky Martin, who was targeted in the secret messages, was among those calling for the governor to resign, as well as Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda and reggaeton star Bad Bunny. \"They mocked our dead, they mocked women, they mocked the LGBT community, they made fun of people with physical and mental disabilities, they made fun of obesity. It's enough. This cannot be,\" Martin said in a video on Twitter. The island's political crisis also made headlines throughout mainland US. Many echoed the New York Times editorial board, which wrote that the \"callousness and partisan self-dealing\" exposed by the messages serve as exorbitant strain for the long-suffering island, effectively \"rubbing salt into a long-festering wound\". \"The Puerto Rican people have no use for petty political feuding,\" the New York Times wrote. \"Their territory is struggling under the weight of government corruption, incompetence and indifference. Having been failed by their leaders at every level, they are out of patience. They deserve better.\" US President Donald Trump had also called on the governor to resign." } ], "id": "9415_1", "question": "What are the secret messages?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A party can't build a governing majority with moral victories. On Tuesday Democrat Jon Ossoff came close to beating Republican Karen Handel in a Georgia congressional district that has been historically conservative but trending left. In the words of the immortal Ricky Bobby of Talladega Nights, however, \"If you're not first, you're last\". There have been four congressional special elections this year where Democrats and Republicans have gone head-to-head, and the Democrats have been \"not first\" in all of them. That prompted Donald Trump to take a Twitter victory lap on Tuesday night. \"Well, the Special Elections are over and those that want to MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN are 5 and O!\" he wrote. \"All the Fake News, all the money spent = 0\". The president's math is a bit off, of course. He's probably counting the Georgia primary, in which Mr Ossoff finished first, as a \"win\" and ignoring a California congressional election where no Republicans made it to the final round of balloting. Nevertheless Georgia's result has to be considered a demoralising blow to Democrats nationwide, who may be wondering if they'll ever be able to break through against a president whose low approval ratings, in their view, should make him, and his entire party, toxic. Here's a closer look at what it all means - and where both parties go from here. Republicans win key Georgia election The battle of Gettysburg was important not because the tiny Pennsylvania town had any strategic significance. It was the turning point of the US Civil War because that's where the two armies decided to fight. A similar dynamic was at play in Georgia over the past few months. Democrats and Republicans made the Atlanta-area congressional district a pivotal battleground because both sides committed unprecedented resources to the effort. Mr Ossoff raised tens of millions from donors across the US, and the Democratic Party added hundreds of thousands of dollars from its campaign coffers. Republican outside political groups and deep-pocketed donors, like casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, also poured money into the race. Even though the Georgia seat is just one of 435 that will be up for grabs again next November the race became pivotal because both sides acted like it was. Strategic concerns. Cue the circular firing squad. Already Democrats are questioning whether Mr Ossoff ran too cautious a race. Although he was the darling of the Democratic base - drawing on the same passionate small-money donors as populist Bernie Sanders in his presidential bid last year - he ran as a moderate, emphasising fiscal responsibility, \"humility\" and modest reforms of the current healthcare system, rather than the more sweeping liberal policies advocated by many on the left. The loss here is already starting to rekindle some of the Clinton v Sanders acrimony from last year's Democratic primary. Pelosi questioned. The long knives are also starting to come out for House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who some Democrats view as an ill-suited leader for the party. Republicans repeatedly hit Mr Ossoff for his supposed ties to the San Francisco liberal who has become a bogeywoman for conservatives, and on Wednesday one Democratic congressional hopeful announced his candidacy with the promise to support someone other than Ms Pelosi if he's elected. Dollars at risk. Mr Ossoff's disappointing finish despite his record fundraising haul could also discourage future Democratic donors, left wondering whether their contributions have been well-spent. The Democrats' $23m war chest would have gone a long way to help candidates across the nation in next November's mid-term elections. They better hope there's more where that came from. Warm bodies in demand. One of the keys to a successful mid-term election is putting as many seats in play as possible by recruiting capable, compelling candidates. Congressman Ossoff would have been a perfect poster boy to encourage other Democrats to take the plunge next year. If a 30-year-old former filmmaker can come from nowhere to win, why can't they? Now, however, it may be harder to get quality candidates to commit to the meatgrinder that is a modern US campaign. Non-toxic Trump. According to a recent Atlanta Journal-Constitution poll, Mr Trump's approval rating in Georgia's sixth congressional district stood at 35%. Despite the president's low popularity, Republicans turned out for their party's candidate in record numbers for a special election. While they may not love the president, they either continue to dislike Democrats more or see their cause as bigger than one man, even if that man is the supposed face of the party. Agenda back on track. If Ms Handel had lost on Tuesday Republicans would be running for their political lives. Members of Congress staring at close elections would likely bail on any legislation that could cost them votes, including efforts to enact relatively unpopular conservative healthcare reforms, which are entering their critical final stages, and the upcoming contentious fight over tax reform. Retirement parties delayed. One tell-tale sign that a party sees an electoral rout on the horizon is when its senior politicians start heading for the exits. The prospect of a cushy lobbying job or a life of honorary board memberships can seem preferable to defeat at the ballot box or the frustrations of minority-party status. If Mr Ossoff had prevailed, a lot of Republicans would have been facing some hard choices. Instead, there may be reason to stick it out. Although the closeness of the race means the Republican House majority is still at risk, the Georgia seat is one that would likely fall in a wave midterm election. A pleasant distraction. Mr Trump and the Republicans had been on the ropes of late, with a seemingly never-ending stream of stories about White House palace intrigue and unpleasant revelations from the ongoing investigations into possible Russian ties to the Trump campaign. Tuesday's win gives the party the opportunity to change the conversation, at least temporarily, and may give the media cause to reconsider whether all the eye-popping headlines and blockbuster scoops are really resonating outside the environs of the nation's capital. Those on the left will note that the Georgia race, decided by just under 4%, marked a significant tightening over past few races, where incumbent Republican Tom Price often doubled his opponent's vote total. The Democrats there, it appears, are trending in the right direction If the party faithful want some real encouragement, however, they should look to the congressional race in neighbouring South Carolina, which also took place on Tuesday. The South Carolina seat, previously occupied by current White House budget director Mick Mulvaney, largely flew under the national radar, but the Republican margin of victory there turned out to be narrower than in Georgia. In a midterm wave election that cuts against the incumbent party - which is what Democrats are hoping for next year - the challengers tend to benefit from motivated voters on their side and the apathy of their opponents. The bright spotlight and vast resources spent on Georgia prevented that from happening on Tuesday, but next November - when all 435 seats in the House are up for grabs - the races might end up looking a lot more like South Carolina's low-turnout affair. If that's the case, there are plenty of places where political balance is a lot closer than South Carolina's, perhaps suggesting the seats could tip to the Democrats. Two moral victories on Tuesday instead of one probably isn't much of a comfort to Democrats right now, but it's a place to start. It's going to be a long summer for Democrats, as the next chance for their party to post some - any - electoral wins won't come until November. At that point, the terrain becomes friendlier, as the big prizes will be governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey. With higher expectations comes greater pressure, however. A loss in either of those races will turn Democratic discouragement into outright despair.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8088, "answer_start": 7678, "text": "It's going to be a long summer for Democrats, as the next chance for their party to post some - any - electoral wins won't come until November. At that point, the terrain becomes friendlier, as the big prizes will be governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey. With higher expectations comes greater pressure, however. A loss in either of those races will turn Democratic discouragement into outright despair." } ], "id": "9416_0", "question": "What's next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Trump administration is to reinstate all US sanctions on Iran removed under the 2015 nuclear deal. The White House said it was \"the toughest sanctions regime ever imposed\" on Tehran. It targets both Iran and states that trade with it. However, temporary waivers will be granted to eight countries to allow them to continue importing Iranian oil. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the move \"disgraced\" US prestige and liberal democracy. \"The challenge between the US and Iran has lasted for 40 years so far and the US has made various efforts against us: military, economic and media warfare,\" Mr Khamenei wrote on Twitter on Saturday. \"This new US president has disgraced the remnant of America's prestige,\" he said, adding that \"America today is far weaker\", suggesting that US military power was beginning to \"wane and deteriorate\". Washington is to reintroduce the sanctions on Monday 5 November. Meanwhile, EU states that backed the nuclear deal have said they will protect EU firms doing \"legitimate\" business with Iran. President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement in May, describing it as \"defective at its core\" because it had not stopped Iran developing a ballistic missile programme and intervening in neighbouring countries. \"Sanctions are coming,\" he tweeted after Friday's announcement, referencing the TV series Game of Thrones and its motto \"Winter is coming\". The US has been gradually re-imposing sanctions, but analysts say this move is the most important because it targets the core sectors of Iran's economy. The agreement saw Iran limit its controversial nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief. Barack Obama, the US president at the time, had argued the deal would prevent Iran from developing nuclear arms. The UK, France, Germany, Russia and China were also parties to the 2015 accord and have stuck to it, saying Iran is complying. The US sanctions will cover shipping, shipbuilding, finance and energy. More than 700 individuals, entities, vessels and aircraft will be put on the sanctions list, including major banks, oil exporters and shipping companies. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said that the Brussels-based Swift network for making international payments was expected to cut off links with targeted Iranian institutions. Being disconnected from Swift would almost completely isolate Iran from the international financial system. They are the second lot of sanctions re-imposed by Mr Trump since May. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo set out 12 demands that Iran must meet if sanctions are to be lifted - including ending support for militants and completely ballistic missile development. Mr Pompeo did not name the eight countries that been granted waivers to continue importing Iranian oil. He said the eight had \"demonstrated significant reductions in their crude oil and co-operation on many other fronts\". Two would eventually stop imports and the other six greatly reduce them, he added. US allies such as Italy, India, Japan and South Korea are among the eight, the Associated Press news agency reports. Turkey also obtained a waiver, Reuters says. All have been have been top importers of Iranian oil. Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi told state TV that Iran had \"the knowledge and the capability to manage the country's economic affairs\". He said there was \"no possibility\" that the US \"will attain its political goals through such sanctions\". In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the UK, Germany and France, and EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said they \"deeply\" regretted the US decision to restore sanctions. \"We are determined to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran, in accordance with EU law and with UN Security Council resolution 2231,\" they said. By Barbara Plett Usher, BBC News, Washington Over the past six months the Trump administration has pushed a goal of getting Iranian oil exports as close to zero as possible. But the balance between supply and demand in the oil market is fairly tight, so it has to calibrate accordingly. It does not want to drive all the Iranian oil off the market on 5 November because that could spike prices. This would benefit Iran, and anger Americans at the petrol pumps. The US has increased its own production to fill in the gap left by Iran's oil and urged others to as well, especially Saudi Arabia. It has also granted permission to eight countries to continue imports of Iranian oil after intense lobbying by some of them. Officials haven't said which ones yet, but the list is expected to include India and possibly China, two of Iran's biggest customers. But this is at reduced levels and only for six months, at which point the administration will reassess the oil markets. And the money from these sales will go into an escrow account to be used for permitted goods and services, so Iran won't get the cash. Results so far show what the US can achieve with the big stick of its enormous economic power. But isolating Iran through force alone, absent the united political front of its previous partners, will continue to require a balancing act.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2674, "answer_start": 1895, "text": "The US sanctions will cover shipping, shipbuilding, finance and energy. More than 700 individuals, entities, vessels and aircraft will be put on the sanctions list, including major banks, oil exporters and shipping companies. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin also said that the Brussels-based Swift network for making international payments was expected to cut off links with targeted Iranian institutions. Being disconnected from Swift would almost completely isolate Iran from the international financial system. They are the second lot of sanctions re-imposed by Mr Trump since May. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo set out 12 demands that Iran must meet if sanctions are to be lifted - including ending support for militants and completely ballistic missile development." } ], "id": "9417_0", "question": "What action is being taken?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3195, "answer_start": 2675, "text": "Mr Pompeo did not name the eight countries that been granted waivers to continue importing Iranian oil. He said the eight had \"demonstrated significant reductions in their crude oil and co-operation on many other fronts\". Two would eventually stop imports and the other six greatly reduce them, he added. US allies such as Italy, India, Japan and South Korea are among the eight, the Associated Press news agency reports. Turkey also obtained a waiver, Reuters says. All have been have been top importers of Iranian oil." } ], "id": "9417_1", "question": "What exemptions are being made?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3446, "answer_start": 3196, "text": "Foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi told state TV that Iran had \"the knowledge and the capability to manage the country's economic affairs\". He said there was \"no possibility\" that the US \"will attain its political goals through such sanctions\"." } ], "id": "9417_2", "question": "How did Iran respond?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3820, "answer_start": 3447, "text": "In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the UK, Germany and France, and EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said they \"deeply\" regretted the US decision to restore sanctions. \"We are determined to protect European economic operators engaged in legitimate business with Iran, in accordance with EU law and with UN Security Council resolution 2231,\" they said." } ], "id": "9417_3", "question": "What do EU states say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Abortion in Northern Ireland has been decriminalised, after the laws changed at midnight. That means women and girls can terminate a pregnancy without fear of being prosecuted. The possibility of prosecution is also lifted from healthcare workers. In this interim period from now until March, those affected will continue to travel to England for medical terminations. However, information can be shared and medical assistance provided for any women who have taken medication. The Department of Health, alongside a consultation, will be working with front line medical staff who deliver information and medical services to identify agreed policies and guidelines, which will bring services into line with the rest of the UK by 1 April 2020. While some are hailing this as a momentous change for women's human and reproductive rights, others are describing it as a \"sad day\" for Northern Ireland. The law change comes after MPs at Westminster voted for a law change in July, on the basis that a Northern Ireland Executive did not return by Monday 21 October. There was a brief sitting of the Northern Ireland Assembly in a last-ditch attempt to stop the changes but it ended in failure. Before now, abortion was only allowed if a woman's life was at risk or there was a danger of permanent and serious damage to her physical or mental health. Guidance issued by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) outlines that no criminal charges can be brought against those who have an abortion or against healthcare professionals who provide a termination or assist in one. Women and girls who require a medical abortion will continue to be financially supported to avail of services in England. A carer's expenses will also be covered. In the interim period, abortions in cases of \"fatal or serious fetal anomaly\" can be carried out in Northern Ireland up to 28 weeks. Each will treated on a case-by-case basis, with a consultant taking into consideration the mental and physical needs of the patient. - The government states that there are no plans for additional services to be routinely available in Northern Ireland before 31 March 2020. - From April 2020, medical abortions will be provided on two hospital sites in NI - Doctors who have qualified in the past eight years or so will require training in this specialist area - It is understood buffer zones will be put in place around the hospital sites, meaning anyone protesting in these areas or causing obstruction could be prosecuted - NI will be among the first jurisdictions to introduce such a move - The Department of Health will fund this additional service, despite its current financial pressure - this including units where medical abortions will be performed and staff training to ensure all safety and quality standards are met - It's thought about 1,060 terminations will take place each year in Northern Ireland when the new arrangements come into place It is likely the consultant will seek a second opinion from a colleague in those cases. This is what happened prior to 2012, when the Department of Health introduced controversial guidelines for the management of termination of pregnancy that instilled fear among some health workers. It is estimated about 45 women a year were diagnosed with a fatal fetal anomaly in local hospitals but then had to travel elsewhere for an abortion for fear of being prosecuted. So, in 2019, Northern Ireland is reverting to practices carried out in 2012. From now, health professionals can feel free to give information about funded services in England. Medical services cannot be provided in a GP surgery but information should. If a woman approaches a GP and is considering an abortion, the number for the Central Booking Service in England is expected to be made available or a call can be made to the helpline on her behalf. Further detail is also provided on conscientious objection. The guidance notes that in England and Wales, the courts have found that its scope is limited to participating in a \"hands-on\" capacity and does not allow for objection to ancillary or administrative tasks. That's likely to be the case in Northern Ireland, unless a consultation decides differently. It further states \"in the interim period, anyone who has a conscientious objection to abortion may want to raise this with their employer\". The guidance recognises that some women may continue to buy medical abortion pills online. As these are prescription only, their sale and supply remains unlawful but women \"will be able to seek medical assistance in Northern Ireland\" if there are complications. Health professionals, notes the guidance, will not be under any duty to report an offence. The government said it is \"imperative that health and social care professionals understand these changes and their duties under the law, if the duty comes into effect and the law changes\". It also makes clear that this supersedes guidance provided by the Department of Health in 2016.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1987, "answer_start": 1342, "text": "Guidance issued by the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) outlines that no criminal charges can be brought against those who have an abortion or against healthcare professionals who provide a termination or assist in one. Women and girls who require a medical abortion will continue to be financially supported to avail of services in England. A carer's expenses will also be covered. In the interim period, abortions in cases of \"fatal or serious fetal anomaly\" can be carried out in Northern Ireland up to 28 weeks. Each will treated on a case-by-case basis, with a consultant taking into consideration the mental and physical needs of the patient." } ], "id": "9418_0", "question": "What does it mean for the law?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4962, "answer_start": 3825, "text": "Further detail is also provided on conscientious objection. The guidance notes that in England and Wales, the courts have found that its scope is limited to participating in a \"hands-on\" capacity and does not allow for objection to ancillary or administrative tasks. That's likely to be the case in Northern Ireland, unless a consultation decides differently. It further states \"in the interim period, anyone who has a conscientious objection to abortion may want to raise this with their employer\". The guidance recognises that some women may continue to buy medical abortion pills online. As these are prescription only, their sale and supply remains unlawful but women \"will be able to seek medical assistance in Northern Ireland\" if there are complications. Health professionals, notes the guidance, will not be under any duty to report an offence. The government said it is \"imperative that health and social care professionals understand these changes and their duties under the law, if the duty comes into effect and the law changes\". It also makes clear that this supersedes guidance provided by the Department of Health in 2016." } ], "id": "9418_1", "question": "Is conscientious objection allowed?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "After years of talks and protests, Greece's parliament has backed a landmark deal to rename its neighbour the Republic of North Macedonia. Despite its widespread unpopularity, MPs voted by a majority of seven in favour of the agreement, which has already been ratified by Macedonia. Greeks have rejected Macedonia's name since its independence in 1991, because of their own region of the same name. Polls suggest up to two-thirds of Greeks are unhappy with the deal. There were clashes outside the parliament building the night before the vote as police fired tear gas to disperse protesters throwing flares and firecrackers. Protesters displayed banners that declared \"Macedonia is Greek\" and inside parliament far-right Golden Dawn MPs shouted \"traitors\" as other MPs voted Yes. Macedonia has long existed as a northern region in Greece that includes second city Thessaloniki. Then along came a new nation, born out of the collapse of Yugoslavia, taking its name in 1991. Greeks, fiercely proud of the ancient heritage of Alexander the Great and his father Philip II of Macedon, were infuriated and suspected their neighbour had territorial ambitions. For years US diplomat Matthew Nimetz searched for common ground. Resolving the name was a big part of his job, as Greece thwarted its neighbour's bids to join Nato and the EU, and Macedonia retaliated. Eventually governments changed and a new mood emerged, culminating in the deal signed on the banks of Lake Prespa in June 2018 by Greek PM Alexis Tsipras and Macedonia's Zoran Zaev. Macedonians backed the deal, first in a September referendum in which only a third of voters took part and then in parliament. Now that the deal has been backed by the Greek parliament, the Athens government will send its neighbour a verbal note and Macedonia will then inform the United Nations. Mr Tsipras welcomed the new name shortly after parliament voted. For Macedonia itself, the name change will become final once Nato ambassadors have signed its accession in Brussels and the Greek parliament has then ratified that protocol. Under the historic Prespa agreement, everyone will have to use the new name. The Republic of North Macedonia, or North Macedonia in short, will replace the existing title of Macedonia, which is formally called Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (or Fyrom) at the United Nations. The language will continue to be known as Macedonian and its people known as Macedonians (citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia). In Macedonian the name will be Severna Makedonija. Greeks will know it as Voria Makedonia. As well as backing its Nato accession, Greece will also be required to back its EU membership bid. The two countries also agree: - \"On the need to refrain from irredentism and revisionism in any form\" - seen as dealing with Greek fears that the Macedonians might have designs on their territory - To tackle state propaganda and incitement and agree to set up an expert panel to consider an objective interpretation of history - \"The terms 'Macedonia' and 'Macedonian' refer to a different historical context and cultural heritage\" - and that one is Southern Slavic and not related to ancient Greece - The new Republic of North Macedonia will \"review the status\" of any public buildings or monuments that refer to ancient Greek history Greeks broadly do not like it, with recent polls suggesting at least 60% are unhappy. The Greek prime minister has lost his right-wing coalition partner, Independent Greeks, because of it. Mr Tsipras, who leads the left-wing Syriza party, is facing elections later this year. Opposition New Democracy MP Giorgos Koumoutsakos said the deal ignored the majority of Greeks and was a \"stab in the soul of the nation\". But the number of protesters recently has not been as big as in previous years, says Prof Dimitris Christopoulos of Panteion University, who backs the agreement. \"The rally's major political message that Macedonia is one and Greek is extremely nationalist,\" he says, unlike the mainstream opposition whose problem is recognising the language and nationality of their neighbours as Macedonian rather than North Macedonian. For Macedonians it will be a question of getting used to a new name, and there is no love lost there either. \"We will have to work on our identity,\" says Prof Goran Janev of Sts Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. \"Nobody can be happy about doing something because of blackmail by the international community. They allowed the Greek side for three decades to behave like spoilt brats.\" Partly, yes. Greece argues that Macedonia is an intrinsic part of Hellenic heritage. The ancient capital of Aigai is close to the modern Greek town of Vergina, while Alexander's birthplace is in Pella. The new state of Macedonia did not help matters when it named the main airport in its capital, Skopje, after Ancient Greek hero Alexander the Great, as well as a key motorway running from the Serbian to the Greek border, which in Tito's Yugoslavia was known as the Brotherhood and Unity highway. An array of neo-classical buildings shot up, as Skopje sought a proud past. That has stopped. The airport was renamed \"International airport Skopje\" last year, the Alexander the Great motorway is now simply \"Friendship\" (Prijatelstvo in Macedonian), and the buildings will be reviewed under the Prespa deal. But while Alexander remains a powerful symbol, there are bitter memories from the more recent past. When the Ottomans were driven out of the broad region known as Macedonia during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, it was split up, mainly between Greece and Serbia, but a small part went to Bulgaria. In World War Two, Greek and Yugoslav Macedonia were occupied by Bulgaria, an ally of Nazi Germany and Italy. Communists from both Yugoslavia and Bulgaria played a part in the Greek civil war that followed. Macedonians too remember the expulsion of tens of thousands of citizens after World War Two. Much of the agreement is about future co-operation - on road, rail, sea and by air - as well as in industry and tourism. And much of that already goes on on both sides. \"The biggest investor in Macedonia, despite everything, is Greece so it's already there,\" says Dimitris Christopoulos. \"The Greek banks are still the biggest investors there. So Macedonian Greece already have rational relations and this will accelerate. One of the big ambitions of the deal is for the establishment within a month of a \"Joint Inter-Disciplinary Committee of Experts\" who will investigate whether school textbooks, maps and historical atlases need revising in both countries. \"It's difficult because we never had this truth and reconciliation processes. So many things were put under the carpet,\" says Prof Janev.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2073, "answer_start": 781, "text": "Macedonia has long existed as a northern region in Greece that includes second city Thessaloniki. Then along came a new nation, born out of the collapse of Yugoslavia, taking its name in 1991. Greeks, fiercely proud of the ancient heritage of Alexander the Great and his father Philip II of Macedon, were infuriated and suspected their neighbour had territorial ambitions. For years US diplomat Matthew Nimetz searched for common ground. Resolving the name was a big part of his job, as Greece thwarted its neighbour's bids to join Nato and the EU, and Macedonia retaliated. Eventually governments changed and a new mood emerged, culminating in the deal signed on the banks of Lake Prespa in June 2018 by Greek PM Alexis Tsipras and Macedonia's Zoran Zaev. Macedonians backed the deal, first in a September referendum in which only a third of voters took part and then in parliament. Now that the deal has been backed by the Greek parliament, the Athens government will send its neighbour a verbal note and Macedonia will then inform the United Nations. Mr Tsipras welcomed the new name shortly after parliament voted. For Macedonia itself, the name change will become final once Nato ambassadors have signed its accession in Brussels and the Greek parliament has then ratified that protocol." } ], "id": "9419_0", "question": "Why did the deal take so long?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4547, "answer_start": 3319, "text": "Greeks broadly do not like it, with recent polls suggesting at least 60% are unhappy. The Greek prime minister has lost his right-wing coalition partner, Independent Greeks, because of it. Mr Tsipras, who leads the left-wing Syriza party, is facing elections later this year. Opposition New Democracy MP Giorgos Koumoutsakos said the deal ignored the majority of Greeks and was a \"stab in the soul of the nation\". But the number of protesters recently has not been as big as in previous years, says Prof Dimitris Christopoulos of Panteion University, who backs the agreement. \"The rally's major political message that Macedonia is one and Greek is extremely nationalist,\" he says, unlike the mainstream opposition whose problem is recognising the language and nationality of their neighbours as Macedonian rather than North Macedonian. For Macedonians it will be a question of getting used to a new name, and there is no love lost there either. \"We will have to work on our identity,\" says Prof Goran Janev of Sts Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje. \"Nobody can be happy about doing something because of blackmail by the international community. They allowed the Greek side for three decades to behave like spoilt brats.\"" } ], "id": "9419_1", "question": "Is the name-change unpopular?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5946, "answer_start": 4548, "text": "Partly, yes. Greece argues that Macedonia is an intrinsic part of Hellenic heritage. The ancient capital of Aigai is close to the modern Greek town of Vergina, while Alexander's birthplace is in Pella. The new state of Macedonia did not help matters when it named the main airport in its capital, Skopje, after Ancient Greek hero Alexander the Great, as well as a key motorway running from the Serbian to the Greek border, which in Tito's Yugoslavia was known as the Brotherhood and Unity highway. An array of neo-classical buildings shot up, as Skopje sought a proud past. That has stopped. The airport was renamed \"International airport Skopje\" last year, the Alexander the Great motorway is now simply \"Friendship\" (Prijatelstvo in Macedonian), and the buildings will be reviewed under the Prespa deal. But while Alexander remains a powerful symbol, there are bitter memories from the more recent past. When the Ottomans were driven out of the broad region known as Macedonia during the Balkan Wars of 1912-13, it was split up, mainly between Greece and Serbia, but a small part went to Bulgaria. In World War Two, Greek and Yugoslav Macedonia were occupied by Bulgaria, an ally of Nazi Germany and Italy. Communists from both Yugoslavia and Bulgaria played a part in the Greek civil war that followed. Macedonians too remember the expulsion of tens of thousands of citizens after World War Two." } ], "id": "9419_2", "question": "Is the name row really about Alexander the Great?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6745, "answer_start": 5947, "text": "Much of the agreement is about future co-operation - on road, rail, sea and by air - as well as in industry and tourism. And much of that already goes on on both sides. \"The biggest investor in Macedonia, despite everything, is Greece so it's already there,\" says Dimitris Christopoulos. \"The Greek banks are still the biggest investors there. So Macedonian Greece already have rational relations and this will accelerate. One of the big ambitions of the deal is for the establishment within a month of a \"Joint Inter-Disciplinary Committee of Experts\" who will investigate whether school textbooks, maps and historical atlases need revising in both countries. \"It's difficult because we never had this truth and reconciliation processes. So many things were put under the carpet,\" says Prof Janev." } ], "id": "9419_3", "question": "Is there much hope for the future?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Two fatal accidents involving Boeing 737 Max jets have left the plane maker rushing to restore confidence in the safety of its fastest-selling fleet. As investigators work to determine the cause of the tragedies, the US regulator said the aircraft would be grounded until at least May. Boeing has halted 737 Max deliveries and some airlines say they will demand compensation. Some customers have signalled they could back away from orders. But analysts say the long-term impact on the firm will depend on the outcome of the investigation. Many countries grounded the plane after an Ethiopian Airlines 737 Max 8 flight crashed on Sunday minutes after take-off, killing 157 people on board. In October, 189 people were killed in a Lion Air crash involving the same model. US regulators say the 737 Max, the fastest-selling plane in Boeing's history, is now likely to be grounded at least until May. The aircraft is a new model, a heavily re-engineered version of its workhorse 737. Deliveries to customers only began in 2017. Globally, about 370 are in operation but the plane maker has close to 5,000 on order. Teal Group aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia said although the current 737 Max fleet is relatively small \"the future revenue stream is enormously important\" to Boeing Each plane on order was priced at between $45-50m, Mr Aboulafia said, and Boeing has \"taken deposits worth a small portion of many of the orders received\". Boeing has temporarily halted deliveries of the new aircraft, following the decision by the US Federal Aviation Administration and other regulators to prevent it from operating. It will continue to build the planes, however, and currently has no plans to slow production. Nevertheless, some customers have indicated they could scrap their orders. Garuda Indonesia has said it may cancel its order for 20 planes, while VietJet said its recent $25bn order depended on the outcome of the investigation. Kenya Airways is also reportedly considering a switch to rival manufacturer Airbus. Boeing jostles with the European giant to be the world's biggest plane manufacturer. Airbus's A320 Neo is the direct rival to Boeing's embattled 737 Max. But swapping from one manufacturer to the other is unlikely to be a simple process. Both companies have bulging order books, and according to Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor of Flight Global, that means any new orders could take years to fulfil: \"You can't just switch to Airbus, because Airbus has a backlog that runs for years as well.\" Mr Waldron believes the size of Boeing's 737 Max order book means the jet is not just significant to the plane maker, but is \"very important for the future of the industry as well\". There are other reasons, too, why moving from one manufacturer to another may be impractical. \"There's pilot training to consider as well,\" says Peter Morris, chief economist at the aviation consultancy Ascend. \"You tend to have Boeing pilots and Airbus pilots.\" The instruments and control systems used by the two manufacturers are different, and pilots need to be certified to fly different aircraft, so it isn't as simple as getting out of one aircraft and starting to fly another. However, if the 737 Max remains grounded for an extended period, some customers may see their deliveries delayed. That could mean renegotiation of orders, which could well hit Boeing's earnings. Some carriers say they will demand compensation. Norwegian Air and Czech carrier Smartwings are among the airlines reportedly calling for Boeing to pay up. But Teal Group's Mr Aboulafia said Boeing will be able to absorb any compensation costs. He argues the \"worst-case scenario\" for damages would be in the range of \"hundreds of millions of dollars\". \"Since the company earns many billions of dollars per year, that's not a major threat.\" Because there are relatively few 737 Max in service, and the grounding has not occurred during a peak period for the industry, the impact has so far been relatively muted. Some carriers have been able to reorganise their fleets to cover for the missing aircraft. Others have experienced some disruption. Norwegian, for example, says it has been combining services on its transatlantic routes, using a single larger Boeing 787 to replace two 737 Max. This has left some passengers facing bus journeys to their final destination, but has avoided cancellations. If the 737 Max remains grounded for an extended period, and deliveries of new aircraft remain suspended, things will become more complex. During busy periods, airlines do have the option of leasing planes from specialist companies. A typical \"wet lease\", in which a plane is provided \"ready to use\" with crew, maintenance and insurance provided currently costs $3000-3300 per hour for an older 737-800, according to Ascend. It is also possible to lease the aircraft on its own, for between $230,000-330,000 per month. Airlines which had been expecting new aircraft to join their fleets may have to keep planes scheduled for retirement in service for a bit longer, or bring spare aircraft out of storage. While this is unlikely to trigger any safety concerns, it will add to their costs. One of the main attractions of the 737 Max is that it is considerably more fuel efficient to operate than its predecessors. \"Airlines may well face higher costs,\" says Peter Morris. \"They will then have to choose whether to absorb those costs or pass them on to passengers. In the end, prices will probably have to rise.\" Shares have lost around 10% since the crash, wiping about $25bn off its market value. The longer-term impact will come down to the cause of the crash. A software fix may prove less costly and quicker to fix than a major design flaw, analysts say. Mr Aboulafia says if the second tragedy was caused by the same issues as the Lion Air disaster, it will require \"aggressive implementation of a software patch\" for systems along with crew training on possible system failures. \"None of this would be terribly expensive or time consuming, probably a matter of a few months, perhaps less.\" But Boeing will still face challenges in rebuilding passenger confidence in the brand. Flight Global's Mr Waldron says the firm's reputation has already been hard-hit. \"Having your top-selling brand crash twice in a very short period is obviously very bad for their reputation. The fact that it has spread so widely on social media... is difficult for them. \"It should recover, but it depends on how it resolves.\" The 737 Max is not the first mainstream aircraft to be prevented from flying for safety reasons, although it only happens rarely. Boeing's own 787 was grounded in 2013 because of battery fires, for example. It was rapidly modified, returned to service and continues to notch up healthy orders. The McDonnell Douglas DC-10 had a poor safety record in its early days, and was suspended from operating in 1979 following an accident that killed 271 people. It remains the deadliest accident in US aviation history, but after a redesign it was allowed to resume flying - and remained in commercial service until 2014.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1433, "answer_start": 770, "text": "US regulators say the 737 Max, the fastest-selling plane in Boeing's history, is now likely to be grounded at least until May. The aircraft is a new model, a heavily re-engineered version of its workhorse 737. Deliveries to customers only began in 2017. Globally, about 370 are in operation but the plane maker has close to 5,000 on order. Teal Group aviation analyst Richard Aboulafia said although the current 737 Max fleet is relatively small \"the future revenue stream is enormously important\" to Boeing Each plane on order was priced at between $45-50m, Mr Aboulafia said, and Boeing has \"taken deposits worth a small portion of many of the orders received\"." } ], "id": "9420_0", "question": "How important is the 737 fleet to Boeing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3375, "answer_start": 1434, "text": "Boeing has temporarily halted deliveries of the new aircraft, following the decision by the US Federal Aviation Administration and other regulators to prevent it from operating. It will continue to build the planes, however, and currently has no plans to slow production. Nevertheless, some customers have indicated they could scrap their orders. Garuda Indonesia has said it may cancel its order for 20 planes, while VietJet said its recent $25bn order depended on the outcome of the investigation. Kenya Airways is also reportedly considering a switch to rival manufacturer Airbus. Boeing jostles with the European giant to be the world's biggest plane manufacturer. Airbus's A320 Neo is the direct rival to Boeing's embattled 737 Max. But swapping from one manufacturer to the other is unlikely to be a simple process. Both companies have bulging order books, and according to Greg Waldron, Asia managing editor of Flight Global, that means any new orders could take years to fulfil: \"You can't just switch to Airbus, because Airbus has a backlog that runs for years as well.\" Mr Waldron believes the size of Boeing's 737 Max order book means the jet is not just significant to the plane maker, but is \"very important for the future of the industry as well\". There are other reasons, too, why moving from one manufacturer to another may be impractical. \"There's pilot training to consider as well,\" says Peter Morris, chief economist at the aviation consultancy Ascend. \"You tend to have Boeing pilots and Airbus pilots.\" The instruments and control systems used by the two manufacturers are different, and pilots need to be certified to fly different aircraft, so it isn't as simple as getting out of one aircraft and starting to fly another. However, if the 737 Max remains grounded for an extended period, some customers may see their deliveries delayed. That could mean renegotiation of orders, which could well hit Boeing's earnings." } ], "id": "9420_1", "question": "What will happen to 737 Max orders?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5484, "answer_start": 3817, "text": "Because there are relatively few 737 Max in service, and the grounding has not occurred during a peak period for the industry, the impact has so far been relatively muted. Some carriers have been able to reorganise their fleets to cover for the missing aircraft. Others have experienced some disruption. Norwegian, for example, says it has been combining services on its transatlantic routes, using a single larger Boeing 787 to replace two 737 Max. This has left some passengers facing bus journeys to their final destination, but has avoided cancellations. If the 737 Max remains grounded for an extended period, and deliveries of new aircraft remain suspended, things will become more complex. During busy periods, airlines do have the option of leasing planes from specialist companies. A typical \"wet lease\", in which a plane is provided \"ready to use\" with crew, maintenance and insurance provided currently costs $3000-3300 per hour for an older 737-800, according to Ascend. It is also possible to lease the aircraft on its own, for between $230,000-330,000 per month. Airlines which had been expecting new aircraft to join their fleets may have to keep planes scheduled for retirement in service for a bit longer, or bring spare aircraft out of storage. While this is unlikely to trigger any safety concerns, it will add to their costs. One of the main attractions of the 737 Max is that it is considerably more fuel efficient to operate than its predecessors. \"Airlines may well face higher costs,\" says Peter Morris. \"They will then have to choose whether to absorb those costs or pass them on to passengers. In the end, prices will probably have to rise.\"" } ], "id": "9420_2", "question": "What impact will all this have on airlines?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "North Korea and Malaysia have banned each other's citizens from leaving their countries, in a growing row over the killing of Kim Jong-nam. The extraordinary tit-for-tat actions come amid North Korean fury at Malaysia's ongoing investigation into his death at a Kuala Lumpur airport. The North Korean leader's half-brother was killed with a potent nerve agent. Malaysia has not directly blamed the North for this, but there is widespread suspicion Pyongyang was responsible. North Korea has fiercely denied any accusations of culpability and the row over the killing - and who has the right to claim Mr Kim's body - has rapidly escalated over the past two weeks. Both Malaysia and North Korea have already expelled each other's ambassadors. The state news agency KCNA said on Tuesday that \"all Malaysian nationals in the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] will be temporarily prohibited from leaving the country until the incident that happened in Malaysia is properly solved\". It said this was to ensure the safety of its citizens and diplomats in Malaysia. Malaysians in North Korea would be able to carry on their lives as normal, it added. Furiously. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said it was an \"abhorrent act\" which was \"in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms\". Malaysians were effectively being held hostage in North Korea, he said in a statement. \"Protecting our citizens is my first priority, and we will not hesitate to take all measures necessary when they are threatened.\" Malaysia initially responded by banning North Korean embassy staff and officials from leaving the country. But Mr Najib later said the ban would extend to all North Koreans. Malaysian officials have said there are believed to be 11 Malaysian citizens currently in North Korea, mostly diplomats. They include two Malaysians working with the UN's World Food Programme, the organisation said. The Malaysian authorities say there are about 1,000 North Koreans currently in Malaysia. Until last week, North Koreans did not need a visa to enter the country. Such actions are highly unusual. Under Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, \"everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country\". Malaysia has signed that declaration, but North Korea has not. The ban also breaks the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which both countries have ratified. A post-mortem examination on Mr Kim's body found he was killed by a dose of VX nerve agent, a substance classified as a weapon of mass destruction, as he waited to board a flight to Macau on 13 February. So far, only two people - an Indonesian woman and a Vietnamese woman - have been charged with murder. They have said they thought they were taking part in a TV prank. A detained North Korean was released last week because of lack of evidence, but Malaysia is seeking a number of other North Koreans, including a diplomat. On Tuesday, Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said he believed two of those suspects were hiding inside the North Korean embassy compound in Kuala Lumpur. \"We will wait and if it takes five years we will wait outside, definitely somebody will come out,\" he told reporters. Armed police have been deployed outside the embassy, cordoning it off, Malaysian media reported. - Malaysia was one of the few countries that had relatively friendly relations with North Korea - Diplomatic ties between the nations were initiated in the 1970s - As trade in resources such as palm oil and steel increased, North Korea eventually established an embassy in Kuala Lumpur in 2003 - A former North Korean ambassador to Malaysia, Chang Yong-chol, was executed on Kim Jong-un's orders as part of a purge of the family of his uncle, Chang Song-thaek, who was also the North Korean leader's uncle and was executed in 2013. - Visa-free travel for Malaysians and North Koreans travelling to each other's countries was abruptly cancelled in the wake of Kim Jong-nam's death", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1153, "answer_start": 741, "text": "The state news agency KCNA said on Tuesday that \"all Malaysian nationals in the DPRK [Democratic People's Republic of Korea] will be temporarily prohibited from leaving the country until the incident that happened in Malaysia is properly solved\". It said this was to ensure the safety of its citizens and diplomats in Malaysia. Malaysians in North Korea would be able to carry on their lives as normal, it added." } ], "id": "9421_0", "question": "What was North Korea's announcement?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1701, "answer_start": 1154, "text": "Furiously. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said it was an \"abhorrent act\" which was \"in total disregard of all international law and diplomatic norms\". Malaysians were effectively being held hostage in North Korea, he said in a statement. \"Protecting our citizens is my first priority, and we will not hesitate to take all measures necessary when they are threatened.\" Malaysia initially responded by banning North Korean embassy staff and officials from leaving the country. But Mr Najib later said the ban would extend to all North Koreans." } ], "id": "9421_1", "question": "How did Malaysia respond?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2079, "answer_start": 1702, "text": "Malaysian officials have said there are believed to be 11 Malaysian citizens currently in North Korea, mostly diplomats. They include two Malaysians working with the UN's World Food Programme, the organisation said. The Malaysian authorities say there are about 1,000 North Koreans currently in Malaysia. Until last week, North Koreans did not need a visa to enter the country." } ], "id": "9421_2", "question": "How many people does this affect?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2437, "answer_start": 2080, "text": "Such actions are highly unusual. Under Article 13 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, \"everyone has the right to leave any country, including his own, and to return to his country\". Malaysia has signed that declaration, but North Korea has not. The ban also breaks the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which both countries have ratified." } ], "id": "9421_3", "question": "Is this legal?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3340, "answer_start": 2438, "text": "A post-mortem examination on Mr Kim's body found he was killed by a dose of VX nerve agent, a substance classified as a weapon of mass destruction, as he waited to board a flight to Macau on 13 February. So far, only two people - an Indonesian woman and a Vietnamese woman - have been charged with murder. They have said they thought they were taking part in a TV prank. A detained North Korean was released last week because of lack of evidence, but Malaysia is seeking a number of other North Koreans, including a diplomat. On Tuesday, Malaysia's police chief Khalid Abu Bakar said he believed two of those suspects were hiding inside the North Korean embassy compound in Kuala Lumpur. \"We will wait and if it takes five years we will wait outside, definitely somebody will come out,\" he told reporters. Armed police have been deployed outside the embassy, cordoning it off, Malaysian media reported." } ], "id": "9421_4", "question": "Where has the investigation into Kim's death got to?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Polls are closing across Mexico in elections marred by some of the worst political violence for decades. More than 130 candidates and political workers have been killed since campaigning began in September. The presidential frontrunner is Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, 64, the left-wing former mayor of Mexico City who has pledged to crack down on corruption. The coalition led by his party, Morena, could oust the two parties that have governed Mexico for nearly a century. Analysis by Will Grant, BBC News, Mexico This has been the most violent election campaign in Mexico in living memory. Now that voting day has arrived, however, many Mexicans see it as an opportunity to remove the government that has led the country to this point. Millions of ordinary Mexicans are angry at President Enrique Pena Nieto and his administration, particularly over the sluggish economy and widespread corruption, crime and impunity. The man widely expected to replace him, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who is often referred to just by his initials Amlo, was the runner-up in the last two presidential elections. He has made tackling corruption the central plank of his election platform, promising to improve wages and pensions by stamping out rampant abuses by the state and the political and business elites. His opponents, including the centre-right candidate, Ricardo Anaya, have tried to paint him as a populist and a dangerous maverick who cannot be trusted with the economy. Most polls suggest, however, that a majority of voters have not listened to that message and are prepared to hand Mr Lopez Obrador the presidency, third time around. Long queues of voters formed outside schools and community centres as polling day progressed but two more killings of party members were reported - one a member of the Workers' Party in the western state of Michoacan and the other a member of the governing PRI party in the central state of Puebla. Some 88 million people have been eligible to vote, and have been choosing not only a president but also 128 senators and 500 deputies in Congress as well as state and local officials. A huge crowd gathered outside the polling station in Mexico City's Tlalpan district to watch Mr Lopez Obrador cast his vote. He called the election \"historic\" and told reporters: \"We represent the possibility of real change\". His closest rival looks to be Mr Anaya who heads a centre-right coalition. The candidate for the governing PRI party is Jose Antonio Meade, a former finance minister. Polling stations began closing at 18:00 local time (23:00 GMT) and the first results are expected in the coming hours. If Mr Lopez Obrador wins this time, he will end the dominance in Mexican politics of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the National Action Party (PAN). He has referred to them as being part of the same \"mafia of power\". Mexico is the second largest economy in Latin America and a major oil exporter. However, oil prices have dropped and the Mexican currency, the peso, has fallen sharply against the dollar. More than 40% of the population lives in poverty. High levels of corruption and violence have led some companies to pull out of the worst affected areas. Mexico has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists. Even before his own election, US President Donald Trump has continuously attacked Mexico over migration and trade. Who the next Mexican president will be and how he deals with President Trump and his plans to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) and build a border wall will therefore be key to US-Mexican relations. Mr Lopez Obrador has been the most critical of Mr Trump on the campaign trail. He has said he will make the US president \"see reason\". But on the matter of children being separated from their migrant parents at the US border, Mr Anaya went further than Mr Lopez Obrador, saying that \"it reminds me of what the Nazis did in WWII, it's completely unacceptable\". Mr Meade has also criticised President Trump over the tariffs the US recently imposed on Mexican steel.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1633, "answer_start": 474, "text": "Analysis by Will Grant, BBC News, Mexico This has been the most violent election campaign in Mexico in living memory. Now that voting day has arrived, however, many Mexicans see it as an opportunity to remove the government that has led the country to this point. Millions of ordinary Mexicans are angry at President Enrique Pena Nieto and his administration, particularly over the sluggish economy and widespread corruption, crime and impunity. The man widely expected to replace him, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador who is often referred to just by his initials Amlo, was the runner-up in the last two presidential elections. He has made tackling corruption the central plank of his election platform, promising to improve wages and pensions by stamping out rampant abuses by the state and the political and business elites. His opponents, including the centre-right candidate, Ricardo Anaya, have tried to paint him as a populist and a dangerous maverick who cannot be trusted with the economy. Most polls suggest, however, that a majority of voters have not listened to that message and are prepared to hand Mr Lopez Obrador the presidency, third time around." } ], "id": "9422_0", "question": "Third time lucky?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2628, "answer_start": 1634, "text": "Long queues of voters formed outside schools and community centres as polling day progressed but two more killings of party members were reported - one a member of the Workers' Party in the western state of Michoacan and the other a member of the governing PRI party in the central state of Puebla. Some 88 million people have been eligible to vote, and have been choosing not only a president but also 128 senators and 500 deputies in Congress as well as state and local officials. A huge crowd gathered outside the polling station in Mexico City's Tlalpan district to watch Mr Lopez Obrador cast his vote. He called the election \"historic\" and told reporters: \"We represent the possibility of real change\". His closest rival looks to be Mr Anaya who heads a centre-right coalition. The candidate for the governing PRI party is Jose Antonio Meade, a former finance minister. Polling stations began closing at 18:00 local time (23:00 GMT) and the first results are expected in the coming hours." } ], "id": "9422_1", "question": "How has election day unfolded?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3304, "answer_start": 2629, "text": "If Mr Lopez Obrador wins this time, he will end the dominance in Mexican politics of the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the National Action Party (PAN). He has referred to them as being part of the same \"mafia of power\". Mexico is the second largest economy in Latin America and a major oil exporter. However, oil prices have dropped and the Mexican currency, the peso, has fallen sharply against the dollar. More than 40% of the population lives in poverty. High levels of corruption and violence have led some companies to pull out of the worst affected areas. Mexico has a reputation for being one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists." } ], "id": "9422_2", "question": "What is at stake?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Founder of The Pink Protest and author Scarlett Curtis shares her vision for 2030, and asks whether feminism is anywhere near \"done\". Scarlett is one of this year's BBC 100 women, an inspiring and innovative group who are driving change for women around the world. I am not a fan of science fiction. It's a genre that bores me and as much as I have tried, over the years, to muster up excitement for Star Wars, Doctor Who or even Nineteen Eighty-Four, I inevitably end up switching off and losing interest. There is just one future reality that truly interests me. It's the far-off, magical world titled \"The Female-Led Future\". After all, feminist activism is an act of science fiction. This is a world being created in real time, by real people. So, let us take the grand unveiling of the 2019 BBC 100 Women list as an opportunity to imagine what this world could look like by 2030. A world in which women everywhere are given equal access to education, have control of their own bodies and are fairly represented by the leadership that drives social change and affects the way we live. What could this future female leadership look like? There are two competing schools of thought on this. One argues that female leadership looks exactly like the male leadership we already know. This is the concept of the \"ball-busting girl-boss\". She's the kick-ass CEO with heels as sharp as her tongue, an army of nannies at home caring for her kids and a trouser-suit that brings cold, hard fear to all the men who serve beneath her. The other argument explores the idea that perhaps the brutal machismo that we have come to associate with leadership and power is as much a part of the problem as female oppression. Perhaps aggression, fear and hierarchy are the issues, so the idea of whacking a business suit on a woman and throwing her into the boardroom was always a bad idea. Perhaps the idea of \"having it all\" is one that was flawed from the beginning. This second argument tends to be the one I like best. I'm a \"soft\" person. I cry easily, I am led by emotions and would rather never work again than earn a living from a job in which I was required to argue on a daily basis. My preference is for a leadership model with these traits, which are often seen as \"female\", at its core. While progress is slow, this \"vulnerable power\" is starting to make itself known. Activist and campaigner Greta Thunberg's quiet determination has arguably propelled the climate movement further in the last year than in the decade before it. At the same time, the passion and emotion of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has sparked a much-needed fire within the US political climate, while Tarana Burke's #MeToo movement has used simple, powerful storytelling to reframe global perceptions of sexual harassment. Looking at the representation at the top is often a depressing exercise, with fewer women leading FTSE 100 firms than are run by men called Stephen. Yet when women do get a seat at the table, the positive impacts are plain. Women still make up just 3% of mediators in major peace processes, but the resulting agreement is 35% more likely to last at least 15 years. Hiring women to lead corporations can be beneficial too. Interviews with female CEOs of major US firms found they were often driven by a sense of purpose, and embraced teamwork to lift up others and achieve their desired results. Meanwhile, if other OECD countries increased their female employment rate to match that of Sweden - which is often held up as a beacon of gender equality - collective GDP could be boosted by more than $6 trillion (PS4.9tn). So there we have it - the tantalising hints of a female-led future utopia in which money and equality run through society like rivers. But what is it actually going to take to get there? I have, much to my chagrin, become that person at parties that people like to challenge on whether or not we \"actually need feminism\". This question tends to be posed by those who have never personally felt the negative effects of inequality. The response is simple but generally not one that I like to whip out over cocktails; one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence, while 61% of 15-24 year-olds infected with HIV are female. One in five girls worldwide are thought to be married before 18, and at least 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). Fewer than one in five of the world's landowners are women, and in 18 countries a husband is still allowed to ban his wife from working. These statistics aren't just numbers - they are the basis for gender inequality. They are the fire that fuels the fearless activism of millions of women across the globe. They are the reason that feminism will not be \"done\" until equality is a reality not just for certain groups but for every woman on every corner of the globe. These numbers betray the violations of fundamental human rights that take place every second of every day, and are the core of feminism. So let us return to our question - what does a female-led future look like? The first step is to fix these glaring inequalities. In 2015, every UN country agreed to 17 sustainable development goals, and number five is gender equality. These world leaders made a promise to end FGM, value unpaid labour, promote empowerment through technology and ensure women's full participation in leadership and decision making. These goals are not a dream - they are a promise, and unless this groundwork of equality is laid, nothing else is going to be possible. But once that has been done, once rights have been given, discrimination ended, equality achieved, what does a true \"female-led future\" look like? I think that's what we're all trying to figure out. I think it might be the stuff of dreams, of visions, of stories yet to be told. It's the story of boardrooms with breast-pumps, of blind dates without fear, of short skirts that don't \"send signals\", and gender without binaries. It's the story of boys in skirts, girls in spaceships, governments with compassion and sex without power. It's the story that is yet to be told, but one which activists are dreaming up and writing into reality every day. It's the story I'm extremely excited to find out the ending to, and one that I promise never to give up on. It's the story that needs YOU if it's ever, ever going to become a reality. BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the world every year and shares their stories. It's been a year of huge change around the globe, so in 2019 BBC 100 Women is asking: what could the future look like in 2030?. Find us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and use #100Women Illustrations by Natalie Byrne", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5026, "answer_start": 3621, "text": "So there we have it - the tantalising hints of a female-led future utopia in which money and equality run through society like rivers. But what is it actually going to take to get there? I have, much to my chagrin, become that person at parties that people like to challenge on whether or not we \"actually need feminism\". This question tends to be posed by those who have never personally felt the negative effects of inequality. The response is simple but generally not one that I like to whip out over cocktails; one in three women will experience physical or sexual violence, while 61% of 15-24 year-olds infected with HIV are female. One in five girls worldwide are thought to be married before 18, and at least 200 million girls and women worldwide have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM). Fewer than one in five of the world's landowners are women, and in 18 countries a husband is still allowed to ban his wife from working. These statistics aren't just numbers - they are the basis for gender inequality. They are the fire that fuels the fearless activism of millions of women across the globe. They are the reason that feminism will not be \"done\" until equality is a reality not just for certain groups but for every woman on every corner of the globe. These numbers betray the violations of fundamental human rights that take place every second of every day, and are the core of feminism." } ], "id": "9423_0", "question": "Do we 'actually' need feminism?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The system allowing people to use cash in the UK is at risk of \"falling apart\" and needs a new guarantee to ensure notes and coins can still be used. A hard-hitting review by finance experts has concluded that market forces will not save cash for as long as people need it. The report calls on the government and regulators to step in to ensure cash remains viable. Suggestions include ensuring rural shops offer cash-back. The report also said that essential services, such as utility and council bills, should still allow customers to pay in cash. An independent body, funded by the banks, should be set up that would step in if local communities were running short of access to cash in shops and ATMs, the report said. The research - called the Access to Cash Review - is authored by former financial ombudsman Natalie Ceeney and was paid for by cash machine network operator Link, but was independent from it. It took evidence from nearly 100 businesses and charities across the UK. Cash use has been falling dramatically in recent years. In 2017, debit card use - driven by contactless payments - overtook the number of payments made in cash in the UK for the first time. The report said that the current rate of decline would mean cash use would end in 2026. However, it concluded that notes and coins would still be used in 15 years' time, but accounting for between 10% and 15% of transactions. The demise of cash, if unchecked, would be driven primarily by retailers and other businesses refusing to accept cash owing to the cost of handling it. Mike Keen opened The Boot pub in Freston, near Ipswich, last year as a cashless business with no tills. \"There are a whole bunch of reasons. The [biggest] gain is management time,\" he said, such as never having to cash up at the end of the day, drive to the bank and queue to pay it in, two or three times a week. He said that saved the business 15 hours a week, and many thousands of pounds. Insurance premiums had been lower as there was no cash on the premises, security was less of a problem, and the time taken to serve customers was much quicker, he said. Banknotes and coins are a necessity for eight million people, according to the review's interim findings published in December. These include rural communities where alternative ways of paying are affected by poor broadband or mobile connectivity, and many people who have physical or mental health problems and therefore find it hard to use digital services. The report also concludes that vulnerability in this area is generally the result of income, not old age. \"Poverty is the biggest indicator of cash dependency, not age,\" the review concludes. \"There are worrying signs that our cash system is falling apart. ATM and bank branch closures are just the tip of the iceberg, underneath there is a huge infrastructure which is becoming increasingly unviable as cash use declines,\" Ms Ceeney said. \"If we sleepwalk into a cashless society, millions will be left behind.\" Kev Jackson has been homeless and currently lives in temporary accommodation. \"Cash is easy because you know what you have got on you,\" he said. \"On a card - when you can't see your balance - it is easy to overspend. [Cash] is very good for budgeting.\" \"A lot of people [on the streets] do not have bank accounts, so they only carry cash. If you can't spend cash in a shop, it is going to be difficult for them. They won't be able to survive.\" He said that he preferred using a card himself, but was concerned that technology left many people behind. Evidence from Sweden, seen as much closer to a cashless society than the UK, suggested that infrastructure was needed before cash use declined beyond anyone's control. The review suggested that an independent body was needed to oversee a guarantee that people need not travel too far to get access to cash. Innovation should also be used to protect cash, such as: - Local shops offering cash-back to customers, rather than customers relying on ATMs - Small businesses given the opportunity to deposit cash in secure lockers or \"smart\" ATMs, rather than have to make a weekly trip to a bank branch - A \"radical\" change to the infrastructure behind cash, overseen by the Bank of England, to lower the cost and maintain free access for consumers Britain's cash infrastructure costs around PS5bn a year to run. It is paid for predominantly by the retail banks and run mostly by commercial operators. The Bank of England's chief cashier, Sarah John, said it would call together key players in this sector to develop a system that would support lower levels of cash use and encourage innovation \"to support cash as a viable means of payment for those who want to use it\". Consumer group Which? has called for a single regulator to have a statutory duty to protect access to cash and build a sustainable cash infrastructure for the UK. Eric Leenders, from UK Finance, which represents banks, said: \"The finance industry is using a range of solutions to ensure cash can still be accessed including over the counter withdrawals through 11,500 Post Offices and cash-back from retailers, to investment in ATMs and mobile bank branches to reach more rural communities. \"We will continue to work with the review team, government, and regulators to take forward this important work.\" Ron Delnevo, of the ATM Industry Association, said that there should be a requirement, backed by law, on businesses to accept cash, mirroring moves by some local authorities in the US.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1554, "answer_start": 987, "text": "Cash use has been falling dramatically in recent years. In 2017, debit card use - driven by contactless payments - overtook the number of payments made in cash in the UK for the first time. The report said that the current rate of decline would mean cash use would end in 2026. However, it concluded that notes and coins would still be used in 15 years' time, but accounting for between 10% and 15% of transactions. The demise of cash, if unchecked, would be driven primarily by retailers and other businesses refusing to accept cash owing to the cost of handling it." } ], "id": "9424_0", "question": "How quickly is cash use falling?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2989, "answer_start": 2117, "text": "Banknotes and coins are a necessity for eight million people, according to the review's interim findings published in December. These include rural communities where alternative ways of paying are affected by poor broadband or mobile connectivity, and many people who have physical or mental health problems and therefore find it hard to use digital services. The report also concludes that vulnerability in this area is generally the result of income, not old age. \"Poverty is the biggest indicator of cash dependency, not age,\" the review concludes. \"There are worrying signs that our cash system is falling apart. ATM and bank branch closures are just the tip of the iceberg, underneath there is a huge infrastructure which is becoming increasingly unviable as cash use declines,\" Ms Ceeney said. \"If we sleepwalk into a cashless society, millions will be left behind.\"" } ], "id": "9424_1", "question": "What is the problem with a cashless society?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4706, "answer_start": 3541, "text": "Evidence from Sweden, seen as much closer to a cashless society than the UK, suggested that infrastructure was needed before cash use declined beyond anyone's control. The review suggested that an independent body was needed to oversee a guarantee that people need not travel too far to get access to cash. Innovation should also be used to protect cash, such as: - Local shops offering cash-back to customers, rather than customers relying on ATMs - Small businesses given the opportunity to deposit cash in secure lockers or \"smart\" ATMs, rather than have to make a weekly trip to a bank branch - A \"radical\" change to the infrastructure behind cash, overseen by the Bank of England, to lower the cost and maintain free access for consumers Britain's cash infrastructure costs around PS5bn a year to run. It is paid for predominantly by the retail banks and run mostly by commercial operators. The Bank of England's chief cashier, Sarah John, said it would call together key players in this sector to develop a system that would support lower levels of cash use and encourage innovation \"to support cash as a viable means of payment for those who want to use it\"." } ], "id": "9424_2", "question": "What should be done?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5495, "answer_start": 4707, "text": "Consumer group Which? has called for a single regulator to have a statutory duty to protect access to cash and build a sustainable cash infrastructure for the UK. Eric Leenders, from UK Finance, which represents banks, said: \"The finance industry is using a range of solutions to ensure cash can still be accessed including over the counter withdrawals through 11,500 Post Offices and cash-back from retailers, to investment in ATMs and mobile bank branches to reach more rural communities. \"We will continue to work with the review team, government, and regulators to take forward this important work.\" Ron Delnevo, of the ATM Industry Association, said that there should be a requirement, backed by law, on businesses to accept cash, mirroring moves by some local authorities in the US." } ], "id": "9424_3", "question": "What has already been done?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Republican-controlled US Senate has approved a bill to send aid to the border with Mexico, as the image of a drowned migrant family shocked the US. It earlier rejected a rival aid bill from the Democratic-led House of Representatives imposing restrictions on US immigration agencies. Lawmakers in both chambers now face pressure to reconcile the two bills. Reports of migrant deaths, poor detention conditions and neglected child detainees have shaped the debate. The funding bill battle comes amid outrage over photos showing a drowned migrant father and daughter at the US-Mexico border, and days after reports emerged of detention facilities where migrant children were being held in \"horrific\" conditions. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump reacted to the outcry, saying Democrats wanted open borders, \"and open borders mean people 'drowning in the river'\". But a senior House Democrat said their bill was needed to counter the administration's policies. \"The president's cruel immigration policies that tear apart families and terrorise communities demand the stringent safeguards in this bill to ensure these funds are used for humanitarian needs only - not for immigration raids, not detention beds, not a border wall,\" said House Appropriations Committee chairwoman Nita Lowey, quoted by the Associated Press. Republican leader Mitch McConnell had called House Democrats \"consistently uncooperative and uninterested in anything except political posturing\", after the lower chamber approved its own $4.5bn (PS3.5bn) border aid bill on Tuesday. \"The Senate has a better and more bipartisan way forward,\" he said ahead of the vote. \"No poison pills; just a clean bill to provide the emergency appropriations the White House requested two months ago.\" Lawmakers will need to finalise legislation on aid funds before they take a week-long recess next week. There are also concerns that border agencies will run out of money soon. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi told reporters earlier that the Senate bill would not get through the House. \"There's some improvements that we think can be reconciled,\" she said. Mrs Pelosi had also discussed changes to the bill with President Donald Trump on Wednesday. The two chambers will have to agree on a final version of legislation to send to Mr Trump to sign into law. The president had threatened to veto the House version of the bill before the vote. Both of the bills included stipulations regarding migrant care and prohibit the use of the funds to build a border wall. However, the Senate bill offers Pentagon funding and fewer rules on how agencies can appropriate the funds. The House version, which passed on Tuesday along party lines in the Democratic-controlled chamber, contained more specific rules about standards for care and how money can be used. The bill was toughened up after some Democrats expressed concern over providing extra funds for agencies involved in the current situation, including those enforcing President Donald Trump's \"zero tolerance\" policy which had last year led to migrant children being separated from their parents. The Senate bill passed 84-8 with most Senate Democrats voting in favour of the bi-partisan legislation. The House bill failed by a 37-55 margin, with three Democratic Senators joining Republicans in voting against it. The congressional showdown follows outcry over humanitarian conditions at the border. Several bodies, including those of babies and children, were discovered in recent days, as some migrants opted to try and cross into the US illegally, avoiding the formal immigration system. A photograph of a father and his daughter lying face down in the water of the Rio Grande river has also shocked many. In the photograph, two-year-old Valeria has an arm wrapped around her father, Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez, as both lie dead close to shore. Published by the Associated Press on Tuesday, it has drawn comparisons to the photo of young Syrian boy Alan Kurdi, who became a symbol of the human cost of the war in Syria. Amid a major public outcry about the conditions facing migrant children, Customs and Border Protection acting commissioner John Sanders said he would be stepping down. The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mark Morgan, is set to replace him. Mr Trump's \"zero tolerance\" policy was announced in early 2018. By prosecuting adults who crossed the border illegally, it had the effect of separating children from their parents. Despite a court order requiring families to be reunited and an end to separations last year, hundreds remain in government shelters, to which the public - including journalists and rights activists - had little access. Lawyers were recently given access to one facility in Clint, Texas, by a judge. They reported appalling conditions inside, in which children under 10 were caring for infants, and massive overcrowding. Children were \"locked up in horrific cells where there's an open toilet in the middle of the room\" where they ate and slept, one of the lawyers told the BBC. Separately, a legal argument from the government that access to soap and a toothbrush were not necessarily \"required\" has drawn much criticism. Where do these people come from? Traditionally large numbers of Mexican economic migrants have declined, replaced in part by a surge in families with children from Central American countries - particularly Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Why are they fleeing? Many of these families are fleeing extreme poverty or the risk of gang violence. The UN refugee agency calls the three countries \"some of the most dangerous places on Earth\" - but the US attorney general has decreed that gang violence does not usually qualify someone for asylum. Why are there still separated children? Although the separation of migrant families was officially halted in June 2018, the New York Times reported that 700 families had been separated in the year since via \"loopholes\" in the court order - when parents have a criminal conviction or a disease, or when it is an aunt, uncle, or sibling accompanying the child. Some parents may be children themselves. How many people cross the border? US Border Patrol says it has made 593,507 \"southwest border apprehensions\" since October 2018. Last month, 132,887 people were stopped - including 11,507 unaccompanied children and 84,542 travelling in families. How many people have died? Border Patrol recorded 283 deaths in the 2018 fiscal year. The United Nations Missing Migrants project reports that so far in 2019, 170 migrants have died or are missing on the US-Mexico border - including 13 children.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3327, "answer_start": 2405, "text": "Both of the bills included stipulations regarding migrant care and prohibit the use of the funds to build a border wall. However, the Senate bill offers Pentagon funding and fewer rules on how agencies can appropriate the funds. The House version, which passed on Tuesday along party lines in the Democratic-controlled chamber, contained more specific rules about standards for care and how money can be used. The bill was toughened up after some Democrats expressed concern over providing extra funds for agencies involved in the current situation, including those enforcing President Donald Trump's \"zero tolerance\" policy which had last year led to migrant children being separated from their parents. The Senate bill passed 84-8 with most Senate Democrats voting in favour of the bi-partisan legislation. The House bill failed by a 37-55 margin, with three Democratic Senators joining Republicans in voting against it." } ], "id": "9425_0", "question": "What are the two bills?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4304, "answer_start": 3328, "text": "The congressional showdown follows outcry over humanitarian conditions at the border. Several bodies, including those of babies and children, were discovered in recent days, as some migrants opted to try and cross into the US illegally, avoiding the formal immigration system. A photograph of a father and his daughter lying face down in the water of the Rio Grande river has also shocked many. In the photograph, two-year-old Valeria has an arm wrapped around her father, Oscar Alberto Martinez Ramirez, as both lie dead close to shore. Published by the Associated Press on Tuesday, it has drawn comparisons to the photo of young Syrian boy Alan Kurdi, who became a symbol of the human cost of the war in Syria. Amid a major public outcry about the conditions facing migrant children, Customs and Border Protection acting commissioner John Sanders said he would be stepping down. The acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Mark Morgan, is set to replace him." } ], "id": "9425_1", "question": "What's been happening at the border?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5207, "answer_start": 4305, "text": "Mr Trump's \"zero tolerance\" policy was announced in early 2018. By prosecuting adults who crossed the border illegally, it had the effect of separating children from their parents. Despite a court order requiring families to be reunited and an end to separations last year, hundreds remain in government shelters, to which the public - including journalists and rights activists - had little access. Lawyers were recently given access to one facility in Clint, Texas, by a judge. They reported appalling conditions inside, in which children under 10 were caring for infants, and massive overcrowding. Children were \"locked up in horrific cells where there's an open toilet in the middle of the room\" where they ate and slept, one of the lawyers told the BBC. Separately, a legal argument from the government that access to soap and a toothbrush were not necessarily \"required\" has drawn much criticism." } ], "id": "9425_2", "question": "Why is there a political crisis about the border?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Anonymous group has been carrying out web-based attacks on companies and organisations it sees as harming the work of Wikileaks. It has used a method known as a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. This type of attack typically involves flooding a target website with data. The attackers hope to overwhelm it in one way or another so it cannot serve its legitimate users. As its name implies it aims to deny service to those visitors. There are. Some exploit the basic protocols of the internet that define how your web browser talks to the webpage you want to visit. Other attacks send fragments of data packets to a target so it spends all its time putting them back together rather than sending data to visitors. Against sites with a low bandwidth link to the wider web simply sending lots of data traffic can choke the connection and cut it off. There are many other different types of attack. They can be hard to defend against, at least initially, because they look like ordinary net traffic. The first denial of service attacks typically came from a single source. Now the data bombardment is typically carried out by lots of computers, usually running Windows, all over the world, hence distributed. Most attacks are carried out through a botnet. A botnet is a collection of hijacked home computers that have come under the control of a hi-tech criminal. The machines are often enrolled in the botnet when their owners visit a booby-trapped webpage that hosts malicious software. This usually exploits vulnerabilities in popular programs to install itself and hand control of the machine over to a botnet herder. Botnets can be huge. The biggest, such as Bredolab and Conficker, have millions of machines in them. Botnet herders divide the machines under their control into manageable chunks that can be rented out. Other hi-tech criminals then use them to send spam or phishing e-mails, some use them to launch a DDoS attack. It is. But one that is slightly different to the usual. The botnet is made up of machines that have been actively enrolled in it by their owners downloading and installing Anonymous' attack tool - known as the Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC). Anonymous says about 2,000 machines are now in its botnet. Using only 400 of these caused trouble for the Visa.com website - one of Anonymous' targets. Most of the sites targeted suffered downtime to a greater or lesser extent. However, the attacks on Visa and Mastercard did more than just knock the homepages of both companies offline for some time. The attack also hit some credit card transactions. This is because one of the checks done when you try to pay involve consulting servers that sit on the same network as the homepages. How can attacks be resisted? In several ways. Traffic hitting a website can be piped through filters that know the net addresses of machines on botnets and so can spot when an attack is coming through one. There are also mitigation techniques that work against some specific attacks. What makes the Anonymous hard to defend against is that it rolls together lots of different attack types.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 446, "answer_start": 210, "text": "This type of attack typically involves flooding a target website with data. The attackers hope to overwhelm it in one way or another so it cannot serve its legitimate users. As its name implies it aims to deny service to those visitors." } ], "id": "9426_0", "question": "What is a DDoS attack?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1010, "answer_start": 447, "text": "There are. Some exploit the basic protocols of the internet that define how your web browser talks to the webpage you want to visit. Other attacks send fragments of data packets to a target so it spends all its time putting them back together rather than sending data to visitors. Against sites with a low bandwidth link to the wider web simply sending lots of data traffic can choke the connection and cut it off. There are many other different types of attack. They can be hard to defend against, at least initially, because they look like ordinary net traffic." } ], "id": "9426_1", "question": "Are there lots of different types of DDoS attack?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1266, "answer_start": 1011, "text": "The first denial of service attacks typically came from a single source. Now the data bombardment is typically carried out by lots of computers, usually running Windows, all over the world, hence distributed. Most attacks are carried out through a botnet." } ], "id": "9426_2", "question": "What is distributed about it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1946, "answer_start": 1267, "text": "A botnet is a collection of hijacked home computers that have come under the control of a hi-tech criminal. The machines are often enrolled in the botnet when their owners visit a booby-trapped webpage that hosts malicious software. This usually exploits vulnerabilities in popular programs to install itself and hand control of the machine over to a botnet herder. Botnets can be huge. The biggest, such as Bredolab and Conficker, have millions of machines in them. Botnet herders divide the machines under their control into manageable chunks that can be rented out. Other hi-tech criminals then use them to send spam or phishing e-mails, some use them to launch a DDoS attack." } ], "id": "9426_3", "question": "A whatnet?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2337, "answer_start": 1947, "text": "It is. But one that is slightly different to the usual. The botnet is made up of machines that have been actively enrolled in it by their owners downloading and installing Anonymous' attack tool - known as the Low Orbit Ion Cannon (LOIC). Anonymous says about 2,000 machines are now in its botnet. Using only 400 of these caused trouble for the Visa.com website - one of Anonymous' targets." } ], "id": "9426_4", "question": "Is Anonymous using a botnet?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3111, "answer_start": 2338, "text": "Most of the sites targeted suffered downtime to a greater or lesser extent. However, the attacks on Visa and Mastercard did more than just knock the homepages of both companies offline for some time. The attack also hit some credit card transactions. This is because one of the checks done when you try to pay involve consulting servers that sit on the same network as the homepages. How can attacks be resisted? In several ways. Traffic hitting a website can be piped through filters that know the net addresses of machines on botnets and so can spot when an attack is coming through one. There are also mitigation techniques that work against some specific attacks. What makes the Anonymous hard to defend against is that it rolls together lots of different attack types." } ], "id": "9426_5", "question": "What damage did the attacks do?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Donald Trump has the right to keep his tax returns private and Democrats' demands to see them are \"harassment\", a lawyer for the president has said. William Consovoy's statement hints at the shape of a possible future legal battle over the issue. On Thursday a Congressional tax committee demanded to see six years of Mr Trump's returns, saying it was necessary to ensure accountability. Unlike previous presidents, Mr Trump has refused to publish his tax details. On Friday he said he believed that the law was \"100% on my side\". Mr Trump has maintained his business interests during his presidency, prompting questions about possible conflicts of interest. Questions also remain about his net worth, tax profile and past financial dealings. The Democrats gained control of the House of Representatives in mid-term elections last year, giving them the ability to launch investigations into Mr Trump's administration and business affairs. Mr Consovoy said the tax committee did not have a valid legislative reason to see Mr Trump's tax returns. \"His request is a transparent effort by one political party to harass an official from the other party because they dislike his politics and speech,\" Mr Consovoy said of tax committee chairman Bill Neal. He said the request was a \"misguided attempt\" to politicise tax laws and could also end up interfering with audits. He said the US Treasury should not comply with the demand. Mr Trump has in the past said that he is unable to release his tax returns because they were being audited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However the IRS has said that he could release the returns even if they are under audit. In February Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen suggested during testimony to Congress that Mr Trump's taxes were not under audit during the 2016 presidential campaign - when Mr Trump said they were. Mr Trump had not wanted to release the tax returns because the resulting scrutiny could have led to an audit and \"he'll ultimately have taxable consequences, penalties and so on\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2042, "answer_start": 940, "text": "Mr Consovoy said the tax committee did not have a valid legislative reason to see Mr Trump's tax returns. \"His request is a transparent effort by one political party to harass an official from the other party because they dislike his politics and speech,\" Mr Consovoy said of tax committee chairman Bill Neal. He said the request was a \"misguided attempt\" to politicise tax laws and could also end up interfering with audits. He said the US Treasury should not comply with the demand. Mr Trump has in the past said that he is unable to release his tax returns because they were being audited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). However the IRS has said that he could release the returns even if they are under audit. In February Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen suggested during testimony to Congress that Mr Trump's taxes were not under audit during the 2016 presidential campaign - when Mr Trump said they were. Mr Trump had not wanted to release the tax returns because the resulting scrutiny could have led to an audit and \"he'll ultimately have taxable consequences, penalties and so on\"." } ], "id": "9427_0", "question": "What did Trump's lawyer say?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Education Secretary Nicky Morgan is understood to be looking to the US for the next head of England's schools inspectorate Ofsted. It is thought several Americans are to be approached about replacing Sir Michael Wilshaw, who will stand down as chief inspector in December. The Sunday Times says a figure working in the publicly funded US Charter schools system could be appointed. The schools have been credited with boosting attainment in deprived areas. They have been expanding across the US in recent years, with supporters seeing them as a way of re-energising standards in state education. Charter schools, like free schools and academies in England, are independent of local authority control. Government sources have told the BBC that leading educationalists in the US have had to face similar issues to their contemporaries in England, not just in raising standards but in responding to the demands of teaching unions. A number of British candidates are also reported to be in the running for the Ofsted post. Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: \"If the government is scouring the world for a new head of Ofsted, they should look to Finland. \"It is universally agreed to have an excellent education system characterised by co-operation, collaboration and trust - a far cry from the Charter School ethos of the US.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1368, "answer_start": 701, "text": "Government sources have told the BBC that leading educationalists in the US have had to face similar issues to their contemporaries in England, not just in raising standards but in responding to the demands of teaching unions. A number of British candidates are also reported to be in the running for the Ofsted post. Christine Blower, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said: \"If the government is scouring the world for a new head of Ofsted, they should look to Finland. \"It is universally agreed to have an excellent education system characterised by co-operation, collaboration and trust - a far cry from the Charter School ethos of the US.\"" } ], "id": "9428_0", "question": "Or look to Finland?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Thinking about E numbers might stir up images of hyperactive children guzzling fluorescent soft drinks. But have you ever wondered what the E stands for? Looking at this system of food additives can help illustrate some of the tough issues facing the British government as it prepares to leave the European Union. The European Council introduced food colouring legislation in 1962 alongside a number classification system. In the 1990s the scheme was expanded to cover all additives permitted to be used in food sold in the EU and now forms a key part of UK food and drink regulation. The government wants to begin formal Brexit negotiations by the end of March, after which UK laws will be made \"not in Brussels but in Westminster\", according to Prime Minister Theresa May. So will the UK ditch E numbers and come up with a new system for assessing and labelling food additives? And what about the many other areas of UK regulation currently set by EU law? For a substance to be permitted for use as a food additive in the EU, it must be given an E number (the E stands for Europe). Codes like E101, E150d and E1209 are assigned to substances which change food colour, taste, shelf life or other properties. For example E160b, or annatto, gives Red Leicester cheese its distinctive glow. E numbers are often associated with processed food. Some, like E122, may have adverse effects on children prone to hyperactivity according to the NHS. But most are perfectly benign and lots are good for us, like E300, otherwise known as Vitamin C. At the moment if a food company comes up with a new additive, it must seek authorisation from an expert panel at the European Food Safety Authority. This EU body is made up of scientists from across the continent, including two from the UK. They are experts in chemistry, toxicology and other relevant fields and meet regularly to assess which additives are safe. Once agreed, these substances must be clearly labelled on food sold in the UK or elsewhere in the EU. As part of the Brexit process, the government has announced it will introduce a \"Great Repeal Bill\" in the next Queen's Speech. This will remove the European Communities Act 1972 from the statute book and enshrine all existing EU law into British law, before the government decides which to keep and which to jettison. This is likely to include EU regulations on food additives and labelling. However such an approach opens up a number of other questions. For example, what would happen when the EU changes its list of E numbers - will the UK adopt or ignore the new rules? If it adopts them, how does this square with the government's wish that laws be made in Westminster and if it ignores E number changes, will domestic food companies be able to trade freely with European suppliers? The government says it will push for the \"freest possible trade\" with the EU after Brexit. But if the UK decided to keep E numbers while not being under the jurisdiction of European courts, there would need to be a new system whereby the EU's remaining 27 states could verify that UK goods observe the rules, says Stephen Weatherill, professor of European law at Oxford University. \"It is beyond complicated - and this is true of thousands and thousands of such matters,\" says Prof Weatherill. But not everyone agrees. \"Some of the academics are making it more complicated than they need to,\" says Conservative MP Bill Cash, who chairs the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee and is a long-standing supporter of Brexit. He says the UK may choose to adopt standards like E numbers, but on the basis of voluntary compliance rather than by submitting to the EU's legal jurisdiction, enforced by the European Court of Justice. There are many other unresolved questions when it comes to E numbers. How will standards set by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation be incorporated, will the UK set up its own expert panel and will E numbers be renamed - \"UK numbers\" perhaps? Nobody is quite sure of the answers yet. These uncertainties hang over many areas of UK law which currently come from the EU, like farm subsidies, clean energy targets and fishing rules. But if non-EU Switzerland is a model, we may simply retain many existing structures. Switzerland uses E numbers and belongs to lots of similar schemes like the European Health Insurance Card. \"There may not be as much change as people are trying to suggest there would be,\" says Mr Cash. The Brexit negotiations will involve plenty of big constitutional issues, but there are many apparently smaller things, like E numbers, which will need to be sorted out as well.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3722, "answer_start": 2003, "text": "As part of the Brexit process, the government has announced it will introduce a \"Great Repeal Bill\" in the next Queen's Speech. This will remove the European Communities Act 1972 from the statute book and enshrine all existing EU law into British law, before the government decides which to keep and which to jettison. This is likely to include EU regulations on food additives and labelling. However such an approach opens up a number of other questions. For example, what would happen when the EU changes its list of E numbers - will the UK adopt or ignore the new rules? If it adopts them, how does this square with the government's wish that laws be made in Westminster and if it ignores E number changes, will domestic food companies be able to trade freely with European suppliers? The government says it will push for the \"freest possible trade\" with the EU after Brexit. But if the UK decided to keep E numbers while not being under the jurisdiction of European courts, there would need to be a new system whereby the EU's remaining 27 states could verify that UK goods observe the rules, says Stephen Weatherill, professor of European law at Oxford University. \"It is beyond complicated - and this is true of thousands and thousands of such matters,\" says Prof Weatherill. But not everyone agrees. \"Some of the academics are making it more complicated than they need to,\" says Conservative MP Bill Cash, who chairs the House of Commons European Scrutiny Committee and is a long-standing supporter of Brexit. He says the UK may choose to adopt standards like E numbers, but on the basis of voluntary compliance rather than by submitting to the EU's legal jurisdiction, enforced by the European Court of Justice." } ], "id": "9429_0", "question": "What happens next?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4625, "answer_start": 3723, "text": "There are many other unresolved questions when it comes to E numbers. How will standards set by the UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation be incorporated, will the UK set up its own expert panel and will E numbers be renamed - \"UK numbers\" perhaps? Nobody is quite sure of the answers yet. These uncertainties hang over many areas of UK law which currently come from the EU, like farm subsidies, clean energy targets and fishing rules. But if non-EU Switzerland is a model, we may simply retain many existing structures. Switzerland uses E numbers and belongs to lots of similar schemes like the European Health Insurance Card. \"There may not be as much change as people are trying to suggest there would be,\" says Mr Cash. The Brexit negotiations will involve plenty of big constitutional issues, but there are many apparently smaller things, like E numbers, which will need to be sorted out as well." } ], "id": "9429_1", "question": "Not much change?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The clue is in the name: credit. It means belief, trust. If you're a shopkeeper, who do you trust to repay a debt? For most of history, only someone you knew personally, which was fine since most of the people you encountered would be from the same small community. But as cities boomed, things became more awkward. Large department stores couldn't rely on employees to recognise every customer by sight. So retailers issued tokens to trusted customers - special coins, key-rings, and in 1928, even objects resembling dog tags called \"charga-plates\". Show one of those, and a shop assistant who didn't know you would happily let you walk out of the store with an armful of goods you'd not yet paid for. Some of those credit tokens became status symbols in their own right. In 1947 came the first token that allowed someone to get credit not just from a single store, but from a range of stores: the Charg-It. Admittedly, this worked only within a two-block area of Brooklyn. But then, in 1949, came the Diners Club card, aimed at the travelling salesman. It would let him (and it was usually him) buy food and fuel, rent hotel rooms, and entertain clients at a network of outlets around the United States. And it took off: 35,000 people subscribed in the first year, as the company rushed to sign up hotels, airlines, petrol stations and car hire firms. In the 1950s came the American Express charge card, and credit cards set up by banks. Bank of America's imaginatively named BankAmericard would eventually become Visa. Its rival, Master Charge, became MasterCard. But the early credit cards had two big problems to solve. One was chicken-and-egg: retailers wouldn't accept the cards without significant consumer demand. Conversely many customers couldn't be bothered to sign up unless plenty of retailers would take them. To overcome the inertia, in 1958 Bank of America experimented by simply mailing a plastic credit card to every single customer in Fresno, California - 60,000 of them. Each card had a credit limit of $500 (PS380), no questions asked - closer to $5,000 (PS3,800) in today's terms. This audacious move became known as the Fresno Drop. The bank took losses, of course, from delinquent loans, and outright fraud by criminals who simply stole the cards out of people's mailboxes. But the Fresno Drop was quickly emulated. The banks swallowed the losses, and by the end of 1960, Bank of America alone had a million credit cards in circulation. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy highlights the inventions, ideas and innovations which have helped create the economic world in which we live. It is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast. Listeners were invited to vote for the 51st Thing That Made the Modern Economy from a shortlist of six inventions: glass, GPS, the pencil, irrigation, spreadsheets and credit cards. The other problem was inconvenience. Pull out a credit card and the shop assistant would have to phone up your bank and chat to a teller to get the transaction approved. But new technologies helped to make the process of spending ever more painless. Chief among them was the magnetic strip - originally developed in the early 1960s by Forrest and Dorothea Parry for use on CIA identity cards. Forrest was an IBM engineer who came home one evening with a plastic card and information encoded on a strip of magnetic tape, trying to figure out how to attach one to the other. His wife Dorothea, who was ironing at the time, handed him the iron and told him to try it. The combination of heat and pressure worked perfectly, and the magnetic strip was born. Thanks to the strip, you could now swipe a Visa card in a shop. The shop would send a message to its bank, which would send a message to the Visa network computers, and the Visa computers would send a message to your bank. If your bank was happy to trust you to repay, nobody else had to worry. The digital thumbs-up passed all the way back through these computers to the shop, which would issue a receipt and let you walk out of the door with your stuff. The whole process took just a few seconds. So the credit card spread everywhere - and anyone could tap into a network of trust that was once the preserve of upstanding members of a tight-knit community. It was a huge cultural shift. There was no need to genuflect to a bank manager as you begged for a loan and explained what you wanted it for. You could spend on anything, and roll the debt over again and again until you were ready to pay at your own convenience - as long as you didn't mind paying interest rates that could easily be 20% or 30%. How Chinese mulberry bark paved the way for paper money Money via mobile: The M-Pesa revolution How the barcode changed the retail world How department stores changed the way we shop But having such effortless, impersonal credit on tap might be doing strange things to our psychology. A few years ago, two researchers from MIT, Drazen Prelec and Duncan Simester, ran an experiment to test whether credit cards made us more relaxed about spending money. They allowed two groups of subjects to bid in an auction to buy tickets for popular sports fixtures. These tickets were valuable, but exactly how valuable wasn't clear. One group was told they had to pay with cash - but not to worry, there was an ATM around the corner if they won. The other group was told that only payment by credit card would be accepted. There was a striking difference in the results: the credit-card group bid substantially more for the tickets, more than twice as much in the case of a particularly popular match. That matters, because in some places cash is fast becoming obsolete. In Sweden only 20% of payments at shops are made with cash - and just 1% of total spending by value is via cash. Back in 1970, a BankAmericard advertising slogan had been, \"Think of it as money.\" Now, for many transactions, physical money won't do: an airline or a car hire firm or a hotel wants your credit card, not your cash. In Sweden the same is true even of coffee shops, bars and sometimes market stalls. Credit cards can - used wisely - help us manage our money. The risk is that they make it simply too easy to spend money - money we don't necessarily have. Rotating credit - that distinctive feature of a credit card - is now around $860bn (PS656bn) in the United States, more than $2,500 (PS1,900) for every American adult. In real terms, it's expanded four-hundred fold in 50 years. And a a recent study by the International Monetary Fund concluded that household debt - the kind of debt credit cards make it easy to accumulate - was the economic equivalent of a sugar rush. It was good for growth in the short term, but bad over a three to five year horizon - as well as making banking crises more likely. If you ask people about all this, they worry. Faced with the statement \"credit card companies make too much credit available to most people\", nine out of 10 Americans with credit cards agree. Most of them strongly agree. Yet when they reflect on their own cards, they're satisfied. We don't trust each other to wield these powerful financial tools responsibly, it seems. But we do trust ourselves. I wonder if we should. Tim Harford writes the Financial Times's Undercover Economist column. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast. Listeners voted for the credit card to be the 51st Thing That Made the Modern Economy from a shortlist of six inventions.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7697, "answer_start": 5702, "text": "That matters, because in some places cash is fast becoming obsolete. In Sweden only 20% of payments at shops are made with cash - and just 1% of total spending by value is via cash. Back in 1970, a BankAmericard advertising slogan had been, \"Think of it as money.\" Now, for many transactions, physical money won't do: an airline or a car hire firm or a hotel wants your credit card, not your cash. In Sweden the same is true even of coffee shops, bars and sometimes market stalls. Credit cards can - used wisely - help us manage our money. The risk is that they make it simply too easy to spend money - money we don't necessarily have. Rotating credit - that distinctive feature of a credit card - is now around $860bn (PS656bn) in the United States, more than $2,500 (PS1,900) for every American adult. In real terms, it's expanded four-hundred fold in 50 years. And a a recent study by the International Monetary Fund concluded that household debt - the kind of debt credit cards make it easy to accumulate - was the economic equivalent of a sugar rush. It was good for growth in the short term, but bad over a three to five year horizon - as well as making banking crises more likely. If you ask people about all this, they worry. Faced with the statement \"credit card companies make too much credit available to most people\", nine out of 10 Americans with credit cards agree. Most of them strongly agree. Yet when they reflect on their own cards, they're satisfied. We don't trust each other to wield these powerful financial tools responsibly, it seems. But we do trust ourselves. I wonder if we should. Tim Harford writes the Financial Times's Undercover Economist column. 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy is broadcast on the BBC World Service. You can find more information about the programme's sources and listen online or subscribe to the programme podcast. Listeners voted for the credit card to be the 51st Thing That Made the Modern Economy from a shortlist of six inventions." } ], "id": "9430_0", "question": "The death of cash?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "On Sunday, Nicaraguans vote in what critics have dubbed the most one-sided election in the Central American nation since the overthrow of the Somoza family in 1979. The clear favourite is Daniel Ortega, a former commander of the left-wing Sandinista guerrilla group which toppled the Somoza dynasty. - Born in 1946 as the son of a shoemaker - Joined the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) as a teenager - 1984: Elected president - 2006: Wins his second presidential election - 2011: Wins his third presidential election - 2016: Runs for a fourth term Opinion polls suggest Mr Ortega, 70, has the support of 60% of voters. While Mr Ortega has gained popular support through his government's social programmes and pragmatic economic policies, his opponents say he has smothered the opposition. They accuse him of using the judiciary, electoral authorities and security forces to sideline any challengers. They also say that by naming his wife, Rosario Murillo, as his running mate, he is in danger of building a political dynasty not unlike the one his Sandinista group overthrew. One of the most recognisable opposition figures is Eduardo Montealegre of the Independent Liberal Party (PLI), who challenged Mr Ortega in the elections in 2006 and 2011. Mr Montealegre was banned by the constitutional court from his own party in June in a decision which was widely seen as politically motivated. The man who replaced him as the PLI's presidential candidate, Luis Callejas, and his running mate, Violeta Granera, were also barred by the court from standing in the presidential poll. Five other presidential candidates remain on the ballot, all minor figures highly unlikely to present any challenge to Mr Ortega. Furthermore, PLI lawmakers were stripped of their seats in the National Assembly after they refused to recognise the party's new leader, who they say is close to Mr Ortega. The move left the National Assembly entirely under the control of Mr Ortega's governing Sandinista Party and its allies. The opposition denounced the elections as a \"farce\" and called on citizens not to vote. Mr Ortega's wife, Rosario Murillo, is a powerful political figure in Nicaragua. A poet, she played a prominent cultural role in the Sandinista Revolution and has gained in prominence since she became the presidential spokeswoman. In August, Mr Ortega named her as his running mate and candidate for vice-president. The couple's sons and daughters also occupy key roles in Nicaragua's business, media and security sectors. Many consider Ms Murillo \"the power behind the power\". In June, Mr Ortega, invoking \"anti-imperialist\" nationalism, announced his government would not allow oversight of the elections by foreign electoral observers, a move condemned by critics. Then in October, the OAS sent a confidential report to the Ortega administration on the electoral process. Soon afterwards the president accepted having an OAS delegation in the country during the election weekend, but both sides insisted it would not be an \"oversight\" mission. Opposition leaders say they will conduct their own \"parallel\" count of the voting. With Mr Ortega apparently guaranteed a third term, he still faces the tough task of hauling his country of six million people out of poverty. His administration has been pragmatic in its economic policies, and Nicaragua's economy has grown at double the Latin America average, but it still needs to attract more foreign investment. A $50bn plan to build an interoceanic canal across Nicaragua with Chinese investment gained international attention, but there are serious doubts over whether it will ever be built. The country has been able to avoid the sky-high murder rates of some of its Central American neighbours but it also faces the ever pervasive threat of drug-trafficking. A high abstention rate on 6 November could signal some popular pushback to Mr Ortega's ambitions, and may lead him to seek greater internal political consensus and smooth international relations. 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": 1087, "answer_start": 560, "text": "Opinion polls suggest Mr Ortega, 70, has the support of 60% of voters. While Mr Ortega has gained popular support through his government's social programmes and pragmatic economic policies, his opponents say he has smothered the opposition. They accuse him of using the judiciary, electoral authorities and security forces to sideline any challengers. They also say that by naming his wife, Rosario Murillo, as his running mate, he is in danger of building a political dynasty not unlike the one his Sandinista group overthrew." } ], "id": "9431_0", "question": "Why is he the favourite?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2099, "answer_start": 1088, "text": "One of the most recognisable opposition figures is Eduardo Montealegre of the Independent Liberal Party (PLI), who challenged Mr Ortega in the elections in 2006 and 2011. Mr Montealegre was banned by the constitutional court from his own party in June in a decision which was widely seen as politically motivated. The man who replaced him as the PLI's presidential candidate, Luis Callejas, and his running mate, Violeta Granera, were also barred by the court from standing in the presidential poll. Five other presidential candidates remain on the ballot, all minor figures highly unlikely to present any challenge to Mr Ortega. Furthermore, PLI lawmakers were stripped of their seats in the National Assembly after they refused to recognise the party's new leader, who they say is close to Mr Ortega. The move left the National Assembly entirely under the control of Mr Ortega's governing Sandinista Party and its allies. The opposition denounced the elections as a \"farce\" and called on citizens not to vote." } ], "id": "9431_1", "question": "What happened to the opposition?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A young family on holiday, a chef from Chile and two workers crushed by falling debris were among the victims of the motorway bridge collapse in Genoa, Italy. A total of 43 people lost their lives when the Morandi Bridge gave way on 14 August. Here are details of some of the victims. Computer technician Roberto Robbiano, 43, and his wife Ersilia Piccinino, 41, came from Voltri in Genoa province. Their car plummeted 45m (148ft) when the bridge came down, and they died along with their son, Samuele. The young boy, aged eight, was among the first victims to be recovered. The family were travelling to Sardinia via the port of Genoa, their car full of luggage and beach toys. Hours before setting off, Mr Robbiano had posted a picture of Sardinia from above on his Facebook wall, excited to spend a few days by the sea. Firefighters found the crumpled wreck of their car under the remains of a huge concrete beam. Italian reports say rescuers working there heard one of the adults' mobile phones ring. The caller was listed as \"mamma\". Mirko Vicini, who worked for waste management company Amiu, was just below the viaduct when the bridge collapsed, sending down huge chunks of asphalt, pylons and reinforced concrete. \"You were a sensitive soul. Thank you,\" read one comment on his Facebook page. \"May the earth lie gently on you,\" another tribute said. Mr Vicini's colleague Bruno Casagrande is feared to have died beside him. The pair had recently been handed seasonal contracts after a spell of unemployment, and dreamed of a brighter future, Italian newspaper Il Messaggero said. A third man, Alessandro Campora, 55, who worked for maintenance company Aster, was confirmed dead on Wednesday. Amiu company director Tiziana Merlino expressed her condolences, saying: \"The damage is inestimable, but nothing compared to the pain for the lives lost.\" Andrea Cerulli, 47, a keen amateur footballer, was killed on his way to work. His team, Genoa Club Portuali Voltri, confirmed his death in a tribute posted to their Facebook page. Posting a picture of the player with his son balanced on his shoulders, the club said it was \"rallying round the family of Andrea, our associate, our friend, our colleague, a victim of the Ponte Morandi [Morandi Bridge] tragedy. Goodbye, Andre\". \"We apologise to our customers, but we will be closed for mourning. Unfortunately a piece of our hearts remains under the rubble of the Genoa bridge.\" This is how the parents of Stella Boccia, 24, told customers at their restaurant they had lost their daughter. Hundreds of condolence messages were left on Facebook for the owners of Il Pescatore in Monte San Savino, Tuscany. Ms Boccia's boyfriend Carlos Jesus Trujillo, who came from Peru, was killed with her. The pair had been together for a few short months. Ms Boccia worked in the sportswear store Foot Locker, while Mr Trujillo had a job at Gli Ostinati, a restaurant just yards away. The young couple were reportedly identified from their car registration number. On Facebook Mr Trujillo gave his favourite quote as: \"The past dies... The present lives... The memories are left, and life goes on.\" In the aftermath of the collapse, some of those who perished were simply listed as missing. Luigi Matti Altadonna, 35, was one of them. He had been driving over the stricken bridge in his work van. Before the worst was known, his family launched a desperate search on social media. Rescuers were unable to save him, and Mr Altadonna was later identified in the morgue at San Martino hospital. His father Giuseppe told reporters: \"My son was here to work. He was only 35, and had four children.\" Mr Altadonna was originally from Borghetto municipality, but was a long-time resident of Genoa. The mayor of Borghetto, Giancarlo Canepa, offered condolences to his family on the authority's Facebook page, writing: \"The municipal administration joins the pain of Giovanni, a model citizen and an exemplary volunteer of the Civil Protection Section of Borghetto, for the loss of his dear nephew in the terrible tragedy of Genoa\". The same account later posted pictures of flags at half-mast. Elisa Bozzo, 34, from the Busalla municipality north of Genoa, wrote on her Facebook page, \"How can I not celebrate life!!\" On Tuesday, concerned friends used the site to appeal for help in finding her. Loredana Cicala posted pictures of the missing woman, who called herself \"La Ely\", writing: \"We are looking for Elisa Bozzo, La Ely, who works in Pegli and has not been reachable since 11.21.\" She added that Ms Bozzo was travelling in a black Opel car. Her body was found beneath the rubble late on Tuesday evening, Il Messaggero reported. Ms Bozzo's Facebook page has now been turned into a memorial account. One comment under a 3 August picture of her reads simply: \"I hope to find you in a better world.\" Chef Juan Carlos Pastenes, 64, was originally from Santiago but had lived in Italy for more than three decades. He died alongside his wife, Nora Rivera, said to be 47, and their friend, fellow Chilean Juan Figueroa Carrasco, 68. Sicilian nurse Marta Danisi, 29, from Sant'Agata di Militello, had recently started work at a hospital in Alessandria, in northern Italy. Her boyfriend Alberto Fanfani, 32, from Florence, was an anaesthesiologist. They were in the same car when the viaduct gave way. The Mayor of Sant'Agata di Militello, Bruno Mancuso, announced a day of mourning on Facebook. \"I am shocked and saddened by the terrible tragedy that struck one of our fellow citizens, the young Marta Danisi, who died as a result of the collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa,\" he wrote. \"The same fate befell her boyfriend, who was in the car with her. On behalf of the whole community, I express my deepest sorrow and closeness to her family members for this great pain, and the unfillable emptiness that has struck them.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4834, "answer_start": 4124, "text": "Elisa Bozzo, 34, from the Busalla municipality north of Genoa, wrote on her Facebook page, \"How can I not celebrate life!!\" On Tuesday, concerned friends used the site to appeal for help in finding her. Loredana Cicala posted pictures of the missing woman, who called herself \"La Ely\", writing: \"We are looking for Elisa Bozzo, La Ely, who works in Pegli and has not been reachable since 11.21.\" She added that Ms Bozzo was travelling in a black Opel car. Her body was found beneath the rubble late on Tuesday evening, Il Messaggero reported. Ms Bozzo's Facebook page has now been turned into a memorial account. One comment under a 3 August picture of her reads simply: \"I hope to find you in a better world.\"" } ], "id": "9432_0", "question": "The young woman who asked, 'How can I not celebrate life'?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The government's Brexit White Paper, published this week, asserts that the UK can create a free trade area in goods with the EU, but still forge its own trade deals around the world. But Donald Trump said in an interview with The Sun that the government's proposal for its future relationship with the EU would \"probably kill\" any US-UK free trade deal in the future. Then, in his news conference with Theresa May at Chequers, the president slightly changed his tune: \"If they're going to go a certain route, I just said I hope you're going to be able to trade with the United States\", Mr Trump said. \"I read reports where that won't be possible but I believe, after speaking with the prime minister's people and representatives and trade experts, it will absolutely be possible.\" Well, the UK will be able to do some trade deals with other countries, but there's no question that the government's proposals will make the process more difficult. Let's look at goods first. The White Paper says the proposal on customs would \"enable the UK to set its own tariffs and vary them as it chooses, independently of the tariffs the EU applies.\" In other words, according to the White Paper, the UK could have much lower tariffs with the US than the EU does (or no tariffs at all.) A tariff is a tax or duty paid on goods crossing borders. But there are some important caveats. First of all the customs proposal may well be rejected by the EU anyway. And, in any case, the biggest impediments to free trade are not tariffs, but what are known as 'non-tariff barriers' - the rules and regulations that govern all our economies. The government has proposed a common rulebook with the EU on goods and agri-food - which would in effect mean the UK signing up to a whole host of EU rules and regulations. In her news conference with Mr Trump, Theresa May insisted that \"there will be no limit to the possibility of us doing trade deals around the rest of the world once we leave the European Union.\" But the White Paper itself admits that \"in the context of trade negotiations, a common rulebook would limit the UK's ability to make changes to regulation...\" And that in turn would make it far more difficult to do trade deals with other countries like the United States. It is often noted that the UK, as part of the EU, does not allow the import of genetically modified food, chlorine-washed chicken or nearly all types of hormone-injected meat - all of which are allowed in the United States. The US would push the UK to change these regulations in negotiations on a future trade deal, but the terms of the Brexit White Paper would not allow it if the UK wants to maintain frictionless trade with the EU. \"We don't currently have border checks because the French, for example, assume the UK is enforcing EU regulations,\" says Professor Alan Winters, director of the UK Trade Policy Observatory at the University of Sussex. \"If we changed the rules for US-imported goods after Brexit, they'd want to start putting in checks.\" It's not all a one-way street of course. Kinder Eggs are a popular product in Europe but under US regulations, food sales are banned if they have \"partially or completely imbedded therein any non-nutritive object\" (such as a toy). In any case, Mr Trump's remarks about possible restrictions on free trade hardly come as a surprise, because his administration has said it before. Mr Trump's Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, speaking at the CBI conference in London last November, said it was important that any Brexit deal between the UK and the EU \"takes into account (Washington's) commercial interests and does not hinder the development of a closer US-UK relationship.\" The UK should take steps, he added to \"avoid any unnecessary regulatory divergences\" with the United States. What about the services sector, in which the UK government has proposed a much looser relationship with the EU, even though services make up roughly 80% of the UK economy? Under the terms of the White Paper (and, again, it's important to stress that the whole thing has yet to be negotiated with the EU) the UK will be able to explore free trade deals in services around the world. But most current free trade deals barely mention services, partly because reaching agreement on common rules and regulations is so difficult. The UK would like to change that, and \"push for greater liberalisation of global services.\" It's not hard to see why. In 2017 the EU was the biggest market for UK services exports around the world. But services trade outside the EU grew by more than 73% between 2007 and 2017, and according to the Office for National Statistics, the largest single market for UK services exports outside the EU last year was the United States. \"On the whole new technology has allowed services to trade more effectively on a global scale over the past 15 years,\" Professor Winters explains. \"But the very fact the UK is so efficient in services makes other countries cautious about agreements on services with the UK.\" So the UK is looking to the future, and there are certainly opportunities out there. But under the terms of the Brexit White Paper, there will be limits on what it can achieve in trade deals, on goods in particular. 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": 5237, "answer_start": 4437, "text": "In 2017 the EU was the biggest market for UK services exports around the world. But services trade outside the EU grew by more than 73% between 2007 and 2017, and according to the Office for National Statistics, the largest single market for UK services exports outside the EU last year was the United States. \"On the whole new technology has allowed services to trade more effectively on a global scale over the past 15 years,\" Professor Winters explains. \"But the very fact the UK is so efficient in services makes other countries cautious about agreements on services with the UK.\" So the UK is looking to the future, and there are certainly opportunities out there. But under the terms of the Brexit White Paper, there will be limits on what it can achieve in trade deals, on goods in particular." } ], "id": "9433_0", "question": "What about services?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "How do you improve on something many experts thought was faultless? Bugatti's Veyron supercar was considered an auto-engineering masterpiece; not just carmaking, but science. Then someone at Bugatti's owner Volkswagen decided that they should try to do better. The result is the Chiron, unveiled at this week's Geneva Motor Show to the sort of adulation and hyperbole that greeted its predecessor 10 years ago. While environmentalists weep, petrolheads rejoice - the world now has a new fastest production car. \"The challenge was to be better than the previous car in every dimension,\" company president Wolfgang Durheimer tells the BBC. At EUR2.4m (PS1.86m; $2.6m) each - plus taxes and delivery - the Chiron is nearly twice the price of the Veyron. \"My brief for this car was the shortest I ever had in my career. It was four words: Just do the best,\" he says. With 1,500 horsepower and a top speed of 261mph (420km/h) the Chiron is 3mph faster than the Veyron. The Chiron, though, has a speed limiter. Without it, it could reach 285-287mph, Bugatti says. The car can do 0-62mph in fractionally under 2.5 seconds, although there is no official figure yet as more speed tests are planned. - Born 3 August 1899, Monte Carlo, Monaco; died 22 June 1979 - Racing driver who won many races and grands prix for Bugatti in the 1920s-30s - The only Monaco-born person - Monegasque - to win the Monaco Grand Prix, in 1931 - For races he always wore a lucky red scarf with white spots - He was still competing in Formula 1 races at the age of 55 - Chiron also drove for Ferrari, Maserati and Mercedes-Benz amongst other teams The car is lighter, but also wider and longer - only by millimetres, but that's a radical change in size for a design engineer trying to maximise performance. \"The engine is more lightweight than the Veyron. But it has more power. And I don't mean just a little bit more power,\" says Mr Durheimer. \"We increased the engine by 300 horsepower. This is the power of a standard road car. We achieved that order of increase.\" Like the Veyron, the Chiron has an eight-litre W16 engine - four banks of four cylinders - but has received a power boost of 25% compared with its predecessor. But this 25% increase in power doesn't translate into a 25% increase in speed. This is because at very high speeds wind resistance increases significantly, explains Professor Will Stewart of the Institution of Engineering and Technology. \"To go twice as fast you need eight times the power,\" he says. So greater use of lightweight titanium and carbon fibre materials helped increase the Chiron's power-to-weight ratio. \"I think that every single component on the car was re-developed or considered for re-development,\" says Mr Durheimer. The single biggest challenge was how to package all that power and technology into something that also looked like a Bugatti and was comfortable to drive, says Mr Durheimer. \"A supercar is basically flat on the bottom and curved on top, so air going over the top goes faster, creating lift - the Bernoulli effect,\" says Prof Stewart. \"But you don't want lift, so you put a big aerofoil on the back to keep the car on the road. But that creates drag - the enemy of speed.\" So to meet these challenges, Bugatti has created an all-new chassis suspension system, which adjusts depending on the driving conditions. There are five modes, working in tandem with various aero-stability features - flaps, spoilers, diffusers - all designed to makes the Chiron glide through the air more efficiently and cool the engine and brakes. Even the rear spoiler is dynamic, automatically adjusting its position to suit the driving conditions. The car also needed a new cooling system to dissipate the extra engine heat. The Chiron has 10 radiators, and pumps that circulate 60,000 litres of air and 800 litres of water through the engine each minute. If one feature gets too much \"freedom\" the final product becomes unbalanced, says Mr Durheimer. And yet, \"if you want to be the best, you also cannot compromise.\" The Chiron's greater power and speed meant building a new braking system. The front and rear brake discs are now 20mm larger and 2mm thicker. But, being made of carbon-silicon material, they weigh less. The discs are gripped by lighter titanium piston callipers, eight at the front and six at the rear. And the tyres had to be redeveloped, too \"It was another big challenge. All the energy performance connects to the road through the tyres. We knew that if we wanted to go faster we needed a completely new tyre,\" Mr Durheimer says. Michelin, which had pushed the boundaries of tyre technology for the Veyron, was brought in to work on the Chiron. Neither Michelin, nor any carmaker, had facilities to put the tyres through the necessary endurance and safety tests. \"We had to use aircraft test benches to monitor performance,\" Mr Durheimer says. The result is a tyre 14% wider at the front, and 12% at the back, offering better braking, acceleration and wet-weather grip. After VW's diesel emissions scandal last year and subsequent cost-cutting, there were reports that the Chiron project might be canned. But Mr Durheimer says this was never on the cards, especially as \"dieselgate\" broke when the Chiron's development was already far down the line. Even so, he had to draw up a business plan showing that the Chiron, based on sales capped at 500, would make a profit - unlike, it is widely reported, the Veyron. \"A serious business does not sack a project that is going to make a positive overall contribution to the business,\" he says. Prior to the Geneva show, 170 Chirons had been sold, with the first batch due to be delivered this autumn. Several are delivered at a time, so no one can claim \"I was the first\". But where can these mega-rich owners legally and safely test such a car to its limits? \"There's nothing theoretically difficult about going faster,\" says Prof Stewart, \"but it's our ability to control a vehicle at those speeds that is the issue. In an emergency, it might be better to hand over control to an onboard computer.\" But for the the auto-engineer, the joy is having the freedom to push the boundaries, Mr Durheimer says. \"It is part of human nature to cross boundaries and set new records... to fly even further into space and to enter new realms. \"The Chiron is the result of our efforts to make the best even better.\" Follow Technology of Business editor @matthew_wall on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6383, "answer_start": 5006, "text": "After VW's diesel emissions scandal last year and subsequent cost-cutting, there were reports that the Chiron project might be canned. But Mr Durheimer says this was never on the cards, especially as \"dieselgate\" broke when the Chiron's development was already far down the line. Even so, he had to draw up a business plan showing that the Chiron, based on sales capped at 500, would make a profit - unlike, it is widely reported, the Veyron. \"A serious business does not sack a project that is going to make a positive overall contribution to the business,\" he says. Prior to the Geneva show, 170 Chirons had been sold, with the first batch due to be delivered this autumn. Several are delivered at a time, so no one can claim \"I was the first\". But where can these mega-rich owners legally and safely test such a car to its limits? \"There's nothing theoretically difficult about going faster,\" says Prof Stewart, \"but it's our ability to control a vehicle at those speeds that is the issue. In an emergency, it might be better to hand over control to an onboard computer.\" But for the the auto-engineer, the joy is having the freedom to push the boundaries, Mr Durheimer says. \"It is part of human nature to cross boundaries and set new records... to fly even further into space and to enter new realms. \"The Chiron is the result of our efforts to make the best even better.\"" } ], "id": "9434_0", "question": "What's the point?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A week after a gunman fatally shot 58 people at a Las Vegas music festival, police are still unsure of why he opened fire - and why he stopped. Police have changed a key event in the timeline of how the massacre unfolded: Stephen Paddock shot a hotel security guard six minutes before he turned the gun on the Route 91 music festival and later, himself. Officials had previously suggested the guard, Jesus Campos, distracted Paddock and stopped him from unloading bullets into the crowd below from the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel. But the new timeline raises questions about police response and what prompted the suspect to stop shooting 10 minutes later. Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo revised the timeline on Monday, telling reporters that Paddock shot Mr Campos before he opened fire. Mr Campos was investigating an alarm involving another door on the floor when Paddock shot him through the door of his suite, which he outfitted with surveillance cameras to see anyone approaching. The guard immediately \"notified security of his situation\", Mr Lombardo said, adding that he also prevented a maintenance worker from being shot. But the latest timeline underscores the question of why Paddock stopped shooting and what caused him to turn the gun on himself if it was not an intervention by Mr Campos. The sheriff also acknowledged that police \"weren't aware of [Mr Campos] being shot until they met him in the hallway after exiting the elevator\", raising more questions about why the authorities were not alerted to the hotel shooting sooner. Sheriff Lombardo said the revisions were \"minute changes\" typical of a complex investigation. Paddock had shot and killed himself by the time police had entered his suite, which was more than an hour after the shooting ended. The gunman also fired 200 rounds of bullets into the hallway, police said. It was unclear if anyone alerted the hotel to sound of gunfire. Police also said Paddock was believed to have checked into the hotel on 25 September and not on 28 September, as they initially said. - Paddock shoots Jesus Campos while he is investigating an alarm at 21:59 (04:59 GMT) - Begins firing at crowd at about 22:05 (05:05 GMT) - Stops shooting at about 22:15 (05:15 GMT) - First police officers arrive at 22:17 (05:17 GMT) - Encounter Mr Campos at 22:18 (05:18 GMT) - Police enter Paddock's room at about 23:20 (06:20 GMT) Police have chased \"more than 1,000 leads\" in their quest to establish a motive for the shooting but are still struggling to establish the reason for the 64-year-old's shooting rampage. Sheriff Lombardo said on Monday he was \"frustrated\" that the gunman's motive has eluded them. \"This individual purposely hid his actions leading up to this event,\" he said, \"and it is difficult for us to find the answers to those actions.\" The attack is considered the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said police are examining a computer and multiple electronic devices found in Paddock's Mandalay Bay suite as well as evidence taken from his homes in Mesquite and Reno, Nevada. Investigators also found a note containing numbers inside the hotel suite, but police say it was not a suicide note or manifesto. He is not believed to have held any extremist views and did not call police to explain his actions like Omar Mateen, the Orlando nightclub gunman who fatally shot 49 people last year. Authorities have revealed few details about what has been discovered and whether any of it contains clues as to he carried out such an attack. Andrew McCabe, the deputy director of the FBI, conceded on Wednesday the case was \"somewhat different than many of the ones we've dealt with in the past\". Paddock amassed a cache of weapons over the last 13 months, purchasing a haul of 33 guns, some of which had been modified with bump-stocks, or devices that enable guns to operate like fully automatic weapons. He smuggled into the hotel 24 weapons and thousands of rounds of ammunition, concealed in 10 suitcases, for the \"meticulously planned\" attack, police say. But Paddock may have been scouting other locations, including the Life is Beautiful music festival, which was held in Las Vegas the weekend before Sunday's attack. The gunman booked a luxury unit in the Ogden, a high-rise building that towered over the open-air concert, which featured acts including Muse, Lorde and Chance the Rapper. US media reports now say the suspect may have considered other festivals, including Chicago's Lollapalooza, a massive August festival attended by hundreds of thousands of people. He also researched hotels near Boston's Fenway Park and the Boston Center for the Arts, the city's police commissioner William Evans said on Friday. There is no indication that he travelled to either city, police say. In a press conference on Wednesday, Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said he saw evidence that Paddock had planned to escape after the attack, but declined to elaborate. Paddock instead turned the gun on himself as police stormed his suite. Adam Lankford, a University of Alabama criminologist and researcher who tracks global mass shootings, told the BBC he believes any evidence of an escape plan was probably a fantasy. He pointed to Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, two teenage gunmen who killed 12 students and a teacher at a Colorado high school before killing themselves in 1999, who fantasised about a second attack. Harris detailed his plot in a journal and suggested the two would hijack a plane and crash it into New York City if they survived the school shooting - an escape fantasy, Mr Lankford said. Mr Lankford also noted the bunker that Paddock created in the hotel room, which he outfitted with surveillance cameras to see anyone approaching. \"You set up the cameras so you aren't caught alive,\" Mr Lankford said. Paddock also had in his car more than 50lbs of exploding materials, 1,600 rounds of ammunition and fertiliser, which can be used to make explosives, which could signal a plan to flee. But he also purchased a plane ticket for his girlfriend to travel to her native Philippines and wired her $100,000 (PS75,400) before the shooting rampage, which some experts say could suggest he was trying to ensure she was taken care of after his death. Police have questioned Paddock's girlfriend, Marilou Danley, who has co-operated with police since she returned home from the Philippines earlier this week. Ms Danley, 62, said she had no idea about what Paddock had been plotting, adding that she thought the money was a sign he was planning to end the relationship. Eric Paddock, the suspect's brother, told reporters that his brother did not have any ties to political or religious groups. Sheriff Lombardo has previously suggested that investigators were open to the possibility that someone else was involved. When asked if he had an accomplice, Mr Lombardo said he had the \"assumption that he had to have some help at some point\". Sheriff Lombardo said investigators had noted 200 \"instances\" of Paddock moving around Las Vegas before the attack. Paddock was always alone, the sheriff said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3746, "answer_start": 2391, "text": "Police have chased \"more than 1,000 leads\" in their quest to establish a motive for the shooting but are still struggling to establish the reason for the 64-year-old's shooting rampage. Sheriff Lombardo said on Monday he was \"frustrated\" that the gunman's motive has eluded them. \"This individual purposely hid his actions leading up to this event,\" he said, \"and it is difficult for us to find the answers to those actions.\" The attack is considered the deadliest mass shooting in recent US history. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Joseph Lombardo said police are examining a computer and multiple electronic devices found in Paddock's Mandalay Bay suite as well as evidence taken from his homes in Mesquite and Reno, Nevada. Investigators also found a note containing numbers inside the hotel suite, but police say it was not a suicide note or manifesto. He is not believed to have held any extremist views and did not call police to explain his actions like Omar Mateen, the Orlando nightclub gunman who fatally shot 49 people last year. Authorities have revealed few details about what has been discovered and whether any of it contains clues as to he carried out such an attack. Andrew McCabe, the deputy director of the FBI, conceded on Wednesday the case was \"somewhat different than many of the ones we've dealt with in the past\"." } ], "id": "9435_0", "question": "Why did he do it?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Russia's intelligence services are to develop extra security measures for its embassies following the killing of its ambassador to Turkey. Andrei Karlov was shot dead as he gave a speech on Monday in Ankara. The gunman, Mevlut Mert Altintas, 22, an Ankara policeman, was apparently protesting at Russia's involvement in Syria's Aleppo. He was later shot dead. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the attack was aimed at hurting ties with Russia. It was not clear whether the gunman, a riot police member, had links to any group. Mr Karlov was attending an embassy-sponsored photo exhibition called \"Russia as seen by Turks\" on Monday evening in Ankara. He was several minutes into a speech when the gunman - who had been standing behind him as he spoke - fired about eight shots, according to eye witnesses. Photographer who captured Russian ambassador's killer Press: Envoy's killing an attempt to derail relations The ambassador fell to the ground instantly, while the smartly dressed gunman, wearing a suit and tie, waved a pistol and shouted in Arabic and Turkish. He yelled \"don't forget about Aleppo, don't forget about Syria\" and used the Arabic phrase \"Allahu Akbar\" (God is great). Karlov was rushed to hospital but his death was later confirmed. The gunman was killed at the gallery after a 15 minute shoot-out with police. Altintas was born in the town of Soke in Aydin province, western Turkey, in 1994 and attended a special school for training future policemen. But he was on leave from his job as a member of Ankara's riot police squad on medical grounds, Turkish newspaper Huriyet claimed. According to the pro-government Daily Sabah, Altintas had set off the metal detector on entering the exhibition, but was waved through after showing his official police ID. He was not known to have any political or extremist links. However, some Turkish media are pointing to a possible connection with the movement of US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen. However, the movement has condemned the attack and rejected any links to the attacker, according to an adviser quoted by Reuters news agency. Turkish officials blame the movement for July's failed coup aimed at removing Mr Erdogan. Read more on the gunman Russia's ambassador to Turkey was a veteran diplomat who had served as Soviet ambassador to North Korea for much of the 1980s, and took up the Ankara posting in July 2013. Karlov, 62, had to grapple with a major diplomatic crisis last year when a Turkish plane shot down a Russian jet close to the Syrian border. Demanding a Turkish apology, Moscow imposed damaging sanctions - notably a freeze on charter flights by Russian tourists - and the two countries only recently mended ties. Russia and Turkey agreed quickly the assassination was an act of \"provocation\" In televised remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the act was \"undoubtedly... aimed at disrupting the normalisation\" of bilateral ties and the \"peace process in Syria\". The shooting took place a day after protests in Turkey over Russian support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the day before Turkey, Russia and Iran were due to meet over the Syria crisis. Russian investigators have been sent to help their Turkish counterparts, who have given assurances of a comprehensive investigation, and that those responsible would be punished. Mr Putin has ordered extra security measures for Russian embassies around the world, a Kremlin spokesman told news agency Tass. Other countries have also condemned the murder, including the UK, US and Germany, as has the UN Security Council. Outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was appalled by \"this senseless act of terror\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1341, "answer_start": 537, "text": "Mr Karlov was attending an embassy-sponsored photo exhibition called \"Russia as seen by Turks\" on Monday evening in Ankara. He was several minutes into a speech when the gunman - who had been standing behind him as he spoke - fired about eight shots, according to eye witnesses. Photographer who captured Russian ambassador's killer Press: Envoy's killing an attempt to derail relations The ambassador fell to the ground instantly, while the smartly dressed gunman, wearing a suit and tie, waved a pistol and shouted in Arabic and Turkish. He yelled \"don't forget about Aleppo, don't forget about Syria\" and used the Arabic phrase \"Allahu Akbar\" (God is great). Karlov was rushed to hospital but his death was later confirmed. The gunman was killed at the gallery after a 15 minute shoot-out with police." } ], "id": "9436_0", "question": "What do we know?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2706, "answer_start": 2222, "text": "Russia's ambassador to Turkey was a veteran diplomat who had served as Soviet ambassador to North Korea for much of the 1980s, and took up the Ankara posting in July 2013. Karlov, 62, had to grapple with a major diplomatic crisis last year when a Turkish plane shot down a Russian jet close to the Syrian border. Demanding a Turkish apology, Moscow imposed damaging sanctions - notably a freeze on charter flights by Russian tourists - and the two countries only recently mended ties." } ], "id": "9436_1", "question": "Who was Andrei Karlov?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3680, "answer_start": 2707, "text": "Russia and Turkey agreed quickly the assassination was an act of \"provocation\" In televised remarks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said the act was \"undoubtedly... aimed at disrupting the normalisation\" of bilateral ties and the \"peace process in Syria\". The shooting took place a day after protests in Turkey over Russian support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and the day before Turkey, Russia and Iran were due to meet over the Syria crisis. Russian investigators have been sent to help their Turkish counterparts, who have given assurances of a comprehensive investigation, and that those responsible would be punished. Mr Putin has ordered extra security measures for Russian embassies around the world, a Kremlin spokesman told news agency Tass. Other countries have also condemned the murder, including the UK, US and Germany, as has the UN Security Council. Outgoing UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said he was appalled by \"this senseless act of terror\"." } ], "id": "9436_2", "question": "How have the countries responded?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Arachnophobes beware - \"spider season\" is back. But why does the phenomenon occur and how can anyone who is afraid of creepy-crawlies tackle an arachnid accumulation? Prof Adam Hart, an entomologist at the University of Gloucestershire, has researched the seasonal spider cycle. He explains why people are seeing more of the eight-legged creatures, what we can do to tackle increased numbers and how long spider season will last. Quite simply, it is mating season, according to Prof Hart. At this time of year \"about 80% of the spiders people see are males\", he said. They are on the hunt for mates and females \"stay put\" indoors, so there is an inevitable influx of home-invading arachnids. \"The females can be seen on webs in garages and windowsills, while the males wander around looking for chances to mate,\" Prof Hart added. \"And of course our houses are nice places for them to come and do that.\" Well, other than this... Various remedies have been suggested, including putting conkers or ostrich eggs in the corners of rooms. Conkers supposedly contain a noxious chemical which deters spiders, but there has been no scientific proof. Ditto for ostrich eggs. Some social media commenters have reported success with \"peppermint oil in a spray bottle [used] everywhere around the house\". Prof Hart has urged people to ignore \"old wives' tales\" and stick with a simpler regime - keeping homes clean and doors and windows closed. \"If there are places that haven't been tidied or piles of clothes on the floor then they are great places for spiders to stay,\" he said. \"Keeping homes clean and tidy will help. But you need to accept you can't totally spider-proof a house, as spiders will always find a way in.\" Clearly, for all those who are scared of spiders it is not the best time of year. However, the chances of being bitten by a spider are \"infinitesimally small\", according to Prof Hart. He added: \"Worrying about that in this country is like worrying about ghosts. It's not going to happen.\" Dr Tim Cockerill from the University of South Wales concurs, saying all of the 650 species of spider in the UK \"are only dangerous if you happen to be a fly or a small insect\". Fortunately for arachnopobes, spider season is fairly short lived. It normally begins in the first or second week of September and ends by the first week of October. After that the number of spider sightings \"drops off quite sharply\", as the eight-legged critters \"tend to bed down for winter,\" Prof Hart said. Phew.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 902, "answer_start": 430, "text": "Quite simply, it is mating season, according to Prof Hart. At this time of year \"about 80% of the spiders people see are males\", he said. They are on the hunt for mates and females \"stay put\" indoors, so there is an inevitable influx of home-invading arachnids. \"The females can be seen on webs in garages and windowsills, while the males wander around looking for chances to mate,\" Prof Hart added. \"And of course our houses are nice places for them to come and do that.\"" } ], "id": "9437_0", "question": "Why now?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1711, "answer_start": 903, "text": "Well, other than this... Various remedies have been suggested, including putting conkers or ostrich eggs in the corners of rooms. Conkers supposedly contain a noxious chemical which deters spiders, but there has been no scientific proof. Ditto for ostrich eggs. Some social media commenters have reported success with \"peppermint oil in a spray bottle [used] everywhere around the house\". Prof Hart has urged people to ignore \"old wives' tales\" and stick with a simpler regime - keeping homes clean and doors and windows closed. \"If there are places that haven't been tidied or piles of clothes on the floor then they are great places for spiders to stay,\" he said. \"Keeping homes clean and tidy will help. But you need to accept you can't totally spider-proof a house, as spiders will always find a way in.\"" } ], "id": "9437_1", "question": "What can you do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2177, "answer_start": 1712, "text": "Clearly, for all those who are scared of spiders it is not the best time of year. However, the chances of being bitten by a spider are \"infinitesimally small\", according to Prof Hart. He added: \"Worrying about that in this country is like worrying about ghosts. It's not going to happen.\" Dr Tim Cockerill from the University of South Wales concurs, saying all of the 650 species of spider in the UK \"are only dangerous if you happen to be a fly or a small insect\"." } ], "id": "9437_2", "question": "Should you be worried?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2494, "answer_start": 2178, "text": "Fortunately for arachnopobes, spider season is fairly short lived. It normally begins in the first or second week of September and ends by the first week of October. After that the number of spider sightings \"drops off quite sharply\", as the eight-legged critters \"tend to bed down for winter,\" Prof Hart said. Phew." } ], "id": "9437_3", "question": "How long will it last?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Four foreign hostages have been freed by French forces in the West African country of Burkina Faso, France says. Commanders launched the operation to rescue two French tourists snatched in neighbouring Benin earlier this month, before they could be handed over to militants in Mali. During the raid special forces found the kidnappers were also holding a US woman and a South Korean woman. Two French soldiers and four kidnappers were killed. Two kidnappers escaped. It took place in the north of Burkina Faso as the kidnappers stopped on their journey towards Mali, the head of the French military said. Commanders decided to act because the kidnappers were close to the Malian border and were believed to be planning to hand the hostages over to the Mali-based militant group Katiba Macina. \"Once the hostages were in their hands it would have been impossible to rescue them,\" General Francois Lecointre told reporters. He said that a first operation, conducted on Tuesday with US support, had allowed the French to track the kidnappers. During the raid itself, special forces covered 200m (219yds) of open ground and got to within 10m of the shelter where the hostages were being held before being spotted by a guard. The two French soldiers who died were killed at close quarters as they entered one of the kidnappers' four shelters, the general said. Troops did not expect to find the US and South Korean hostages because there had been no information that the kidnappers were holding anyone else, French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said. Ms Parly said the kidnappers' identity was not yet known but there were two main militant groups operating near where the French tourists were taken, one linked to al-Qaeda and the other to the Islamic State group. The two soldiers killed during the rescue were named as Cedric de Pierrepont and Alain Bertoncello. Ms Parly thanked the militaries of Benin and Burkina Faso for their help in the operation. Frenchmen Patrick Picque and Laurent Lassimouillas, both music teachers, disappeared in the remote Pendjari National Park in northern Benin where they had been on safari. The disfigured body of their guide was found shortly after they disappeared on 1 May, along with their abandoned vehicle. The park is on the border with Burkina Faso where Islamist militants have been increasingly active in recent months. The other two liberated hostages had apparently already been in the kidnappers' hands for 28 days, Gen Lecointre said. South Korean media quoted a government official as saying the authorities had had no report of a missing citizen and they were trying to establish the rescued woman's citizenship. Meanwhile the US has expressed its gratitude to France for the American woman's release, AFP quoted an official as saying. France said it was likely that she would be \"repatriated independently\" from the other three. President Emmanuel Macron is to receive the two French hostages and the South Korean at Villacoublay outside Paris on Saturday, French news outlet BFMTV reports. A statement from the French said Mr Macron \"bows with emotion and solemnity before the sacrifice of our two soldiers who gave their lives to save those of our citizens\". Ms Parly said \"terrorists who attack France and French citizens should know that we will spare no effort to track them down and fight them\". France has 4,500 troops based in the Sahel region on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert as part of its Operation Barkhane - an ongoing coalition effort in Africa's Sahel region to fight jihadist insurgents. A total of 24 French soldiers have died in the region since 2013, when France intervened to drive back jihadist groups who had taken control of northern Mali.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1958, "answer_start": 467, "text": "It took place in the north of Burkina Faso as the kidnappers stopped on their journey towards Mali, the head of the French military said. Commanders decided to act because the kidnappers were close to the Malian border and were believed to be planning to hand the hostages over to the Mali-based militant group Katiba Macina. \"Once the hostages were in their hands it would have been impossible to rescue them,\" General Francois Lecointre told reporters. He said that a first operation, conducted on Tuesday with US support, had allowed the French to track the kidnappers. During the raid itself, special forces covered 200m (219yds) of open ground and got to within 10m of the shelter where the hostages were being held before being spotted by a guard. The two French soldiers who died were killed at close quarters as they entered one of the kidnappers' four shelters, the general said. Troops did not expect to find the US and South Korean hostages because there had been no information that the kidnappers were holding anyone else, French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly said. Ms Parly said the kidnappers' identity was not yet known but there were two main militant groups operating near where the French tourists were taken, one linked to al-Qaeda and the other to the Islamic State group. The two soldiers killed during the rescue were named as Cedric de Pierrepont and Alain Bertoncello. Ms Parly thanked the militaries of Benin and Burkina Faso for their help in the operation." } ], "id": "9438_0", "question": "What do we know about the raid?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3046, "answer_start": 1959, "text": "Frenchmen Patrick Picque and Laurent Lassimouillas, both music teachers, disappeared in the remote Pendjari National Park in northern Benin where they had been on safari. The disfigured body of their guide was found shortly after they disappeared on 1 May, along with their abandoned vehicle. The park is on the border with Burkina Faso where Islamist militants have been increasingly active in recent months. The other two liberated hostages had apparently already been in the kidnappers' hands for 28 days, Gen Lecointre said. South Korean media quoted a government official as saying the authorities had had no report of a missing citizen and they were trying to establish the rescued woman's citizenship. Meanwhile the US has expressed its gratitude to France for the American woman's release, AFP quoted an official as saying. France said it was likely that she would be \"repatriated independently\" from the other three. President Emmanuel Macron is to receive the two French hostages and the South Korean at Villacoublay outside Paris on Saturday, French news outlet BFMTV reports." } ], "id": "9438_1", "question": "Who are the hostages?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3727, "answer_start": 3047, "text": "A statement from the French said Mr Macron \"bows with emotion and solemnity before the sacrifice of our two soldiers who gave their lives to save those of our citizens\". Ms Parly said \"terrorists who attack France and French citizens should know that we will spare no effort to track them down and fight them\". France has 4,500 troops based in the Sahel region on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert as part of its Operation Barkhane - an ongoing coalition effort in Africa's Sahel region to fight jihadist insurgents. A total of 24 French soldiers have died in the region since 2013, when France intervened to drive back jihadist groups who had taken control of northern Mali." } ], "id": "9438_2", "question": "What reaction has there been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Bolivia's interim government has accused former President Evo Morales of terrorism and sedition over his alleged role in fomenting unrest in the country. Mr Morales organised roadblocks that prevented food from entering cities, Interior Minister Arturo Murillo said. On Twitter, Mr Morales disputed the credibility of the allegations. The left-wing politician from Bolivia's indigenous community fled to Mexico after the army urged him to quit. Violent protests have crippled parts of the country since his resignation, which Mr Morales and his supporters have characterised as a military coup. At least 29 people have been killed in clashes between security forces and protesters since he resigned, Reuters reported. Bolivia has been in turmoil since last month's presidential election. Mr Morales said he won but this was disputed by opposition parties. At a press conference on Friday, Mr Murillo said a criminal complaint - based on a purported audio recording of Mr Morales from Mexico - had been filed with prosecutors. \"We are seeking the maximum penalty for sedition and terrorism,\" Mr Murillo said. Responding to the allegations on Twitter, Mr Morales suggested the recordings had been \"manipulated\" and questioned why prosecutors weren't investigating the deaths of protesters instead. Interim President Jeanine Anez has previously said her exiled predecessor should face prosecution if he returns to the country. Ms Anez, an opposition senator, assumed the presidency amid a power vacuum and has vowed to hold elections soon. She denies a coup has taken place against Mr Morales. The US recognises Ms Anez as leader and says it is looking forward to working with Bolivia's interim administration. Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2005 and took office in 2006, the country's first leader from the indigenous community. He won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia's economy, but drew controversy by defying constitutional limits to run for a fourth term in October's election. Pressure had been growing on him since contested election results suggested he had won outright in the first round. The result was called into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which had found \"clear manipulation\" and called for the result to be annulled. In response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos Mesa - who came second in the vote - said Mr Morales should not stand in any new vote. The chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1707, "answer_start": 856, "text": "At a press conference on Friday, Mr Murillo said a criminal complaint - based on a purported audio recording of Mr Morales from Mexico - had been filed with prosecutors. \"We are seeking the maximum penalty for sedition and terrorism,\" Mr Murillo said. Responding to the allegations on Twitter, Mr Morales suggested the recordings had been \"manipulated\" and questioned why prosecutors weren't investigating the deaths of protesters instead. Interim President Jeanine Anez has previously said her exiled predecessor should face prosecution if he returns to the country. Ms Anez, an opposition senator, assumed the presidency amid a power vacuum and has vowed to hold elections soon. She denies a coup has taken place against Mr Morales. The US recognises Ms Anez as leader and says it is looking forward to working with Bolivia's interim administration." } ], "id": "9439_0", "question": "What are the charges about?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2609, "answer_start": 1708, "text": "Mr Morales, a former coca farmer, was first elected in 2005 and took office in 2006, the country's first leader from the indigenous community. He won plaudits for fighting poverty and improving Bolivia's economy, but drew controversy by defying constitutional limits to run for a fourth term in October's election. Pressure had been growing on him since contested election results suggested he had won outright in the first round. The result was called into question by the Organization of American States, a regional body, which had found \"clear manipulation\" and called for the result to be annulled. In response, Mr Morales agreed to hold fresh elections. But his main rival, Carlos Mesa - who came second in the vote - said Mr Morales should not stand in any new vote. The chief of the armed forces, Gen Williams Kaliman, then urged Mr Morales to step down in the interests of peace and stability." } ], "id": "9439_1", "question": "How did we get here?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "After months of uncertainty, the UK appears set to allow Huawei's telecoms equipment to be part of the country's 5G networks - with some limitations. The move would put the UK at odds with the US, which has been pressing other nations to ban use of the Chinese firm's kit on security grounds. It could also cause tensions with Australia, which last year blocked its networks from using Huawei's 5G gear. The country also barred another Chinese firm, ZTE. While Theresa May is reportedly willing to give Huawei the green light, this would not mean the prime minister's cyber-advisers have disregarded the threat of a future Chinese cyber-attack. That concern still preoccupies many security officials' minds, since much of our critical infrastructure - from power stations to automated transport - is likely to be dependent on the next-generation communications technology. Rather, there is a belief that restricting Huawei's equipment to certain parts of the UK's network means that the risk can be managed. At the heart of the matter, there seems to be a critical disagreement: Canberra and Washington believe that there are fundamental differences between 5G and 4G, which mean an outright ban is the wiser choice. To make sense of all this, it is worth exploring first why Australia came to its conclusion. But it is worth saying up front that, for its part, Huawei has denied it would ever compromise a client's network because it had been ordered to do so by Beijing. It has said that it has been \"targeted by a sustained campaign of ill-informed accusations that its involvement in 5G infrastructure somehow poses a threat\". Australia concluded in August that it was impossible to \"mitigate\" the national security risks involved in allowing Huawei to form any part of its 5G network, because next-generation networks would operate in a different way to their predecessors. The reason for this, it added, was that the relationship between two distinct bits of the network would change. The first part - \"the core\" - it said was where the \"most sensitive functions occur\", including device authentication, voice and data-routing and billing. The second - \"the edge\" - referred to equipment including antennae and base stations that is used to capture the radio signals emitted by wireless devices and send them into the core. The key phrase in a ministerial statement then explained: \"The distinction between the core and the edge will disappear over time.\" One of the country's spy chiefs, Mike Burgess, later expanded on this, saying that as 5G technologies matured, the expectation was that the distinction between the edge and core \"collapses\" because \"sensitive functions\" would begin to move outside of the protected part. Part of the reason for this, he explained, would be to take advantage of the lower latencies 5G offers - the lag between issuing a command and getting a response. This, for example, could help make it safe to direct surgical robots or remote-controlled vehicles from afar. But, Mr Burgess added, the consequences could be dire if the 5G kit was then compromised and used to mount an attack. \"Elements of the power grid may not work, water supply [and] sewage pumps may not work - it has the potential to impact our country greatly,\" explained the director general of the Australian Signals Directorate. And Huawei was considered a company that could be \"subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law\". In other words, the fear was that it could be compelled to facilitate a Beijing-mounted cyber-attack. The Australians' argument never convinced many senior figures involved in the UK's telecoms industry. While they accept there are issues with using Huawei's kit in the core, they believe it would still be relatively safe to use its radio access network (Ran) equipment - which allows individual devices to wirelessly connect to mobile data networks via radio signals transmitted over the airwaves. Huawei's Ran gear is seen to be more advanced than that of its competitors - Nokia and Ericsson - at doing things like maximising the amount of data that can be handled at once. The Chinese firm also has a reputation for being more willing to provide customised solutions. But critically, there is also a belief that there is no reason for the distinction between the core and Ran to disappear over time, so long as the networks involved continue to respect standards that define a border between the two. \"One of the key features of 5G is the ability to... distribute [the core] more broadly across the overall network infrastructure,\" explained Vodafone UK's chief technology officer Scott Petty. \"However, that core network is still protected from the radio base stations by security gateways and capabilities.\" There has, however, been some reluctance to openly contradict the Australians. When BBC Panorama spoke to the technical director of GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre earlier this year, he sought to suggest both views could be right. \"From a purely technical point of view, geography matters in 5G,\" Dr Ian Levy explained. \"Because you have these very, very quick turnaround communications, you are limited about where certain things can physically be - limited by the speed of light. \"UK and Australia have very different geographies - so our laydowns will be very different to Australia's laydowns. So, we may have exactly the same technical understanding, but come to very different conclusions.\" Washington has been leading the campaign against Huawei, both in terms of making the case about the supposed security threat it poses, but also pursuing legal cases alleging the firm has engaged in systemic intellectual property theft and fraud - claims that Huawei denies. Earlier this month, one of President Trump's top cyber-security officials made it clear that the US believes it is not safe to use Huawei kit in any part of a 5G network. \"We view there to be no relevant distinction between the core and the edge of a 5G network,\" said the US State Department's Ambassador Robert Strayer. \"That distinction had existed in 4G networks because you basically had a smart core - where the intelligence and the software ran - and the edge was dumb, because it was just for the transmission of data to the core. \"In a 5G network, much of the smart computing capacity... will move to the edge.\" When the BBC asked him whether geographic differences might mean this would not be an issue for the UK, he made clear this was not a consideration. \"Due to the configuration of 5G networks with computing at the edge and reliance on those networks for the provision of critical services, untrusted equipment should not be allowed in any part of the network,\" he answered. The UK, Australia and US are three members of an intelligence-sharing pact called the Five Eyes alliance. The other two members are New Zealand - which has also barred one of its networks from using Huawei's 5G equipment while it continues to evaluates the risks involved - and Canada, which is still on the fence. A decision by the UK to allow at least partial use of Huawei's kit could encourage New Zealand and Canada to do likewise, as well as sending a wider signal out to other countries that there is no reason for an outright ban. But Washington has warned there could be repercussions. \"It would be very difficult for the United States to share information the way that we have in the past if we are having to rely on unsecure networks,\" Mr Strayer told the BBC. \"[As Secretary of State] Pompeo has said - if the risk exceeds the threshold for the United States, we simply won't be able to share that information any longer.\" Some experts are not convinced, however, that the US would really stop sharing intelligence. \"I am surprised at some of the rhetoric from the US,\" commented Prof Alan Woodward, from Surrey University. \"If sensitive information is being passed across any public network, you have to assume someone is attempting to intercept it. Hence, you layer on your own security to a level appropriate to the sensitivity of the data being transmitted. \"The greater concern with 5G is the potential for disruption of the network, not necessarily espionage.\" A formal UK decision on Huawei is still not expected until after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport shares the results of its own review into the matter with the country's National Security Council. In the meantime, Huawei is not taking anything for granted. \"We welcome reports that the UK government is moving towards allowing Huawei to help build the UK's 5G networks,\" said a spokesman for the firm. \"While we await a formal government announcement, we will continue to work co-operatively with the government, Ofcom and the industry and their evidence-based approach to network security.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3586, "answer_start": 1631, "text": "Australia concluded in August that it was impossible to \"mitigate\" the national security risks involved in allowing Huawei to form any part of its 5G network, because next-generation networks would operate in a different way to their predecessors. The reason for this, it added, was that the relationship between two distinct bits of the network would change. The first part - \"the core\" - it said was where the \"most sensitive functions occur\", including device authentication, voice and data-routing and billing. The second - \"the edge\" - referred to equipment including antennae and base stations that is used to capture the radio signals emitted by wireless devices and send them into the core. The key phrase in a ministerial statement then explained: \"The distinction between the core and the edge will disappear over time.\" One of the country's spy chiefs, Mike Burgess, later expanded on this, saying that as 5G technologies matured, the expectation was that the distinction between the edge and core \"collapses\" because \"sensitive functions\" would begin to move outside of the protected part. Part of the reason for this, he explained, would be to take advantage of the lower latencies 5G offers - the lag between issuing a command and getting a response. This, for example, could help make it safe to direct surgical robots or remote-controlled vehicles from afar. But, Mr Burgess added, the consequences could be dire if the 5G kit was then compromised and used to mount an attack. \"Elements of the power grid may not work, water supply [and] sewage pumps may not work - it has the potential to impact our country greatly,\" explained the director general of the Australian Signals Directorate. And Huawei was considered a company that could be \"subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government that conflict with Australian law\". In other words, the fear was that it could be compelled to facilitate a Beijing-mounted cyber-attack." } ], "id": "9440_0", "question": "Why did Australia ban Huawei?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5502, "answer_start": 3587, "text": "The Australians' argument never convinced many senior figures involved in the UK's telecoms industry. While they accept there are issues with using Huawei's kit in the core, they believe it would still be relatively safe to use its radio access network (Ran) equipment - which allows individual devices to wirelessly connect to mobile data networks via radio signals transmitted over the airwaves. Huawei's Ran gear is seen to be more advanced than that of its competitors - Nokia and Ericsson - at doing things like maximising the amount of data that can be handled at once. The Chinese firm also has a reputation for being more willing to provide customised solutions. But critically, there is also a belief that there is no reason for the distinction between the core and Ran to disappear over time, so long as the networks involved continue to respect standards that define a border between the two. \"One of the key features of 5G is the ability to... distribute [the core] more broadly across the overall network infrastructure,\" explained Vodafone UK's chief technology officer Scott Petty. \"However, that core network is still protected from the radio base stations by security gateways and capabilities.\" There has, however, been some reluctance to openly contradict the Australians. When BBC Panorama spoke to the technical director of GCHQ's National Cyber Security Centre earlier this year, he sought to suggest both views could be right. \"From a purely technical point of view, geography matters in 5G,\" Dr Ian Levy explained. \"Because you have these very, very quick turnaround communications, you are limited about where certain things can physically be - limited by the speed of light. \"UK and Australia have very different geographies - so our laydowns will be very different to Australia's laydowns. So, we may have exactly the same technical understanding, but come to very different conclusions.\"" } ], "id": "9440_1", "question": "So why would the UK want to use Huawei?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6768, "answer_start": 5503, "text": "Washington has been leading the campaign against Huawei, both in terms of making the case about the supposed security threat it poses, but also pursuing legal cases alleging the firm has engaged in systemic intellectual property theft and fraud - claims that Huawei denies. Earlier this month, one of President Trump's top cyber-security officials made it clear that the US believes it is not safe to use Huawei kit in any part of a 5G network. \"We view there to be no relevant distinction between the core and the edge of a 5G network,\" said the US State Department's Ambassador Robert Strayer. \"That distinction had existed in 4G networks because you basically had a smart core - where the intelligence and the software ran - and the edge was dumb, because it was just for the transmission of data to the core. \"In a 5G network, much of the smart computing capacity... will move to the edge.\" When the BBC asked him whether geographic differences might mean this would not be an issue for the UK, he made clear this was not a consideration. \"Due to the configuration of 5G networks with computing at the edge and reliance on those networks for the provision of critical services, untrusted equipment should not be allowed in any part of the network,\" he answered." } ], "id": "9440_2", "question": "How does the US come into this?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8859, "answer_start": 6769, "text": "The UK, Australia and US are three members of an intelligence-sharing pact called the Five Eyes alliance. The other two members are New Zealand - which has also barred one of its networks from using Huawei's 5G equipment while it continues to evaluates the risks involved - and Canada, which is still on the fence. A decision by the UK to allow at least partial use of Huawei's kit could encourage New Zealand and Canada to do likewise, as well as sending a wider signal out to other countries that there is no reason for an outright ban. But Washington has warned there could be repercussions. \"It would be very difficult for the United States to share information the way that we have in the past if we are having to rely on unsecure networks,\" Mr Strayer told the BBC. \"[As Secretary of State] Pompeo has said - if the risk exceeds the threshold for the United States, we simply won't be able to share that information any longer.\" Some experts are not convinced, however, that the US would really stop sharing intelligence. \"I am surprised at some of the rhetoric from the US,\" commented Prof Alan Woodward, from Surrey University. \"If sensitive information is being passed across any public network, you have to assume someone is attempting to intercept it. Hence, you layer on your own security to a level appropriate to the sensitivity of the data being transmitted. \"The greater concern with 5G is the potential for disruption of the network, not necessarily espionage.\" A formal UK decision on Huawei is still not expected until after the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport shares the results of its own review into the matter with the country's National Security Council. In the meantime, Huawei is not taking anything for granted. \"We welcome reports that the UK government is moving towards allowing Huawei to help build the UK's 5G networks,\" said a spokesman for the firm. \"While we await a formal government announcement, we will continue to work co-operatively with the government, Ofcom and the industry and their evidence-based approach to network security.\"" } ], "id": "9440_3", "question": "What might the consequences be for this split?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Saudi Arabia has sacked its top military commanders, including the chief of staff, in a series of late-night royal decrees. Saudi King Salman also replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defences. The news was published by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), but no reason for the sackings was given. They come as the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is fighting rebels, is nearing the end of its third year. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the defence minister, is believed to be behind various recent shake-ups in the country. Last year dozens of prominent Saudi figures, including princes, ministers and billionaires, were locked up in Riyadh's five-star Ritz-Carlton hotel as the prince led a drive against corruption and abuse of power. By Sebastian Usher, BBC Arab Affairs Editor This is another sweeping overhaul of Saudi institutions that has become the hallmark of the reign of King Salman, although the driving force is once again his son and heir, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Saudi intervention in the Yemen conflict was his initiative - one of the first indications of just how dramatically he was going to break away from the country's traditional caution. And it has so far failed, even if it has forced the Houthi rebels out of the south of Yemen and allowed the ousted government to re-establish a foothold. The cost for Yemen itself has been a humanitarian disaster, while it has also drained Saudi coffers in a time of austerity. The service of the chief of staff, General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, is among those \"terminated\", said the SPA. Various military figures have already been promoted to replace those sacked. A series of political appointments were announced at the same time, including the rare appointment of a female deputy minister of labour and social development, Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah. Prince Turki bin Talal was appointed new deputy governor of the south-west Asir province. He is the brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was detained in the anti-corruption drive and released two months later.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2106, "answer_start": 1492, "text": "The service of the chief of staff, General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, is among those \"terminated\", said the SPA. Various military figures have already been promoted to replace those sacked. A series of political appointments were announced at the same time, including the rare appointment of a female deputy minister of labour and social development, Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah. Prince Turki bin Talal was appointed new deputy governor of the south-west Asir province. He is the brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was detained in the anti-corruption drive and released two months later." } ], "id": "9441_0", "question": "Who is out? Who is in?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Venezuela has expelled El Salvador's diplomats in a tit-for-tat response after El Salvador on Saturday told Venezuelan diplomats to leave. The Salvadoreans have 48 hours to leave the country. El Salvador's government does not recognise Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro as legitimate. It said it would receive a new Venezuelan diplomatic team that represented the country's opposition leader Juan Guaido. Mr Maduro and Mr Guaido, leader of the opposition-controlled National Assembly, are embroiled in a power struggle. Mr Guaido declared himself interim president in January, saying that the elections which brought Mr Maduro to power for a second term were fraudulent. In a statement, the Venezuelan authorities accused El Salvador of \"breathing oxygen into the failing US strategy of intervention and economic blockade against the people of Venezuela\". El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele was \"assuming the sad role of a pawn in US foreign policy\", the statement said. Announcing its own expulsions on Saturday, El Salvador said that it \"recognises the legitimacy of the incumbent president, Juan Guaido\" until free elections are held in accordance with the Constitution of Venezuela. The US Ambassador to El Salvador, Ronald Johnson, welcomed the announcement. In a tweet, Mr Johnson said El Salvador was \"on the right side\" of the Venezuela crisis. Mr Guaido has gained the backing of over 50 countries - but has so far failed to remove Mr Maduro from power. Mr Maduro is also supported by a number of nations, including Cuba, China and Russia. Talks between the two sides hosted by Barbados and mediated by Norway stalled after President Maduro denounced the opposition for backing sweeping sanctions imposed by the US. Venezuela is suffering one of the worst economic crises in history with a quarter of its 30 million population in need of aid, according to the UN. More than four million Venezuelans have left the country over the past years. Mr Maduro's government has come under fire from the international community for a number of reasons. When opposition parties gained a majority in the National Assembly, the president created a rival body stacked with his supporters which assumed many of its powers. His 2018 re-election was controversial, and labelled as rigged by his critics, after many rivals were barred from running or fled the country. Protests and demonstrations erupted into violence and were met with a crackdown by authorities which saw civilians killed. The US - which recognised Mr Guaido after he declared himself president and whose leaders have repeatedly told Mr Maduro to resign - has been a frequent target of Mr Maduro's anger. Mr Maduro has accused the US of trying to kill him, without supplying any evidence. He claims that his opposition is backed by foreign powers, rather than domestic resistance to his authority.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1954, "answer_start": 1357, "text": "Mr Guaido has gained the backing of over 50 countries - but has so far failed to remove Mr Maduro from power. Mr Maduro is also supported by a number of nations, including Cuba, China and Russia. Talks between the two sides hosted by Barbados and mediated by Norway stalled after President Maduro denounced the opposition for backing sweeping sanctions imposed by the US. Venezuela is suffering one of the worst economic crises in history with a quarter of its 30 million population in need of aid, according to the UN. More than four million Venezuelans have left the country over the past years." } ], "id": "9442_0", "question": "What's the background to this?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2861, "answer_start": 1955, "text": "Mr Maduro's government has come under fire from the international community for a number of reasons. When opposition parties gained a majority in the National Assembly, the president created a rival body stacked with his supporters which assumed many of its powers. His 2018 re-election was controversial, and labelled as rigged by his critics, after many rivals were barred from running or fled the country. Protests and demonstrations erupted into violence and were met with a crackdown by authorities which saw civilians killed. The US - which recognised Mr Guaido after he declared himself president and whose leaders have repeatedly told Mr Maduro to resign - has been a frequent target of Mr Maduro's anger. Mr Maduro has accused the US of trying to kill him, without supplying any evidence. He claims that his opposition is backed by foreign powers, rather than domestic resistance to his authority." } ], "id": "9442_1", "question": "Why is the US involved?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Saudi women should not have to wear the abaya, a long loose-fitting robe used to cover their bodies in public, a top religious cleric has said. Sheikh Abdullah al-Mutlaq, a member of the Council of Senior Scholars, said women should dress modestly, but this did not have to mean wearing the abaya. Saudi women are currently required to wear the garment by law. The cleric's intervention comes amid moves to modernise Saudi society and relax restriction on women. \"More than 90% of pious Muslim women in the Muslim world do not wear abayas. So we should not force people to wear abayas,\" Sheikh Mutlaq said on Friday. It is the first time a senior cleric has made such a statement, which may form the basis of Saudi law in the future. Sheikh Mutlaq's intervention has generated intense reaction online, with people expressing both support and opposition. \"The abaya is a matter of tradition in one of our regions and has become applicable to all. It is not an issue of religion,\" wrote Twitter user Mashari Ghamdi. \"Even if one hundred fatwas have been issued, I swear to God I will never leave my abaya. Over my dead body. Girls, do not listen to the fatwas...\" wrote twitter user @Kooshe90. Women who do not wear the abaya in places where they may be seen by men who are not related to them face being chastised by the religious police. In 2016, a Saudi woman was detained for removing her abaya on a main street in the capital of Riyadh, Reuters news agency reported. However in recent years Saudi women have begun wearing more colourful abayas that contrast with the traditional black, and open abayas worn over long skirts or jeans are also becoming more common in some parts of the country, Reuters says. Sheikh Mutlaq's intervention follows earlier moves to modernise Saudi society, part of a social reform plan spearheaded by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has pledged to transform the country with the government's Vision 2030 programme. It is aimed at giving more freedom to Saudi women, who face strict gender segregation rules, and follows the historic lifting of a driving ban in September 2017. In the same month, women were allowed to participate in Saudi Arabia's National Day celebrations for the first time. Last month women were permitted to watch football live in stadiums in some cities. Last year, Saudi Arabia also announced that it was lifting a ban on commercial cinemas that has lasted more than three decades. The first cinemas are expected to open in March this year. In December, thousands of women cheered and rose in a standing ovation at the first public concert performed by a female singer in the country. Up until now, such sports and entertainment venues have been men-only areas. There are many things that Saudi women are unable to do without permission from the men in their lives. These things include, but are not limited to: - Applying for passports - Travelling abroad - Getting married - Opening a bank account - Starting certain businesses - Getting elective surgery - Leaving prison These restrictions are down to Saudi Arabia's guardianship system, which has aligned the country with a strict form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism. Under the system, every woman must have a male companion with her in public, usually a close family member, who has authority to act on her behalf in these circumstances. This has helped create one of the most gender unequal countries in the Middle East.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1709, "answer_start": 734, "text": "Sheikh Mutlaq's intervention has generated intense reaction online, with people expressing both support and opposition. \"The abaya is a matter of tradition in one of our regions and has become applicable to all. It is not an issue of religion,\" wrote Twitter user Mashari Ghamdi. \"Even if one hundred fatwas have been issued, I swear to God I will never leave my abaya. Over my dead body. Girls, do not listen to the fatwas...\" wrote twitter user @Kooshe90. Women who do not wear the abaya in places where they may be seen by men who are not related to them face being chastised by the religious police. In 2016, a Saudi woman was detained for removing her abaya on a main street in the capital of Riyadh, Reuters news agency reported. However in recent years Saudi women have begun wearing more colourful abayas that contrast with the traditional black, and open abayas worn over long skirts or jeans are also becoming more common in some parts of the country, Reuters says." } ], "id": "9443_0", "question": "What has the reaction been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2660, "answer_start": 1710, "text": "Sheikh Mutlaq's intervention follows earlier moves to modernise Saudi society, part of a social reform plan spearheaded by Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who has pledged to transform the country with the government's Vision 2030 programme. It is aimed at giving more freedom to Saudi women, who face strict gender segregation rules, and follows the historic lifting of a driving ban in September 2017. In the same month, women were allowed to participate in Saudi Arabia's National Day celebrations for the first time. Last month women were permitted to watch football live in stadiums in some cities. Last year, Saudi Arabia also announced that it was lifting a ban on commercial cinemas that has lasted more than three decades. The first cinemas are expected to open in March this year. In December, thousands of women cheered and rose in a standing ovation at the first public concert performed by a female singer in the country." } ], "id": "9443_1", "question": "What is the background?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3455, "answer_start": 2738, "text": "There are many things that Saudi women are unable to do without permission from the men in their lives. These things include, but are not limited to: - Applying for passports - Travelling abroad - Getting married - Opening a bank account - Starting certain businesses - Getting elective surgery - Leaving prison These restrictions are down to Saudi Arabia's guardianship system, which has aligned the country with a strict form of Sunni Islam known as Wahhabism. Under the system, every woman must have a male companion with her in public, usually a close family member, who has authority to act on her behalf in these circumstances. This has helped create one of the most gender unequal countries in the Middle East." } ], "id": "9443_2", "question": "What can Saudi women still not do?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The deepening crisis in relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia is a reflection of a deeply fractured Middle East in which the US wields significantly less influence than in the past. Uncertainty about Washington's role has emboldened both Tehran and Riyadh to pursue more assertive regional policies. But assertiveness is not the same as exercising good judgement and the heightened hostility between Iran and Saudi Arabia threatens to widen many of the Middle East's existing fault lines. It was the Saudi decision to execute the prominent Shia dissident Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday that precipitated this current crisis, underscoring a belief that the Saudi regime is intent on rejecting any conciliatory policy towards Tehran. The Saudis see Iran as a growing regional threat, committed to stirring up Shia populations in the Gulf states and elsewhere, and to exporting its brand of \"revolutionary\" Islam. The Saudis - a little like the Israeli right - regard almost every problem in the region as emanating from Tehran. For the Iranians, the Saudis are perceived as clamping down on dissident Shia elements both at home and elsewhere in the Gulf, seeking to overthrow Iran's ally in Syria, President Bashar al-Assad, and more generally seeking to deny what they see as Iran's rightful role as a regional power. Saudi Arabia's refusal to cut oil output, thus keeping world prices low, is a further irritant in relations. At the third point in this triangle is Washington. President Barack Obama is eager above all to maintain regional stability insofar as it exists at all. His administration is struggling to influence the Saudis while treading cautiously in its dealings with Iran, for fear of prejudicing the nuclear agreement now entering the initial and delicate implementation phase. Of course Washington's behaviour influences the other two protagonists, but not in ways that it would like. The Saudis' current regional paranoia - although Riyadh may arguably have genuine concerns - is to a large extent stoked by the track of US foreign policy over recent years. It's a tale which begins with the US-led invasion of Iraq and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, a step many in the Gulf see as \"handing\" Iraq to Iran on a plate. Washington's willingness to abandon President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt in the wake of the Arab Spring compounded concerns in Riyadh that the US might be an undependable ally. The nuclear deal with Iran and the potential for a rapprochement between Washington and Tehran has only made matters worse. The chances of such a rapprochement - the stuff of Saudi nightmares - are almost certainly grossly exaggerated. The nuclear deal is still in its infancy and beset by criticism from hardliners in both the US and Iran. The same dissonant voices are likely to ensure that prospects for any broader regional understanding between Iran and the US remain an aspiration rather than a reality. But just how far might Iran be emboldened by the strains between Washington and Riyadh? The Obama administration's inability to present a clear policy in the region, or to set out its vital interests - not easy, certainly, amidst all the turmoil - leaves room for misunderstanding by regional players. This is especially problematic given the US relationship with Saudi Arabia. Given Riyadh's human rights record and its export of an austere version of Islam that has often blended into support for Sunni extremism, the Saudis are not so much \"allies\" of Washington as \"partners\", veteran US diplomat Dennis Ross notes (allies, he adds, \"share values and not just interests\".) The immediate goals for US policy are: - containing the current tensions between Riyadh and Tehran - ensuring the survival of the nuclear accord - trying to maintain modest momentum towards some kind of regional agreement on Syria Achieving this amid the wider chaos in the region with so many factors out of Washington's control will not be easy. Indeed it may be even more difficult in a US presidential election year when rhetoric outweighs reason. In his last year in office, Mr Obama and his diplomatic team look set to have their hands full.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4148, "answer_start": 3012, "text": "The Obama administration's inability to present a clear policy in the region, or to set out its vital interests - not easy, certainly, amidst all the turmoil - leaves room for misunderstanding by regional players. This is especially problematic given the US relationship with Saudi Arabia. Given Riyadh's human rights record and its export of an austere version of Islam that has often blended into support for Sunni extremism, the Saudis are not so much \"allies\" of Washington as \"partners\", veteran US diplomat Dennis Ross notes (allies, he adds, \"share values and not just interests\".) The immediate goals for US policy are: - containing the current tensions between Riyadh and Tehran - ensuring the survival of the nuclear accord - trying to maintain modest momentum towards some kind of regional agreement on Syria Achieving this amid the wider chaos in the region with so many factors out of Washington's control will not be easy. Indeed it may be even more difficult in a US presidential election year when rhetoric outweighs reason. In his last year in office, Mr Obama and his diplomatic team look set to have their hands full." } ], "id": "9444_0", "question": "Allies or partners?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Misogyny and offences targeting women are still \"highly prevalent\" two years after a police force started treating them as hate crime, academics say. The \"misogyny hate crime policy\" has been piloted by Nottinghamshire Police. The force records misogynistic behaviour as either hate crime or hate incidents, depending on whether or not the behaviour is criminal. But university researchers were \"shocked\" by the volume and nature of the incidents among people surveyed. However, they found the policy is already \"shifting attitudes\". Dr Loretta Trickett said: \"Much of this behaviour on this spectrum is criminal behaviour, there's no doubt about that. People could have gone to the police about it before. \"But because of the culture we have it's just acceptable to intimidate women on the street, to go up to a woman and touch her backside, or to comment on her body and put her in fear of an assault.\" Professor Louise Mullany said: \"There's a spectrum of crime here, and it goes up to rape and sexual assault, and we were really shocked at how high the figures were in terms of people reporting the more serious end of crime, and that becoming part of a regular occurrence.\" The Misogyny Hate Crime Evaluation report was put together jointly by the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University. It recommends rolling the policy out nationally to increase publicity and the reporting of incidents. This view is shared by Paddy Tipping, Nottinghamshire's police and crime commissioner, who said: \"A handful of other forces have come forward and later on this week all the chief constables in the country are going to discuss the issue. \"We all need to be pushing together to say we are not going to tolerate this kind of behaviour. \"The report has come out at a really good time, a couple of days before all the chief constables have this discussion, and I think there's a lot of support for it.\" Misogyny hate crime is defined as \"incidents against women that are motivated by the attitude of men towards women and includes behaviour targeted at women by men simply because they are women\". Examples include sexual assault, which had been experienced by 24.7% of survey respondents, indecent exposure (25.9%), groping (46.2%), taking unwanted photographs on mobiles (17.3%), upskirting (6.8%), online abuse (21.7%), being followed home (25.2%), whistling (62.9%), sexually explicit language (54.3%), threatening/aggressive/intimidating behaviour (51.8%), and unwanted sexual advances (48.9%). However, not all hate crimes are criminal offences according to the legal definition. No. The research showed the policy had been misinterpreted and \"trivialised\" in media reports, which had focused on wolf whistling and suggested this was now illegal. However, the policy does not criminalise anything that was previously legal, and anything criminal is covered by existing legislation. For example, a sexual assault against a woman is still a sexual assault but is now recorded as a hate crime too. Wolf whistling would be recorded as a hate incident. There were 174 reports by women between April 2016 and March 2018. Of these, 73 were classified as crimes and 101 were classified as incidents. Police will start an investigation and women will be offered support whether or not the behaviour is criminal. For example, police have spoken to building site managers after women complained of being harassed by builders. Three quarters of all victims (74.9%) who responded to a survey said there had been a long term impact. The researchers also interviewed four of the women who had reported misogyny hate crime. One woman experienced two men in a van pulling over and shouting at her to get in while she was walking to work through an industrial estate. She said: \"It was leery, yeah, it wasn't explicit sexual language used but the whole experience was really intimidating.\" Another woman had her bottom grabbed while she was running down the street and said it had frightened her, stopped her from going out at certain times and made her \"nervy\". The third woman was shouted at four or five times while out running, including something sexual by a workman in a van, which she found \"demeaning\". The fourth woman was called \"a slut\" and told she \"wanted it\" by a man on the tram, which had made her \"definitely more cautious\". Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2593, "answer_start": 1911, "text": "Misogyny hate crime is defined as \"incidents against women that are motivated by the attitude of men towards women and includes behaviour targeted at women by men simply because they are women\". Examples include sexual assault, which had been experienced by 24.7% of survey respondents, indecent exposure (25.9%), groping (46.2%), taking unwanted photographs on mobiles (17.3%), upskirting (6.8%), online abuse (21.7%), being followed home (25.2%), whistling (62.9%), sexually explicit language (54.3%), threatening/aggressive/intimidating behaviour (51.8%), and unwanted sexual advances (48.9%). However, not all hate crimes are criminal offences according to the legal definition." } ], "id": "9445_0", "question": "What is misogyny hate crime?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3428, "answer_start": 2594, "text": "No. The research showed the policy had been misinterpreted and \"trivialised\" in media reports, which had focused on wolf whistling and suggested this was now illegal. However, the policy does not criminalise anything that was previously legal, and anything criminal is covered by existing legislation. For example, a sexual assault against a woman is still a sexual assault but is now recorded as a hate crime too. Wolf whistling would be recorded as a hate incident. There were 174 reports by women between April 2016 and March 2018. Of these, 73 were classified as crimes and 101 were classified as incidents. Police will start an investigation and women will be offered support whether or not the behaviour is criminal. For example, police have spoken to building site managers after women complained of being harassed by builders." } ], "id": "9445_1", "question": "Does the policy criminalise wolf whistling?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4337, "answer_start": 3429, "text": "Three quarters of all victims (74.9%) who responded to a survey said there had been a long term impact. The researchers also interviewed four of the women who had reported misogyny hate crime. One woman experienced two men in a van pulling over and shouting at her to get in while she was walking to work through an industrial estate. She said: \"It was leery, yeah, it wasn't explicit sexual language used but the whole experience was really intimidating.\" Another woman had her bottom grabbed while she was running down the street and said it had frightened her, stopped her from going out at certain times and made her \"nervy\". The third woman was shouted at four or five times while out running, including something sexual by a workman in a van, which she found \"demeaning\". The fourth woman was called \"a slut\" and told she \"wanted it\" by a man on the tram, which had made her \"definitely more cautious\"." } ], "id": "9445_2", "question": "What effect does misogyny hate crime have?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Hong Kong International Airport has cancelled all departures for the rest of the day, after thousands of anti-government protesters occupied it. Passengers have been told not to travel to the airport, which is one of the world's busiest transport hubs. In a statement, officials blamed \"seriously disrupted\" operations. Many of those protesting are critical of the actions of police, who on Sunday were filmed firing tear gas and rubber bullets at close range. Some protesters wore bandages over their eyes in response to images of a woman bleeding heavily from her eye on Sunday, having reportedly been shot by a police projectile. In a statement on Monday afternoon, Hong Kong's Airport Authority said they were cancelling all flights that were not yet checked in. More than 160 flights scheduled to leave after 18:00 local time (10:00 GMT) will now not depart. Arrivals already heading into Hong Kong will still be allowed to land, but other scheduled flights have been cancelled. Officials are now working to reopen the airport by 06:00 on Tuesday, a statement said. Some passengers expressed annoyance at the disruption. \"It's very frustrating and scary for some people,\" one man from Pakistan told the BBC. \"We'll just have to wait for our next flight.\" Helena Morgan, from the UK, said she was set to return to the UK to get her exam results on Thursday. \"I'm hoping we get back for them and we're not on a flight,\" she said. But others were more understanding of the protests. \"I was expecting something, given all the news,\" one arrival, Gurinda Singh, told Reuters news agency. As rumours spread that police plan to move in on protesters on Monday evening, thousands opted to leave on foot. There are large backlogs for transport back into the centre, local reports say. The BBC's Stephen McDonell, who is at the scene, says the airport has effectively shut down while authorities work out how to deal with the crisis. Hong Kong's mass demonstrations and unrest show no sign of abating, more than two months after they were sparked by a controversial extradition bill. Beijing officials have strongly condemned Sunday's violence and linked violent protesters to \"terrorism\". On Sunday afternoon, a peaceful rally in the city's Victoria Park led to clashes when protesters moved out of the area and marched along a major road despite a police ban. There were confrontations in several central districts and police used rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators. In the bustling central Wan Chai district, petrol bombs and bricks were thrown at police, who responded by charging at protesters. A number of people, including a police officer, were injured in the clashes. Videos on social media also showed officers storming enclosed railway stations and firing tear gas. Footage inside another station showed officers firing what appeared to be rubber bullets at close range and several police officers beating people with batons. Local media outlets reported that suspected undercover police officers had dressed-up as protesters to make surprise arrests. While protests in the city have turned increasingly violent, there were no reports of arrests during the three previous days of the airport sit-in. On Monday the Chinese authorities, who have not yet physically intervened to quell the unrest, used their strongest language yet to condemn violent protesters. \"Hong Kong's radical demonstrators have repeatedly used extremely dangerous tools to attack police officers, which already constitutes a serious violent crime, and also shows the first signs of terrorism emerging,\" Yang Guang, a spokesman for the Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), said at a press briefing. \"This wantonly tramples on Hong Kong's rule of law and social order.\" Elsewhere, Cathay Pacific has warned staff they could be fired if they \"support or participate in illegal protests\" in Hong Kong. The development comes days after Beijing mounted pressure on the airline and a #BoycottCathayPacific campaign began to spread. Hong Kong police have also unveiled a water cannon vehicle as a new tool to combat the protests. Amnesty International has previously warned that the tool could cause serious injuries and inflame tensions. Demonstrations started in June in opposition to a proposed extradition bill, which would have allowed suspected criminals to be sent to mainland China for trial. Critics said it would undermine Hong Kong's legal freedoms, and could be used to silence political dissidents. Although the government has now suspended the bill, demonstrators want it to be fully withdrawn. Their demands have broadened to include calls for an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality, and an amnesty for all arrested protesters. Hong Kong is part of China but its citizens have more autonomy than those on the mainland. It has a free press and judicial independence under the so-called \"one country, two systems\" approach - freedoms which activists fear are being increasingly eroded. Are you currently at the airport? Email [email protected] Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3229, "answer_start": 2185, "text": "On Sunday afternoon, a peaceful rally in the city's Victoria Park led to clashes when protesters moved out of the area and marched along a major road despite a police ban. There were confrontations in several central districts and police used rubber bullets in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators. In the bustling central Wan Chai district, petrol bombs and bricks were thrown at police, who responded by charging at protesters. A number of people, including a police officer, were injured in the clashes. Videos on social media also showed officers storming enclosed railway stations and firing tear gas. Footage inside another station showed officers firing what appeared to be rubber bullets at close range and several police officers beating people with batons. Local media outlets reported that suspected undercover police officers had dressed-up as protesters to make surprise arrests. While protests in the city have turned increasingly violent, there were no reports of arrests during the three previous days of the airport sit-in." } ], "id": "9446_0", "question": "What happened on Sunday?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5013, "answer_start": 4240, "text": "Demonstrations started in June in opposition to a proposed extradition bill, which would have allowed suspected criminals to be sent to mainland China for trial. Critics said it would undermine Hong Kong's legal freedoms, and could be used to silence political dissidents. Although the government has now suspended the bill, demonstrators want it to be fully withdrawn. Their demands have broadened to include calls for an independent inquiry into alleged police brutality, and an amnesty for all arrested protesters. Hong Kong is part of China but its citizens have more autonomy than those on the mainland. It has a free press and judicial independence under the so-called \"one country, two systems\" approach - freedoms which activists fear are being increasingly eroded." } ], "id": "9446_1", "question": "Why are there protests in Hong Kong?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Turkey's military launched a cross-border operation against Kurdish-led forces in Syria in early October, after US troops who had been allied to the Kurds withdrew. After four days of fighting, the Kurds agreed a deal with the Syrian government for the Syrian army to be deployed on the border to help repel the Turkish assault. These maps help explain the offensive and what is happening on the ground. Between 25 and 35 million ethnic Kurds inhabit a mountainous region straddling Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Armenia. But they have never had a widely-recognised permanent nation state of their own. Kurds make up between 7% and 10% of Syria's population. For decades, they were suppressed and denied basic rights by President Bashar al-Assad and, before him, his father Hafez. Before the uprising against Mr Assad began in 2011 most Kurds lived in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo, and in three northern areas near the Turkish border - Afrin in the west, Kobane (Ain al-Arab) in the centre, and Qamishli in the east. When the uprising evolved into a civil war, the main Kurdish parties avoided taking sides. In 2012, government forces withdrew from Kurdish areas to concentrate on fighting rebel factions elsewhere, and Kurdish militias took control in their wake. In late 2014, the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) launched an assault on Kobane. The battle sparked alarm across the world and a US-led multinational coalition against IS intervened by carrying out air strikes. After the militants retreated, the Kurds became the coalition's most critical partner on the ground in Syria. The biggest Kurdish militia, the People's Protection Units (YPG), formed an alliance with local Arab militias called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in 2015. With the help of coalition airpower, weaponry and advisers, SDF fighters drove IS out of a quarter of Syria and captured its last pocket of territory in the country in March 2019. They also set up an \"autonomous administration\" to govern the region. Turkey had long threatened to launch an operation in SDF-held territory to create a 32km (20-mile) deep \"safe zone\" running for 480km (300 miles) along the Syrian side of the border. It wants to push back members of the YPG, which it views as an extension of a Kurdish rebel group that has been fighting in Turkey for decades and is designated a terrorist organisation - the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkey also hopes to resettle, in the zone, up to two million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it is hosting. In an attempt to avert an offensive, the US and Turkish militaries agreed in August to set up a \"security mechanism\" on the Syrian side of border - an area that would be free of YPG fighters, but pointedly avoided using the term \"safe zone\". US and Turkish troops carried out joint patrols in the area and the YPG co-operated, withdrawing fighters and heavy weapons and dismantling fortifications. But on 6 October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told US President Donald Trump that a cross-border operation would \"soon be moving forward\", according to the White House. Mr Trump responded by saying US troops based in the area would not support or be involved in the operation, it said. Three days later, Mr Erdogan announced the start of \"Operation Peace Spring\" by the Turkish military and allied Syrian rebel factions. He said they aimed \"to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area\". The SDF said it was determined to defend its territory \"at all costs\", but Turkish-led forces were able to steadily push their way into a sparsely populated, mostly Arab area between the towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain in the first five days of the assault. Turkish air and artillery strikes affected a much larger area, including predominantly Kurdish towns and villages to the west and east. Amid growing chaos, US officials said on 13 October that Mr Trump had decided to begin withdraw all its troops from northern Syria. Hours later, the SDF said an agreement had been reached with the Syrian government - which considers the US an enemy - for the Syrian army \"to enter and deploy along the length of the Syrian-Turkish border\" and repel the Turkish assault. The area falling within Turkey's \"safe zone\" is fertile plain that once served as Syria's breadbasket. It is dotted with dozens of villages and towns, unlike the barren, desert regions to the south. When the Turkish offensive began, the UN said the potentially affected area included SDF-controlled territory that was home to 2.2 million people, including 1.3 million in need of humanitarian assistance, and two government-controlled cities where 450,000 people live - Qamishli and Hassakeh. By 13 October, air strikes, shelling and fighting on the ground had reportedly killed dozens of civilians and forced more than 150,000 others to flee their homes. The UN said most of the displaced were from the towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad, which were the initial targets of the Turkish assault. Some 5,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) living at the Mabruka camp, west of Ras al-Ain, had to be evacuated towards Hassakeh city after the surrounding area came under artillery fire on 10 October. The UN also expressed grave concern for the population of the two IDP camps at Ain Issa, south of Tal Abyad. The area around the camps was hit by shells on 13 October as Turkish forces advanced, prompting some of the 13,000 residents to flee, it said. SDF officials reported that dozens of women and children being held at the camps because of suspected links to IS, including British nationals, were among those who fled. Meanwhile, there were reports of unrest at al-Hol camp, which is about 60km from the Turkish border and so would not be in Turkey's proposed \"safe zone\". Some 68,000 people linked to IS are being detained al-Hol. More than 94% of them are women and children, and 11,000 are foreign nationals. The SDF says it is also holding more than 12,000 men suspected of being IS members in seven prisons. At least 4,000 of the prisoners are foreign nationals. Some of the prisons are in areas close to the Turkish border, including Ain Issa, Qamishli and Derik. On 11 October, the SDF said five IS militants had escaped from a prison in Qamishli after Turkish shelling nearby and that a car bomb had exploded next to the wall of a prison in Hassakeh, causing damage. Mr Trump told Mr Erdogan before the offensive that Turkish troops would be responsible for securing detained IS fighters in areas they captured. The SDF has said its fighters will continue to guard the prisons and camps, but there is a concern they could be called away to other areas or be forced to flee if attacked.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2003, "answer_start": 404, "text": "Between 25 and 35 million ethnic Kurds inhabit a mountainous region straddling Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Armenia. But they have never had a widely-recognised permanent nation state of their own. Kurds make up between 7% and 10% of Syria's population. For decades, they were suppressed and denied basic rights by President Bashar al-Assad and, before him, his father Hafez. Before the uprising against Mr Assad began in 2011 most Kurds lived in the cities of Damascus and Aleppo, and in three northern areas near the Turkish border - Afrin in the west, Kobane (Ain al-Arab) in the centre, and Qamishli in the east. When the uprising evolved into a civil war, the main Kurdish parties avoided taking sides. In 2012, government forces withdrew from Kurdish areas to concentrate on fighting rebel factions elsewhere, and Kurdish militias took control in their wake. In late 2014, the jihadist group Islamic State (IS) launched an assault on Kobane. The battle sparked alarm across the world and a US-led multinational coalition against IS intervened by carrying out air strikes. After the militants retreated, the Kurds became the coalition's most critical partner on the ground in Syria. The biggest Kurdish militia, the People's Protection Units (YPG), formed an alliance with local Arab militias called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) in 2015. With the help of coalition airpower, weaponry and advisers, SDF fighters drove IS out of a quarter of Syria and captured its last pocket of territory in the country in March 2019. They also set up an \"autonomous administration\" to govern the region." } ], "id": "9447_0", "question": "Who are the Kurds?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4244, "answer_start": 2004, "text": "Turkey had long threatened to launch an operation in SDF-held territory to create a 32km (20-mile) deep \"safe zone\" running for 480km (300 miles) along the Syrian side of the border. It wants to push back members of the YPG, which it views as an extension of a Kurdish rebel group that has been fighting in Turkey for decades and is designated a terrorist organisation - the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkey also hopes to resettle, in the zone, up to two million of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it is hosting. In an attempt to avert an offensive, the US and Turkish militaries agreed in August to set up a \"security mechanism\" on the Syrian side of border - an area that would be free of YPG fighters, but pointedly avoided using the term \"safe zone\". US and Turkish troops carried out joint patrols in the area and the YPG co-operated, withdrawing fighters and heavy weapons and dismantling fortifications. But on 6 October, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told US President Donald Trump that a cross-border operation would \"soon be moving forward\", according to the White House. Mr Trump responded by saying US troops based in the area would not support or be involved in the operation, it said. Three days later, Mr Erdogan announced the start of \"Operation Peace Spring\" by the Turkish military and allied Syrian rebel factions. He said they aimed \"to prevent the creation of a terror corridor across our southern border, and to bring peace to the area\". The SDF said it was determined to defend its territory \"at all costs\", but Turkish-led forces were able to steadily push their way into a sparsely populated, mostly Arab area between the towns of Tal Abyad and Ras al-Ain in the first five days of the assault. Turkish air and artillery strikes affected a much larger area, including predominantly Kurdish towns and villages to the west and east. Amid growing chaos, US officials said on 13 October that Mr Trump had decided to begin withdraw all its troops from northern Syria. Hours later, the SDF said an agreement had been reached with the Syrian government - which considers the US an enemy - for the Syrian army \"to enter and deploy along the length of the Syrian-Turkish border\" and repel the Turkish assault." } ], "id": "9447_1", "question": "Why did Turkey launch an offensive?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5241, "answer_start": 4245, "text": "The area falling within Turkey's \"safe zone\" is fertile plain that once served as Syria's breadbasket. It is dotted with dozens of villages and towns, unlike the barren, desert regions to the south. When the Turkish offensive began, the UN said the potentially affected area included SDF-controlled territory that was home to 2.2 million people, including 1.3 million in need of humanitarian assistance, and two government-controlled cities where 450,000 people live - Qamishli and Hassakeh. By 13 October, air strikes, shelling and fighting on the ground had reportedly killed dozens of civilians and forced more than 150,000 others to flee their homes. The UN said most of the displaced were from the towns of Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad, which were the initial targets of the Turkish assault. Some 5,000 internally displaced people (IDPs) living at the Mabruka camp, west of Ras al-Ain, had to be evacuated towards Hassakeh city after the surrounding area came under artillery fire on 10 October." } ], "id": "9447_2", "question": "What has been the humanitarian impact?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6739, "answer_start": 5242, "text": "The UN also expressed grave concern for the population of the two IDP camps at Ain Issa, south of Tal Abyad. The area around the camps was hit by shells on 13 October as Turkish forces advanced, prompting some of the 13,000 residents to flee, it said. SDF officials reported that dozens of women and children being held at the camps because of suspected links to IS, including British nationals, were among those who fled. Meanwhile, there were reports of unrest at al-Hol camp, which is about 60km from the Turkish border and so would not be in Turkey's proposed \"safe zone\". Some 68,000 people linked to IS are being detained al-Hol. More than 94% of them are women and children, and 11,000 are foreign nationals. The SDF says it is also holding more than 12,000 men suspected of being IS members in seven prisons. At least 4,000 of the prisoners are foreign nationals. Some of the prisons are in areas close to the Turkish border, including Ain Issa, Qamishli and Derik. On 11 October, the SDF said five IS militants had escaped from a prison in Qamishli after Turkish shelling nearby and that a car bomb had exploded next to the wall of a prison in Hassakeh, causing damage. Mr Trump told Mr Erdogan before the offensive that Turkish troops would be responsible for securing detained IS fighters in areas they captured. The SDF has said its fighters will continue to guard the prisons and camps, but there is a concern they could be called away to other areas or be forced to flee if attacked." } ], "id": "9447_3", "question": "Could detained IS fighters and their families escape?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Kenya's High Court has ruled against campaigners seeking to overturn a law banning gay sex. The three judges rejected claims that the colonial-era law violated the new constitution, which guarantees equality, dignity and privacy. The penal code criminalises \"carnal knowledge against the order of nature\" - widely understood to refer to anal intercourse between men. Gay sex is punishable by up to 14 years in prison. It is not clear whether there have ever been any convictions for gay sex in Kenya. But Kenya's National Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission (NGLHRC) had pushed for the law to be scrapped, arguing that it gave rise to a climate of homophobia. The law is specific to men but activists say that lesbian, bi, trans and non-binary voices are also affected. \"The general public doesn't know that the law only applies to male relationships,\" says Njeri Gateru, a co-founder of the (NGLHRC). \"They include other sexual minorities in their prejudice.\" Many African countries still enforce strict laws governing homosexuality, in most cases a legacy of laws imposed by the colonial rulers. The case was initially filed by LGBT rights activists in 2016. They argued that the state had no business regulating matters of intimacy. It wasn't heard until February 2018 and the verdict was initially expected in February 2019 - but it was delayed until Friday. The judges dismissed the argument that a ban on gay sex contravened the 2010 constitution, which protects all citizens' privacy and dignity. Presiding judge Roselyne Aburili declared to a packed courtroom: \"We find the impugned sections [of the penal code] are not unconstitutional\". She also argued that allowing gay sex would \"open the door for same-sex unions\". In her commentary she added that there was \"no conclusive scientific proof that LGBTQ people are born that way,\" she added. The judges ruled that while they respected changes to laws banning gay sex in other countries, it was the court's duty to respect prevailing Kenyan values. One of the petitioners, Eric Gitari, has vowed to appeal against the decision which he called \"very biased\". Human rights groups also criticised the ruling, with the Kenyan Human Rights Commission going as far as to say that it \"legitimises homophobia by upholding a colonial culture of exclusion, discrimination and violence against minorities\". But, it is a divisive issue in Kenya and many welcomed the judges' verdict. Catholic bishop Alfred Rotish told Reuters news agency outside the court: \"We cannot be another Sodom and Gomorrah\". Most Christian and Muslim groups support the current law, and the Kenyan attorney-general had argued against decriminalisation. Megha Mohan, BBC Gender and Identity reporter There are unofficial gay clubs and advertised events in Kenya's cities. \"The LGBT community in Kenya have created an amazing tribe and culture for themselves,\" says Brian Macharia, an activist for the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya. \"There is a ballroom scene, a drag scene - vibrant bisexual community, a lesbian scene. Young people are driving the community forward through social media.\" Gay men also use dating apps - although visitors with international roaming do get a warning about the legal status when logging in while in Kenya.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2011, "answer_start": 1367, "text": "The judges dismissed the argument that a ban on gay sex contravened the 2010 constitution, which protects all citizens' privacy and dignity. Presiding judge Roselyne Aburili declared to a packed courtroom: \"We find the impugned sections [of the penal code] are not unconstitutional\". She also argued that allowing gay sex would \"open the door for same-sex unions\". In her commentary she added that there was \"no conclusive scientific proof that LGBTQ people are born that way,\" she added. The judges ruled that while they respected changes to laws banning gay sex in other countries, it was the court's duty to respect prevailing Kenyan values." } ], "id": "9448_0", "question": "What did the judges say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2679, "answer_start": 2012, "text": "One of the petitioners, Eric Gitari, has vowed to appeal against the decision which he called \"very biased\". Human rights groups also criticised the ruling, with the Kenyan Human Rights Commission going as far as to say that it \"legitimises homophobia by upholding a colonial culture of exclusion, discrimination and violence against minorities\". But, it is a divisive issue in Kenya and many welcomed the judges' verdict. Catholic bishop Alfred Rotish told Reuters news agency outside the court: \"We cannot be another Sodom and Gomorrah\". Most Christian and Muslim groups support the current law, and the Kenyan attorney-general had argued against decriminalisation." } ], "id": "9448_1", "question": "What has the reaction been?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3268, "answer_start": 2680, "text": "Megha Mohan, BBC Gender and Identity reporter There are unofficial gay clubs and advertised events in Kenya's cities. \"The LGBT community in Kenya have created an amazing tribe and culture for themselves,\" says Brian Macharia, an activist for the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Kenya. \"There is a ballroom scene, a drag scene - vibrant bisexual community, a lesbian scene. Young people are driving the community forward through social media.\" Gay men also use dating apps - although visitors with international roaming do get a warning about the legal status when logging in while in Kenya." } ], "id": "9448_2", "question": "What is the gay scene like in Nairobi?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Swiss border town of Kreuzlingen is a lovely, peaceful place. It lies between one of Europe's most beautiful stretches of water, Lake Constance, and the rolling hills of the canton of Thurgau, with the Alps rising majestically in the distance. But recently, Kreuzlingen has become too peaceful, eerily quiet in fact. Its main street, optimistically redesigned and renamed the Kreuzlingen Boulevard just four years ago, is empty. There are plenty of shops, but some are closed, and those that are open have few customers. It's a strange feeling for me to return here; I went to school just across the border in the German town of Konstanz, and almost every week my parents used to come to Kreuzlingen to shop. Petrol, beer, wine, most foods (and most importantly from my point of view, chocolate) were all cheaper on the Swiss side. \"That's right,\" says Silvia Cornel of Kreuzlingen's chamber of commerce. \"We used to do well selling butter, pasta, petrol, but not any more.\" She admits that the economic downturn is a big issue for her town. \"We are talking about it almost every day. The retailers are really suffering from the current situation. Things are much more expensive, I must be honest. And yes, on our main street there are many shops [which have] closed.\" The problem for Kreuzlingen's traders is the mighty Swiss franc. Throughout the eurozone crisis, it has been regarded as a safe haven, pushing its value ever higher. For more than three years, from September 2011 to January 2015, the Swiss National Bank (SNB) pegged the currency at 1.20 Swiss francs to the euro, hoping to protect exports - and places like Kreuzlingen. Many business leaders were disappointed, arguing that 1.30 Swiss francs to the euro was a more realistic level, but worse was to come. Last January, after spending billions buying euros, the national bank bailed out of its policy and the Swiss franc soared. For the past six months it has traded at virtually one to one with the euro. The consequences for border towns like Kreuzlingen were immediate. While Swiss prices have been somewhat higher than those in Germany for some years, with the franc now so high many products cost twice as much or more in Switzerland. So why shop in Kreuzlingen when 10 minutes' walk away the bustling German town of Konstanz awaits? Cars with Swiss number plates line Konstanz's streets. In the very crowded shops the voices are Swiss not German. \"Lots of Swiss are here,\" one woman tells me. \"Everything is substantially cheaper.\" \"There's a huge difference,\" says another lady. \"I bought these,\" she adds, holding up a pair of shoes. \"And then another pair for a friend, and a dressing gown as well.\" A quick price comparison says it all: Nivea shower cream, 1 euro 25 in Konstanz, 2 francs 70 in Kreuzlingen. Twice the price. A pair of Birkenstock sandals, 39 euros in Konstanz, 60 francs in Kreuzlingen. Again, significantly higher. No wonder Kreuzlingen's shops are empty. But if empty shops in its border towns were the only consequence of the strong Swiss currency, Switzerland's business leaders might not be too worried. Unfortunately the high franc has been a double blow for Switzerland: Swiss consumers are spending across the border and Swiss exports, over half of which are sold in the eurozone, are being priced out of the market. When the euro peg was abandoned, Swiss exports became 15-20% more expensive overnight, and already the effects are being felt. Exports overall fell 2.6 % in the first half of this year, big companies such as Roche and Swatch are reporting reduced profits, and a survey carried out this month (by Deloitte) showed that half of all Swiss companies have made or will make job cuts this year. Others have put their workforce on shorter hours and reduced salaries or are asking staff to work longer hours for the same pay. At the same time, Switzerland's tourism sector, an important part of the economy, is finding it increasingly difficult to compete when alpine resorts in neighbouring Austria or France have much cheaper offers. You could argue that it's high time for high-price, high-salary Switzerland to face reality and start cutting costs, but it's not as easy as that. The cost of living for Swiss workers is higher than for their eurozone counterparts: health insurance alone leaves a big hole in everyone's salary each month. And for the majority who don't live near the border, shopping in Swiss stores is the only option. So big salary cuts would not be easy to introduce. Switzerland's dairy farmers are a good example. For years, as agricultural subsidies slowly eroded under international trade regulations, the milk price has fallen. Now, with the sharp rise of the Swiss franc, the market for Swiss cheese is shrinking. \"It's happening like this\" explains Markus Hausammann, whose dairy farm lies just outside Kreuzlingen, \"The cheese maker, who I sell my milk to, comes to me and says: 'the market is bad, I'm not selling my cheese'.\" That means cheesemakers will buy less milk from the farmers, or offer an even lower price for it. And since the euro peg was abandoned, the situation has got worse. \"In May our foreign sales figures, especially for traditional cheeses, really slumped,\" says Mr Hausammann. \"We had a 14% reduction over the same month last year.\" So what can Switzerland do? In Kreuzlingen, Silvia Cornel remains optimistic. Her own business, a small travel agency, is doing well. She offers personal attention, bespoke holidays and significantly she can sell her products in euros as well as in Swiss francs. But she also believes Switzerland needs to capitalise on its long tradition of excellence and innovation. \"We have to come up with new solutions, new ideas, just creative thinking actually,\" she enthuses. \"I mean we've been through hard times in the past and we still made it. We have a high quality, we can do it, we have the knowledge, we have the innovative products here.\" But Swiss cheese is the kind of high-quality, unique product that Switzerland should be able to count on even in hard times. Swiss dairy farmers have restructured and repriced several times already to cope with the strong franc, and profits are still falling. So Markus Hausammann doesn't necessarily share Silvia's optimism. He worries for the future. \"Hard times are coming, really hard times,\" he predicts. \"My son has just started agricultural college, and I really hope there is a future for him here on the farm. But what happens in the next 10 years in farming - well, it's written in the stars.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6551, "answer_start": 5307, "text": "So what can Switzerland do? In Kreuzlingen, Silvia Cornel remains optimistic. Her own business, a small travel agency, is doing well. She offers personal attention, bespoke holidays and significantly she can sell her products in euros as well as in Swiss francs. But she also believes Switzerland needs to capitalise on its long tradition of excellence and innovation. \"We have to come up with new solutions, new ideas, just creative thinking actually,\" she enthuses. \"I mean we've been through hard times in the past and we still made it. We have a high quality, we can do it, we have the knowledge, we have the innovative products here.\" But Swiss cheese is the kind of high-quality, unique product that Switzerland should be able to count on even in hard times. Swiss dairy farmers have restructured and repriced several times already to cope with the strong franc, and profits are still falling. So Markus Hausammann doesn't necessarily share Silvia's optimism. He worries for the future. \"Hard times are coming, really hard times,\" he predicts. \"My son has just started agricultural college, and I really hope there is a future for him here on the farm. But what happens in the next 10 years in farming - well, it's written in the stars.\"" } ], "id": "9449_0", "question": "Swiss solutions?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The future of electric cars may depend on mining critically important metals on the ocean floor. That's the view of the engineer leading a major European investigation into new sources of key elements. Demand is soaring for the metal cobalt - an essential ingredient in batteries and abundant in rocks on the seabed. Laurens de Jonge, who's running the EU project, says the transition to electric cars means \"we need those resources\". He was speaking during a unique set of underwater experiments designed to assess the impact of extracting rocks from the ocean floor. In calm waters 15km off the coast of Malaga in southern Spain, a prototype mining machine was lowered to the seabed and 'driven' by remote control. Cameras attached to the Apollo II machine recorded its progress and, crucially, monitored how the aluminium tracks stirred up clouds of sand and silt as they advanced. Did deep sea mining start with CIA plot? An array of instruments was positioned nearby to measure how far these clouds were carried on the currents - the risk of seabed mining smothering marine life over a wide area is one of the biggest concerns. It's hard to visualise, but imagine opencast mining taking place at the bottom of the ocean, where huge remote-controlled machines would excavate rocks from the seabed and pump them up to the surface. The concept has been talked about for decades, but until now it's been thought too difficult to operate in the high-pressure, pitch-black conditions as much as 5km deep. Now the technology is advancing to the point where dozens of government and private ventures are weighing up the potential for mines on the ocean floor. The short answer: demand. The rocks of the seabed are far richer in valuable metals than those on land and there's a growing clamour to get at them. Billions of potato-sized rocks known as \"nodules\" litter the abyssal plains of the Pacific and other oceans and many are brimming with cobalt, suddenly highly sought after as the boom in the production of batteries gathers pace. At the moment, most of the world's cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo where for years there've been allegations of child labour, environmental damage and widespread corruption. Expanding production there is not straightforward which is leading mining companies to weigh the potential advantages of cobalt on the seabed. Laurens de Jonge, who's in charge of the EU project, known as Blue Nodules, said: \"It's not difficult to access - you don't have to go deep into tropical forests or deep into mines. \"It's readily available on the seafloor, it's almost like potato harvesting only 5km deep in the ocean.\" And he says society faces a choice: there may in future be alternative ways of making batteries for electric cars - and some manufacturers are exploring them - but current technology requires cobalt. \"If you want to make a fast change, you need cobalt quick and you need a lot of it - if you want to make a lot of batteries you need the resources to do that.\" His view is backed by a group of leading scientists at London's Natural History Museum and other institutions. They recently calculated that meeting the UK's targets for electric cars by 2050 would require nearly twice the world's current output of cobalt. No one can be entirely sure, which makes the research off Spain highly relevant. It's widely accepted that whatever is in the path of the mining machines will be destroyed - there's no argument about that. But what's uncertain is how far the damage will reach, in particular the size of the plumes of silt and sand churned up and the distance they will travel, potentially endangering marine life far beyond the mining site. The chief scientist on board, Henko de Stigter of the Dutch marine research institute NIOZ, points out that life in the deep Pacific - where mining is likely to start first - has adapted to the usually \"crystal clear conditions\". So for any organisms feeding by filter, waters that are suddenly filled with stirred-up sediment would be threatening. \"Many species are unknown or not described, and let alone do we know how they will respond to this activity - we can only estimate.\" And Dr de Stigter warned of the danger of doing to the oceans what humanity has done to the land. \"With every new human activity it's often difficult to foresee all the consequences of that in the long term. \"What is new here is that we are entering an environment that is almost completely untouched.\" Ralf Langeler thinks so. He's the engineer in charge of the Apollo II mining machine and he believes the design will minimise any impacts. Like Laurens de Jonge, he works for the Dutch marine engineering giant Royal IHC and he says his technology can help reduce the environmental effects. The machine is meant to cut a very shallow slice into the top 6-10cm of the seabed, lifting the nodules. Its tracks are made with lightweight aluminium to avoid sinking too far into the surface. Silt and sand stirred up by the extraction process should then be channelled into special vents at the rear of the machine and released in a narrow stream, to try to avoid the plume spreading too far. \"We'll always change the environment, that's for sure,\" Ralf says, \"but that's the same with onshore mining and our purpose is to minimise the impact.\" I ask him if deep sea mining is now a realistic prospect. \"One day it's going to happen, especially with the rising demand for special metals - and they're there on the sea floor.\" Mining in territorial waters can be approved by an individual government. That happened a decade ago when Papua New Guinea gave the go-ahead to a Canadian company, Nautilus Minerals, to mine gold and copper from hydrothermal vents in the Bismarck Sea. Since then the project has been repeatedly delayed as the company ran short of funds and the prime minister of PNG called for a 10-year moratorium on deep sea mining. A Nautilus Minerals representative has told me that the company is being restructured and that they remain hopeful of starting to mine. Meanwhile, nearly 30 other ventures are eyeing areas of ocean floor beyond national waters, and these are regulated by a UN body, the International Seabed Authority (ISA). It has issued licences for exploration and is due next year to publish the rules that would govern future mining. The EU's Blue Nodules project involves a host of different institutions and countries. The vessel used for the underwater research off Spain, the Sarmiento de Gamboa, is operated by CSIC, the Spanish National Research Council. Follow David on Twitter.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1656, "answer_start": 1133, "text": "It's hard to visualise, but imagine opencast mining taking place at the bottom of the ocean, where huge remote-controlled machines would excavate rocks from the seabed and pump them up to the surface. The concept has been talked about for decades, but until now it's been thought too difficult to operate in the high-pressure, pitch-black conditions as much as 5km deep. Now the technology is advancing to the point where dozens of government and private ventures are weighing up the potential for mines on the ocean floor." } ], "id": "9450_0", "question": "What is 'deep sea mining'?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3275, "answer_start": 1657, "text": "The short answer: demand. The rocks of the seabed are far richer in valuable metals than those on land and there's a growing clamour to get at them. Billions of potato-sized rocks known as \"nodules\" litter the abyssal plains of the Pacific and other oceans and many are brimming with cobalt, suddenly highly sought after as the boom in the production of batteries gathers pace. At the moment, most of the world's cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo where for years there've been allegations of child labour, environmental damage and widespread corruption. Expanding production there is not straightforward which is leading mining companies to weigh the potential advantages of cobalt on the seabed. Laurens de Jonge, who's in charge of the EU project, known as Blue Nodules, said: \"It's not difficult to access - you don't have to go deep into tropical forests or deep into mines. \"It's readily available on the seafloor, it's almost like potato harvesting only 5km deep in the ocean.\" And he says society faces a choice: there may in future be alternative ways of making batteries for electric cars - and some manufacturers are exploring them - but current technology requires cobalt. \"If you want to make a fast change, you need cobalt quick and you need a lot of it - if you want to make a lot of batteries you need the resources to do that.\" His view is backed by a group of leading scientists at London's Natural History Museum and other institutions. They recently calculated that meeting the UK's targets for electric cars by 2050 would require nearly twice the world's current output of cobalt." } ], "id": "9450_1", "question": "Why would anyone bother?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5504, "answer_start": 4486, "text": "Ralf Langeler thinks so. He's the engineer in charge of the Apollo II mining machine and he believes the design will minimise any impacts. Like Laurens de Jonge, he works for the Dutch marine engineering giant Royal IHC and he says his technology can help reduce the environmental effects. The machine is meant to cut a very shallow slice into the top 6-10cm of the seabed, lifting the nodules. Its tracks are made with lightweight aluminium to avoid sinking too far into the surface. Silt and sand stirred up by the extraction process should then be channelled into special vents at the rear of the machine and released in a narrow stream, to try to avoid the plume spreading too far. \"We'll always change the environment, that's for sure,\" Ralf says, \"but that's the same with onshore mining and our purpose is to minimise the impact.\" I ask him if deep sea mining is now a realistic prospect. \"One day it's going to happen, especially with the rising demand for special metals - and they're there on the sea floor.\"" } ], "id": "9450_2", "question": "Could deep sea mining be made less damaging?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6597, "answer_start": 5505, "text": "Mining in territorial waters can be approved by an individual government. That happened a decade ago when Papua New Guinea gave the go-ahead to a Canadian company, Nautilus Minerals, to mine gold and copper from hydrothermal vents in the Bismarck Sea. Since then the project has been repeatedly delayed as the company ran short of funds and the prime minister of PNG called for a 10-year moratorium on deep sea mining. A Nautilus Minerals representative has told me that the company is being restructured and that they remain hopeful of starting to mine. Meanwhile, nearly 30 other ventures are eyeing areas of ocean floor beyond national waters, and these are regulated by a UN body, the International Seabed Authority (ISA). It has issued licences for exploration and is due next year to publish the rules that would govern future mining. The EU's Blue Nodules project involves a host of different institutions and countries. The vessel used for the underwater research off Spain, the Sarmiento de Gamboa, is operated by CSIC, the Spanish National Research Council. Follow David on Twitter." } ], "id": "9450_3", "question": "Who decides if it goes ahead?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Two teenagers who prompted a Canada-wide manhunt are thought to have died in suicides \"by gunfire\", police say. A post-mortem examination has confirmed that bodies found last week in northern Manitoba are those of Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18. They were suspected of three murders - those of an Australian-US couple and a Canadian man. The two-week hunt for the suspects ended last Wednesday when their bodies were found near Gillam. The community of Gillam had become the centre of the massive search for the two young men. McLeod and Schmegelsky were last seen alive on 22 July. A burnt-out car belonging to one of their alleged victims, Leonard Dyck, was found near Gillam on 23 July. On Monday, police said that McLeod and Schmegelsky had been dead for a number of days before their bodies were found, though authorities cannot confirm the exact date of death. \"However, there are strong indications that they had been alive for a few days since last seen in July and during the extensive search efforts in the Gillam area,\" the British Columbia RCMP said in a statement. Two firearms found near their bodies are being tested to definitively confirm they are connected with the homicide investigations into the deaths of Chynna Deese, a 24-year-old American, and her Australian boyfriend, Lucas Fowler, 23, and Dyck, 64. Investigators say they are now assessing all the findings in the cases so far \"in order to gain more clarity\" into what happened to Dyck, Fowler, and Deese. McLeod and Schmegelsky, both from Vancouver Island, were on their way to Yukon territory for work when police reported them missing last month. But authorities soon named them as suspects in the deaths of Deese and Fowler, who had been found shot dead in northern British Columbia on 15 July. They were also charged with the murder of Dyck, a Canadian university professor whose body was found on 19 July, also in British Columbia. McLeod and Schmegelsk were considered \"armed and dangerous\" and the public were warned not to approach them. The teenagers were later seen 3,300km (2,050 miles) to the east, in Manitoba, where police concentrated their search.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2153, "answer_start": 1495, "text": "McLeod and Schmegelsky, both from Vancouver Island, were on their way to Yukon territory for work when police reported them missing last month. But authorities soon named them as suspects in the deaths of Deese and Fowler, who had been found shot dead in northern British Columbia on 15 July. They were also charged with the murder of Dyck, a Canadian university professor whose body was found on 19 July, also in British Columbia. McLeod and Schmegelsk were considered \"armed and dangerous\" and the public were warned not to approach them. The teenagers were later seen 3,300km (2,050 miles) to the east, in Manitoba, where police concentrated their search." } ], "id": "9451_0", "question": "What do we know about the pair?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Austria was once dubbed \"the ashtray of Europe\" but has finally banned smoking in restaurants, bars and cafes. The decision came after years of controversy. Austria had been on the verge of bringing in a total ban last year, but the plans were overturned because of pressure from the far-right Freedom Party, which was part of the last government. But after the fall of the coalition in May, the ban was reintroduced and came into force on 1 November. Some restaurants and cafes went non-smoking several years ago, but others allowed smoking until the last possible minute. How are they dealing with the change? Wratschko is something of a Vienna institution. A pub with venerable wooden panelling and worn, ancient wallpaper, it serves deeply traditional Viennese food. And until a few weeks ago, it would have been full of cigarette smoke. Customers wishing to eat in the non-smoking area at the back had to walk through the smoky bar to get there. Its owner, Clemens Wratschko, says the atmosphere has improved and it is better for his staff as well. \"My employees are nearly all smokers and I told them you will be glad because you will have no more passive smoke; you'll smoke much less than before and the next day you will feel fresher than before.\" Some bars and nightclubs have complained that fewer customers are coming since the ban and that they have lost between 15% and 25% of turnover. But Clemens Wratschko says he hasn't noticed any drop in numbers. He thinks people will come back to the night clubs, like they did in France, Italy and other countries which have introduced smoking bans. \"People want to go out and meet their friends, to enjoy a kind of atmosphere. People prefer to meet their friends in a pub or in a bar,\" he said. Down the road at Cafe Rudigerhof, I met Ricci, who has been a waiter for 25 years. He says that after spending a few days away in protest, all his regular guests have now returned, despite the ban, and they are now smoking less. \"Before they smoked one pack of cigarettes at the cafe house, and now maybe they are happy because they smoke only two or three cigarettes because they have to go outside. I think it is not a problem.\" Ricci says he is very pleased about the ban. \"Of course it is better for me and my work. We used to have to work in the smoking area. But it's much better. I can breathe much better.\" However, Clemens Wratschko, himself a smoker, admits to a certain nostalgia for the smoky old days. \"Maybe I am a bit sentimental. In my pub, you had the very old rooms at the front, with the bar, with the taste of smoke and alcohol. And then you had the Speiseraum or eating room, with a little more of a distinguished atmosphere.\" But he says the smoking ban brings in new qualities. \"We have better air. The clothes smell better the next day. And we feel a bit healthier, a bit less of a headache.\" In general the ban seems to be holding in Vienna. Figures from mid-November say that inspectors carried out more than 2,000 checks of restaurants and reported 27 breaches of the ban. Shisha bars are currently taking legal steps to try to get an exception for their businesses. A survey by an Austrian news magazine suggests that most Austrians are in favour of the ban. But last month, around 700 people protested against it in front of the Federal Chancellery. The demonstration was attended by the disgraced former head of the far-right Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3448, "answer_start": 2870, "text": "In general the ban seems to be holding in Vienna. Figures from mid-November say that inspectors carried out more than 2,000 checks of restaurants and reported 27 breaches of the ban. Shisha bars are currently taking legal steps to try to get an exception for their businesses. A survey by an Austrian news magazine suggests that most Austrians are in favour of the ban. But last month, around 700 people protested against it in front of the Federal Chancellery. The demonstration was attended by the disgraced former head of the far-right Freedom Party, Heinz-Christian Strache." } ], "id": "9452_0", "question": "What public reaction has there been?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A former DUP adviser who resigned over the RHI scheme has said he believes his party worked to \"pin the blame\" on him for the entire debacle. Dr Andrew Crawford was an adviser to Arlene Foster in the enterprise department when the RHI scheme was set up. In January 2017, he quit after claims he had exerted influence to delay cost controls, allegations he denies. He told the inquiry he was unhappy about how the DUP handled the events. Dr Crawford resigned in mid-January 2017 after he was named by a senior civil servant, Andrew McCormick, at an assembly committee as the adviser who influenced a decision to keep the scheme open. He still works for the DUP on its Brexit strategy, and said he did not \"blame everyone in the DUP\" for the fallout surrounding his resignation. On Thursday, Dr Crawford told the inquiry that the moment he heard his name mentioned at the committee, he texted a friend - Mark Anderson, a biomass expert who worked at Ulster University - saying: \"I've been destroyed.\" He added he believed he had been unfairly blamed for being responsible for the delay to bring in cost controls in summer 2015, which led to a massive spike in boiler applications and did the most damage to the public purse. At the height of the media spotlight on RHI in December 2016 and early 2017, a course of action was taken \"to put my name out there,\" he added. On Tuesday, another former DUP special adviser (Spad), Timothy Cairns described politics as a \"grubby world\", and Dr Crawford told the inquiry he agreed with that, adding: \"That's how politics works.\" He added that when there was a crisis, parties looked to see \"if there was somebody going to fall for it\". Mr Crawford said he felt he was being linked in the public eye or \"given up\". He suggested David Gordon, who formerly oversaw communications for the Executive Office, had taken a lead in that role. He said emails between Mr Gordon and another DUP Spad Richard Bullick, given as evidence to the inquiry, contained references to \"getting the real story out\". \"I believe David Gordon was very much involved in that role in terms of briefing against me to the media,\" he said. Later, Dr Crawford was asked whether a brother and two cousins, who lived within a 10-mile radius of his family home, had raised the lucrative nature of the scheme with him. All three of them had installed biomass boilers that were accredited to the scheme - they had 11 in total. The inquiry was told Dr Crawford's brother James got a quote for two boilers in June 2014. It showed the RHI income over 20 years of PS250,000 - and fuel savings of a further PS300,000. Inquiry counsel Joseph Aiken asked whether his brother had discussed the figures with him. Dr Crawford said he had not. Mr Aiken said surely his brother would have put the figures in front of him, and said: \"Surely that can't be right.\" Dr Crawford denied any knowledge of the document, and said he and his brother had never discussed it. Later on Thursday, Dr Crawford apologised for having forwarded his cousin, Richard Crawford, a confidential government document proposing cost controls to the RHI scheme. It had been drawn up by departmental officials in July 2015, after they had realised the scheme was going over budget and needed to be brought under control. One of its recommendations was to introduce tariffs to lower the level of boiler subsidies. Dr Crawford said he had received it from the then-enterprise adviser, Timothy Cairns, who he claims had asked him for advice, given his seven years of experience working in the enterprise department. It has emerged he later sent that submission onto his cousin, who had six boilers accredited to the scheme. Three of them were operational when Dr Crawford forwarded the proposed changes to him in July 2015, and three others were in the process of being installed. Asked why he did that, Dr Crawford said there was no motivation on his part to warn his cousin about proposed cost controls. He told the inquiry his cousin had already asked questions and raised concerns about the potential impact of the changes on his existing business. He said he was simply trying to provide \"reassurance\" that there would be none. It was put to Dr Crawford that it might also have been a warning to get the three additional boilers accredited before the 1 October deadline, to ensure that they too were eligible for the most lucrative tariffs. Dr Crawford denied that and said the information about what was going on was already being discussed within the poultry industry. Inquiry chair Sir Patrick Coghlin said it was pretty clear what had happened. He said Dr Crawford had seen no difficulty in passing on a draft policy to his relative, which still had not been approved by the minister, because the details were already out there. Dr Crawford said: \"Yes, and I apologise I shouldn't have done it.\" \"Yes, I've got that thank you very much,\" Sir Patrick replied. A son of a farmer from Beragh in County Tyrone, Dr Andrew Crawford is a former employee of the Ulster Farmers' Union. He was an assistant to the former DUP MEP Jim Allister before the North Antrim politician quit to form the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV). Dr Crawford was an adviser to Arlene Foster when she was enterprise minister during the time the RHI scheme was created, and followed her to the Department of Finance and Personnel in 2015. When Mrs Foster became first minister in 2016, Dr Crawford then advised another DUP minister, Michelle McIlveen in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Dr Crawford's poultry farmer brother is a claimant of the RHI scheme. In an email to another DUP adviser, Timothy Cairns, in July 2015, Dr Crawford pointed out that the \"problem\" with the RHI scheme was that it was offering subsidies that were so lucrative that claimants were being paid to heat empty sheds. On Thursday afternoon, Dr Crawford told the inquiry that remark stemmed from a conversation he had with a boiler installer at his brother's poultry unit. He said David Robinson of R&S Biomass told him of the allegation, when the pair met while Mr Robinson was fitting out James Crawford's poultry house with a hot water heating system and boiler. Dr Crawford said he could not remember how the conversation had come up. Mr Aiken suggested it may have been because the installer was pointing out to Dr Crawford that RHI was so lucrative that people were heating empty poultry sheds. The conversation is said to have happened in mid-July 2015. Dr Crawford reported the concerns to the Enterprise Department's most senior civil servant, Andrew McCormick. Later, Dr Crawford was asked why he suggested Mr Cairns meet Moy Park officials to get an industry view on proposed changes to bring the RHI scheme under control that summer. He said that with Mr Cairns being new to the Enterprise Department, he would have been unaware of Moy Park's production model. Poultry farmers make up a significant share of the claimants on the RHI scheme - almost all of them supply Moy Park. Mr Cairns has told the inquiry he was uncomfortable with that suggestion and did not take it up because there was a risk that details of a policy under consideration might be compromised. But Dr Crawford said he did not take that view: \"I believe as the role of adviser you should be gathering information outside of what normal civil servants would do.\" But Sir Patrick asked: \"What happens if someone from whom you are gathering information asks you for information, commercial assistance?\" \"That's where you have to be careful,\" Dr Crawford replied. Sir Patrick put it to him that it was not as straight-forward as gathering information for political purposes. \"No, but it doesn't mean you don't speak to anyone outside (of the department),\" added Dr Crawford. The inquiry also heard that Dr Crawford had \"tried to warn\" his colleagues there was a big spike in boiler applications coming in summer 2015. He described it as a \"tsunami\" and said he alerted Mr Cairns. Officials already knew there had been a growing number of applications in the spring, and from his contact with the boiler industry Dr Crawford knew many more applications were in the system. Dr Crawford said he could not remember if he had also told his own minister Arlene Foster about the problem. She had been the enterprise minister when the RHI scheme was set up, but in May 2015 she moved to take over finance. Inquiry counsel Joseph Aiken said: \"She can, she says you didn't.\" Inquiry panellist Dr Keith MacLean said he found that most unusual. He said it could have had implications for public finances, which would have come under Mrs Foster's brief. But he suggested that it could also have reflected badly on her, in that it was a scheme for which she had responsibility until recently. Another panel member, Dame Una O'Brien remarked that it could \"only be one or the other\". Dr Crawford told the panel he did not intentionally keep the information from Mrs Foster, but he also could not say with certainty that he had definitely updated her on the matter. He will give evidence to the inquiry again on Friday.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5622, "answer_start": 4927, "text": "A son of a farmer from Beragh in County Tyrone, Dr Andrew Crawford is a former employee of the Ulster Farmers' Union. He was an assistant to the former DUP MEP Jim Allister before the North Antrim politician quit to form the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV). Dr Crawford was an adviser to Arlene Foster when she was enterprise minister during the time the RHI scheme was created, and followed her to the Department of Finance and Personnel in 2015. When Mrs Foster became first minister in 2016, Dr Crawford then advised another DUP minister, Michelle McIlveen in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs. Dr Crawford's poultry farmer brother is a claimant of the RHI scheme." } ], "id": "9453_0", "question": "Who is Andrew Crawford?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Pregnant women with epilepsy should be treated by a specialist healthcare team to prevent unnecessary deaths, according to new national guidelines. Produced by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the guidelines recommend women seek advice well before pregnancy on their care. Managing seizure control, tiredness and risks linked to some epilepsy medicines can make pregnancy a difficult time. Epilepsy Action said the guidance would help women make informed decisions. Around 2,500 infants are estimated to be born to women with epilepsy every year in the UK. But there are risks to the health of unborn babies from taking some anti-epileptic drugs during pregnancy, particularly sodium valproate. Some women stop taking their medication or cut down, which can make seizures worse and increase the risk of harm to mother and baby. However, the guidance says \"most mothers have normal healthy babies\", but women with epilepsy should be informed that the risk to the foetus is dependent on the type, number and doses of drug they take. These RCOG guidelines, for GPs, midwives, consultants and women with the condition, say women should: - seek advice from their GP before conception - be given the lowest effective dose of the most appropriate epilepsy medication - take a higher dose of folic acid to reduce the risk of spinal defects in their baby - give birth in a consultant-led unit if at risk of seizures during labour - receive support after the birth to minimise the risk of seizures from exhaustion and stress It's a condition that affects the brain, leading to epileptic seizures. A seizure happens when there is a sudden burst of intense electrical activity in the brain. This causes a temporary disruption to the way the brain normally works. There are many different types of seizure. During the more serious ones, the person can lose awareness, go stiff, fall to the floor and the body can jerk. Some types of epilepsy last for a limited time and the person eventually stops having seizures. But for many people epilepsy is a life-long condition. Shakila Thangaratinam, lead author of the guidelines and professor of maternal and perinatal health at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, said the right care before, during and after pregnancy was important. \"Women with epilepsy require multi-disciplinary care throughout their pregnancy, and healthcare professionals need to be aware of the small but significant increase in risks. \"While most women who have epilepsy remain free of seizures throughout their pregnancy, some may have more seizures if they are pregnant. \"It is important that these women receive pre-conception counselling, meet with an epilepsy specialist, and are monitored closely for seizure risk factors.\" Simon Wigglesworth, deputy chief executive at Epilepsy Action, said he was delighted to see the guidance published. \"This ensures that they are able to make informed decisions about all aspects of their health and wellbeing, as well as that of their baby.\" Louise Silverton, director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, also welcomed the guidance. \"It is vital we remember that women with epilepsy are classified as high risk during their pregnancy, often they require more monitoring and specialist care during the course of their pregnancy. However, the majority of women with epilepsy will give birth safely.\" Experts say the risk of death is 10 times greater in pregnant women with epilepsy compared with those without the condition. Between 2009 and 2013, 21 women died during pregnancy as a result of epilepsy - and in most of those cases their seizures were found to be poorly controlled.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2078, "answer_start": 1537, "text": "It's a condition that affects the brain, leading to epileptic seizures. A seizure happens when there is a sudden burst of intense electrical activity in the brain. This causes a temporary disruption to the way the brain normally works. There are many different types of seizure. During the more serious ones, the person can lose awareness, go stiff, fall to the floor and the body can jerk. Some types of epilepsy last for a limited time and the person eventually stops having seizures. But for many people epilepsy is a life-long condition." } ], "id": "9454_0", "question": "What is epilepsy?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US is to send an additional 2,000 troops to its border with Mexico, the Pentagon has announced. It will bring the total number of troops stationed on the southern border to about 4,300. The Pentagon said the soldiers would help border-patrol agents, carry out surveillance work and install miles of razor wire. It comes as President Donald Trump battles Congress for funds to build a wall along the border. He says such a measure is needed to stop illegal immigration. Mr Trump's insistence that the lower house of Congress, now controlled by his Democratic opponents, include funds for the wall in the US budget recently led to the longest government shutdown in US history. He struck a temporary deal last month to reopen government departments but has threatened to trigger another shutdown or declare a national emergency if his demands are not met. The current agreement expires on 15 February. Mr Trump is expected to again highlight the issue in his annual State of the Union speech on Tuesday. The US defence department said 3,750 extra soldiers would be sent to the border, although many will replace troops already there. The first deployments took place in November. \"Additional units are being deployed for 90 days, and we will continue to evaluate the force composition required to meet the mission to protect and secure the southern border,\" a Pentagon statement said. Their tasks will include \"a mobile surveillance capability through the end of September 2019, as well as the emplacement of approximately 150 miles of concertina wire between ports of entry\". Last Thursday, President Trump tweeted that extra forces were being sent to the border to stop migrants who he said were travelling in \"caravans\" and threatening an \"invasion\". He reiterated his claims on Sunday tweeting: \"If there is no wall there is no security.\" Mr Trump has repeatedly described the situation on the Mexican border as a \"crisis\", although his critics have dismissed the use of troops as a political stunt. Mr Trump is, however, not the first US president to send troops to the border with Mexico. President Barack Obama sent some 1,200 National Guard soldiers to guard the boundary while President George W Bush deployed about 6,000 troops to help Border Patrol agents in what was called Operation Jump Start. Officials in Texas recently revealed that nine migrants on hunger strike at an immigration detention centre were being force-fed. Immigration officials are using plastic nasal tubes to feed some of the men, but relatives say it is causing severe nosebleeds and vomiting. The detainees have refused food in protest against conditions at the El Paso Processing Center. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says a federal judge authorised the force-feeding last month.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2309, "answer_start": 1006, "text": "The US defence department said 3,750 extra soldiers would be sent to the border, although many will replace troops already there. The first deployments took place in November. \"Additional units are being deployed for 90 days, and we will continue to evaluate the force composition required to meet the mission to protect and secure the southern border,\" a Pentagon statement said. Their tasks will include \"a mobile surveillance capability through the end of September 2019, as well as the emplacement of approximately 150 miles of concertina wire between ports of entry\". Last Thursday, President Trump tweeted that extra forces were being sent to the border to stop migrants who he said were travelling in \"caravans\" and threatening an \"invasion\". He reiterated his claims on Sunday tweeting: \"If there is no wall there is no security.\" Mr Trump has repeatedly described the situation on the Mexican border as a \"crisis\", although his critics have dismissed the use of troops as a political stunt. Mr Trump is, however, not the first US president to send troops to the border with Mexico. President Barack Obama sent some 1,200 National Guard soldiers to guard the boundary while President George W Bush deployed about 6,000 troops to help Border Patrol agents in what was called Operation Jump Start." } ], "id": "9455_0", "question": "What is the latest?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2780, "answer_start": 2310, "text": "Officials in Texas recently revealed that nine migrants on hunger strike at an immigration detention centre were being force-fed. Immigration officials are using plastic nasal tubes to feed some of the men, but relatives say it is causing severe nosebleeds and vomiting. The detainees have refused food in protest against conditions at the El Paso Processing Center. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) says a federal judge authorised the force-feeding last month." } ], "id": "9455_1", "question": "What is happening at the border?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said the United States does not seek a war with Iran, amid rapidly growing tensions between the two countries. Speaking in Russia, Mr Pompeo said the US was looking for Iran to behave like a \"normal country\" but would respond if its interests were attacked. Meanwhile, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also said there will be no war with the US. Last week, the US deployed warships and warplanes to the Gulf. Tensions escalated even further after an incident with four tankers off the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, with US investigators reportedly believing Iran or groups it supports were involved. No evidence of Iran's role has emerged and Tehran, which denies any involvement, has called for an investigation. In another development, Spain withdrew a frigate from a US-led naval group in the Gulf as tensions between Washington and Tehran rose. Mr Pompeo, who held talks with Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the Russian city of Sochi, said the US \"fundamentally\" did not seek a conflict with Iran. \"We have also made clear to the Iranians that if American interests are attacked, we will most certainly respond in an appropriate fashion.\" The talks between Mr Pompeo and Mr Lavrov to help improve ties between Washington and Moscow have underlined continuing differences: - Mr Pompeo said he had urged Russia to end its support for President Nicolas Maduro but Mr Lavrov rejected this, saying the US threats against Mr Maduro were undemocratic - He also said he had warned Russia against interference in the 2020 US presidential election while Mr Lavrov said he hoped that tumult over allegations of Russian influence in US elections would die down - On Ukraine, Mr Pompeo said the US would not recognise Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and that sanctions would remain in place In remarks carried on state media and on his Twitter account, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei repeated Tehran's position that it would not negotiate with the US on a nuclear deal to replace the one President Donald Trump withdrew from last year. But Mr Khamenei said: \"We don't seek a war, nor do they.\" On Monday, President Hassan Rouhani told a meeting with clerics that Iran was \"too great to be intimidated by anyone\", saying: \"God willing we will pass this difficult period with glory and our heads held high, and defeat the enemy.\" The Spanish frigate Mendez Nunez had been accompanying a US aircraft carrier's strike group in the Gulf for a military exercise. But on Tuesday, Acting Defence Minister Margarita Robles said it would be recalled because the original mission had changed. The Spanish daily El Pais said Madrid wanted to avoid being dragged into any kind of conflict with Iran. A defence ministry spokesman later told AFP news agency it was \"a temporary withdrawal... as long as the American aircraft carrier is in this zone\". \"No possible confrontation or warlike action is envisaged (by Spain) and it is for this reason that the participation is suspended for the moment,\" the spokesman added. The incident with the four commercial ships is said to have taken place within UAE territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, east of the emirate of Fujairah, but few details have been released. The vessels had been targeted in a \"sabotage attack\" near Fujairah port, just outside the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE foreign ministry said. There were no casualties but Saudi Arabia said two of its ships had suffered \"significant damage\". Another tanker was Norwegian-registered while the fourth was reportedly UAE-flagged. US military investigators discovered large holes in all of the ships and believe they were caused by explosive charges, the Associated Press reported quoting an unnamed official. They did not explain how the damage was linked to Iran. Compared with previous attacks on shipping in the Middle East - the USS Cole in 2000, the Limburg tanker in 2002 and more recent attacks off Yemen - the damage done to four tankers off the UAE coast on Sunday is minimal. There has been no oil spillage, no flames and no casualties. But the timing is both suspicious and dangerous. Whoever carried out this attack could hardly have been unaware of the rising tensions in the Gulf, with the US dispatching additional forces to the region. It would appear that the anonymous culprit was deliberately trying to ratchet up that tension, possibly provoking a conflict. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE have stopped short of blaming their adversary, Iran, US officials have reportedly said that is where their suspicions lie. But Iran has condemned the attack as \"dreadful\" and a parliamentary spokesman said Iranian suspicions fell on Israel. On Tuesday, President Trump dismissed a New York Times report suggesting the military had plans to send up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East should Iran attack US forces there or accelerate work on nuclear weapons. \"We have not planned for that. Hopefully we're not going to have to plan for that. And if we did that, we'd send a hell of a lot more troops than that,\" Mr Trump said a day after warning Iran that it would \"suffer greatly\" if it did anything. The US has previously warned that \"Iran or its proxies\" could be targeting maritime traffic in the region and, in recent days, deployed warships to counter \"clear indications\" of threats from the country. Iran dismissed the allegation as nonsense. Earlier, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they had carried out drone attacks on a major Saudi oil pipeline. Saudi Arabia's energy minister described the incident as an act of terrorism.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2383, "answer_start": 1855, "text": "In remarks carried on state media and on his Twitter account, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei repeated Tehran's position that it would not negotiate with the US on a nuclear deal to replace the one President Donald Trump withdrew from last year. But Mr Khamenei said: \"We don't seek a war, nor do they.\" On Monday, President Hassan Rouhani told a meeting with clerics that Iran was \"too great to be intimidated by anyone\", saying: \"God willing we will pass this difficult period with glory and our heads held high, and defeat the enemy.\"" } ], "id": "9456_0", "question": "What has Iran said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3060, "answer_start": 2384, "text": "The Spanish frigate Mendez Nunez had been accompanying a US aircraft carrier's strike group in the Gulf for a military exercise. But on Tuesday, Acting Defence Minister Margarita Robles said it would be recalled because the original mission had changed. The Spanish daily El Pais said Madrid wanted to avoid being dragged into any kind of conflict with Iran. A defence ministry spokesman later told AFP news agency it was \"a temporary withdrawal... as long as the American aircraft carrier is in this zone\". \"No possible confrontation or warlike action is envisaged (by Spain) and it is for this reason that the participation is suspended for the moment,\" the spokesman added." } ], "id": "9456_1", "question": "What has Spain said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3810, "answer_start": 3061, "text": "The incident with the four commercial ships is said to have taken place within UAE territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman, east of the emirate of Fujairah, but few details have been released. The vessels had been targeted in a \"sabotage attack\" near Fujairah port, just outside the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE foreign ministry said. There were no casualties but Saudi Arabia said two of its ships had suffered \"significant damage\". Another tanker was Norwegian-registered while the fourth was reportedly UAE-flagged. US military investigators discovered large holes in all of the ships and believe they were caused by explosive charges, the Associated Press reported quoting an unnamed official. They did not explain how the damage was linked to Iran." } ], "id": "9456_2", "question": "Why have tensions with Iran risen?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4695, "answer_start": 3811, "text": "Compared with previous attacks on shipping in the Middle East - the USS Cole in 2000, the Limburg tanker in 2002 and more recent attacks off Yemen - the damage done to four tankers off the UAE coast on Sunday is minimal. There has been no oil spillage, no flames and no casualties. But the timing is both suspicious and dangerous. Whoever carried out this attack could hardly have been unaware of the rising tensions in the Gulf, with the US dispatching additional forces to the region. It would appear that the anonymous culprit was deliberately trying to ratchet up that tension, possibly provoking a conflict. While Saudi Arabia and the UAE have stopped short of blaming their adversary, Iran, US officials have reportedly said that is where their suspicions lie. But Iran has condemned the attack as \"dreadful\" and a parliamentary spokesman said Iranian suspicions fell on Israel." } ], "id": "9456_3", "question": "A deliberate attempt to increase tensions?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5600, "answer_start": 4696, "text": "On Tuesday, President Trump dismissed a New York Times report suggesting the military had plans to send up to 120,000 troops to the Middle East should Iran attack US forces there or accelerate work on nuclear weapons. \"We have not planned for that. Hopefully we're not going to have to plan for that. And if we did that, we'd send a hell of a lot more troops than that,\" Mr Trump said a day after warning Iran that it would \"suffer greatly\" if it did anything. The US has previously warned that \"Iran or its proxies\" could be targeting maritime traffic in the region and, in recent days, deployed warships to counter \"clear indications\" of threats from the country. Iran dismissed the allegation as nonsense. Earlier, Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they had carried out drone attacks on a major Saudi oil pipeline. Saudi Arabia's energy minister described the incident as an act of terrorism." } ], "id": "9456_4", "question": "What has Trump said?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Former Chelsea and, for the purposes of this interview, Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri's constant experimentation with his starting 11, earned him the nickname 'The Tinkerman'. Now, Sergio Pizzorno - guitarist, professional Leicester City fan and creative force behind Kasabian could stake a claim to the moniker. \"Just a couple of days ago, I was like, 'I've changed one thing,' and they were like, 'You can't'. And I was like, 'Can you please make this happen because I need it,' and they said, 'OK'. The \"they\" in this anecdote are his record label Sony and the \"thing\" he changed was a track on the band's new album For Crying Out Loud. \"I'm terrible,\" he admits. And the source of his frustration? \"I sped up a track by 1 bpm (beat per minute) because it was doing my head in and I couldn't figure out why. Maybe it's just madness, I can't even decide for myself. \"I get pretty obsessed making albums. I think a lot of people I respect are probably the same, I think it's what binds us.\" While for many, this kind of attention to detail could reek of some kind of music megalomania, or even a bit of rock star posturing designed to prove his self-importance, it's this kind of attention to detail which, to the consternation of hipster tastemakers and serious muso critics, have made the lad-rockers one of the biggest bands in the UK. Fewer than 10 years after playing second fiddle to Razorlight (where are they now?) on the Other Stage at Glastonbury, Kasabian joined Arcade Fire and Metallica as the top billing artists on the Pyramid Stage. That was three years ago and for many British bands, could be considered the peak of their career. \"It was like completing Mario,\" says Pizzorno. \"I didn't get a lull afterwards, I just thought, 'What does this mean, getting from rehearsing in a shed to headlining Glasto?' It was a long old journey.\" For anyone who has ever witnessed the raucous, sing-a-long atmosphere of a Kasabian gig - midway between a rock show and a football terrace - it would come as a surprise that it's only recently the 36-year-old has begun enjoying their live shows. \"Performing, for me, well I've always been a studio man but I got into the performing thing. Now, I feel excited about performing which is a new thing.\" Which is just as well as the band are currently in the middle of a UK and European tour which will also see them headline this summer's Reading and Leeds festivals. It also sees them on the verge of releasing their sixth album since 2004's self-titled debut album. In the band's Wikipedia page (\"It's all rubbish, I don't know how they get away with it,\" says the musician), one fact which Serge says is correct is that they have now been together for more than two decades. \"Twenty years is a long time,\" he admits. \"What keeps me going, is I'm obsessed with tunes and you can see it in the eye of other people with the same addiction. Even though you've got a bag of new songs that are ok - you always want one more.\" The new songs, which the band have already played live, at a three-night residency in London's Kentish Town Forum include Comeback Kid, God Bless This Acid House and the already controversial You're in Love with a Psycho with its nonsensical lyrics - \"The doctors say I'm crazy, that I'm eight miles thick / I'm like the taste of macaroni on a seafood stick.\" \"It's not the shower scene from Hitchcock,\" explains Serge. \"I think in any relationship there are moments when one of you will do something and the other will think, 'Whoa... that was a bit weird, I only forgot to put the bins out, come on, is it that bad?' \"It made me laugh and originally it was, 'I'm in love...' but I looked at my wife and thought I can't do that. It could be about anyone but I have had a few texts from my mates asking is that about my missus?\" So, in that spirit, what do the new song titles from For Crying Out Loud tell us about Serge, we decided to have a gentle probe... You know what, I'd abdicate and I'd go to a desert island with all the money that I'd stashed away and I'd go with a record player and a case of rum and sit there with no one else. That would be my day. I'd take a crate and have my favourite albums but then I'd have a mystery crate so I could dig away at that. Paddy Considine in Dead Man's Shoes, that is the epitome. He's the best. The longest would have been going out Friday and going to bed Sunday night, which is not bad, two and a half days. Actually, it did go into Monday so three days-ish but I would never do it again. The Friday was great and it carried on and the Saturday was okay but the Sunday was not good and it wasn't for want of trying to go to bed. In a fight, it would be horrendous. Tom would win, well it depends. I think if Tom got in early, he'd get the knockout but if it went past eight rounds, I think I've got the stamina. But if he went in early, I think he'd do it. I'd probably do him on points. One year, it was the Champions League when Arsenal played Barcelona and I went round the corner to watch it with Noel Gallagher and I had to catch a train and I was with Tom and so we got there before the game and I think we had maybe five or six pints of [generic beer brand] over the period, I mean it was ridiculous because we had to catch a train and I have never been so out of mind mind trying to catch a train and when we arrived in Leicester, there were a couple of coppers waiting for us. We weren't in trouble but it was just bad. I was so drunk but then an hour later, I wasn't too bad, it was this weird concentrated period. And hangover cure? I wish I knew, I don't have one. There isn't one is there? It's your punishment for having such a good time. There's the obvious one of course (we think he means Oasis) but I'm going to go for something else. It would be nice for the Floyd to get back together. So, Pink Floyd. The best one, just because of the ridiculous situation, not because it was the best party but on the first album when we were kids, we got invited to Philip Green's yacht in Monte Carlo and it was just full of what you would imagine. Like, Bon Jovi were there. It was the oddest group ever and, as you can imagine, we were like 20, 23 so were trying to get into his helicopter and turn it on. It was just mad. The worst? I can't remember. I've never had a bad party, I'd have a great party in here with just me and you. Us (Leicester City) winning the Premier League. We were playing two shows in the stadium in the summer and I remember leaving a game against Swansea and spoke to our manager and said, 'We've got to move those gigs'. It was impossible because we had six weeks to turn it around but we did. Every day, just taking the kids to school, it was just everywhere and it's one of those things in 20 years you'll be on a programme as one of these talking heads, talking about it. It's still too soon to understand what happened. Yeah quite a lot actually and I figured it out. I used to really struggle but audio books are my thing. It's annoying because you fall asleep and can't remember where you got to, so you listen to the same chapter over and over but that's the thing. I need not to think, silence doesn't work and music is terrible because I start writing notes. I'm on podcasts right now. Adam Buxton, he's so good. Oh man. Do you know what, I'm gonna say Seven Nation Army because it's the first thing that came into my head. How he's managed to write the sporting anthem of the world is hilarious because he had no idea that it would be. When Italy won the world cup I think, and I could be wrong, but I think it started with the Italian fans because that was their song and they won the cup, which was amazing. If I hadn't said Leicester winning the league, I would have said that, so that song brings back happy memories. Man, I could write a soundtrack but I don't know if I have the answers for that. I don't really have anything worth much, I don't really go in for that. Probably my synthesizer collection and I had no idea. Apparently I made a good investment and, at the time, people asked, 'Why are you buying all this old gear that doesn't work?'. But over the years, it's better than buying red wine, I was told. For Crying Out Loud is out now. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4327, "answer_start": 4255, "text": "Paddy Considine in Dead Man's Shoes, that is the epitome. He's the best." } ], "id": "9457_0", "question": "You're in Love with A Psycho - who is your favourite on-screen monster?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4664, "answer_start": 4328, "text": "The longest would have been going out Friday and going to bed Sunday night, which is not bad, two and a half days. Actually, it did go into Monday so three days-ish but I would never do it again. The Friday was great and it carried on and the Saturday was okay but the Sunday was not good and it wasn't for want of trying to go to bed." } ], "id": "9457_1", "question": "Twentyfourseven - what is the longest you have ever stayed up and how much do you still regret it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4923, "answer_start": 4665, "text": "In a fight, it would be horrendous. Tom would win, well it depends. I think if Tom got in early, he'd get the knockout but if it went past eight rounds, I think I've got the stamina. But if he went in early, I think he'd do it. I'd probably do him on points." } ], "id": "9457_2", "question": "Good Fight - who would win in a fight between you and Tom?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5688, "answer_start": 4924, "text": "One year, it was the Champions League when Arsenal played Barcelona and I went round the corner to watch it with Noel Gallagher and I had to catch a train and I was with Tom and so we got there before the game and I think we had maybe five or six pints of [generic beer brand] over the period, I mean it was ridiculous because we had to catch a train and I have never been so out of mind mind trying to catch a train and when we arrived in Leicester, there were a couple of coppers waiting for us. We weren't in trouble but it was just bad. I was so drunk but then an hour later, I wasn't too bad, it was this weird concentrated period. And hangover cure? I wish I knew, I don't have one. There isn't one is there? It's your punishment for having such a good time." } ], "id": "9457_3", "question": "Wasted - what is the most drunk you have ever been and what's your hangover cure?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5857, "answer_start": 5689, "text": "There's the obvious one of course (we think he means Oasis) but I'm going to go for something else. It would be nice for the Floyd to get back together. So, Pink Floyd." } ], "id": "9457_4", "question": "Comeback Kid - who would you most like to see reunite?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6378, "answer_start": 5858, "text": "The best one, just because of the ridiculous situation, not because it was the best party but on the first album when we were kids, we got invited to Philip Green's yacht in Monte Carlo and it was just full of what you would imagine. Like, Bon Jovi were there. It was the oddest group ever and, as you can imagine, we were like 20, 23 so were trying to get into his helicopter and turn it on. It was just mad. The worst? I can't remember. I've never had a bad party, I'd have a great party in here with just me and you." } ], "id": "9457_5", "question": "The Party Never Ends - what are the best (and worst) parties you have ever been to?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6897, "answer_start": 6379, "text": "Us (Leicester City) winning the Premier League. We were playing two shows in the stadium in the summer and I remember leaving a game against Swansea and spoke to our manager and said, 'We've got to move those gigs'. It was impossible because we had six weeks to turn it around but we did. Every day, just taking the kids to school, it was just everywhere and it's one of those things in 20 years you'll be on a programme as one of these talking heads, talking about it. It's still too soon to understand what happened." } ], "id": "9457_6", "question": "Are You Looking For Action - we probably know this one - but what is your favourite sporting moment?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7295, "answer_start": 6898, "text": "Yeah quite a lot actually and I figured it out. I used to really struggle but audio books are my thing. It's annoying because you fall asleep and can't remember where you got to, so you listen to the same chapter over and over but that's the thing. I need not to think, silence doesn't work and music is terrible because I start writing notes. I'm on podcasts right now. Adam Buxton, he's so good." } ], "id": "9457_7", "question": "All Through The Night - have you ever suffered from insomnia and how did you beat it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7806, "answer_start": 7296, "text": "Oh man. Do you know what, I'm gonna say Seven Nation Army because it's the first thing that came into my head. How he's managed to write the sporting anthem of the world is hilarious because he had no idea that it would be. When Italy won the world cup I think, and I could be wrong, but I think it started with the Italian fans because that was their song and they won the cup, which was amazing. If I hadn't said Leicester winning the league, I would have said that, so that song brings back happy memories." } ], "id": "9457_8", "question": "Sixteen Blocks - what is your other favourite song with a number in the title?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 7887, "answer_start": 7807, "text": "Man, I could write a soundtrack but I don't know if I have the answers for that." } ], "id": "9457_9", "question": "Bless This Acid House - the UK has a housing crisis, we are short of social housing while young people can't afford to get on the ladder - how do we solve it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 8238, "answer_start": 7888, "text": "I don't really have anything worth much, I don't really go in for that. Probably my synthesizer collection and I had no idea. Apparently I made a good investment and, at the time, people asked, 'Why are you buying all this old gear that doesn't work?'. But over the years, it's better than buying red wine, I was told. For Crying Out Loud is out now." } ], "id": "9457_10", "question": "Put Your Life On It - what is the most expensive thing (apart from a house) that you own?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Welcome to the wind turbine graveyard. It stretches a hundred metres from a bend in the North Platte River in Casper, Wyoming. Between last September and this March, it will become the final resting place for 1,000 fibreglass turbine blades. These blades, which have reached the end of their 25-year working lives, come from three wind farms in the north-western US state. Each will be cut into three, then the pieces will be stacked and buried. Turbines from the first great 1990s wave of wind power are reaching the end of their life expectancy today. About two gigawatts worth of turbines will be refitted in 2019 and 2020. And disposing of them in an environmentally-friendly way is a growing problem. Burying them doesn't sound very green. Can they not be recycled? Wind power goes as far back at least as 9th Century BC Persia, where sails were used to grind grain and draw up water on the windy Sistan plains. Scottish professor James Blyth built the first windmill to make electricity in 1887, powering his holiday home in Marykirk. His second powered the Lunatic Asylum, Infirmary and Dispensary in Montrose (later Sunnyside Royal Hospital). Instead of using cloth to catch the wind like Prof Blyth and the ancient Iranians, today's turbine blades are built from composite materials - older blades from glass fibre, newer ones from carbon fibre. Such composite materials might be light and strong, but they are also extremely hard to recycle. That doesn't mean they have to go into landfill, according to Don Lilly, chief executive of Global Fiberglass Solutions in Bellevue, Washington. Mr Lilly has been transforming fibreglass composites into small pellets he calls EcoPoly. The pellets can then be turned into injectable plastics, or highly waterproof boards that can be used in construction, he says. Mr Lilly has received interest from \"several manufacturers\" for his pellets. He's also developed a programme to track blades throughout their life cycle, and make it easier to recycle them at the end. If we \"holistically think about the end of life, there are simple choices we could make now that could make fibreglass in the blade easier to recycle,\" says Richard Cochrane, professor of renewable energy at Exeter University. A second avenue for recycling turbine blades is called pyrolysis. After first chopping up the blades, pyrolysis breaks up the composite fibres in ovens with an inert atmosphere, at about 450-700C. The process recovers fibres other industries can reuse for glues, paints, and concrete. Other products include syngas (synthesis gas) that can be used in combustion engines. And char (charcoal) which can be used as a fertiliser. More Technology of Business The problem is significant amounts of energy are needed to activate the pyrolysis, which might limit its environmental usefulness. It has mainly been done at a laboratory scale. Germany's subsidiary of the French recycling group Veolia is researching the technology. In Rotterdam unwanted blades have been put to a different use. The Dutch city boasts a 1,200sq m children's playground called Wikado, with a slide tower, tunnels, ramps, and slides all made from five discarded wind turbine blades. Decommissioned blades have also been turned into another playground and outdoor seats in the Dutch city of Terneuzen, two bus stops in Almere, a seat beside Rotterdam's famous Erasmusbrug bridge. Cesare Peeren, an architect from Rotterdam's Superuse Studios is currently waiting for planning permission to turn two 55m blades into a bridge in Denmark's city of Alborg, he says. Meanwhile new rotors are only getting bigger. \"Twenty years ago, my colleagues and I used to ask ourselves what is the most powerful offshore wind turbine that we could imagine,\" says Vincent Schellings, who works for General Electric in the Dutch city of Enschede. \"We couldn't picture anything much more powerful than a three megawatt (MW) output, but even that seemed a challenge,\" he says. Mr Schellings recently led the development team for GE's Haliade-X, now the world's largest wind turbine. It produces 12MW - four times the amount he imagined 20 years ago. Its 107m blades yield 45% more energy than previous offshore turbines. \"So we are going to see much bigger turbines offshore in this decade, and the reason is size matters,\" says Rolf Kragelund, Danish-based director of offshore wind for the energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. Bigger onshore turbines can access faster wind speeds, higher in the sky. They can produce more energy, meaning you need fewer of them, which saves money on transport, installation and servicing. Siemens Gamesa says 20 of its new 10MW turbines, announced last year with 94m blades, could power Liverpool, with a population of half a million. But large turbines bring along their own challenges, including what to do with them when they are no longer needed. Bigger blades \"need bigger factories, bigger vessels, cables, foundations, and handling equipment,\" says Ray Thompson, global business development head at Spanish-headquartered Siemens Gamesa, one of the world's two largest wind turbine makers. Longer blades can make for bigger recycling headaches, too. The composite fibreglass in blades is \"the most difficult, and the most expensive part\" of turbines to recycle, Mr Kragelund says. And there's more of it. There's some reselling of second-hand turbine components from Europe to the Middle East and Asia pacific, he says. Big data, leading to better maintenance regimes and more reliable components could also mean today's blades might last longer, says Siemens's Mr Thompson. Recycling has made more progress so far in the onshore than offshore industry, which is newer, he adds. But while \"there is work being done to find ways to recycle materials from old turbines,\" it \"would be nice to see more design input now, so that's easier in the future,\" says Prof Cochrane.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5902, "answer_start": 4761, "text": "But large turbines bring along their own challenges, including what to do with them when they are no longer needed. Bigger blades \"need bigger factories, bigger vessels, cables, foundations, and handling equipment,\" says Ray Thompson, global business development head at Spanish-headquartered Siemens Gamesa, one of the world's two largest wind turbine makers. Longer blades can make for bigger recycling headaches, too. The composite fibreglass in blades is \"the most difficult, and the most expensive part\" of turbines to recycle, Mr Kragelund says. And there's more of it. There's some reselling of second-hand turbine components from Europe to the Middle East and Asia pacific, he says. Big data, leading to better maintenance regimes and more reliable components could also mean today's blades might last longer, says Siemens's Mr Thompson. Recycling has made more progress so far in the onshore than offshore industry, which is newer, he adds. But while \"there is work being done to find ways to recycle materials from old turbines,\" it \"would be nice to see more design input now, so that's easier in the future,\" says Prof Cochrane." } ], "id": "9458_0", "question": "Bigger always better?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Saudi Arabia has called accusations it ordered the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi inside its Istanbul consulate \"lies and baseless allegations\". Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdulaziz's denial comes 11 days after Mr Khashoggi was last seen entering the consulate. Turkish sources allege he was then killed by a team of Saudi agents. A Turkish security source told the BBC that officials have audio and video evidence proving the killing. Saudi Arabia has maintained the journalist, a critic of the government, left the building shortly after arriving on 2 October. The interior minister said on Friday the kingdom was keen to uncover \"the whole truth\", according to the official Saudi Press Agency, stressing reports \"about orders to kill\" are \"baseless\". UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the BBC's economics editor Kamal Ahmed he was \"worried\" by Mr Khashoggi's disappearance, especially as incidents like this were becoming the \"apparent new normal\". \"It's absolutely essential to make sure that the international community says clearly that this is not something that can happen,\" he said. Mr Guterres added it was important to establish \"exactly what has happened\". US President Donald Trump, who has sought to build good relations with Saudi Arabia, pledged to uncover the truth. Mr Trump told reporters on Friday that he would call Saudi Arabia's King Salman to discuss \"the terrible situation in Turkey\", news agency AP reports. However, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he is still planning to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh later this month, dubbed \"Davos in the Desert\", despite a number of other top business leaders pulling out, including Jim Kim, the head of the World Bank. Mr Mnuchin's trip is against the recommendations of the House of Representatives' foreign affairs committee, which wrote to Mr Trump urging him to reconsider the visit. International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said she was \"horrified\" by reports coming out of Turkey but would still attend the Saudi conference. \"I have to conduct the business of the IMF in all corners in the world. At this point of time my intention is to not change my plans and to be very attentive to the information that is coming out in the next few days,\" she said. UK tycoon Sir Richard Branson has halted talks over $1bn Saudi investment in Virgin space firms. The latest reports suggest an assault and a struggle took place in the consulate. A Turkish security source has confirmed to BBC Arabic the existence of an audio and a video recording. What is not clear is if anyone other than Turkish officials has seen or heard them. One source is cited by the Washington Post as saying men can be heard beating Mr Khashoggi; it adds that the recordings show he was killed and dismembered. \"You can hear his voice and the voices of the men speaking Arabic,\" a separate source told the Post, which employed Mr Khashoggi as a contributing columnist. \"You can hear how he was interrogated, tortured and then murdered.\" Turkish media reports say officials are investigating sound recordings made by Mr Khashoggi's smart-watch. The BBC has been unable to independently verify this claim. Turkish TV has already broadcast CCTV footage of the moment Mr Khashoggi walked into the consulate for an appointment at which he was due to receive papers for his forthcoming marriage to Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz. Separately, a video has emerged of men described as Saudi intelligence officers entering and leaving Turkey. A 15-strong team has been identified by Turkish media who are described as involved in Mr Khashoggi's disappearance. The BBC has been told that one was Maher Mutreb, an intelligence colonel based in London, and another was thought to be a forensics specialist. Turkey's official line is that Mr Khashoggi is missing but that it knows \"for sure\" he has been killed. However, the government has agreed to a joint investigation with the Saudis, and a Saudi delegation arrived in Turkey on Friday to take part in talks expected over the weekend. Their arrival came a day after a senior Saudi royal figure, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, was said to have briefly visited Turkey amid signs that the Saudi monarchy was seeking an urgent solution to the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Mr Khashoggi's disappearance threatens the reputation of the new Saudi Crown Prince, Mohamed bin Salman, and his country's relationships across the world, the BBC's Turkey correspondent Mark Lowen reports.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2420, "answer_start": 791, "text": "UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the BBC's economics editor Kamal Ahmed he was \"worried\" by Mr Khashoggi's disappearance, especially as incidents like this were becoming the \"apparent new normal\". \"It's absolutely essential to make sure that the international community says clearly that this is not something that can happen,\" he said. Mr Guterres added it was important to establish \"exactly what has happened\". US President Donald Trump, who has sought to build good relations with Saudi Arabia, pledged to uncover the truth. Mr Trump told reporters on Friday that he would call Saudi Arabia's King Salman to discuss \"the terrible situation in Turkey\", news agency AP reports. However, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin says he is still planning to attend the Future Investment Initiative conference in Riyadh later this month, dubbed \"Davos in the Desert\", despite a number of other top business leaders pulling out, including Jim Kim, the head of the World Bank. Mr Mnuchin's trip is against the recommendations of the House of Representatives' foreign affairs committee, which wrote to Mr Trump urging him to reconsider the visit. International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde said she was \"horrified\" by reports coming out of Turkey but would still attend the Saudi conference. \"I have to conduct the business of the IMF in all corners in the world. At this point of time my intention is to not change my plans and to be very attentive to the information that is coming out in the next few days,\" she said. UK tycoon Sir Richard Branson has halted talks over $1bn Saudi investment in Virgin space firms." } ], "id": "9459_0", "question": "How is the incident affecting international ties?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3827, "answer_start": 2421, "text": "The latest reports suggest an assault and a struggle took place in the consulate. A Turkish security source has confirmed to BBC Arabic the existence of an audio and a video recording. What is not clear is if anyone other than Turkish officials has seen or heard them. One source is cited by the Washington Post as saying men can be heard beating Mr Khashoggi; it adds that the recordings show he was killed and dismembered. \"You can hear his voice and the voices of the men speaking Arabic,\" a separate source told the Post, which employed Mr Khashoggi as a contributing columnist. \"You can hear how he was interrogated, tortured and then murdered.\" Turkish media reports say officials are investigating sound recordings made by Mr Khashoggi's smart-watch. The BBC has been unable to independently verify this claim. Turkish TV has already broadcast CCTV footage of the moment Mr Khashoggi walked into the consulate for an appointment at which he was due to receive papers for his forthcoming marriage to Turkish fiancee Hatice Cengiz. Separately, a video has emerged of men described as Saudi intelligence officers entering and leaving Turkey. A 15-strong team has been identified by Turkish media who are described as involved in Mr Khashoggi's disappearance. The BBC has been told that one was Maher Mutreb, an intelligence colonel based in London, and another was thought to be a forensics specialist." } ], "id": "9459_1", "question": "What do Turkey's recordings reveal?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4557, "answer_start": 3828, "text": "Turkey's official line is that Mr Khashoggi is missing but that it knows \"for sure\" he has been killed. However, the government has agreed to a joint investigation with the Saudis, and a Saudi delegation arrived in Turkey on Friday to take part in talks expected over the weekend. Their arrival came a day after a senior Saudi royal figure, Prince Khaled al-Faisal, was said to have briefly visited Turkey amid signs that the Saudi monarchy was seeking an urgent solution to the diplomatic crisis between the two countries. Mr Khashoggi's disappearance threatens the reputation of the new Saudi Crown Prince, Mohamed bin Salman, and his country's relationships across the world, the BBC's Turkey correspondent Mark Lowen reports." } ], "id": "9459_2", "question": "What happens now with the investigation?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Greece has emerged from controversial bailout programmes that came with years of austerity - here's a very quick guide on why this happened. In 2008 the world's worst financial crisis in almost 80 years caused a global recession. Many European countries had huge government debts but Greece was worst affected, with a spiralling spending deficit. It had borrowed much more money than it was able to make in revenue through taxes. In 2010, the country revealed its sky-high deficit and was frozen out of bond markets. Greece asked for a financial rescue by the European Union and International Monetary Fund. Bailouts - emergency loans aimed at saving sinking economies - began in 2010. Greece received three successive packages, totalling EUR289bn (PS259bn; $330bn), but they came with the price of drastic austerity measures. For many Greeks - especially the young - the years of economic hardship were severe. People's despair turned into riots on the streets, as they suffered spending cuts, high taxes and repeatedly slashed salaries and pensions. More than 400,000 people emigrated and in 2013 the unemployment rate peaked at 27.5% - but for those under 25 it was 58%. At the height of the crisis, some worried that the eurozone - the 19 countries that shared the euro - would collapse alongside Greece. Three-quarters of Greeks think the bailouts harmed the country. The economy is 25% smaller than when the crisis began and it will take decades to pay off its debt pile of 180% of GDP. But for the first in almost a decade, Greece is off life support. The economy has stabilised and grown slowly and it can borrow on international markets again.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 516, "answer_start": 141, "text": "In 2008 the world's worst financial crisis in almost 80 years caused a global recession. Many European countries had huge government debts but Greece was worst affected, with a spiralling spending deficit. It had borrowed much more money than it was able to make in revenue through taxes. In 2010, the country revealed its sky-high deficit and was frozen out of bond markets." } ], "id": "9460_0", "question": "How did this start?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 826, "answer_start": 517, "text": "Greece asked for a financial rescue by the European Union and International Monetary Fund. Bailouts - emergency loans aimed at saving sinking economies - began in 2010. Greece received three successive packages, totalling EUR289bn (PS259bn; $330bn), but they came with the price of drastic austerity measures." } ], "id": "9460_1", "question": "What happened next?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1308, "answer_start": 827, "text": "For many Greeks - especially the young - the years of economic hardship were severe. People's despair turned into riots on the streets, as they suffered spending cuts, high taxes and repeatedly slashed salaries and pensions. More than 400,000 people emigrated and in 2013 the unemployment rate peaked at 27.5% - but for those under 25 it was 58%. At the height of the crisis, some worried that the eurozone - the 19 countries that shared the euro - would collapse alongside Greece." } ], "id": "9460_2", "question": "What about the people?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1652, "answer_start": 1309, "text": "Three-quarters of Greeks think the bailouts harmed the country. The economy is 25% smaller than when the crisis began and it will take decades to pay off its debt pile of 180% of GDP. But for the first in almost a decade, Greece is off life support. The economy has stabilised and grown slowly and it can borrow on international markets again." } ], "id": "9460_3", "question": "Are things better?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A postal worker in India has been suspended after he was found not to have delivered thousands of letters for more than 10 years. Ever wondered why you never heard back from that job offer, that ATM card application or why that person you really wanted to hear from never wrote? Well, if you're in the Odhanga village in India's Orissa state, there's a good chance that letter was in fact sent. It was just never delivered, piling up with countless other undelivered mail. The stash of old letters and packages was discovered by chance when a group of school children played in the recently abandoned post office after the branch had moved to a new location. Playing in the yard, they noticed large bags with letters sticking out, local media report. When they looked inside and discovered ATM cards and bank passbooks, they alerted their parents and soon the authorities were on the case. According to the Hindustan Times newspaper, it's thought there are some 6,000 letters and packages with the oldest dating back as far as 2004. Some 1,500 letters have been salvaged while many of the remaining items are soggy or damaged by termites. The reluctant mailman is named as Jagannath Puhan, assistant branch post master, who for most of the past decade was alone in charge at the village office. And while he appeared to be lazy in delivering the mail, he was smart in how he went about it. Any registered mail or speed post was duly delivered as he knew the sender would likely track the delivery, officials said. Ordinary mail, however, had a good chance of ending up in the storeroom rather than with the intended recipient. It is not clear yet why the mailman so blatantly neglected his duties. According to the Hindustan Times he defended himself by saying that for several years he \"couldn't walk properly and was not in a condition to deliver these letters\". Authorities investigating the case are quoted as saying they are puzzled as to why over all those years no resident had raised complaints. Whatever mail will be able to be salvaged will now be delivered - albeit with that slight delay of several years. \"I personally noticed a letter from the Indian Navy dated 2011 for a local boy who had applied to them,\" one of the investigating post employees is quoted in the Indian Express. But many a letter might never reach its proper addressee - countless letters have been so damaged over the years that the names on them are indecipherable.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2451, "answer_start": 1295, "text": "And while he appeared to be lazy in delivering the mail, he was smart in how he went about it. Any registered mail or speed post was duly delivered as he knew the sender would likely track the delivery, officials said. Ordinary mail, however, had a good chance of ending up in the storeroom rather than with the intended recipient. It is not clear yet why the mailman so blatantly neglected his duties. According to the Hindustan Times he defended himself by saying that for several years he \"couldn't walk properly and was not in a condition to deliver these letters\". Authorities investigating the case are quoted as saying they are puzzled as to why over all those years no resident had raised complaints. Whatever mail will be able to be salvaged will now be delivered - albeit with that slight delay of several years. \"I personally noticed a letter from the Indian Navy dated 2011 for a local boy who had applied to them,\" one of the investigating post employees is quoted in the Indian Express. But many a letter might never reach its proper addressee - countless letters have been so damaged over the years that the names on them are indecipherable." } ], "id": "9461_0", "question": "Lazy but smart?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "New rallies have been held across Peru against the decision to pardon former President Alberto Fujimori. In the capital Lima, students, trade unionists and human rights activists marched amid a heavy police presence. The protesters were demanding not only the quashing of the pardon but also the resignation of President Pablo Kuczynski, who granted it. Fujimori, who was serving 25 years for human rights abuses and corruption, was pardoned on Christmas Eve. This is the fourth time thousands of Peruvians marched to show their contempt for what they said was political collusion at the top. Mr Kuczynski pardoned Fujimori, 79, just three days after a group of lawmakers - led by Mr Fujimori's son Keiji - helped the president avoid an impeachment process. The threat of impeachment stemmed from accusations the president had been receiving money from Brazilian firm Odebrecht in exchange for contracts, a claim he denies. Mr Kuczynski also denies striking a deal with the Fujimoris. Fujimori is a deeply divisive figure in Peru, respected by some and reviled by others for his government's crackdown on two insurgencies during his tenure from 1990-2000. An estimated 69,000 people died in the conflict between left-wing insurgents and Fujimori's authoritarian government. In 2007, he was sentenced to six years in jail for bribery and abuse of power. Two years later he was sentenced to another 25 years in prison for human rights abuses committed during his time in office. He was convicted of authorising killings carried out by death squads. Fujimori, who has low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat, had been moved from jail to hospital several days before he was pardoned.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1687, "answer_start": 987, "text": "Fujimori is a deeply divisive figure in Peru, respected by some and reviled by others for his government's crackdown on two insurgencies during his tenure from 1990-2000. An estimated 69,000 people died in the conflict between left-wing insurgents and Fujimori's authoritarian government. In 2007, he was sentenced to six years in jail for bribery and abuse of power. Two years later he was sentenced to another 25 years in prison for human rights abuses committed during his time in office. He was convicted of authorising killings carried out by death squads. Fujimori, who has low blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat, had been moved from jail to hospital several days before he was pardoned." } ], "id": "9462_0", "question": "What was Fujimori convicted of?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Nigeria's first family, the Buharis, are embroiled in a still-developing story resembling one of Nollywood's many Sunday-evening soap operas. It is a story about the president purportedly taking a second wife - a female cabinet member to boot - while his wife's furious outburst hint at deeper issues. The plot was supplied by Nigeria's vibrant social media and was aided by Mrs Buhari's cryptic comments. The setting is Nigeria's presidential villa, Aso Rock. The wedding at the centre of the story that was largely played out on social media involves President Muhammadu Buhari, and one of his female cabinet ministers, Sadiya Farouq. What we do know is that President Muhammadu Buhari is married to Aisha Buhari and has not said anything about taking a new wife. Ms Farouq has not said anything either about the purported marriage. It could easily have been dismissed as fake news and left at that, but for a comment from Mrs Buhari. She had been out of the country for two months with a stop in the UK for a medical check-up. Her return was taken by those following the story as a sign that she had come back to \"defend her territory\". Her response when asked at the airport about the wedding did little to extinguish rumours that the president was taking another wife. In an interview with BBC Hausa, the first lady offered confirmation, albeit in a very cryptic way, that there had indeed been plans for President Buhari to take a second wife, by referring to a \"promise of marriage\". She also said that the purported bride-to-be was disappointed the marriage hadn't taken place. Mrs Buhari said: \"The person that promised her marriage didn't know it wasn't going to happen. She [believed to be Ms Farouq] didn't deny the marriage until the day passed.\" She spoke entirely in Hausa, measuring her words and mentioning no names. But it was clear from the interview that Mrs Buhari was upset that Ms Farouq hadn't publicly denied rumours of the marriage. To further complicate matters, the minister's Twitter account denied commenting on the rumours, rebutting claims made by a fake account in her name that had actually denied the story. The minister's account tweeted: \"It has come to my attention that a fake Twitter account @Sadiya_farouq_ has been created in my name. \"I wish to inform my followers and well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the handle and any information posted on it. My official Twitter handle remains @Sadiya_farouq\". Some say she missed an opportunity to quash the rumours with a firm denial. At 45 years of age, she is one of the younger ministers in Mr Buhari's cabinet and heads the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development. Little was known of her before she was appointed by Mr Buhari in August to lead the newly created ministry. The ministry's creation and her appointment came as a surprise to many, but those who know her say she's been a staunch supporter of the president for decades. She was head of the country's National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and was a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, where she was in charge of election planning and monitoring, field operations, and fund raising. No. The wedding was supposed to have been planned last Friday, 11 October, but the Twitter account of Sadiya Farouq showed she was far away in the Swiss city of Geneva from Thursday, leading Nigeria's delegation at a meeting of the United Nations refugees agency. She did not return to Nigeria until Tuesday, based on what she posted on the same account. But that didn't deter Nigeria's social media users, especially on Twitter, from providing the guest list, a venue and entertainment. This user even designed the wedding card: A Nigerian wedding is not complete without an aso-ebi, the colourful attire worn by close friends and family on the day. This user recycled an old photo not related to a wedding: A sub-plot to the fake wedding story is the strained relations between different members of the wider Buhari family. We now know, courtesy of that BBC Hausa interview, that a viral video that circulated on social media of Aisha Buhari in an angry outburst was genuine. She confirmed the authenticity of the video which she said was recorded by a relative of the president who lives in Aso Rock, some time in 2018. Mrs Buhari says the video was filmed by Fatima Daura, daughter of Mamman Daura. He is Mr Buhari's nephew and has been a close associate of the president. He holds no official position in the government but is widely believed to wield huge influence over the government. He was even given an apartment - the Glass House - in the presidential villa that was the scene of the outburst in the video. According to Mrs Buhari: \"They shot the video in front of my security and everybody there. She [Fatima Daura] was actually recording the whole thing right in front of me and was laughing and mocking me. \"They did that because my husband sacked them from the house. He told them to get all their belongings and leave the house for my son [Yusuf] to occupy. More about Nigeria's first family: Fatima Daura has responded to Mrs Buhari's interview, saying: \"If one reasons well, he or she will understand that it is not possible to say that the wife of the president is denied access to her apartment.\" Nigeria's presidency is yet to say anything about the video but on Wednesday, Mrs Buhari later posted an apology on Instagram, saying: \"I use the opportunity to apologise for the embarrassment I might have caused my children, my immediate family members, well meaning Nigerians and the institution I represent, on the circulated leaked video clip\". Aisha Buhari didn't say who was planning the marriage, but it is clear she knows who it was. Some people are speculating that her willingness to confirm the authenticity of a video from 2018, in which she mentioned Mamman Daura and his daughter Fatima, was another cryptic message. Ms Daura denies that a wedding was being planned, telling BBC Hausa that both her father and the president are \"monogamists\". She also said that \"the kind of power and influence that is being ascribed to my father is only attributable to God\". That would depend on if it was ever on the cards in the first place. If people were planning it, they might not have altogether abandoned those plans. If there's anyone who would know the signs of a new marriage in the making, then it's Mrs Buhari. She married the president after he divorced his first wife in 1988. The president is known as a monogamist but as a Muslim, he is allowed to take up to four wives. Mrs Buhari was clearly referring to Ms Farouq as the intended bride in the BBC Hausa interview and the fact that neither the minister or the president have said anything about the rumoured marriage has many wondering if, like a true Nollywood soap, this story might have a sequel.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 936, "answer_start": 461, "text": "The wedding at the centre of the story that was largely played out on social media involves President Muhammadu Buhari, and one of his female cabinet ministers, Sadiya Farouq. What we do know is that President Muhammadu Buhari is married to Aisha Buhari and has not said anything about taking a new wife. Ms Farouq has not said anything either about the purported marriage. It could easily have been dismissed as fake news and left at that, but for a comment from Mrs Buhari." } ], "id": "9463_0", "question": "What's all this talk about a wedding?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2520, "answer_start": 937, "text": "She had been out of the country for two months with a stop in the UK for a medical check-up. Her return was taken by those following the story as a sign that she had come back to \"defend her territory\". Her response when asked at the airport about the wedding did little to extinguish rumours that the president was taking another wife. In an interview with BBC Hausa, the first lady offered confirmation, albeit in a very cryptic way, that there had indeed been plans for President Buhari to take a second wife, by referring to a \"promise of marriage\". She also said that the purported bride-to-be was disappointed the marriage hadn't taken place. Mrs Buhari said: \"The person that promised her marriage didn't know it wasn't going to happen. She [believed to be Ms Farouq] didn't deny the marriage until the day passed.\" She spoke entirely in Hausa, measuring her words and mentioning no names. But it was clear from the interview that Mrs Buhari was upset that Ms Farouq hadn't publicly denied rumours of the marriage. To further complicate matters, the minister's Twitter account denied commenting on the rumours, rebutting claims made by a fake account in her name that had actually denied the story. The minister's account tweeted: \"It has come to my attention that a fake Twitter account @Sadiya_farouq_ has been created in my name. \"I wish to inform my followers and well-meaning Nigerians to disregard the handle and any information posted on it. My official Twitter handle remains @Sadiya_farouq\". Some say she missed an opportunity to quash the rumours with a firm denial." } ], "id": "9463_1", "question": "What did Aisha Buhari say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3275, "answer_start": 2521, "text": "At 45 years of age, she is one of the younger ministers in Mr Buhari's cabinet and heads the newly created Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management & Social Development. Little was known of her before she was appointed by Mr Buhari in August to lead the newly created ministry. The ministry's creation and her appointment came as a surprise to many, but those who know her say she's been a staunch supporter of the president for decades. She was head of the country's National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and was a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign council, where she was in charge of election planning and monitoring, field operations, and fund raising." } ], "id": "9463_2", "question": "So who is Sadiya Farouq?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3984, "answer_start": 3276, "text": "No. The wedding was supposed to have been planned last Friday, 11 October, but the Twitter account of Sadiya Farouq showed she was far away in the Swiss city of Geneva from Thursday, leading Nigeria's delegation at a meeting of the United Nations refugees agency. She did not return to Nigeria until Tuesday, based on what she posted on the same account. But that didn't deter Nigeria's social media users, especially on Twitter, from providing the guest list, a venue and entertainment. This user even designed the wedding card: A Nigerian wedding is not complete without an aso-ebi, the colourful attire worn by close friends and family on the day. This user recycled an old photo not related to a wedding:" } ], "id": "9463_3", "question": "So was there a wedding?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5150, "answer_start": 3985, "text": "A sub-plot to the fake wedding story is the strained relations between different members of the wider Buhari family. We now know, courtesy of that BBC Hausa interview, that a viral video that circulated on social media of Aisha Buhari in an angry outburst was genuine. She confirmed the authenticity of the video which she said was recorded by a relative of the president who lives in Aso Rock, some time in 2018. Mrs Buhari says the video was filmed by Fatima Daura, daughter of Mamman Daura. He is Mr Buhari's nephew and has been a close associate of the president. He holds no official position in the government but is widely believed to wield huge influence over the government. He was even given an apartment - the Glass House - in the presidential villa that was the scene of the outburst in the video. According to Mrs Buhari: \"They shot the video in front of my security and everybody there. She [Fatima Daura] was actually recording the whole thing right in front of me and was laughing and mocking me. \"They did that because my husband sacked them from the house. He told them to get all their belongings and leave the house for my son [Yusuf] to occupy." } ], "id": "9463_4", "question": "And what's all this about a family feud?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6963, "answer_start": 6270, "text": "That would depend on if it was ever on the cards in the first place. If people were planning it, they might not have altogether abandoned those plans. If there's anyone who would know the signs of a new marriage in the making, then it's Mrs Buhari. She married the president after he divorced his first wife in 1988. The president is known as a monogamist but as a Muslim, he is allowed to take up to four wives. Mrs Buhari was clearly referring to Ms Farouq as the intended bride in the BBC Hausa interview and the fact that neither the minister or the president have said anything about the rumoured marriage has many wondering if, like a true Nollywood soap, this story might have a sequel." } ], "id": "9463_5", "question": "So is a wedding still on the cards?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Pakistan issues permits for controlled hunting of houbara bustards, a rare bird species, to wealthy Arabs from the Middle East but one province has now imposed a ban. Why? Houbara bustards are a rare breed of migratory birds the size of a chicken. They migrate in their thousands every winter from Central Asia to the arid planes of southern Pakistan. Once a thriving species, the houbara bustard population has drastically fallen in recent years and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed it on its \"red list\" of threatened species. Its current global population is estimated at between 50,000 to 100,000 birds. The hunting of houbara bustards is banned in most countries, including Pakistan. But every year Pakistan issues special hunting permits to dignitaries from the Middle East as part of what many call \"soft diplomacy\". Each permit allows the holder to hunt 100 birds in a 10-day hunting spree, but the limits are often exceeded, locals and conservationists say. The Arabs cherish houbara hunting both as a sport and because its meat is considered an aphrodisiac. IUCN believes hunting of houbara bustards on their wintering grounds is the main reason for their dwindling population. Imran Khan, a former Pakistan cricket captain, heads the main opposition Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which is in power in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). On Sunday, the KP government announced a blanket ban on the hunting of houbara bustards in its territory. Adviser to the Chief Minister on Environment and Forests, Ishtiaq Ormar, issued a notification stating that \"no one, local or foreigner, will be allowed to violate the law, as hunting of the internationally protected bird is not allowed under the law in the province.\" The announcement came following reports that a group of Qatari princes had landed in Pakistan to hunt houbara bustards, including in the KP region. Mr Khan has been conducting a campaign against the government of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif since 2014. He first led a massive four-month sit-in in Islamabad over allegations that the 2013 elections which brought Mr Sharif to power had been rigged. The government denies the allegations. More recently, protests by his party led to a court case being brought against Mr Sharif's family over allegedly undeclared property in London. The case was prompted by the well-documented Panama Papers leaks which were said to show Mr Sharif's children as owners of hitherto undeclared offshore companies. Sharif supporters say the charges against them are politically motivated and the Sharif family said the Panama Papers \"made no allegations of wrongdoing against\" it. The court proceedings brought by the PTI are focused on when the properties in question were acquired. The KP government's ban on hunting came hours after Imran Khan in a tweet expressed his intention \"to speak to the KP CM (chief minister) not to allow anyone to hunt Houbara Bustards in KP as it is a protected bird and hunting them is illegal\". This left little doubt in many commentators' minds that the KP ban had come not because of any official policy of the KP government, but as a result of Mr Khan's personal intervention, even though he holds no formal office in the provincial government. Mr Khan's tweet, and the subsequent ban by KP, came in the wake of media reports last week that the federal government had allowed a Qatari prince, Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali al-Thani, to hunt houbara bustards in the Dera Ismail Khan region of KP province. Shaikh Abdullah, who last visited the Dera Ismail Khan area to hunt in 2012, is one of several members of Qatar's royal family who are annually issued permits to hunt houbara bustards in different parts of Pakistan. They include former prime minister of Qatar, Shaikh Hammad bin Jassim bin Jabir al-Thani, who is normally allotted the Bhakkar-Khushab region, and the father, brother and several cousins of the Emir of Qatar. The ban has led to comments that it will likely cause embarrassment to the federal government which considers houbara hunting permits for Arab shaikhs as an important part of its foreign policy. Many say Imran Khan's move to ban hunting in KP has more to do with domestic politics than conservation of houbara bustards. They point out that in November a letter issued by former Qatari prime minister Shaikh Hammad bin Jassim was produced in court by Nawaz Sharaf in support of his case. The letter referred to business dealings between PM Sharif's late father, Mian Mohammad Sharif, and the Shaikh's father. The subsequent sale of these business assets in the Gulf are said to have provided funds for the Mayfair apartments in London. Following the production of the letter in court, some opposition circles have suggested the former Qatari PM is trying to help PM Sharif get away with \"ill-gotten money\", which is denied. Many believe Imran Khan's decision to ban hunting was a knee-jerk reaction to the Qatari letter. But others point out that the KP government may be following a sustained policy, given that last year it arrested and fined another Qatari prince in Dera Ismail Khan who was found hunting with falcons without a permit.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1226, "answer_start": 172, "text": "Houbara bustards are a rare breed of migratory birds the size of a chicken. They migrate in their thousands every winter from Central Asia to the arid planes of southern Pakistan. Once a thriving species, the houbara bustard population has drastically fallen in recent years and the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has placed it on its \"red list\" of threatened species. Its current global population is estimated at between 50,000 to 100,000 birds. The hunting of houbara bustards is banned in most countries, including Pakistan. But every year Pakistan issues special hunting permits to dignitaries from the Middle East as part of what many call \"soft diplomacy\". Each permit allows the holder to hunt 100 birds in a 10-day hunting spree, but the limits are often exceeded, locals and conservationists say. The Arabs cherish houbara hunting both as a sport and because its meat is considered an aphrodisiac. IUCN believes hunting of houbara bustards on their wintering grounds is the main reason for their dwindling population." } ], "id": "9464_0", "question": "What are houbara bustards?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1935, "answer_start": 1227, "text": "Imran Khan, a former Pakistan cricket captain, heads the main opposition Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaf (PTI) party, which is in power in the north-western province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). On Sunday, the KP government announced a blanket ban on the hunting of houbara bustards in its territory. Adviser to the Chief Minister on Environment and Forests, Ishtiaq Ormar, issued a notification stating that \"no one, local or foreigner, will be allowed to violate the law, as hunting of the internationally protected bird is not allowed under the law in the province.\" The announcement came following reports that a group of Qatari princes had landed in Pakistan to hunt houbara bustards, including in the KP region." } ], "id": "9464_1", "question": "Why is Imran Khan helping to protect them?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4172, "answer_start": 3299, "text": "Mr Khan's tweet, and the subsequent ban by KP, came in the wake of media reports last week that the federal government had allowed a Qatari prince, Shaikh Abdullah bin Ali al-Thani, to hunt houbara bustards in the Dera Ismail Khan region of KP province. Shaikh Abdullah, who last visited the Dera Ismail Khan area to hunt in 2012, is one of several members of Qatar's royal family who are annually issued permits to hunt houbara bustards in different parts of Pakistan. They include former prime minister of Qatar, Shaikh Hammad bin Jassim bin Jabir al-Thani, who is normally allotted the Bhakkar-Khushab region, and the father, brother and several cousins of the Emir of Qatar. The ban has led to comments that it will likely cause embarrassment to the federal government which considers houbara hunting permits for Arab shaikhs as an important part of its foreign policy." } ], "id": "9464_2", "question": "Where does the Qatari prince come in?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5216, "answer_start": 4173, "text": "Many say Imran Khan's move to ban hunting in KP has more to do with domestic politics than conservation of houbara bustards. They point out that in November a letter issued by former Qatari prime minister Shaikh Hammad bin Jassim was produced in court by Nawaz Sharaf in support of his case. The letter referred to business dealings between PM Sharif's late father, Mian Mohammad Sharif, and the Shaikh's father. The subsequent sale of these business assets in the Gulf are said to have provided funds for the Mayfair apartments in London. Following the production of the letter in court, some opposition circles have suggested the former Qatari PM is trying to help PM Sharif get away with \"ill-gotten money\", which is denied. Many believe Imran Khan's decision to ban hunting was a knee-jerk reaction to the Qatari letter. But others point out that the KP government may be following a sustained policy, given that last year it arrested and fined another Qatari prince in Dera Ismail Khan who was found hunting with falcons without a permit." } ], "id": "9464_3", "question": "How is Prime Minister Sharif involved?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "North Korea's most important propaganda event, the Mass Games, has been put on hold after criticism from the country's leader Kim Jong-un, tour firms say. Young Pioneer Tours, a company which organises trips to the hermit state, tweeted that the games \"will be stopped from 10 June until further notice\". Koryo Tours, another North Korea specialist, also gave the same date. Pyongyang has so far made no comment. On Monday, Mr Kim criticised the games for their \"wrong spirit of creation\". After attending the opening day of the colourful and highly choreographed event, he also spoke of an \"irresponsible work attitude\", state media reported. Mr Kim had already called earlier this year for a new approach to propaganda. Correspondents say North Korea may be preparing for more economic and ideological isolation after talks with the US stalled. Young Pioneer Tours, which describes itself as a \"leading travel company and experts in North Korea\", said the Mass Games' suspension was \"due to Kim Jong-un's dissatisfaction with the opening performance\". Meanwhile Koryo Tours said the spectacle would be \"adjusted\" before being relaunched. Koryo Tours brands itself as \"the experts in travel to rather unusual destinations\", including North Korea. So far, North Korea's authorities have not confirmed that the games are to be paused. The games are a huge propaganda event featuring tens of thousands of participants, many of them children, performing precisely synchronised moves. This year the event kicked off with what was supposed to be the beginning of a months-long propaganda festival, featuring enormous co-ordinated displays. The event is designed to celebrate the country and boost morale, but Mr Kim's criticism is not unusual, analyst Minyoung Lee of NK Pro told the BBC. \"Kim Jong-un publicly criticises departments and poor work performance,\" she said, adding that his criticisms can range from public spectacles like the mass games to even mundane things like poor tree-planting. Key to interpreting his criticism is the context of the past months. In March, Mr Kim said the country needed to do its propaganda in a \"novel\" way. Since then, state media has increased its coverage of propaganda work and warned against \"bourgeoisie ways of life\" and \"non-socialist phenomena\", Ms Lee said. The sudden focus on propaganda may seem like a surprise, but Pyongyang's efforts make sense when seen against the recent failure of US-North Korea talks. When negotiations with the South and Washington began, the propaganda machinery scaled down its criticism of those two traditional enemies. \"Pyongyang may feel insecure about the ramifications of the diplomatic detente and softer anti-South Korea and anti-US rhetoric on the people's mindset,\" said Ms Lee. Yet the current diplomatic stalemate means it is unclear if talks with the US will continue. Sanctions relief seems out of reach for now and the North will have to prepare its population for what could be prolonged economic difficulties. This means \"hardening the people's minds against outside influences and promoting domestic unity,\" said Ms Lee.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1333, "answer_start": 847, "text": "Young Pioneer Tours, which describes itself as a \"leading travel company and experts in North Korea\", said the Mass Games' suspension was \"due to Kim Jong-un's dissatisfaction with the opening performance\". Meanwhile Koryo Tours said the spectacle would be \"adjusted\" before being relaunched. Koryo Tours brands itself as \"the experts in travel to rather unusual destinations\", including North Korea. So far, North Korea's authorities have not confirmed that the games are to be paused." } ], "id": "9465_0", "question": "What do tour firms say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2303, "answer_start": 1334, "text": "The games are a huge propaganda event featuring tens of thousands of participants, many of them children, performing precisely synchronised moves. This year the event kicked off with what was supposed to be the beginning of a months-long propaganda festival, featuring enormous co-ordinated displays. The event is designed to celebrate the country and boost morale, but Mr Kim's criticism is not unusual, analyst Minyoung Lee of NK Pro told the BBC. \"Kim Jong-un publicly criticises departments and poor work performance,\" she said, adding that his criticisms can range from public spectacles like the mass games to even mundane things like poor tree-planting. Key to interpreting his criticism is the context of the past months. In March, Mr Kim said the country needed to do its propaganda in a \"novel\" way. Since then, state media has increased its coverage of propaganda work and warned against \"bourgeoisie ways of life\" and \"non-socialist phenomena\", Ms Lee said." } ], "id": "9465_1", "question": "What does Kim's criticism mean?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3114, "answer_start": 2304, "text": "The sudden focus on propaganda may seem like a surprise, but Pyongyang's efforts make sense when seen against the recent failure of US-North Korea talks. When negotiations with the South and Washington began, the propaganda machinery scaled down its criticism of those two traditional enemies. \"Pyongyang may feel insecure about the ramifications of the diplomatic detente and softer anti-South Korea and anti-US rhetoric on the people's mindset,\" said Ms Lee. Yet the current diplomatic stalemate means it is unclear if talks with the US will continue. Sanctions relief seems out of reach for now and the North will have to prepare its population for what could be prolonged economic difficulties. This means \"hardening the people's minds against outside influences and promoting domestic unity,\" said Ms Lee." } ], "id": "9465_2", "question": "Is Pyongyang under pressure?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US House Judiciary Committee has approved two impeachment charges against President Donald Trump, moving the process towards a full House vote. The articles, backed by Democrats and opposed by Republicans, are expected to be voted on by the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives next week. Mr Trump is the fourth US president in history to face impeachment. Speaking to reporters at the White House, he again dismissed the process as a \"sham\" and a \"hoax\". Friday's hearing lasted just over ten minutes before the two articles of impeachment - abuse of power and obstructing Congress - were passed by 23 votes to 17. The vote had been expected on Thursday but was delayed after more than 14 hours of rancorous debate. Republicans criticised that decision by Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Nadler, accusing him of pushing back the vote to ensure more TV coverage. In the abuse of power article, Mr Trump is accused of soliciting a foreign country to help him politically by trying to force Ukraine to launch a corruption investigation into his political rival Joe Biden, a leading Democratic presidential contender. He is also accused of obstructing Congress by failing to co-operate with the House investigation. Leading Democrats agreed the articles of impeachment described over nine pages. They say that Mr Trump \"betrayed the nation\" by acting \"corruptly\". Mr Nadler made a brief statement to reporters after the vote, calling it a \"solemn and sad day\" and pledged that the House of Representatives would \"act expeditiously\". But Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz said: \"For Democrats, impeachment is their drug.\" Speaking from the White House Oval Office alongside the president of Paraguay, Mr Trump called the impeachment process \"a witch hunt\", \"a sham\" and \"a hoax\". He said Democrats were \"trivialising impeachment\" adding that they are \"making absolute fools out of themselves\". \"It's a sad thing for this country, but seems to be very good for me politically,\" he added. The march toward impeachment in the House of Representatives has hit the mark reached by Richard Nixon in 1974. Hearings have been conducted, speeches given and articles of impeachment approved by the Judiciary Committee. All that stands between Trump and a Senate trial are two votes by the full House of Representatives - one vote on each article of impeachment. Nixon, of course, avoided the near certainty of impeachment and Senate removal by resigning. This time around, the president and his supporters are digging in for a protracted fight. The coming showdown in the House is destined to be a partisan affair - as everything, these days, seems to be. Republicans, their ranks thinned by electoral defeat, will remain united. While some Democrats may waver, it won't be enough to stop the seemingly inevitable. Democrats will frame this as a sad, but necessary, step to contain a rogue president. Mr Trump will suggest it is the latest effort by the powers of the status quo to block his populist groundswell. As the calendar flips to 2020 and a November general election, the day approaches when American voters can directly render their verdict - on the Trump presidency and the Democrats who have sought to end it. - A SIMPLE GUIDE: If you want a basic take, this one's for you - GO DEEPER: Here's a 100, 300 and 800-word summary of the story - WHAT'S IMPEACHMENT? A political process to remove a president - VIEW FROM TRUMP COUNTRY: Hear from residents of a West Virginia town - CONTEXT: Why Ukraine matters to the US - FACT-CHECK: Did Ukraine interfere in the 2016 election to help Clinton? A handful of Democrats in swing districts remain unsure how they will vote on impeachment when it comes to next week's debate, but Democrats have a 36-seat lead over Republicans in the House so passage is still expected to go ahead. Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday they would not whip the historic vote, allowing members to make their own personal choice. The Senate is expected to hold a trial next month on the charges and acquit the president. Republicans who hold sway in the chamber appear to favour a quick vote, limiting political fanfare. Mr Trump has indicated he would like to see witnesses called such as Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, who worked for a Ukrainian gas firm that the US president wanted investigated. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News that there was \"zero chance\" that Mr Trump would be removed from office by senate lawmakers. He added that Republican senators would be working very closely with White House lawyers to plot a legal strategy. \"Everything I do during this, I'm co-ordinating with the White House counsel,\" he said. \"There will be no difference between the president's position and our position as to how to handle this.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1994, "answer_start": 1630, "text": "Speaking from the White House Oval Office alongside the president of Paraguay, Mr Trump called the impeachment process \"a witch hunt\", \"a sham\" and \"a hoax\". He said Democrats were \"trivialising impeachment\" adding that they are \"making absolute fools out of themselves\". \"It's a sad thing for this country, but seems to be very good for me politically,\" he added." } ], "id": "9466_0", "question": "What is the latest from the White House?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3969, "answer_start": 3598, "text": "A handful of Democrats in swing districts remain unsure how they will vote on impeachment when it comes to next week's debate, but Democrats have a 36-seat lead over Republicans in the House so passage is still expected to go ahead. Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday they would not whip the historic vote, allowing members to make their own personal choice." } ], "id": "9466_1", "question": "What will happen next week in the House?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4807, "answer_start": 3970, "text": "The Senate is expected to hold a trial next month on the charges and acquit the president. Republicans who hold sway in the chamber appear to favour a quick vote, limiting political fanfare. Mr Trump has indicated he would like to see witnesses called such as Joe Biden and his son, Hunter, who worked for a Ukrainian gas firm that the US president wanted investigated. On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Fox News that there was \"zero chance\" that Mr Trump would be removed from office by senate lawmakers. He added that Republican senators would be working very closely with White House lawyers to plot a legal strategy. \"Everything I do during this, I'm co-ordinating with the White House counsel,\" he said. \"There will be no difference between the president's position and our position as to how to handle this.\"" } ], "id": "9466_2", "question": "What will happen in the Senate?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Algeria's education ministry has ordered an early start to university holidays amid huge protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Originally scheduled to run from 21 March to 5 April, the spring break now starts on 10 March and ends on 4 April. The ministry gave no reason for the move. Students have been heavily involved in mass protests against the ailing leader, which began last month after he announced he would seek a fifth term. Mr Bouteflika, 82, who is currently in hospital in Switzerland, has ruled Algeria for 20 years but has rarely been seen in public since he had a stroke in 2013. He has said the protests could plunge the country into \"chaos\". Teachers and their students have gone on strike at several universities, while others said they would strike on Sunday. Algeria reportedly has more than 1.7 million students, more than a third of whom live on campus. But many others travel long distances to study from family homes. The move comes the day after huge demonstrations in the capital Algiers, which drew tens of thousands of protesters. Riot police fired tear gas to prevent the mostly peaceful groups from reaching a road leading to the presidential palace, and local reports said nearly 200 people were detained by the security forces. Many who demonstrated on Friday initially gathered at university sites before heading onto the streets. The protest was the largest one ever against Mr Bouteflika. Riot police were deployed along the protest route, and helicopters circled the capital. All public transport services in the capital were suspended ahead of the rally. Demonstrations were also reported in Algeria's second-largest city, Oran, and in Tizi Ouzou. Some organisers had called for 20 million people to take part in Friday's demonstrations, billed as the \"#March 8 Movement\" on social media. The wave of protests was triggered by the announcement last month that Mr Bouteflika would seek a fifth term in office in April's election. Mr Bouteflika later released a statement saying that he would step down early if re-elected - but this has not placated the demonstrators. Many young Algerians are frustrated by a lack of economic opportunity and by what they perceive as the corruption of an elite that has governed the country since it gained independence from France. The president is believed to have been transferred to a hospital in Switzerland on 24 February, for what his campaign described as \"routine\" medical tests. His campaign manager told El Khabar on Thursday that his health raised \"no concerns\". A spokesman for the Geneva University Hospitals refused to comment when asked if Mr Bouteflika was there. However, he has been quoted as saying that it had received 1,500 phone calls on Tuesday after the president's location was revealed by French television programme Quotidien. While most of the calls have reportedly been inquiring about the president's health, a number of videos posted to social media show prank calls from Algerians.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1836, "answer_start": 1375, "text": "The protest was the largest one ever against Mr Bouteflika. Riot police were deployed along the protest route, and helicopters circled the capital. All public transport services in the capital were suspended ahead of the rally. Demonstrations were also reported in Algeria's second-largest city, Oran, and in Tizi Ouzou. Some organisers had called for 20 million people to take part in Friday's demonstrations, billed as the \"#March 8 Movement\" on social media." } ], "id": "9467_0", "question": "What happened on Friday?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2313, "answer_start": 1837, "text": "The wave of protests was triggered by the announcement last month that Mr Bouteflika would seek a fifth term in office in April's election. Mr Bouteflika later released a statement saying that he would step down early if re-elected - but this has not placated the demonstrators. Many young Algerians are frustrated by a lack of economic opportunity and by what they perceive as the corruption of an elite that has governed the country since it gained independence from France." } ], "id": "9467_1", "question": "What do the protesters want?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2995, "answer_start": 2314, "text": "The president is believed to have been transferred to a hospital in Switzerland on 24 February, for what his campaign described as \"routine\" medical tests. His campaign manager told El Khabar on Thursday that his health raised \"no concerns\". A spokesman for the Geneva University Hospitals refused to comment when asked if Mr Bouteflika was there. However, he has been quoted as saying that it had received 1,500 phone calls on Tuesday after the president's location was revealed by French television programme Quotidien. While most of the calls have reportedly been inquiring about the president's health, a number of videos posted to social media show prank calls from Algerians." } ], "id": "9467_2", "question": "Where is the president?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It's not always easy to pick the perfect gift for that special someone - but brands know how to convince the Christmas shopper to open their wallet, suspend their parsimony and shell out on luxuries and \"must haves\". However, some of these advertisements of the past might not have pulled upon our heart - or purse - strings as much as current campaigns (unless ladies back then were more into cutlery than perhaps they are today). Take this stroll down memory lane to the days when gentlemen would delightedly rip open a pack of cigarettes under the tree, while the children got busy with their molten glass kits and mother rejoiced over her sit-down ironing board. Domestic drudgery appears to be a theme when it came to finding something special for the lady in your life. Whether it was the thousands of people writing to Mrs Christmas in the hope of unwrapping a sit-down ironing board, or the \"ideal present\" of a beige-handled stainless steel set of batter spoon and apple corer, the place for females was most definitely in the home. It wasn't all work work work, though. Once the chores had been done, every good wife made herself attractive for her husband. As one advert for hair tape (yes, hair tape) went: \"When you were a little girl, receiving a Christmas doll was very important. Now being one is\". One for the women's libbers. If that wasn't inspirational enough, there was also an array of lascivious Father Christmases to pander to. Acceptable methods of keeping them happy seemingly included: wearing a transparent negligee while admiring Santa's shiny footwear (in an advert for boot polish); and trimming the tree while up a ladder wearing high heels, seamed stockings and a short skirt (in an advert for stockings, which came in sizes \"tall, tiny and in-between\"). For those who felt their figures or faces were not up to scratch, there were plenty of aids on the market. Nuns - not usually fans of cosmetics - were used to sell cases of perfumed toilet powder, while a company called Sargol tried to persuade women with their tablets that \"well-developed bodies\" were always admired, whether \"at the theatre or in the ballroom\". Once the house was spick and span, caring womenfolk would also ensure their husbands were comfortable and well-supplied with smoking paraphernalia and slippers. But the man of the house would not receive gifts much more exciting than their wife's festive accumulation of spatulas. Cigarettes in bulk, razor blades and nightwear were on the list. Men are such simple folk, this advert suggests, that they desire nothing more than a \"colourful ensemble\" to feel \"a king in his own castle\". Meanwhile, the gift of \"a longer lifetime\" can be provided by... smoking a pipe. With a carefree disregard for accurate interpretation of statistics, the people at Kaywoodie announced that one can \"add to a man's years\" by giving him a pipe. All on the grounds that \"doctors\" found \"pipe-smokers live longer than other types of smokers\". But presumably not longer than non-smokers. Some gifts were for all the family to enjoy. There was literally no situation that could not be improved with a Thermos container, one advert suggests. Whether buying a present for a yachtsman sweetheart or a physician uncle, Thermos had it covered. Described as the receptacle that \"unites summer and winter\", perhaps the insulated items were best used in the autumn. Having a phone on a Christmas wish-list isn't merely a modern phenomenon. The \"hand-microphone\" of 1933 - allegedly popularly known as the \"handy\" - was coveted by well-to-do Brits, who were urged to write to the General Post Office in London to order one. \"Both charming and permanently useful\" as well as being \"shapely in design and efficient in use\", those lucky enough to own one could also buy a special cosy to keep it snug. Children were in the position of receiving gifts that were both boring - like a box of handkerchiefs - to some that were frankly alarming. The Gilbert glass-blowing kit provided \"fascinating and instructive fun\" while the company's other safety-unconscious pre-teen gifts included a molten lead-casting kit and a chemistry set with ingredients and instructions on how to make explosives. The Atomic Energy Lab, complete with radioactive samples, allowed children to create and watch nuclear reactions. Among other activities, the lab set suggested \"playing hide and seek with the gamma ray source\", challenging players to a game using a Geiger counter to locate a radioactive sample hidden in a room. Helpfully, also popped into the kit was a coupon for ordering replacement uranium and radium through the post. Decades later, it was (perhaps unsurprisingly) described as \"the world's most dangerous toy\". Less \"exciting!\" but possibly more \"safe!\" than the Atomic Energy Lab was the traditional sled - the version marketed by SL Allen and Co was bafflingly aimed at every \"live\" girl and boy. And moving further along the safety scale - although not completely without risk - was the Fox's Glacier Mint. Like most small, hard choking hazards, it was \"the ideal gift for kiddies' parties\" and would certainly aid \"a digestive Christmas\". Unlikely to aid a digestive Christmas are these delights - an edible candle concocted from cranberry sauce, mayonnaise and gelatin, with a handful of walnuts chucked in to make the texture truly tempting. And sophisticated housewives were urged to keep the treats flowing by encasing leftovers in jelly. Jell-o suggested putting sweetcorn, carrots and cauliflower in sweet lemon or lime flavour. It may have been better to stick with the children's nuclear reactor. .", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2152, "answer_start": 667, "text": "Domestic drudgery appears to be a theme when it came to finding something special for the lady in your life. Whether it was the thousands of people writing to Mrs Christmas in the hope of unwrapping a sit-down ironing board, or the \"ideal present\" of a beige-handled stainless steel set of batter spoon and apple corer, the place for females was most definitely in the home. It wasn't all work work work, though. Once the chores had been done, every good wife made herself attractive for her husband. As one advert for hair tape (yes, hair tape) went: \"When you were a little girl, receiving a Christmas doll was very important. Now being one is\". One for the women's libbers. If that wasn't inspirational enough, there was also an array of lascivious Father Christmases to pander to. Acceptable methods of keeping them happy seemingly included: wearing a transparent negligee while admiring Santa's shiny footwear (in an advert for boot polish); and trimming the tree while up a ladder wearing high heels, seamed stockings and a short skirt (in an advert for stockings, which came in sizes \"tall, tiny and in-between\"). For those who felt their figures or faces were not up to scratch, there were plenty of aids on the market. Nuns - not usually fans of cosmetics - were used to sell cases of perfumed toilet powder, while a company called Sargol tried to persuade women with their tablets that \"well-developed bodies\" were always admired, whether \"at the theatre or in the ballroom\"." } ], "id": "9468_0", "question": "What women want?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Claim: UK fishermen were \"throwing back a million tonnes of fish dead\" every year because of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP), according to Conservative MP Owen Paterson. Reality Check verdict: No one has ever come up with a credible figure of one million tonnes for UK fishermen alone. It's true that UK fishermen were required by EU rules in the past to throw back unwanted or undersized fish - although exactly how much is not known. The EU started reversing these rules in 2016 and by 2019 vessels weren't allowed to throw back any fish subject to quotas. There's some evidence discarding is still happening, though, despite the rule change. The Conservative MP and former Environment Secretary Owen Paterson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Brexit would allow the UK to become \"an independent maritime nation\" and \"stop the complete horrors\" of the EU's Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). He said, under CFP rules, UK fishermen were \"throwing back a million tonnes of fish dead as pollution every year\". * The UK remains part of the Common Fisheries Policy - which sets the rules on how EU members fish - until the end of the transition period, at the end of this year. The system that will replace it is still up for negotiation. Until relatively recently, EU member states - including the UK - were required to throw some fish back into the water. This controversial practice was known as \"discarding\" and involved returning unwanted catches back to sea (dead or alive) because they were too small or because the crew had exceeded their quota - the amount of fish they were allowed to catch. There is no single accepted figure for this. A 2005 study estimated that 500,000 to 800,000 tonnes of fish were discarded in the North Sea each year, but it did not attribute this to any one country. In 2008, a report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) put the figure for the North Sea at one million tonnes. Again it did not single out the UK. This was calculated by subtracting kilos of fish sold from kilos of fish caught. In 2010, University of Exeter scientists put the figure at 267,000 tonnes of fish discarded in the North Sea in 2010 - and said this figure had declined from about 500,000 tonnes in 1990. A House of Lords report published in 2019 said that in 2013 an estimated 1.7 million tonnes of fish and \"other marine animals\" were being thrown back into the sea each year across European waters - again not specifically by UK fishermen. The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) told us they did not recognise the one million tonnes figure quoted by Mr Paterson and did not believe an estimate of discarded fish could be reached. From January 2015 onwards, the EU started reversing its policy on discarding. It introduced a \"landing obligation\" on fishermen to keep the fish they caught. This first applied to \"pelagic\" species of fish (including mackerel and herring) before being extended from 2016 to bottom-dwelling fish (including cod, haddock and plaice). By January 2019, vessels weren't allowed to discard any species of fish for which quotas were used to limit the numbers caught. We spoke to Mr Paterson. He said he was referring to the situation under the old rules but added that he \"knew the discard ban was not going to work\". While he believed the one million figure to be a widely recognised estimate, he acknowledged that \"the reality is, we don't know\". The discard ban has \"proven challenging to implement\", according to Louisa Casson, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK. \"There are many proposed solutions, including observers and CCTV on boats, but none of these are in place across the entire UK fishing fleet,\" she said. And there is some evidence vessels are still discarding fish, including video and photographic evidence of illegal discards happening off the coast of Scotland gathered by campaign groups Our Fish and Open Seas. A House of Lords report on the landing obligation policy, published in February 2019, said: \"Little attempt appears to have been made to enforce the landing obligation's requirements thus far, allowing the discarding of fish to continue.\" The NFFO said that while the ban was working well for some types of fishing, for others there were \"fundamental difficulties caused by the design of the legislation\" which required a \"fundamental overhaul\". *UPDATE 14 February: After the publication of this piece Owen Paterson contacted us to say that when he said \"we'll be able to implement modern techniques and conservation and stop the complete horrors of the CFP where we were throwing back a million tonnes of fish dead as pollution every year as discards\" the \"we\" in the latter part of the quote was a reference to the EU rather than the UK. Read more from Reality Check Send us your questions Follow us on Twitter", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1607, "answer_start": 1245, "text": "Until relatively recently, EU member states - including the UK - were required to throw some fish back into the water. This controversial practice was known as \"discarding\" and involved returning unwanted catches back to sea (dead or alive) because they were too small or because the crew had exceeded their quota - the amount of fish they were allowed to catch." } ], "id": "9469_0", "question": "So what do the rules say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2677, "answer_start": 1608, "text": "There is no single accepted figure for this. A 2005 study estimated that 500,000 to 800,000 tonnes of fish were discarded in the North Sea each year, but it did not attribute this to any one country. In 2008, a report from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) put the figure for the North Sea at one million tonnes. Again it did not single out the UK. This was calculated by subtracting kilos of fish sold from kilos of fish caught. In 2010, University of Exeter scientists put the figure at 267,000 tonnes of fish discarded in the North Sea in 2010 - and said this figure had declined from about 500,000 tonnes in 1990. A House of Lords report published in 2019 said that in 2013 an estimated 1.7 million tonnes of fish and \"other marine animals\" were being thrown back into the sea each year across European waters - again not specifically by UK fishermen. The National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations (NFFO) told us they did not recognise the one million tonnes figure quoted by Mr Paterson and did not believe an estimate of discarded fish could be reached." } ], "id": "9469_1", "question": "How many fish were discarded?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4744, "answer_start": 3420, "text": "The discard ban has \"proven challenging to implement\", according to Louisa Casson, oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK. \"There are many proposed solutions, including observers and CCTV on boats, but none of these are in place across the entire UK fishing fleet,\" she said. And there is some evidence vessels are still discarding fish, including video and photographic evidence of illegal discards happening off the coast of Scotland gathered by campaign groups Our Fish and Open Seas. A House of Lords report on the landing obligation policy, published in February 2019, said: \"Little attempt appears to have been made to enforce the landing obligation's requirements thus far, allowing the discarding of fish to continue.\" The NFFO said that while the ban was working well for some types of fishing, for others there were \"fundamental difficulties caused by the design of the legislation\" which required a \"fundamental overhaul\". *UPDATE 14 February: After the publication of this piece Owen Paterson contacted us to say that when he said \"we'll be able to implement modern techniques and conservation and stop the complete horrors of the CFP where we were throwing back a million tonnes of fish dead as pollution every year as discards\" the \"we\" in the latter part of the quote was a reference to the EU rather than the UK." } ], "id": "9469_2", "question": "Is discarding still happening?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A Chinese billionaire and political donor has dubbed Australia a \"giant baby\" after he lost residency rights. It is an \"objective fact\" that the country has a baby's \"innate characteristics\", Huang Xiangmo told state tabloid Global Times. The property developer has lived in Sydney since 2011 and has donated millions to major political parties. But he was stranded overseas when the government rejected his citizenship bid and cancelled his permanent residency. The Sydney Morning Herald first reported the visa denial earlier this month, describing Mr Huang as \"Beijing's former top lobbyist in Australia\". He reportedly has links with the Chinese Communist Party, and Australia's national security agency has warned politicians not to accept money from him. It comes amid a row over Chinese influence in Australia which has strained relations between the two nations. Mr Huang attacked his adopted country in his interview with the Global Times, a newspaper known for its strident, nationalist tone. Asked what he thought was behind the tense relations in recent years, the billionaire said: \"The history of Australia has determined the innate characteristics of a giant baby.\" \"This is an objective fact and it does not mean Australia has to feel inferior,\" he said. \"The growth of a giant baby takes time, and Australia still has a long way to go.\" Mr Huang said he moved to the country for its \"beautiful scenery and simple folk customs\" and accused some Australian media outlets of smearing him. The billionaire has reportedly donated about A$2.7 million ($1.91m; PS1.49m) to both major parties. Mr Huang said these donations came from his desire to \"promote Chinese people's legal involvement in politics\". He was linked with Sam Dastyari, a Labor party politician who announced his resignation in 2017 after making pro-Beijing remarks over the South China Sea dispute. Mr Dastyari reportedly told Mr Huang he may be under surveillance - something the senator denies. Australia has been increasingly vocal about what it sees as growing Chinese influence in recent years. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urged a crackdown on \"covert, coercive\" activities by foreign governments in 2017, noting \"disturbing reports\" of Chinese influence while stressing the rules were not targeted at any one country. That same year Chinese students complained about teaching materials at Australian universities - drawing fears that China was exerting pressure on campuses. Last November, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a new multi-billion dollar fund for Pacific island nations, seemingly to counter Chinese influence in the area. \"Australia cannot take its influence in the south-west Pacific for granted,\" he said, calling the region \"our patch\". Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi stressed the two nations should work together in the ocean. Since 2011 Beijing has become the second-largest donor of foreign aid to Pacific islands after Australia.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1502, "answer_start": 871, "text": "Mr Huang attacked his adopted country in his interview with the Global Times, a newspaper known for its strident, nationalist tone. Asked what he thought was behind the tense relations in recent years, the billionaire said: \"The history of Australia has determined the innate characteristics of a giant baby.\" \"This is an objective fact and it does not mean Australia has to feel inferior,\" he said. \"The growth of a giant baby takes time, and Australia still has a long way to go.\" Mr Huang said he moved to the country for its \"beautiful scenery and simple folk customs\" and accused some Australian media outlets of smearing him." } ], "id": "9470_0", "question": "What did Mr Huang say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1975, "answer_start": 1503, "text": "The billionaire has reportedly donated about A$2.7 million ($1.91m; PS1.49m) to both major parties. Mr Huang said these donations came from his desire to \"promote Chinese people's legal involvement in politics\". He was linked with Sam Dastyari, a Labor party politician who announced his resignation in 2017 after making pro-Beijing remarks over the South China Sea dispute. Mr Dastyari reportedly told Mr Huang he may be under surveillance - something the senator denies." } ], "id": "9470_1", "question": "Who is Mr Huang?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2950, "answer_start": 1976, "text": "Australia has been increasingly vocal about what it sees as growing Chinese influence in recent years. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urged a crackdown on \"covert, coercive\" activities by foreign governments in 2017, noting \"disturbing reports\" of Chinese influence while stressing the rules were not targeted at any one country. That same year Chinese students complained about teaching materials at Australian universities - drawing fears that China was exerting pressure on campuses. Last November, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a new multi-billion dollar fund for Pacific island nations, seemingly to counter Chinese influence in the area. \"Australia cannot take its influence in the south-west Pacific for granted,\" he said, calling the region \"our patch\". Top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi stressed the two nations should work together in the ocean. Since 2011 Beijing has become the second-largest donor of foreign aid to Pacific islands after Australia." } ], "id": "9470_2", "question": "Why are relations strained between China and Australia?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Twenty years after the death of Princess Diana in a car accident in Paris, her legacy seems most apparent in the open and candid nature of her sons - Princes William and Harry - and the media's relationship with the Royal Family. Sun photographer Arthur Edwards was one of the first people to photograph the future Princess of Wales. He recalls his surprise at seeing how the 19-year-old reacted to the media attention generated by her courtship by Prince Charles. \"Other girlfriends were quite shy,\" he says. \"She wasn't like a lot of celebrities... ducking and hiding. Mostly she was head-up smiling, taking it all on the chin and coping very well. \"A lot of the royal watchers, me included at the time, thought this was a sign that this girl was obviously quite keen to get the job of the Princess of Wales.\" Edwards ended up taking the iconic picture of the princess-to-be at the nursery school where she was working in 1980. She refused to do interviews but agreed to a picture with two of the nursery's children [above, centre], an early hint to the press of her tactile nature. Few could have predicted then that this apparently benign trait would herald a change in our future expectations of the UK's most famous family. The following year, Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in front of a worldwide TV audience of 750 million. She established herself as a global figure, using royal visits around the world to establish her empathy with the ill and impoverished, and overturn the aloof image of the royals. For Edwards, the contrast between the old and new guard of royals was epitomised by a visit Diana made to a leprosy hospital in Nigeria in 1990. \"I always compare it to a trip I did with Princess Anne in Africa for Save the Children,\" he said. \"There were 5,000 mothers and children... being inoculated, and I never got one frame of Princess Anne with an African mother or an African child being inoculated. \"When we went to Africa with Diana, we couldn't stop her hugging them, feeding them, embracing them. She was embracing them... looking straight into their eyes and made them feel a million dollars.\" To Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, the difference was just as stark: \"She made the rest of them look completely old-fashioned really.\" Princess Diana was a patron of more than 100 charities before her death in 1997. She is widely credited with helping to challenge the public's perception of HIV and Aids by shaking the hands of patients at the London Lighthouse, a centre that pioneered services for sufferers. BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell believes Diana's different style was down to her \"coming from outside the Royal Family\". \"She was a person of her generation who found it rather implausible that one was expected to step back and not embrace people, quite literally.\" But this familiarity with the press and natural candour translated into close scrutiny of her personal life and failing marriage. After the publication of Andrew Morton's biography in 1992, which claimed infidelity in the royal marriage, the Prince and Princess of Wales separated. The book, thought to have been aided by interviews with Diana, led to Prince Charles discussing his relationship with the-then Camilla Parker-Bowles in an interview with ITV's Jonathan Dimbleby. The princess hit back, telling her side of the story in a 1995 TV interview with Martin Bashir on the BBC's Panorama. As well as discussing her marriage with Prince Charles, Diana openly talked about her struggles with bulimia, depression and anxiety. It was unprecedented territory for a member of the Royal Family. \"It was my escape mechanism,\" she told the programme. \"When you have bulimia you're very ashamed of yourself and you hate yourself. You don't discuss it with people.\" It is this willingness to discuss personal issues that is closely echoed in the recent revelations by her sons, Princes William and Harry, about the deeply personal impact of their mother's premature death. In April, Prince Harry opened up about his own struggles, by discussing how he needed counselling after his mother's death. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams says Diana's relationship with the public and the media clearly influenced her sons. \"I don't think anyone would've predicted William and Harry would be as candid as they were. And that is undoubtedly down to their absolute admiration of their mother and that they're clearly following in their footsteps in terms of her charity work.\" In a recent BBC documentary, former Prime Minister Tony Blair said: \"Today... we see Prince William and Prince Harry as people who [the public] feel a close connection with. \"It's really important to wind back 20 years and realise she was the first member of the Royal Family that people felt behaved and acted like a normal human being.\" But historian Christopher Lee urges us not to overestimate her impact. \"What Diana did was focus on Diana. She became a celebrity,\" he said. \"These were celebrity moments and it's in fact quite remarkable, for a monarchy, that the British public still don't know their Royal Family. \"The Queen's behaviour as a result of Diana's death [did not change], nor did the Queen's attitude change.\" Arthur Edwards, however, sees the princes' work as a continuation of their mother's hands-on approach to charitable work. Remembering a visit to a children's hospital in Barbados with Prince Harry, he says: \"He wouldn't leave until there were kids smiling. Same with William. I remember going on a boat on Lake Windermere with him. There were a lot of sick children there and he was twirling them round... really making them feel fantastic.\" Diana's relationship with the media came to a catastrophic end, after her chauffeured car crashed when the driver was trying to escape paparazzi on motorcycles. But Mr Fitzwilliams says the power of the paparazzi has been diminished as a result. And when photos of a topless Duchess of Cambridge were published, many in the mainstream media refused them out of a \"global sense of common decency\". \"There is still a paparazzi danger to the Royal Family, and there are periodic pleas by William and Kate, Harry and Meghan [Markle].\" It is surely no coincidence that today, when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to mark a family moment for the press, they don't shirk from the cameras. They understand the media's needs - but often now it is the duchess herself who is behind the lens.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6466, "answer_start": 4837, "text": "But historian Christopher Lee urges us not to overestimate her impact. \"What Diana did was focus on Diana. She became a celebrity,\" he said. \"These were celebrity moments and it's in fact quite remarkable, for a monarchy, that the British public still don't know their Royal Family. \"The Queen's behaviour as a result of Diana's death [did not change], nor did the Queen's attitude change.\" Arthur Edwards, however, sees the princes' work as a continuation of their mother's hands-on approach to charitable work. Remembering a visit to a children's hospital in Barbados with Prince Harry, he says: \"He wouldn't leave until there were kids smiling. Same with William. I remember going on a boat on Lake Windermere with him. There were a lot of sick children there and he was twirling them round... really making them feel fantastic.\" Diana's relationship with the media came to a catastrophic end, after her chauffeured car crashed when the driver was trying to escape paparazzi on motorcycles. But Mr Fitzwilliams says the power of the paparazzi has been diminished as a result. And when photos of a topless Duchess of Cambridge were published, many in the mainstream media refused them out of a \"global sense of common decency\". \"There is still a paparazzi danger to the Royal Family, and there are periodic pleas by William and Kate, Harry and Meghan [Markle].\" It is surely no coincidence that today, when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to mark a family moment for the press, they don't shirk from the cameras. They understand the media's needs - but often now it is the duchess herself who is behind the lens." } ], "id": "9471_0", "question": "Princess or celebrity?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Prosecutors are calling for a suspended EUR5,000 (PS4,520) fine for French rapper Nick Conrad, who is on trial for incitement to murder in Paris after he published an online video entitled \"Hang White People\". The music video shows the rapper acting out the kidnap, torture and hanging of a white man. The lyrics, which sparked outrage, call for white babies to be killed. Mr Conrad denies the charge, and says the song is a comment on racism. The nine-minute video, first published on YouTube in September, was quickly suspended for violating the company's terms of service. It depicts a white man being shot and tortured by the rapper and an accomplice. He is forced to bite the pavement and is kicked in the head before being hanged. One section of the lyrics reads: \"I go to the nurseries, I kill the white babies. Catch them quick and hang their parents!\" Anti-racism groups have called the clip an incitement to violence and racial hatred. The 35-year-old French rapper of Cameroonian descent was virtually unknown to the French public before he released his video four months ago. He was raised in the suburbs of Paris, and worked as a receptionist at a five-star hotel on Avenue de l'Opera until he lost his job recently. \"Nick Conrad\" is a pseudonym. The charge against Mr Conrad could result in up to five years in prison and EUR45,000 in fines. Prosecutors have requested a suspended fine of EUR5,000, saying he has \"already to a certain extent paid the consequences\". The rapper told the court on Wednesday that the video was obviously a fictional depiction of racism, designed to shock by inverting roles, and therefore not to be taken at face value. The scenes are said to be a reference to the film American History X, where white neo-Nazis subjected a black man to similar violent acts. The BBC's Hugh Schofield reports that the prosecution countered this, saying there cannot be exceptions - incitement to violence does not stop just because the intended victim is white. The trial continues on 19 March.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2021, "answer_start": 946, "text": "The 35-year-old French rapper of Cameroonian descent was virtually unknown to the French public before he released his video four months ago. He was raised in the suburbs of Paris, and worked as a receptionist at a five-star hotel on Avenue de l'Opera until he lost his job recently. \"Nick Conrad\" is a pseudonym. The charge against Mr Conrad could result in up to five years in prison and EUR45,000 in fines. Prosecutors have requested a suspended fine of EUR5,000, saying he has \"already to a certain extent paid the consequences\". The rapper told the court on Wednesday that the video was obviously a fictional depiction of racism, designed to shock by inverting roles, and therefore not to be taken at face value. The scenes are said to be a reference to the film American History X, where white neo-Nazis subjected a black man to similar violent acts. The BBC's Hugh Schofield reports that the prosecution countered this, saying there cannot be exceptions - incitement to violence does not stop just because the intended victim is white. The trial continues on 19 March." } ], "id": "9472_0", "question": "Who is Nick Conrad?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US launched a cyber-attack on Iranian weapons systems on Thursday as President Trump pulled out of air strikes on the country, US reports say. The cyber-attack disabled computer systems controlling rocket and missile launchers, the Washington Post said. It was in retaliation for the shooting down of a US drone as well as attacks on oil tankers that the US has blamed Iran for, the New York Times said. There is no independent confirmation of damage to Iranian systems. The US is set to impose further sanctions on Iran that President Trump has described as \"major\". He said the sanctions were needed to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons, and economic pressure would be maintained unless Tehran changed course. Speaking in Jerusalem, US National Security Adviser John Bolton said the details of the new sanctions were likely to be announced on Monday. Nobody had granted Iran \"a hunting licence in the Middle East,\" he added. Tensions between the US and Iran have risen since the US last year pulled out of a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and reinstated sanctions, triggering economic meltdown in Iran. Last week Iran said it would exceed internationally agreed limits on its nuclear programme. Mr Trump has said he does not want war with Iran, but warned the country would face \"obliteration\" if conflict broke out. The attack had been planned for several weeks, the sources told US media outlets, and was suggested as a way of responding to the mine attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Oman. It was aimed at weapons systems used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which shot down the US drone last Thursday and which the US says also attacked the tankers. Both the Washington Post and AP news agency said the cyber-attack had disabled the systems. The New York Times said it was intended to take the systems offline for a period of time. On Saturday the US Department for Homeland Security warned that Iran was stepping up its own cyber-attacks on the US. Christopher Krebs, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said \"malicious cyberactivity\" was being directed at US industries and government agencies by \"Iranian regime actors and their proxies\". They were using \"destructive 'wiper' attacks\", he said, using tactics such as \"spear phishing, password spraying and credential stuffing\" in a bid to take control of entire networks. Iran has also been trying to hack US naval ship systems, the Washington Post reported. He hasn't commented on the cyber-attack reports. On Friday he said he had pulled out of launching conventional strikes on Iran because he had been told that 150 Iranians would be killed. On Saturday he said he was open to talks with the Iranians. \"If Iran wants to become a prosperous nation... it's OK with me,\" Mr Trump said. \"But they're never going to do it if they think in five or six years they're going to have nuclear weapons.\" \"Let's make Iran great again,\" he added, echoing his campaign slogan from the 2016 presidential election. The reinstatement of US sanctions last year - particularly those imposed on the energy, shipping and financial sectors - caused foreign investment to dry up and hit oil exports. The sanctions bar US companies from trading with Iran, but also with foreign firms or countries that are dealing with Iran. This has led to shortages of imported goods and products that are made with raw materials from abroad, most notably babies' nappies. The plunging value of the rial has also affected the cost of locally produced staples such as meat and eggs, which have soared in price. Iran's IRGC said the drone's downing was a \"clear message\" to the US that Iran's borders were \"our red line\". But US military officials maintain the drone was in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz at the time. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a high-ranking officer in the IRGC, said another military aircraft, carrying 35 passengers, had been flying close to the drone. \"We could have shot down that one too, but we did not,\" he said.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2503, "answer_start": 1352, "text": "The attack had been planned for several weeks, the sources told US media outlets, and was suggested as a way of responding to the mine attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Oman. It was aimed at weapons systems used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which shot down the US drone last Thursday and which the US says also attacked the tankers. Both the Washington Post and AP news agency said the cyber-attack had disabled the systems. The New York Times said it was intended to take the systems offline for a period of time. On Saturday the US Department for Homeland Security warned that Iran was stepping up its own cyber-attacks on the US. Christopher Krebs, the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, said \"malicious cyberactivity\" was being directed at US industries and government agencies by \"Iranian regime actors and their proxies\". They were using \"destructive 'wiper' attacks\", he said, using tactics such as \"spear phishing, password spraying and credential stuffing\" in a bid to take control of entire networks. Iran has also been trying to hack US naval ship systems, the Washington Post reported." } ], "id": "9473_0", "question": "What did the US cyber-attack do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3046, "answer_start": 2504, "text": "He hasn't commented on the cyber-attack reports. On Friday he said he had pulled out of launching conventional strikes on Iran because he had been told that 150 Iranians would be killed. On Saturday he said he was open to talks with the Iranians. \"If Iran wants to become a prosperous nation... it's OK with me,\" Mr Trump said. \"But they're never going to do it if they think in five or six years they're going to have nuclear weapons.\" \"Let's make Iran great again,\" he added, echoing his campaign slogan from the 2016 presidential election." } ], "id": "9473_1", "question": "What has Trump said?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3618, "answer_start": 3047, "text": "The reinstatement of US sanctions last year - particularly those imposed on the energy, shipping and financial sectors - caused foreign investment to dry up and hit oil exports. The sanctions bar US companies from trading with Iran, but also with foreign firms or countries that are dealing with Iran. This has led to shortages of imported goods and products that are made with raw materials from abroad, most notably babies' nappies. The plunging value of the rial has also affected the cost of locally produced staples such as meat and eggs, which have soared in price." } ], "id": "9473_2", "question": "How have US sanctions hit Iran?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4055, "answer_start": 3619, "text": "Iran's IRGC said the drone's downing was a \"clear message\" to the US that Iran's borders were \"our red line\". But US military officials maintain the drone was in international airspace over the Strait of Hormuz at the time. Amir Ali Hajizadeh, a high-ranking officer in the IRGC, said another military aircraft, carrying 35 passengers, had been flying close to the drone. \"We could have shot down that one too, but we did not,\" he said." } ], "id": "9473_3", "question": "What happened to the US drone?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Americans have voted to elect the 45th US president. Some of the results are in. Here's what is still to watch out for. The 50 states and Washington DC voted across six different time zones throughout Tuesday, 8 November. But it's not just winning the popular vote that counts. The US's complicated system is a race to secure 270 out of the 538 votes in the electoral college. Many of the polling stations have closed. So far: - Donald Trump has projected wins in Ohio, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma, Mississippi, West Virginia, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kansas, N Dakota, S Dakota, Wyoming, Nebraska, Arkansas, Montana, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Florida. - Hillary Clinton has New York, Connecticut, Vermont, DC, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Delaware, Illinois, Rhode Island, New Mexico, Colorado, California. Ohio is a bellwether swing state that has backed the winner at every presidential contest except one since World War Two. The BBC relies on projections by its US-based partner broadcaster ABC, because it can take days for all the ballots to be counted. As for the final result? Stay glued to your phone or TV or set your alarm for 23:00 EST (04:00 GMT). That's when West Coast polls close and history suggests a winner's declared. It was bang on the hour in 2008, and 15 minutes later in 2012. Polls have closed in Pennsylvania (20), but no result for the state yet. North Carolina, projected for Trump, defines the American divide. \"It's seen an influx of newcomers. Many of them lean Democrat. But poor white voters tip North Carolina's rural areas towards Donald Trump,\" says the BBC's Katty Kay. The key battleground of Florida, which is crucial to the fortunes of any presidential contender, has closed and is a projected win for Trump. The state voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012, but George W Bush won it in preceding elections - by just 537 votes in 2000. However, that year it took 36 days for Bush to be certified as the winner, as the vote triggered a recount and legal showdown. We should hear soon from Pennsylvania, which has swung for the Democrats in the previous six elections. It will be a big blow to Clinton if she doesn't win here. New Hampshire (4) will be eagerly watched as the polls suggest it's a dead heat. The starkly divided state of Colorado (9), which has a growing Latino population but a strong conservative streak, is projected for Clinton. Historically, it's one of the most widely swinging battleground states, casting its vote for Republican George W Bush in 2004 by a higher percentage than the nation as a whole, but then doing the same thing for Democrat Barack Obama four years later. The industrial Midwestern state of Michigan (16) could also cause an upset. Voters there haven't supported a Republican for president since 1988, but a backlash against globalisation has turned the state's heavily populated white, non-college-educated voters to Trump. Keep an eye on Wisconsin (10), which hasn't gone Republican since 1984. Trump has been making a last-minute push to turn the state red. New Mexico (5) is projected for Clinton. It used to be seen as a swing state but Democrats have won five of the past six presidential elections there. Historically Republican Nevada (6) looks like it could be a nail-biter, as early voting suggests a Hispanic surge could turn out for Clinton. It's a similar situation in Arizona (11), which has voted Republican in every election since 1952 with the exception of Bill Clinton's win in 1996. Utah (6) is another interesting one to watch. Former CIA agent and Mormon Evan McMullin, who is running as an independent, is doing well in the polls and could be the only state to hand a loss to both Clinton and Trump, despite backing Republican candidates in the past. Iowa (6) is a must-win for Trump, given his strength among white, non-college-educated voters, but it voted for Obama in 2008 and 2012 so it's not a done deal. Montana (3) has been safely Republican since 1968, bar a single victory for Democrat Bill Clinton in 1992. The pressure is always on the main American TV networks to be the first to \"call\" the result of a presidential election, before all of the votes have been counted - a process that can take days. But there is even more pressure on them to get that announcement right. Nobody wants a repeat of the 2000 election, when the networks had to withdraw their projected result for Florida after prematurely declaring George W Bush the next president. The networks have \"decision desks\", groups of statisticians who are kept away from the main news room, and whose job it is to come up with state-by-state projections. The BBC is using projections from experts at ABC News - its US broadcast partner - for the presidential race. For the House, Senate and governor races, it will use the Associated Press news agency, which gathers voting data from state and local officials. Many other networks use AP and Edison Research, which carries out exit polls. The BBC is not conducting its own exit poll as it would at a UK general election. Unlike most of the US networks, the BBC will not be \"calling\" the result of the election. It will be reporting the projections from the ABC results team, which are made based on expert analysis before all the votes have been counted. The polls close in the biggest electoral prize on the map, California (55), which is a Democratic stronghold, as well as Oregon (7), Washington (12), Idaho (4) and Hawaii (4). Drum roll: Depending on how the electoral college is stacking up, every media outlet under the sun could declare the next president of the US. Tradition dictates that a concession speech will follow shortly afterwards. It was at 00:00 EST (05:00 GMT) in 2012 and 2008. However, in 2004, John Kerry didn't concede until the following day. Given Trump's rhetoric about \"rigged elections\", if he doesn't win, he might demand a recount or refuse to concede. If that happens, when the US president is finally declared is anybody's game. Poor old Alaska (3). If it's really, really tight, the state might still matter, but expect the drama to already be over. Americans are also voting for 34 of the US Senate's 100 seats and all 435 seats in the House of Representatives. Democrats need four seats to regain control of the Senate and 30 seats to regain control of the House. Twelve governorships are also up for grabs. The president-elect won't actually become the 45th president of the United States until 20 January, which is Inauguration Day. This is explicitly laid out in the US constitution. The president-elect will place his or her hand on the bible and take the Oath of Office at noon. From then, the government is in their hands. So is the White House. Usually, the sitting president and their spouse host the incoming First Couple for tea before the ceremony. About six hours later, the new First Family moves in. Who will win? Play our game to make your call", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5303, "answer_start": 4045, "text": "The pressure is always on the main American TV networks to be the first to \"call\" the result of a presidential election, before all of the votes have been counted - a process that can take days. But there is even more pressure on them to get that announcement right. Nobody wants a repeat of the 2000 election, when the networks had to withdraw their projected result for Florida after prematurely declaring George W Bush the next president. The networks have \"decision desks\", groups of statisticians who are kept away from the main news room, and whose job it is to come up with state-by-state projections. The BBC is using projections from experts at ABC News - its US broadcast partner - for the presidential race. For the House, Senate and governor races, it will use the Associated Press news agency, which gathers voting data from state and local officials. Many other networks use AP and Edison Research, which carries out exit polls. The BBC is not conducting its own exit poll as it would at a UK general election. Unlike most of the US networks, the BBC will not be \"calling\" the result of the election. It will be reporting the projections from the ABC results team, which are made based on expert analysis before all the votes have been counted." } ], "id": "9474_0", "question": "How are projections made?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US central bank, the Federal Reserve, is expected on Wednesday to cut rates for the first time since 2008. Traders expect a 0.25 percentage point cut, taking the federal funds target range to 2-2.25%. Supporters say it will spur a US economy showing signs of needing help. Critics argue that a rate cut will not help and that the Fed will be pandering to President Donald Trump, who is demanding a big cut. Inflation is lower than policymakers would like in the US, languishing at about 1.6% in June. The Fed targets 2%. Concerns about the US and global economy will also weigh on rate-setters' minds. Last week, the IMF cut its growth forecasts for the global economy for this year and next. US growth registered at an anaemic annual rate of 2.1% between April and June. US manufacturing, about a tenth of the economy, is the main sector under pressure. It slowed to a low of almost three years last month. Unemployment hit a 49-year low in May and was at 3.7% last month. But many of those jobs are in the service sector and are low-paying with low hours, says Megan Greene, an economist and senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. Often, low unemployment pushes wages up, and with more wages chasing the same products comes the inflation the Fed is looking for. But because the wages of the people being hired are low, that isn't happening. There is also the matter of the trade war with China, which threatens the world's economy. \"None of this will be fixed\" by a small rate cut, Megan Greene says. \"I think they will cut rates,\" said former vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve, Donald Kohn, \"and I think there are good reasons for doing that.\" While the economy \"looks pretty good\" and unemployment is low, \"I think there are some downside risks to growth, and inflation is running low so it's a good time to take out some insurance,\" he told the BBC's Today programme. Cutting rates makes borrowing cheaper for businesses and consumers, and can lead to asset price inflation, or bubbles as that's known. Mr Kohn says the banking system is much stronger since the last crisis in 2007-9, which should lessen the risk of a similar crash. One area to watch is corporate debt, which has been growing, he says. US corporate debt, excluding lenders', stands at about $10tn (PS8.23tn), up about a half from the crisis. However, when rates were at close to zero for the seven years after the crisis, it didn't spur much growth, said Ms Greene, leaving one to wonder what a 0.25 percentage point dent will do this time. Finally, what if it doesn't work? When another true crisis arrives, the central bank will want to cut rates again to stimulate growth and bolster business confidence. \"If it doesn't do much - and I don't think it will - there's a risk of people not thinking it will work again.\" No. On Tuesday President Trump called on the Federal Reserve to make a large interest rate cut, interpreted as larger than the expected 0.25. \"I'm very disappointed in the Fed. I think they acted too quickly by far, and I think I've been proven right,\" Mr Trump said. \"The Fed is often wrong,\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 775, "answer_start": 411, "text": "Inflation is lower than policymakers would like in the US, languishing at about 1.6% in June. The Fed targets 2%. Concerns about the US and global economy will also weigh on rate-setters' minds. Last week, the IMF cut its growth forecasts for the global economy for this year and next. US growth registered at an anaemic annual rate of 2.1% between April and June." } ], "id": "9475_0", "question": "Why is the Fed expected to act?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1512, "answer_start": 776, "text": "US manufacturing, about a tenth of the economy, is the main sector under pressure. It slowed to a low of almost three years last month. Unemployment hit a 49-year low in May and was at 3.7% last month. But many of those jobs are in the service sector and are low-paying with low hours, says Megan Greene, an economist and senior fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School. Often, low unemployment pushes wages up, and with more wages chasing the same products comes the inflation the Fed is looking for. But because the wages of the people being hired are low, that isn't happening. There is also the matter of the trade war with China, which threatens the world's economy. \"None of this will be fixed\" by a small rate cut, Megan Greene says." } ], "id": "9475_1", "question": "How has the US economy been doing?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2805, "answer_start": 1513, "text": "\"I think they will cut rates,\" said former vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve, Donald Kohn, \"and I think there are good reasons for doing that.\" While the economy \"looks pretty good\" and unemployment is low, \"I think there are some downside risks to growth, and inflation is running low so it's a good time to take out some insurance,\" he told the BBC's Today programme. Cutting rates makes borrowing cheaper for businesses and consumers, and can lead to asset price inflation, or bubbles as that's known. Mr Kohn says the banking system is much stronger since the last crisis in 2007-9, which should lessen the risk of a similar crash. One area to watch is corporate debt, which has been growing, he says. US corporate debt, excluding lenders', stands at about $10tn (PS8.23tn), up about a half from the crisis. However, when rates were at close to zero for the seven years after the crisis, it didn't spur much growth, said Ms Greene, leaving one to wonder what a 0.25 percentage point dent will do this time. Finally, what if it doesn't work? When another true crisis arrives, the central bank will want to cut rates again to stimulate growth and bolster business confidence. \"If it doesn't do much - and I don't think it will - there's a risk of people not thinking it will work again.\"" } ], "id": "9475_2", "question": "Does everyone think it is a good idea?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3099, "answer_start": 2806, "text": "No. On Tuesday President Trump called on the Federal Reserve to make a large interest rate cut, interpreted as larger than the expected 0.25. \"I'm very disappointed in the Fed. I think they acted too quickly by far, and I think I've been proven right,\" Mr Trump said. \"The Fed is often wrong,\"" } ], "id": "9475_3", "question": "Will this keep Mr Trump happy?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "It's the story that has dominated Donald Trump's presidency. But it's complicated. Let's take a step back. US intelligence agencies believe Russia tried to sway the election in favour of Mr Trump. A special counsel looked into whether anyone from his campaign colluded in the effort. After two years, we have a 448-page report in which the special counsel finds no evidence the campaign conspired with Russia. No, Robert Mueller also looked at 10 instances where the president obstructed justice. But he was unable to decide whether they amounted to a crime. His report also found that the Russian government did interfere in the election. Not really. We found out he tried to fire Mr Mueller. He had called it a witch hunt from the start. No. It was conducted by the hugely respected Mr Mueller, a Republican who used to run the FBI. There were several meetings between senior members of Mr Trump's team with Russian officials. Several meetings were not initially disclosed. Ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn lied to the FBI about meeting the Russian ambassador to the US before Mr Trump took office. The president's son, Donald Jr, met a Russian lawyer who said she had \"dirt\" on Hillary Clinton during the campaign. He brought charges against several of Mr Trump's inner circle. Ex-adviser Roger Stone has been charged with lying to Congress about his contacts with Wikileaks, which released emails belonging to Democratic officials that had allegedly been hacked by Russians. Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen admitted lying to Congress, campaign finance violations and tax evasion and received a 36-month prison sentence. And former campaign chairman Paul Manafort lied to the FBI about his work in Ukraine, according to special counsel Robert Mueller, with whom he had been co-operating. Manafort has been jailed for bank fraud. Since he fired the man leading one of the investigations, ex-FBI Director James Comey, there were questions about whether he obstructed justice.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 409, "answer_start": 284, "text": "After two years, we have a 448-page report in which the special counsel finds no evidence the campaign conspired with Russia." } ], "id": "9476_0", "question": "What did he find?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 639, "answer_start": 410, "text": "No, Robert Mueller also looked at 10 instances where the president obstructed justice. But he was unable to decide whether they amounted to a crime. His report also found that the Russian government did interfere in the election." } ], "id": "9476_1", "question": "Is that all?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 739, "answer_start": 640, "text": "Not really. We found out he tried to fire Mr Mueller. He had called it a witch hunt from the start." } ], "id": "9476_2", "question": "So a good day for the president?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 975, "answer_start": 740, "text": "No. It was conducted by the hugely respected Mr Mueller, a Republican who used to run the FBI. There were several meetings between senior members of Mr Trump's team with Russian officials. Several meetings were not initially disclosed." } ], "id": "9476_3", "question": "Was it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1227, "answer_start": 976, "text": "Ex-National Security Adviser Michael Flynn lied to the FBI about meeting the Russian ambassador to the US before Mr Trump took office. The president's son, Donald Jr, met a Russian lawyer who said she had \"dirt\" on Hillary Clinton during the campaign." } ], "id": "9476_4", "question": "What meetings?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1848, "answer_start": 1228, "text": "He brought charges against several of Mr Trump's inner circle. Ex-adviser Roger Stone has been charged with lying to Congress about his contacts with Wikileaks, which released emails belonging to Democratic officials that had allegedly been hacked by Russians. Mr Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen admitted lying to Congress, campaign finance violations and tax evasion and received a 36-month prison sentence. And former campaign chairman Paul Manafort lied to the FBI about his work in Ukraine, according to special counsel Robert Mueller, with whom he had been co-operating. Manafort has been jailed for bank fraud." } ], "id": "9476_5", "question": "What else did Mr Mueller look at?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1993, "answer_start": 1849, "text": "Since he fired the man leading one of the investigations, ex-FBI Director James Comey, there were questions about whether he obstructed justice." } ], "id": "9476_6", "question": "And the president?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The CEO of Twitter says it will not ban InfoWars or its founder Alex Jones because their accounts do not violate the social media platform's rules. A number of tech giants, including YouTube and Facebook, deleted the right-wing conspiracy theorist's content this week, citing hate speech. Mr Jones has accused the platforms of unfair censorship of his accounts. The radio host is best known for spreading unsubstantiated allegations about tragic events, including 9/11. He is currently being sued for defamation by the parents of two children killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, which he has repeatedly claimed was a \"giant hoax\". Twenty children under the age of seven and six adults died in the attack. In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Twitter CEO and co-founder Jack Dorsey explained the platform's decision, confirming it would not be following in the footsteps of others like Apple and Spotify and removing Mr Jones' and InfoWars' content. Mr Dorsey said the accounts had not violated the platform's rules, but vowed to suspend them if they ever did so. In his explanation, Mr Dorsey said it would be wrong to \"succumb and simply react to outside pressure\" instead of sticking to the company's codified principles. He also implied one-off actions risked fuelling new conspiracy theories in the long-run, and said it was critical for journalists to \"document, validate and refute\" unsubstantiated rumours like the ones spread by Mr Jones \"so people can form their own opinions\". Mr Jones mostly uses his Twitter account to share content and videos from InfoWars with his 850,000 followers, and promotes conspiracy theories against liberals, Muslims and migrants. - In July, he said that Democrats planned to launch a civil war on 4 July or US Independence Day - Last year, he tweeted that Muslims in England were demanding that the Queen either convert to Islam or leave the country. However, the CNN clip Infowars based its article on dates back to 2009 and features a group led by radical preacher Anjem Choudary, who by 2017 was already serving a five-and-a-half-year sentence for inviting support for the Islamic State group (IS) - He has previously said that \"transgenderism\" is a CIA \"plan to depopulate humanity\" and that the normalisation of mental illness is an \"evil paedophile plot to sexualise and destroy children\" - In 2013, he described then President Barack Obama as the \"global head of al-Qaeda\", and later accused him of arming IS Some users replied angrily to the Twitter CEO's tweets, accusing the platform of ignoring hate speech and labelling his explanation a \"cop out\". Mr Dorsey expanded on his original messages after receiving the criticism. He wrote in a series of tweets on Wednesday afternoon that the platform must build new tools to support journalists, who he described as \"one of the most important constituencies we serve\". Several right-wing commentators have suggested the ability of tech firms to block a publisher poses a challenge to free speech laws in the US. On Monday, Donald Trump Jnr implied the actions against Jones were part of a larger censorship campaign to purge conservative media outlets. The InfoWars app has seen a surge in popularity since Mr Jones' content was taken down from YouTube and Facebook, rising to number 4 in the news category in Apple's App Store. Jones has called the removal of his content part of an international conspiracy against him, which he says amounts to \"election meddling\" ahead of the US mid-term elections later this year. This is not the first time Twitter has faced similar controversy. Last year it suspended its verification system after being accused of amplifying the content of far-right accounts with official \"blue ticks\". In Tuesday's tweets Mr Dorsey admitted the platform had been \"terrible at explaining our decisions in the past\" but said it was committed to fixing itself. A number of well-known far-right figures including Tommy Robinson have been banned from Twitter in recent months as part of a wider crackdown on hateful and abusive content on the platform. Earlier this year, Twitter's tCEO asked for the public's help with tackling online abuse.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4180, "answer_start": 1506, "text": "Mr Jones mostly uses his Twitter account to share content and videos from InfoWars with his 850,000 followers, and promotes conspiracy theories against liberals, Muslims and migrants. - In July, he said that Democrats planned to launch a civil war on 4 July or US Independence Day - Last year, he tweeted that Muslims in England were demanding that the Queen either convert to Islam or leave the country. However, the CNN clip Infowars based its article on dates back to 2009 and features a group led by radical preacher Anjem Choudary, who by 2017 was already serving a five-and-a-half-year sentence for inviting support for the Islamic State group (IS) - He has previously said that \"transgenderism\" is a CIA \"plan to depopulate humanity\" and that the normalisation of mental illness is an \"evil paedophile plot to sexualise and destroy children\" - In 2013, he described then President Barack Obama as the \"global head of al-Qaeda\", and later accused him of arming IS Some users replied angrily to the Twitter CEO's tweets, accusing the platform of ignoring hate speech and labelling his explanation a \"cop out\". Mr Dorsey expanded on his original messages after receiving the criticism. He wrote in a series of tweets on Wednesday afternoon that the platform must build new tools to support journalists, who he described as \"one of the most important constituencies we serve\". Several right-wing commentators have suggested the ability of tech firms to block a publisher poses a challenge to free speech laws in the US. On Monday, Donald Trump Jnr implied the actions against Jones were part of a larger censorship campaign to purge conservative media outlets. The InfoWars app has seen a surge in popularity since Mr Jones' content was taken down from YouTube and Facebook, rising to number 4 in the news category in Apple's App Store. Jones has called the removal of his content part of an international conspiracy against him, which he says amounts to \"election meddling\" ahead of the US mid-term elections later this year. This is not the first time Twitter has faced similar controversy. Last year it suspended its verification system after being accused of amplifying the content of far-right accounts with official \"blue ticks\". In Tuesday's tweets Mr Dorsey admitted the platform had been \"terrible at explaining our decisions in the past\" but said it was committed to fixing itself. A number of well-known far-right figures including Tommy Robinson have been banned from Twitter in recent months as part of a wider crackdown on hateful and abusive content on the platform. Earlier this year, Twitter's tCEO asked for the public's help with tackling online abuse." } ], "id": "9477_0", "question": "What has Jones said on Twitter?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "A vice president of EA games has defended the company's use of loot boxes, saying they're just the same as Kinder Eggs. Kerry Hopkins was speaking in front of UK MPs this week about video game addiction. In 2018, computer scientists from York found a strong link between loot boxes and gambling. But Kerry told MPs that EA believed the boxes are \"quite ethical and fun.\" If you're not a gamer, loot boxes are virtual crates that contain goodies like weapons, costumes and other perks. Kerry Hopkins compared paying for loot boxes to buying things like Kinder Eggs, Hatchimals or LOL Surprise. \"We do think the way that we have implemented these kinds of mechanics - and Fifa of course is our big one, our Fifa Ultimate Team and our packs - is actually quite ethical and quite fun, quite enjoyable to people,\" Kerry said. But Ryan Brown, a games journalist and PR believes people who play games with loot boxes would disagree with EA. \"When you speak to any gamer, even gamers who do buy those games and do buy into those loot boxes, none of them are happy with it,\" he tells Radio 1 Newsbeat. \"They don't deem it as being fun, they wish it wasn't there.\" And he says people open a loot box hoping for something of value to them, unlike the toys Kerry compares them to. \"You open a Kinder Egg and you expect a toy - and you get a toy. With a loot box, you're hoping for something special. \"It is a lot more than just a throwaway toy. It's something people aspire to have.\" Ryan says loot boxes are the most debated topic in the gaming community, describing the conversation about their place in games as \"toxic\". And he says EA, and its games like FIFA and the Star Wars Battlefront franchise are among the worst offenders. EA's game Star Wars Battlefront II, which was released in 2017, was criticised by gamers because players could find powerful items or characters in loot boxes they paid for. It took other gamers many hours to find the same things - making online play much easier for those with cash to spend in the game. \"They pretty much locked entire characters behind loot boxes, very popular characters and ones they used in their marketing,\" Ryan says. In early 2018, EA removed certain items from loot boxes after the negative response from players and critics and in an attempt to make gameplay a bit more balanced. Earlier this year, Democrat senators in the US proposed legislation on loot boxes and games described as being \"pay-to-win\". And in April 2018, Belgium made loot boxes illegal. In the UK, loot boxes are not considered gambling if items found in them can also be unlocked by players through playing the game. \"We do agree with the UK gambling commission, the Australian gambling commission, and many other gambling commissions that they aren't gambling, and we also disagree that there's evidence that shows it leads to gambling,\" added Kerry during questions from MPs. \"Instead we think it's like many other products that people enjoy in a healthy way, and like the element of surprise.\" New rules introduced this year to Google's Play Store say games with loot boxes bought through its site must show the odds of finding each item - which has been in law for all gaming platforms in China since 2017. Ryan believes this should be part of the law in the UK too. \"Sometimes the odds will be something like 0.001% and it's important people realise how attainable each item is,\" he says. \"I don't think there's any need for them in the industry, there are tonnes of other, more well-received monetisation methods. \"Video games are capable of making enough money without loot boxes. I don't see them as justifiable in any way.\" Other figures from the games industry who spoke in front of MPs included the makers of Fortnite. Epic Games' Canon Pence and Matthew Weissinger said they were \"quite taken aback\" by comments earlier this year by Prince Harry that Fortnite should be banned because it was \"created to addict.\" Follow Newsbeat on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Listen to Newsbeat live at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays - or listen back here.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3232, "answer_start": 1723, "text": "EA's game Star Wars Battlefront II, which was released in 2017, was criticised by gamers because players could find powerful items or characters in loot boxes they paid for. It took other gamers many hours to find the same things - making online play much easier for those with cash to spend in the game. \"They pretty much locked entire characters behind loot boxes, very popular characters and ones they used in their marketing,\" Ryan says. In early 2018, EA removed certain items from loot boxes after the negative response from players and critics and in an attempt to make gameplay a bit more balanced. Earlier this year, Democrat senators in the US proposed legislation on loot boxes and games described as being \"pay-to-win\". And in April 2018, Belgium made loot boxes illegal. In the UK, loot boxes are not considered gambling if items found in them can also be unlocked by players through playing the game. \"We do agree with the UK gambling commission, the Australian gambling commission, and many other gambling commissions that they aren't gambling, and we also disagree that there's evidence that shows it leads to gambling,\" added Kerry during questions from MPs. \"Instead we think it's like many other products that people enjoy in a healthy way, and like the element of surprise.\" New rules introduced this year to Google's Play Store say games with loot boxes bought through its site must show the odds of finding each item - which has been in law for all gaming platforms in China since 2017." } ], "id": "9478_0", "question": "What happened to Battlefront II?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "On-demand video streaming services face a call that at least 20% of the catalogues they offer to EU subscribers should be made locally. The European Commission has also proposed that the programming must be given \"good visibility\". It says there are cultural benefits to the move, which would affect Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. However, one expert suggested the new rules might not have as much impact on what was on offer as intended. The call is part of a proposed update to the 28-nation bloc's Audiovisual Media Services directive. Other measures include: - a requirement that video-sharing platforms including YouTube adopt \"better\" measures to protect minors from violent content and people of all ages from clips that act as an incitement to hatred - a call for the creation of new symbols or phrases that would warn viewers of potentially harmful video content - such as bad language, sex or drugs - that would be used across the EU by both broadcasters and internet-based platforms - the ability for TV broadcasters to have more flexibility as to when they show adverts \"The way we watch TV or videos may have changed, but our values don't\" said Gunther Oettinger, commissioner for the digital economy. One industry watcher said that many of the online platforms already met the proposed quota requirement because they carried so much BBC and other British-made material. But even if the UK leaves the EU, and its programmes no longer counted, it would not necessarily mean lots of additional content from other countries would have to be commissioned as a result. \"This is driven by the core problem that the EU identified 40 years ago, that the Hollywood studios and other US producers dominate global box office and broadcasting because they have scale that cannot be achieved in a fragmented EU,\" said Alice Enders, from the media consultancy Enders Analysis. \"It does send out an important signal to Netflix and others. \"But let's face it, the online services could meet the 20% quota by loading up themselves with lots of rubbish French, Italian, Spanish and whatever content. \"Or they could simply remove some of their lesser-watched non-EU material.\" EU rules already oblige TV broadcasters to: - invest about 20% of their revenues into making or commissioning original content - to spend at least 50% of their time showing European works, including material made in their own country But since audiences are spending increasing amounts of their time watching on-demand services, the EU civil service thinks the new measure is required. \"This will have a positive impact on cultural diversity and bring more opportunities for European creators,\" it says. On-demand platforms would have to ensure at least a 20% of the catalogue they offered to EU subscribers was made up of \"European works\" and that this content was given prominence on viewers' screens. This would not be enforced centrally from Brussels. Rather, individual countries would have the right to demand the likes of Netflix and Amazon invest in local productions and/or buy the rights to EU-made shows and films. The companies could be given the option of either making the investments themselves or paying a levy into a fund that would then be shared out. The commission says the platforms could make sure the content was visible by making it easy for users to search for European-made productions, ensuring it appeared on their front pages and streaming trailers. The European Commission acknowledges there could be a problem for smaller providers. For example, it would be hard for Crunchyroll, a service that specialises in Japanese anime, or KorTV, which streams South Korean content, to meet the requirement. As a result, it is proposed a mandatory exception be made for companies with \"a low turnover and low audiences, as well as small and micro-enterprises\". Netflix said it was against quotas, but was already investing in local content. \"Our members around the world love European programming, that's why our investment in European programming, including Netflix original titles created in Europe, is growing,\" said a spokesman. The company recently started streaming Marseille, its first European-produced \"original\" TV series. And in November, it will premiere The Crown, a series about Queen Elizabeth II, which was filmed in the UK. It has also formed partnerships with European broadcasters to co-produce other shows. It is also worth noting that the Commission acknowledges 21% of the films offered by Netflix are currently classed as being from the EU. Amazon has yet to comment. The company would potentially be less affected as, at present, Germany, Austria and the UK are the only EU countries where its video-streaming subscription service, Prime Video, is available. But it is already making local shows, including the drama series Ripper Street, the forthcoming The Grand Tour - a car-themed show featuring the former hosts of Top Gear - and Wanted, a German-language thriller. The revised directive still needs to go before the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. And even if it is adopted, local regulators would still have to enforce it. Existing requirements affecting broadcasters are not always strictly adhered to.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2675, "answer_start": 2172, "text": "EU rules already oblige TV broadcasters to: - invest about 20% of their revenues into making or commissioning original content - to spend at least 50% of their time showing European works, including material made in their own country But since audiences are spending increasing amounts of their time watching on-demand services, the EU civil service thinks the new measure is required. \"This will have a positive impact on cultural diversity and bring more opportunities for European creators,\" it says." } ], "id": "9479_0", "question": "Why does the European Commission say it wants the quota?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3450, "answer_start": 2676, "text": "On-demand platforms would have to ensure at least a 20% of the catalogue they offered to EU subscribers was made up of \"European works\" and that this content was given prominence on viewers' screens. This would not be enforced centrally from Brussels. Rather, individual countries would have the right to demand the likes of Netflix and Amazon invest in local productions and/or buy the rights to EU-made shows and films. The companies could be given the option of either making the investments themselves or paying a levy into a fund that would then be shared out. The commission says the platforms could make sure the content was visible by making it easy for users to search for European-made productions, ensuring it appeared on their front pages and streaming trailers." } ], "id": "9479_1", "question": "How would a quota system work?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3852, "answer_start": 3451, "text": "The European Commission acknowledges there could be a problem for smaller providers. For example, it would be hard for Crunchyroll, a service that specialises in Japanese anime, or KorTV, which streams South Korean content, to meet the requirement. As a result, it is proposed a mandatory exception be made for companies with \"a low turnover and low audiences, as well as small and micro-enterprises\"." } ], "id": "9479_2", "question": "Wouldn't that make it hard for niche services to operate?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4986, "answer_start": 3853, "text": "Netflix said it was against quotas, but was already investing in local content. \"Our members around the world love European programming, that's why our investment in European programming, including Netflix original titles created in Europe, is growing,\" said a spokesman. The company recently started streaming Marseille, its first European-produced \"original\" TV series. And in November, it will premiere The Crown, a series about Queen Elizabeth II, which was filmed in the UK. It has also formed partnerships with European broadcasters to co-produce other shows. It is also worth noting that the Commission acknowledges 21% of the films offered by Netflix are currently classed as being from the EU. Amazon has yet to comment. The company would potentially be less affected as, at present, Germany, Austria and the UK are the only EU countries where its video-streaming subscription service, Prime Video, is available. But it is already making local shows, including the drama series Ripper Street, the forthcoming The Grand Tour - a car-themed show featuring the former hosts of Top Gear - and Wanted, a German-language thriller." } ], "id": "9479_3", "question": "What do Netflix and Amazon make of this?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5244, "answer_start": 4987, "text": "The revised directive still needs to go before the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers. And even if it is adopted, local regulators would still have to enforce it. Existing requirements affecting broadcasters are not always strictly adhered to." } ], "id": "9479_4", "question": "What happens next?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "British troops and veterans will be given stronger legal protections against prosecution, Defence Secretary Penny Mordaunt has said. The proposed law would protect them from investigation over actions on the battlefield abroad after 10 years, except in \"exceptional circumstances\". Ms Mordaunt said it would prevent \"repeated or unfair investigations\". The protections, which will be put to a public consultation, would not apply to alleged offences in Northern Ireland. The defence secretary said she wanted the protection to be extended to troops who had served in Northern Ireland but warned the issue was \"not going to be resolved over night\". On taking office earlier this month, after the sacking of Gavin Williamson, Ms Mordaunt said preventing members of the armed forces from being \"pursued unfairly\" over claims of wrongdoing would be her \"personal priority\". The new protections apply to actions carried out in the course of duty more than a decade ago. In these cases, there would be a statutory presumption against prosecution for current or former armed forces personnel. But in exceptional circumstances, such as where compelling new evidence had emerged, the protections could be set aside. In a statement, Ms Mordaunt said: \"It is high time that we change the system and provide the right legal protections to make sure the decisions our service personnel take in the battlefield will not lead to repeated or unfair investigations down the line.\" In 2016, the government committed to taking up a right to suspend parts of the European Convention on Human Rights before the UK embarked on military operations. The Ministry of Defence said the suspension, known as \"derogation\", would protect British troops from the kind of \"persistent\" legal claims that followed operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. An inquiry into allegations against Iraq war veterans was shut down in 2017 after a lawyer representing many of the complainants was found to have acted dishonestly. Legal protection for serving and former British soldiers has long been promised, but has proved hard to deliver. Penny Mordaunt knows that and has made it her priority to do something quickly. The proposals she is making, though, are limited to allegations of wrongdoing by British troops on the battlefield which happened more than 10 years ago. That could help protect soldiers who fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. There are, however, still dozens of investigations ongoing from both wars, and some will question whether they should be abandoned. And then there is Northern Ireland. It is the prosecution of veterans who served during the Troubles that has so incensed Tory backbench MPs. And on that issue she has not been able to offer any solution. Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute, in London, the defence secretary said she hoped the measures proposed could offer a way forward for those who had served in Northern Ireland. \"The problem is that we have failed to make progress on the whole 'lawfare' issue because we have been held up waiting for other things to happen,\" she said. \"It is not going to be resolved overnight. \"It is a personal priority of mine that we get this resolved and we stop this chilling effect that is claiming veterans who really deserve our care and respect.\" Six former soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the Troubles are currently facing prosecution. The cases relate to Daniel Hegarty; Bloody Sunday; John Pat Cunningham; Joe McCann (involving two ex-soldiers); and Aidan McAnespie. Not all the charges are murder. The Public Prosecution Service in Northern Ireland said that of 26 so-called legacy cases it has taken decisions on since 2011, 13 related to republicans, eight to loyalists, and five are connected to the Army. The proceedings have been criticised by some Tory MPs, including former Army officer Johnny Mercer, who earlier this month said he would not co-operate with the government until it ended the prosecutions. After Prime Minister's Questions, DUP MP Gavin Robinson raised his concern that \"the proposals to protect veterans\" would not apply in Northern Ireland. \"It shows scant disregard for people the length and breadth of the UK who stood to protect our interests and our democracy,\" he said. By BBC Reality Check's Rachel Schraer The Iraq Historical Allegations Team (IHAT) was set up to investigate allegations of potential criminal offences by members of the UK armed forces in Iraq between 2003 and 2009. By July 2017, IHAT had received allegations ranging from ill-treatment to unlawful killing relating to 3,405 victims, though it's not clear how many military personnel in total were being investigated. Around 70% of the allegations never reached full investigation because it was judged that there was no case to answer or that pursuing a full investigation was not \"proportionate\". For those investigations that were completed, any cases where there was sufficient evidence of potential serious criminal acts were referred to the Director of Service Prosecutions. The team has faced repeated criticism - from some for pursuing soldiers through the courts, and from others for a lack of results. A smaller-scale inquiry was also carried out in relation to allegations of offences by soldiers in Afghanistan, as part of Operation Northmoor, an independent investigation conducted by the Royal Military Police. The Royal Military Police had received 675 allegations as of July 2017, of which it has discounted more than 90% due to lack of evidence of a criminal or disciplinary offence.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5562, "answer_start": 4262, "text": "By BBC Reality Check's Rachel Schraer The Iraq Historical Allegations Team (IHAT) was set up to investigate allegations of potential criminal offences by members of the UK armed forces in Iraq between 2003 and 2009. By July 2017, IHAT had received allegations ranging from ill-treatment to unlawful killing relating to 3,405 victims, though it's not clear how many military personnel in total were being investigated. Around 70% of the allegations never reached full investigation because it was judged that there was no case to answer or that pursuing a full investigation was not \"proportionate\". For those investigations that were completed, any cases where there was sufficient evidence of potential serious criminal acts were referred to the Director of Service Prosecutions. The team has faced repeated criticism - from some for pursuing soldiers through the courts, and from others for a lack of results. A smaller-scale inquiry was also carried out in relation to allegations of offences by soldiers in Afghanistan, as part of Operation Northmoor, an independent investigation conducted by the Royal Military Police. The Royal Military Police had received 675 allegations as of July 2017, of which it has discounted more than 90% due to lack of evidence of a criminal or disciplinary offence." } ], "id": "9480_0", "question": "What is the Iraq Historical Allegations Team (IHAT)?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Donald Trump has announced that he plans to nominate Kelly Knight Craft for the country's vacant post of United Nations envoy. Ms Knight Craft is currently the US ambassador to Canada. She will replace Nikki Haley, who resigned last year. In two tweets announcing her nomination, the president congratulated her and said she had done an \"outstanding job\" in her current role. Mr Trump's first pick, Heather Nauert, withdrew her candidacy last week. The former Fox News presenter said she made the decision for family reasons after a \"gruelling\" two months in the spotlight. Nikki Haley congratulated Ms Knight Craft shortly after the president's online announcement. \"She's done a great job representing us as @USAmbCanada and we know she'll be a strong voice for America at the United Nations. #USstrong,\" the former ambassador said in a Tweet. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has also issued a statement praising the nomination, saying he was \"very pleased\" with the choice and said he looked forward to working with her at the UN. US media reports say the role will probably be downgraded from the Cabinet-level position it was during Ms Haley's tenure. Ms Knight Craft has to be formally nominated and approved by the US Senate before she can assume the role. The 56-year-old is currently serving as ambassador to Canada after being nominated by President Trump in 2017. She is the first woman to ever hold the post. Ms Knight Craft made headlines shortly after she started the job, after she told a Canadian broadcaster that she believed scientists on \"both sides\" of the climate change debate. She has also been a strong backer of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement - pioneered by President Trump as a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). Ms Knight Craft previously served as an alternate delegate to the UN during President George W Bush's administration, where her focuses included Africa. The Kentucky native has been married to billionaire coal mining businessman Joe Craft since 2016. The couple are both long-term and generous donors to the Republican party. Mr Craft donated at least $1m (PS770,000) to President Trump's inauguration fund, according to Open Secrets, a non-profit group that tracks political contributions.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2268, "answer_start": 1273, "text": "The 56-year-old is currently serving as ambassador to Canada after being nominated by President Trump in 2017. She is the first woman to ever hold the post. Ms Knight Craft made headlines shortly after she started the job, after she told a Canadian broadcaster that she believed scientists on \"both sides\" of the climate change debate. She has also been a strong backer of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement - pioneered by President Trump as a replacement for the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta). Ms Knight Craft previously served as an alternate delegate to the UN during President George W Bush's administration, where her focuses included Africa. The Kentucky native has been married to billionaire coal mining businessman Joe Craft since 2016. The couple are both long-term and generous donors to the Republican party. Mr Craft donated at least $1m (PS770,000) to President Trump's inauguration fund, according to Open Secrets, a non-profit group that tracks political contributions." } ], "id": "9481_0", "question": "Who is Ms Knight Craft?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Catalonia's dream of independence from Spain collides with some harsh realities on the streets of Santa Coloma. This dormitory town of 120,000 people on the northern edge of Barcelona is sharply divided over the 9 November vote on breaking away. Historically it was a summer retreat for rich people in the city, just across the River Besos. You can still see some of their mansions among the concrete apartment blocks. But Santa Coloma de Gramenet mushroomed into an urban sprawl under the Franco dictatorship and these days it is one of Catalonia's poorest towns. At one point in the 1980s it was possibly the least cool address in the Barcelona area, notorious for drug addiction. With 20% unemployment today, it has a particularly high population of migrants from outside the region, who now slightly outnumber those born locally. Walk around the town's Fondo area and you will soon see that the newest residents hail from around the world - China, Latin America, Pakistan. Ask people you assume to be locals, and you will repeatedly find migrants or descendants of migrants from poor parts of southern Spain. It is no surprise, then, that a Spanish national political party dominates the town's politics - unusual for Catalonia. Santa Coloma's energetic young mayor Nuria Parlon is firmly opposed to independence, though she backs the right of Catalans to vote, seeking to distance herself from the hard line of the conservative government in Madrid. The language of public administration at the town hall is Catalan, whatever the politics inside, and Mayor Parlon's party actually sits in a local coalition with the party of Artur Mas, Catalonia's pro-independence leader. Independence, she argues, is a \"placebo\" which would not solve Catalonia's underlying problems. Chief among those problems is the weakness of the economy after the debt crisis, she says, and half of the town's budget of EUR90m (PS71m; $112m) is spent on social services. A mothballed construction site, that symbol of crisis to be seen all over Spain, looms just around the corner from the town hall. For the independence-minded Catalans of the old town, living in the streets around the nearby Major church, the challenge is to win over people with more on their minds than building new countries. Health worker Galdric Arus, my hour-long guide to the old town's charms, used to feel lonely because he had never met another \"Galdric\" (an old Catalan name). Then he discovered Facebook, he says laughing, and found a few Galdrics over the border in Perpignan, capital of old northern Catalonia in what is now France. He sees himself as a patriot, not a nationalist, and his greatest contribution to independence, if it ever happens, may be the teaching of the Catalan language. He does that voluntarily two evenings a week, in classes for recent migrants from outside Spain. His vision of an independent Catalonia is of a happily integrated, multi-ethnic society living in prosperity, separately from Spain. But for now he burns with indignation at Madrid's efforts to deny him and other Catalans the right to decide their future. On Sunday he will have to go to a secondary school just outside the town centre to vote because the organisers are not allowed to use the normal polling stations in the centre. Heading to a different school on Sunday, though he lives just a street away in the old town, is statistician Manel Pons. For Manel, the record of Spanish governments of both the right and left, including Mayor Parlon's Socialists, is dismal when it comes to Catalonia. It comes down to too many broken promises of greater autonomy. We meet at a cafe just outside the town hall, a stone's throw from the voter registration booth set up in a doorway between shops, where activists are busy building an electoral roll of their own. During my day in Santa Coloma, would-be voters are more a trickle than a stream. Manel introduces me to Sabina, who will work as an election volunteer on Sunday. She does not want to give her surname - not because she fears repercussions, she says, but because of privacy concerns. \"We have to show the government what the people think,\" she argues. \"They must be made to understand what the people think.\" Among those definitely voting is Alonso Romero, an upholsterer who has a workshop in the Fondo area, still busy repairing sofas for the comfort of Santa Colomans at the age of 70. But Alonso is voting the other way - a very definite \"no\" to independence. Since arriving from Andalusia in the 1950s - he still remembers some lonely moments conquering his nerves as a young migrant in Catalonia's dance halls - he has become, in his words, \"perfectly integrated\" and feels completely Catalan, yet he is still a proud Spaniard. A more recent arrival from Andalusia is Guillermo Alvarez, who owns a newspaper kiosk just below the town hall. A Catalan independence flag adorns his kiosk, but the man selling news to Santa Coloma seems to be keeping his options open. What people want most right now in Santa Coloma is work and a decent standard of living, he argues. \"If the economy doesn't work, nothing works,\" he says. \"It's the economic crisis which has spurred the independence movement and independence is seen as one way out of it. \"Spain is not allowing the Catalan people to decide and people want a free, democratic, constitutional country.\" Madrid's efforts to block Sunday's vote effectively mean that only the pro-independence campaign is visible on Santa Coloma's streets in the flags and posters and banners. As Madrid is ignoring the vote officially there is no anti-independence campaigning. The town remains outwardly calm, with Spanish-speakers and Catalan-speakers living peacefully side by side, but the tension is palpable in the mayor's office. In the current atmosphere, Nuria says, she is uncomfortable stating her position in public. \"If I put out a tweet now saying I do not favour independence, because I regard it as a trap, a lot of people will attack me with verbal abuse,\" she says. \"They'll call me a fascist.\" It is an insult that hangs in the air briefly, like a ghost from Spain's civil war past, but it is hard to think of the people of this quiet town ever going back to open conflict. Follow my blog on Tumblr and Twitter as I report on this fascinating vote. Join in the conversation with questions if you see me live-tweeting discussions.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6396, "answer_start": 4222, "text": "Among those definitely voting is Alonso Romero, an upholsterer who has a workshop in the Fondo area, still busy repairing sofas for the comfort of Santa Colomans at the age of 70. But Alonso is voting the other way - a very definite \"no\" to independence. Since arriving from Andalusia in the 1950s - he still remembers some lonely moments conquering his nerves as a young migrant in Catalonia's dance halls - he has become, in his words, \"perfectly integrated\" and feels completely Catalan, yet he is still a proud Spaniard. A more recent arrival from Andalusia is Guillermo Alvarez, who owns a newspaper kiosk just below the town hall. A Catalan independence flag adorns his kiosk, but the man selling news to Santa Coloma seems to be keeping his options open. What people want most right now in Santa Coloma is work and a decent standard of living, he argues. \"If the economy doesn't work, nothing works,\" he says. \"It's the economic crisis which has spurred the independence movement and independence is seen as one way out of it. \"Spain is not allowing the Catalan people to decide and people want a free, democratic, constitutional country.\" Madrid's efforts to block Sunday's vote effectively mean that only the pro-independence campaign is visible on Santa Coloma's streets in the flags and posters and banners. As Madrid is ignoring the vote officially there is no anti-independence campaigning. The town remains outwardly calm, with Spanish-speakers and Catalan-speakers living peacefully side by side, but the tension is palpable in the mayor's office. In the current atmosphere, Nuria says, she is uncomfortable stating her position in public. \"If I put out a tweet now saying I do not favour independence, because I regard it as a trap, a lot of people will attack me with verbal abuse,\" she says. \"They'll call me a fascist.\" It is an insult that hangs in the air briefly, like a ghost from Spain's civil war past, but it is hard to think of the people of this quiet town ever going back to open conflict. Follow my blog on Tumblr and Twitter as I report on this fascinating vote. Join in the conversation with questions if you see me live-tweeting discussions." } ], "id": "9482_0", "question": "What about jobs?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "North Korea has released a new set of photos of Kim Jong-un and party and military leaders. The BBC spoke to US-based North Korea expert Michael Madden about what the pictures tell us, after the recent and rare party congress. \"Kim Jong-un is putting himself on the cover of the party newspaper, warts and all,\" says Mr Madden, of the photo of the leader. But he says media reports that this is the first time North Korea has released unedited images of its leaders are \"nonsense\". For example, a group of photos released in 2009 showed some senior officials with dilated pupils, as if they had been drinking. There are none in the released images. The highest position held by women at the moment in North Korea is party department director or vice-director. Mr Kim's sister Kim Yo-jong, for example, is vice-director of the propaganda department. \"Realistically, women - as department directors and deputy directors - have more power than some of the vice-chairmen, because they handle the day-to-day running of the departments. They are Kim's eyes and ears in the political system,\" says Mr Madden. It's also believed to be the women who handle the wealth of the Kim family. \"North Korea is a patriarchal culture, but in a totalitarian system, being able to wield power as gatekeepers or financial functionaries is more powerful than sitting on a political bureau, you have realistic powers day-to-day.\" But, says Mr Madden, women made up 10% of the delegates at the party congress - not a huge number but a significant advance on the last congress in 1980. Kim's sister given key N Korea post Other than its youthful head, North Korea's leadership is notable for its age. Many officials are in their 80s. An exception is No Kwan-chol, a three-star general and member of the political bureau at the age of 35. Not much is known about him, but he rose to prominence under Mr Kim. There are a few of these \"millennials\" coming up through the lower ranks of the party and military and poised for future power, says Mr Madden. This is Ri Yong-gil, a three-star general and a member of the political bureau. Last February, he was widely reported as being dead. South Korean sources said he had been executed for \"conspiracy\". \"We have to take rumours about dead North Korean officials with pinch of salt,\" says Mr Madden. It's not hard for poorly sourced information to be aired. \"Some of these officials who disappear from state media are sent away for a few months for re-education, what we might call corporate training. Sometimes they are destined for high office, or a new job.\" Given the timing of his disappearance from the public eye, he says - during a period of particularly high tensions at the border with the South - he had likely been sent away to deal with the issue. He has, however, been demoted from his four-star general post, for unclear reasons, and his new job wasn't listed. \"This demotion by epaulette\" is standard practice under the leader and Gen Ri might yet see his star restored. The photos - and state media's reporting of them - have to be seen in the context of a party congress which reset North Korea's political system, says Mr Madden. In a change from his father's time, Mr Kim is asserting the dominance of the party over the military. He has \"concentrated a lot of political power in the hands of six or seven officials\". In all state media reporting the party officials appear before military officials. Many of them have been given two or even three titles. This is a sign that there is a specific power cohort and they are going to have a lot more power than they did before the congress. Though it might appear superficial and cosmetic to observers, \"in North Korea, the form and the content are inseparable\". North Korea's rare congress - what is it for? Primarily North Koreans, so they know that \"if this guy shows up where you work you might want to pay attention to him\". The names might not mean a lot to the North Korean population, \"but it does establish who the top people are in the regime. It's subtle message to people of who is in the know\". - Kim Ki-nam, aged 87-88. He was party secretary for propaganda and agitation for some time and is now a member of the political bureau, vice-chairman of the party and department director. - Ri man-gon - a politbureau member, party vice-chairman and director of munitions and military, giving him personal oversight of North Korea's development of nuclear and conventional weapons. - Kim Yong-chol - he was appointed in January as head of national intelligence, following the death in a car accident of his predecessor, Kim Yang-gon.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4098, "answer_start": 3800, "text": "Primarily North Koreans, so they know that \"if this guy shows up where you work you might want to pay attention to him\". The names might not mean a lot to the North Korean population, \"but it does establish who the top people are in the regime. It's subtle message to people of who is in the know\"." } ], "id": "9483_0", "question": "So who are the pictures for?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Strong winds that have changed direction are hampering efforts by firefighters to contain bushfires in Australia's south-east. A southerly change with powerful gusts up to 80mph (128km/h) threatened to spread huge fires raging in New South Wales (NSW), officials said. In the neighbouring state of Victoria, army helicopters have been deployed to evacuate people trapped by the flames. Since September, fires in Australia have killed at least 23 people. More than 1,200 homes have been destroyed and millions of hectares of land scorched. Although much attention has centred on worst-hit NSW, every state and territory has been affected. Early on Sunday, NSW fire commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons told Australia's 9News that \"hundreds\" of homes could have been lost in Saturday's fires. Fire and Rescue NSW said four firefighters had been injured overnight. Commissioner Paul Baxter told 9News that three suffered heat exhaustion and smoke inhalation, while the fourth suffered burns to his hands while dealing with a house fire. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who has been harshly criticised for his handling of the emergency, has announced the deployment of 3,000 reserve troops to help the fire-fighting effort. On Saturday he was condemned again for posting an advert on Twitter showing how the government was responding to the crisis, accompanied by an upbeat backing track. Mr Morrison faced a hostile reception as he visited some of the worst-hit communities earlier this week. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the fires had created a \"very volatile situation\" and \"we are yet to hit the worst of it\". \"We are discouraging people from moving from where they are, given the serious threats and the fact that we have so many fires at an emergency level,\" she was quoted by ABC as saying. Some fire crews have been pulled out of the Snowy Mountains in the state of Victoria due to worsening conditions, The Guardian reports. Skies reddened and darkened in areas of south-eastern Australia as wind gusts exacerbated the fires. Temperatures surpassed 40C (104F) in some areas. In Penrith, west of Sydney, temperatures reached 48.9C. Some reports suggest it was for a time the hottest place on Earth. Two naval ships rescued hundreds of people stranded on a beach after fire encircled the town of Mallacoota in Victoria. The evacuees were taken to the port of Hastings and transferred by buses to relief centres. \"For someone who's never been in a fire, it's very, very, frightening. I'm so happy to be here,\" said Emily Wellington, 16, after arriving in Hastings. Bushfires damaged two power substations in New South Wales, threatening supplies to the state including Australia's largest city, Sydney, AFP reports. In the Batemans Bay and Moruya region in NSW, thousands of people are without power as a result of fire damage. Provider Essential Energy has warned this will continue overnight as it is not able to access the damaged area safely. Emergency warnings were issued throughout the day urging residents to leave certain areas, while some were told it was too late to evacuate. They were instructed to find shelter. NSW Transport Minister and Member for Bega, Andrew Constance, has compared the South Coast fires to \"an atomic bomb.\" \"It's indescribable the hell it's caused and the devastation it's caused,\" he told ABC. Fires on Kangaroo Island in the south of Australia killed two people - a well-known pilot named Dick Lang and his son, Clayton - after a quarter of the island was ravaged by fire. Some footage showed bushfires generating their own weather systems, including tornadoes and thunderstorms. As well as deploying the military, Mr Morrison announced A$20m (PS10m) has been allocated to lease four water bomber planes. Defence force bases would provide temporary accommodation, he said. NSW has declared a week-long state of emergency. Tens of thousands of residents and holidaymakers have been told to evacuate coastal areas, where a \"tourist leave zone\" has been declared. Several organisations are raising money for relief efforts and people are giving generously. The singer Pink has pledged to donate $500,000 (PS382,000) to the Australian fire service after saying she was \"totally devastated\" at watching the crisis unfold. The fires in Australia began in September. In addition to the fatalities, they have so far destroyed more than 1,300 homes, as well as millions of acres of bushland. Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. However, many parts of Australia have been in drought conditions, some for years, which have made it easier for the fires to spread and grow. Prime Minister Morrison has been criticised for his handling of the bushfires. He has faced persistent accusations of being absent, including by taking a holiday to Hawaii, and underplaying the role of climate change. At a news conference on Friday, he said he understood that people had \"suffered a great lot\" and were \"feeling very raw\". Have you been affected by the fires? If it is safe for you to do so you can get in touch by emailing [email protected]. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: - WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803 - Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSay - Send pictures/video to [email protected] - Text an SMS or MMS to 61124 or +44 7624 800 100 - Please read our terms of use and privacy policy", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5051, "answer_start": 4269, "text": "The fires in Australia began in September. In addition to the fatalities, they have so far destroyed more than 1,300 homes, as well as millions of acres of bushland. Meteorologists say a climate system in the Indian Ocean, known as the dipole, is the main driver behind the extreme heat in Australia. However, many parts of Australia have been in drought conditions, some for years, which have made it easier for the fires to spread and grow. Prime Minister Morrison has been criticised for his handling of the bushfires. He has faced persistent accusations of being absent, including by taking a holiday to Hawaii, and underplaying the role of climate change. At a news conference on Friday, he said he understood that people had \"suffered a great lot\" and were \"feeling very raw\"." } ], "id": "9484_0", "question": "What's the background?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Pakistan's controversial former military ruler, Pervez Musharraf, has launched a television show commenting on current affairs. The weekly show began on the Pakistani TV channel Bol last month. So far the former leader has called for closer ties with the US, criticised Pakistan's civilian government and attacked India. But his move raises many questions about his motives, and how's it being received in Pakistan? Many retired military officials have morphed into security analysts after retirement, but Mr Musharraf is the highest-ranking official to go down that route. He also scored a first in 2013 when he became the first-ever Pakistani army chief to form a political party of his own and file nominations to contest general elections. But the electoral goal remains unfulfilled - he was banned from running and became embroiled in legal cases, eventually leaving the country for Dubai a year ago, ostensibly to seek medical attention. Many believe this unfulfilled political ambition may be the driving force behind Mr Musharraf's reinvention as a television intellectual. The programme, which goes out each Sunday, is called Sab Se Pehle Pakistan (Pakistan First) with President Musharraf. The line comes from Mr Musharraf's most popular political slogan during his time in power. A young female host, Shenaya Siddiqui, asks for his opinions on a range of political, military, economic and even entertainment issues. Mr Musharraf answers the questions from Dubai. This format is not unique - several channels hire journalists to comment on current affairs - but this is the first such programme to use a former leader. Editorially, Bol comes across as a staunchly pro-military, anti-India and anti-liberal news channel. It also appears to be trying to expand its audience by giving prominent politicians their own shows. Over the weekend it launched what it said would be a weekly current affairs programme featuring former president Asif Ali Zardari, who played a pivotal role in forcing Mr Musharraf from office. So far the top lines have largely related to Pakistan's diplomatic ties and its security challenges. The former army chief has talked of Pakistan's geo-strategic importance and has called for good relations with Washington. He's also suggested Pakistan should not consider Israel an eternal enemy, but rather a country Pakistan has differences with over the Palestinian question. On India, he has adopted a hard line, saying it poses an existential threat to Pakistan but cannot defeat it militarily. Domestically, he has been critical of the military's operation against Islamic militants, saying troops are chopping off the branches but not the trunk. He blames the civilian government for this, saying it has political contacts with sectarian groups. That might raise a few eyebrows - many will recall that the former president himself was accused of playing a double game over militants for years. Many believe that Bol is trying to be provocative to draw viewers. And critics point out that Mr Musharraf is not objective. They point to his role in the proliferation of militancy in the region, while accepting US funds to fight them. As Pakistan's army chief he scuttled a possible rapprochement with India by launching the Kargil war in 1999. He then toppled Pakistan's elected government the same year. Researcher and author Ayesha Siddiqa says Mr Musharraf's TV career shows he is \"driven by ego\". \"His political ambitions have been dashed for now, but he is telling himself that he still matters. And he wants to use this opportunity to mouth a narrative that has damaged the country in the past and continues to do so.\" Ms Siddiqa, who was also targeted in one of Bol's programmes, says the channel \"wants to establish itself as one that will represent the military's interests... It seeks to be part of a certain kind of publicity that weakens the civilian narrative.\" Bol's management refused to comment. Mr Musharraf was forced to step down as president in 2008 and went into exile. He returned in 2013 to contest the general election, but soon faced a raft of charges - including two counts of murder, over the death of Benazir Bhutto and a Baloch tribal leader, and high treason - relating to his time in power. But he was then allowed to leave for Dubai for medical treatment. Many believe Pakistan's powerful security establishment played a role in orchestrating his departure. Recently, however, he's talked of returning once more to play an active role in politics. He has also been discussing possible political alliances with other groups. His aides say he faces a threat to his life but would come back to face the court cases if his security could be guaranteed. Back in 2013, he hoped to win some seats in parliament, especially in the northern region where his investment in infrastructure had made him popular. But his disqualification and subsequent house arrest rendered his party dysfunctional for all practical purposes. It remains redundant and it is not clear if the leadership has any plans to rejuvenate it by forging alliances and drawing up a new charter. The BBC's attempts to obtain the party's views were not successful. Many people believe Mr Musharraf has agreed to appear on his own TV show as a path back into politics. Only time will tell if it helps propel him back into the national conversation.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1081, "answer_start": 416, "text": "Many retired military officials have morphed into security analysts after retirement, but Mr Musharraf is the highest-ranking official to go down that route. He also scored a first in 2013 when he became the first-ever Pakistani army chief to form a political party of his own and file nominations to contest general elections. But the electoral goal remains unfulfilled - he was banned from running and became embroiled in legal cases, eventually leaving the country for Dubai a year ago, ostensibly to seek medical attention. Many believe this unfulfilled political ambition may be the driving force behind Mr Musharraf's reinvention as a television intellectual." } ], "id": "9485_0", "question": "What's behind the move?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2024, "answer_start": 1082, "text": "The programme, which goes out each Sunday, is called Sab Se Pehle Pakistan (Pakistan First) with President Musharraf. The line comes from Mr Musharraf's most popular political slogan during his time in power. A young female host, Shenaya Siddiqui, asks for his opinions on a range of political, military, economic and even entertainment issues. Mr Musharraf answers the questions from Dubai. This format is not unique - several channels hire journalists to comment on current affairs - but this is the first such programme to use a former leader. Editorially, Bol comes across as a staunchly pro-military, anti-India and anti-liberal news channel. It also appears to be trying to expand its audience by giving prominent politicians their own shows. Over the weekend it launched what it said would be a weekly current affairs programme featuring former president Asif Ali Zardari, who played a pivotal role in forcing Mr Musharraf from office." } ], "id": "9485_1", "question": "What kind of show is it?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2926, "answer_start": 2025, "text": "So far the top lines have largely related to Pakistan's diplomatic ties and its security challenges. The former army chief has talked of Pakistan's geo-strategic importance and has called for good relations with Washington. He's also suggested Pakistan should not consider Israel an eternal enemy, but rather a country Pakistan has differences with over the Palestinian question. On India, he has adopted a hard line, saying it poses an existential threat to Pakistan but cannot defeat it militarily. Domestically, he has been critical of the military's operation against Islamic militants, saying troops are chopping off the branches but not the trunk. He blames the civilian government for this, saying it has political contacts with sectarian groups. That might raise a few eyebrows - many will recall that the former president himself was accused of playing a double game over militants for years." } ], "id": "9485_2", "question": "What's Musharraf been saying?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3941, "answer_start": 2927, "text": "Many believe that Bol is trying to be provocative to draw viewers. And critics point out that Mr Musharraf is not objective. They point to his role in the proliferation of militancy in the region, while accepting US funds to fight them. As Pakistan's army chief he scuttled a possible rapprochement with India by launching the Kargil war in 1999. He then toppled Pakistan's elected government the same year. Researcher and author Ayesha Siddiqa says Mr Musharraf's TV career shows he is \"driven by ego\". \"His political ambitions have been dashed for now, but he is telling himself that he still matters. And he wants to use this opportunity to mouth a narrative that has damaged the country in the past and continues to do so.\" Ms Siddiqa, who was also targeted in one of Bol's programmes, says the channel \"wants to establish itself as one that will represent the military's interests... It seeks to be part of a certain kind of publicity that weakens the civilian narrative.\" Bol's management refused to comment." } ], "id": "9485_3", "question": "How's the show been received?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4710, "answer_start": 3942, "text": "Mr Musharraf was forced to step down as president in 2008 and went into exile. He returned in 2013 to contest the general election, but soon faced a raft of charges - including two counts of murder, over the death of Benazir Bhutto and a Baloch tribal leader, and high treason - relating to his time in power. But he was then allowed to leave for Dubai for medical treatment. Many believe Pakistan's powerful security establishment played a role in orchestrating his departure. Recently, however, he's talked of returning once more to play an active role in politics. He has also been discussing possible political alliances with other groups. His aides say he faces a threat to his life but would come back to face the court cases if his security could be guaranteed." } ], "id": "9485_4", "question": "Is Musharraf likely to return to Pakistan soon?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5367, "answer_start": 4711, "text": "Back in 2013, he hoped to win some seats in parliament, especially in the northern region where his investment in infrastructure had made him popular. But his disqualification and subsequent house arrest rendered his party dysfunctional for all practical purposes. It remains redundant and it is not clear if the leadership has any plans to rejuvenate it by forging alliances and drawing up a new charter. The BBC's attempts to obtain the party's views were not successful. Many people believe Mr Musharraf has agreed to appear on his own TV show as a path back into politics. Only time will tell if it helps propel him back into the national conversation." } ], "id": "9485_5", "question": "Do people support him?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US Attorney General has defended President Trump over allegations of obstruction of justice, while reiterating that \"no collusion\" was found between his team and Russia. William Barr held a news conference on Thursday, shortly before a long-awaited report into the matter was released. He also revealed that investigators had examined 10 episodes of possible obstruction of justice by Mr Trump. It comes as Mr Barr faces criticism over his impartiality. Top Democrats have accused the country's top lawyer, who was appointed by Mr Trump, of media-managing the report's release by holding a news conference first. A redacted version of the report by special counsel Robert Mueller was sent to Congress on Thursday morning and was then published online to the general public. Mr Barr has said he was \"committed to ensuring the greatest degree possible of transparency\" with its release, and described redactions to the public report as \"limited\". Minutes after Mr Barr's news conference ended, Mr Trump posted a meme saying it was \"game over\" for the \"haters and the radical left democrats\". It followed a flurry of tweets he posted on Thursday morning in which he described the investigation as the \"greatest political hoax of all time\" and \"presidential harassment\". The report contains the findings of a 22-month investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign back in 2016. It was led by Mr Mueller, who was chosen to run the investigation in 2017 following concerns from US intelligence agencies that Russia had tried to tip the election in Mr Trump's favour. He also looked into whether Mr Trump obstructed justice when he asked for the inquiry into former national security adviser Michael Flynn to end, and later fired FBI chief James Comey. Mr Flynn has since pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia - one of six former Trump aides and 30 other people, including 12 Russians, charged in connection with the investigation. Analysis by BBC News North America Editor Jon Sopel Here's a central question: where do you set the bar for how a president of the United States should behave? This 45th holder of the post has delighted in breaking norms and conventions - some have claimed that his repeated assaults on the Mueller process amounted to interference and intimidation, but from the Attorney General, William Barr a much more sympathetic interpretation. He says the President was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency. But the Special Counsel Robert Mueller identified 10 occasions when the president may have obstructed justice - one of the high crimes and misdemeanours as set out by the US constitution that can lead to impeachment. The Attorney General has ruled they do not pass a threshold where the president could face criminal prosecution. Mr Mueller though says something different: \"While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it does not exonerate him.\" But is that OK? You can do what you like so long as it's not illegal? High minded folks will say that falls a long way short of the 17 'rules' that America's first president George Washington set out as civilised behaviour for a president. At the end of this process it can be genuinely said that Donald Trump has changed the presidency; the presidency hasn't changed him.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1999, "answer_start": 1271, "text": "The report contains the findings of a 22-month investigation into possible collusion between Russia and the Trump presidential campaign back in 2016. It was led by Mr Mueller, who was chosen to run the investigation in 2017 following concerns from US intelligence agencies that Russia had tried to tip the election in Mr Trump's favour. He also looked into whether Mr Trump obstructed justice when he asked for the inquiry into former national security adviser Michael Flynn to end, and later fired FBI chief James Comey. Mr Flynn has since pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia - one of six former Trump aides and 30 other people, including 12 Russians, charged in connection with the investigation." } ], "id": "9486_0", "question": "What is the Mueller report?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3407, "answer_start": 2000, "text": "Analysis by BBC News North America Editor Jon Sopel Here's a central question: where do you set the bar for how a president of the United States should behave? This 45th holder of the post has delighted in breaking norms and conventions - some have claimed that his repeated assaults on the Mueller process amounted to interference and intimidation, but from the Attorney General, William Barr a much more sympathetic interpretation. He says the President was frustrated and angered by a sincere belief that the investigation was undermining his presidency. But the Special Counsel Robert Mueller identified 10 occasions when the president may have obstructed justice - one of the high crimes and misdemeanours as set out by the US constitution that can lead to impeachment. The Attorney General has ruled they do not pass a threshold where the president could face criminal prosecution. Mr Mueller though says something different: \"While this report does not conclude that the President committed a crime, it does not exonerate him.\" But is that OK? You can do what you like so long as it's not illegal? High minded folks will say that falls a long way short of the 17 'rules' that America's first president George Washington set out as civilised behaviour for a president. At the end of this process it can be genuinely said that Donald Trump has changed the presidency; the presidency hasn't changed him." } ], "id": "9486_1", "question": "A 'sympathetic' interpretation?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "British actress Olivia Colman defied the odds to scoop an Oscar on a night when Green Book also sprang a surprise by winning the award for best film. Colman won best actress for her role in The Favourite and charmed viewers with a funny and tearful speech. Green Book won three trophies in total, including best picture, which had been expected to go to Netflix's Roma. Bohemian Rhapsody won the most awards in total with four, while Roma and Black Panther also won three each. The star, who started out as a sidekick in TV sitcoms like Peep Show, was in shock when her name was called. Glenn Close had been the firm favourite for her role in The Wife - and now has the unenviable record of seven nominations without a win. Holding back tears on stage, Colman said: \"It's genuinely quite stressful. This is hilarious. I've got an Oscar!\" The first British woman to win the prize since Kate Winslet in 2009, she added: \"Any little girl who's practising their speech on the telly - you never know!\" And she endeared herself further to the audience by responding to a signal to end her speech by blowing a raspberry. The four awards for Bohemian Rhapsody, the authorised biopic of Queen and Freddie Mercury, included best actor for Rami Malek, who won rave reviews for playing the late singer. \"I think about what it would have been like to tell little bubba Rami that one day this might happen to him, and I think his curly-haired little mind would have been blown,\" he said in his acceptance speech. \"That kid was struggling with his identity, trying to figure himself out, and to anyone struggling and trying to discover their voice - listen, we made a film about a gay man, an immigrant, who lived his life unapologetically himself. \"And the fact I'm celebrating him and this story with you tonight is proof that we're longing for stories like this.\" It was later reported that Malek fell off the stage after the ceremony concluded and had to be helped into a seat by security staff. The 37-year-old was reportedly attended to by paramedics, though he made no reference to the incident later when he spoke to reporters backstage. - Bohemian Rhapsody - 4 - Black Panther - 3 - Green Book - 3 - Roma - 3 Mahershala Ali won his second best supporting actor Oscar in three years. He won for Moonlight in 2017 and has now won for playing jazz pianist Don Shirley in Green Book. \"Trying to capture his essence pushed me to my ends, which was a reflection of the person he was and the life that he lived,\" Ali said. The film tells the story of Shirley's tour to the racially segregated US Deep South in the 1960s, but its chances had been thought to have been dented by a series of controversies. Meanwhile, a tearful Regina King won best supporting actress for If Beale Street Could Talk, from what was her first Oscar nomination. She said: \"I'm an example of what it looks like when support and love are poured into someone - mom, I love you so much.\" It's been three decades since his landmark films She's Gotta Have It and Do The Right Thing - and now Spike Lee finally has a competitive Oscar. He already has an honorary Oscar, which he received in 2016. He didn't win this time for best director - he won best adapted screenplay for BlacKkKlansman, which tells the true story of a black police officer who infiltrated the Ku Klux Klan. In his speech, he referred to the 400th anniversary of the first slaves being taken to America. He then made the most political remarks of the night, saying: \"The 2020 presidential election is around the corner. Let's all mobilise. Let's all be on the right side of history. Make the moral choice between love versus hate.\" He added: \"Let's do the right thing. You know I had to get that in there.\" US President Donald Trump later reacted to Lee's comments, saying it was a \"racist\" attack on his presidency. Asked backstage about Green Book's best picture win, Lee - drinking from a champagne flute - said it made him feel like he was courtside at Madison Square Garden and \"the ref made a bad call\". Richard E Grant, Rachel Weisz and Christian Bale lost out on the acting awards. But Mark Ronson shared the best song award with Lady Gaga, among others, and there was a string of British winners in some key technical categories. Paul Lambert and Tristan Myles shared the prize for best visual effects with two American colleagues for creating the rocket-rattling effects on First Man, about the first Moon landing. And key crew members on Bohemian Rhapsody won the two sound awards. John Warhurst and Nina Hartstone won best sound editing, while Paul Massey, Tim Cavagin and John Casali shared the sound mixing prize. - An emotional Lady Gaga (pictured) was among the winners for the best original song prize for Shallow from A Star Is Born after performing an impassioned duet with co-star Bradley Cooper - Alfonso Cuaron personally won two prizes for Roma - best director and cinematography - and also accepted the best foreign language trophy - Two Black Panther crew members made Oscar history by becoming the first black winners in the costume design and production design categories - Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse won best animated feature film - Period. End of Sentence. won best short documentary, and director Rayka Zehtabchi said: \"I can't believe a film about menstruation just won an Oscar.\" - Detainment, the controversial film about the murder of two-year-old British toddler James Bulger in 1993, lost out in the best live action short film category. James's mum Denise said she was \"made up\" that it lost out to Skin The Oscars failed to find a main host this year after comedian Kevin Hart pulled out following a row about old homophobic tweets. So instead of having the traditional opening monologue, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler appeared to introduce the show as well as presenting the first award. \"We are not your hosts this year but if we had hosted, it probably would have gone like this,\" Fey said - before the trio launched into a sketch poking fun at some of the nominees, which is one of the host's usual jobs. The ceremony continued to rely on a procession of stars presenting individual awards. But it didn't obviously suffer from the lack of an overarching host, and it helped the event move along. Queen, fronted by singer Adam Lambert, had opened the ceremony with a bombastic medley of We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions as A-listers waved and clapped along in their seats. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4655, "answer_start": 4038, "text": "Richard E Grant, Rachel Weisz and Christian Bale lost out on the acting awards. But Mark Ronson shared the best song award with Lady Gaga, among others, and there was a string of British winners in some key technical categories. Paul Lambert and Tristan Myles shared the prize for best visual effects with two American colleagues for creating the rocket-rattling effects on First Man, about the first Moon landing. And key crew members on Bohemian Rhapsody won the two sound awards. John Warhurst and Nina Hartstone won best sound editing, while Paul Massey, Tim Cavagin and John Casali shared the sound mixing prize." } ], "id": "9487_0", "question": "How did the other Brits do?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6466, "answer_start": 5576, "text": "The Oscars failed to find a main host this year after comedian Kevin Hart pulled out following a row about old homophobic tweets. So instead of having the traditional opening monologue, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph and Amy Poehler appeared to introduce the show as well as presenting the first award. \"We are not your hosts this year but if we had hosted, it probably would have gone like this,\" Fey said - before the trio launched into a sketch poking fun at some of the nominees, which is one of the host's usual jobs. The ceremony continued to rely on a procession of stars presenting individual awards. But it didn't obviously suffer from the lack of an overarching host, and it helped the event move along. Queen, fronted by singer Adam Lambert, had opened the ceremony with a bombastic medley of We Will Rock You and We Are the Champions as A-listers waved and clapped along in their seats." } ], "id": "9487_1", "question": "How did the host-less ceremony work out?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Australia has used a so-called \"backpacker tax\" to illegally tax foreign workers from eight countries, according to a landmark ruling. In 2017, the government imposed a controversial 15% tax rate on two visa categories for working holiday-makers. But a court on Wednesday found the levy was in breach of existing treaties with the UK, US, Germany, Finland, Chile, Japan, Norway and Turkey. Tens of thousands of foreign nationals may be owed money, local media said. The Australian Tax Office said it was considering whether to appeal against the ruling. The levy was challenged by an international tax company on behalf of a British tourist, Catherine Addy, who worked in Australia between 2015 and 2017. She welcomed the ruling, telling ABC News: \"I think it is wrong that foreigners should be taxed more harshly than Australians when they are doing the same work.\" About 150,000 foreigners travel to Australia every year on working holiday visas, with many finding work in the farming and hospitality industries. The Federal Court of Australia said the tax could not be applied to citizens of those eight countries who had been employed on category 417 or 462 visas. This was due to treaties which required Australia to tax those foreign nationals in the same way as local workers. Unlike foreign workers in Australia, locals do not pay any tax until their yearly income exceeds A$18,200 (PS9,700; $12,500). In contrast, foreign workers on 417 or 462 visas are taxed 15% on the first $37,000 they earn. In his ruling, Justice John Logan described the tax as \"a disguised form of discrimination based on nationality\". During her working holiday, Ms Addy lived mainly in a house share in Sydney's Earlwood, a point that proved to be crucial to the case. This meant she was considered a \"resident\" for tax purposes in Australia, while other foreign nationals who move around may be considered \"non-residents\". The ruling may force the government to repay hundreds of millions of dollars in total, local media reported. Taxback.com, the accounting firm that organised the lawsuit, said it was clear the \"backpacker tax\" breached several international agreements when it was introduced in 2016. \"It also damaged Australia's reputation as a working holiday destination,\" Joanna Murphy, the firm's CEO, said. The Australian Tax Office sought to play down the ruling, saying it would have no impact for most working holidaymakers. \"This decision only affects the tax rates applying to a minority of working holiday-makers who are also residents, and only those from countries affected by a similar clause in the double tax agreement with their home country,\" it said. Colin Mathews, 25, from Cornwall, lived and worked in Australia between October 2018 and May 2019, with his fiancee Emily. When he returned from Australia, Mr Mathews said he had 15% deducted from wages he earned at a call centre. \"Local Australians couldn't believe we had to pay extra tax,\" Mr Mathews told the BBC. \"I'm not averse to paying tax - I was using Australian services - but it should be on the same terms.\" Oliver Bastock, from Derbyshire, is currently living in Melbourne and works in marketing, after moving to Australia in June 2018. He said the tax system was confusing, adding he had no idea \"why you don't get anything back\".", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2017, "answer_start": 1015, "text": "The Federal Court of Australia said the tax could not be applied to citizens of those eight countries who had been employed on category 417 or 462 visas. This was due to treaties which required Australia to tax those foreign nationals in the same way as local workers. Unlike foreign workers in Australia, locals do not pay any tax until their yearly income exceeds A$18,200 (PS9,700; $12,500). In contrast, foreign workers on 417 or 462 visas are taxed 15% on the first $37,000 they earn. In his ruling, Justice John Logan described the tax as \"a disguised form of discrimination based on nationality\". During her working holiday, Ms Addy lived mainly in a house share in Sydney's Earlwood, a point that proved to be crucial to the case. This meant she was considered a \"resident\" for tax purposes in Australia, while other foreign nationals who move around may be considered \"non-residents\". The ruling may force the government to repay hundreds of millions of dollars in total, local media reported." } ], "id": "9488_0", "question": "What did the court find?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US and North Korean officials have arrived in Sweden to restart nuclear talks in the hope of breaking a stalemate between the two countries. The last summit between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ended without agreement. Since then, there has been little progress although both sides insisted they wanted to continue negotiations. The new talks come just days after North Korea tested a new missile in a significant step up from earlier tests. The missile, fired from a platform at sea, was capable of being launched from a submarine, which means North Korea could potentially launch missiles far outside its territory. North Korea is banned from using ballistic missiles by UN Security Council resolutions, and is under US and UN sanctions for its nuclear programme. The talks are taking place on the island of Lidingo, northeast of Stockholm, where US Special Representative for North Korea Stephen Biegun and North Korea's Kim Myong Gil are expected to meet. Exchanges between the sides have ranged from the cordial to frosty in the months since the summit in Hanoi which ended in failure. But the resumption of talks comes at a crucial time - Mr Trump is under mounting pressure at home, facing possible impeachment and falling support in many opinion polls. The North Koreans are well aware of that. They also know that they stand a much better chance of getting a deal with Mr Trump than with any other US president. \"Both sides know that the clock is ticking, with Trump up for another presidential bid next year, and the domestic political turmoil Trump is in now,\" analyst Minyoung Lee of NK News told the BBC. Predicting talks between the US and North Korea is notoriously difficult, says Andray Abrahamian, Senior Adjunct Fellow at the Pacific Forum. \"We're trying, with limited information, to assess the prospects for talks between a rather esoteric and now embattled Trump Administration and North Korea, the most opaque country in the world,\" he says. After all, the last top-level talks in Hanoi surprised everyone when they suddenly fell apart. Since then there has only been a brief Trump-Kim meeting at the inter-Korean border in June. Hanoi failed because North Korea wanted step-by-step sanctions relief while the US expected major denuclearisation steps before agreeing to ease sanctions. \"These talks are happening because there were clear signals from the US that it would be willing to discuss a phase-by-phase approach,\" Ms Lee explains. This is what North Korea has consistently called for this past year. But Pyongyang has to be careful not to overestimate how badly the Trump administration needs a deal. If North Korea plays hardball and threatens to walk away from a deal, \"this window of opportunity might close, and close forever,\" Mr Abrahamian explains. \"North Korea needs to consider that President Trump could be gone or crippled sooner than they had planned for. Time is short.\" Most observers see the fresh talks as an opening move to another Trump-Kim summit. \"I think that both Kim and Trump have their eye on another meeting with pageantry, but also some substance,\" Mr Abrahamian says. \"It will have to be to do a deal that will be the entry point into a peace and denuclearisation process. Then the hard work begins, of course.\" The two have held two summits so far. The first one in Singapore in 2018 resulted in a vague denuclearisation agreement which led to little concrete results. The second summit in Hanoi ended early without any agreement. If there was to be another summit, it would be without ousted National Security Advisor John Bolton, whose tough stance against North Korea are thought to have been a major irritation to Pyongyang. \"The US could settle for what North Korea offered in Hanoi - dismantlement of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor with US inspectors on hand,\" Ms Lee expects. \"In return, North Korea likely will demand further scaling down of, or even complete termination of, all US-South Korea joint military exercises, and lifting of key sanctions.\" Reports suggest that, in the upcoming talks, the US may offer a suspension of UN sanctions on North Korean textile and coal exports for 36 months. In return, it wants the closure of the Yongbyon nuclear facility, and the end of uranium enrichment. This is \"less than the all-or-nothing approach Washington has taken so far\", Vox reports. Just this Thursday, North Korea confirmed it test-fired a new type of a ballistic missile, a significant escalation from the short-range tests it has conducted since May. The missile - able to carry a nuclear weapon - was the North's 11th test this year. Fired from a platform at sea, it appears to be capable of being launched from a submarine. The new test was \"a grave moment for North East Asian regional security - and a reminder of what has been lost over nearly two years of all-show-no-substance diplomacy,\" Ankit Panda, adjunct senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, told the BBC after the launch. While it might have been a way to build up pressure ahead of the talks, Pyongyang is walking a tight line. The Trump administration was prepared to ignore earlier tests as they had all been short-range missiles. This one, though, was longer and can be launched from a submarine - and hence will be much harder to brush off by the US.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4380, "answer_start": 2940, "text": "Most observers see the fresh talks as an opening move to another Trump-Kim summit. \"I think that both Kim and Trump have their eye on another meeting with pageantry, but also some substance,\" Mr Abrahamian says. \"It will have to be to do a deal that will be the entry point into a peace and denuclearisation process. Then the hard work begins, of course.\" The two have held two summits so far. The first one in Singapore in 2018 resulted in a vague denuclearisation agreement which led to little concrete results. The second summit in Hanoi ended early without any agreement. If there was to be another summit, it would be without ousted National Security Advisor John Bolton, whose tough stance against North Korea are thought to have been a major irritation to Pyongyang. \"The US could settle for what North Korea offered in Hanoi - dismantlement of the Yongbyon nuclear reactor with US inspectors on hand,\" Ms Lee expects. \"In return, North Korea likely will demand further scaling down of, or even complete termination of, all US-South Korea joint military exercises, and lifting of key sanctions.\" Reports suggest that, in the upcoming talks, the US may offer a suspension of UN sanctions on North Korean textile and coal exports for 36 months. In return, it wants the closure of the Yongbyon nuclear facility, and the end of uranium enrichment. This is \"less than the all-or-nothing approach Washington has taken so far\", Vox reports." } ], "id": "9489_0", "question": "Another Trump-Kim Summit?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5338, "answer_start": 4381, "text": "Just this Thursday, North Korea confirmed it test-fired a new type of a ballistic missile, a significant escalation from the short-range tests it has conducted since May. The missile - able to carry a nuclear weapon - was the North's 11th test this year. Fired from a platform at sea, it appears to be capable of being launched from a submarine. The new test was \"a grave moment for North East Asian regional security - and a reminder of what has been lost over nearly two years of all-show-no-substance diplomacy,\" Ankit Panda, adjunct senior fellow at the Federation of American Scientists, told the BBC after the launch. While it might have been a way to build up pressure ahead of the talks, Pyongyang is walking a tight line. The Trump administration was prepared to ignore earlier tests as they had all been short-range missiles. This one, though, was longer and can be launched from a submarine - and hence will be much harder to brush off by the US." } ], "id": "9489_1", "question": "Didn't North Korea just test a missile?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The Hong Kong government has suspended its highly controversial plan to allow extraditions to mainland China, Chief Executive Carrie Lam has announced. She had previously refused to scrap the bill despite mass protests from Hong Kong residents. \"I feel deep sorrow and regret that deficiencies in our work - and various other factors - have stirred up substantial controversies,\" she said. Protesters expressed concern at increased Chinese influence. Ms Lam said she had heard the calls for her government to \"pause and think\". She also admitted that the \"explanation and communication\" of the bill had not been adequate. She said her goal was \"the greatest interests of Hong Kong\", which involved first restoring peace and order. The government had argued the proposed extradition bill would \"plug the loopholes\" so that the city would not be a safe haven for criminals, following a murder case in Taiwan. Ms Lam said that the urgency felt to pass the bill before the legislative year ends \"perhaps no longer exists\". No date has been set for \"the next step forward\", she said. Hundreds of thousands of people have protested against the bill and further demonstrations were planned for Sunday. Critics have said the legislation would expose people in Hong Kong to China's deeply flawed justice system and lead to further erosion of the city's judicial independence. Protest leaders said that despite Ms Lam's announcement, they would continue their demonstrations until the bill was cancelled, not just delayed. Analysis by Helier Cheung, BBC News, Hong Kong It was a striking U-turn from a leader who previously struck a defiant tone. Mere days ago, Ms Lam had vowed to press ahead with the unpopular legislation - now she has promised to \"listen to different views from society\". But for many protesters, the damage has already been done, and the move to delay - but not cancel - the legislation is unlikely to assuage their concerns. One protester told me he believed the government was \"trying to divert attention away until opposition calms down - and then they'll try to re-do the whole process again\". Others said they would still take part in a march against the proposal planned for Sunday. \"Our final goal is to cancel the law, not to pause it. I think there will still be many people coming out tomorrow,\" a student leader told me. Hong Kong is a former British colony, but was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 under a \"one country, two systems\" deal that guarantees it a level of autonomy. China's foreign ministry publicly backed Ms Lam after her announcement. \"The Chinese Central Government expresses its support, respect and understanding for the [Hong Kong] government's decision,\" spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement. Amid the international debate on Hong Kong, he also warned that its \"affairs are purely China's internal affairs that brook no interference from any country, organization or individual\". Conversely, Britain's Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt applauded the Hong Kong government for \"heeding concerns of the brave citizens\" who objected to the changes. The changes would allow for criminal extradition requests from authorities in mainland China, Taiwan and Macau - decided on a case-by-case basis by Hong Kong courts. Hong Kong officials, including Ms Lam, say the bill is necessary to protect the city against criminals. But many fear the law could be used to target political opponents of the Chinese state. Opposition activists also cite the alleged use of torture, arbitrary detentions and forced confessions in mainland China. It comes after a high-profile case where a Hong Kong man was accused of murdering his girlfriend on holiday in Taiwan but could not be extradited. Yet Taiwanese officials are against the changes - due to their own concerns about the impact they could have. Taiwan is in effect independent, but China considers it a breakaway province. The government there has even said it would not accept the extradition of the accused man if it was under the proposed new rules. \"I'm deeply upset by the assault on freedom and human rights in Hong Kong,\" Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Joseph Wu, tweeted. \"Chief Executive Carrie Lam must listen to the people and take full responsibility. Blaming Taiwan is immoral, shameful and unacceptable. Embrace democracy and stand on the right side of history!\" A large-scale march, which organisers said drew more than one million people, was held last Sunday. Then on Wednesday tens of thousands gathered to blockade streets around government headquarters to try to stop the second reading, or debate, of the extradition bill. Tensions boiled over and 22 police and 60 protesters were injured. Authorities say 11 people were arrested. The police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets, have been accused of excessive force by some rights groups. Until Saturday's announcement, Ms Lam had not spoken publicly since she labelled the protests \"organised riots\" during a tearful address. Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841, when China ceded the island to the British after the First Opium War - which had erupted over British traders smuggling opium into China. It remained a colony until sovereignty was returned to China in 1997. It is now part of China under a \"one country, two systems\" principle, which ensures that it keeps its own judicial independence, its own legislature and economic system. It is what China calls a special administrative region - enjoying a great deal of autonomy that has made it a key business and media hub in the region. But it remains subject to pressure from mainland China, and Beijing remains responsible for defence and foreign affairs. People in Hong Kong are worried that the extradition bill could bring Hong Kong more decisively under China's control. Hong Kong officials had said its courts would have the final say whether to grant extradition requests. Ms Lam's government had also said suspects accused of political and religious crimes would not be extradited, insisting legally binding human rights safeguards would also be in place.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4978, "answer_start": 4356, "text": "A large-scale march, which organisers said drew more than one million people, was held last Sunday. Then on Wednesday tens of thousands gathered to blockade streets around government headquarters to try to stop the second reading, or debate, of the extradition bill. Tensions boiled over and 22 police and 60 protesters were injured. Authorities say 11 people were arrested. The police, who used tear gas and rubber bullets, have been accused of excessive force by some rights groups. Until Saturday's announcement, Ms Lam had not spoken publicly since she labelled the protests \"organised riots\" during a tearful address." } ], "id": "9490_0", "question": "How did protests unfold?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5671, "answer_start": 4979, "text": "Hong Kong was a British colony from 1841, when China ceded the island to the British after the First Opium War - which had erupted over British traders smuggling opium into China. It remained a colony until sovereignty was returned to China in 1997. It is now part of China under a \"one country, two systems\" principle, which ensures that it keeps its own judicial independence, its own legislature and economic system. It is what China calls a special administrative region - enjoying a great deal of autonomy that has made it a key business and media hub in the region. But it remains subject to pressure from mainland China, and Beijing remains responsible for defence and foreign affairs." } ], "id": "9490_1", "question": "Is Hong Kong part of China?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6078, "answer_start": 5672, "text": "People in Hong Kong are worried that the extradition bill could bring Hong Kong more decisively under China's control. Hong Kong officials had said its courts would have the final say whether to grant extradition requests. Ms Lam's government had also said suspects accused of political and religious crimes would not be extradited, insisting legally binding human rights safeguards would also be in place." } ], "id": "9490_2", "question": "Why are people angry about the plan?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The US icebreaker Nathaniel B Palmer has left Punta Arenas in Chile to begin an expedition to Antarctica's Thwaites Glacier. The huge ice stream in West Antarctica is currently melting, and scientists want to understand its likely future contribution to sea-level rise. If all of Thwaites' frozen bulk were to give way, it would add 80cm to the height of the world's oceans. \"How much, how fast? That's our mantra,\" said Dr Robert Larter. \"These are the questions we're asking about Thwaites,\" the British Antarctic Survey scientist told BBC News before leaving Chile. Dr Larter will be directing operations on the Palmer when it gets on site. The Palmer's 52-day cruise is just one part of a five-year, joint US-UK research programme to investigate the glacier. Data is to be gathered in front of, and on top of the ice stream. Instruments will even be sent under its floating front, or shelf. It's hoped that by capturing Thwaites' every behaviour, computer modellers can then better predict how its mass will respond to a warming world. One of the studies to be conducted off the Palmer is a seal-tagging exercise. Marine mammals will be captured on islands near the glacier and fitted with sensors. When seals are released to dive in the vicinity of Thwaites, they'll report back on seawater conditions. \"Weddell and Elephant seals like hanging out near the ice front or under ice shelves, places we as humans can't go,\" explained Dr Lars Boehme from St Andrews University. \"The sensors record details about the seals' immediate physical environment, which gives us a clearer picture of the current oceanic conditions in these remote and inaccessible places.\" Thwaites, which is comparable in size to Britain, is what's termed a marine-terminating glacier. Snows fall inland and these compact into ice that then flows out to sea. When in balance the quantity of snow at the glacier's head matches the ice lost to the ocean at its front through the calving of icebergs. But Thwaites is out of balance. It has speeded up and is currently flowing at over 4km per year. It is also thinning at a rate of almost 40cm a year. Satellite data suggests Thwaites alone accounts for around 4% of global sea-level rise - an amount that has doubled since the mid-1990s. It appears warm water from the deep ocean is getting under Thwaites' ice shelf and eroding the grounding - the point at which the ice stream becomes buoyant. The problem for the glacier is its geometry. A large portion of it sits below sea level, with the rock bed sloping back towards the continent. This produces what scientists refer to as \"marine ice sheet instability\" - an inherently unstable architecture, which, once knocked, can go into an irreversible decline. Some scientists have argued that Thwaites is already in this state. The joint US-UK programme aims to test all assumptions. \"We have fantastic measurements over the past 25 years from satellites and from research vessels that have visited the region, but we need to extend this record to centennial timescales,\" explained Dr Kelly Hogan. \"I think a lot of people think what we are seeing anthropogenic (human-driven) change, but we don't yet have all of the links in the chain to say that definitively.\" Dr Hogan will be taking sediment cores in front of Thwaites. The fossil contents and chemistry of these muds can be used to deduce the past position of the glacier and the ocean conditions it was encountering - perhaps as far back as a few thousand years ago. US collaborator Dr Rebecca Totten Minzoni, from the University of Alabama, said: \"By discovering the history of Thwaites Glacier under past climate and ocean conditions, we can assess the stability of the glacier today. \"With the majority of the global population living at the coast, including important cultural and industrial centres like my hometown of New Orleans, we need to know how much this vulnerable region of Antarctica will contribute to sea-level rise over the coming decades.\" [email protected] and follow me on Twitter: @BBCAmos", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1039, "answer_start": 644, "text": "The Palmer's 52-day cruise is just one part of a five-year, joint US-UK research programme to investigate the glacier. Data is to be gathered in front of, and on top of the ice stream. Instruments will even be sent under its floating front, or shelf. It's hoped that by capturing Thwaites' every behaviour, computer modellers can then better predict how its mass will respond to a warming world." } ], "id": "9491_0", "question": "What is the purpose of the expedition?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1663, "answer_start": 1040, "text": "One of the studies to be conducted off the Palmer is a seal-tagging exercise. Marine mammals will be captured on islands near the glacier and fitted with sensors. When seals are released to dive in the vicinity of Thwaites, they'll report back on seawater conditions. \"Weddell and Elephant seals like hanging out near the ice front or under ice shelves, places we as humans can't go,\" explained Dr Lars Boehme from St Andrews University. \"The sensors record details about the seals' immediate physical environment, which gives us a clearer picture of the current oceanic conditions in these remote and inaccessible places.\"" } ], "id": "9491_1", "question": "What sort of experiments are planned?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2259, "answer_start": 1664, "text": "Thwaites, which is comparable in size to Britain, is what's termed a marine-terminating glacier. Snows fall inland and these compact into ice that then flows out to sea. When in balance the quantity of snow at the glacier's head matches the ice lost to the ocean at its front through the calving of icebergs. But Thwaites is out of balance. It has speeded up and is currently flowing at over 4km per year. It is also thinning at a rate of almost 40cm a year. Satellite data suggests Thwaites alone accounts for around 4% of global sea-level rise - an amount that has doubled since the mid-1990s." } ], "id": "9491_2", "question": "Why is there such interest in Thwaites?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "President Trump's backing for slapping tariffs on imports of washing machines and solar panels will hit China and South Korea hardest. And it has opened up the prospect of some retaliation - especially from Beijing. The hardline Chinese publication Global Times says \"nothing good\" would come out of a trade war with President Trump, and has warned that China could fight back. There's lots at stake. The two countries did $578.6bn worth of trade in 2016. And by the US government's own estimates that trade supports just under a million American jobs. So what could China do? Well here are a few options: China says the US tariffs are bad for global trade and has already said that it will work with other WTO members to defend itself. Of course there will be plenty in Washington who won't miss the irony of China - much-maligned for its own trade practices - complaining that it is being hard done to. Last May, the US and China signed a deal to allow, amongst other things, the resumption of US beef exports to China after 14 years. But there are specific requirements from the Chinese that US beef companies need to adhere to. Although trade has barely just begun, China could raise these health and safety standards and make life far more difficult for the US beef exporting businesses that are looking to capitalise on middle class Chinese consumers. China is the world's biggest passenger car market. By 2022 it will contribute to over half of the world's car growth. China is also consistently among the top five export markets for US cars and car parts, so a directive from the government to stop buying American cars out of loyalty to the Chinese state would hurt US manufacturers. It's not unheard of for Beijing to dictate how Chinese consumers spend their money. Korean retailer Lotte Mart for example, suffered massive losses in China because of the Beijing-Seoul spat over a US anti-missile system. China is the world's leading outbound tourist market, with more than 130 million Chinese people travelling around the world each year - a number that just keeps rising. They spend something like $260bn (PS185.2bn) a year when they travel, and while the most popular Chinese tourist spots tend to be in Asia, the US has also benefited. Chinese tourists are projected to spend $450bn on holidays and shopping overseas by 2025, so the US could lose out if Beijing says America is an unsavoury place to travel to. China owns more than a $1tn of US debt. It has threatened to sell US Treasuries before, and many have worried that this level of debt could mean that Beijing has leverage over the US economy. But the truth is even if China did sell US debt, it would most likely be picked up by other countries. The reality is China doesn't want a trade spat to from escalate into a more damaging confrontation. If a trade war between the two countries does escalate, it won't just be Beijing and the US losing out. The wider Asian region could suffer too, simply because of how integrated global supply chains are. But we might well be just days away from more tariffs - with President Trump to soon decide whether to slap extra duties on steel and aluminium imports. China is the world's largest producer of both. Then there's the intellectual property theft investigation against China, or Section 301, the findings of which should be released soon. Now, as I've said before, President Trump hasn't really been as hard on China as he said he would during his election campaign - partly because he needs Beijing onside to help push North Korea into giving up its aggressive nuclear strategy. But with more pressure coming from the voters who elected him, the Republican base, and mid-terms this year - President Trump could decide that now's the time to finally push his 'America first' policy through.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3814, "answer_start": 2721, "text": "The reality is China doesn't want a trade spat to from escalate into a more damaging confrontation. If a trade war between the two countries does escalate, it won't just be Beijing and the US losing out. The wider Asian region could suffer too, simply because of how integrated global supply chains are. But we might well be just days away from more tariffs - with President Trump to soon decide whether to slap extra duties on steel and aluminium imports. China is the world's largest producer of both. Then there's the intellectual property theft investigation against China, or Section 301, the findings of which should be released soon. Now, as I've said before, President Trump hasn't really been as hard on China as he said he would during his election campaign - partly because he needs Beijing onside to help push North Korea into giving up its aggressive nuclear strategy. But with more pressure coming from the voters who elected him, the Republican base, and mid-terms this year - President Trump could decide that now's the time to finally push his 'America first' policy through." } ], "id": "9492_0", "question": "But will anything happen?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "With Britain set to get its second woman prime minister, has the boys' club that has dominated British politics for centuries finally had its day? Remember that group hug? When SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Plaid Cymru's Leanne Wood and Green Party leader Natalie Bennett got together at the end of one of the general election TV debates, leaving poor Ed Miliband flapping about on the sidelines. That felt, to some, like a moment when things were changing for women in British politics. The impressive performance of female politicians, such as Andrea Leadsom and Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson in the EU referendum TV debates, felt like another. Now, with Mrs Leadsom and Theresa May battling it out for the Tory leadership we are on the verge of getting our second female prime minister, 26 years after Margaret Thatcher left Downing Street. On the global stage, America could be about to get its first female president, in Hillary Clinton, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel continues to dominate European politics. Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster is the first woman to be First Minister in Northern Ireland and Ms Sturgeon continues to dominate things at Holyrood. Labour might even get a female leader for the first time in its history, if Angela Eagle decides to launch a challenge against Jeremy Corbyn. And if UKIP elects one of its high-profile spokeswomen, such as Diane James or Suzanne Evans, to replace Nigel Farage, and the Greens opt for another female leader we could be in a situation where the majority of Britain's political leaders are women, for the first time ever. But have things really changed for women in British politics - or is it all just a historical accident? Many Conservative MPs love the idea that they are going to get a second female leader. What pleases them more than anything is that Labour, for all its hand-wringing about gender equality, and its women-only shortlists, has never managed to have one. The Conservatives, in their practical, common-sense way have simply got on with it, they say. Tim Montgomerie, Times journalist and former Tory insider, argued on the BBC's Newsnight that the fact that the party does not have a quota system, and women have to compete on equal terms with men for seats and influence, has created better, tougher politicians. Critics argue that party has arrived at an all-women shortlist to choose its next leader almost by accident, after the public schoolboy power games of the alpha males in the contest, Boris Johnson and Michael Gove, ended in predictable disaster. Which is a victory, of sorts, for female level-headedness and common sense. In fact, there have been efforts going on behind the scenes for years in the Conservative Party, to mentor talented women and get them into winnable seats, through organisations like Conservative Women and Women2Win. David Cameron - who has taken his share of stick for having a \"problem\" with putting women in top cabinet jobs - has overseen a huge increase in female Tory MPs, from an admittedly low base. Ten years ago there were just 17 female Tory MPs, now there are 68. Margaret Thatcher, who made history in 1979 by becoming Britain's first female prime minister, liked to surround herself with powerful, charismatic men. Some have called it the Queen Bee syndrome - the tendency of women in positions of authority to be more critical of subordinates who are also women. She was once asked why she did not have more women in her cabinet. Because they are all so useless, she is reported to have said. But there is no doubt that a generation of Conservative women, from cabinet members right down to members of the tiniest parish council, have looked to Thatcher as a role model. More importantly, the party itself, once the very bastion of male privilege and entitlement, is entirely comfortable with the idea of a woman at the helm. Imagine the endless, tedious questions about whether the party and the country was \"ready\" for a female leader, that would have attended the run-off between Leadsom and May, had Thatcher not been there first. She went through all of that in her leadership contest in 1975, so they don't have to. Left-wing critics may claim she did little to advance the cause of gender equality in British society during her 11 years in power but Thatcher did break down barriers for women in politics, whether she had intended to or not. It is a profound source of embarrassment to Labour that they have never had a female leader. Harriet Harman and Margaret Beckett have both kept the seat warm between permanent male leaders, but there has never been a Labour Thatcher. The macho culture of the old, industrial trade unions has been blamed by some for a lingering, subliminal sexism at the top of the party. Others say the rise of \"identity politics\" - treating women as a special interest group rather than as individuals - has had the opposite effect to the one intended. Listening to Old Labour figures muttering about the \"sisterhood\" would lend weight to that argument. Miranda Green, a former senior Lib Dem aide, told the BBC's Daily Politics that Labour women tended to dismiss Conservative women such as Theresa May and Andrea Leadsom because they \"don't fit their idea of a feminist,\" when they should be celebrating them. But, she added, Labour has at least put the structures in place to get more women into positions where they can challenge for ultimate power. Tony Blair's controversial adoption of all-women shortlists, resulted in the biggest single influx of women MPs into Parliament in its history, permanently changing the character of the place. And Labour can, at least, console itself, that Ms Green's party, the Liberal Democrats, probably have the worst record of female representation in Parliament of any of the major parties. It is easy to see the recent rise of women in British politics as a watershed moment - but we should not get ahead of ourselves. Women are still massively under-represented in politics, and the barriers preventing them from reaching the top, in public life and business as much as in politics, are arguably just as high as they have ever been. They are just in a different place. Strong women are labelled shrill and pushy. The media focuses on their personal grooming and fashion sense in a way that would never happen to their male counterparts. And despite all the warm words from male leaders the formal, and informal, party structures can still militate against women getting to the top. But none of that need worry Theresa May or Andrea Leadsom, who have made it through the obstacle course - and can now dream of walking through the doors of Number 10 in early September on their own terms.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4433, "answer_start": 3146, "text": "Margaret Thatcher, who made history in 1979 by becoming Britain's first female prime minister, liked to surround herself with powerful, charismatic men. Some have called it the Queen Bee syndrome - the tendency of women in positions of authority to be more critical of subordinates who are also women. She was once asked why she did not have more women in her cabinet. Because they are all so useless, she is reported to have said. But there is no doubt that a generation of Conservative women, from cabinet members right down to members of the tiniest parish council, have looked to Thatcher as a role model. More importantly, the party itself, once the very bastion of male privilege and entitlement, is entirely comfortable with the idea of a woman at the helm. Imagine the endless, tedious questions about whether the party and the country was \"ready\" for a female leader, that would have attended the run-off between Leadsom and May, had Thatcher not been there first. She went through all of that in her leadership contest in 1975, so they don't have to. Left-wing critics may claim she did little to advance the cause of gender equality in British society during her 11 years in power but Thatcher did break down barriers for women in politics, whether she had intended to or not." } ], "id": "9493_0", "question": "Thatcher the empowerer?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6750, "answer_start": 5853, "text": "It is easy to see the recent rise of women in British politics as a watershed moment - but we should not get ahead of ourselves. Women are still massively under-represented in politics, and the barriers preventing them from reaching the top, in public life and business as much as in politics, are arguably just as high as they have ever been. They are just in a different place. Strong women are labelled shrill and pushy. The media focuses on their personal grooming and fashion sense in a way that would never happen to their male counterparts. And despite all the warm words from male leaders the formal, and informal, party structures can still militate against women getting to the top. But none of that need worry Theresa May or Andrea Leadsom, who have made it through the obstacle course - and can now dream of walking through the doors of Number 10 in early September on their own terms." } ], "id": "9493_1", "question": "So how much has changed?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Poland has been referred to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over a rule which forced almost a third of the country's top judges out of office. The government lowered the retirement age of Supreme Court judges to 65, in what opponents say is an attempt to appoint more favourable replacements. The European Commission has now sent the case to the ECJ, saying the change undermines judicial independence. It is the EU's latest move in a long-running feud over Poland's judiciary. In December last year, the European Commission began disciplinary proceedings against Poland, accusing it of significant interference in its own courts. It invoked a European rule called Article 7 - the first time the commission had ever done so. In the months since, Hungary has also faced censure under Article 7 over the actions of its leader Victor Orban. Hungary and Poland have vowed to support each other in the face of what they see as political interference by the European Union in domestic matters. The EU, meanwhile, says it is deeply concerned about Poland's actions, which it says undermine the rule of law. December's decision to begin disciplinary proceedings against Poland was based, in part, on concerns around powers over the courts which were given to the president and minister of justice. But the European Commission also warned Poland not to change the retirement age of judges. Nonetheless, the country's government brought in the new rules for the Supreme Court, effective from 4 July this year. Since it implemented the rule retroactively, 30% of the judges on the Supreme Court - 27 out of 72 - were suddenly forced into retirement before their terms were supposed to end. That included Chief Justice Malgorzata Gersdorf, aged 65, who turned up to work the following morning flanked by supporters. She labelled the rule change a \"purge\" of the courts. Protests were also staged in several Polish cities against the rule change, and Ms Gersdorf has continued to go to work in defiance of the government. The Polish government, however, said the rule change was needed to make the court system more efficient, and to remove communist-era judges. In a statement, the European Commission said it was sending the case to the courts because Poland was \"creating a risk of serious and irreparable damage to judicial independence in Poland, and therefore of the EU legal order\". A spokeswoman also cited harm to the principle of the \"irremovability of judges\". As a result, Poland is failing to fulfil its obligations under the Treaty of European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, she added. The commission wants the court to issue an interim order, requiring Poland to revert to the old system, and has asked the ECJ to fast-track the case - indications of how seriously it views the matter. Previous negotiations between the European and national authorities have ended in a deadlock, with Poland steadfastly rejecting the commission's concerns. Polish Senate speaker, Stanislaw Karczewski, said the referral to the ECJ was entirely expected, and he was confident the commission's complaint would not be upheld. \"The Polish government has very strong, substantive, legal arguments that will be presented,\" he said, adding that Poland had always respected the court's judgements.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2153, "answer_start": 1104, "text": "December's decision to begin disciplinary proceedings against Poland was based, in part, on concerns around powers over the courts which were given to the president and minister of justice. But the European Commission also warned Poland not to change the retirement age of judges. Nonetheless, the country's government brought in the new rules for the Supreme Court, effective from 4 July this year. Since it implemented the rule retroactively, 30% of the judges on the Supreme Court - 27 out of 72 - were suddenly forced into retirement before their terms were supposed to end. That included Chief Justice Malgorzata Gersdorf, aged 65, who turned up to work the following morning flanked by supporters. She labelled the rule change a \"purge\" of the courts. Protests were also staged in several Polish cities against the rule change, and Ms Gersdorf has continued to go to work in defiance of the government. The Polish government, however, said the rule change was needed to make the court system more efficient, and to remove communist-era judges." } ], "id": "9494_0", "question": "Why is Poland in the dock over its courts?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3293, "answer_start": 2154, "text": "In a statement, the European Commission said it was sending the case to the courts because Poland was \"creating a risk of serious and irreparable damage to judicial independence in Poland, and therefore of the EU legal order\". A spokeswoman also cited harm to the principle of the \"irremovability of judges\". As a result, Poland is failing to fulfil its obligations under the Treaty of European Union and the Charter of Fundamental Rights, she added. The commission wants the court to issue an interim order, requiring Poland to revert to the old system, and has asked the ECJ to fast-track the case - indications of how seriously it views the matter. Previous negotiations between the European and national authorities have ended in a deadlock, with Poland steadfastly rejecting the commission's concerns. Polish Senate speaker, Stanislaw Karczewski, said the referral to the ECJ was entirely expected, and he was confident the commission's complaint would not be upheld. \"The Polish government has very strong, substantive, legal arguments that will be presented,\" he said, adding that Poland had always respected the court's judgements." } ], "id": "9494_1", "question": "What case is the EU making?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "The New York red carpet opening of Liam Neeson's latest film has been cancelled amid a row over his comments that he once wanted to kill a random black man after someone close to him was raped. Reporters were told the red carpet part of the Cold Pursuit premiere was being pulled with just two hours' notice. Neeson has denied he is racist but the remarks, published by The Independent on Monday, sparked an outcry. He said he had wanted to start a wider conversation about racism. Organisers of the red carpet event said there would be no photographs or interviews at the New York City screening. He was speaking to The Independent to promote Cold Pursuit, a revenge thriller. In the interview, he said the alleged rape took place a long time ago and went on to use racially offensive language about the attacker. He said: \"She handled the situation of the rape in the most extraordinary way. But my immediate reaction was... I asked, did she know who it was? No. What colour were they? She said it was a black person. \"I went up and down areas with a cosh, hoping I'd be approached by somebody - I'm ashamed to say that - and I did it for maybe a week, hoping some [uses air quotes with fingers] 'black bastard' would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him.\" He didn't go through with any violence, and added: \"It was horrible, horrible, when I think back, that I did that... It's awful. But I did learn a lesson from it.\" After widespread criticism, he told ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday: \"I'm not racist.\" Asked what he wanted people to take from his experience, he told the host: \"To talk. To open up. \"We all pretend we're all politically correct in this country... in mine, too. You sometimes just scratch the surface and you discover this racism and bigotry and it's there.\" He said learning of his friend's rape about 40 years ago - she has since died - gave him a \"primal urge to lash out\". The actor said he \"went out deliberately into black areas in the city looking to be set upon so that I could unleash physical violence\". He said he would have acted the same had his friend's assailant been white, but admitted he had been \"shocked\" by his own response. The Guardian's Gary Younge wrote: \"The next time someone asks me why I have a chip on my shoulder, I need no longer brush the question away with disdain. \"I can say, with all sincerity: 'Because there may well be an Oscar-nominated actor out there who wants to kill me, so I have to be alert at all times.\" Kehinde Andrews, a professor of black studies at Birmingham City University, told the BBC Neeson's comments were \"completely inappropriate and offensive\" and to make them as he promoted a film was \"distasteful\". Playwright and author Bonnie Greer said Neeson had \"probably put paid to his career\". But former England footballer and anti-racism campaigner, John Barnes, defended Neeson during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live. \"He was ashamed a week into it. He understood that he was wrong for thinking what he did. And we have to have this conversation.\" Many on social media have also had their say since the story first broke on Monday. Frederick Joseph, who works for better representation in the media, wrote that Neeson's story \"just shows how meaningless and inconsequential black lives are to some\". But some agreed with Barnes that Neeson should not be castigated for admitting such thoughts but realising they were wrong and saying he had learned from them. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected].", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 1475, "answer_start": 598, "text": "He was speaking to The Independent to promote Cold Pursuit, a revenge thriller. In the interview, he said the alleged rape took place a long time ago and went on to use racially offensive language about the attacker. He said: \"She handled the situation of the rape in the most extraordinary way. But my immediate reaction was... I asked, did she know who it was? No. What colour were they? She said it was a black person. \"I went up and down areas with a cosh, hoping I'd be approached by somebody - I'm ashamed to say that - and I did it for maybe a week, hoping some [uses air quotes with fingers] 'black bastard' would come out of a pub and have a go at me about something, you know? So that I could kill him.\" He didn't go through with any violence, and added: \"It was horrible, horrible, when I think back, that I did that... It's awful. But I did learn a lesson from it.\"" } ], "id": "9495_0", "question": "What did Neeson say?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2228, "answer_start": 1476, "text": "After widespread criticism, he told ABC's Good Morning America on Tuesday: \"I'm not racist.\" Asked what he wanted people to take from his experience, he told the host: \"To talk. To open up. \"We all pretend we're all politically correct in this country... in mine, too. You sometimes just scratch the surface and you discover this racism and bigotry and it's there.\" He said learning of his friend's rape about 40 years ago - she has since died - gave him a \"primal urge to lash out\". The actor said he \"went out deliberately into black areas in the city looking to be set upon so that I could unleash physical violence\". He said he would have acted the same had his friend's assailant been white, but admitted he had been \"shocked\" by his own response." } ], "id": "9495_1", "question": "How did he later explain his comments?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3650, "answer_start": 2229, "text": "The Guardian's Gary Younge wrote: \"The next time someone asks me why I have a chip on my shoulder, I need no longer brush the question away with disdain. \"I can say, with all sincerity: 'Because there may well be an Oscar-nominated actor out there who wants to kill me, so I have to be alert at all times.\" Kehinde Andrews, a professor of black studies at Birmingham City University, told the BBC Neeson's comments were \"completely inappropriate and offensive\" and to make them as he promoted a film was \"distasteful\". Playwright and author Bonnie Greer said Neeson had \"probably put paid to his career\". But former England footballer and anti-racism campaigner, John Barnes, defended Neeson during an interview on BBC Radio 5 Live. \"He was ashamed a week into it. He understood that he was wrong for thinking what he did. And we have to have this conversation.\" Many on social media have also had their say since the story first broke on Monday. Frederick Joseph, who works for better representation in the media, wrote that Neeson's story \"just shows how meaningless and inconsequential black lives are to some\". But some agreed with Barnes that Neeson should not be castigated for admitting such thoughts but realising they were wrong and saying he had learned from them. Follow us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. If you have a story suggestion email [email protected]." } ], "id": "9495_2", "question": "How did others respond?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Antibiotics have been one of the greatest success stories in medicine. But there is growing concern that the drugs' usefulness is coming to an end. It has been reported that antibiotic resistance has reached \"unprecedented levels\". Last year in Europe more than 25,000 people died of bacterial infections that were resistant to antibiotics. As the director general of the World Health Organisation, Dr Margaret Chan, put it: \"The world is heading towards a post-antibiotic era in which many common infections will no longer have a cure and, once again, kill unabated.\" During the last decade, MRSA became one of the most feared words in hospitals. The latest concern is NDM-1. It is resistant to one of the more powerful groups of drugs, carbapenem antibiotics, and has been detected in UK patients. One solution to antibiotic resistance is to develop new drugs. The eminent microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington told the BBC: \"There are no new antibiotics coming along and we've run out of easy targets. \"Pessimism is the order of the day, we're holding the line, but we're not gaining.\" However, Professor Chris Thomas, molecular geneticist at the University of Birmingham, says that while a degree of complacency did set in: \"There is a pipeline of new antibiotics from the evidence I've seen. There are new ways of developing drugs and new drugs have come through.\" Drug manufacture almost inevitably depends on the pharmaceutical industry and unfortunately there are problems with the present business model. To take a drug from discovery to market is estimated to cost PS700m. Colin McKay, from the European Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, said: \"It is very difficult to make economically viable models for antibiotics.\" \"With heart medication or anti-depressants a lot of people take them for a long time so you can make money back. An antibiotic that works is unlikely to be used for more than a couple of weeks.\" He added: \"A new way to promote research is needed and there is an ongoing debate into how to do it.\" Viruses have long been touted as a solution to antibiotic resistance. Bacteriophage are a group of viruses which infect and kill bacteria. They were discovered in 1915 in the former Soviet republic of Georgia and have remained part of medical practice there. However, research on them was largely abandoned in the West due to the success of antibiotics. Clinical trials on phage are taking place, but the subject area has attracted some critics who say the field has not delivered. Dr Martha Clokie, a microbiologist at the University of Leicester working on phage for Clostridium difficile, said: \"That criticism is fair, there has been a lot of talk and hyperbole about phage, but recently there is increasing evidence that they do work.\" \"It's an exciting time to be in this area, I hope the criticism won't be accurate soon. I'm very optimistic that phage have a future.\" Vaccination has also attracted a lot of publicity. Just like for seasonal flu, a vaccine would be developed for superbugs. This could be taken before going into hospital for surgery. In 2008, the then chief medical officer for England, Sir Liam Donaldson, said vaccines for MRSA and C. difficile should be ready within a decade. Monitoring antibiotic resistance in the UK is the responsibility of the Health Protection Agency. Its executive director of microbiology services, Christine McCartney, said: \"The emergence of antibiotic resistance, especially against carbapenems, is a major public health concern. \"Antibiotic resistance makes infections much harder to treat and its spread underscores the need for good infection control in hospitals.\" Prof Pennington said: \"We need to stop patients passing bugs on. It needs very strict rules with patients kept in isolation and barrier nursing. We need to sharpen infection control practices.\" Prof Thomas argues that \"hygiene appears to be responsible for the reduction in MRSA cases\" and that \"we need to get back to careful nursing.\" He concluded: \"We need to pursue every possible link, having one strategy is like having all your eggs in one basket.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2056, "answer_start": 800, "text": "One solution to antibiotic resistance is to develop new drugs. The eminent microbiologist Professor Hugh Pennington told the BBC: \"There are no new antibiotics coming along and we've run out of easy targets. \"Pessimism is the order of the day, we're holding the line, but we're not gaining.\" However, Professor Chris Thomas, molecular geneticist at the University of Birmingham, says that while a degree of complacency did set in: \"There is a pipeline of new antibiotics from the evidence I've seen. There are new ways of developing drugs and new drugs have come through.\" Drug manufacture almost inevitably depends on the pharmaceutical industry and unfortunately there are problems with the present business model. To take a drug from discovery to market is estimated to cost PS700m. Colin McKay, from the European Federation of the Pharmaceutical Industries and Associations, said: \"It is very difficult to make economically viable models for antibiotics.\" \"With heart medication or anti-depressants a lot of people take them for a long time so you can make money back. An antibiotic that works is unlikely to be used for more than a couple of weeks.\" He added: \"A new way to promote research is needed and there is an ongoing debate into how to do it.\"" } ], "id": "9496_0", "question": "Why not produce more antibiotics?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "US President Donald Trump says transgender people cannot serve in \"any capacity\" in the military. He tweeted that he had consulted with military experts and cited \"tremendous medical costs and disruption\". The Obama administration decided last year to allow transgender people to serve openly in the military. But in June, Defence Secretary James Mattis agreed to a six-month delay in the recruitment of transgender people. As is often the case, the announcement came in a series of tweets. Mr Trump said: \"After consultation with my Generals and military experts, please be advised that the United States Government will not accept or allow transgender individuals to serve in any capacity in the U.S. Military. \"Our military must be focused on decisive and overwhelming victory and cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.\" But the measure will not go into effect immediately, as spokesperson Sarah Sanders told reporters at a White House press briefing. The implementation policy has to be worked out, she said when asked if troops on battlefields would be immediately sent back to the United States. This was \"a military decision\" said Mrs Sanders, adding that it is \"not meant to be anything more than that\". 'My stomach dropped': Transgender troops hit by ban The secret life of a transgender airman Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Reporter The timing of this transgender ban is almost as interesting as the move itself. Why now? With the Trump administration being buffeted by the Jeff Sessions political death watch, the ongoing multi-prong investigation into the Trump campaign, the healthcare drama in the Senate and the impending Russian sanctions bill, perhaps the administration decided this was a good time to change the subject and rally conservative forces to his side. Republicans have long used cultural issues as a wedge to divide Democrats and energise evangelicals. As one White House insider acknowledged, this is straight out of that playbook. While Mr Trump campaigned as sympathetic to LGBT rights, he needs the traditional religious conservatives to stay loyal to him now, more than ever. Or perhaps, as Politico is reporting, the White House sought to resolve an intraparty dispute that threatened passage of a key military spending bill in the House of Representatives. That the president chose to do so suddenly, with little advanced notice, would not be out of the ordinary for this administration. The president's action will create a furore among liberals and the media commentators whose disdain for the current administration is not a new development. This is a fight the White House will welcome. The independent Rand Corporation estimated in 2016 that about 4,000 US active-duty and reserve service members are transgender, although some campaigners put the figure higher than 10,000. Rand also predicted that the inclusion of transgender people in the military would cause a 0.13% increase in healthcare spending (approximately $8.4m). A Military Times analysis found that the Department of Defense spends five times that figure just on erectile dysfunction drug Viagara alone. The Obama administration's move to allow transgender people in the military to serve openly was announced in June 2016 by then Defence Secretary Ash Carter. The policy included a provision for the military to provide medical help for service members wanting to change gender. Transgender people would be permitted to join the services, so long as they could demonstrate they had been stable in their new gender for at least 18 months. This was meant to come into effect on 1 July 2017 but the Trump administration delayed it by a further six months. The Pentagon said the five branches of the military needed more time to \"review their accession plans and provide input on the impact to the readiness and lethality of our forces\". While Mr Trump's decision concerns transgender military personnel, the US military's ban on openly gay and lesbian servicemen and women - known as \"Don't ask don't tell\" - was lifted in 2011. Delays leave transgender military in limbo UK chiefs praise transgender troops LGBTQ campaign group, GLAAD, called Mr Trump's move \"a direct attack on transgender Americans\". Aaron Belkin, director of the Palm Centre, a leading think-tank which studies gender and sexuality in the military, told the BBC that Mr Trump's decision would force transgender troops to in effect live as gays and lesbians did under \"Don't ask, don't tell\". Kristin Beck, a retired elite Navy SEAL, issued a challenge to President Trump in an interview with Business Insider: \"Let's meet face to face and you tell me I'm not worthy.\" She said that during her decorated military career, she had been \"defending individual liberty\". \"Being transgender doesn't affect anyone else,\" she said. \"We are liberty's light. If you can't defend that for everyone that's an American citizen, that's not right.\" Former Defence Secretary Carter released a critical statement: \"To choose service members on other grounds than military qualifications is social policy and has no place in our military. There are already transgender individuals who are serving capably and honourably.\" Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Republican John McCain, said major policy announcements should not be made via Twitter and continued: \"The statement was unclear. The Department of Defense has already decided to allow currently-serving transgender individuals to stay in the military, and many are serving honorably today. Any American who meets current medical and readiness standards should be allowed to continue serving.\" Several British military generals have condemned Mr Trump's decision, including the commander of the UK Maritime Forces, Rear Admiral Alex Burton. \"As an @RoyalNavy_LGBT champion and senior warfighter I am so glad we are not going this way\", he wrote on Twitter, later adding: \"We have a justifiably rigorous selection process but it doesn't include discrimination and we're a better fighting force for it.\" Trump revokes transgender toilet rules Republican opponents of transgender people serving in the military include Vicky Hartzler, a congresswoman from Missouri, who wants transgender service members honourably discharged. Some oppose the military having to bear medical costs associated with transgender recruits, such as gender reassignment. Tony Perkins of the socially conservative Family Research council said: \"Our troops shouldn't be forced to endure hours of transgender 'sensitivity' classes and politically correct distractions.\" Trump supporter and political commentator Scott Presler is among those who disagree with the military carrying the cost of such interventions. While disagreeing with the ban, he added that \"generals know more about war than I do. \"I am cognisant that they understand what it takes to go to war... I don't think this is an attack on the LGBT community. \"I'm mixed, but I have confidence in the guidance that President Trump is receiving,\" he said. \"I don't think for a second he's prejudiced.\"", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2708, "answer_start": 1380, "text": "Anthony Zurcher, BBC North America Reporter The timing of this transgender ban is almost as interesting as the move itself. Why now? With the Trump administration being buffeted by the Jeff Sessions political death watch, the ongoing multi-prong investigation into the Trump campaign, the healthcare drama in the Senate and the impending Russian sanctions bill, perhaps the administration decided this was a good time to change the subject and rally conservative forces to his side. Republicans have long used cultural issues as a wedge to divide Democrats and energise evangelicals. As one White House insider acknowledged, this is straight out of that playbook. While Mr Trump campaigned as sympathetic to LGBT rights, he needs the traditional religious conservatives to stay loyal to him now, more than ever. Or perhaps, as Politico is reporting, the White House sought to resolve an intraparty dispute that threatened passage of a key military spending bill in the House of Representatives. That the president chose to do so suddenly, with little advanced notice, would not be out of the ordinary for this administration. The president's action will create a furore among liberals and the media commentators whose disdain for the current administration is not a new development. This is a fight the White House will welcome." } ], "id": "9497_0", "question": "Why has the president decided on this now?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Carlos Ghosn's lawyers have accused the Japanese government of conspiring against him, along with prosecutors and Nissan executives. Mr Ghosn, who was arrested last year over claims of financial misconduct, faces several charges in Japan. His lawyers say the Tokyo court should drop all charges against him because of \"unlawful breaches\" by prosecutors. Mr Ghosn, formerly a towering figure in the carmaking world, is out on bail awaiting trial. Mr Ghosn's lawyers said in a statement that the prosecutors' case was \"politically motivated\" and laid out some of the \"illegal actions\" they say were committed by the prosecutors. \"The prosecution against him resulted from unlawful collusion between the prosecutors, government officials at METI (Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry) and executives at Nissan, who formed a secret task force to drum up allegations of wrongdoing,\" the lawyers said, according to the statement. They said the aim was to oust Mr Ghosn from his position as head of the Renault-Nissan alliance to prevent him from integrating the two companies \"which would have threatened the autonomy of one of the jewels of Japanese industry under the French flag\". Mr Ghosn is credited with having turned around the fortunes of both Nissan and Renault over several years. Nissan declined to comment when contacted by the BBC. Carlos Ghosn's lawyers certainly aren't holding back. The man himself has already accused \"backstabbing\" executives at Nissan of conspiring with prosecutors to bring about his downfall. But now they've gone even further, implicating government officials in a grand conspiracy, designed to avoid a Ghosn-led merger between Nissan and Renault and prevent a Japanese industrial champion from coming under a French flag. It's a move which seems designed to cause maximum embarrassment in Japan, to present Mr Ghosn as the innocent foreign victim of a nationalist stitch-up - and effectively put the Japanese judicial system on trial. It makes the charges themselves - which are all denied - seem almost irrelevant. But that may well be the general idea. The 65-year-old was first arrested in November 2018 and spent 108 days in custody. He faces charges over allegations of financial misconduct and breach of trust. Mr Ghosn, who was first released in March after posting bail, has repeatedly said he is innocent. He has previously also accused former Nissan executives of \"backstabbing\". The fall from grace of the industry titan has attracted global attention. The case has also highlighted infighting within the carmaker alliance and focused scrutiny on Japan's legal system.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2617, "answer_start": 2092, "text": "The 65-year-old was first arrested in November 2018 and spent 108 days in custody. He faces charges over allegations of financial misconduct and breach of trust. Mr Ghosn, who was first released in March after posting bail, has repeatedly said he is innocent. He has previously also accused former Nissan executives of \"backstabbing\". The fall from grace of the industry titan has attracted global attention. The case has also highlighted infighting within the carmaker alliance and focused scrutiny on Japan's legal system." } ], "id": "9498_0", "question": "How did we get here?" } ] } ]

[ { "context": "Results from voting in Iowa, the first round in the contest to pick a Democratic candidate to face President Donald Trump, have been plunged into chaos by apparent technology issues. The state's Democratic party said the holdup was a \"reporting issue\", adding that it expected to \"have numbers to report later today [Tuesday]\". On Monday, voters flocked to more than 1,600 schools, libraries and churches. Despite the absence of results, several candidates are claiming victory. Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders spoke of winning in Iowa's caucuses, citing internal campaign data that placed him ahead of Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana. Earlier, Mr Buttigieg told supporters that \"by all indications\" his campaign was \"going to New Hampshire victorious\". He is referring to the forthcoming vote to select candidates in that state on 11 February. Mr Trump tweeted that it was an \"unmitigated disaster\", adding \"the only person that can claim a very big victory in Iowa last night is 'Trump'.\" The vote in Iowa was a caucus - which involves people attending a meeting before voting on a candidate, perhaps via a head count or a show of hands. Voters in primaries - like the vote in New Hampshire - can just turn up at a polling booth and vote in secret. Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) spokeswoman Mandy McClure said officials had found \"inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results\" that was simply a \"reporting issue\" rather than a hack or intrusion. She denied an app created to allow reporting of results had gone down. \"The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report the results.\" The local party chairman Troy Price later said : \"We are validating every piece of data we have against our paper trail. \"That system is taking longer than expected, but it's in place to ensure we are eventually able to report results with full confidence.\" Rules on reporting were changed for this year, with Iowa Democrats required to report three numbers to party headquarters, rather than just the final delegate totals. Ms McClure's statement was flatly contradicted by party officials at county level, who blamed technology issues for the delay. They said the app created for caucus organisers to report their results had malfunctioned, leaving precinct captains to call state party headquarters, whose phone lines swiftly became jammed. Elesha Gayman, the Democratic chairwoman of Scott county, Iowa's third largest, said many officials were having issues reporting results and had been left hanging on hold. Dallas County chairman Bryce Smith also said the app had crashed, a view echoed by Nate Gruber, the Democratic vice-chairman of Black Hawk county, a part of the state with the largest concentration of African Americans. \"It doesn't really work,\" he said, adding: \"No-one can reach the state party to report.\" Calls to the Iowa Democratic Party hotline late on Monday had the same recorded message: \"All of our operators are currently busy.\" The Democratic Party establishment spent the past few days hand-wringing over what they might view as a doomsday scenario where Bernie Sanders posted a solid win in the Iowa caucuses. It turns out they're heading towards an outcome much worse than that. Three years after having their party servers hacked by Russians in an attempt to disrupt the 2016 election, a \"quality control issue\" derailed the reporting of the Iowa results. It's not a good look for the Democratic Party - or for American democracy. It will be a snafu that launches 1,000 conspiracy theories and leaves a race that might have received some clarity after a year of campaigning a muddled mess as the primary season gets underway. The candidates are vying to win the opening contest of the 2020 White House campaign and become the Democratic nominee who will challenge Mr Trump, a Republican, in the 3 November election. Largely white, rural, sparsely populated Iowa awards just 41 of the 1,991 delegates needed to clinch the party nomination under America's quirky political system. But the Hawkeye state can offer crucial momentum - the last four Democratic nominees have all won the Iowa caucuses. The front-runners among the 11 remaining contenders are Senator Sanders and former US Vice-President Joe Biden. Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar also blitzed the state. Amid the delay, party officials held a call with the rival campaigns. Lawyers for the Biden campaign wrote a letter to the Iowa Democratic Party to register concern about the \"considerable flaws\" and \"acute failures\" in the reporting system. \"The app that was intended to relay Caucus results to the Party failed; the Party's back-up telephonic reporting system likewise has failed,\" said the letter. A source in Mr Buttigieg's campaign told Reuters news agency the delay was \"definitely going to de-legitimise whoever wins\". Mr Trump's campaign gloated over the debacle. Trump 2020 manager Brad Parscale said Democrats were \"stewing in a caucus mess of their own creation with the sloppiest train wreck in history\", adding that it would be \"natural for people to doubt the fairness of the process\". But Republicans have had their own problems in Iowa previously. In 2012, Mitt Romney was declared the winner of the caucuses only for the party to say two weeks later that Rick Santorum had actually won. The president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, tweeted that the Democratic results chaos was all a \"fix\". However, there was no indication that it had been caused by anything other than human or technical error. Republicans also held Iowa caucuses on Monday and, as predicted, Mr Trump - who enjoys around 90% support in his party - squashed his two little-known challengers. The race will next move on to the other three early-voting states of New Hampshire next week, then Nevada and South Carolina later in February. On Super Tuesday, 3 March, 15 states and territories will vote. The field will be whittled down until a final nominee is crowned at the party convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July.", "qas": [ { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 2082, "answer_start": 1275, "text": "Iowa Democratic Party (IDP) spokeswoman Mandy McClure said officials had found \"inconsistencies in the reporting of three sets of results\" that was simply a \"reporting issue\" rather than a hack or intrusion. She denied an app created to allow reporting of results had gone down. \"The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report the results.\" The local party chairman Troy Price later said : \"We are validating every piece of data we have against our paper trail. \"That system is taking longer than expected, but it's in place to ensure we are eventually able to report results with full confidence.\" Rules on reporting were changed for this year, with Iowa Democrats required to report three numbers to party headquarters, rather than just the final delegate totals." } ], "id": "9499_0", "question": "What are the organisers saying about the Iowa situation?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 3014, "answer_start": 2083, "text": "Ms McClure's statement was flatly contradicted by party officials at county level, who blamed technology issues for the delay. They said the app created for caucus organisers to report their results had malfunctioned, leaving precinct captains to call state party headquarters, whose phone lines swiftly became jammed. Elesha Gayman, the Democratic chairwoman of Scott county, Iowa's third largest, said many officials were having issues reporting results and had been left hanging on hold. Dallas County chairman Bryce Smith also said the app had crashed, a view echoed by Nate Gruber, the Democratic vice-chairman of Black Hawk county, a part of the state with the largest concentration of African Americans. \"It doesn't really work,\" he said, adding: \"No-one can reach the state party to report.\" Calls to the Iowa Democratic Party hotline late on Monday had the same recorded message: \"All of our operators are currently busy.\"" } ], "id": "9499_1", "question": "Did the app crash?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4454, "answer_start": 3717, "text": "The candidates are vying to win the opening contest of the 2020 White House campaign and become the Democratic nominee who will challenge Mr Trump, a Republican, in the 3 November election. Largely white, rural, sparsely populated Iowa awards just 41 of the 1,991 delegates needed to clinch the party nomination under America's quirky political system. But the Hawkeye state can offer crucial momentum - the last four Democratic nominees have all won the Iowa caucuses. The front-runners among the 11 remaining contenders are Senator Sanders and former US Vice-President Joe Biden. Pete Buttigieg, the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar also blitzed the state." } ], "id": "9499_2", "question": "What's at stake?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 4980, "answer_start": 4455, "text": "Amid the delay, party officials held a call with the rival campaigns. Lawyers for the Biden campaign wrote a letter to the Iowa Democratic Party to register concern about the \"considerable flaws\" and \"acute failures\" in the reporting system. \"The app that was intended to relay Caucus results to the Party failed; the Party's back-up telephonic reporting system likewise has failed,\" said the letter. A source in Mr Buttigieg's campaign told Reuters news agency the delay was \"definitely going to de-legitimise whoever wins\"." } ], "id": "9499_3", "question": "How did the campaigns respond?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 5832, "answer_start": 4981, "text": "Mr Trump's campaign gloated over the debacle. Trump 2020 manager Brad Parscale said Democrats were \"stewing in a caucus mess of their own creation with the sloppiest train wreck in history\", adding that it would be \"natural for people to doubt the fairness of the process\". But Republicans have had their own problems in Iowa previously. In 2012, Mitt Romney was declared the winner of the caucuses only for the party to say two weeks later that Rick Santorum had actually won. The president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, tweeted that the Democratic results chaos was all a \"fix\". However, there was no indication that it had been caused by anything other than human or technical error. Republicans also held Iowa caucuses on Monday and, as predicted, Mr Trump - who enjoys around 90% support in his party - squashed his two little-known challengers." } ], "id": "9499_4", "question": "How did the Trump campaign respond?" }, { "answers": [ { "answer_end": 6163, "answer_start": 5833, "text": "The race will next move on to the other three early-voting states of New Hampshire next week, then Nevada and South Carolina later in February. On Super Tuesday, 3 March, 15 states and territories will vote. The field will be whittled down until a final nominee is crowned at the party convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in July." } ], "id": "9499_5", "question": "What comes next?" } ] } ]